ESCAPE THE CITY... ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM! your Take py! co FREE 30 pages n a h t More tion and ac ! nture adve
Valley of Trees
Desert Balloon Adventure Page 30-33
Rock Climbing
Myths vs. Truths
Page 23-25
Page 7-9
The Magazine and Online Portal for Outdoor Activities in the U.A.E. and the Border of Oman. Visit: www.OutdoorUAE.com
# 1 Feb. 2010
A Great Desert Destination P.29 Enjoy the cool & sunny weather!
Treasures You don’t need to search for
Simply register at www.outdooruae.com before March 11th 2010 or send an email (Subject: “I want to win!”) to raffle@outdooruae.com and win great prizes. The membership is absolutely free and offers a lot of extra options on the website, like uploading pictures or chatting on the forum.
Khasab Dhow Cruise
First Prize: Khasab Divers sponsored a one day Dhow cruise for you and up to 8 friends. Cruising through the amazning fjords of the Musandam mountains the experience of a lifetime. More info: www.khasabdiver.com
500 AED Voucher
Second Prize: Masaood Marine sponsored a 500 AED shopping voucher. Choose from a wide range of marine equipment, water sports gear and clothing. Check Al Masaood Marine Showroom or their website for the full product range. More info: www.masaoodmarine.com
Surf Lessons
Third Prize: Dubai Surf School sponsored surf lessons for beginners including rental of equipment. Enjoy the warm gulf waters and ride on a wave. More info: www.surfschooluae.com
All registered users of OutdoorUAE.com will be entered into the draw. The winner will be announced on OutdoorUAE.com and will receive a confirmation Email. Only valid Email address will be elligible. The prices can only be delivered to P.O. Boxes within the UAE. Any legal action is excluded. © 2009 All right reserved OutdoorUAE.com
Editorial First of all - Thank you, for taking one of our Magazines and for reading it. If you want to find more information, check out our website and discover the U.A.E. at www.OutdoorUAE.com. Everybody remembers those nice and uncomplicated years when we were young and went to school. The teachers asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up: Fire Fighters, Astronauts, Doctors, Adventurers. In my dreams I was one of these daredevils who was dragged from one adventure to the next. By the time you get older, your aspirations become more realistic and your dreams move more and more into the background. The adventurer of my dreams is a character which will never exist or survive in the real world. But why we shouldn’t keep striving towards our dreams? Why we shouldn’t try to realize at least some parts of our dreams? Dreams are a great, positive and motivating force! Why not start using and applying them to our lives and the real world? I asked myself all of these questions and couldn’t find an answer - why not? This was the birth of the idea: ‘OutdoorUAE’. Realizing one’s ideas and dreams is never easy, but with enthusiasm and a good plan, you can and will succeed. I strongly believe in this attitude: The only thing which can stop me from succeeding is myself. Since moving to Dubai and the birth of the idea, almost four years have passed, and I made the final decision to go through with my plan one year ago. Today I have the proof that realizing one’s dreams is possible. There have been a lot of sacrifices, relapses and risks along the way, for myself as well as the rest of the team. We have come so far and hope you will support us and allow our dreams to really come true -- making OutdoorUAE a success. Read the Magazine, visit the website, involve yourself and give us feedback or even contribute yourself, by writing something or sending us your favourite photos.
In Print:
Managing Editor Daniel Birkhofer
Graphic & Design RES Media
Senior Editor Bogdan Oanele
For advertisement & distribution enquiries contact: Tel: 04 32 33 701 Fax: 04 32 33 729 marketing@outdooruae.com
Editor Chantel Parise Marketing Gina Vaduva
Published by: RES Media P.O Box 215062 Dubai UAE
In Print & Editorial
Outdoor UAE is not simply the realisation of personal dreams, Outdoor UAE is a community, a community which is closely connected in support of each other. Share your knowledge, your experience, meet new people and experience the adventures which awaiting you right in your own backyard – our collective backyard, here in the UAE. We see our role in this community as the connecting hub and we will provide this service for free – no member fees to use the website, and even the Magazine will be distributed for free. I know as well as you, that we may never be the adventurer of our childhood dreams - but we can still have those adventures after work and on the weekends. So get your butt off the couch and get out! You will be surprised how much the U.A.E. offers. I look forward to meeting you somewhere in the desert, on the mountains or in the sea. Enjoy the Magazine, enjoy life and thank you all! Daniel
Managing Editor OutdoorUAE
Additional Note: This is the first issue of the Magazine and the website has only been online for a couple of months, therefore we are still looking for events, clubs, shops and everything related to outdoor activities. If there is any information which you can’t find or you have the feeling we missed something, please let us know. We are working hard on it, to provide as much information as possible, absolutely free. Feel free to contact us at anytime if you have a question - as my grandfather said: “There are no stupid questions only stupid answers!” – hesitate to question or comment at contact@outdooruae.com or call us at 04-3233701
The information contained is for general use only. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources, however the publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in this magazine is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. In no event will the publisher, its related affiliates or anyone else be responsible for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine. All contents are under copyrights and may not be reproduced in any kind without written permission. © 2010 RES Media Issue #I , 02/2010
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Content Content
In Print & Editorial
3
Event Schedule
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Content
Myths vs. Truths - Diving Product Check
Event Reviews Bull Fight
News & Notes
Reader Photos
Surfing People
Tips & Tricks
Rock Climbing
About OutdoorUAE.com Locations Route
Desert Balloon Adventure
Commercial Contacts
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Myths vs. Truths about Diving - P. 7-9
13 15 16 18 19
4x4 Recovery - Tricks - P. 21
DMX Race Series - Event Reviews - P. 12
20
23 27 28
Desert Balloon Adventure - P. 30-34
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Climbing in the UAE - P. 23-25
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Surfing in the UAE - P. 18
Event Schedule February/March
Event Schedule
Date:
Event Name:
Location:
Info & Contact:
Thu 18. Feb 2010 Fri 19. Feb 2010
Abu Dhabi Jet Ski Race
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club
www.dimc.ae
Thu 18. Feb 2010
YAS V8 400
Yas Marina Abu Dhabi
www.atcuae.ae
Fri 19. Feb 2010
RAK Half Marathon
Ras Al Kaimah
www.rakmarathon.org
Thu 18. Feb 2010 Fri 19. Feb 2010
Horse Race
Meydan Racecourse, Dubai
www.emiratesracing.com
Fri 19. Feb 2010
Motorcross UAQ Round 6
Umm Al Quaim Motorplex
www.motorplex.ae
Sat 20. Feb 2010
Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Championship 22ft
DIMC
www.dimc.ae
Sun 21. Feb 2010
Horse Race
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi
www.emiratesracing.com
Sun 21. Feb 2010
Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy
DIMC
www.dimc.ae
Tue 23. Feb 2010 every week
Bike Training Rides - Dubai Roadsters
Nadd Al Sheb
www.dubairoadsters.com
Thu 25 Feb 2010 Sat 27. Feb 2010
Abu Dhabi Yacht Show
Yas Marina Abu Dhabi
www.abudhabiyachtshow.com
Fri 26. Feb 2010
Horse Race
Jebel Ali Racecourse
www.emiratesracing.com
Fri 26. Feb 2010 every week
Bike Tour - Dubai Roadsters
Dubai or Hatta
www.dubairoadsters.com
Fri 26. Feb 2010
Motorcross DMX Round 6
Jebel Ali Motorcross Track
www.mydubaimotocross.com
Sat 27. Feb 2010
Dubai Wooden Powerboat Race
Mina Seyahi
www.dimc.ae
Sat 27. Feb 2010
Abu Dhabi Traditional Rowing Race
Dimc
www.dimc.ae
Sun 28. Feb 2010
Horse Race
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Abu Dhabi
www.emiratesracing.com
Thu 04. Mar 2010 Sat 06. Mar 2010
Wakeboarding Festival
Abu Dhabi Corniche
www.wakestock.ae
Fri 05. Mar 2010
Fujairah Traditional Rowing Race
Fujairah International Marine Club
www.dimc.ae
Sat 06. Mar 2010
Abu Dhabi Traditional Dhow Sailing Grand Prix (43ft)
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club
www.adimsc.ae
Sat 06. Mar 2010
2nd UAE BIATHLE CHALLENGE 2010
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai
www.biathleme.org
Sat 06. Mar 2010 Fri 12. Mar 2010
Dubai Polo Gold Cup
Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club
www.dubaipologoldcup.com
Tue 09. Mar 2010 Sat 13. Mar 2010
Dubai International Boat Show
Dimc
www.dimc.ae
Thu 11. Mar 2010
UAE Wooden Powerboats Championship
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club
www.adimsc.ae
Fri 12. Mar 2010
Zoggs Super Sports Tadpole Gala 2
Safa School, Dubai
www.supersportsdubai.com
Fri 12. Mar 2010 Sat 13. Mar 2010
Xcat World Powerboat Series - Heat1
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club
www.adimsc.ae
Sat 13. Mar 2010
President Cup Traditional Dhow Sailing Race 60ft
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club
www.adimsc.ae
Sat 13. Mar 2010
Abu Dhabi International Triathlon
Abu Dhabi
www.abudhabitourism.ae
Thu 18. Mar 2010 Fri 19. Mar 2010
Abu Dhabi Jet Ski Race
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club
www.adimsc.ae
Thu 18. Mar 2010 Sat 20. Mar 2010
Dubai International Horse Fair
DICC, Dubai
www.dwtc.com
Fri 19. Mar 2010
Mina Mile - Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Open Water Sea Swim - Race 3
Dubai
www.supersportsdubai.com
Fri 19. Mar 2010
Free Syle Driving
Umm Al Quaim Motorplex
www.motorplex.ae
• You can find more events and detailed information online at www.OutdoorUAE.com • Please send information about events to: events@outdooruae.com
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Myths vs. Truths - Diving
Myths vs. Truths Photo by: Leo Virgo
10 reasons why you should not learn to scuba dive! Scuba diving (like all adventure sports) is surrounded by myths and commonly accepted “reasons” of why this sport is too boring / difficult / expensive etc for the normal person to take up. Most of the myths are untrue, some are partly true and none of them is reason enough to stop any interested person from escaping from the hum-drum of normal life and entering a world that often goes unseen and unexplored by most people. Don’t let these common misconceptions hold you back! Join us in the wonderful underwater world, enter a new realm of experience and start to live! Myth: “Diving? - that sport is for safe, boring, old people” Truth: If you think scuba isn’t extreme enough for you, you’re not seeing past the first step. Sure, a lot of people never go beyond puttering around in nice, calm water, looking at nice, calm fish. However, if you get the right training and equipment, you can get radical with this sport. Try diving down 120 metres onto a sunken World War 2 submarine off the Fujairah coast. It will be you who will be shaking from the adrenaline rush, incoherent and exhausted, thrilled and high as a kite - not the elite band of middle-aged divers who have tagged this wreck as “theirs” and dive it regularly. Need more? Ever hand-fed a shark? Explored the far reaches of a flooded cave? Chased a 200 kilo fish through the legs of an offshore oil rig? Gone inside the rusting hallways of a sunken ocean liner? Swam beneath the polar ice caps? These are just some of the experiences that divers (and only divers) get to have. But you’ve got to build up to it, check your ego at the door, and take the first step (earning your Open-Water certification) before you start talking like the Big Boys.
Myth: Diving is only for people who live near warm water, I will leave here soon / eventually and will not be able to dive again. Truth: There are few things that rival the experience of being suspended weightlessly in warm, clear tropical water while floating effortlessly along a colourful coral reef. Unless, of course, it is the experience of drifting through a California kelp bed with a pod of sea lions. Or exploring the amazingly preserved ruins of a wooden shipwreck in a Swiss Lake. Or diving with sharks in South Africa, or seeing Sea Lions underwater off the British Coast, or... the list goes on and on. No matter where you live “back-home”, chances are there’s a popular dive site somewhere nearby. Don’t believe me? Just ask anyone with the red and white “diver down” flag on his car. Lakes, quarries, rivers, flooded mineshafts - almost anywhere there’s water, you’ll find divers. Each of these sites provides its own unique dive experience and a chance to get started in the sport and to continue diving. Not every dive site is for every diver, but scuba diving is not just a sport, it’s also a lifestyle and a very social activity. So even if your “back-home” dive sites do not sound all that inviting, get started in the welcoming warm waters of the Indian Ocean, make new friends and know that “back home” your new sport will open more doors, opportunities and friendships to you. Myth: There are sharks in the ocean and they eat divers. Don’t try to deny it--I saw “Jaws” and “Open Water” Truth: Don’t tell Hollywood, but the factual record on shark vs. diver is pretty dull: Sharks just don’t make a habit of munching on divers. In fact, except in certain conditions and environments, they don’t even stick around when divers get in the water. Let’s look at it from the shark’s
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Myths vs. Truths - Diving
point of view. You’re out cruising the depths, when out of nowhere this noisy, bubble-blowing pack of creatures that looks and moves like nothing else in the ocean, drops into the water and starts flashing lights (i.e., camera strobes) at you. It’s got to be the shark equivalent of Close Encounters. The first thing most sharks do? Turn tail and run. It used to be that divers could go their whole lives without ever seeing the beauty and majesty of a shark up close. Today, carefully managed encounter dives (from cage diving with great whites off Australia to hand-feeding reef sharks in the Bahamas) abound, and there is no better way to gain a true understanding of these amazing creatures than to see them up close.
Myth: I have to buy a ton of gear just to learn Truth: Scuba is a gear-intensive sport, but you only need three basic items to start lessons (a mask, a snorkel and a pair of fins). These are personal gear items and they need to fit well for you to have a good time, so it’s worth buying them even if the dive school / instructor provides the equipment for the course. All the other gear is available to rent, usually at a discount rate to students, and often the use of the more complex equipment is included in the dive package price. Once you are a full-fledged diver, you will ultimately want to purchase your own gear. It will be tempting to max out the plastic and buy everything at one time, and if you’ve got the room on your credit cards, go for it. But most beginning and intermediate divers continue to make use of rental gear and acquire their own items one piece at a time.
Myth: You have to be a really fit competitive swimmer to be a diver Truth: It is true, ultra-fit, competitive swimmers make great divers because they’re comfortable in the water and they’re in great shape, but if the logic of this myth were true, then only professional footballers would play football. Diving is an active sport and the better shape you’re in, the easier it will be, but any healthy individual with at least an average fitness level can do it. This myth is most likely fuelled by the fact that there is a basic swim test at the start of scuba lessons. You’ll need the endurance to swim about 200 yards nonstop, but there’s no time limit and it’s not a race. The instructor also needs to know that you have basic water skills and are comfortable submerging your face in water. That’s it. And when you consider that there are divers from age eight to age 80 who have passed this gruelling test of physical ability, it’s pretty clear that anyone with an activity level above that of a chronic couch potato can do it. So, get off the couch and get diving! Myth: Diving is a male macho sport that is not femalefriendly Truth: This might have been true, back in the 1950s when American TV showed “Sea Hunt” with men of steel like Mike Nelson (played by the late, great Lloyd Bridges) who were out there spearing fish with their bare hands and rescuing damsels in distress. Only it wasn’t really true then, either. The lovely Zale Parry, the actress who played the damsel, was one of the most accomplished divers on the set. And when Sports Illustrated decided to feature the young sport of scuba diving in its May 23, 1955, issue, it was Zale Parry who made the cover, not Lloyd Bridges. It is true, however, that men have always participated in the sport more than women, but the gap has been closing steadily since the 1980s. Today, the male/female ratio is roughly 60/40 and everyone from equipment manufacturers to tour operators offers products specifically for female divers. And there’s no glass ceiling to this sport - there are female instructors, dive-masters, boat captains and resort
Scuba Dubai Photo by: Leo Virgo
The best in the UAE
The diving equipment experts. We know more about diving equipment. Buy from the best, buy from Scuba Dubai
Deep down you want the best!
Tel: 04 341 4940 Fax: 04 341 4960 Freephone: 800 scuba
Myths vs. Truths - Diving owners. Look at me – I’m a woman, I’ve dived more than most men, own a dive business, my most powerful contacts at most of the diving equipment manufacturing companies are women. Diving is a great sport and a great business for women to be in. Myth: Diving will make my ears hurt Truth: This one’s true - but only if you don’t equalize the pressure in your ears as you descend. That’s one of the first things they teach you to do in scuba lessons. It’s called the Valsalva manuever and it’s really easy: Pinch your nose and blow gently against your nostrils until you feel relief. Try it. See? It’s so easy.
safe one:“No”. But before you let a lifetime of adventure slip away, you should get a second opinion from a diving doctor. Dr Horst Kafer of Dr Akel’s Clinic on the Beach Road is a diving doctor and can give you a second opinion. You may be surprised to find the answer is: “Yes, you can dive safely.” In just the past 10 years, for example, asthma and diabetes have gone from being absolute disqualifiers to conditional ones. In both cases, if the condition is carefully monitored and controlled, and the patient can tolerate physical exercise, the pool (and the sea) is usually open. Myth: Snorkeling is just as good as scuba diving Truth: Don’t get me wrong. I like to snorkel - floating
Photo by: Leo Virgo
Myth: Certification is way too expensive Truth: Only true if you never go out and do anything! Check the price for a decent dinner, movie tickets for two, throw in some popcorn, after-movie coffees and you’ll have spent DH 370 easily. So, how does that compare to scuba? Depending on who you learn with, the average certification class runs between DH 1,750 and DH 2,200, or just a few of those dinner-and-a-movie dates. In return, you get an all-access pass to a world of aquatic adventure, not to mention a great new lifestyle you can brag about at the office. Go on: Compare the cost of scuba lessons to almost anything and you’ll see it’s a bargain, especially compared to golf green fees, ski lift tickets and the cost of that home gym collecting dust in your guest room. Myth: I can’t dive. I have asthma. Truth: Why not get a second opinion? Your Doctor is probably a great General Practitioner, but not a Diving Doctor. GP’s are a very cautious bunch and often don’t understand the sport of diving, so if you ask about scuba with regard to a specific medical condition, their likely answer will be the
around on the surface peering down on the reef from above is a great way to spend time between dives. But just as good? No way! Not if you like action. Snorkelling is sort of like watching a football game from the window of an apartment block overlooking the pitch. Diving is like suiting up, running down the tunnel and getting in the game. Strap a tank on your back and you are a player - swimming with the sharks as equals, getting up close and personal with giant Goliath grouper, or, for a good laugh, looking up and seeing the soft, bulging underbellies of all those snorkelers drifting like flotsam on the surface and blocking out the sunlight. So......... Do you still think that you cannot dive??? May be you just don’t want to, that’s ok – diving is not for everyone. However, hopefully this article will make you think a bit, reassess your reasoning and open a door for you. Come on in and join us! • Writen by Stephanie Davies, Owner, Scuba Dubai. Dubai
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Products
Multi Pliers
Smart Cooling Price: starting from 30 AED Frio Products are patented cooling wallets for medication or body cooling. The product needs to be soaked in water for about four minutes to activate, and will remain cool for about 24hrs. The products are reusable and available in different kinds e.g. can or bottle cooler, cooling caps, cooling wallets and much more. For more details call Sue: 050 2741667 Available at: www.aimsmena.com
Price: 165 AED This tool comes full of built in gadgets that can tackle just about any task that comes your way. Components: Needle nose pliers, wire cutter, fine edge knife, serrated edge knife, saw, scissors, cross-point screwdriver, small and medium flat blade screwdrivers, can opener, bottle opener and lanyard hole. Handle Material: Stainless Steel Overall Length: 6 inches Available at: Picnico General Trading More Info: www.gerber-tools.com
Foldable Bike Price: 1,750 AED This bike features a lightweight aluminium frame. With 20” alloy rims, the Velo-city sports an alloy folding stem and the bike reduces down to a folded size of 790x420x620 mm. SADDLE : Velo double spring comfort. SHIFTER : Shimano 6 speed Gripshifts SIZE : 285mm WEIGHT : 12.5kg Available at: www.cyclesportsuae.com More Info: www.bronxcycles.com
Waterproof Surf Cam
Dive Computer Price: 3,900 AED With this gadget, Mares is bringing stateof-the-art consumer electronics technology to the underwater world. High definition LCD color display Plug in and recharge Upgradeable software, PC interface included Nitrox mode with 3 different oxygen mixes, Integrated interface, rechargeable lithium batteries , map function, pictures function. Available at: Masaood Marine Shop More info: www.mares.com
Price: 1,000 AED Probably the best on-board surf camera on the market. Easy to install and operate and user-friendly. Shoot 56 minutes of TV resolution video with sound or 5 mpx photos automatically for over an hour while you surf. Waterproof to 30 m. Features a 170º ultra wide angle lens and high-resolution 5 mpx sensor. Available at: Surf Shop Dubai More Info: www.goprocamera.com
Fishing Lure Price: 19 AED MidThunder with a swimming depth 8’ – 12’ (2.4-3.6m). “Can you think like a fish? What would you like to eat today? How about a delicious Storm Lure?” Its injured baitfish motion attracts all kind of fish. The silver color and middle size is a great lure for barracuda and kingfish. Available at: Barracuda Fishing Equipment More info: www.stormlures.com
LED Head Torch
Inflatable Air Jack
Price: about 1,200 AED Particularly well-suited to use in sand, the Inflatable Exhaust Jack is an invaluable recovery tool, providing up to 31” of vehicle lift. This Jack is inflated via a hose that connects to the vehicle’s exhaust. As soon as the vehicle’s engine is started, the jack will start to inflate. Available at: Ace Megastore More Info: www.bushranger.com
Price: about 200 AED The TIKKA ² offers great versatility with its three lighting modes. In maximum mode, the four LEDs deliver enough light to see over a distance of 29 meters. The economic mode optimizes battery life and provides a long burn-time of up to 120 hours. The battery compartment is now hinged for easier access along with an easier to use closure system. Available at: Several sport shops in the UAE More info: www.petzl.com
Roof Top Tent
Price: 5,290 AED Manufactured of heavy duty ripped-top canvas double stitched through-out and fitted onto aluminum bows, fixed to top quality polyurethane coated ply boards. Easy to set up and very comfortable. Comes with climate skirt, mattress, ladder, transport cover and mosquito netting. Sleeps 2 adults. (Free delivery) Bigger sizes available. Dimensions: 1,22m W 2,44m L 1,3m H Available at: www.leadingedge-s.com More Info: www.eezi-awn.co.za
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Event Reviews
Motor Cross Series
Horse Race Date: Friday 22. Jan. 2010 Location: Jebel Ali Racecourse During the Race Season, several horse races are held at Jebel Ali Horse Race Course, which is famous for its atmosphere – “Garden Party”. We were there during a pleasant winter day in January to see the race. It’s a great experience for horse lovers or people who like to have picnics next to the race course. The entrance to the course is free. More info: www.emiratesracing.com
Date: Fridays Location: Jebel Ali DMX Track The DMX Club is hosting annual race series in different classes of age, gender and vehicles. The vehicles are motorcross bikes or quads which are categorized in classes by engine type and size. The 2009/2010 season is still ongoing with regular races on Fridays starting at about 8am until the afternoon. Entrance for visitors is free and riders have to pay a
registration fee. If you like motor sports and off-road action, you should definitely check out one of the thrilling races at the race track next to Jebel Ali Beach Resort. For the next race and race schedule contact the DMX Club. More Info: www.mydubaimotocross.com
UAE Jet Ski Championship - Round 2
Desert Fun Drive
Date: Saturday 23. Jan. 2010 Location: Dubai, JBR Off Shore Dubai hosted the 2nd Round of the UAE Jet Ski Championship. The 1st Round was held in Abu Dhabi in the beginning of January. This Jet Ski Championship started already to attract competitors from abroad: Europe, USA, Asia, and Africa. It was organized by DIMC with a lot of professionalism and precision, which are mandatory for such an event abundant in adrenaline and horse power. The classes were: Pro Ski, up to 900 C.C, Runabout Stock, up to 1600 C.C, Junior Stock, up to 800 C.C, Ski Limited up to 800 C.C, and Runabout Super Stock up to 1600 C.C, competed in two races of between 8 and 15 laps for each class. There were also 2 minutes of free style where the jet skis and their riders proved their special skills.
Date: 15.-16. Jan. 2010 Location: Umm Al Quwain to Dubai Gulf News organized its 29th edition of Overnight Drive Fun, on a special route from Umm Al Quwain to Dubai. The Start was at UAE Motorplex and the route was really tough with it being more than 90 percent on sand, featuring high dunes and very tricky stretches that challenged even the most experienced participants, who drove for about eight hours up to the Finish Line-Camp in Dubai. The route had a few checkpoints where participants had the option to abandon the drive if they felt like it. Most of the participants spent the night in the Camp, enjoying time together and having a lot of fun. More details: www.gulfnews.com
Photo by: DIMC
The winners where as it follows: Pro Ski 900CC Class - Steven Dauliach Runabout Stock 1600CC – Mohammed Jasem Al Baz, Junior Ski 800CC – Shamis Rashid Hamad Al Shamsi, Ski Limited 800CC - Al Mur Mohamad Bin Huraiz, Free Style - Ohamed Saeed Al Rumaithi. The 3rd Round will take place in Abu Dhabi, between 18th -19th February 2010, at ADIMSC. More info: www.dimc.ae
Super Run Series
Kayak Fishing
Date: Friday 9. Jan. 2010 Location: Jumeirah Beach Hotel Super Sports and partners organized the 3rd Race from the well-known Super Sports Run Series Challenge. The race offered all athletes a unique running experience as the race course winds itself through the three exclusive resort properties of the Jumeirah Group. The fourth Race from this Run Series Challenge will take place on 27 March in the same location. More info: www.supersportsdubai.com
Date: Friday 22 Jan. 2010 Location: Ras Al Khaima The Inaugural Kayak Fishing Competition, organized by the UAE Kayak-Fishing Group took place in Al Hamra (RAK). The weather was not great. It was rainy and a bit cold but these guys really know how to warm everybody up. Considering the bad whether, we can say that the catch was quite impressive and that it was a successful inaugural Competition. They had great Sponsors too: Alec Construction, Emirates NBD, and Safety Solutions, to mention a few. “We had a good turn out but the weather certainly scared off a few people. The real die-hard fisherman turned up either the night before or very early on the morning… in fact, due to a popular request, we extended the weigh-in for an extra hour while the guys
Photo by: Super Sports
paddled in the rain to try get into the leader board. Friday evening’s prize-giving ceremony and party certainly were affected by the rain as it kept pouring down, but that did not stop a few guys from still camping over again and enjoying what turned out to be a very pleasant evening sitting around the bon fire.” – says Ivan Kraemer. He also told us that more events like this are to follow, so if you want to get in contact with this group, call them at: 050 455-7504
Event Spotlight - Bull Fight
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Bull Fight Photo by: Oliver Kammerer
Traditional Bull Fights in Fujairah Date: Friday 15. Jan. 2010 Location: Fujairah. (E25°0650.82 / N056°2123.71E). If you want to experience something different on a Friday afternoon you should go to watch the traditional bullfighting in Fujairah. Coming from Kalba the arena is on the right after entering Fujairah. There is excitement in the air and the place vibrates when the two contestant bulls enter the arena and try to push each other out of the way. In contrast to the Spanish bullfights here two bulls fight each other and there is no bloodshed. It is more like a “sumo style” bullfight and the bulls are actually pushing each other with their massive heads until one of them capitulates meekly and quietly. If both of them are stubborn and refuse to quit the fight, then a referee decides and wreathes the winner with glory. There is no prize money for the winner, however, the victorious bull brings prestige to its owner and will increase in value. These kinds of bulls originate in India and known as Brahman Bulls, or Indian Bulls, or Indian Oxen. They can reach some very impressive sizes and weights of more than 2500 pounds. The Brahman Bull is widespread around the world especially in the tropical areas, being famous for its resistance and adaptation to high temperatures, but are also found in America, England, Africa and of course, the UAE. They are also recognized for intelligence and desired disposition. They are very responsive to kindness and they are quite gentle when handled properly. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t have pride and they test it from time to time in a bullring in their own style: gently.
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Photo by: Oliver Kammerer
Photo by: Oliver Kammerer
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News & Notes
Dubai’s Premier Surf School & Shop
Surf School UAE has officially launched and is now Dubai’s premier surf school offering lessons for all ages for surfing and stand-up paddle boarding. All levels from beginners to intermediates are taught basics like paddling, sitting & turning, catching waves as well as surfing etiquette and water safety. Free lessons are also offered for all beginners with all equipment provided. Lessons are taught in surf or flat water and are guaranteed to get you up & riding very quickly. Get in touch www.surfschooluae.com or info@surfschooluae. com for more info.
The UAE’s premier Surf Shop, has moved to its great new location and is now located opposite Mall of the Emirates. This means that you can get the latest DVDs, Magazines, new & used surfboards, board repairs, accessories and free advice just 5 minutes from the beach. The store is open daily from 10am – 7pm, so pop in and check out the biggest and best range of surfing goodies in the Middle East, or get in touch on carl@surfshopdubai.com or 050 940 3487. The new address is: Al Barsha 1Eagle Building, Shop 5
1. RTA Jet Ski Project
The project aims to regulate the use and rental of Jet Skis in Emirate of Dubai, through the development of laws and regulations. Jet-Skis should be registered and licensed by the RTA. Operator should be medically fit, age not less than 14 years old, and fully aware of Jet-ski operation and regulations. Operation timing permitted only between sunrise and sunset. Operation must be only within the permitted area. Operator should wear lifejacket and comply with all safety requirements. Operator should register in and out at security office log. Following a lot of complaints, and for safety reasons, the authorities have banned jet-skis in some particular beach areas and introduced some regulations. Officially, there is just one permitted area for Jet Ski activity in Dubai for individual use, in the close vicinity of Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbor and the Al Mamzer area for jet skiing for companies. For more details regarding the regulations for using a Jet Ski please visit www.rta.ae
The Fish supply in the UAE will be better protected
Environment Agencies from all of the Emirates, especially those from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Kaimah, are really concerned because the measures they had regarding protection of some fish species have not done enough to maintain a healthy level among those species. Their major concern falls on orange-spotted groupers, sweet lips and emperor fish, also known by their Arabic names of hammour, farsh and sha’ary. Dr Al Abdessalaam says of Abu Dhabi’s waters: “There have been improvements but they are slight and in some occasions, insignificant. We are still not out of the woods, if you will. Fish mortality is still high”. And that is because too many fish are being caught before they reach maturity, which means they have no opportunity to reproduce. Fish mortality − the measure of how many are removed from the water − has decreased for the hammour. But more farsh and sha’ary are being caught by fishermen. There are no strict regulations regarding the age or size of fish caught yet, but they will definitely be in place in the near future. Even the existing rules aren’t much help for the ingrate reason that more than 30% of fishermen don’t respect the rules. It is hard to control all the fishing boats around UAE and in this case it is up to each person to follow the rules in place to preserve something that belongs to everybody. Authorities from Environmental Department in RAK welcomed the intention of the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water to ban the catch and sale of small-sized fish and therefore they issued a ministerial decree prohibiting the catch of a fish that is smaller than the regular permitted size. The Ministry will also coordinate with all the fisheries departments around UAE and with the local authorities on the issue of protecting the small fish species. They will organize campaigns to educate the fishermen in the spirit of respecting these regulations giving them lessons on the length of fish to be caught. The Dubai Government last year addressed the issue by identifying fishing boat owners who depend solely on the sea for income but who cannot go fishing themselves because they are too old. Such people are now paid salaries by the Government, depending on the number of boats they own. The hope is that the payments will discourage them from hiring outside labour to run their boats and the fishing of small fish which haven’t yet reached maturity. As an example, the ideal size for the hammour being caught is 70 centimetres, because they do not reach sexual maturity until they are 45 centimetres. From all these endangered species only the sha’ary is fished at a size larger than the minimum required.
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70 Captive-bred Houbara Released
As part of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to protect Houbara bustards and its comprehensive global strategy of producing over 50,000 houbara bustards to increase the bird’s population in their natural habitats in its geographic distribution in Asia and North Africa, 70 captive-bred Houbara bustards produced at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation were released by H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Western region of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Info: The Houbara Bustard is 60 cm long with an 140 cm wingspan. It is brown above and white below, with a black stripe down the sides of its neck. In flight, the long wings show large areas of black and brown on the flight feathers. The sexes are similar, but the female is smaller and greyer above. Bustards are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with “fingered” wingtips, and striking patterns in flight. The female lays three to five dark, speckled, eggs in a scrape in the ground, and incubates them alone. The Houbara Bustard is widely prized in Arabia for its meat and as a quarry for falconers. Widespread hunting and loss of habitat have greatly reduced their numbers. Sources: www.ead.ae www.wikipedia.org
UAE Rock Climbing Guide
Beyond the sand, but just within the UAE, lie the Hajar Mountains. These rugged mountains rise up to nearly 2000m in Musandam and straddle the UAE Oman border. For centuries the area was home to numerous small farming communities, but more recently serves as a destination for the rock climbers of the UAE who have spent the last couple of decades exploring remote wadis and taking on the rock climbing challenges that this region presents. This Guide is the first printed guide describing climbing locations, the routes and characteristics of the outdoor rock climbing in the UAE and the Oman border region. Nine regions, 29 climbing locations, hundreds of climbing routes are described in detail, with passion and professionalism. The guide is available at Go Sports (Dubai), Noukada Kayak Tours (Abu Dhabi) and Mugrudys Book Shops (nationwide) and Global Climbing (RAK). UAE Rock Climbing, IBSN 978 0 9811805 0 2, Red Armada Publishing, 150 AED.
Reader Photos
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Reader Photos
Photo by: Samira T.
Photo by: Fahad A.
Photo by: Jens S. Photo by: Esam H. Photo by: GinGin Photo by: Dario L.
Photo by: Kristin P. Photo by: Ranshid B.
Photo: Ingo S.
Photo by: Ingo S.
Photo: Ema N.
Photo: Nerea D.
Photo by: Surf School
Photo by: Yvonne B.
Photo: Stehon K.
Photo by: Tom O.
Reader Photos
Photo by: Patrick W.
Photo by: Simon S.
Photo by: Anna
Photo by: Christof B.
Photo by: Ahmed A.
Photo by: Chrissi V.
Photo by: Esam H.
Photo by: Human A.
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Sur fing
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Surfing
“ There is no surf in the U.A.E.” If I had a dirham for every time I have heard that, I would have retired rich and now be sipping Pina coladas, munching on delicious tropical fruit and lying in a hammock in Bali! Much to most people’s surprise, Dubai has a lot of surf to offer and the region is rich in waves, you just need to know when and where to go. The surf in the Gulf is mainly wind driven which means that it is produced by strong winds with the biggest waves being formed above Qatar and near Iraq. They are fuelled by fierce gales and built up in size as they travel down the length of the Gulf towards us. The surf generally averages around 1-1.5metres but can peak well over 3m with some of the biggest waves on record nearing 5 metres! Dubai is especially well positioned as it is directly in the line of the swell and the NW winds generate the swells, so it has become the central point for surfing in the region. The waves can be onshore and messy for a day but then clean up overnight to produce some excellent waves that are warm, friendly and inviting to surfers of all levels. These waves are available for short periods of time at several locations like Sunset beach (the favourite), JBR, Mamzar, Sharjah and as far afield as RAK. In summer the Khareef (Monson) drives big seas up the Oman coast and Kalba and Fujeirah produce some rideable, albeit hot weather waves. Oman itself has some excellent surf especially in summer and can offer up some cool weather and cracking point break waves which makes it a firm favourite area for summer surfaris. Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey also have some great waves and surfing communities are springing up in these areas as well. The surf season is mainly during the winter months from November to March, when low pressures dominate the upper Gulf and send surf coming down to us in Dubai and the UAE coastline. However, surf can found all year round, depending on the weather. The best thing to do, in order to surf at the right time, is to get in touch with one of the many surf reports available via the local surf shops or surf schools and ask when surf will
be available. As a general rule, the surf tends to be best in the morning as it is often clean and offshore, making the best rides. A lot of the local surfers dash in at sunrise for a morning session before rushing off to work and sneak out of work in the afternoon to catch some messy but rideable onshore afternoon action. Unfortunately, due to the coastline being mostly dominated by breakwaters, Abu Dhabi has at the present moment no known rideable surf spots. Rather, stand-up paddle-boarding has now become the dominant surf-style sport in that area.
Photo by: Surf School
The waters of the Gulf are generally warm and the waves range from wedging, hollow shore-breaks at JBR and Mamzar, to peaks and very fun rides at Sunset Beach and Sharjah. This makes the Gulf an excellent area for beginners to learn to surf, and there are several surf schools operating in the UAE. As there are frequent flat periods, stand-up paddle-boarding has become one of the biggest and fastest growing board sports in the Gulf. This ancient Hawaiian sport is done with a large flat board on which the surfer stands up, and is propelled with a paddle. The board can be used in the surf to ride waves or simply to be used for flat water paddling, as a platform for snorkelling, or for kids to frolic about on. For those of you who are either new to the sport, rusty from lack of surfing, haven’t surfed for ages, or pleasantly surprised by the idea that you can surf here, get onto the local websites, speak to the local surf shops and get yourselves into what is now becoming a great Middle East outdoor activity. Writen by Carl de Villiers, Dubai Surf Shop & School. Dubai
People
Carl de Villiers Name: Carl de Villiers Activity: Surfing Nationality: South African How long have you been in the U.A.E. and why did you come here? Around six years. I originally came for work but fell in love with a place where all my favourite things are all in one place – surfing, snowboarding, camping and fishing. The UAE is my home now and I am not planning to go anywhere soon, other than to keep finding better places to explore and nicer places to camp. What’s your passion? I love outdoor sports and especially anything in water. Surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, wakeboarding, skurfing, as well as fishing, camping and exploring are firm favourites of mine. I am also a very keen and experienced snowboarder and I love exercise too, so I enjoy a healthy lifestyle full of activity!
What’s your favourite spot/route? I love going to Oman and camping on the beach, finding peace and quiet, good waves and sharing good times with those who are close to me. The area around Asyllah and Al Ashkarrah are my favourites but I have my sights set on further exploration of Masirah Island and the areas near Salalah. What do you recommend to our readers? The Middle East is a really great place to explore – it is un-crowded, undeveloped and safe, so make some time, plan a route and go find adventure and enjoy memories that you will not ever forget.
Simon Speidel Name: Simon Speidel Activity: Surfing, Motocross Nationality: German How long have you been in the U.A.E. and why did you come here? I have been in Dubai for around five years. A friend called me up when I was on a long vacation and convinced me to come to Dubai. Since then I have tried all various sports and ended up with Motocross. The UAE offers a great terrain for riding and several motocross events. What’s your passion? Generally my passions are snowboarding and surfing. Motocross is definitely at the top of my agenda since I started four years ago. Apart from that, a Jeep for the desert is a must for desert tours around the UAE and Oman. What’s your favourite spot/route? My favourite spot is probably the Liwas desert and many
other small spots around the UAE-Oman boarder. The Liwa desert is just mind-blowing. There are some nice places in the desert before Al Ain. What do you recommend to our readers? Every one should find a sport he/she likes. There is a lot to do. Just explore and you will find something for yourself.
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Green Camping
Clinch Knot
Environmentally-friendly camping
The best knot to tie hooks safely
Camping is very popular in the UAE and during weekend you can find families or groups of friends having picnics, BBQs or camping all around the desert and the wadis. Unfortunately, many times they leave their tracks behind, visible as colorful gatherings of cans, bottles, plastic bags and food packaging. Did you know that it takes hundreds* of years for a plastic bag to decompose? None of us is happy with the fact that currently, that even spots deep in the desert are polluted with trash. The trash is also a serious threat to the fragile life in this harsh environment. There is no excuse to leave your trash behind. Take your trash with you back to the city, or use one of the many trash containers provided by the authorities along several roads. There are also a lot of cheap and simple ways to making camping greener. Use reusable bags when you go for shopping, or at least paper bags. Instead of plastic cups, plates and cutlery, use reusable materials. In many stores there are reusable, or even better, solid metal plates and cups available. After several picnics or BBQs, your purchases are cheaper than constantly buying disposables, and believe me, it is far more comfortable to use proper ‘tools’ for a BBQ or picnic. Everybody who has ever tried to cut a steak with plastic cutlery on a paper or plastic plate knows what I’m talking about. Be smart and do something good for our environment, so that it will be preserved for future generations.
The clinch knot is one of the most famous knots in the world to tie hooks, carabineers or other objects securely. We use it to fix hooks to fishing lines but it can be used for a lot of other purposes. The advantage of the clinch knot is that it will not open. Rather it will get even tighter with stronger force. Knots are always the weakest point in your system (in your line). The clinch knot provides about 85% of the strength/load of the line.
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Tipps & Tricks
*Nobody actually knows for sure how long it will take: some say 300 years, while others estimate it to be more than 400 years – so far nobody reached this age, so we cannot know for sure..
Think to the future, think green!
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Put the line through the eye of the hook and wind it at least 6 turns around the line. When you’re finished the 6 turns, put the end of the line through the first loop of the 6 turns at the beginning (at the hook) and then through the loop of the last turn. Now pull the end of the line to make the knot tight. To make it easier to put the line through the first loop, you can put your finger into the first loop before you wind the 6 turns around the line. Then remove your finger and move the end of the line to the big loop. If the end of the line is too long after you are finished, just cut it off. The finished knot should look like this.
Tipps & Tricks
4x4 Recovery
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Basic methods of 4x4 recovery in sand Off-road driving is one of the most popular activities in the UAE and provides a feeling of freedom and a lot of fun. Experienced drivers will have no troubles navigating their vehicles into, through, and out of the desert. Newcomers mostly manage the first part… What to do if you get stuck in the sand? There are a lot of ways to recover a car. With more experience you will avoid getting stuck in most cases, but even experienced drivers get stuck from time to time. First of all, check the terrain where you are stuck, as based on the terrain there are different ways to get out. As long as you are on an incline, it is quite easy: Reverse and go down the dune. It is important, that you reverse straight and don’t try to turn the car. If you try to turn you are risking
flipping the car. If you are stuck directly on top of a dune, there are two ways to get the car out, either to pull the car out, or to dig. Digging is no fun, especially in summer heat and windy weather. To have any progress, you have to move a lot of sand. Try to dig the way that the car will slip on either side of the dune’s edge. (Caution – don’t move under the car while digging!) One of the worst ways of getting stuck is on flat terrain. There, you should try first to dig the car out by itself (this applies for all situations). If you turn the steering wheel 45° to right and left, your wheels are digging sand from aside instead of just digging deeper into the sand which could give you the required bit more traction to get out. You will need a good feel for your car but as long as you feel a small movement forward don’t stop. This technique has worked many times. Be patient and avoid spinning the wheels. If you are still stuck, you have to pull out your car with another one. If you are pulling out a car you should always check first which the best direction to pull is. This applies for both cars. It will not help you if you manage to get the second car (the pulling one) stuck while you try to get another one out. Especially on flat terrain and soft sand, there is high risk that the pulling car will also dig into the sand and get stuck. Therefore you should use a rough pulling method. Normally you bring the rope (or a sling) first on tension to pull the car slowly out in a controlled manner. On flat terrain, you have to challenge the material much more. When the rope is attached to both cars, still lying loose on
the ground, speed up the pulling car. Before the rope gets tight, let the stuck car turn the tires and accelerate. The rope will get with one strong hit tight. It doesn’t sound good for the cars or equipment – actually, it isn’t good – but it is the fastest way to get the car out. I don’t need to mention that you are trying to move tonnes of metal, use only strong and high quality ropes for this. Caution: Make sure that no one is close to the cars; if the rope tears, it can badly injure people who are close by. Finally the worst-case scenario – being stuck in a ditch between dunes, where it’s not possible for another car to pull you out (pulling a car uphill will not work). You should always avoid this situation and drive in an anticipatory manner, always knowing the way up the next dune. But now it has happened! Digging is useless because the sand will always slip back in the hole you are digging. Let’s hope you brought a bunch of strong friends with you into the desert! Ask them to push the car out of the sand. Depending on the weight of the car and how badly you are stuck, four guys could be enough. Again avoid spinning the wheels, as you will only dig the car deeper into the sand also you will piss off your friends who are pushing the car if you cover them in sand. If this will not solve the problem, release even more pressure from the tires as you did before entering the desert. Release as much air until you almost run on completely flat tires. Just leave enough pressure in the tires to not slip on the rims. This should help. If you can’t directly make it over the dune reverse back as far as possible up the opposite dune – don’t stop again the car on the bottom of the ditch. Go backwards and forwards like a swing till you have enough speed to make it over the dune. If all these tips will not help, it doesn’t mean that you or your car is lost but you will need help of an experienced driver or special equipment. There is a lot of equipment which will help in certain situations, like a winch with a sand anchor, special sand boards, special jacks and much more.
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Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing Photo by: Global Climbing
A short guide for rock climbing in the United Arab Emirates! A get you started guide for people who want to start outdoor rock climbing in the UAE or who are already climbers and have just moved or are visiting here. Health & Safety Warning and Disclaimer Before you read on, read the health and safety warning. Rock climbing, whether in the UAE or anywhere else in the world, is dangerous and its potential participants should only get involved in the activity if they accept that there are risks that may result in fatal or serious accidents if they are not managed. Like all “extreme sports” these risks are part of the appeal of the activity and contribute significantly to the buzz achieved from participation. It is the personal responsibility of participants to understand the risks and to ensure that they are correctly equipped and have the technical knowledge to make informed decisions in order that they can identify and manage those risks. The author of this article takes no responsibility for actions taken by readers whether based on information herein or from other sources; you climb at your own peril. Guide Book There is a Climbing Guide to the UAE titled UAE Rock Climbing. (See page 15 - News & Notes) Where to Climb Within the UAE and the border region between UAE and Oman there is significant potential for recreational rock climbing and in the last ten years there has been considerable development of some crags. However, there is undoubtedly scope for more routes on identified crags and new crags to be found. The general areas where climbing has taken place are as follows:
• Wonderwall, in the border area between UAE and Oman 40km beyond Al Ain. • Al Ain, some development has occurred on crags near Al Ain, these should be considered works in progress for the moment. • Hatta. And just to confuse you the climbing is not in Hatta but in the Oman salient on the Dubai to Hatta road. • Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). The largest concentration of climbing is within the Emirate of RAK. • Dibba area. Dibba gives access to DWS on the Eastern side of the Musandam Peninsular and significant climbing locations inland on Wadi Al Bih route. • Musandam Peninsular (Oman). An unknown number of crags have been explored in the Musandam Peninsular and one has been developed north of Kasab. Type of Climbing In the above areas there are traditional routes ranging from single pitch to almost alpine in scale, sports routes up to three pitches in length, bouldering and Deep Water Soloing (DWS). The vast majority of UAE climbing is done on single or two pitch routes.
Photos by: Global Climbing
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Rock Climbing
Rock and Climbing Character The rock that is climbed on in the UAE is predominately limestone. Unlike many other limestone climbing areas of the world it has not been subjected to weathering from water or freeze-thaw effects. This has resulted in surface rock that is frequently brittle, can be very sharp and potentially unstable. Below the surface layer, the rock is generally hard but can be fractured like many limestones. So what you may ask? Some thoughts and considerations: • There is potentially an abundance of loose rock on and around the climbing crags. Even on cleaned routes there is always the possibility that further rock may become detached, albeit small pieces. Helmets are highly recommended and should be considered essential at the bottom of the crags. • All fixed gear should be treated with a sceptical eye, this includes bolts. Whilst bolts have been placed in accordance with current best practice you are responsible for making a judgement on whether they are safe. • On the longer multi-pitch routes, loose rock is to be expected so be prepared for it. • Considerable skill and practice is required to confidently place traditional protection. Do not push your limit until you are familiar with the characteristics of the climbing and the rock features. • Many of the traditional routes away from the popular crags and harder routes on popular crags see few ascents; take a pioneering spirit with you. • Whilst the walk-ins to the popular crags are short they are generally in rough unforgiving and steep mountain terrain. Maintain your vigilance at all times and in particular at the top or descending from crags. • If you are going to develop new routes, especially one or two pitch ones, then clean them prior to first ascents or they will not see repeats or be of interest to the general climbing community. • The rock is hard on clothing and equipment, it is not recommended to wear your new designer crag rat clothes if you value them. Grading Systems Used The following grading systems have been used on climbs: • Sports Routes: French • Traditional: British •Bouldering: V Equipment Sixty metre ropes are sufficient for the vast majority of routes; double ropes may be considered for some traditional routes. For sports climbing you will need up to 15 QDs and a few longer slings. For traditional climbing, a varied rack including cams and nuts is recommended with a few extra medium sized nuts on wire. There are a variety of low-
er offs at the top of sports routes so be prepared for lower off chains through to two normal bolt hangers. If you are planning to top rope off lower off chains it is requested that the rope is fed through a screw gate carabineer to preserve the in-situ rings. You can purchase all the climbing equipment that you will require here in the UAE from either Go Sports or Picnico; these outlets are all within Dubai but it is anticipated that an Abu Dhabi outlet will be available soon. If you can not find what you are looking for then contact the author direct (this is not a substitute for you driving to Dubai).
Photo by: Global Climbing
When to Climb It is possible to climb year round; this may come as a surprise. During the summer months it is recommended to move inland to Hatta and Wonderwall or the crags in Wadi Al Bih. Whilst the temperatures will be in the mid 40s the humidity is a lot lower than on the coast. From October through to April it is possible to climb on all the crags. Apart from the winter months, it is strongly recommended to avoid climbing in the sun. For the DWS enthusiasts, water temperatures in summer will be mid 30s and in the late winter (February) will fall to a chilly 20 degrees or so. There are likely to be a couple of days of rain during the winter months and the risk of thunder storms year round in land; just make sure that you stay clear of wadi bottoms during and immediately after any rain.
Rock Climbing
Access The local population is very friendly and hospitable to climbers and the number of adverse situations has been minimal. Please avoid parking in villages and camping on what may be pasture/farmed land. The right of access to climbing locations is untested and hopefully will remain so. Please ensure that you conduct yourself in a dignified fashion at all times. In the event of a locally requesting that you move on, it is strongly requested that you do so promptly and without argument. Litter Please take all your litter home with you (cigarette butts and water bottles included). Vehicle The majority of the current climbing locations are accessible by 2WD or you can get close enough not to require a 4WD vehicle. I hope the above has not put you off climbing in the UAE, because there is a wealth of quality climbing out there. Some of it is choss but there are a lot of good routes out there and some are outstanding. Climbing here is adventurous and not as accessible as going to a climbing wall although some of the crags have shorter walk-ins than from the car park to the wall. Forum and Next Steps The UAE climbing forum (www.uaeclimbing.com) or OutdoorUAE.com should be your next stop to find more information and partners. Use this as your primary information source and do register and meaningfully contribute to it. For those of you who have only previously climbed on indoor walls I would urge caution before throwing yourself at the nearest cliff without getting some informed guidance. The similarity between indoor and outdoor climbing is compatible with the difference between driving a peddle cart in the yard and a Land Cruiser blind folded on the SZR at rush hour. Qualified Instruction If you are looking for qualified instruction on basic climb-
Photo by: Global Climbing
ing, technical skills or learning to lead sport or traditional routes then contact the author direct. Bolt Fund If you want to assist with the development of UAE climbing then there is a bolt fund where voluntary contributions are always welcome to offset the significant personal contributions that the route developers make themselves. To contribute, again, please contact the author direct. The Author About the author Pete Aldwinckle; the less said the better but it is probably relevant to say that he has been actively climbing for 35 years on 5 continents, run a UK national mountain training centre, has been climbing in the UAE for over 6 years, including development of new routes, and builds climbing walls, distributes 30 international brands of adventure sports and industrial rope access equipment. Writen by: Pete Aldwinckle Global Climbing info@globalclimbing.com
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lities – Extend y ossibi ourself p e th e r . o it E x pl
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About OutdoorUAE.com
About OutdoorUAE.com
Features and functions of the online portal. First issue - the search function This section will be a monthly series, introducing different functions of our website, www.outdooruae.com. Commercial Section You will find our commercial section on the top of every activity page under the topic “search”. You will only be able to see commercial entries if you select an activity and click “Go”, on the right side of the page. Commercial Entries All commercial entries are free for the companies. If you have any business related to outdoor activities, please send the required information to contact@outdooruae.com If you know a shop or commercial outlet which you can’t find within our database please also inform us at contact@outdooruae.com, and we will contact them to get the required information to include them in our database. It is important to us to have a complete database with all commercial outlets related to outdoor adventures within the UAE. We will add commercial outlets without charging for it. We will not judge or validate any business and remain a neutral information provider. For any quotes about commercials please use the forum or send us reader-articles.
There are three search filters, ‘activity’, ‘category’, and ‘Emirate’. If you choose all three filters and you will not get any results, extend your search by using fewer filters (e.g. chose only an activity and a category). There are two types of entries, the basic one which gives simple contact details, and the premium one which gives detailed information, pictures and a location map. To access the additional information for a premium entry, click “ details”.
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Locations
Hatta Hill Park A Barbecue Spot set in the Green Mountain Park GPS: Gear:
N24°48.129 / E056°07.797 any vehicle will make it there
It is a quiet, nice place, proper for recreation especially during the coolest months of the year, considering that you will find some nice turrets with grills for barbeques swimming pools, playgrounds for children, as well as football, volleyball and basketball fields and courts. In addition, you can
also work on your fitness with those 198 steps from the gate of the park to the tower, on top of the hill. It is a peaceful place and the view from the top is quite impressive.
Snoopy Rock Experience the colorful underwater world GPS: Gear:
N25°29.290 / E056°21. 590 any vehicle will make it there
The Snoopy Rock, along with the ‘Sandy Beach’ Resort is a famous place for weekend, snorkeling, and diving trips. The Rock is named after the cartoon dog Snoopy because it looks like Snoopy lying on his back. Snorkeling and diving are amazing around this structure. Even if you are afraid of deep waters, you will enjoy it and see a lot of underwater life. From shallow waters of about one meter to about 10 meters, you will see turtles, colorful fish, sharks, and so much more. The easiest way to enter is through the area of
the Sandy Beach Hotel, for which you will pay an entrance fee. Thereafter, you may use the facilities and restaurants of the hotel. They also offer rental equipment, dive trips etc. If you come in from the open beach you will have to swim a bit.
Route
Valley of Trees A desert ride from Shwaib to the Valley of Trees in Al Haiyir GPS: Gear: Level: Time:
N24°38.793 / E055°47.002 Off-Road vehichle required Easy 2-3hrs drive - destination is great for camping
The ‘Valley of Trees’ is a great location for BBQ and overnight camping, which makes it a perfect destination for a desert route. As usual for the sandy routes, there is no specific way and the route is a bit different every time. You could either use only the end spot to navigate your way there, or follow our track points. You come from the E 44 in the direction of Hatta until you reach the Madam roundabout, here you turn right on the E 55, towards of Shwaib for about 17 km. You cross a bridge over a Wadi, where you have to leave the main road and continue on an unpaved road GPS N24°46.838 E055°48.942 along the Wadi (after passing the bridge you have to go a bit further until you can make a U-turn and go back. Follow the unpaved road until you reach a gate with barbwire. Open the gate and pass down to the flat terrain (don’t forget to close the gate again). This would be the best time to deflate your tires.
have to take left. On this part of the route it is possible to lose the tracks, but don’t worry and continue until the next track point. From here it’s easy to follow the tracks again until GPS N24°38.987 E055°45.874, where you have to turn left again. You are now close to the Valley of Trees. If you would like to continue the easiest way, then take a right at the next junction and follow the tracks until you reach the valley and continue from there (you will see all of the trees) to the final coordinates or choose your own spot. Alternatively, make your way through the dunes. Final destination: GPS N24°38.793 E055°47.002. The length of the route is roughly 30km and the time strongly depends on you, but you should calculate 3-4 hours if you are not racing through the dunes and take some breaks. While you can follow almost the whole route on tracks, and it is an easy desert route and good for beginners, there should still be at least one experienced driver within your group.
GPS N24°46.591 E055°49.812 After driving along the border fence to Oman, you will find a track leading into the high dunes. If you haven’t deflated your tires, you should do it now GPS N24°43.932 E055°49.500. Follow the track until you see a construction site. Take left before the surrounding fence (GPS N24°43.699 E055°48.860), and follow the track until you reach a camel farm. For first-timers in the desert, it’s a good chance to get close to camels and it’s worth stopping for a few minutes. To continue the route, enter the dunes after the camel farm next destination at GPS N24°41.824 E055°45.344, where you
Have a rest and enjoy the green surroundings with a BBQ or overnight camping. Please don’t leave any garbage! You can reach Al Haiyir from here within 10minutes where you find a compressor at a small workshop GPS N24°36.595 E055°46.202 and have direct access to E66, the Dubai - Al Ain Road. If you want to go only for BBQ or camping, you can access the ‘Valley of Trees’ directly from Al Haiyir. Check this route out online with more coordinates and a detailed Google-map on www.outdooruae.com in the section Routes.
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Report - Desert Balloon Adventure
Desert Balloon Adventure The desert from the bird’s eye view, a lifetime experience! At four a.m. my alarm went off. I opened one eye and knew that there was no time to waste. I jumped out of the bed, brushed my teeth, washed my face and got dressed – all in the usual five minutes. No time for coffee, but, instead, grabbed the one essential item for the day, my digital camera. After getting out of bed – widely known as the hardest part of each day – I found myself happy to be awake so early in the morning. It was still dark outside and very quiet. Unfortunately, when I got into the car I realized I’d be facing high humidity and some fog. After a few minutes in the car I was not only afraid of the fog and the risk of bad visibility later on, but my schedule was at stake! I ran out of petrol and had to make an uncalculated stop. I had to be at Festival City Centre at 5:15 sharp, and for a German that means being there at least ten minutes earlier. Entering a petrol station at this time is quite amusing – especially this particular one close to the Greens. I had the feeling that the people who had left the clubs were stopping at this station early on Friday morning to get something to eat or drink. When I looked at their faces, I was unafraid of looking as though I’d just gotten up. Some of them looked much worse then I did, for sure. Anyhow, I was in a good mood even with a tired face, as I thought to myself, today I will finally experience flying in a balloon. Balloons are the oldest manmade flying objects in human history. Flying hot air balloons began about 1750 years ago in China. As time passed, the Chinese invented small balloons with candles burning underneath. The candle heated up the air and the small paper balloon was able to fly. These balloons were used to send signals, and are still known and used as flying candles for different occasions. The princi-
ple idea is like that of the big balloons used today, and the former can be considered the true beginning of ballooning history. The first big balloons were invented in 1783 in France. One of the first was made of canvas and paper and flew for about ten minutes, at an altitude of up to 1500 meters. The world record for open balloons was set in 1933 with an altitude of 11,300 meters. Unfortunately, because of the low pressure and lack of oxygen, the pilots lost consciousness, but still returned safely to the ground. However, one year later those same pilots died in an attempt to break this record. The record for closed cabin balloons is more than 34km altitude and was set in 1961. There are two main categories for balloons; hot air balloons with an open hull (those with a device to heat up the air) and balloons filled with a light gas (e.g. helium or, historically, hydrogen). Today hot air balloons are mainly used for leisure flights, but they are also used as weather balloons or by adventurers attempting to use them to travel around the world.
