OutdoorUAE - May 2014

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Ahead of the pack Kai Lenny exclusive interview

Kitesurf Qatar Yemen at a glance Run on positive energy Energizer Night Rebel 2014

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Issue 41, May 2014

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

On the cover: Izzi Gomez Photo by: Abdel Elecho Managing Editor Daniel Birkhofer Editor Glaiza Seguia Administration Jane Mesina Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries) Linda Turcerova Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 9398915 linda@outdooruae.com Published by Outdoor UAE FZE In cooperation with D32 Events P.O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E. Tel. 04-447 2030 contact@outdooruae.com www.outdooruae.com Distributor Tawzea, Abu Dhabi Media Company P.O. Box 40401, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Printed at Atlas Printing Press LLC P.O. Box: 14833, Dubai, UAE

© 2014 Outdoor UAE FZE Issue 41 May 2014

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Time to take a breath!

What a busy season! I had so many plans on how I would like to spend my weekends, but these months have seen more outdoor events than ever before. There was not a single weekend without multiple events going on. When we started OutdoorUAE, we attended most of the events since there were only a few throughout the season. Now, everything developed so positively that the OutdoorUAE team can hardly find time to take a breather. We are challenged to cover or support all of the events, and even sometimes we need to choose. The team and I love the community and attending events, despite private plans getting pushed back.

As much as I enjoyed the busy buzz, I am happy to have some hot weekends left, with no event commitments so I can enjoy the outdoors myself. We have many regular contributors and since our first meeting I’ve planned to join them for their expert activities.

But as mentioned, time is so limited on weekends that I managed to join only a very few in the last four years. So it was only last month, after more than three and a half years, that I joined our very own Fishing Kit. It was a great experience for me that our fishing expert willingly shared one of his secret spots and fishing technique with me. To not get carried away with how great it was, I will try to put it in a few words. Have you seen the movie “Life of Pi?” Just imagine yourself in the middle of the night without moonlight, 3km offshore on a reef in flat water, paddling and fishing in the dark. There are a lot of fish and activity, not only nibbling on my legs, but also jumping and activating the bio fluorescent organisms in the water, so that every move in the water there is bright yellow light against the black sky and deep blue water. Of course it is not as spectacular as on screen, but standing in the middle of the ocean on a submerged reef, seeing only dark outlines of the coast with millions of stars in the sky and the fireworks in the water, it was one of the most special and amazing experiences I had in the last few years. Now I understand Kit more when he talks about “fishing the flats.” Thank you for sharing your secret spot with me, don’t worry GPS coordinates will not be published or shared. :)

Daniel

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BETWEEN THE LINES Get to us on Facebook!

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.

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and Editor in Chief daniel@outdooruae.com

WHEN YOU’RE DONE READING, PLEASE RECYCLE!

Glaiza Seguia Editor glaiza@outdooruae.com

Jane Mesina Administration jane@outdooruae.com

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EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

All contents are under copyrights and may not be reproduced in any kind without written permission. © 2014 Outdoor UAE FZE Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing linda@outdooruae.com

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

Mike Nott The 4x4 expert

Ian Ganderton Kayaker, climber, mountainbiker and snowboarder. Enthusiastic jack of all trades, master of none.

Tori Leckie Writer, runner, blogger and adventurer.

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? CONTACT US! contact@outdooruae.com

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS 21 DEEP-WATER SOLOING

16 MAKING WAVES: KAI LENNY

EVERY ISSUE 05 BEST SHOTS 06 EVENTS CALENDAR 40 LIFESTYLE 43 PRODUCTS 54 PEOPLE 63 DIRECTORY

34 THE HONEY BADGER DIARIES

36 YEMEN

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS 12 BUNGEE JUMP WORLD RECORD 14 SUP ALL-STARS 18 ENERGIZER NIGHT RUN 24 KITESURFING IN QATAR

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE 30 SAUDI ARABIAN ODYSSEY – Part 3 33 TRAVEL CAMBODIA 38 CLIMBING THE ARCTIC CIRCLE – Part 2

LIFESTYLE 42 HABITUALLY HEALTHY

OUR EXPERTS 50 INGELI SKYMARATHON – TORI 52 TOUR MOROCCO - JOHN

TIPS + TRICKS 60 BREATHING EASY 61 SILVER GRUNTER – KIT BELEN 4

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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BEST SHOTS WINNER!

Here are the best shots sent in by you for the monthly “Want Fame?” photography competition!

Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top 3 winners, who will each receive Buff headwear and five free copies of the magazine: Tereza Spackova, Sylvan Reynolds and Trevor Allen.

Well done!

To submit your entries, simply email us at competitions@outdooruae.com with the subject “Best Shots.”

WINNER! Tereza Spackova

Hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro.

WINNER!

Sylvan Reynolds

Jack The Ripper (6B+) at Road Side, Ras Al Khaimah.

Trevor Allen

A stingray breaching while out fishing (no, the stingray wasn’t hooked).

OUTDOORUAE

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

EVENTS CALENDAR Stay up-to-date with the latest events

GIANT Tour Dubike Cycling Festival 2014 May 2, 6:00am, Al Qudra Cycle Path

Following the unfortunate postponement of the mid-February schedule, the GIANT Tour Dubike is back with a new original course, start time and more fun! Distances range from160km / 100km / 100km (TT) / 50km / 20km and kids (2km/5km) options. Starting from the Dubai Camel Race Club (beside The Sevens Stadium), the course takes in 25km of quiet country roads to the Al Qudra Cycle Path, followed by one or two loops in the desert (100km or 160km) and the 25km return journey back to the Camel Track. The shorter distances are fully contained within the confines of the Camel Track. Finish the season with a fun event for the whole family and a BBQ afterwards. For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

Ashurst Sprint Aquathon 2014 May 3, 6:45am, Jebel Ali Golf Hotel

The Ashurst Sprint Aquathon features race categories for all age groupers and teams. New for the final race of the series is a category especially for people working in the legal industry as well as age groups for young athletes aimed at encouraging the next generation of endurance athletes.

The younger athletes race a shortened course. Sprint Distance Aquathon for age groupers 750m swim/5km run with Open (ages 19-39); Veteran (ages 40-49) and SuperVet (ages 50+) categories.

The Kids’ SuperSprint Distance Aquathon for younger athletes race with two age groups: Junior (ages 12-15) who race 750m swim/2.5km run and Mini (Under 11s) to race 375m swim/2.5km run.

The Sprint Distance Team Aquathon with sprint distance 750m swim/5km run.

For more information, visit www.race-me-events.com.

Wings for Life World Run May 4, 6:00pm, Safa Park, Dubai

The Wings for Life World Run is a global adventure, encompassing 34 locations, in which everyone runs at the very same time all over the world! 100% of the proceeds from the event will go to the Wings for Life foundation, which funds research into curing spinal cord injury. The run will unite athletes around the world, in one race, running for those who can’t. For more information, visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com.

Arabian Travel Market 2014

May 5 to 8, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai World Trade Centre ATM is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals from across the globe. This four-day event attracts high level decision-makers and buyers representing every aspect of the leisure travel industry. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.

To register and for more information, visit www.arabiantravelmarket.com.

Bungee Jumping Competition May 9, Gravity Zone grounds

Join the UAE’s first bungee jumping competition if you dare. Open to women, men and teams, the best jumps will be judged. For more details and registrations, contact booking@gravityzone.com or 056 2745520.

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MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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EVENTS CALENDAR GoYAS by Activelife

Every Wednesday, 6:00pm, Yas Marina Circuit GoYAS by Activelife is an initiative for women to engage in fun, healthy fitness activities in complete privacy every Wednesday. Women 12 years and older are welcomed to walk, run or cycle on the Yas Marina Circuit F1® track or take part in group fitness activities including boot camp, pilates, box fit and yoga. All activities are supervised by an internationally certified female trainer. GoYAS by Activelife is a ladies-only initiative and closed to the general public to ensure the privacy of participants. To register, visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com.

Revolution Nights

Every Wednesday, 6:00pm, Dubai Autodrome Revolution Cycles Dubai bike shop is inviting everyone to head down to the Club Circuit at Dubai Autodrome in Motor City for the free weekly community event of cycling, jogging, rollerblading or walking. The floodlit venue provides a safe and controlled environment for the whole family. For more information, visit www.dubaiautodrome.com.

Paddle & Sole

May 23, 6:00am, Umm Suqeim Beach Teams of three to five runners compete against teams of two to four paddlers. Paddlers will go out to Jumeirah Beach Hotel and turn at 360 Restaurant at end of Jumeirah Beach Hotel pier and go back past the start to DOSC. Runners will run down to Jumeirah Beach Hotel, turn and run back up to DOSC. The club with fastest teams wins the beautiful trophy. For more information, visit www.dubaicreekstriders.org.

Glow & Go!

May 23, 8:00pm, Wadi Adventure, Al Ain This 5km fun run will take place at night, isn’t timed and is meant for everyone to enjoy! The more glow sticks, funky neon clothes and glow paint, the better. Get ready for a crazy, neon night that will also get you active. Cool down after the race with a splash in the surf pool and a DJ party. Registration will start at 6:00pm. For more information, visit race@wadiadventure.ae.

Salalah Striders 10K & 5K Beach Challenge May 30, 5:00pm, Hilton Salalah Resort, Oman

This is Salalah Striders’ first event and the 10km, 5km and 1km kids fun run categories will start and finish at the Hilton beach resort. The course will be held on wet and compacted sand, not on dry beach. Entry includes free entry to Hilton Beach Party afterwards. For more information, contact kevinokane@live.com.

