Doug Stoup at South Pole   DOUGLAS STOUP BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN MAN TO SKI TO THE SOUTH POLE Amundson-Scott South Pole Research Station -- January 20, 2001 -- An American completed a 730-mile trek across Antarctica to become the first man to reach the South Pole on skis. Stoup, Santa Monica, CA, departed the Hercules Inlet more than two months earlier with Damien Giden, Australia, Miles Hilton-Barber, England and Jon Cook. Hilton-Barber was attempting to become the first blind person to ski to the South Pole but severe frostbite ended his bid 250 miles into the expedition. Hilton-Barber was flown out via rescue plane from Patriot Hills. Continuing the journey with Giden and Hilton-Barber's sight guide Cook, Stoup averaged 15 miles per day towing a sled laden with supplies. Stoup planned to return to the base camp, alone and unassisted, riding a custom ice-bike but delays, including winds exceeding 100 mph, led him to postpone the attempt.