Team Independence '09

Going into thin air above the area climbers call the 'Death Zone" David Shannon and Chris Watkins, plan to make a world record ski dive from over 30,000 feet. This will be an attempt David Shannon and Chris Watkins on December 3, 2009 will attempt a world altitude record for civilians in a tandem jump. It is certainly something that no person with quadriplegia or significant arthritis have ever considered possible. They have been training and jumps took place in august the highest from around 13,000 feet. To go higher will require special training, equipment and expert oversight.

David Shannon met with a Thunder Bay man who had received a heart transplant. This amazing firefighter has already been to Antarctica. We will keep you updated on his progress.

It was a great night in Thunder Bay when the Italian Vice Consul Veronica Ferrucci, came up from Toronto and congratulated the Team on taking two Italian flags to the North Pole. This had been done at the request of the Mayor of the Italian sister to Thunder Bay. It was a great honor and we made her and the local consul as well as the head of the local Italian Society Joe Nucci all honorary team members.

Thats right its official David and Chris plan to gather and head an International South Pole Expedition in 2011. This unbelievable event will be in celebration in breaking one of the last great barriers on the planet. The lost frozen continent of Antarctica and the South Pole.

Congratulations, awards and recognitions keep rolling in recognizing the North Pole event as another stepping stone in a long road of work by David and Chris and hopefully, many more future ones.

The South Pole is a continent unlike the North Pole which is on a floating sheet of ice.
The South Pole is the coldest, most windy and dry place on earth.
The lowest recorded temperature at the south pole was minus 128 Celcisus (recorded at the Russian Research Station)

Keep tuned for more south pole facts and to hear about the incredible habitat at Antarctica our southern continent.
While most people associate the North Pole with the huge Polar Bear the south pole is associated with the amazing penguin species.

EXPEDITION - Princeton Dictionary definition -"An organized group of people undertaking a journey for a particular purpose."

Canada Wind Chill Calculator - Minus 35 C with steady wind at 20 km/hr = minus 49 C with wind chill *
David and I have said it was approximately minus 50 C with windchill it was likely much colder based upon windchill.

The Law Times has done a big story covering the North Pole ascent. It not only focuses on the physical barriers but also on the legal barriers that are overcome with such an event. You can read it on line simply input "Law Times & North Pole".

A great deal of ongoing postive things are happening. Donations continue to role in for the legacy bursaries that David and I had planned as an outcome for this project of our Team Independence. David, has been on radio the last few days speaking to the Eastern Provinces. We also have a possilbe meet and greet night in the near future. We hope to let people see and touch equipment etc that went to the North Pole. We are also being featured by the Christopher Reeve Foundation. This is certainly one of the most prestigous NGO's in the world and a great relationship to have built.