This is just a selection of the events taking place this month, for more upcoming events visit: www.outdooruae.com/event

OUTDOORUAE

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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NEWS + COMMUNITY

Vasilyev cruises to Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge victory Goncalves records dramatic bikes win Russian Vladimir Vasilyev cruised to a commanding cars victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan as Portugal’s Paulo Goncalves produced a brilliant surge on the final leg to snatch the bikes title from seven-time winner Marc Coma.

Partnered by Konstantin Zhiltsov in a Mini, Vasilyev took the 244km Abu Dhabi Aviation Special Stage 5 to win by an impressive 47 mins 55 secs from Poland’s Adam Malysz and Rafal Marton in a Toyota Hilux.

In one of the most dramatic individual battles of the rally, Czech driver Miroslav Zapletal clung on to third place in his Hummer, edging out the UAE’s Yahya Alhelei by eight seconds after a valiant effort by the Emirati to snatch the last podium place in his Nissan Pick Up. German driver Stephan Schott and Duchman Eric Van Loon, both driving Minis, completed the top six in the third round of the 2014 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars.

Matching the tussle between Zapletal and Alhelei was the one which saw reigning FIM world champion Goncalves wipe out a one minute 31 seconds overnight lead for this year’s Dakar Rally winner, Coma, to deny the Spaniard an eighth Desert Challenge crown and secure a first for himself.

At the end of a five-day

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passage through some of the most demanding desert terrain on earth, the Portuguese rider won the opening round of this year’s FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes by 20 seconds.

Spain’s Joan Barreda Bort, winner of the previous two stages, took third place, with the UAE’s Mohammed Al Balooshi recording a highly credible sixth position overall, despite a frustrating last day when his bike stalled.

Poland’s Rafal Sonik captured the Desert Challenge quads title for the first time to add to his 2013 FIM world championship success.

“We have seen desert rallying at its best and have three very deserving new champions,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the rally organis-

ers, and FIA Vice President.

Becoming the second Russian driver to win the Desert Challenge after Leonid Novitskiy in 2010, Vasilyev reached the end of the Abu Dhabi Aviation stage to say: “I’m very happy. I’m sure when we enter the podium it will come home that I’ve won the Desert Challenge. For me this is definitely the most difficult leg of the FIA Cross Country Rally series. On the last stage there weren’t as many dunes and we had to make our own tracks because we didn’t want to follow the bikes. The Desert Challenge is the most challenging experience in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. It’s a very special feeling to win.”

A delighted Malysz completed the stage to say: “This is my first World Cup podium so I’m very happy today. I had a sore neck from yesterday but my plan was just to finish with a good pace and tempo, not too fast but enough to finish strongly.”

After adding to a long list of impressive finishes in the Desert Challenge alongside co-driver Khalid Al Kendi, Alhelei said: “It was a tight race between me and Zapletal for third. After 50km I caught up with him and took three minutes off him, and we were going head to head up to the second passage control when my engine started to overheat so I had to pull back.”

Goncalves, who edged out Coma to clinch last year’s FIM world title, said: “I feel really happy to have won and for the team who altogether made an extraordinary job in Abu Dhabi. We’ve had five days of racing and no problems, and it proves we are very strong and competitive. I’m very confident for the future.

Today was a really fast stage. I knew I had to catch Marc, and the first 90km were very fast.”

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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Provisional results Cars:

Coma, who will be back next year to pursue a record eighth bikes title, said: “It was a very nice race. I love the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. I tried to fight right till the end to catch Paulo, but well done to him. It was a great race till the end.”

Unfortunately, Cameron Waugh, a British bike rider was killed in an accident during the race. He was found by Polish rider Jakub Przygonski and the paramedics arrived by helicopter. They brought Cameron to Mafraq Hospital where he was pronounced dead. “Safety is always our top priority, and the highly motivated professionals in our Search and Rescue and medical teams who responded to today’s accident did everything within their power. Our thoughts are with Cameron’s family,” stated Sulayem.

1. Vladimir Vasilyev / K. Zhilstov (RUS / RUS) MINI All 4 Racing T1

17:10.19

2. Adam Malysz / Rafal Marton (POL / POL) Toyota Hilux T1

17:58.14

3. Miroslav Zapletal / Maciej Marton (CZE / POL) Hummer H3 T1

18:29.58

4. Yahya Alhelei / Khalid Alkendi (ARE / ARE) Nissan Pick UP T1

18:30.06

5. Stephan Schott / A. Schulz (DEU / DEU) MINI All 4 Racing T1

18:43.56

6. Eric Van Loon / W. Rosegaar (NED / NED) MINI All 4 Racing T1

19:07.51

7. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL) Toyota Hilux T1.1

19:13.48

8. Bauyrzhan Issabayev / Vladimir Demyanenko (KAZ / RUS) T1

19:39.08

9. Reinaldo Varela / Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA / BRA) Toyota Hilux T1.1

20:44.14

10. Aidyn Rakhimbayev / A.Nikolaev (KAZ / RUS) MINI All 4 Racing T1.2

21:05.42

Bikes: 1. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Honda 450 CRF Rally

16:57.47

2. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 450 Rally Replica

16:58.07

3. Joan Barreda Bort (SPA) Honda 450 CRF Rally

17:06.31

4. Jordi Viladoms (SPA) KTM 450 Rally Replica

17:38.36

5. Miran Stanovnik (SLO) KTM 450 Rally Replica

18:37.11

6. Mohammed Al Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 Rally Replica

18:57.53

7. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Honda CRF 450

19:00.16

8. Oliver Lloyd (GBR) Speedbrain 450 Rally

20:00.16

9. Jakub Piatek (POL) KTM 450 Rally Replica

20:00.48

10. Santosh CS (IND) KTM 450 Rally Replica

20:09.42

Adventure HQ launches in Abu Dhabi Photos By: OutdoorUAE

Adventure HQ is the ultimate outdoor adventure superstore, proudly born and bred in the UAE, has now launched its third store in Abu Dhabi. Located on Level 2, Dalma Mall in Musaffah.

Adventure HQ is a dedicated outdoor adventure retail specialist offering equipment for a wide range of active lifestyle pursuits such as: fishing, kayaking, diving, camping, hiking, cycling, off-roading, yoga, fitness, Stand Up Paddling, water sports, active wear, footwear plus plenty more.

With an extension to the retail business Adventure HQ has developed Adventure Zone by Adventure HQ. Launched in Abu Dhabi, Adventure Zone, spanning 20,000sqft, is the largest indoor adventure park in the region. The facility includes the following elements: • Skate park, which is the largest and among the best in the region. It has five sections to it –a skate section; a large street section; a bowl and a half pipe section and a BMX area with a Perspex wall ride. It’s great for all tastes and experience levels.

• Pump track, where you can take a BMX, skate board or scooter on and pump them around the 88m long course.

• Trampoline Park, which is a first in the region. This is a series of trampolines all connected together, surrounded by vertical ones on the wall. Bounce around the room and you are guaranteed to have a laugh!

• Boulder wall, which is 3.5m high and has over 50 different routes of all levels of difficulty, ideal for all age groups and experience levels.

• Cable climb course, which has 11 challenges set at over 3.5m off the ground. It gives a bird’s eye view of the all the activities, and works its way over the retail store as well. There is nothing quite like this in Abu Dhabi and no previous experience is required!

• We have The Lodge, which is a rustic

log cabin just like you would find in the alpine! You can book this out for any special occasion giving you a central spot among all the action. Perfect for parties and corporate events.

“We are enormously proud of how far we’ve come since opening our first store in Dubai in June 2011. Adventure HQ is a multi-award winning brand; we attract the best people in the region to work with us; had over 800,000 customers visit our stores; sold over a million products and attended over 150 community events.

Our business model has been adapted with our first concept store at The Beach, JBR specifically tailored to fit the tourist and beach market and now we launch the largest indoor adventure park in the region right here in Abu Dhabi. We are looking forward to going from strength to strength across the UAE and getting more people outdoors and being adventurous” says Founder and General Manager, Sam Whittam.

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One for the books

Colin Phillips sets 24-hour Bungee World record Words By: Glaiza Seguia Photos By: Gravity Zone

Jumping from a crane at a dizzying height is something of a one in a lifetime experience for most of us; an item in the bucket-list that needed to be crossed out and maybe never to be done again. But for British expat Colin Phillips once isn’t enough and he did it 151 times to clinch the Guinness World Record.

The 33-year-old fitness coach based in Dubai set a new world record on March 21st at the Porsche Maccan 24 Bungee event in Dubai Autodrome for the most number of bungee jumps within 24 hours. He started on Thursday at 7:00pm, followed by another session on Friday morning. Around 11:00am, Colin already made 106 jumps and broke the original record of 105 jumps by South African Kevin Huntly in May 2011, but he continued until the afternoon session adding 45 more jumps. In between his jump, OutdoorUAE got to speak with the man of the moment.

“Doing night jumps is really exciting. But I actually hammered my body quite hard,” he stated. “We went to different cords.

From red, which is my normal body weight, to blue which is normally for a heavier person’s weight. So I picked up a few injuries.

I dislocated my little finger and they had to re-pop that back when I got back down.

I also took quite a heavy hit on one of the legs.” Colin also admitted to having a lot of bruises and repetitive strain injuries on his ankles and hips, but he is in good spir-

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its. “I didn’t think it will be that hard on my body but it really has. It feels like I’ve been beaten up and played a couple of rugby back to back. But the fun factor is the team around me, they are absolutely incredible. The event itself with all the sponsors are phenomenal and having people in the cage with me – friends, sponsors and guests made it worthwhile.”

It took 10 months of extensive preparation for Colin to made it to the book.

According to him, he is at the gym twice a day, doing multiple jumps during weekends and CrossFit training. We thought after the repeated drops he would feel a bit queasy, though he did get acid reflux he assumed from something he must have eaten, Colin soldiered on and effectively kept hydrated and focused throughout.

