Braam Malherbe

About Cold Sweat

One hundred years ago, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen beat fellow explorer Robert Falcon Scott in a race to be the first man to reach the South Pole. Arriving 35 days after Amundsen, Scott and his team perished on their way back, whilst Amundsen returned to his native Norway a hero. 16 competitors from six nations relived this epic duel, and Urban Brew Studios produced a three-part documentary series, entitled Cold Sweat, to cover the event. 

 Representing South Africa was Braam Malherbe from Cape Town and Peter van Kets form East London. Both these extreme adventurers are no strangers to extreme firsts. In 2006, adventurer, conservationist and 50/50 presenter, Braam Malherbe and running partner, David Grier, achieved a world first by running the entire length of the Great Wall of China, a distance of 4, 218 km, at a pace of a marathon a day for 98 days. Again in 2008 the duo completed another world first by running the entire coastline from Namibia to Mozambique, a distance of 3,278 km.

Not to be outdone, in 2010, East London-based extreme adventurer, Peter van Kets, became the first African to complete an unsupported row across the Atlantic ocean when he spend 76 days alone in a seven meter boat, rowing more than 4 500 km. Both these men’s achievements speak of courage, passion, tenacity and the will to win, the very characteristics needed to succeed when they tackled their most recent extreme adventure in the toughest environment known to man: Antarctica.   

The competitors left Cape Town on the 19th of December on a flight to Novo, a Russian research station on the east coast of the Antarctic continent, and, after an initial training leg, the race started 10 days later. Covering a distance of 800 km to be the first to the South Pole, competitors raced unsupported, on foot and with cross country skis, hauling gear and provisions on what Van Kets describes as a “tupperware canoe”, otherwise known as a pulk which, when fully laden, weighs around 140 kg. 

At the start the actual race was expected to take around 25 days to complete. Competitors negotiated crevasses fields, blistering blizzards, lung conditions at 3000 meters above sea level on the high plateau on the way. Add to that a sun that never sets, temperatures as low as -45 degrees, emotional challenge and isolation, and you have an event that is undoubtedly the ultimate extreme endurance challenge set in the coldest, driest, and highest desert on the planet. 

Cold Sweat portrays the very personal journeys of these men and women, braving the unknown, tempting fate, and making history at the end of the world. As they follow in the footsteps of previous Antarctic explorers, they will reflect on those who made it out alive, and contemplate the stories of heroism of those who didn’t. This was undoubtedly an exercise in extreme endurance; only for the serious explorer that craves the call of the wild; who was willing to put life and limb at nature’s mercy in a quest to be the bravest and the best.   Danie Ferreira, executive producer at Urban Brew Studios, says Antarctica is the most beautiful and alluring mistress, and with your first encounter, there is no doubt that it will be love at first sight. But be aware, with no provocation whatsoever, she will change and she will break your heart. Cold Sweat will give viewers the precious opportunity to experience the extraordinary achievements of extraordinary people; to partake in both the pain and the glory; to feel the pride and the joy; and to marvel at the momentous.

About Braam Malherbe

He’s an extreme adventurer, international motivational speaker, youth developer, TV Presenter and author of the best seller “The Great Run” but most of all, he is a no-nonsense conservationist. Braam has an infectious energy that is fed by his life-long passion to protect the environment. He inspires countless others to do the same!

As an Honorary Ranger for South African National Parks, he has been involved in training rangers for counter poaching operations and co-founded the Table Mountain National Park’s Volunteer Firefighting unit in 2000 which he headed as CEO for 6 years.

For the past 15 years, Braam has worked extensively as a youth developer, facilitating outdoor leadership camps where he teaches children about their place in nature and survival skills. Through his guidance Braam empowers them to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. His mottos are: “the greatest gift in life is giving” and “nothing is impossible if you have big dreams”.

In 2006, he put his conviction to the test. Against our country’s top medical and sport experts’ advice, Braam Malherbe and running partner David Grier achieved a world first by running the entire length of the Great Wall of China, a distance of 4, 218 kms, at a pace of a marathon a day for 98 days. This expedition funded the inaugural mission for Operation Smile in South Africa, an international charity organization providing corrective surgery for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate disfigurements.

Only two years later in 2008, after serious knee surgery and his doctors saying he’d never run again, Braam and David completed another world first by running a “Smile around South Africa”, following the entire coastline from Namibia to Mozambique, a distance of 3,278 kms. Through these achievements in excess of R2.5 million was raised for Operation Smile. He proved yet again, that with a great purpose and conviction, our mind can overcome all imposed limitations.

He currently presents on the SABC2 nature programme 50/50. In his series, “Get Connected with Braam”, he motivates the audience to become aware of and appreciate the connection we all have with animals and our natural world.

As one of South Africa’s most sought after motivational speakers, Braam leaves his audiences not only inspired but empowered to embracing change as a process to greater personal fulfillment.

He is taking the ongoing assault on our country’s rhino population very personally and – in line with his lifelong campaign for the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity – is heading an international crusade to protect our precious wildlife.

Cold Sweat shows on 15 and 22 July at 18h00 on SABC 3.

Contact details:

Website: www.braammalherbe.com 

Facebook: Braam Malherbe – Extreme Conservationist

Twitter: @Braammalherbe