In November, Matthieu and Heïdi embarked on a groundbreaking three-month expedition in Antarctica, kite-skiing across the continent using radar technology to analyse its ice.
This pioneering journey is the first of its kind, and the data they gather will play an important role in deepening the scientific community’s understanding of climate change and its global impact. This initiative reflects Rothschild & Co’s commitment to help promote insight and analysis that is critical for the sustainability transition, to nurture awareness and curiosity about climate solutions, and to support inspiring change-makers around the world.
Matthieu Tordeur is an adventurer, author, and speaker, and a member of the French Society of Explorers. A graduate of King’s College London and Sciences Po Paris, he has led expeditions in over 90 countries across all continents - by bike, kayak, skis, sailboat, and even in a vintage 4L car.
In 2019, he became the first French person, and the youngest person in the world, to reach the South Pole solo, unsupported and unassisted, after a 51-day expedition.
Dr. Heïdi Sevestre is a French glaciologist, polar expedition leader, and committed science communicator. Originally from Haute-Savoie in the French Alps, she grew up surrounded by mountains, with a passion for skiing, mountaineering, and nature.
After studying geography in Lyon and earning a master’s degree in glaciology in Wales, she completed a PhD on Arctic glaciers at the University Centre in Svalbard - the northernmost university in the world.
Officially supported by UNESCO and endorsed by the French government, this mission seeks to map the Antarctic ice sheet to predict its contribution to sea level rise and future climate patterns. From November 2025 to January 2026, Matthieu and Heïdi will cross Antarctica from east to west by kite-ski, completely alone, facing extreme conditions that can reach -50°C. Using an onboard radar, they will analyse ice layers up to 130,000 years old, providing unprecedented data for climate research.
You can see their path on the map and follow their journey in real-time here.
Matthieu Tordeur and Dr. Heïdi Sevestre starting their expedition.
The three-month expedition will see them kite-skiing across Antarctica.
The team will use radar technology to analyse its ice, and gather data.
This will deepen the understanding of climate change and its global impact.
They will face extreme conditions, with temperatures that can reach -50°C.