Colin hasn’t even mentioned this feat to his mum yet. “I’m gonna wait until this is completely finished so she can sleep at night,” Colin quipped. “We did have one conservation last year about it, but she didn’t want to hear about it. So once this is done, I’ll give her a call.” A Guinness World Record adjudicator was present and handed the plaque to Colin.

The event was in support of Breast Cancer Arabia (BCA), a foundation aimed to provide financial assistance to women

diagnosed with breast cancer, and was organised by Gravity Zone. “This is not really about proving anything,” Colin, who donned pink shorts and socks to represent BCA, explained. “It’s a childhood dream of mine to get into the book. I also want to bring awareness to Breast Cancer Arabia which is a very worthwhile charity.”

Gillian Brunton, Managing Director for Inner-G and handles corporate social responsibility and sport for social change concentrated on empowering women, said of the organisation: “They are the only foundation in the Middle East that keep the money for expats and for locals, but you must be a resident in the UAE. Any treatment, support, diagnosis or after care, if they are resident and perhaps doesn’t have insurance or less fortunate, there is money available for them.”

BCA Director Elizabeth Reyes added: “You can donate online, you can sponsor some of our events or you can just talk about us. Education is a big thing, but it’s the different type of education and how it is delivered. It is down to the individual to get the best treatment that they can afford, but just because you are on limited income, that doesn’t mean you are entitled to any lesser professionalism. Information, proper awareness and staying healthy are important.”

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EVENT REPORT

Asics run series Anne-Marie Hyrylainen

continued to dominate the Ladies 8km Asics Run Series with another sub 30 minuter run in Race 4 of the series on 18th January 2014.

Sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and organised by Super Sports Events, the Asics 8km and 4km Run Series attracted over 350 runners of all ages and abilities as they wound their way through the private roads of Meydan. A near perfect morning welcomed all runners with a definite increase in temperature from month ago, seeing everyone quickly into their stride.

Hyrylainen blitzed the 8km course in 28 minutes and 34 seconds with a well deserved second place going to Erin Wood in 32:24

TOP 3 AGE GROUP RESULTS 4km boys under 8 years Lukas-Sebastian Ellis 17:44 Nicolas Safieddine 20:19 Nabeel Khan 20:20

4km girls under 8 years Cerys Dingle 20:38 Sophie Wazny 23:22 Ava Omalley 24:41 4km boys 9 - 12 years Rayhaan Guerni 0:17:42 Nicholas Heinio Widell 0:18:35 Ahan Kalra Mathur 0:20:05

while Ailene Buenaventura finished third in 32:29. Himphrey Mungai reversed the tables on log leader Abdullah Harrati in the Men’s 8km race when he picked up the title in a very quick 25:48. Harrati managed to hold on to second place in 26:54 with Godfrey Setaba third in 27:07.

The 4km for Men saw 17-yearold Rahul Raghuveer run a hat-trick of wins when he once again crossed the line in first place in 14:48. David Murphy secured a podium spot in 15:19 and was pushed all the way by young Alexander Cargill who finished third in a time of 15:44. On the ladies side, it was all juniors on the podium with Amber Harding winning her second race in a row in 16:29 followed by Megan Dingle in 17:43 with Nicole Greer rounding all off

in third in 18:26.

“Another great morning of road running!” commented race organiser Warren van der Merwe from Super Sports Events. “We had 15 families enter this morning’s race where there had to be four or more people from the same family making up a team with the youngest runner being Luke O’Malley aged only five years and he finished the 4km in sixth place out of 12 boys aged 12 and under in a time of 26:21 – amazing stuff.

With only one race left in the series we will be looking at finishing this series with a big turnout and look at offering all something special for the last race of the season,” he added.

This series of races is co-sponsored by GO Sport, The Track Golf Club, Meydan Hotel, IMAX, Sport 360, Sharbatly Fruit, OutdoorUAE and Barry Morgan Sports Photography.

Race 5 is scheduled for Saturday, 3rd May 2014 with entries closing the Wednesday before race day. All information regarding the races can be found at www. supersportsdubai.com or contact 4km men 19 years & over event organiser Warren van der David Murphy 15:19 Merwe at 050 6575021 or Harvey Ellis 16:29 warren@supersportsdubai.com.

Laurent Vigneron 17:08 4km ladies 19 years & over Olga Cranga 19:39 Aoife Lehane 19:49 Ferakh Lakhany 20:28

4km men 19 years & over David Murphy M19+ 15:19 Harvey Ellis 16:29 Laurent Vigneron 17:08

8km boys 18 years & under 4km girls 9 - 12 years Matthew Lamb 32:41 Megan Dingle 0:17:43 Steffan Kunoy 33:32 Nicole Greer 0:18:26 Owen Whyte 35:16 Zala Mazej 0:19:16

8km girls 18 years & under 4km boys 13 -18 years Olivia Johnson 38:11 Rahul Raghuveer 14:58 Jenna Whyte 44:51 Alexander Cargill 15:44 Layal Halabi 54:29 Andrew Sausman 20:33 4km girls 13 – 18 years Amber Harding 16:29 Maeva Vigneron 18:36 Imogen Sylvester 18:59

8km men 19 – 39 years Humpfrey Mungai 25:48 Abdallah Harrati 26:54 Godfry Setaba 27:07

8km ladies 19 – 39 years Anne-Mari Hyrylainen 28:34 Erin Wood 32:24 Laura Hampton 35:38 8km men 40 - 49 years David Redvers 31:04 Sumeet Mishra 32:18 Christy Maloney 32:22 8km ladies 40 - 49 years Rachel Harding 39:00 Marielle Heinio Widell 39:30 Louise Morris 39:39 8km men 50 years & over Neil Smith 31:32 Glen Mundy 36:33 Chris Lamb 38:25 8km ladies 50 years & over Elizabeth Driver 34:34 Brigette Stoffberg 42:04 Lauren Ngo 47:49

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EVENT REPORT

Stand up! stand out!

2014 Abu Dhabi All-Stars Grand Slam Words By: Glaiza Seguia Photos By: Abdel Elecho

The heat can be felt throughout the capital and it’s not just because of the rising temperature. International Stand Up Paddling stars returned to the UAE and intensified the action at the 2014 Abu Dhabi All-Stars Grand Slam, which is part of the around-the-globe Stand Up World Tour (SUWT) and World Series hosted by the Waterman League that will run until the last quarter of the year.

Established in 2009, SUWT is the official World Championship Tour for the sport of Stand Up Paddlesurfing with events in six countries and participation of different nations. While the Stand Up World Series provides a professional platform for the world’s best racers to determine the legitimate Men’s, Women’s and U16 World Champions. The WQS Series spans the globe, and culminates in the World Cham-

pionship Finals at Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu in October. Last year, the Abu Dhabi All-Stars Invitational was only an exhibition stopover, but this time, it has been upgraded to a scoring event with a full fleet of riders including last year’s Men’s world champ, Kai Lenny (Naish) of Hawaii.

From Oahu, Hawaii, the athletes made their way to Alagoas, Brazil and then to our sunny shores from April 13th to 19th. Brazilian talent Caio Vaz (Art in Surf) has raised the bar early with two wins at Sunset Beach and Alagoas Pro Grand Slam, securing the top spot in the Men’s ranking. On the ladies’ side, 2013 Women’s champ Nicole Pacelli also from Brazil is first in the World

Tour rankings. And after a dominant performance in Alagoas, the 2013 second placer, Australian ace Angela Jackson (Fanatic) now sits atop the World Series rankings.

The Abu Dhabi leg of the series saw stirring action at an equally impressive setting at the Wadi Adventure pool in Al Ain and Yas Marina waters. Waterman League founder Tristan Boxford is thrilled to be back in the desert after last year’s inaugural Middle East event. “We did it as an exhibition event first to see how it will be received and all the athletes voted unanimously for it to be included in the series,” he said. “It’s definitely better this year. It was challenging because so many people were on the wave pool, so there’s a whole different dynamic. Here in the Yas Marina, it’s been great, we had our full team here to monitor the race. This is such a controlled environment that it makes it quite easy. We are definitely fortunate to be here and the amazing setting just brings more profile to it.”

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Surf It was an intense three-day heats battle for the surf competition with a unique repachage format and set against a backdrop of mountain, sand and chlorine wave pool.

The 2013 and first ever SUWT women’s champ Nicole Pacelli from Brazil started strong and powered through the semis, but was taken down by Iballa Moreno (Starboard) of Spain. Izzi Gomez (Starboard) from Florida had a slow start but found her pace, moving ahead Sophia Bartlow. Iballa was on fire but fell short during the finals, taking second, while Izzi at the top podium finish. “I’m just really happy that it went the way it did and I just want to say congratulations to Iballa because she killed it in that heat,” said Izzi.

Sean Poynter (Starboard) from Florida was on great form, marking some of the highest scores in the heats, besting Hawaii’s Mo Freitas (Focus SUP) in the semis, but the finals boiled down to Sean and Kai, who performed a perfect air reverse into a 360, landing his first season win in style.

Long distance The sweltering 40° didn’t stop the athletes from paddling long and hard for 8.5km course on the first day of racing at the Yas Marina. Lina Augaitis made a spectacular debut at the Stand Up World Series charging in the long distance and clocking in 1:02:24:5, with Manca Notar (Naish) from Slovenia a close second at 1:04:02:8 and Kelsa Gabehart on third at 1:07:20:9. The win came as a shock to Lina. “Somehow, I’m actually okay in the heat, despite coming from somewhere really cold,” said the Canadian athlete. “I felt really good despite a wrong turn in the far buoy. People in the

SUP community are so kind, the girls yelled out to me, so I had the chance to turn around and catch up. I just pushed really hard.”

