 |
MACPAC
Who would want to venture into the great outdoors without Macpac gear? Our wonderful sponsors Macpac are back with us again for the Around South Georgia expedition! They are Macpac are the pre-eminent New Zealand manufacturer of tough, quality outdoor equipment for people who are serious about surviving serious terrain! Our clothing and sleeping systems will be provided by Macpac. We also need a tent capable of handing the 100+km winds we expect to experience on a regular basis. We have chosen the Macpac hemisphere tent, as the most bullet-proof three person unit on the market.
|
|
GORE
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc is best known for inventing GORE-TEX® fabric which has become the yardstick for all outdoor waterproof, windproof and breathable outerwear. Gore continues to innovate by producing WINDSTOPPER® SOFT SHELL laminates for 80% of weather conditions. Gore manufacture anything from electronics to medical and healthcare. With an organisational culture that is a model for seeking growth by unleashing creativity and fostering teamwork, it's no wonder they're repeatedly named one of "100 Best Companies to Work for in America".
|
|
PADDLING PERFECTION
Scott Waterfield, Paddling Perfection's owner, has offered to fit us out with new boats for our South Georgia Venture. We have elected to go with the SEA BEAR fitted out to meet the specialist needs of expeditioning and filming on the water. We have chosen this boat for its amazing stability for filming and photography yet in trials it cruises at similar speeds to some of the 'quicker' boats we tried. It has all the storage we need and because these boats are hand built they are very very strong - and they need to be for the abuse we are about to dish out to them. It's great to have Scott's expertise and enthusiasm on board.
|
|
MSR
Its fantastic that most of our sponsors want to be involved with us again in our third World First expedition. MSR are no exception and it's great to know we'll be using MSR equipment. MSR will be keeping us fed with their world famous stoves, purify our water with their ingenious filtration unit and even enabling progress across the ice cap if required with walking poles. From food to water and from shelter to walking equipment, MSR supply only the best equipment, which makes it comforting to have them as a sponsor.
|
|
SEALLINE
Keeping our personal gear, batteries, video microphones and film stock dry is absolutely crucial. No problems though as we have a range of SealLine dry bags working for us. We have chosen mainly the 'windowed' models which allow us to see, without having to open, what's inside. This saves a great deal of time and potential sand and water contamination. SealLine are a welcome addition to the team.
|
|
AMPRO
Ampro is an independently owned New Zealand distributor of outdoor equipment based in Wellington. They work with specialist retailers throughout New Zealand to make quality outdoor products available to New Zealanders. Ampro have kitted us out with MSR Tents; Snow shoes; stoves and cookware; THERM-A-REST mattresses; BRIDGEDALE socks; SILVA compasses/headlamps and Atmospheric Data Centers, RAICHLE boots and a variety of other equipment to make our trip safer and if possible more comfortable. Sandy McLean from Ampro has been an enthusiastic supporter of Adventure Philosophy and the Good for Life Scholarships and we appreciate his generosity.
|
|
TEVA
Teva produce world class footwear for a huge range of off terrain environments. We are going to take Teva with us to the icy waters and snowy shores of South Georgia, about as extreme as it gets for testing hydrowear. Our insulation layers will be inside our dry suits and Teva will provide the protective outer layer that will enable us to get out of our kayaks in the tide secure in the knowledge we will stay dry. It is a system that worked well in both Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego for us. Often we would find it necessary to launch or disembark in deeper water, sometimes standing in the surf to heave boats up onto the snow or rocks.
|
|
CANOE AND KAYAK LTD
Canoe and Kayak are a vital cash sponsor and have been with us from the beginning. They fill any gaps in our kayaking expedition needs and Pete Townend, the franchise visionary, has been a mine of ideas for sponsorship and generating revenue to make the expedition work. Canoe and kayak is very customer focused and each shop is owned and operated by people who are kayakers. Whether you are looking for kayaks and accessories, paddling instruction and courses, kayaking tours, Kayak New Zealand magazine, or accommodation at the Kayakers Lodge in Taupo, Canoe and Kayak have all you needs covered.
|
|
KOKATAT
Kokatat are renown for Innovation and quality with Watersports Wear Which spells good times on the water. Good news for us as they are kitting us out with GORE-TEX® Expedition drysuits.
