Rules and Regulations

(to be read in conjunction with the Terms & Conditions)
  1. The event will be operated from a base at Constable Point airport.
  2. The route will be approximately 70km and involve glacier travel. In case of several days of bad weather, the route will be shortened.
  3. All participants must be aged 18 or over.
  4. Participants can apply to join as a member of a self guided team of 2, 3 or 4 members. The team members must possess the necessary skills and experience as detailed in the Experience section of the website. Participants can also pay a premium to join a team led by an experienced Tangent Expeditions guide. There is limited capacity for those with suitable experience to join the event as a solo participant - Tangent Expeditions will determine if this capacity exists and if the participant has the required experience.
  5. No team must receive any external help or support.
  6. Teams can enter a reserve member up to 14 days prior to the event, but only as a replacement due to illness or injury of the original member and subject to an additional fee of £500 to cover flight change and administrative costs.
  7. Entry into the event is personal and name changes are not allowed.
  8. Teams that are led by a qualified IFMGA Mountain Guide will be given priority if participant numbers exceed the maximum number of places currently available in the event (40).
  9. All male, all female and mixed teams are welcome but there are no separate event categories.
  10. Skiers may use any form of Alpine, Nordic, Telemark or back country ski equipment and boots and must pull a pulk sled. An additional day sack may be carried on your back if preferred. Split boards or snowshoes may also be used.
  11. All personal and group equipment (including tent, stove and fuel, safety equipment and first aid supplies) and food must be carried inside pulk sleds, or additionally in a day sack.
  12. In the event of a team member or whole team struggling to finish, there may be capacity for some equipment to be transported to the next camp or finish by the snowmobile team. This is a last resort to allow individuals or teams to finish and can not be guaranteed. In this case, the team must carry between them: adequate food & water for the day, all communication / tracking devices, group shelter, firearm & ammunition, flares, stove, pan & 1L fuel, sleeping bag (one for the team), spare warm clothing and first aid kit. On day 4 only, glacier equipment and rope must also be worn.
  13. Each team member must pull their own pulk sled containing all their own personal and safety equipment. Group equipment should be distributed between the sleds.
  14. Kites are not allowed.
  15. All participants are required to attend all event meetings and briefings during the training time in Greenland.
  16. The event organisers will provide a list of specific check points and GPS positions that each participant must visit.
  17. All participants in teams must travel within their allocated teams at all times and team members must not travel more than 100m apart from each other for safety reasons (50m in poor visibility). Teams will be timed from when they leave the start line to when the last member of the group has passed the checkpoint. Teams must pass through check points within the listed time limits:
    Start Constable Point 09:00 9th April
    Check Point 1 Zemiteselv 19:00 10th April
    Check Point 2 Kalkdal valley entrance 19:00 11th April
    Check Point 3 Foot of Dragon Glacier 19:00 12th April
    Finish Head of Sødal valley (Finish) 19:00 12th April
    Teams failing to reach any check point before the latest cut off time will be transported by snowmobile to the check point/camp and have a time penalty imposed. The Event Director reserves the right to change the above times at any time, depending on local conditions and the progress of event participants.
  18. Each team will be supplied with two copies of the map for the event route.
  19. The event organisers will designate the safest known parameters for the event route, highlight known danger zones to be avoided, and provide a series of event notes for each individual, which highlight the safest known routes and known dangers.
  20. All event notes are advisory and for information only and ultimate safety and decision making lies with individual participants.
  21. All members of each team must be roped together as a single rope party at all times when travelling on a glacier (except for designated ski descents as notified by the Event Director), using a single full strength rope approved to standards UIAA 101 and EN892.
  22. The event organisers may request references for individuals to evidence sufficient and acceptable levels of experience.
  23. The event organisers will carry our pre-event checks of glacier travel skills. In country training will be provided prior to the event start for those with no previous or limited glacier travel skills.
