0:00:08 > 0:00:11I kayaked 2,000 miles along the Amazon...
0:00:17 > 0:00:20I walked a high wire between chimneys at Battersea Power Station...
0:00:25 > 0:00:28This time around, I'm going to be taking on
0:00:28 > 0:00:31my most physically-demanding challenge to date.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40I will be attempting to get to the South Pole
0:00:40 > 0:00:44entirely under my own steam and taking everything I need with me.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48I'll be walking, kite skiing and, in a world first,
0:00:48 > 0:00:53trying to cycle part of my route to the Pole.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55It's the coldest and windiest place on Earth.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Temperatures drop to as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I have no idea how people do this.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Honestly. Argh! Argh!
0:01:11 > 0:01:15I don't want to play any more. This is just so frustrating.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32So far, for her Sport Relief Challenge,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Helen's travelled to California,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37to train on her specially-adapted ice bike...
0:01:37 > 0:01:41- She's put her kite skills to the test in New Zealand...- Ow!
0:01:41 > 0:01:46..and she's seen how Sport Relief money helps poor and vulnerable
0:01:46 > 0:01:48children in Sierra Leone.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51In today's programme, Helen travels to Iceland,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54to learn how to survive in the extreme cold.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57You couldn't put a tent up on your own. I certainly couldn't.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Terrible weather conditions
0:01:59 > 0:02:03give her a real taste of what's to come in Antarctica.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07I can honestly say, this is the most unpleasant experience of my life.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10And she meets the Norwegian team-mate
0:02:10 > 0:02:14she'll be travelling with on her 500-mile journey to the South Pole.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Today is a big day for Helen.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23She's come to Heathrow to meet her team-mate for the first time.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26'I think it's just dawned on me that I'm about to meet a guy
0:02:26 > 0:02:29'I'll be spending Christmas and New Year with, in a tent.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32'I've never met him. He might think I'm an idiot.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34'I might think he's an idiot.'
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Helen's still learning the skills she'll use to get to the South Pole,
0:02:40 > 0:02:44so she needs a team-mate who can help if she gets into difficulties.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I've got a photograph to help me find Niklas.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50I've obviously looked him up on the internet,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52but every picture of him, he's got a facemask on!
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Hopefully, I'll be able to recognise him.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Niklas Norman is a kite skiing world champion,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00with over 20 years' experience.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04He's travelled across some of the coldest places on Earth
0:03:04 > 0:03:09and in 2005, he recorded the fastest-ever distance
0:03:09 > 0:03:12set by a kite skier in a 24-hour period.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16What do you say to someone you've never met, but have to get on with?
0:03:16 > 0:03:18I'd better like him. I can't walk away.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21I am going to be with him for the next few months.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25I think I've seen him. He's tall and he's blond.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28And there ARE skis. That's got to be him, hasn't it?
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Hello! You must be Niklas?
0:03:30 > 0:03:32- Yeah.- I'm Helen.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- Hello.- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you, finally.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38I was looking for skis. Oh, you have skis.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- Shall we check in and go to Iceland? - Yes, let's do that.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45We've just met. Why wouldn't we go to Iceland together(?)
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Helen has the determination and enthusiasm to keep going
0:03:50 > 0:03:54day after day on her 500-mile journey to the South Pole.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Niklas knows how to survive in freezing temperatures
0:03:57 > 0:03:59and kite ski long distances.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02This should make them the perfect team.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I'm quite excited now. I was really nervous before,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07but he seems really nice.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14They're flying to Iceland to train on glaciers,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17where they'll learn how to survive in the extreme cold.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Sitting just below the Arctic Circle, it's the perfect place
0:04:21 > 0:04:23to get a feel for what they could face in the Antarctic.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Helen and Niklas are joining other South Pole hopefuls
0:04:29 > 0:04:32on a training course, run by Conrad Dickinson.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36He's the only British person to have completed a "polar grand slam",
0:04:36 > 0:04:41by reaching North and South Poles and crossing Greenland, unsupported.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44There's nothing he doesn't know about surviving the most extreme
0:04:44 > 0:04:49- environments on Earth.- They're going to the coldest, harshest,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52most extreme environment in the world and we've got to give them
0:04:52 > 0:04:55the core skills to deal with that.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59They've got just 48 hours to get to grips with putting up tents,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02lighting stoves, navigation and kit,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04before being put to the test on a glacier.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08But action girl Helen doesn't like being cooped up in the classroom.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10With strong winds predicted,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14if she does not pay attention, she could live to regret it.
