NEWPORT adventurer Richard Parks will make his second attempt at his Antarctic speed record challenge, after having to stop the first attempt due to severe weather.

The Argus reported on Tuesday how the former Welsh rugby international had to postpone the attempt to break Christian Eide’s Antarctic speed record, three days into the challenge, due to the weather deteriorating badly.

But on Twitter yesterday (Weds), Parks said conditions had been good with high winds.

He tweeted: “Have decided to take a rest day today & rest up. Starting at 10am GMT 2moro.”

He added: “Time to get back to work! #Antarctica #solospeedrecord”

Parks wrote on his blog that he was “gutted” to have to stop his first attempt to complete the 1,150km (715 mile) journey in 23 days.

But the weather had made it “impossible” to ski the miles he needed to and led to him making the decision to return to the starting base with the hope of starting the challenge as soon as conditions improved.

Eide set a new world record for the challenge in January 2011 of 24 days, 1 hour and 13 minutes.

Parks’ challenge is part of a two-part quest known as Project X. Following his Antarctic speed record expedition, 2014/2015 will see him attempt to complete the longest solo, unsupported and unassisted Antarctic journey in history. This expedition will also have a unique twist, which is to be revealed next year.