[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Hubner_Paul1.jpg” caption=”Paul Hubner, president of Baffin, will trek to the North Pole with his two teenaged sons in April. Photo courtesy of Paul Hubner.”]While most people head south for their winter vacations, Paul Hubner kept going until he reached one of the coldest places on Earth — the South Pole.

Hubner (B. Comm. '83), knows a thing or two about extreme weather conditions, having trekked to both Poles. He's also the president of Baffin, a Stoney-Creek-based manufacturer of “Polar Proven” footwear. Baffin produces about 1.5 million pairs of boots annually.

Hubner stands behind his products. He has worn Baffin boots on both of his polar expeditions. And he's not the only one.

“In the last five years, more people have stood on the North and South Pole in our boots than any other,” said Hubner.

Since returning from the South Pole last month, he is planning another expedition to the North Pole in April. This time, he will be accompanied by his sons Mark, a 19-year-old University of Guelph student, and 17-year-old Brent, making him the youngest person ever to ski to the North Pole. They will be led by expedition veteran Doug Stoup.

Hubner met Stoup at a tradeshow in 1999 and they have been friends ever since. There's even a Baffin boot named after Stoup with his signature embroidered on it. In April 2006, Stoup, Hubner and a team of local business people trekked to the North Pole and raised $500,000 for charity.

Hubner's training consisted of riding his mountain bike from his Burlington home to work three times a week, using an elliptical machine and dragging tires on a rope behind him to simulate pulling a sled. Not surprisingly, the tire exercise prompted comments and puzzled glances from passersby.

“Are you taking your tire for a walk?” someone asked.

They flew to Spitsbergen, Norway and from there took a plane to the 89th parallel where they skied to the North Pole.

Besides the harsh weather conditions, they faced numerous other challenges, such as shifting ice.

“We skied all day, camped at night, and when we woke up, we were further away from the Pole than when we started,” recalled Hubner.

They used their sleds to bridge cracks in the ice. When the crevasses were too wide, they had to ski around them, a process that diverted precious time and energy away from their intended destination.

Hubner is a man on a mission. Not only is he attempting to visit both Poles in one season, his expedition is raising money for Polar Bears International and charities that support young people in northern communities. He also wants to raise awareness of the effects of climate change.

The expedition is funded entirely by Baffin, so all funds raised will go to the charities. To make a donation, please visit www.baffin.com.