Expedition members Dixie Dansercoer and Sam Deltour appear on the surface as polar opposites. They represent two generations with Dixie aged 48 and Sam 25 years young. Dixie has been a long-time professional and Sam is still a medical student. Sam roams unencumbered with the world literally at his feet, while Dixie balances his precarious adventures with a family-life including 4 kids. Sam is a computer and technology wizard while Dixie is just happy to turn the device "on." But away from their strikingly clear differences, their minds think alike! Their focus is on the same goal and their energetic zest for adventure is as wild as ever. They both have the same passion for kiting, be it on the water or on snow. Humble world citizens as they are, they share a common awareness that they represent just minute specks among the vast human populace. With unconditional respect for both each other and for Mother Nature, and with a shared commitment to hard work and tenacious perseverance, they firmly hold the keys to a successful expedition!

Dixie Dansercoer

Born in 1962 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium.

 

Married to Julie Brown.

Father of four children: Jasper, Evelien, Thijs and Robin.

Sam Deltour

Born: 02-01-1985 in Roeselare, Belgium

 

currently resides in Leuven, Belgium

Medical student

Resume

  • Spent one year as an AFS exchange student in Moscow, Idaho, USA, 1980.
  • Completed his studies as an interpreter/ translator in Ghent, Belgium, 1984.
  • Two Round The World trips West to East and East to West, 1984-1986
  • Belgian windsurfing champion in the wave-riding discipline, 1987.
  • Climbing expedition Cho Oyu, Tibet, 1990.
  • Mount Kenya climb, N/E and S/W faces, Kenya, 1991.
  • World record holder (Guinness record) altitude mountain biking, Teide, Tenerife, 1991.
  • Winter ascent Mont Blanc, France, 1992.
  • Mount Fuji winter ascent, Japan, 1992.
  • Ironman (full triathlon) finisher, Australia and Belgium, 1993.
  • Organiser and participant "Karakoram Bike Adventure", 1200km through Pakistan and China, 1994.
  • Second place finisher Ultramarathon "La Transardennaise", 160 km, Belgium, 1994.
  • Polar trek Langjökul Glacier, Iceland, 1995.
  • Mount Cameroon climb, Cameroon, 1995.
  • Trans-Greenland expedition with Alain Hubert, 700 km on skis with powerkites, 1995.
  • Alpamayo trek and ascent Mount Pisco, Peru, 1996.
  • Mount Everest climb (camp two) and ascent of Island Peak, 1996.
  • Polar trek Spitsbergen, Svalbard, 1997.
  • South Through The Pole:Crossing of the Antarctic continent with Alain Hubert, World premier:4000 km skis and with revolutionary powerkites, including scientific research, 1997-98.
  • Antarctica 2000:Ascent of Mount Vinson with Julie Brown and polar trek Ellsworth Mountain Range with Rudy Van Snick, 2000.
  • The Ultimate Arctic Crossing:Attempted traverse of the Arctic Ocean from Siberia to Canada. With Alain Hubert. 69 days in autonomy. February - May 2002.
  • Barcelona Marathon, April 2003.
  • Sierre-Zinal Mountain Running Race, Switzerland, August 2003.
  • Les Templiers 65 kilometer mountain race, Nants, France, October 2003.
  • Bering Strait Odyssey:Attempt to cross the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia and back. With Troy Henkels. March - April 2005.
  • 100 km running race Bornem Belgium: 3rd place finisher, August 2006
  • Arctic Arc: succesfull crossing of the Arctic Ocean, from Siberia to Greenland, world premier 1800 km in 106 days, Februari-June 2007
  • In The Wake Of The Belgica: successful commemorative sailing expedition to the Antarctic peninsula. 7 crew members on the "Euronav Belgica" re-enacted the 20 landings made by Adrien the Gerlache 110 years prior. Pioneering sailing, wind-and kitesurfing, climbing and canoeing expedition, Sept 2007- may 2008
  • Double Marathon, Gondo Switserland (Simplon Pass), 9th place 2008