The boys from Hawaii dominated the endurance race. Kai had a good head start and didn’t push too hard too early, aiming for a breakaway at the final leg. But it was Connor Baxter (Starboard), who made tactical moves and sprinted to victory at 58:14:08. Kai clocked in at 58:16:03, while Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) at third place.

Sprint Fuelled by tight competition at the previous day’s long distance leg, athletes blazed through the M-shaped sprint course, matching each other stroke for stroke.

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Kai, who was consistent throughout the events, dominated all his heats and took the overall sprint win with Zane at second and Connor on third. Zane was thrilled to be back here and with his current strong finishes. “It’s one of my best finishes in the World Series. I’m super stoked to be in the UAE once again because it’s such a cool place. It’s relieving that this is all over, we gave it our all these last two days. I love these events because no matter how the surf goes, you always have another chance to give your all in the races. We’re too blessed to be stressed here.”

Despite being forced to withdraw at the long distance due to illness, Angela was fully recharged and ready to take on the course, and that she did at breakneck speed. “I really had a good night sleep last night and I woke up this morning and felt unreal so I wasn’t going to lose,” she stated. On second place was Lina and third is Manca. Local resident Jen Scully proudly represented the UAE and also participated in the sprints. “They were really fast and the course was really technical. It was great to race at their level so I just kind of gave it my all,” said Jen of Live Love SUP. Another Naish team rider Casper Steinfath from Denmark, who’s currently at seventh in the Series ranking, earned the special “Sportsman Award” at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam for being an excellent ambassador of the sport and showing positive attitude throughout the competition.

Casper took home a huge glass trophy replica of the Burj Khalifa.

The event wrapped up with SUP clinics for the youth and Fun Team Relay Race.

With the growing amount of talent, fans and local interest for Stand Up Paddling, the good future of the sport in the region is certain.

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Making waves

Kai Lenny

Words By: Glaiza Seguia Photos By: Abdel Elecho

The big wave surfer, kitesurfer and Stand Up Paddler snatched the overall championship at the 2013 Waterman League Stand Up Paddle World Series. Although the 21-year-old Maui waterman, didn’t make it to the Abu Dhabi stopover last year, he made it this time even after an injury from a brutal wipe out in Hawaii.

The Naish rider and Red Bull athlete made a massive splash with an overall win at the Abu Dhabi All-Stars Grand Slam. We chat with the three-time SUP world title

holder and overall nice guy about his first time in the Middle East and love of the water.

Welcome to the UAE! You weren’t here last year, glad you could join us this time.

It’s my first time ever in the Middle East and it’s so cool. It’s such a different culture and experience from what I’m used. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are just incredible. It’s an unusual place to see all these amazing buildings and structures; it’s crazy how big everything is here. I expected the heat, but I didn’t actually realise it’s going to be this hot [laughs].

Congrats on winning the surf competition.

Thanks. I was so happy and I also learned a lot because I was able to really try and keep practicing. The wave pool is crazy. They look like normal waves but they don’t sure feel like it; even having fresh water instead of salt water, there’s water density difference. It’s like a wave pool turned into a skatepark, you have to know your run.

How did you prepare for this leg of the series?

There’s no real training for the heat. The only thing would be actually coming to the UAE early and train. I wasn’t able to do that because I was in Brazil. Though Brazil is already hot and in Maui too, but not as hot as here. I think it would be worse if we didn’t have the wind, luckily we do and it cooled us down a bit.

It’s just the beginning at the season, every race is important but usually it will always come down to the very last stop. I definitely want to get the best results I can here and I want to do the best I possibly can for the long season.

We heard about your wipeout at Pe’ahi, that was a nasty-looking gash.

I cut my foot in half with my board fin.

Unfortunately, that threw a little curve ball at me at the beginning of the season because I lost out on a month of training, pretty much all of January. I had no training, I was just sitting around trying to recover, so that definitely threw me off a little bit. But on the other hand, it was really good as I think I needed the break because I’ve been going so hard for so many years without a break. I think it was just a sign of some sort.

The hardest part for me was trying to take a rest, because I don’t know how to. To force myself to rest was really difficult, but it’s mandatory.

How was the recovery?

Recovery was fine, it didn’t hurt at all. It’s just in an inconvenient spot. The fin got right in between my toes. But it actually healed up incredibly. If you would have seen it in person you’ll be blown away at how well it healed. It could have been on those injuries that could have put me out for two months but it just ended up a month. This was for sure my worst injury, fortunately. It’s really bad, but at the same time it could have gotten a lot worse.

You’re currently at number two, what’s your gameplan for this season?

Basically, just win. It’s still so early in the year that you really don’t know what will

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happen, everything could completely switch around. Midway season is where I have my strongest events and if I could continue doing that, it’s going to work out perfectly.

It all comes down to the person. I think the only way to do it is kind of look inward and just to win each event at a time. Just go with the punches versus already trying to see the end results, because it always changes in the end. Last year at the racing tour, Connor had the prime position, but I came from behind and was able to scoop it up. It’s not impossible for those things to happen.

In this event, all the guys on top are right in the mix but it wouldn’t be unusual if somebody unexpected could win. There’s always a dark horse, it just depends if that person gets his chance or they’re just feeling better than everyone else that day.

When the going gets tough, what’s your motivation?

Competition is such a huge goal, but at the end of the day, the reason why I’m doing all this is because I love it. It’s just fun and I’m always going to do it if it’s fun. As long as I keep realising my goals and making new ones, I’m probably going to be able to do this forever. It just comes down to reinventing yourself.

What’s your strategy for the sprint races?

We have quite a few buoy turns, so it’s how quick and how tight you can make your turns. Buoy turns are interesting because if somebody is slow in front of you, it will slow you down, so it’s about choosing the right line and basically going hard the entire race. The sprint and the long distance course are just across from the Ferrari World, across the Formula 1 track. There are a lot of racing around us which gives some inspiration to paddle a little harder; we’d like to pretend we’re racing on the track.

We know you’re all friends here, but with all the talented athletes, the competition must be tough.

The progression of the sport is increasing; everyone is becoming stronger and has better equipment. For sure, it’s definitely a tighter race and it comes down to who has their best day. As a Naish

team, we’re all really close and once we are all on the water, it doesn’t really matter what brand is on your feet.

As last year’s champ and at such a young age, do you feel more pressured?

I’ve definitely accomplished a lot of my goals and everything from this point on is just icing on the cake. I think I’m only becoming more and more competitive. For sure the pressure of being world champion definitely weighs a little bit more than not, but at the same time it depends on what you make of it. You either take it as a positive and use it as an encouragement or you can take it as a negative and turn it into pressure.

Which do you think is more difficult windsurfing or surfing?

Surfing is one of the sports where it takes a lifetime to learn, you’ll never master it. A wave is a wave, and you’re only as good as the wave allows you to be. As for windsurfing you have the wind and once you learn it, you can do it. But windsurfing, at the same time, you’ll never be really able to master it.

I could almost say that windsurfing is the harder of the two because you’re dealing with two separate elements, winds and waves. A wipe out at windsurfing, where you’re going a lot faster and have the chance of hitting your equipment, will most likely going to hurt more. I’d say the learning curve for windsurfing is much harder.

How will you encourage the growing SUP community here in the region?

The popularity of SUP didn’t surprise me at all.

It’s the easiest way to learn water sports and the easiest way to learn surfing. Just hold on to those dreams of riding good waves one day and just use what you have surrounding you at the moment, what you have at your disposal. It all comes down to how passionate you are for what it is that you’re doing. I would encourage people to look at it as a good work out. Here in the UAE, it’s pretty flat and you can burn up to 360 calories in a half hour by just paddling. It’s the ultimate full body workout and if you look at it that way, you start doing it and then you realise how much fun it is. At the same time, you’re developing different skill set. SUP is kind of the gateway to being a good surfer, I think.

EVENT REPORT

Words By: Natalio Liares Photos By: PHISHFOTOZ, Louise Adamson Additional Photos By: Russel Chavez

I signed up for this 30km with the idea of ending the season with something unique – a “night race” in the wadi. After I completed the Extreme3 140km, I figured I might as well get my feet wet (or cracked and blistered) as it was predicted to be a rainy night.

The Night Rebel had two aspects that appealed to me. First, it is the only night race in the region. Second, Night Rebel had three races (10km, 20km and 30km), well organised by Urban-Ultra and it is in April.

Nothing better than to end the running season with something easy (you heard it right) before it gets too hot. In this running season, I have basically completed nine races from November to April, claiming two ultramarathons, one marathon, three halfmarathons and three 30-40km mountain races. After learning about the trail running community in Dubai, I realised that trail runners are a rare breed of bizarre that still train even when it’s freezing in winter and freaking hot during summer, and still wake up early in the morning to get in a three or four-hour trail/sand run.

Training Well, crap. I did sit down and wrote myself a nifty little training plan that looked really great on paper. I will say that despite not training adequately according to popular standards, I did manage to log about two to three runs per week with a reasonable long run on Friday mornings and a few of those on the trails. I’m racing mostly every other weekend since January. I also cross train with weights. Luckily, I was able to join

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night run

a group (www.dubaitrailrunning.com) run on Showka where the race took place two weeks out from race day. It started 6:20am I logged 31km that day and realised this was going to be a lot harder than I thought as the temperature rises from 20° to 34° as we finish.

