Stephanie Ho: Adventurer and Endurance Athlete Skiing Solo to the South Pole & Pushing Beyond Limits
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Stephanie Ho is a 24-year-old adventurer, endurance athlete, and exercise physiologist based on the Gold Coast, Australia. From rock climbing and ocean swimming to triathlons and mountain expeditions, Stephanie has always chased the outdoors — but her biggest goals lie in the polar regions.
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Stephanie shares her journey from discovering hiking and camping as a teenager to trekking Everest Base Camp, running 43km a day for a week, and skiing 540km across Greenland. She opens up about the mental and physical challenges of polar expeditions, the lessons she’s learned in extreme environments, and what it takes to keep motivation alive when the goal seems impossible.
Stephanie is now preparing for a solo 1,200km expedition to the South Pole in 2026 — hauling a 100kg sled through temperatures as low as -50°C — a feat that, if successful, will make her the first Australian woman to achieve it. Along the way, she talks logistics, training, nutrition, dealing with fears and unsolicited advice, and the importance of listening to your body while chasing what sets your soul on fire.
This conversation is a masterclass in mental toughness, gratitude, and stepping beyond your comfort zone. Stephanie’s story will inspire you to dream big, push limits, and embrace adventure — no matter your age or background.
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Show notes
Who is Steph
Being based on the Gold Coast, Australia
24 years old
Working as an exercise physiologist - both in the office and in a clinical setting
Her love for any activity that is outdoors from rock climbing to hiking, cycling, ocean swimming, skiing and doing triathlons
Her main goal is to train for big skiing expeditions and big mountain expeditions
Her early memories and not being encouraged to be that active
Growing up as an only child
Wanting to do more running
How things changed at 14 and going camping for the first time in her life
Finding friends who wanted to go hiking and camping
Heading over to Nepal to do the Everest base camp after graduating high school
Wanting to spend some time alone reflecting on the past 18 years
Having a good reset before starting university
Why her trip to Nepal was so formative
Trekking to Everest Base camp in Winter
Getting up to 5,500 metres
Climbing Kala Patthar, Nepal
Enjoying being in the cold, remote environment
Knowing that her next big adventure was going to be Antarctica
Starting to plan her training trips to Norway and Greenland
Having everything put on hold until 2023
Doing her Polar Training course in Norway
Skiing across Greenland in 2023
Doing more solo expeditions in the polar regions
Planning to head to the South Pole at the end of 2026
Polar training and the lessons learned
Being part of a team to do the Greenland crossing in May 2023
30 days on the ice - starting on the west coast and heading to the East coast
Learning how to cope in the cold and the wind
Dealing with polar thigh
Why the journey has been rewarding and feeling a lot of pride with what’s been achieved.
Thinking about what’s next and struggling to be satisfied with the achievements
Running for 43k a day for 7 days…
Learning how to suffer mentally while out on the ice
Staying positive and the other lessons learned to help mentally
Practicing gratitude and being grateful for where she it
Keeping the motivation alive
The logistics and finances to pay for the expedition
Working with ALE
Training and what that looks like
Recovery and paying more attention to nutrition
Being vegetation, but eating some white meat, such as chicken and fish
Having cold showers
Concerns and fears to mange before the trip
Managing unsolicited opinions and advice
How to connect with Stephanie
Advice to motivate and inspire other women to step outside their comfort zone
Don’t be afraid of what other people might think of you.
Listening to your body and what you want to do
Do something that sets your soul on fire.
Social Media
Website: solosouth.com.au
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