The whole VILLEMONT team celebrates the success of The North Pole Challenge Expedition
One century on, VILLEMONT Brand Director Jorgen Amundsen has retraced the footsteps of his great-great uncle, the famous Norwegian explorer and adventurer Roald Amundsen, in order to join Lewis Pugh in an extraordinary human adventure.
A dream becomes reality
On 15th July 2007, Lewis Gordon Pugh - explorer, adventurer and high-flying dreamer - swam 1km through the freezing waters of the North Pole in temperatures of -1.8°C. This was an unprecedented record and a physically-challenging feat which required a long and intensive period of preparation. The swim took exactly 18 minutes and 50 secondes to complete. A new record! Never before has anyone swum such a great distance, braving such extreme temperatures, much less in the mythical part of the world that is the North Pole. This double feat which becomes the Lewis’ 21st world record, has now officially entered the famous record books: Replays believe it or not ?
The adventure is all the more astonishing given that Lewis swam, in accordance with Channel Swimming Association Rules, in just a swimming costume, cap and goggles.
This feat - unimaginable about one hundred years ago in the days when Roald Amundsen took his first steps in the North Pole - is now achievable. However, it also represents a real tragedy, as the dramatic climate changes our planet has suffered in recent decades have resulted in rapid melting of the Arctic glaciers.
It is precisely this tragedy of global warming that Lewis G. Pugh aimed to visibly demonstrate by undertaking this challenge. This expedition is his way of drawing public attention to the urgency of the situation.
Just like the famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen who inspired him, Lewis Pugh planned this dangerous expedition with meticulous care. His preparation, both logistically and physically, enabled him to face the elements under the optimal conditions. But preparation alone, however thorough, is not enough. It was Roald Amundsen's long-term vision that led him to succeed where others had failed. He taught us that to be a great adventurer one must never lose sight of one's dream, and must continue to believe it is achievable even when all the evidence suggests otherwise. It was this vision that led him to become an example for modern explorers like Lewis Pugh. These adventurers all share common values such as courage, perfection, distinction and inspiration, values also espoused by VILLEMONT, and which ally the watch brand with all those who choose to follow their dreams and make their own history.
As is the case with any experienced adventurer, Lewis Pugh benefited from the support of the most advanced technology and provisions of the highest quality, both in terms of his medical supervision and the quality of his equipment. It was therefore only natural that he called upon VILLEMONT to act as timekeeper in this instance. Beyond the close links forged by VILLEMONT with men whose dreams have led them to push themselves to the limits of endurance, our intrepid explorer was also attracted by the quality of the brand's watches. In addition, in its role as official timekeeper for the swimming challenge, VILLEMONT has also produced a limited edition collection of watches specially designed to mark the occasion.
The watchmaking brand has agreed to pay back a proportion of the proceeds from the sale of the watches from this limited edition collection to support WWF's fight against global warming, and in particular, their mission to save these polar regions. The 50th watch will be gifted to WWF and will be offered at the auction which the prestigious conservation charity will be organising next autumn. The funds raised will enable precise data to be gathered on climate change, and allow activities aimed at conserving the subsequently endangered flora and fauna to be implemented.
Press release
