Ski expedition crossing a vast polar ice sheet under a bright arctic sun
The Shackleton Trophy
The Shackleton Trophy

Join an Epic Challenge.
Three Poles. One Trophy.

Presented under the authority of the Royal Geographical Commission, in coordination with the International Expedition Registry and the Three Poles Commission — the first sanctioned race in history to combine the South Pole, the North Pole, and the summit of Everest into a single timed event.

Register your teamView the rules
§ 02 · The Route

Be the fastest to reach
the three poles!

Emperor penguins on Antarctic shore with snow mountains
90°S
Leg
South Pole
Last degree · 112 km
Polar bear on Arctic sea ice at dusk
90°N
Leg
North Pole
Last degree · 112 km
Mount Everest with Himalayan stupa and prayer flags
27.9881°N
Leg
Everest
Base Camp — Summit · 8,849 m
Colorful expedition tents at Everest Base Camp beneath the Khumbu Icefall
§ 01 · Registration

Register your team.

Open to expedition teams meeting the eligibility standards of the International Expedition Registry.

Incomplete submissions, or teams unable to demonstrate sufficient combined experience, will not be approved by the Registry.

Sponsored by

Meridian Distilleries

Meridian Distilleries is proud to sponsor the Shackleton Trophy — The Ernest is our finest whiskey, crafted for enduring moments in the spirit of courage and resilience.

Visit The Ernest
The Ernest — finest Irish whiskey by Meridian Distilleries
§ 03 · The Rules

Seven articles.
No exceptions.

  1. 01
    Each team must consist of a minimum of five members — in the spirit of Shackleton's team work ethic. 
  2. 02
    Must be completed by foot or ski, without mechanical assistance of any kind.
  3. 03
    For both the North and South Pole, the minimum distance is the last degree, or 112 km.
  4. 04
    For Everest, the route must be completed from Base Camp to Summit.
  5. 05
    Fastest time is measured from starting time of first pole, to finish time of fifth climber reaching the summit of Everest. 
  6. 06
    International Expedition Registry rules of documentation must be strictly obeyed.
  7. 07
    Fair play must be observed at all times, per Three Poles Commission rules.
YB3 satellite tracker on a modern world map
Ski expedition crossing the vast Antarctic ice sheet toward a polar station
§ 04 · The Prize
€1,000,000
per finishing team member

A team of five finishing together therefore competes for a combined prize of €5,000,000 — awarded only to teams certified complete by the Three Poles Commission, as verified under Rule 7.

§ 05 · Governance

Three interlocking institutions.

The Shackleton Trophy is supported by three bodies. No result is official until certified by the Registry and confirmed by the Commission.

I
Body
The Royal Geographical Commission

The parent body whose reputation gives the race its international legitimacy.

II
Body
The International Expedition Registry

The certification arm responsible for documentation, fair-play review, route classification, and expedition records.

III
Body
The Three Poles Commission

The specialist panel responsible for verifying whether a team has legitimately completed the South Pole, North Pole, and Everest under Trophy rules.