Mountaineering
Red Bull Meets: Saudi Arabia’s First Woman to Conquer Mount Everest
Raha Moharrak completed the Seven Summits in 2017. So what’s next for her after her last major mountain climb? We find out more.
Raha Moharrak is a perfect example of how nothing is impossible if you just put your mind to it.
The 31-year-old, Jeddah-born adventurer has cemented herself as one of the best-known mountaineers in the region, after becoming the youngest Arab and first-ever Saudi woman to conquer Mount Everest in 2013. And this year, she achieved her ultimate dream of completing the Seven Summits after achieving Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America.
While July’s climb was her last summit, Raha is now using her fame for good, embarking on various campaigns to raise awareness on the importance of being active, particularly amongst Saudi children and teenagers.
In May, she told CNN: “I'm really trying to change this mentality that sports is just for boys, sports is just football and medals and winning. It's not that. Which parent would not want their child to grow up healthy?”
We catch Raha for a five-minute chat to find out more about her fitness routine, as well as her plans for 2018.
You are a superwoman! Just when did you know you were born to do what you do?
Thank you for the lovely complement, but I’m hardly a super woman. It’s more like my superpower is being stubborn; there wasn’t really a specific time where I thought of myself as an adventurer. I have always been too curious for my own good, and too free-spirited for my own peace of mind.
Take us through your training routine ahead of a climb.
Each climb is different, the amount of time I spend preparing depends on the amount of time I took off between climbs and the difficulty of the expedition.
What fitness activities do you enjoy? What was essential in order for you to be able to do what you do?
There are four aspects that need to be addressed when you prep for a climb: straight conditioning, endurance and stamina, in addition to physical training. There’s a lot of practical experience that needs to be sharpened and always up to date.
How crucial is diet?
Diet isn’t only crucial when you need to exercise or train, it’s extremely crucial in life in general. You can do everything right, but eat all the wrong things and [you won’t] be happy or healthy. I always try to have a balanced diet, and I never starve myself because I feel it’s like a punishment. When you do physical activity, you can sometimes ‘indulge’ on cravings. So my diet plan isn’t just for when I climb, but for the everyday routine as well.
You were spotted at the Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi with TAG Heuer [in September, Raha became the first Arab female friend of the brand]. Tell us more! Are you a car nut?
I’m an absolute classic car nut! I drive a 1987 V8 5.6 and to be honest, I’m a sucker for speed and beautiful engineering. Cars are the perfect marriage of both.
Do you like any other types of outdoor/adventure?
Anything that is hyperactive and takes me outdoors, it makes me feel alive. From climbing, to horseback riding, to beach volleyball to running, as long as I have the sun on my face or the sand on my feet is something I love. As long as I’m doing something outdoor or I’m with my friends I love all kinds of outdoor activities.
What's next for you? Plans for 2018?
I think I’ll always have this insatiable love for adventure, but they don’t always come in physical mountain form or epic journeys across the globe. I think the greatest adventure I will ever live is my own life on my own terms. So in addition to feeding my curiosity, my next mountain is an emotional one in the form of a book.
And finally, tell us something about you that the public doesn’t know as yet.
I’m an introvert that plays an excellent extrovert. I have always been very shy, and I grew up to be the shy one in my family; not the attention-seeking one. It’s kind of odd that I now have this role in my life where I have gone outside of my comfortable introvert zone.
I always sit on my right side because I am pretty deaf in my left ear and I’m quite dyslexic. I’m [also] extremely claustrophobic, but other than that, nothing scares me more than boredom.