Last November, glaciologist Heïdi Sevestre and explorer Matthieu Tordeur began a kite-skiing expedition across Antarctica, pulling their pulkas and scientific radars with the force of the wind. In 80 days, the duo covered 4,000 kilometers and achieved a French first “in the service of polar science.” Combining glacial data collection with a large-scale educational program, the two adventurers tell us about their Under Antarctica expedition.
The Under Antarctica project involves a number of figures that give an idea of the scale of the adventure: 4,000 kilometers to cover in 80 days using only the wind as propulsion. Temperatures reaching -50°C, a maximum altitude of 3,800 meters, pulkas (sleds) weighing around 200 kilograms… and, above all, a visit to the heart of Antarctica. Heïdi Sevestre and Matthieu Tordeur, scientist and explorer respectively, set off in early November with their kite skis for a three-month expedition that they