0:05:14 > 0:05:21The weather forecast is showing... 27 metres per second,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25which is 93 kilometres per hour,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28which is roughly 60 miles per hour.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31The only protection Helen and Niklas will have
0:05:31 > 0:05:34against the harsh conditions of Antarctica
0:05:34 > 0:05:37is their tent. Without it, they can't get warm,
0:05:37 > 0:05:42melt snow to cook their food, rest or see to injuries.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45In temperatures of -50, the longer it takes them
0:05:45 > 0:05:46to put up their shelter,
0:05:46 > 0:05:50the greater the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56It is vital they learn how to put the tent up quickly and efficiently.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- Da-dah!- Da-dah.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02Oh!
0:06:02 > 0:06:05It is a faff, but...
0:06:05 > 0:06:09- Technically, one person should be...- Sorry.- ..at this end.
0:06:10 > 0:06:16'You will be putting up the tent for the first time
0:06:16 > 0:06:18'in some really horrendous conditions.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21'So if you haven't been listening to me or if get something wrong,'
0:06:21 > 0:06:23you'll have a problem tomorrow night.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26My brain is scrambled.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Today, we have talked about illnesses, injuries...
0:06:31 > 0:06:36food...weather.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39It's just a totally alien environment.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- So there is a lot to take in. - OK, just release these now.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45I think I have got the basics,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48but I don't know if I've got enough to survive!
0:06:49 > 0:06:51- Are you happy with that, Helen?- Yes.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Helen and Niklas are heading to the glacier,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06where they'll spend two days setting camp, cross-country skiing
0:07:06 > 0:07:08and learning rescue techniques.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13But as the trucks reach the start of the glacier, there's a problem.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Melting snow makes for very slow progress.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22We have been on this bus for hours now, haven't we?
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It was fun, at first.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I am feeling seasick, to be honest.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31What's basically happened is, there's been a little warm snap.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34It's melted the snow, and there's thousands and thousands of gallons
0:07:34 > 0:07:39of water gushing off the glacier. Conditions are just horrendous.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Because we're going on an uncharted route with a vehicle,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46there's a chance of crevasses. We haven't got a very good situation.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54- If we fell into a crevasse... - With the car?- Yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- We'd get...- Probably, if it happens, we would probably
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- more tip into it, not like we're falling freefall...- Yeah.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06..and then crash in the bottom of the crevasse.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10It will be more be that some of the wheels or the front of the truck
0:08:10 > 0:08:14will...dip down in the crevasse. That is all.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Oh, if that's the worst case scenario, that's fine, then!
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Why are you smirking, Niklas?
0:08:22 > 0:08:27When things get really, really
0:08:27 > 0:08:32terrible or uncomfortable and bad, then I get in a bad mood.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- But then when it gets even worse, I start laughing.- OK.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37It's so hilariously bad.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Finally, they get to the top - where things are even worse.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47The storm Conrad predicted has hit, with blizzards and 60mph winds.
0:08:47 > 0:08:53This is on the edge of what we're capable of putting up a tent up on.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56It really is pushing the limits here.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00So we're going build this wall, a really big substantial wall.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05Then all of us are going to put one tent up behind it.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- Is that clear? - ALL: Clear.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10So, let's get the wall built as quick as we can
0:09:10 > 0:09:11and get the first tent up.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19You feel totally useless, because you can hardly move around.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22You've got so much stuff on - boots, gloves, jacket.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27It's taking six people to keep control of the tent in the wind,
0:09:27 > 0:09:28but in Antarctica, Helen and Niklas
0:09:28 > 0:09:32will only have each other to rely on, whatever the weather.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36You couldn't put a tent up in this on your own. I certainly couldn't.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39If I was on my own, I would have left by now.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42The only reason you stay is the banter from everybody else.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44This is about as bad as it gets.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Helen and Niklas and everybody else
0:09:49 > 0:09:51have been very shocked by these conditions.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55It's not going to be like this in Antarctica, though, is it?
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- Not wet, but it might be this strong wind.- OK.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04The big problem everybody has got is that people are not moving
0:10:04 > 0:10:07decisively enough and quickly enough.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12And because it's the first time they have ever put up a tent,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16also, they're not quite sure what they've got to do.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Because of the wind, you have got a communication problem.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24I haven't experienced much worse weather than this, to be honest.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26It's quite serious.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32The tent is finally up
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and Helen and Niklas can get some rest from the wind.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39But now they need to get organised, which is easier said than done.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44It is fair to say that it is big chaos in the tent.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49We don't know where much is and now everything is chaos.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- Is it something we still can't find? - Yeah, the stove.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57And you've broken your spork.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05It's the morning after their first night in the tent,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09and still, there's no let-up with the weather.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Oh, my word!
