ALLIED Feather & Down and Helly Hansen Launch Scholarship for Eric Larsen’s 2018 Polar Training Course

December 7, 2017

Larsen’s 8-day Lake Winnipeg course covers winter expedition training, product/gear education, wilderness navigation skills, and more

Montebello, California (December 6, 2017) — This January, one aspiring polar adventurer will win a free chance to train with and learn from one of the world’s best, Eric Larsen, thanks to a joint scholarship from Larsen’s sponsors ALLIED Feather & Down and Helly Hansen, also a close partner of ALLIED. The course is designed to teach the necessary skills and systems required on a winter adventure – whether that’s a weekend excursion or a full expedition to one of the poles.

The Polar Training Scholarship fund, with an estimated $8,000 total value, is a unique opportunity for one deserving outdoor-minded individual to join Larsen’s Level 1 Polar Training Course, taking place on Lake Winnipeg, January 12th – January 21st, 2018. The recipient will join other participants for comprehensive hands-on instruction and training, which culminates in a 4-day winter mini expedition. All necessary gear, equipment, travel costs, and course fees will be provided to the recipient thanks to generous donations from ALLIED and Helly – both of which have been longtime supporters of Larsen and his expeditions.

Larsen, a polar adventurer, expedition guide, and educator, has spent the past 20 years traveling in some of the most remote and extreme environments on the planet. To date, Eric has completed more North and South Pole expeditions than any other American in history.

“We realize that while many people are interested in participating in this type of experience, there are certain barriers – be it financial, perceived physical ability, or concerns about the cold – that can often seem insurmountable,” says Larsen. “Our goal is to give someone an adventure of a lifetime, no matter what their obstacle may be.”

Larsen has long been a perfect fit to represent ALLIED, with their focus on comfortably getting folks out into the cold, and they’re excited to help one more person enjoy the polar experience. “When Eric approached us about this scholarship, it was a no-brainer for us,” says Matthew Betcher, ALLIED’s creative and marketing director. “Every new person who gets to experience this spectacular environment is one more person who will want to help maintain this and other extreme, remote arctic landscapes – and that’s a win for all of us. But many people could never experience this type of adventure, for a number of reasons, so we wanted to help at least one be able to. And we certainly plan to continue this in the future.”

The course is designed to teach the skills associated with modern-day polar travel, while completing a ‘mini’ expedition in conditions nearly identical to the poles. This adventure will provide a challenging, yet safe, opportunity to experience the many facets of expedition life.

Interested people can learn more and apply here. The deadline to apply is Friday Dec 22nd, 2017.  The winner will be selected from an array of criteria and will be selected on December 29th, 2017.

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About ALLIED Feather & Down:

ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for 30 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces.  To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.

About Helly Hansen

Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional-grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive. Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics almost 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with Lifa® Stay Dry Technology, and today’s award winning and patented H2Flow® temperature regulating system.

Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its ski uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 50,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world. Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries and trusted by outdoor professionals and enthusiasts around the world. To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com

About Eric Larsen

Polar adventurer, expedition guide, and educator, Eric Larsen has spent the past 20 years traveling in some of the most remote and extreme environments on the planet. To date, Eric has completed more North and South Pole expeditions than any other American in history. Included in that list are the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole as well as a world record expedition to the South Pole, North Pole and top of Mt. Everest all within a 365-day period. In May of 2014, Eric and team mate Ryan Waters traveled unsupported from northern Ellesmere Island to the Geographic North Pole in 53 days in what realistically will be the last North Pole expedition in history. The journey was featured on Animal Planet in the the US and Discovery Channel globally and in his book On Thin Ice: An Epic Final Quest into the Melting Arctic. Eric has dedicated his adult life to sharing his love for the outdoor world with others.