Publications

  • "Zwevend over de IJskap, Trans-Greensland Expedition 1995″, Ganda Publications (Dutch)
  • "Nothing is Real, account of the mishaps during the Everest Expedition 1996″, self-published (Dutch)
  • "In the Teeth of the Wind, South Through The Pole Expedition 1998″, Publisher Van Halewyck (Dutch, French, English)
  • "Hands of Ice, Hearts of Fire" 2000
  • "Shades of White, Antarctica 2000 Expedition", Publisher Van Halewyck (Dutch, French, English)
  • "Chaos on the Ice", attempt to cross the Arctic Ocean from Siberia to Canada 2002, Publisher Van Halewyck (Dutch, English and French)
  • "Brainstormen in een iglo", How to run your business like an expedition, Publisher Van Halewijck 2004 (Dutch)
  • "Een Passie Moet Je Volgen", motivational book, co-author Julie Brown 2002, Publisher Van Halewyck (Dutch)
  • "Milestones", artistic interactive workbook, together with Julie Brown and photographer Herman Vanaerschot, December 2003 (English and Dutch)
  • "Swept Away, adrift between Alaska and Siberia", Publisher Lannoo 2005. Book about the Bering Strait Odyssey 2005 (English and Dutch)
  • (Ant)Arctica: Inspirational photobook
  • "De diepvriesexpedities van Ollie en Eleonora", Publisher Davidsfonds 2008. Kids book on the Arctic and the Antarctic (Dutch)
  • "Het geheim van Antarctica", Publisher Standaard/Manteau 2008. Youth Adventure book (Dutch)

Expositions

  • "Het Laatste Kontinent" (1997-1998)
  • Sportimonium & Barometermuseum

Prizes won

  • First prize at the Mountain Film Festival, Trento Italy, for In the Teeth of the Wind 1998
  • First prize "La Toison d'Or du film d'aventure", Dijon France, for antarctica.org 1999
  • Klauwaert prize, recognition for representing the Flemish community in exceptional manner 2003
  • 2007 Winner of the Trento Fimlfestival: National Geographic price for best doccumentary

Ambassadorial functions

  • Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Belgium
  • Ambassador for Switzerland Tourism (Mountains and Nature)
  • Job@ ambassador VUM Media Group)
  • Crowne Plaza Maverick

Titles

  • Honorary citizen of Lubbeek, Belgium
  • Honorary citizen of Nieuwpoort, Belgium
  • Honorary citizen of Huldenberg, Belgium
  • Awarded by His Majesty King Albert II the title of High Officer in the Order of the Crown

Patronage

  • Patron of the Humboldt-penguins in the Sea Life Centre in Blankenberge, Belgium (2003)
  • Patron of the first Mt. Blanc expedition led by one-legged climber Kristien Smet (2003)
  • Patronage of the Agonquin Winter Crossing
  • Patron of the 2007 "Umicore Solar Team"
  • President of the jury for the Touring Explorer "Young Traveller Award"
  • President of jury for the Valvert Nature Film Festival
  • Patron of the Mongolia 2010 Expedition

Member of

  • the EOS magazine (American Scientific) advisory committee
  • the Swiss Alpine Club

Statues

  • "The Polar Traveler" in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, at the old Yacht HarborCoordinates:
    • North 51° 08′ 21
    • East 2° 44′ 23

Postal Products

www.polarcircles.cc

Resume

  • 1997: 50 km walking around Kluisbergen "Omloop Kluisbergen"
  • 2000: 15th Belgian championship cross-country running
  • 2001: 3rd Provincial championship cross-country running
  • 2000, 2001, 2006: Tour de Flanders for tourists
  • 2003: Graduated from high school. Greek-Mathemathics
  • 2003: Sierre-Zinal Mountain Running Race, Switzerland
  • 2004: Solo-hikes in the Belgian Ardennes in winter conditions.
  • 2005: West-highland way Schotland solo-hike in late fall
  • 2006, 2009: Run-bike-run, Leuven to Louvain-la-neuve
  • 2006: Saint-Pauls trail hike in Turkey
  • 2006: Polar trek Spitsbergen, Svalbard
  • 2006: 100 time ascent of Gasthuisberg by bike, 300 km
  • 2005-2006: Zwintriathlon, 1/4 triathlon
  • 2006: Bachelors degree in medicine
  • 2006: European Champion Canicross
  • 2006-2007: 7 month stay in Italian dog kennel
  • 2007: Gingin 200 mile sleddograce
  • 2008: Copper Basin 300 mile sleddograce
  • 2008: Tustumena 200 mile sleddograce
  • 2008: Iditarod 1000 mile sleddograce, only finisher with entire 16 dog team
  • 2009: Gingin 200 mile sleddograce
  • 2010: Copper Basin 300 mile sleddograce
  • 2010: Tustumena 200 mile sleddograce
  • 2010: Yukon Quest 1000 mile sleddograce
  • 2010: Iditarod 1000 mile sleddograce, most improved musher award Youngest musher to complete Yukon Quest and Iditarod in 1 year
  • 2010: Member Asteria-staff on "de Gerlache NE Greenland expedition".
  • 2010: Crossing of Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland.

www.samdeltour.be
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