0:11:18 > 0:11:23Oh, where on earth is our stuff? I don't want to play any more!
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It's blowing at about 80 kilometres per hour.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32But worst of all, last night, the temperature was zero.
0:11:32 > 0:11:39So everything's soaking, soaking wet. This morning, it's got colder.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43And the wet clothes are frozen. What I'm wearing now,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45it's like a suit of armour.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Everything's so hard to deal with.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Helen struggles with being organised at the best of times,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54but the blizzard conditions are making things almost impossible.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59The zip is totally frozen solid. I can't move it up, can't move it down.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01And there's a worrying sign.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Helen's shivering, and can't find her gloves.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05Take that lid off.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10Can I take these wet ones off now? They're freezing.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I don't have any.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14No, they're mine.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19Conrad shouted at me for not having my mitts on. They're here somewhere,
0:12:19 > 0:12:20but I don't know where.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24We haven't got time to look for things, just look at the weather.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I'm so cold!
0:12:26 > 0:12:31My toes and my fingers just really stink of the cold.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37This can only be described as a baptism of fire.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Helen has got no experience of this sort of stuff before.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45She came up to me. Her hands were frozen cold.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48I had to give her my spare pair of mitts.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50She'd lost her climbing harness.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Niklas, have you used an ice crew and a harness for something?
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- I can't remember. - It was buried in the snow.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00I had to dig it out for her.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05She's jammed the tent zips. Cold hands, she couldn't undo the zips.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07She's struggling.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Thank you, Conrad. I can honestly say,
0:13:10 > 0:13:15this is the most unpleasant experience of my life.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21I'm really concerned about Helen. She's cold. Her hands are wet.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24She's misplacing some of her equipment
0:13:24 > 0:13:27because there's so much snow about.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I'm not blaming Helen. It's the conditions.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32But for safety reasons, I'm probably going to pull it.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Conrad takes the decision that it's too dangerous
0:13:35 > 0:13:39to continue, so the group head down the glacier to a safe area
0:13:39 > 0:13:41where they can practise rescue techniques.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Crevasses are one of the most dangerous problems
0:13:48 > 0:13:50explorers face in Antarctica.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54These deep cracks are caused when ice moves over uneven ground,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56causing it to split.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59There are thousands of crevasses in Antarctica,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01often hidden by deep snow,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04which makes them almost impossible to spot.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08It's vital they know how to deal with crevasses,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11which are feared by even the most experienced explorers.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16They're practising a simple rescue technique.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Helen volunteers to be the first "victim".
0:14:19 > 0:14:23OK, just lean back, let the harness take the weight.
0:14:23 > 0:14:24OK.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Push up.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28This technique allows the rescuer
0:14:28 > 0:14:31to pull very heavy weights without tiring themselves out,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35but, as usual, Helen's not paying attention.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39OK, slowly, pull together, stop!
0:14:39 > 0:14:40Oh! Ow!
0:14:40 > 0:14:42You OK?
0:14:42 > 0:14:44My hair's in the karabiner!
0:14:44 > 0:14:49Ow! I'll have a bald patch, but I'll be fine!
0:14:49 > 0:14:51OK.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Niklas rescues Helen successfully, minus a few hairs.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Now it's her turn to rescue him,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01but she seems more interested in her hair than Niklas.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- You can see some of her hair in it. - Oh, no!
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Niklas is hanging on down there.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11I just found that a load of my hair is trapped in the pulley.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Extra friction, that's what it'll provide.
0:15:14 > 0:15:15OK.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17OK?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Finally, Helen gets round to pulling Niklas up,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22but it's not easy going.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24One, two, three, pull!
0:15:25 > 0:15:27One, two, three, pull!
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Are we there?
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Even the word "crevasse" is intimidating.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34You don't know what's inside the crevasse.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37If you fall in, you don't know how far you're going to fall.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40It would be totally different if one of us fell into one,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43but now, in the back of my head, I can go, "This is OK,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46"I've pulled Niklas out of one of these before.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48"I can do it if I have to."
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Placing your life in someone else's hands
0:15:50 > 0:15:52requires a huge amount of trust.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Are Helen and Niklas confident that,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57in a dangerous situation, they can rely on each other?
0:15:57 > 0:16:00I have an enormous amount of faith in Niklas.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05He has that sort of poker face,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08that he's quite quiet and calm,
0:16:08 > 0:16:13but inside, I know he's listening to everything and taking everything in.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I think Helen did well, and I think,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19with some more training
0:16:19 > 0:16:23I will be able to trust her, even in Antarctica.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Back at base, it's the moment of truth.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Conrad has been watching Helen and Niklas on the glacier.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Does he think they'll have what it takes
0:16:34 > 0:16:35to work well together as a team?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37OK, appraisal time.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43There was one thing that did disturb me, in terms of the tent.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Yours was trashed.
