Jonny Huntington - Beyond the Last Degrees: Resilience on the Road to the South Pole

In 2014, British Army officer Jonny Huntington suffered a stroke that left him completely paralysed down one side of his body. A decade later, he became the first person with a disability to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. In this gripping live session, Jonny shares the story behind his extraordinary 911-kilometre journey across Antarctica: 46 days alone, skiing for around 11 hours a day while hauling a sled weighing more than 100 kilograms through temperatures as low as –40°C. He reveals the physical realities of surviving one of the world’s most hostile environments, as well as the quieter psychological battle involved in continuing when progress is slow, conditions are unforgiving and the finish remains far beyond the horizon. Drawing on his experiences as an explorer, elite para-athlete, stroke survivor and sports scientist, Jonny explores what resilience really means, how ambitious goals are translated into daily action, and why performance depends on far more than simply enduring discomfort. Honest, thoughtful and filled with remarkable stories from the ice, this is an evening about adventure at its most extreme—and the human capacity to adapt, persevere and achieve what once seemed impossible. The framing emphasises immersive adventure, the wild and remarkable personal endeavour, reflecting the interests of an audience drawn to compelling stories from daring explorers and adventurers.