  24. Despite pre-event checks of the route, crevasses and other unknown dangers can and do exist and can be encountered at any time. All participants must be willing to accept such risks and dangers. Tangent snowmobile safety guides will be in close proximity to teams during all glacier travel for assistance if required.
  25. Groups and individuals who do not meet the correct level of experience criteria must be accompanied and led by a suitably experienced guide.
  26. The event organisers will carry out a detailed check of all teams’ group and personal safety equipment and clothing to ensure all mandatory equipment as listed on the Equipment section of the Iceman Polar website is present and in suitable condition. No participant will be allowed to start the event until the organisers are satisfied that every item listed is present and of sufficient quality and suitability for its purpose.
  27. The team’s InReach tracker must be switched on and transmitting using the “track” function at all times whilst travelling.
  28. All teams will camp together at each checkpoint. All teams will start together at the same time the following morning (09:00).
  29. The event organisers will make no refunds of whatsoever nature for participants unable to take part in the event due to insufficient or unacceptable clothing, personal or group equipment.
  30. The event organisers reserve the right to delay, halt or cancel the event at any time if severe conditions (weather or otherwise) are deemed to pose an unacceptable level of risk to participants or staff.
  31. During periods of extreme weather when the event organisers halt the event, but do not deem it necessary to cancel it, teams will be instructed to remain at their current location until a new restart time is announced, subject to improving conditions.
  32. The Event Director's decision on all matters regarding safety and logistics will be final.
  33. Any participant may be removed from the event for safety reasons relating to themselves, other team members, other participants or event staff, rescue services or the public.
  34. All accidents and events that cause injury to a team or individual participant, or require them to retire or consider retiring from the event must be communicated to the event organisers immediately or as soon as the team have access to relevant communications.
  35. All participants over the age of 65 years at 00:01 on Wednesday 14th April 2021 will require a medical certificate or letter from your GP confirming that you are mentally, physically and psychologically fit to take part in the Iceman Polar event.
  36. All team members have a duty of care to assist other individuals or groups in an emergency situation. This may involve the event organisers directing you to a known position to give help, assistance, aid or first aid to others.
  37. All rubbish/garbage must be carried with the team until the finish line. No lighting of fires or burning of waste is permitted.
  38. Human waste and biodegradable toilet paper is permitted to be left behind and must be buried in the snow.
  39. If any participant must withdraw or be removed from the event there is limited transport availability and delays can occur. This will normally be done using snowmobile transport. In an emergency, helicopter air-lift is available subject to suitable weather, flying conditions and approval from the participant's insurance company.
  40. If any member of a team withdraws or must be removed from the event, the continuation of the remaining team members in the Event will be at the discretion of the Event Director, in consideration of all safety and logistical consideration.
  41. Penalties or disqualification can be given by the event organisers for violation of rules, unsportsmanlike behaviour, or if participants intentionally expose themselves or other participants or staff to unnecessary risk or abuse (verbal or physical). The Event Director will determine the penalty and his decision will be final.
  42. There is no right of appeal for the banning or removal of any participant from the event at any time and for whatever reason.
  43. The event organisers reserve the right to change or amend the rules according to the weather conditions encountered at the time of the event.
  44. In an emergency situation all teams are required to strictly follow an Emergency Response Plan as supplied by the event organisers to all team members prior to the event.
  45. Any breach of these rules and regulations by a team or individual participant shall result in disqualification of the whole team. Disqualified participants are not allowed to continue the event and lose any claim to awards, prizes or medals and full or partial reimbursement of entry fees or any other costs incurred either as part of, or in addition to, the related travel package.
  46. All participants must read and fully understand all event briefings and the contents of this website and its associated event Rules and Regulations, Terms and Conditions and the Booking Form. In the case of participants whose first language is not English, they must be in a team in which another team member must be English speaking to a sufficient level to transfer all aforementioned details and understanding to the non-English speaking participant.
  47. Participants give the event organisers the right to use freely pictures and film footage taken during the event in marketing, press, film, television and internet media.