0:16:44 > 0:16:50The end of the tent was torn and your zip broke.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54The zip is totally frozen solid. I can't move it...
0:16:54 > 0:16:59If you break your tent in Antarctica, game over.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Helen, attitude?
0:17:05 > 0:17:0911 out of 10. You're always happy and smiling.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12What I really like is, you can't half get stuck in.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Areas for improvement?
0:17:16 > 0:17:20In terms of looking after your kit, you're a disaster.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Oh, where on earth is our stuff?
0:17:24 > 0:17:26An absolute disaster.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29- I don't have any of these. - No, they're mine.- Oh!
0:17:29 > 0:17:31You kind of just seem to lose everything.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35There's sort of a little kit trail behind you, your goggles,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37your hats, your gloves, your boots...
0:17:37 > 0:17:38Conrad shouted at me
0:17:38 > 0:17:41for not having the right mitts on. I don't know where they are.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44If you don't look after your kit in Antarctica,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46you are in totally deep, deep trouble.
0:17:46 > 0:17:52Coping with the cold? Yes, we had extreme weather.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56It was the worst conditions I've probably seen in 30 years.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59It was horrendous. But you did get cold.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01I am so cold!
0:18:01 > 0:18:04You had a duvet on - not your own.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08You had Niklas' duvet on. And it was soaking wet!
0:18:08 > 0:18:12So you basically weren't coping with the cold.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Niklas, um... you're absolutely solid.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20You're totally, totally at home in the snow-like situations.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25You had no problem with that blizzard. It was just second nature.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Conrad wants Helen and Niklas to be more disciplined
0:18:31 > 0:18:33with their organisation.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36So he sets them a challenge to spend 24 hours on the glacier
0:18:36 > 0:18:41with no support from him, to see how they cope on their own.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Oh, my word! This is crazy!
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I'm such a disaster, I haven't even got a proper harness
0:18:51 > 0:18:53or anything to pull my sledges.
0:18:53 > 0:18:59This is my kite ski harness. We've amended it so I can pull the sled.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Helen and Nicolas are aiming to cross the glacier,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05testing their kites and all their equipment as they go.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Aaagh! What are we doing?
0:19:08 > 0:19:11But the weather is horrific.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13They can barely see ten metres in front of them.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17After a short distance, there's nothing for it but to pitch camp.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21- Right, then, let's get this tent up. - Yeah.- And get the kettle on.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- There's a small problem.- All right. - There are no pegs in that tent bag.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29HE LAUGHS
0:19:29 > 0:19:33We'll have to use our skis, then.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Conrad's telling off seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38They've forgotten their tent pegs,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40and you can't put up a tent without pegs.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42I'm sure we don't need it.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47- Or can you?- Skis and ski poles? - Skis and ski poles.- OK.
0:19:47 > 0:19:53- That's us, Nicolas, improvising. - Improvise, adapt, overcome.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55I think that's a British saying, actually.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58I'm sure it is, it's definitely British.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01That's how we roll. Improvise, adapt, overcome.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04With some quick thinking from Niklas,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08they manage to get the tent upright, but will it stay up?
0:20:08 > 0:20:12We haven't got any tent pegs, so we're just using skis and poles.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I thought that'd be a major disaster, but Niklas didn't bat an eyelid.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17He just went, "we'll improvise".
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Actually, never in my whole life
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I've used the tent peg during winter.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25SHE LAUGHS
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Can't you see what I like about this man?
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Try threading a needle with oven mitts on.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41That's exactly what I'm doing right now.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45This is going to be a tricky one.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48It's not a massive amount of fun, this.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51It's not torture. It's not a laugh.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Finally, after a lot of Helen flapping, the tent is up.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59We've now used 45 minutes to put up the tent.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04And that's not bad for second time.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06OK.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09But I guess, when we get the training right,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12we will do it in 15 minutes.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14OK, so 45 now in Iceland.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18By the South Pole, I'll say we can do ten.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19Ten.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- Let's aim for ten.- Right.
0:21:22 > 0:21:28After all that hard work, they fire up the stove and get cooking.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Oh, that's such a good feeling.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32What do we have for dinner tonight?
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Well, I can offer you pasta with mushrooms,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38or chicken curry.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40I'll take the first dish.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- You can have two, actually.- As usual,
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- they can't find anything they need. - I think I lost my spoon already.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Yes, I don't...
0:21:49 > 0:21:51..have a spoon.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57Helen, do you look forward to doing this 30 days in a row?
