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ITV documentary of Maria Leijerstam's record breaking trike ride to South Pole now onlineMaria Leijerstam at the South Pole (picture courtesy ICE Trikes)

ITV documentary of Maria Leijerstam's record breaking trike ride to South Pole now online

45-minute film follows 6 months of preparation & 10 days of riding across the ice cap as Welsh woman sets a first
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Jan 23, 2014 16:22
7

A documentary following Maria Leijerstam, the Welsh woman who last month became the first cyclist to ride to the South Pole, is now available to watch on the ITV website. The 45-minute programme was broadcast on Tuesday evening as a Wales This Week Special.

Cameras followed the 35-year-old, who has a background as an ultramarathon runner in places as diverse as the Sahara Desert and Siberia, for six months during her preparations for her record-breaking journey.

It covers issues such as the tricycle she used for the ride, supplied by sponsor ICE Trikes, her training regime, the team of people who supported her, and the logistical challenges she faced – including a baggage weight-induced panic at the airport.

The main focus of course is the ten-day ride across the ice cap, ending in Maria’s emotional – and record-breaking – arrival at the South Pole.

You’ll find the documentary here – it’s well worth watching.

Maria Leijerstam
Ice Trikes
South Pole
Antarctica

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7 comments

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Charlie The Bik... | 11 years ago
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Woohoo. I was the t-shirt and inner tube sponsor.

Why only welsh tv.

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ped | 11 years ago
0 likes

I'd lined up this and bunch of other Vimeo cycling movies for a 'when-the-wife's-away' cycling film festival tonight. Being able to sync a watch later list with your TV is brilliant!

… oh, and The White Ice Cycle was a great watch too. The moments with just Maria speaking to the camera when she's struggling are really quite emotional. Or perhaps I'm just growing soft[er] in my old age.

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Airzound | 11 years ago
0 likes

Amazing achievement but one hell of a boring ride I would have thought. Nothing short of masochism.

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BarefootBrian | 11 years ago
0 likes

I would love to watch it, but unfortunately, for some as yet unexplained reason, I am unable to watch anything on Vimeo - it skips straight to the end whenever I attempt to play. Is there any chance it might appear on another platform?

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monty dog | 11 years ago
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Been following this for the last few months - FWIW the third rider, Daniel Burton only arrived at the South Pole earlier this week. It appears a few folks are getting a bit sniffy about whether supported rides should qualify as it devalues the concept of adventure. Regardless, she was the first to cycle all the way to the pole and expect fat-trikes to be a new mode of adventure travel.

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Gkam84 replied to monty dog | 11 years ago
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monty dog wrote:

Been following this for the last few months - FWIW the third rider, Daniel Burton only arrived at the South Pole earlier this week. It appears a few folks are getting a bit sniffy about whether supported rides should qualify as it devalues the concept of adventure. Regardless, she was the first to cycle all the way to the pole and expect fat-trikes to be a new mode of adventure travel.

I wouldn't bet on fat trikes, it cost over £10k for that one.

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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I will finish watching it, but I have thrice fallen asleep with it on screen 102

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