Two generations of Australian polar adventurers are set to be recognised as part of the world's elite Arctic and Antarctic conquerors, by completing the 'polar hat-trick' and joining an esteemed marathon club in the coming months.
Melbourne schoolgirl Jade Hameister, 16, is scheduled a trek to the South Pole next month and become the youngest person in history to complete the polar hat-trick: a three-pronged challenge to ski to the North Pole, cross the world's largest icecap in Greenland and trek to the South Pole.
Meanwhile, Brisbane man Carlo Tonini, 50, will tackle The Ice Marathon in Antarctica this coming Friday, which will see him inducted into the Seven Continents Marathon Club and become only the 210th member.
The entry requirements for the exclusive club are for members to have run a marathon in each continent.
Mr Tonini's journey began in 2010, when a friend doubted he could ever run a marathon.
"I'm the type of guy who lives to try crazy things and you don't say things like that to me," he said.
Since then he has completed the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, New York Marathon, London Marathon, Great Wall of China Marathon, Big Five Marathon in South Africa and Inca Trail Marathon in Peru.
On November 24 he will tackle the Ice Marathon in Antartica and next year he hopes to conquer the North Pole Marathon.
Once the North Pole challenge has been completed, Mr Tonini will also join the Marathon Grand Slam Club, which only has 101 other members and requires them to have run a marathon in each continent as well as the Arctic.
"From a personal perspective, it's going to be fantastic, not every person can lay claim to having done something only a handful of others have completed," he said.
"In my opinion, there is no such word as 'can't'. I like to say 'if you think you can, you will'."
However, this has not just been about proving a friend wrong as Mr Tonini has also raised more than $180,000 this year alone for cancer research through his marathons and other charity fundraiser - World's Biggest Dinner.
"My wife is an oncologist and the wife of a very good school friend died in 2013 from pancreatic cancer within a month or two of diagnosis," he said.
"I get more gratification from raising so much money for such a worthy cause and I hope it's helped the researchers."
When asked how he could possibly find a bigger challenge after completing eight marathons, Mr Tonini was adamant he would not sit back and relax.
"Once I've achieved grand slam, I'll still have the driving force do something," he said.
"I've started the World's Biggest Dinner concept and it's slowly growing so I hope to continue that.
"I don't want to walk away and say that's my job done, the challenges will continue."
Meanwhile, Ms Hameister has plenty of challenges ahead after her bid to become the youngest person in history to complete the polar hat-trick including success during her final schooling years and deciding what career path she wants to pursue.
Next month she plans to ski to the South Pole, having already trekked to the North Pole and crossed the world's largest icecap in Greenland.
Ms Hameister said adventure has always run in her family, with her dad having climbed the seven highest peaks on each continent - Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson and Carstensz Pyramid.
Her father accompanied her on every adventure and her 14-year-old brother has recently returned from an expedition to the Amazon.
Ms Hameister's love of adventure was ignited four years ago during a family trip to Everest base camp where she met plenty of inspiring people.
"I spent time with an Icelandic lady who inspired me to think about my journey. For me, it is about the adventure. The fact that not many people do this stuff."
Ms Hameister's journey towards completing the polar hat-trick began in April 2016 when she skied to the North Pole.
"It was amazing, the first of the three and I hadn't done anything like it before so it was an all-new experience," she said.
It took her 11 days to cover the 150 kilometres, with plenty of physical and mental challenges along the way.
"I had days where I asked myself why I was out there and doing this to myself, but the majority of the time I was enjoying myself."
In May this year, Ms Hameister conquered the 550-kilometre journey across Greenland in 27 days, despite being delayed at the start due to rain and a blizzard.
She also celebrated her 16th birthday on the ice in Greenland, with her dad having brought a present and card.
"The North Pole was floating sea ice, open water and compression zones. Whereas Greenland was land-based and I had to climb up 1500 metres before coming down the other side, encountering crevasses and polar bears along the way," she said.
"Similar to the North Pole, I had days where I didn't want to be out there. I was always in pain, struggling with the constant skiing motion and hauling the 80-kilogram sled."
Ms Hameister expects to complete the polar hat-trick in December by reaching the South Pole. She will then have to turn her attention to school.
"The next goal would be year 11 and 12 after that I seriously no idea," she said.
"I want to travel a lot. I don't really want to spend the rest of my life sitting behind a desk or doing a normal job."
