Sarah McNair-Landry
Sarah has a strong zest for life and approaches challenges with
a bold determination. After graduating from Sedbergh, she has combined her passion for adventure and film. Sarah is the youngest person to reach both the North and South pole. She also enjoys kite-skiing & kite-boarding, snow boarding, downhill & cross country skiing, rugby, rock climbing, and whitewater kayaking. Sarah's favorite music group Red Hot Chile Peppers.
Expeditions
2009 Pittarak, Gobi expedition The Pittarak team (Eric McNair-Landry, Sarah McNair-Landry and Curtis Jones) headed to Mongolia, their goal to cross the Gobi desert by kite buggy. Starting at the base of the Altai Mountains, the team headed east into the desert. They traveled carrying their water and food on the buggies. After 35 days of kiting (and hauling when their was no wind), the team completed the crossing.
2008 Global Warming 101, Ellesmere Expedition: A team of 6 including Will Steger, Sam Branson, Toby Thorleifsson, Sigird Ekran and Eric and Sarah McNair-Landry headed to the Canadian high arctic islands with three teams of 10 dogs. They left Resolute and headed along the West side of Axel Heiberg towards Ellesmere Island, traveling through rough ice for 62 day. The goal was to raise awareness on Climate change, highlighting the ice shelves and glaciers in the arctic. Website: www.globalwarming101.com
2007 Pittarak Greenland Expedition: A team of three, Curtis Jones, Eric and Sarah McNair-Landry, headed to Greenland to complete a 2,300 km crossing of the ice cap, leaving from the southern tip near the village of Narsarsuaq and ending in Qaanaaq, one of the most northerly communities. They spent 45 days traveling by kite-skiing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. The team managed to cover an amazing 412 km by kit-ski in 24 hours. Website: www.pittarak.com
2006 Top of the World North Pole Expedition: Sarah McNair-Landry, Paul Landry, David de Rothschild and Martin Hartley departed from Northern Russia, skiing and dog sledding towards the North Pole. Once they reached the pole, they continue on, hoping to complete a full crossing of the Arctic Ocean. Unfortunately, after 100 days on the polar ice, due to warm conditions and the ice breaking up they were forced to abandon their goal of finishing in Northern Canada . Website: www.adventureecology.com
2005 Green Speed double-crossing of the Greenland Icecap: In May/June, Eric and Sarah McNair-Landry headed back to Greenland with Paul Landry and David de Rothschild. Setting a new speed record for the fastest crossing ever (7days), kite skiing and skiing. They also did a double-crossing of the ice cap. Website: www.greenspeed.tv
2004/5 Kites on Ice Expedition, to the South Pole and back: A 1,100km unsupported ski expedition to the South Pole from HerculesInlet. hauling pulks weighting over 230lbs each, to reach the Pole in 52 days. When they arrived, Eric (20) and Sarah (18) became the youngest ever to reach the pole. Matty and Sarah also became the first Canadian women. The team of five (Hilary and Conrad Dickenson, Matty McNair, and Sarah and Eric McNair-Landry) picked up kite-skiing gear and kited back to the coast in 17 days. Website: www.kitesonice.ca
2003 Kids and Kites on Ice Greenland Icecap crossing: A crossing of the Greenland Ice cap, from East to West. This was Eric and Sarah McNair-Landry's first expedition with parents Matty McNair and Paul Landry. They traversed the ice cap in 23 days, skiing, kite-skiing and dog sledding. Website: www.kidsonice.ca
Past Guiding Experience:
2008-09, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions ( Antarctica ) Sarah guided four clients on a 54 day ski expedition from the HerculesInlet to the South Pole. Afterarriving at the South Pole, Sarah kite-skied back to the coast with one client, in 12 days.
2008 Greenland West to East crossing ( Greenland , Denmark ): Sarah and Eric McNair-Landry guided a 25-day kite-skiing trip across the Greenland Ice cap. The goal was to teach explorer Will Steger how to kite-ski.
2007-08, Expeditions Inc. (Iqaluit/Resolute/Axel Heiberg, Nunavut ) Worked for explorer Will Steger organizing expeditions, training, coordinating northern logistics. They also put together three dog teams, and spent 6 months training their 30 dogs and building sleds.
2007, Polar Challenge (Resolute, Nunavut ) Worked as a guide and dog specialist during the filming of an arctic special of BBC's car show: “Top Gear”.
2007-2008, NorthWinds Arctic Adventure ( Iqaluit , Nunavut ) Worked as an instructor on NorthWinds Polar Training courses.
2006, Brian's Windsurfing and Kite-boarding ( Hood River , Oregon ) Head kite-surfing Instructor
2005, Windwing ( Hood River , Oregon ) Head kite-surfing Instructor
2004, Aerosport (Iles-de-la-Madeleines, Quebec) Kiting Instructor: taught on land, in land buggies, mountain boards and kite surfing. Sea kayaking guide: guided half-day excursions.
2002-present, Guide ( Nunavut )
• 6-day rafting trip down the Soper River , with a film crew.
• Dog sledding guide, half day excursions
• Worked driving dogs on film sets (Honor and Glory, BBC)
2000-2002, Assistant Guide ( Nunavut )
• Arctic Odyssey, 7 day dog sledding trip
• Soper River , 7 day rafting trip
• Auyuittuq National Park , 10 day back packing trip
• Tea on the sea, ½ day dog sledding trips