As CEO of the Adventure Racing World Series (AR World Series), Heidi Muller has expanded this global series of Adventure Racing events by building relationships, sharing her knowledge and experience, mentoring race directors, and infusing her commitment to the sport into every interaction. With more than 25 years in sport and business, navigating the way forward for the global AR World Series brand is a new era for this visionary businesswoman.
Heidi’s start in sport began with track (SA Hurdles champion) and netball. But it was her work in modelling and the winning of pageant titles, that led to Heidi competing in the Miss South Africa pageant. As the Runner-up, Heidi’s world opened wide, and her life became immersed in fashion, beauty, modelling, and world travel. She started her first company in the business of coordinating and producing events and shows.
Although Heidi studied Business Management, she comes from an entrepreneurial home. Her parents led by example by carving their own route to build businesses. Heidi and her two brothers inherited their spirit of innovation and creativity, and the fortitude to work hard, strive for excellence and to pursue their dreams.
Athletic and fit, Heidi was introduced to the sport of Adventure Racing by her then-boyfriend, now husband, Stephan Muller. For 10 years, she raced competitively in South Africa and at international expedition-length adventure races.
Heidi’s love of Adventure Racing turned into a full-time job when the concept of Expedition Africa was conceived. For 15 years, she has been whole-heartedly invested in growing the sport in South Africa by organising multiple events of varying distances each year, in addition to the annual, expedition-length Expedition Africa. This multi-day, international race has been held in different countries including South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Rodrigues Island and India.
In October 2023, Heidi welcomed the Adventure Racing World Championship to South Africa when the 11th edition of Expedition Africa proudly hosted over 100 four-person teams from 32 nations. In 2024 this multi-day event was held in Namibia, the country of Heidi's birth, after which ownership of Expedition Africa was passed to new owners. Heidi and family have now moved to a new life in Australia and Heidi devotes her time and energy to growing the ARWS.
Philanthropy is important to Heidi. Her events contribute to the communities through which they pass, whether she commissions local artisans to create event trophies and memorabilia, incorporates cultural sites and projects in the race, utilises communities or donates to schools.
As CEO of a global company, Heidi balances her responsibilities to AR World Series, multinational meetings across time zones, and directing her adventure races with being a mother of three; two of her children are still in primary school. Her husband Stephan shares her passion for Adventure Racing. He is the Course Director of the events that they organise. She appreciates his support as she steers the global company and brand of AR World Series forward.
Heidi’s superpower is the ability to bring people together, to harness their skills, and to unite their efforts to create a masterpiece. She does this for her own adventure racing events as well as those that she mentors and consults. Heidi also encourages and empowers women to take up leadership roles in Adventure Racing.
Heidi enthuses an energy and deep knowledge for the complex sport of Adventure Racing. Her ambitious drive together with her experience in business, and as a competitor and Race Director establishes her pedigree and sets her apart as a woman leading the way with the global Adventure Racing World Series brand under her stewardship. The coming years will see her focus on growing and developing the sport into new countries and developing youth participation and competition.
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World Series CEO Heidi Muller Talks about Life, Family and Adventure Racing - Endurance Sportswire
Heidi Muller Leads a Buy Out to take the ARWS into a New Era
LATEST
NEWS
The latest rankings update has been published by the Adventure Racing World Series, with results included from 12 races since December 1st, covering global and regional races in Asia, Europe, Oceania and North and South America.
Tierra Indómita Vulcania was the 3rd Adventure Racing World Series Qualifier of the year, and the expedition race delivered everything promised by its intriguing title, taking teams into the untamed lands amongst the volcanoes of Chile.
La Ruta Madre Adventure Race is back for 2025 as an Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) Qualifier, the first ever to be staged in Mexico, and promises to deliver a technically challenging course in the mountains and canyons of Monterrey, Nuevo León.
The Adventure Racing World Series Africa calendar for 2025 includes 5 events in a selection of stunning locations and is supported by Merrell South Africa, who are proud to invest in this healthy and thriving community.
The third edition of the Legend Expedition adventure race delivered a wild and spectacular course in Southern Tasmania, with teams relishing a 500km course full of varied terrain and navigational challenge.
The first South American Qualifier in this year’s Adventure Racing World Series will be Tierra Indómita – Vulcania, taking place amongst the snow-capped volcanoes and ancient araucaria forests on the Andean border of Chile and Argentina.
After a one-year sabbatical, Southern Africa’s iconic Expedition Africa adventure race will return with their ‘Back to the Berg’ themed event.
The Legend Expedition Race starts on Sunday March 2nd from the town of Huonville in Southern Tasmania and sees Adventure Racing World Series competition return to the island for the first time since the 2018 XPD race.
Team Brazil Multisport proved once again that they are the toughest and fastest adventure racing team in South America, but this time the world #3 ranked team faced a tough fight and the race was very close until the finish line.
The first-ever Ratel Expedition Adventure Race will take place in the Richtersveld, the ‘holy grail’ of adventure destinations in Africa. The race takes place from June 4-15th and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore one of the natural wonders of the world.
Raid Témiscamingue in Canada is offering free registration, travel and accommodation to two international teams for their race this year
NthAdventure in association with the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, is hosting the 3rd National Adventure Racing Championship in Arunachal Pradesh in a picturesque destination called “Mechukha”