Arab Woman's Outback Adventure

With only a backpack, a compass and a map, Lebanese national Alissar Al Baba will brave 700km of Australian outback in order to become the first Arab woman to champion one of the most demanding adventure races on the planet.

The 29-year-old Dubai resident says a year spent training in the scorching aridity of Dubai will help her captain a team of four through "reef, rainforest and outback" toward the finish line this summer.

Alissar's Team Arabia – the only Middle East entry of 80 challenging teams competing on August 20-31 in what's known as Expedition Adventure Race Australia or XPD – will embrace up to 10 days of gruelling physical exertion to claim personal and, perhaps, world bests.

Winners are expected to complete the race in as little as six days.

"The interesting thing is that this is a multi-discipline sport that involves trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and snorkelling, with a focus on navigation," said Alissar. "You're not given a track to follow. No GPSs are allowed and you have to find your own way there."

Each of the four stages is designed to test the mind, body and team spirit as each group slogs its way through the Queensland bush.

The race begins with a 200km walking trek followed by 400km of mountain biking. The third 150km stage is all upper-body work via paddling in kayaks. The fourth and final stage involves snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef, the largest living organism on the plant, through the Whitsunday Islands.

"The course is kept secret up to 24 hours before the race begins," said Alissar. "But we have to meet all of the checkpoints along the way."

Alissar said she is pleased to be the first Arab woman to compete in such a race. "As far as we know, there is no other female Arabian captain competing in adventure racing."

A regular fixture on local Dubai beaches training in her red kayak, Alissar is aware of the dangers that lurk in the tropical backwoods of Australia from snakes and insects to misadventure from falls and accidents.

"We will take our own medical supplies. At least two team-mates must have first aid training," she said. Each team will also be provided with an emergency phone to be used only in the direst situations.

Organisers of the XPD race will equip each team with electronic transponders to track them through the outback by satellite.

Alissar will be joined by team-mates John Falchetto, Chris Caul and Greg Antunes.

* To follow the teams' progress log on to www.xpdarabia.blogspot.com

The Race Is On