Lecturer set for record ski-sail bid in the South Pole

SEPANG: Universiti Teknologi Mara sports lecturer Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir has left for Santiago, Chile, in her bid to become the first Malaysian and first Asian woman to ski-sail from the South Pole to Hercules Inlet on the western edge of Antarctica. 

The 39-year-old will make a courtesy call on Chilean President Ricardo Lagos on Saturday and then receive a time capsule from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is in Santiago for the Apec 2004 Summit.The two leaders will then flag her off on her expedition. 

The capsule, which will contain a message from Abdullah, will be brought back to Malaysia in 2020.  

Sharifah Mazlina at the KLIAS before leaving for Santiago.

Sharifah Mazlina, who will begin her 1,100km, 30-day solo expedition on Dec 4, said she was looking forward to the task.  

“It is mid-summer and the sun will be out throughout the day in Antarctica,” she added at the KL International Airport on Tuesday night. 

Sharifah Mazlina said after two years of training she was confident of achieving the feat.  

“I am mentally and physically prepared. I will be ski-sailing (skiing without poles and relying on a sail for propulsion) a minimum of 40km each day over a period of between seven and eight hours,'' she added.  

Malaysians can send their well-wishes to her at her website www.sharifahantartic.com.