A PROPERTY developer from Huddersfield is set to become one of the first Britons to kite ski north to south across Greenland.

Huddersfield-born Mike Dann, 34, who runs his own property development company in the town, will raise money for charity.

Mike and friends Simon Edmundson and Tim Tottenham are braced for the toughest weather conditions.

The Polar Ice Greenland 2013 expedition will cover almost 1,500 miles, take place in temperatures of –40°C with winds of up to 80 mph and could last up to six weeks.

Kite skiing is similar to kite surfing but takes place over snow rather than the sea. Speeds of up to 30 miles per hour are possible in good conditions.

The team members will spend from 12 to 14 hours a day on the ice focused on maintaining control of their kite and sledge, which weighs up to 120 kilos.

The gruelling challenge will see them burn 7,000 calories a day so they will eat a high fat diet including chocolate, nuts and salami!

Mike hopes to raise more than £30,000 for two charities, The Dallaglio Foundation and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

Established in 2009 by Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England rugby captain, the Dallaglio Foundation identifies, supports and raises funds for youth causes.

MAG has been a world leader in the clearance of landmines, unexploded ordnance and weapons left behind after conflict, working in 40 countries since 1989.

The three men are among only a handful of Britons experienced in kite skiing and Mike said: “The expedition is hugely physically and mentally demanding.

“A change in weather conditions – sudden snowfalls, strong winds or even abnormally warm weather – can quickly threaten progress and the team is totally reliant on its combined skill and experience to survive.”

The team is not relying on additional support or back up.

Each member will pull all his equipment, food and fuel for the entire trip, set up camp at the end of the day, prepare his meals and break camp the following morning.

At home in Cambridge, Simon’s father Henry Edmundson will act as base camp manager and will keep daily contact with them by satellite telephone.

“We’ve spent months planning the venture and training, building our strength and endurance,” said Mike.

“We now hope we can put all our work to good use by raising money for The Dallaglio Foundation and Mines Advisory Group, two causes which mean a great deal to us.”

The duration and extreme nature of the expedition set it apart from other ventures for charity, which typically cover less distance in a much shorter time frame and demand far less fitness and mental focus.

Each team member has extensive mountaineering and polar travel experience and as team ATP won the 2006 Polar Challenge and completed a 30 day expedition on the Greenland Ice Cap in 2010.

Mike was born in Huddersfield and attended Bradford Grammar School.

Growing up he spent much of his spare time exploring the Yorkshire Dales while developing a passion for the mountains and outdoors.

From 1998–2002 he completed a Masters of Engineering degree at Imperial College, London, and became a member of the London Army Officers’ Training Corps where Tim was his physical training instructor.

He also climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska with Simon. McKinley – also known as Denali – is the highest peak in North America at 6,196m.

In 2003 Mike was the expedition leader during a two-man team hike up Mt Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, at 5,642m.

The expedition team will depart for Narsaq, Greenland, in the south on Friday April 12 and finish at Qaanaaq in the north.