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In between a super busy race schedule, we managed to catch up with the recently voted National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Kilian Jornet. The Suunto ambassador shares his thoughts on adventure, reveals who his heroes are, and what Apps he never hits the trails without. Congratulations! Thanks! It's great to be an ambassador for running and mountaineering and to see these sports get recognised. And if I can inspire other people to fulfil their dreams, that's really motivating. What are you up to right now? I'm very busy. It's the middle of the ski mountaineering season and I have two world cup races coming up. I'm really doing a lot of meters now for the next month and a half. And then? I go to McKinley (Denali) in June and then Aconcagua in winter to continue my Summits of My Life project. “The summit is just an excuse; it's more about the way, and not the goal.” What is your definition of adventure? Adventure for me is about discovery. It's about going to new places, whether physical places or new sensations that you haven't experienced before. You can go to the high mountains but if you have all the information, it may not be an adventure. Equally, you can go behind your house and if you don't know what's there, then it can turn into an adventure because you're going somewhere unknown. When you want to explore, adventure comes. Do you see yourself as an adventurer? People like to give labels but I don't think like that. I feel like a person who simply loves the mountains.  You have a huge fanbase. But who are your heroes? When I was a kid, I was always looking to the big mountaineers like Walter Bonatti or Reinhold Messner but also people like Ueli Steck are a huge inspiration. Bonatti started the idea of light alpinism and Messner did the same in the Himalayas and Ueli is taking it one step further. The summit is just an excuse; it's more about the way, and not the goal. Favorite App? I use Current Incline for when I'm climbing or skiing, Total Ascent-Descent for counting the meters - I will do up to 700,000 a year - and Vertical Speed. I really like the way I can personalize my Ambit to have just the sports I want.  Next year you plan to climb Mt Everest. After that...? I don't know, I will see what I will do. It's important to have goals but also listen to the feelings of today and stay in the moment. For me, adventure and exploring is more than just achieving a list of things. Get more adventure on our Facebook page. Find out and follow Kilian's next adventures on his website www.kilianjornet.cat.

Greg Hill plans to ascend 100,000m in a month. It's a challenge that will test his mind and body to the absolute limit and demand all his powers of endurance to succeed. As yet, he doesn't know if it's possible. In March Suunto ambassador Greg Hill will attempt to ski 100,000 vertical meters. That's up, as well as down. If he pulls it off, it will be an awe-inspiring achievement. What makes it all the more challenging is that these will not be repeated ascents on well-groomed pistes at his local ski resort. Instead, in true Suunto style, the ascents will be made in the heart of Canada's backcountry wilderness. Greg will be exploring new lines and making first descents. Nothing will be repeated. “I've always been curious about my human potential and to see what I can do,” Greg says in his new video about the project. “I'm a little scared. There are avalanches, there are injuries, there are lots of things that could happen. But I'm going to try.”  But if there's anyone who has a chance of pulling it off it's Greg Hill. In 2010, he skied 610,000m (2 million ft) in a year. He has also skied 15,000m (50,000ft) in a month. He'll use his Suunto Ambit2 to record his ascents. The challenge – in which he’ll struggle to eat enough food to maintain body weight while burning thousands of calories per day – will almost certainly be a first in ski mountaineering. It will require him to spend every waking hour of every day climbing, skiing, eating and traveling and will also involve considerable logistical planning. “It's intimidating,” he acknowledges. The challenge will take place in the 38-year-old's backyard — a remote part of British Columbia, Canada. It's the ideal playground. “There are so many un-skied mountains and lines in the Canadian wilderness around my home. It's just waiting to be explored,” he says. Check out the video and Greg's website for more details on the project. We'll also be sharing updates on our Facebook page.

A team of French explorers has set sail on an ambitious scientific expedition to chart the western coastline of Greenland from both above and below the waterline. The group set off from Concarneau, France on January 16th and will spend the next 22 months on the expedition. The first phase will see them sailing up the west coast of Greenland, carrying out detailed surveys before wintering on the boat in the Nares Strait. A third phase, from March to June next year, will the see them undertake a 600 km adventure as they cross northern Greenland with Inuit and dogs. “It's an amazing dream come true,” says expedition leader Ghislain Bardout. The expedition website reveals the many goals of the expedition: “Under The Pole is a series of submarine polar expeditions aiming at exploring the hidden face of Arctic polar regions. We will explore the coastal ice sheet, open sea ice sheet, glacier fronts, icy fjords and the continental shelf between the polar circle and the north of Greenland.” Suunto is pleased to be an expedition partner and is supplying the team with a range of products. The scientific aims of the expedition include listing the polar submarine biodiversity during a complete season to a depth of 130 m and studying the relations between atmosphere, ice and the ocean. Stay tuned for updates from the team. All images © Emmanuelle Périé / Under The Pole

Freediving is a sport that attracts some of the most unique athletes on the planet — men and women who can hold their breath for several minutes and plunge to impossible depths of the sea. This weekend sees the start of one of the highlights of the freediving calendar — the Suunto Vertical Blue. On November 9th, 36 athletes from 16 countries will join the event host and dual world record holder, William Trubridge, to compete in the nine day competition at Dean’s Blue Hole, Bahamas. Along with an unmatched location at the world’s deepest underwater sink hole, Suunto Vertical Blue offers the prospect of battles between the world's top freedivers. Among those attending this year is Alexey Molchanov, the current world record holder in Constant Weight (CWT). His record breaking dive to an astounding depth of 128 meters (420 ft) is held in awe by the freediving community but there are hints of greater depths to come. Pursuing him is William Trubridge, current world record holder in the disciplines of CNF and FIM. Trubridge has his eye on reclaiming his national record in CWT as well as challenging his own, legendary CNF record of 101 meters (331ft). Says organizer William Trubridge: “The biggest names in men's freediving will be there and will go to their body's absolute limit in order to secure a title or medal! But Suunto Vertical Blue is more than just a competition — it has a convivial atmosphere that makes it special. We have people who haven't trained for long and are diving to 30-50m, right up to the biggest names in the sport, who are setting national or world records at almost every event.” Freedive depth disciplines consist of three categories:Constant Weight No Fins (CNF): The freediver descends and ascends without any assistance (only using arms and legs without fins). Constant Weight with Fins (CWT): The freediver descends and ascends using fins/monofin and the use of arms. Free Immersion (FIM): The freediver dives without the use of fins/monofin, but pulls a rope during descent and ascent. Says Trubridge: “CNF and CWT are the two most popular disciplines. CWT gives the deepest performances, while CNF is seen as the purest expression of human aquatic potential. FIM is more of a relaxed discipline, but there are definitely some very serious practitioners there as well!” He adds that the sport has moved away from 'sled-diving' — where freedivers use artificial means such as a weighted sled and balloons to descend and ascend. It is seen as a more dangerous fringe activity and is not a discipline at regular freediving events. Comments Mika Holappa, Business Unit Director, Suunto Dive: “Suunto Vertical Blue is a really unique competition. Dean's Blue Hole is an amazing location and the freedivers are some of the most inpiring athletes around. We're very pleased to be supporting this event once again and wish everyone the best of luck.” Competitors have six official dives to challenge themselves and their rivals to obtain the coveted Suunto Vertical Blue Championship title. There are also significant prizes on offer — including a purse of almost $20,000 in cash, as well as a selection of Suunto D4i and D6i dive computers. For daily updates, latest news and spectacular images, check out the Facebook fanpages of Suunto Diving and Vertical Blue.