Race day The conditions of the evening were too good to last. The weather had brought some rain during the day, and it helped to keep everybody cool. My friend Zuzana and I arrived with an hour and a half to go. We had just enough time to do a gear check and set the mood. Race briefing starts 7:45pm. Twenty minutes later, I was running through the dark by the light of my headlamp. I had decided going into this race to leave all expectations at the start line. After all, you only get one first at each distance. I wore my Suunto, but decided not to look at it often. I wanted to listen to my body and not my watch. I started off mid pack and decided to take the first 1.5km climb nice and slow. I figured that since I had no idea how many people were ahead or behind me, I wasn’t going to start my usual calculating of who I needed to pass in order to start picking off people in my category. Not until the 10km mark. The first 15km went pretty darn swell as it’s mostly uphill. I was very conscientious of my fueling and took a gel at 7km (much sooner than I usually do on road races). I knew that the elevation gains

and losses affect your body much differently. I never stopped at the water stations because I had enough of electrolyte drink, water and gel in my hydration pack. Enough to fuel up to the turning point (15km). On that note, I ended up being happy with my choice. My pack never bothered me and I was able to sustain my own fueling throughout most of the race, avoiding time costly stops at the water stations. The point was to cover as much ground as possible before feeling any fatigue at all, to “shorten” the race, in a way.

I started to notice that as I could see the line of runners ahead of me, I only noticed about two men. My immediate competitive nature kicked in and I started to wonder if I’d be able to catch any of them. I didn’t speed up, I still listened to my body and the gap between us remained about the same until 9km. I hit the wind and started to close the gap between myself and these men.

I passed all two as I came into the 11km mark. This 30km course was out and back along the same route. As I started to near the halfway water station, all the runners ahead of me started passing me on the other direction as they went back out. This allowed me to see how many people were ahead of me. I saw seven. That meant that coming into the halfway point, I’m eighth.

I arrived at the halfway point at 1:30:12. I was pleasantly surprised with my time. Then I’ve heard a voice-over from the crew, “The French Navies are fast, take them down one by one.” This gave me quite the mental boost as I filled up my electrolyte bottle and turned out for the downhill.

The downhill Heading down the first 3km descent was cooler as temperature dropped from 27° to 22°. My mind was renewed but my legs and heart rate were crying. I turned up my music, put my head down and just put one

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

foot in front of the other until I reached the 20km water station. I passed one navy as he stops for water. One thing I have learned about these long distances is that you can’t focus on the entire distance; that will crush you mentally. You have to compartmentalise. Once I got to the top, I knew it was nice and then downhill for another 13km before the last climb and undulations.

The last 5km was brutal. Those hopes were almost dashed. Somehow I messed up. And so I tripped, with my toe catching on a big rock 100m before the water station. There was a strange moment when I sailed through the air, flailing a bit before I landed, knowing I was in a slight dive position. In that split-second, it was frightening to anticipate what might happen.

My life didn’t flash through my mind, but the question like “will I be able to finish?” certainly did. I was hit with most of the force of the blow centered on my core, I did get my hands down and scraped my palm. I stopped for a bit to assess, felt generally okay, and continued on at a slower pace. I started repeating a mantra that had popped into my head. I knew that no matter how slow, I just needed to keep moving forward.

Forward is progress. I only had 5km to go and it was motivating to know that I would probably finish under three hours. I knew I was doing okay, considering I had made pretty good time on my first half.

I started picking up the pace again and my legs definitely felt fatigued from 26km mark, though I don’t quite consider it as bonking – just borderline delirium. My heart rate soared as I had to quickly react to avoid falling entirely when I hit a rock again (which

Van Beek

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

of course, I still did one more time in 29.2km mark). It didn’t slow me down but certainly added to the mounting mental fatigue.

I crossed the finish line with an official time of 2:57:09 and it was good enough for fifth overall. It was extremely rewarding. Zuzana finished as first overall female with time of 3:35:40. I just love the Energizer Night Rebel, the positive atmosphere is contagious. We took in some breathtaking countryside, as well as gritty local terrain and a friendly racing scene. No iPod necessary. Enjoyed the trails in the peaceful evening. This left me feeling energised and excited.

Training tips: Make sure you do some runs on terrain, to get your ankles and legs used to the rougher surface, descents and climbs. Train in your shoes, get used to them. Run at night with a headlamp.

Racing tips: Always take first-aid supply. Tie your laces very securely. Use a good headlamp. Go steady at the start.

Always obey the marshals’ instructions. Hydrate well and enjoy it!

swims to 6 from 6 Gwen van Beek from Sports Life Swim Academy continued her amazing run of wins at Race 2 of the Zoggs/GO Sport Mina Mile Open Water Swimming Race for the 2013/14 series.

Hosted by Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina and the Dubai International Marine Club, this Dubai Sports Council sanctioned event attracted over 220 entries ranging in ages from six years old through to 50 years and over.

Van Beek built on her success from Race 1 in November 2013 by swimming to her first title this weekend in the 800m event and clocked a finish time of 12 minutes 57 seconds. Lucy Agnew was a full 30 seconds back in second place with Kayla Berry in third in 14:13. Van Beek then took to the waters for the 400m swim and was first out

again in a time of 7:17. Agnew gave her a much better race this time and finished second once again in 7:23 with Dannielle Hatcher third in 7:30. The final race of the morning, the Mina Mile of 1600m, had Van Beek cross the finish line in 25:06 making it six out of six wins for the 2013/14 season of the Zoggs Mina Mile Open Water Swim Series. Christina Hammervold pushed Van Beek all the way in this race but ended up six seconds behind her in a time of 25:12 with Dora Cerva clinching third in 25:52.

The 200m swim for girls Under 12 years was won by Greta Agnew in 02:58 with Lois Van Beek second in 03:03 and Megan Rees was third in 03:25 On the men’s side, in the 200m swim for boys aged 12 years and under, it was Csonger Cellie emerging from the water first in a fast 02:53 followed by Lucjan Ulanowski sprinting across the line in 03:10 with Rayhaan Guerni taking third in 03:17.

Maxim Korshunov completed the 400m swim in 06:35 with Abdulah Zeljo only 12 second behind him and Aleksandr Bezruchenko only two seconds behind Zeljo which made for a great sprint finish. In the

800m swim it was Abdulah Zeljo crossing the finish line first in 12:13 with Zeyad Dessouky (12:17) and Georgiy Hmelidze (12:41) in second and third respectively. Neil Ashcroft topped the podium for the Mile swim in a time of 22:54 holding off Gergely Molnar in second in 23:00 with Abdulah Zeljo third in 23:36.

“With no wind and slight cloud cover to keep the sun out, it was a once again a perfect morning for open water swimming with calm flat waters in the Meridien Bay,” commented race organiser Warren van der Merwe from Super Sports Events. “Juniors once again dominated all the events with many of them to be seen on the podium collecting their winners’ trophies! A big thank you to all our sponsors and supporters involved: The UAE Swimming Federation, Zoggs as title sponsor for the fourth year running were supported by Sport 360, The Heavenly Spa, The Westin Mina Seyahi, GO Sports, Sharbatly Fruit, Barry Morgan Sport Photography and Barasti Beach,” he added.

Full race results can be found at www.supersportsdubai.com.

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENT REPORT

Xtreme Wake hosts Mind-Blowing ‘Beasts on Boards’ in collaboration with Body Glove and Centurion Boats

Xtreme Wake hosted a spectacular show on April 11th in Ghantoot Marina at the Golden Tulip Al Jazira Hotel & Resort. For the first time ever in the Middle East, the top five riders sponsored by Body Glove – a leading, worldwide water sports apparel brand – put on a performance of gravity-defying tricks where riding was taken to a whole new level.

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Attendees got to witness wave history and jaw-dropping action as Rusty Malinoski, current WWA World Champion; Harley Clifford, 2012 Pro Tour and “King Of Wake” Series Champion; Bob Soven, Alliance Wakeboard Magazine’s 2013 “Rider Of The Year;” Melissa Marquardt, Alliance Wakeboard Magazine’s 2012 Female “Rider of the Year;” and Keenan Flegel, current World Wakesurfing Cham-

pion, all took to the waters.

To mark the occasion, Centurion Boats unveiled their brand new, nifty Xtreme Wake and Body Glove co-branded Limited Edition ENZO FX22 with which the riders performed all their tricks. Hisham Hasan,vice president of Tiki Style ME who is responsible for the Body Glove operations for the Middle East said, “Our partnership with Xtreme Wake is going to new heights with the opening of the new camp in Ghantoot and the arrival of the new Xtreme Wake and Body Glove Boat. We are really excited at the idea of growing and furthering the wakeboard and wake surfing scene in the UAE like never before. This launch with some of the top riders in the world will be the start of many more great things to come!”

Karim Aly, Managing Partner of Xtreme Wake, was thrilled at the turnout of the event and spoke this of their accomplishments, “Our success is fuelled by the combination of hard work and a genuine passion, but was mainly made possible by our growing family of riders, the backbone of our company.”

Amongst those in attendance were the top management of Body Glove, Centurion Boats, Alliance Wakeboard Magazine and Chairman of the Board of Body Glove Middle East.

ACTIVITY REPORT

Deep water solo day trip Words + Photos By: Tonya Colson

For the second time this year, I joined an adventurous group of Dubai-based climbers for a day of deep water soloing. It started with an early morning drive to Dibba, where a speedboat took us northward up the Omani coastline. Most of our group had made this trip before, and all were keen to test their skills on stunning rock cliffs that rise up out of the sea.

Deep water soloing (DWS) is a form of free soloing, or climbing without a rope.

The obvious advantage in DWS is that deep water is below you, and falling into water is much safer than falling onto rocks.

However, it is not without risks. Before beginning any climb, we would assess the water depth and check for hazards that may lie below the water’s surface. Hazards can also be on the water’s surface – one spot was deemed unacceptable because of the large number of jellyfish guarding the splash zone. Currents, safe boat access, and rock quality are also considered.

Finally, the route upward is planned to allow a clear fall into the sea below. Safety in DWS, as with all climbing, takes first priority.

Matt Farr, from Mountain Quest, served as our group leader. He has made a dozen trips to the area over the past four years, and has some of the best locations wired.

This time he came armed with freshly laminated maps from www.redarmadapublishing.com, so he took us on a search for new routes, in addition to stops at the old favourites. The area boasts routes all the way through 8a, on the French grading system. On this trip, we climbed routes graded 5+ to 6b.

Miriam Vadillo shows classic form on the arête

Hala takes the plunge

Ryan Vatkin works the overhang problem

Helen shows Dan the way out of the water

Once a spot was approved, our climbers wasted no time getting into their shoes and onto the rock. In some spots we could step from the boat to the wall, and in others we had to pull up out of the water. The day’s conditions were absolutely perfect.

Calm seas and sunny skies made for an ideal boat party atmosphere. The rock was good as well. With solid handholds and challenging routes, and it didn’t take long for climbers to be pushing their limits.

Climb up, jump down, repeat.

The vibe on the rock was supportive, with people cheering each other on.

Sometimes on the wall it’s hard to see where to place a hand or foot, and the more experienced climbers were ready with suggestions. There was also the Matt Farr shows us the route up

The group

standard heckling for those who climbed higher than planned, and were then scared to jump down. Even with deep water below, a jump (or fall) can be painful if you hit the water wrong. It’s the only way down though, so a bit of cliff jumping bravery and swimming skills are a must for DWS. As someone relatively new to the sport of climbing, I have really enjoyed the DWS outings. Climbers of many different levels can climb together. Being free of ropes and gear keeps things simple – just rock, sun, water, and friends. Many of the routes were too challenging for me as beginner, but that didn’t take away from my fun at all. I climbed something hard (for me), jumped from higher than I wanted to, and felt inspired to keep improving.

Dan climbs the corner while Ryan plans his jump

Qais on the face

EVENT REPORT

Polaris takes Camp RZR to the United Arab Emirates A first of its kind event that highlights global love of off-road riding Polaris® Industries Inc., the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles showed off its RZR vehicles in the United Arab Emirates. Camp RZR UAE took place from March 28th through March 29th in Dubai. The UAE is home to some of the world’s best sand dunes, making it the perfect place to hold the first Camp RZR event outside of North America.

Polaris brought its top RZR engineers, Jagged X race team and XP1K riding star, RJ Anderson, to meet and ride with offroaders in the UAE. The event featured riding activities, engineering displays, giveaways, food, music and more. Camp RZR UAE is modelled after the popular US Camp RZR event that takes place annually in Glamis, CA. Each year, more than 20,000 riders travel to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area to attend.

“Camp RZR UAE is really a celebration of off-road riding,” said Craig Scanlon, general manager of the Polaris RZR Divi-

sion. “Polaris RZR is truly a global brand and we’re excited to bring our premier RZR event to the UAE given their vast interest and passion for the brand.”

Polaris is a recognised leader in the powersports industry with annual 2013 sales of 3.8 billion USD. Polaris designs,

engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-byside vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

ACTIVITY REPORT

Every now and then you have to stop in order to keep moving forward An abridged excerpt from Ben Gleisner-Cooke’s blog “Building a Better Ben” offering an interesting perspective on the importance of training, rest and recovery.

This year I’ve had more injuries than a Blockheads lookalike contest (tenuous reference alert!). Therefore, it’s time to accept I cannot do exercise other than the most sedate kind – I’m thinking lawn bowls. At least I would, were it not for two things. First, FMS. FMS, or functional movement screening, is about as chilled a workout you can do without lighting joss sticks, sticking on some spandex and muttering, “ommmmm” for an hour. The aim of FMS is to correct physical movement in order to perform with better technique. This might be performing something mighty like a deadlift, but also means gaining improvement outside the gym such as achieving better posture when being an office jockey.

Such improvements are achieved through mobility exercises, breathing techniques and practice of movements.

Even with FMS, I’m still going to get injured because despite being physically fitter than at any time in my life, injuries are a part of exercise. You can work to prevent them, but I can’t remember the last time I could say I felt 100% fit. Factor in getting older and it is safe to say physical output will continually downturn.

Hence, taking a foot off the gas and swapping out more intense workouts

for some active recovery is a worthwhile investment. I can’t stop the physical erosion coming my way, but I can slow it down. This past week it has also become clearer to me that it’s equally important to turn off the gas, get out the car and let the engine cool down completely.

This is where the second thing comes in. Rest. You may have heard of it? Some exercisers treat it like a welcome friend and meet up a few times per week; others fear it like a lurking bogeyman threatening to derail progress if they stop training even for three seconds.

Exercise is a strange thing. The more you do it, the more substantial the benefits but the very thing you love can get addictive to the point of being detrimental. Ain’t that always the way?! Forming a good habit is one thing, but overtraining at the expense of adequate recovery is a road to harm. I do CrossFit, and there is no denying this at times involves high intensity, which in turn brings risk if not carefully approached.

This intensity can also breed a certain arrogance, a sense of feeling invincible or, worse still, adherence to that mantra “no pain, no gain.”

This year I’ve trained through niggling injuries, even adapting while recovering from a torn calf muscle. This is not a boast of, “look how awesome I am, I train through the pain!” rather it’s an admission, “look at what an idiot I can still be.” As said, certain aches and pains are commonplace even on good days, but injuries such as this should have prompted me to

stop sooner. I had physio, took a few days off but worked around the injury. Given the relapse suffered the brief recuperation was clearly insufficient. I should have heeded my body’s warning signs.

I didn’t because, honestly, I was scared of doing so. I was too worried stopping would be an admission of not being fit or strong enough, coupled with a feeling that other improvements I’ve made would be setback or abandoned altogether. It would be remiss not to mention that all this pressure was internal, I lay the blame solely at my own door. Not so much, “no pain, no gain,” as, “plough on regardless, even if it means ignoring all rational thought.” Actually, maybe there isn’t much difference.

Thankfully a week off has done wonders, and shown me a fear of rest is as ludicrous as it is stupid. Mine is a long-term project filled with discovery and realignment, and the lesson learned here, no matter how obvious, is that self-improvement is dependent on several factors. Finding the balance between them will require experimentation.

At times it will mean embracing failure, but this won’t matter as long as the determination to succeed remains. Not time to take up lawn bowls just yet.

Ben, a member at Reebok CrossFit LifeSpark, has taken on the challenge of self-improvement, and is sharing his experience with his community. To read more, check out: www.buildingabetterben.weebly.com.

OUTDOORUAE

23

ACTIVITY REPORT

Kitesurfing in Qatar

Make it your next destination Words By: Eulogy van Dyk Photo By: Flokiteschool.com

The country might not be blessed with beautiful mountains and rolling hills but surrounded by water on three sides and with regular winds, it becomes the perfect destination for one thing in particular – kitesurfing.

The sport of kitesurfing has become increasingly popular over the past couple of years all over the world, so it is no wonder that the IKA (International Kitesurfing Association) are campaigning to include it as an official sport for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

And this is also true for Qatar. According to Mark Kettenis from Fly-N-Ride there were only a handful of kitesurfers in the country when he arrived back in 2006, since then it has grown to almost 500 active participants.

It is also interesting to know that Qatar is busy building their own professional team that is run via the Qatar Sailing & Rowing Federation where they receive coaching from top international athletes.

Why should Qatar be your next kitesurfing destination?

All kitesurfers know one thing from the very first time they hit the water – you need good wind! Not too much, and not too little (although alterations and adjustments are often made to get out there!).

And this is the beauty of Qatar, a dominant wind direction from the northwest, almost always constant in giving great reliability when venturing out. This also means the majority of spots is always available. Due to the narrow geographical borders of this diminutive nation, getting from the north coast to the west is only a short trip in the car, so you always have more options if the wind is not blowing at your favourite spot. And unlike many other GCC nations, we have plenty of them, so you are literally spoilt for choice.

No matter whether you are an advanced kitesurfer looking for a challenge, or a beginner that is still learning the skills, Qatar will have what you are looking for.

With mostly shallow open water, plenty of space without any traffic and mild temperatures that won’t scare you away, there are only a few other places in the world that can compete with this perfect recipe!

24

What is the best time to “fly your kite” in Qatar?

The season is generally from January to June, with June beginning the top month due to the strong shamal (north) wind that blows. From July to August, the kitesurfing community usually takes a break, like almost everywhere in the Middle East, due to the hot water and air temperature. During the months of December to February the water temperature drops and a 3mm wetsuit will come in handy, for the rest of the season you can almost leave your wetsuit at home.

Important: Although there are no government interference or regulations at the moment, it is important to know that kiting is restricted in front of the diplomatic area as well as in front of the Emir’s house. With the increase of kiters in the country, safety is becoming a concern, so always be aware of what is going on around you and hook up with a buddy that knows the area and don’t kitesurf alone.

Choose your favourite spot!

There are a variety of great spots to go kiting in Qatar. Here are the top sites with a short description: Fuwairit Beach: N26°01 1.5932’, E051° 22.7259’ One-hour drive from Doha, located on the north road. Sandy beach with open sea and a lagoon at high tide. Suitable for beginners and experienced kiters. You will need a 4x4 to access the kitesurfing area and lagoon.

No driving on the beach is allowed from April to July due to tortoises breading on the beach.

Zekreet: N25° 28.3076’, E050° 50.8741’ A 50-minute drive from Doha, located on the west coast of the country. A huge lagoon, with shallow water and enclosed bay.

Perfect spot for beginners. You do not need

a 4x4 vehicle to the spot. Note: shoreline is rocky and slippery after high tide so stay in the middle of the lagoon where the bottom is sandy.

Majfar (Ghost town): N26° 8.1319’, E051° 18.2417’ A one-hour and 15-minute drive from Doha, located on the North road. Open ocean with sand channels. This is more of an intermediate spot at mid-high tide. You will need a 4X4 to access the beach. With a normal car you can drive until the observatory.

Sumaysimah: N25° 35.4625’, E051° 29.3541’ A 30-minute drive on the north road from Doha you will find Sumaysimah a town situated between Lusail and Al Khor. Huge lagoon located on the east coast. It is a beginner friendly spot. No 4x4 required.

Al Wakra: N25° 10.9637’, E051° 37.13’ With only a 20 to 30-minute drive south from Doha, this is the closest location. Open sea, with a big beach at low tide and a very small beach at high tide. A good spot for beginners and no 4x4 vehicle is required.

Al Alia Island: N25° 24.2709’, E051° 34.0762’ It’s a perfect spot if you are only in town for a day or two, and easily accessible from The Pearl beach area. More suitable for intermediate riders, however the shallow flat water on the south end provides a playground for beginners. No 4x4 vehicle required, although permission to enter Pearl beach is.

If you feel ready for a new challenge, or if you are an experienced kiter looking for something new, then this will be the best decision you could make. Kitesurfing is considered one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and this is true for the Middle East as well. Drawn to the water in the desert countries with its searing temperatures, you will find a fun and exciting new sport offering a world of adventure. And it doesn’t get better than here in Qatar!

Where to learn and where to shop?

Fly-N-Ride

Website

Contact details

Services

www.fly-n-ride.com

+974 33117089 +974 44982284 (shop) info@fly-n-ride.com

Lessons Equipment Shop

Flo Kite School www.flokiteschool.com

Kitesurfing Qatar

+974 55041039 Lessons florakiteschoolqatar@gmail.com Sales and equipment Repairs

www.kitesurfingqatar.com +974 30179108 fly@tesurfingqatar.com

OUTDOORUAE *Note: Currently there are no rental option for equipment

Lessons Equipment online shop

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

ACTIVITY REPORT

The best downhills in the UAE How to descend faster on your mountain bike Words + Photos By: Sean James

People love making lists. However ranking the contents can be contentious and subjective. In the past months, OutdoorUAE has been uphill and around corners, this month we will give you a taste of the best five off-road downhills in the UAE. There are many more descents that could have made the top five and it could be argued that the contents could be placed in any position. However being a judge is a brutal task and we guarantee you will have fun with all of these.

The criteria for selection was loosely defined but some of the following were considered; a total elevation drop of over 100m, longer than 1km, some element of technical interest and overall experience plus amazing landscape. Mountain bikers are lucky in the UAE and there are at least the same number of tracks that could be added from Musandam and the area around Hatta.

All of these tracks can be done on a hard tail with front suspension. Of course it is more comfortable with a full suspension mountain bike. All can be downloaded in .gpx format from the OutdoorUAE website.

Two notable exceptions have been excluded from this list as they have now been blacktopped. Jebel Yibir and Jebel Jais are still world-class ascents and also descents but now a lot smoother. They are definitely worth doing either on a road bike or mountain bike.

Techniques for descending faster Just as some people don’t like ascending, some people don’t like descending. These are some tips that can help you feel more confident descending.

Body position. Take your weight off the saddle and move it over the rear of the bike. This may look strange with your bum sticking out over the seat but it works. If it is a really steep descent you should also consider lowering the saddle. Doing this really makes the body position more comfortable and stops you from thinking that you are going to fall

forwards over the handlebars.

Similar to corners and ascents you should try to stay low, keeping your stomach as close to the bike as possible. Keeping your full weight on the saddle is not a good idea on descents as the force of every impact will travel straight through your body.

State of mind. Being relaxed and flexible also helps to turn your body into a natural Name

Start point

End point

shock absorber, so don’t grip the handlebars over tightly. As your weight is off the saddle, the flexibility is taken in your legs and will far outweigh the ability of your bike’s suspension system. Gripping the saddle lightly with your thighs will prevent the bike from jumping about too much.

Braking. Brakes should be applied in an even action and together, both front and back. Using only one brake may cause it to overheat and fail on long descents and also for that wheel to lockup and slide out of control. For really steep descents with loose gravel, I prefer a technique similar to ABS, where very quick repeated, but not jerky, snatches of both brakes help prevent the wheels sliding and locking.

Look ahead. The tendency on descents is to look closely at the front wheel and where it is immediately contacting the ground. If you can, glance up occasionally and pick a line. Thinking 15-20m is practicable and allows you to pick the smoothest line and position for the next difficult section.

Total elevation drop

Length

1 Away from 25°29’58.22”N Dibba 56° 8’22.10”E

25°28’53.61”N 205m 56° 8’12.81”E

3.1km

2 Glimpses of Dibba

25°29’58.22”N 56° 8’22.10”E

25°30’24.57”N 353m 56°10’3.05”E

3.7km

3 Enter Fujairah

25° 9’30.34”N 56°10’21.40”E

25° 9’15.12”N 424m 56°12’36.66”E

5.3km

4 Spring to Khatt

25°36’33.89”N 56° 3’9.59”E

25°36’47.50”N 505m 56° 0’41.80”E

5.6km

5 Tayybah gorge

25°24’23.98”N 56°10’5.45”E

25°27’14.33”N 344m 56°10’8.61”E

7.5km

6 RAK push

25°51’54.06”N 56° 4’21.06”E

25°51’10.41”N 389m 56° 4’0.37”E

2.1km

7 Masafi Drop

25°15’37.45”N 56°13’26.26”E

25°15’29.43”N 121m 56°12’56.00”E

1km

8 Khatt Backside

25°35’50.78”N 56° 3’44.61”E

25°34’48.31”N 406m 56° 3’37.65”E

3.3km

9 The Fujairah Monster

25°11’36.26”N 56°10’39.83”E

25° 9’20.77”N 573m 56°12’35.86”E

10.7km

*In no particular order

OUTDOORUAE

25

UAE Sailing Results – April UAE Nationals, Round 6, Al Hamra, RAK: 11-12 April 2014

ACTIVITY REPORT

Optimist Junior (under 11 years) 1st Jentl Hanemaaijer, DOSC 2nd Jamie Wilkinson, DOSC 3rd Abdul AzizAl Hamadi, ADSYC

Sir Bani Yas Race Words By: Jennifer Hardie

This April, 70 sailors aboard 11 racing yachts took part in the inaugural Sir Bani Yas Race, organised by the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) Abu Dhabi in partnership with Anatara Hotels Resorts and Spas, Rotana Jet, Xtra-Link, Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi Stopover and the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC).

The racing yachts set sail from DOSC on 10 April, had a stop-over at Emirates Palace on the 11th and arrived at Sir BaniYas Island on the 12th. Some lucky sailors

spent the week on Sir Bani Yas Island exploring the sights and viewing the 30 different types of mammals that live on the island including the Arabian Oryx, cheetahs, hyenas and giraffes. The rest of the sailors, who couldn’t stay, flew back to Dubai on Rotana Jet for the week, returning on 17th April for the official race back to Dubai.

“This was a great inaugural event which all of our sailors thoroughly enjoyed taking part in. We look forward to working with everyone to build on this initial success in future years,” said Calum McKie, ViceCommodore of DOSC. After a full-on day and a half of racing, which people could follow through onboard trackers provided by Xtra-Link, the yachts finally arrived back at DOSC, with Shahrazad, helmed by David Worrall, winning the race. David Worrall commented, “the Sir Bani Yas offshore tour is the most fun I have had in a sailing event for many

Optimist 1st Saif Al Mansouri, EHC 2nd Mohamed Abdulkarim al Hamadi, EHC 3rd Jentl Hanemaaijer, DOSC Laser 4.7 1st Hamood Salem Al Zaidi, EHC 2nd Saif Ibrahim Al Naimie, EHC 3rd Mohamed Gtat, AHCSC Laser Radial 1st Fionn Conway, DOSC 2nd Saeed Salem Al Zaidi, EHC 3rd Tallal Salem Al Zaidi, EHC Laser Standard 1st Daniel Kilsby, DOSC 2nd John Woolcock, DOSC 3rd John Terry, ADSC years. Due in equal measure to the superb organisation of TDIC and Anantara, and the challenging courses to Abu Dhabi that mixed serious racing with fun cruising, it was a fabulous event.”

Eastern Motors organises Jeep FUNatic for the first time in Al Ain Organising a collection of fun-filled activities to fit the lively spirit of Al Ain residents, particularly Jeep owners, Eastern Motors, Al Ain dealership of Fiat and Jeep Chrysler and member of Al Fahim Group, collaborated with a number of Al Ain-based entities to arrange the first ever FUNatic.

Starting with a healthy breakfast at Eastern Motors’ showroom in Sanayia District, 150 participants totaling an impressive 50-car convoy, the Jeep owners were divided into four categories: Beginners under the names Fun Drive Grand Cherokee – which featured the largest number of drivers – and Fun Drive Wranglers, Intermediate Off-road Drivers and Advanced Off-road Drivers.

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OUTDOORUAE

At the event, Mr Nassim Mourani, General Manager of Eastern Motors, said, “We plan to hold this entertaining and highly engaging event with our customers on an annual basis. Al Ain is a beautiful oasis with lots of exciting recreational activities which residents can take advantage of from off-roading and white-water rafting to a more relaxing morning kayaking or sunbathing on the beach.

“We had a large turn-up and are thrilled to be enjoying a family day out with Jeep owners in Al Ain as it gives us

a chance to get to know them on a more personal level,” he continued.

After a remarkable morning in the sand dunes of the oasis, participants were invited for lunch at Wadi Adventure, one of the event sponsors, and unwind on the poolside of the park. Other supports of FUNatic were Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club, Al Jimi Mall, Tim Horton’s, Hilton Al Ain and Al Ain Water Park.

To finish off the fascinating day-out, raffle prizes were handed out to winners and included two airline tickets to Bangkok, Thailand.

ACTIVITY REPORT

Sail into the Sunset

on a shoestring

“I’ve always wanted to sail to the South Seas, but I can’t afford it!”