Their technical paddling apparel is designed by paddlers for paddlers to meet the most challenging weather and water conditions which South Georgia will certainly supply. Without a drysuit that breaths when you need it to and keeps you dry always, kayaking in such an environment would be miserable. Thanks to Kokatat we'll have a level of comfort and a survival capability we can live with.
|
|
OUTDOOR ACTION
Outdoor Action, THE Outdoor Retail shop in Takapuna, Auckland is again a sponsor of the expedition. Nick Montague-Brown the manager, has been impressed by what Adventure Philosophy has achieved and is keen to maintain a sponsor relationship with us. Nick has a great team behind him in the shop and its great to have his team behind ours.
|
|
OUTSIDE MAGAZINE
Outside Magazine is the leading outdoor lifestyle publication in the USA. Outside have embraced our philosophy and are supporting this expedition in a number of ways. We look forward to a published account of what promises to be a dramatic and visually compelling story of this expedition.
|
|
VITAZONE BARS
For the third expedition running we will be using Vitazone Bars as an important and substantial component of our diets. They have proven their worth in the past, have a research backed nutritional composition and work well for us. Besides that they taste great and an expedition without them just wouldn't be the same. Vitazone Bars are being distributed in NZ by Highest Quality Health and fitness and we welcome them on board as a new expedition sponsor.
|
|
SUREFIRE
Surefire make the best flashlights in the world - this is especially important for Graham our nightblind one!! Especially designed for rugged and wet use for police and special forces they are perfect for our requirements sailing in the southern ocean and kayaking around Sth Georgia. Ideal for still photography and lighting scenes for video, Surefire are a welcome addition.
|
|
PELICAN
In order to collect images and video we carry the best equipment possible. We operate in the cold, salt water and blowing sand and dust - none of these are very good for video and still camera gear. We are honoured to have Pelican support us with their fantastic cases. We give these cases an absolute pounding and have tested them through Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego - once again we will be relying on them as we film and shoot - but we have the assurance our equipment will be safe and dry in these cases.
|
|
RASDEX
Survival means staying in our kayaks - we must never come out - and water must never come in. Rasdex make fabulous standard and shaped, kevlar reinforced spray skirts that will never implode in big waves. It's vital we have a 100% bombproof, rugged and well fitted spray skirt and Rasdex have been good to us by cutting decks specifically for the Sea Bears.
|
|
BOLLE
Bolle have been our eye wear sponsor for the last four years and have joined the team once more. It's great to have the continuued support of Sandy and her team at Bolle NZ with some stylish glasses and goggles which make sure no matter what the weather and conditions - the eyes have it!
|
|
HOUSE OF TRAVEL LINWOOD
We hope we never need it but it's great to have the peace of mind provided by comprehensive Travel Insurance! House of Travel want to see us back safe and sound for more adventures and have kindly provided us with our Travel Insurance.
|
|
WERNER
Going to the best place in the world to go exploration paddling it was important we have the best paddles in the world to paddle with!! Werner have supplied us with the lightest and strongest paddles we have ever seen. The Ikelos performance touring paddles are beautifully made and have large blades to do the work we need, they are fabulous to paddle with and we are grateful for Werner’s support
|
|
SUUNTO
In the mist, wind, and storms of South Georgia, knowing where we are and what direction we should be heading in will be crucial for survival and morale. We’re thrilled to have the world’s best wristop computers helping us make decisions. Information from the Suunto X9 and X6HR including barometer, altimeter, compass, clinometer, PC analysis, heart rate monitor, GPS and surprisingly – chronometer - will keep us on the right track and on time for the finish– hopefully!!
|
|
MAGELLAN
Knowing where we are, updating website locations and recording data will be vital for us. We have Magellan GPS eXplorist units to make sure we are accurate to within 3metres!!! Our support crew are running the [tk] units for their data collection.
|
|
QANTAS
Shifting us and all our equipment is an enormous task and we couldn't have done it with out the help of Nichola Lidgard at Qantas. 5 people and 23 LARGE pieces of luggage is quite the sight, but Qantas have been very generous by moving us hassle free to the other side of the world.
|
 |
E2-MEDIA
You wouldn't be reading this now if it wasn't for the amazing input from Gary Lee and the team at e2-Media. Their brains, commitment and technology are bringing you the regular email updates and this great website. We are indebted to them for facilitating our communication with you all and hosting our site. It's imperative we have technology and communication providers that are as adventurous as we are - and e2 fit the bill.
|
 |
PAK n SAVE
Our thanks go out to Brian Carran from Pak 'n Save Mt Albert for his support of this expedition. We burn a lot of energy during our journey, all of which must be replaced. Much of this energy comes from the foodstuff generously provided by Pak 'n Save Mt Albert.
|
 |
AUT
AUT University has been a loyal supporter of past expeditions and has once again given Jonesy the support and leave he needs to undertake this expedition. Jonesy is part of a dynamic team that offer a range of outdoor leadership programs within the Division of Sport and Recreation.
|
 |
PACIFIC BASIN EXPORTS
Getting our Kayaks to the Falkland Islands was proving to be a difficult task until Gerry Williams at Pacific Basin Exports Ltd very kindly stepped in and offered us some space in one of his shipping containers. Farm equipment and Kayaks are an odd mix to share space on a journey, and Gerry's generous assistance and contacts in the Falklands have proved invaluable.
|
 |
NZ HEALTH SPONSORSHIP COUNCIL
Thanks very much to the NZ Health sponsorship Council who generously funded a Hi-definition video camera for our expedition. This will help us to film a quality documentary for NZ television which will assist the promotion of their smoke-free living message and staying smart in the sun. (we will be under a hole in the ozone for most of the expedition!).
|