0:21:57 > 0:22:02The intimidating thing in Antarctica is, there's no option, is there?
0:22:02 > 0:22:04It's either this, or you don't eat.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08And on that happy thought, it's bedtime.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Helen and Niklas will travel
0:22:12 > 0:22:14to the South Pole in the Antarctic summer.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18At this time of year, there's daylight 24 hours a day.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22They'll have to get used to there being no day and no night.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26And the solar energy generated is so powerful
0:22:26 > 0:22:30that sunburn and snow blindness are serious risks.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36It's nice, isn't it?
0:22:36 > 0:22:37Yeah!
0:22:37 > 0:22:41The sky! We can see the sky!
0:22:41 > 0:22:46I don't want to speak too soon, but we can actually see the sky.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I can see more than three metres in front of me.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50This is like a different place!
0:22:50 > 0:22:55So fingers crossed, we might finally get some kiting in.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58It's been so windy and the visibility's been so poor,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01we haven't been able to do anything.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06But hopefully, hopefully, hopefully, today will be the day. Yes!
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Before they can get the kites out, they need to get to flat ground,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18so it's cross-country skis on and poles out.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22I'm just so delighted that we're getting to do something.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26I had a horrible feeling the weather was going to be awful,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28we'd go home having just sat in that tent.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Once they reach the plateau,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Niklas decides the weather is good enough to get some kite practice
0:23:37 > 0:23:41and introduces Helen to a brand new type of kite, known as a sail.
0:23:45 > 0:23:46I love these!
0:23:48 > 0:23:50The kite's scary.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52They drag you along the ground.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54And it's simple to control.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59All the time, you have to remember how you feel the force of the kite.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Pull the thing down.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05And you have to, like, stretch for the bottom
0:24:05 > 0:24:06and just pull fast and hard.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13I'm moving.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16It may be slow, but I'm moving.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Looks like the kite sail and Helen were made for each other.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Ah, I'm doing it!
0:24:26 > 0:24:28That's very good.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34You will go much faster this way, so be careful.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Keep the kite just as steady.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42OK, good.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Helen's doing so well that Niklas decides they can practise
0:24:48 > 0:24:49using the kite sail to travel,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52which means it's time to attach the sleds.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Wahey!
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Wooh!
0:25:03 > 0:25:06This is so much fun. It's just so...
0:25:06 > 0:25:09..Higher on the rope.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16I don't know whether it looks cool, but it feels cool. Wooh!
0:25:16 > 0:25:21All the waiting around and trailing around in this wet, horrible snow
0:25:21 > 0:25:23has been worth it for today, I think.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- This is perfect. - And I think you appreciate it
0:25:26 > 0:25:29because of how frustrating the last few days have been.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33It's the end of their time in Iceland.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Helen and Niklas have learnt
0:25:35 > 0:25:38how to survive in the most extreme weather conditions,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42but 500 miles is a long way to go if you don't get on.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46At the airport, I was really nervous,
0:25:46 > 0:25:51but I'm delighted that you wanted to come on this trip
0:25:51 > 0:25:53cos you're patient and you're positive.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58- You were actually quite quiet in the beginning.- Because it..!
0:25:58 > 0:26:01And now you're like this all the time.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- That's a good thing, though, right? - That's a good thing.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09I am delighted that Niklas is on board with this,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11because he's a lovely bloke, he's really patient
0:26:11 > 0:26:14and I actually think we make each other laugh.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16I think we'll have a good time.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21It's five months since Helen started preparing for her polar challenge.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Her training has pushed her mentally and physically to the limit.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30She's learnt how to kite, ski and bike to the South Pole.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33But now she has to put those skills to the test for real.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38It's time for the toughest challenge of her life.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40It's time for Antarctica.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42And if you've been inspired by Helen's challenge,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46why not go the extra mile and get involved in Sport Relief?
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Get a grown-up and sign up to do the Sport Relief Mile.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52There are hundreds of events around the country,
0:26:52 > 0:26:56and by raising money, you can help poor and vulnerable people in the UK
0:26:56 > 0:26:57and around the world.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Next time -
0:27:01 > 0:27:05All the hard work pays off as Helen finally arrives in Antarctica.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08We've landed here in Antarctica on sheet ice.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14But her decision to pack only one pair of boots is starting to hurt.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16My feet are a wreck.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20We're only six days in. There's possibly 30 more to go.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23- Three, two, one!- OK!
0:27:23 > 0:27:25HORNS BEEP
0:27:25 > 0:27:26And they're off!
0:27:26 > 0:27:31Helen and Niklas begin their 500-mile journey to the South Pole.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd