Vertical Chill

Rob Howard / 03.01.2006

Metropolitan Police Officer, Kate Balchin, and Royal Marine Physical Training Instructor Martin Yardley, are preparing to undergo their final training on 6 January in preparation for one of the world’s most extreme winter sports events.

Nationwide outdoor retailer, Ellis Brigham has agreed to put the two athletes ‘through hell’ as part of a strict fitness regime in the build up to the Fulda Challenge. The eight-day challenge begins on 29 January in the icy temperatures of the Yukon, Canada.

The experienced duo, selected after two demanding elimination events, will represent the UK in the grueling event, which is designed to test strength and endurance to the limits in extreme conditions. Skiing and ice climbing are just two of the tests that Kate and Martin will have to face. The Vertical Chill ice-climbing wall, at Ellis Brigham’s Tower House store in Covent Garden, is the obvious choice for some final, realistic tuition.

One of the only structures of its kind in the UK, Ellis Brigham’s ice wall stretches for 28ft between the shop’s floors. Refrigerated to minus 12ºC, with special cooler fans creating a wind-chill factor of minus 15ºC, The Vertical Chill will provide a unique indoor ice experience for Kate and Martin to put their skill and nerve to the test.

Kate said: “Climbing is quite new to me and is something that I need to work on. You don’t get that many opportunities to practice on ice in this country. It is great that I am able to make use of this fantastic facility.”