Jade's Polar Quest

Teen wants to become youngest person in history to achieve North Pole feat

Jade Hameister news

JADE Hameister likes to dream big — and doesn’t let anything get in her way.

From the moment she took her first steps at nine months, to when she was six and hiked up Mt Kosciuszko and competed in the first of many triathlons, her proud parents knew their was no holding her back.

And now, at just 14, she is on a mission to become the youngest person in history to trek on skis across the treacherous floating ice of the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole.

The Haileybury school year 9 student knows the biggest risks are frostbite and hypothermia as the temperatures drop as low as -40C; along with thin ice and even polar bears.

But she says she is up for the challenge, with no nerves in sight.

“I’m very excited and can’t wait to go — it’s the ultimate trip,” Jade told the Sunday ­Herald Sun during a training session on Thursday, where she dragged a tyre along Sandringham beach to simulate the sled she will have to pull on the 225km ice trek.

Jade hopes her journey will inspire and empower young women to be more active and chase their dreams.

“After this trip I’d like to be known as a role model to young women,” she said.

The North Pole mission will take 20 days and will be the first of three expeditions she hopes to conquer as part of her 2000km Polar Quest.

She will take on the Greenland Crossing in April next year, followed by the South Pole over the 2017 Christmas holidays.

Her father, Paul, who in 2011 became the 68th Australian to reach the summit of Mt Everest, will be with her every step of the way.

“As a parent, there was a lot of research done into this trip looking at is it responsible, what are the risks,” Mr Hameister said. “But I have no doubt that she can do this. She’s a pretty unique 14 year old.”

With only three weeks left until she leaves the country, Jade has been putting her body through the paces, taking on a gruelling physical training program six days a week.

Her polar journey will be filmed and form part of a ­National Geographic documentary, which is expected to air in July as part of a series on inspiring young women around the world.

Follow her journey at

jadehameister.com

Article courtesy of news.com.au rebekah.cavanagh@news.com.au