The Founder

Johnny Ward, a proud Irishman, spent the last 15 years of his life striving to be the first person ever to complete the ULTIMATE Explorers Grand Slam:

– Visit every country in the world

– Climb the 7 summits (highest peak on each -continent)

– Reach both the North and South Pole.

Coming from a tough background, and with little natural sporting talent, Johnny worked out along that way that success, contentment and happiness is directly correlated to the amount of suffering you’re willing to endure. But more than that, Johnny realised that there is no such thing as an ‘elite’ mentality. It’s a choice. And with a little nudge in the right direction, we’re all capable of being ‘elite’.

Once you drag yourself through the fire, you come out knowing you’re capable of so much more. With that, a series of events were created. To encourage everyone to seek the fire, and drag themselves through it. Johnny offers that nudge. Consider this your nudge right now. See you in the desert.

Why The Eye of the Sahara Ultra?

First, why create a event designed to make you suffer? Well, first of all it’s because I know everyone is capable of so much more than they believe. I also know that you’ll hate me for 71 hours of the 72 hour event. And that’s ok. I know at the other side, you’ll be a new person. With bigger dreams, bigger goals, and more self belief than you thought possible. That’s why.

And why Mauritania? Why the Eye of the Sahara? Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all, right? So what screams true adventure more than the depths of the Sahara, in one of the least visited countries in the world, 100miles of soft sand, and a starting point being ‘The Eye of the Sahara’. Visible from space, and said to hold the secrets to the Lost City of Atlantis. Pretty cool.