Picture by: www.wikipedia.org
Report- Desert Balloon Adventure
On the day of my ride, I arrived on time at the designated meeting place where the ballooning tour operator picked us up. They also did hotel pick-ups for tourists as well as having a pickup point in Abu Dhabi. Usually you don’t drive directly to the launch spot of the balloon, as the balloon definitely won’t land in the same place where it was launched, so unless you have a remote-control car, you’ll be stuck without a vehicle upon landing. Rather, a bus will drive several passengers to the balloon and follow it to its landing spot. I was quite surprised when I saw a minibus full of people who would be our fellow passengers, and was told that even more people would be joining us. The good news was that we would have to fly with two balloons which would result in even more gorgeous views. We drove on Route 66, the Dubai-Al Ain Road for about one hour before we finally reached our takeoff location. During the drive, I was able to learn a lot about ballooning from the tour operator.
A balloon is actually quite simple in how it functions. It utilizes the basic physical principle that hot air is lighter than cold air and if you have enough hot air you can lift even heavy weights. A balloon is simply a light hull filled with hot air. More specifically, the hull is open on the lower side where a gas-burner is placed. To control the height of the balloon, the air is heated with this burner. A balloon has no steering and no break, which makes flying more complicated; the height can be adjusted with the temperature of the hot air in the balloon, and turns around its own middle axis are possible using one flap where the pilot can release hot air on a side. To lower the altitude, the air is not heated up any more and the balloon descends slowly. To descend more quickly there is a flap (called the parachute) on top of
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the balloon which can be opened though a line by the pilot. When the hot air is released the balloon will inevitably descend quickly. So do balloons fly wherever the wind takes them? Yes, in a sense, but winds do not simply blow in one direction. At certain levels of altitude, winds have different speeds and different directions. The pilot of a balloon uses these winds to guide the balloon – but with the use of the winds, the course is always a bit uncertain – and therefore adventurous! With weather radar and weather forecasts the pilot knows in advance the general speed and direction of the winds, and can therefore determine where the balloon will go. However, I personally didn’t care as much about where and how the balloon was flying, as long as it would fly, and as long as we’d be flying over some amazing desert landscapes. I found our Hungarian pilot Attila very experienced and the whole team of Balloon Adventures to be extremely professional, as well as being one of the world’s biggest and most experienced ballooning businesses. The equipment was well maintained and the ground crew as well as Attila knew exactly what they were doing. There was nothing to fear. Luckily on the whole way to our takeoff spot, close to the village Nahel (N 24°37,256 / E 055°30,057), there was no fog; it was a little bit cold but the clear view mattered most to me. The ground crew prepared the two balloons, with each balloon able accommodate up to twenty passengers, plus the pilot. I was very much impressed by the large size of the basket, which itself weighs about 600kgs. The crew already had prepared everything for the launch of the two balloons. We got some brief instructions about onboard security, and then, in tandem with the rising sun, the first balloon arose! First, air was pressed with ventilators in the balloon before the burner was started and the first huge flames lit up the still-dark surroundings. Within about ten minutes, the balloon was ready for take off and the first group jumped into the balloon. To secure the balloon so that it doesn’t take off before the passengers got onboard, it was anchored by two cars on the ground. As soon as the balloon was ready, the passengers needed to quickly jump in, because the pilot needed the weight in the balloon. As soon as everybody was in the balloon, the pilot cut the security line to the car and the balloon lifted impressively fast into the air.
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Report- Desert Balloon Adventure
As I watched the process with the first balloon, I couldn’t wait until ours was ready to follow. About fifteen minutes later I was the last one to hop into our balloon to take off. The compartment was not very spacious but there was enough space to stay comfortable and have great views from all around. In the beginning the pilot has to use the burner at full power, even for our big balloon which had a four-burner. I could feel the heat in my face while we were lifted up into the air. The huge flames and the sound from the burning gas being blown out with high pressure were quite impressive. Usually balloon flights are in the morning or the evening here in the UAE, mostly mornings. This is due to thermal lift, another air phenomenon. The sun heats up the ground and therefore heats the air on the ground (as previously mentioned, hot air is lighter than cold air). The hot air ascends up in higher levels and, in exchange, cold air comes down from the higher levels of altitude. This vertical circulation is used in some aviation (like with gliders) but during balloon flights, it can be dangerous. It is possible that cold winds going down vertically could theoretically press the hot air, from the top of the balloon out of the lower opening and the balloon would crash downwards. To avoid this effect and risk, it is best to takeoff as the sun rises, and finish the flight before this effect begins. Another great part of this flight time is that it allows one to see the sunrise from the balloon. As long there aren’t fog and clouds, the view is also much better than during the day or evening, and in good conditions, one can see a view of hundreds of kilometers. I have already experienced several helicopter flights in the UAE as well as visiting the desert many times. However, seeing the desert from the perspective of a balloon passenger – it’s breathtaking. During takeoff everybody in our group was so exited that we cheered. We ascended directly up to the highest altitude for our flight, which was about 900 meters (about equal to the peak of the Burj Kalifa). And that was just the peak of the antenna, not the viewing platform. During my ride, the dark orange shape of the sun was rising behind the mountains of the east coast. The desert was still slightly covered by a thin haze and the sky was covered in warm red and orange tones – by far one of the most amazing sunrises I’ve seen during my four years in the UAE. After a mere few minutes in the air I knew it was worth getting up so early and that this experience was worthy every dirham it cost. It is especially interesting if you have (as I have) been to the desert many times and like to navigate a 4x4 through the dunes; it’s incredible to see it from a bird’s eye view. From high above, the desert seemed like a yellow or light red ocean with frozen waves. Especially in the morning, with the low sun and long shadows, the effect was
Report- Desert Balloon Adventure
emphasized. The warm and smooth morning light covered the scene with perfect ambiance. The twenty of us in the balloon were quiet, as everybody simply enjoyed the amazing views in serenity. From time to time Attila broke the silence by turning on the burner to navigate the balloon. I glanced at the faces of my co-passengers, and it was apparent how amazed they were – like children, as they suddenly discovered a gorgeous area, a camel, a green farm, a unique dune or even a rare ‘Al Maha’ - desert antelope. After having spent countless hours in the desert, I saw the first wild living desert antelopes. While we still hovered above them at about 600 meters off the ground, they appeared very small. But, as always, seeing wildlife in the desert is a nice, albeit rare, experience. After a while Attila lowered the balloon down to about 100-200 meters. From this perspective, everything was more familiar to me, and not as abstract as it was from higher up. From this altitude we could see all of the small details, like wind cutting the edge of a dune, footprints of animals, and the unique desert vegeta-
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tion. The closer we got to the ground, the better I could feel the speed of our balloon, which was about 15-25km/h. The wind carried us quietly and smoothly over the dunes, so we, and our colourful balloon, cast our own shadow before us. When it was time to land, I recalled the short and simple instructions we were given on our landing positions. Attila told everybody that we would land soon (N 24°1,207 / E 055°32,168) and that we should secure our cameras and other belongings, and hold tightly to the slings in our compartment. While hovering only a few meters over the dunes, I realized that 20km/h was not as slow as I’d previously thought. Attila gave the signal to assume our landing position and only a few meters were left until we skimmed the sand. We hit a glitch on small dune first, and the basket shook a bit, before we touched down. As aforementioned, a balloon has no breaks, but is still easy and safe to land and to stop. I won’t spoil the exact experience of the landing for everyone, as it should be left for one’s own experience. I’ll just say that it was a little surprising for me and my fellow passengers, but it was the perfect end to our journey, and made everybody laugh, or at least smile. A few minutes after landing, the ground crew arrived at the scene to pick us up and stored the balloon on a truck. We got some refreshments and everybody chatted about our flight. On the way back to our meeting location, most of the people used the hourlong drive to take a nap. I was dropped off at Festival City by 10am and had a whole Friday of beautiful weather and a great mood ahead of me. My verdict: A balloon flight may not be cheap (it costs about 900 AED per person), slightly more if you choose to buy souvenir photographs (which cost about 100 AED and the 8x10 photos will be sent to your P.O. Box even outside the UAE); but the experience is completely worth it for the great morning, including about one hour up in the sky. I flew with Balloon Adventures Emirates LLC (www.ballooning.ae, Phone 04 2854949) which I most definitely recommend. They comprise of a friendly and very professional team which was necessary for my unforgettable adventure. Special thanks to Attila our pilot and to Peter for an amazing experience and safe flight. Daniel Birkhofer
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Shops, Operators & Commercial Contacts
Commercial Contacts - Shops, Dealers, Tour Operators, Rentals, Services... Name 360 Lifestyle 4x4 Motors LLC 7Seas Divers Absolut Adventure Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club Ace Hardware Art Marine
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You can find detailed information and other commercial entries online at www.outdooruae. com Use the search function on top of the page (see page 27). If you want to submit a commercial entry for free, please send us an email at contact@outdooruae.com or call us.
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