What these men can’t afford is not to go. -Sterling Hayden in ‘Wanderer’ Words By: William Pardoe

Have you ever dreamt of buying a yacht and just sailing away? It turns out that it’s not such a pipe-dream after all. With just 5,000 USD in your pocket, you could be shaking hands on a 34ft beauty, soon to be cruising past palm-laden beaches with azure waters lapping at your hull.

Sounds too good to be true? Well, I’d like to explain why such bargains are out there, and how for a relatively small investment you could be rewarded with the life of your dreams.

There are a few reasons boats can be had so cheaply. For one, it is reported that 65,000 vessels were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. That equates to a large supply in the second hand market, many of which only suffered superficial damage. The owners have cashed their insurance, leaving the yachts lying lonely in boat yards. It is obvious which these are by the scuffed hulls and bent stanchions, though some have sunk and been salvaged. A marine survey will identify any skeletons in the closet.

That said, the best buys are from owners who just want the boat off their hands.

For instance, they have bought it for the sought-after berth it sits in, while having no interest in the yacht itself. Likewise, the death of the owner can leave a family with unwanted berthing fees. Repossessions can lead to a good bargain for a healthy boat; the bank just wants to recoup what money it can from a bad debt. So it’s not all bad news and wheeler-dealing – there really are bargains to be had.

Hidden benefits Though most of the vessels selling around the 5,000 USD (18,000 AED) mark were

made in the sixties to late eighties (and may require a little TLC), they did build boats properly back then. Among experienced sailors, many consider the classic designs to be more seaworthy than their modern counterparts, especially the lightly constructed Caribbean and Mediterranean cruisers.

Buying older means you’ll get a lot more boat for your buck. The Cal 28 is up for a mere 1,900 USD - money can hardly be an excuse when there are such deals to be had! I have met a number of people who’ve sailed from North America to South America in 26ft boats, and live on them full time. In fact, it was they who inspired me to investigate these amazing opportunities.

If you plan to live aboard your floating flat, size does matter. With each additional foot of length, the volume becomes exponentially bigger, much like an inflating balloon. For instance, between 26ft and 30ft yachts, there is an 80% increase in displacement, which can be roughly taken as volume. That’s 20% more boat per foot!

Go big - it’s your home.

Hidden costs The real deals are to be found in the US, so add an air fare into the mix. Ensure that the yacht has serviceable sails, structural integrity and a working engine. The engine alone could be worth the cost of the boat, and a new set of sails can run at 4,000 USD also. Many are sold ready to sail, but it’s something to consider. It is important to have a marine survey done of the vessel before you buy, which depending on the survey and size of boat, is likely to cost around

500 USD. Expensive if you don’t end up buying it, but a worthy investment that can save you far more in the future, as well as providing leverage in the negotiation.

Just imagine...

Does living aboard a yacht appeal to you?

It takes surprisingly little to support yourself, once free of rent, bills and city living.

According to a friend, who completed a four year circumnavigation in the 90s, total costs of living on the water amounted to just 2,000 USD a year per person. That’s including food, leisure, marina fees and maintenance. While prices will have risen, it’s a good indication of just how achievable such a lifestyle is. And if the wallet is getting light, you can always drop anchor for a month or two while working ashore, where ever you may be. Yachting isn’t just for retired millionaires these days. I hope this article will have you daydreaming of the possibilities whilst stuck in traffic. Do your research, take the plunge, and just sail away...

Yacht listings: www.yachtworld.com www.sailboatlistings.com www.craigslist.com Learn the ropes by crewing for other people: www.crewbay.com www.findacrew.com

Cal 28, just 1,900 USD

Your new home, rent free

Further information: www.cruisersforum.com www.noonsite.com

OUTDOORUAE

27

DMX

Review is kindly sponsored and supported by

Dale Jullien Age: 18 Student: The English College Dubai Race Number: 11 What’s your mindset during a race?

Class: 250cc and 450cc I’m pretty sure everyone has a winning So this is how you spend your Fridays?

I started when I was a kid and this has just been how it is every Friday. I wake up early in the morning and go racing. I love motocross. I’ve been riding for about 12 years and it’s definitely a family sport. My dad has been real good, getting me bikes and sponsorship. He used to ride but he got into an accident, so he stopped and now he’s just focusing on me and my brother, who also rides.

Are you worried about accidents as well?

Motocross has been in our blood for a long time and just the passion for the sport makes us want to ride all the time. All my injuries are from motocross. I got this one here in Jebel Ali; I just came over the tabletop and just fell over. I broke my collar bone and needed plates to put it back together. I’ve had worse.

How do you balance school and training?

It’s tough because motocross takes up a lot of time. I haven’t really had the chance to go out riding during the week, so I ride on weekends. I’m doing my A Levels now and it’s my last year of school. It’s been hectic, but I give it my best.

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OUTDOORUAE

mentality whenever they ride, same for me, my aim is to win. We have Ross here, who’s a bit quicker than everyone else so my I just try and catch up to him.

Is there competition between the riders?

There’s a little bit of competition in the Kawasaki team. Me and Sean usually end up battling every single moto, but we never come off the race and fight about passes and the moves we pull on each other. It’s always chilled out. It’s part of racing so you have to get used to it.

I look up to Sean, he’s been riding for ages and he’s been part of the crowd for a long time. He’s always been one of the quickest guys and the most experienced. I ask him stuff to make me a better rider.

I would like to thank Team Liberty Kawasaki for their support and sponsorship.

It’s great that there is a growing community of young riders here.

Usually at the start of the season there are loads of young riders, but towards the end of the season people start leaving because of bike issues. A lot of people like it and there’s usually a huge turn out every Jebel Ali race. The young kids’ classes are getting bigger each year and I think the little kids really look up to the older riders.

Photos By: Abdel Elecho Is there more pressure being so young and doing all this?

You have to be dedicated to the sport. If you want to be good, you have to put in the hours on the bike and on training. You just can’t come up every weekend on a bike to race and expect to do good. You put in the work and see what you get out of it. There are some small sacrifices, just like this weekend, it was my friend’s 18th birthday and I had to leave early so I can be well rested for the race.

What have you learned from this sport?

It’s teaching me how to make smart line choices and be aware of other riders on the track. It’s teaching me all about focus, dedication, hard work and ethics. I think I became more mature because of motocross.

Future plans?

I might give Baja a go. The Desert Challenge, in the near future, maybe.

What’s your advice to those interested in doing motocross?

I just want to encourage the young ones to at least try it. We get some riders who don’t have it in their family and there’s been times when kids just go “oh yeah, I want to motocross,” and they became really fast and eventually turn pro. Don’t expect to be the best after two or three rides, it’s not as easy as it looks, but just work hard and you will see results.

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

MX1

DMX Round 9 Results 2013-2014 race season

The final race for the season saw some of the best local riders ripping it out on the dirt for the big win. Gala prize giving will be on May 8th at the Movenpick Jumeirah Beach.

MOTO 1 MX2 Position No.

Competitor

Position

No.

Laps

Total time

1

1

Ross Runnalls

Competitor

11

19:50.372

2

11

Dale Jullen

11

20:40.575

3

50

Jinan CD

11

20:55.510

4

101

Antonio Vigoroso

10

20:17.677

5

33

Josh Brodalka

9

20:04.863

MOTO 2 85cc Position

No.

Laps

Total time

1

2

Keving Valenti

8

14:34.073

2

22

Nick Kefford

8

14:55.104

174a Abdullah Al Nuaimi

3

Competitor

8

15:21.499

4

42

Samuel Porter

7

14:45.946

5

19

Eugenio Barbaglia

6

16:50.848

Laps

Total time

1

1

Ross Runnalls

12

21:46.605

2

2

Dale Jullien

12

22:04.846

Position

No.

Laps

Total time

3

23

Mohammed Jaffar

12

23:02.597

1

88

Alex Mortada

7

14:45.443

4

14

Mitch Malpass

12

23:14.161

2

11

Max Holmberg

7

17:01.040

3

174

Ahmed Al Nuaimi

7

17:24.657

27

Will Burke

6

16:55.451

85cc Position

No.

Competitor

Laps

Total time

4 MX2

1

2

Keving Valenti

7

14:31.351

2

19

Eugenio Barbaglia

7

14:47.210

3

5

Riolo Carmelo

7

14:50.903

65cc Competitor

65cc Competitor

Position

No.

Laps

Total time

1

1

Ross Runnalls

Competitor

11

18:16.151

2

2

Dale Jullien

11

18:51.275

Position

No.

Laps

Total time

3

23

Mohammed Jaffar

11

19:39.484

1

88

Alex Mortada

6

14:31.942

4

14

Mitch Malpass

11

19:48.914

2

11

Max Holmberg

6

16:15.198

5

24

Abdullah Al Shatti

11

19:54.683

3

27

Will Burke

6

16:51.640

Masters Position

Clubman Class Position

No.

Competitor

Laps

Total time

1

28

Hamdan Al Tamimi

9

16:59.976

2

310

Jarno Elo

9

17:19.667

3

100

Adam Ridgway

9

17:50.377

4

411

Michael Anderson

9

18:55.619

Masters

No.

Competitor

Laps

Total time

1

13

Shannon O Connor

8

15:53.505

2

27

Corrado Meneghello

8

16:42.511

3

5

Sean Holder

8

16:44.342

4

310

Enrico Barbaglia

8

17:04.405

5

7

Paul Malpass

8

17:47.823

Laps

Total time

Clubman Class

Position

No.

Competitor

Laps

Total time

Position

No.

1

27

Corrado Meneghello

9

17:32.877

1

310

Jarno Elo

8

16:06.344

2

5

Sean Holder

9

17:35.603

2

28

Hamdan Al Tamimi

8

16:37.349

3

310

Enrico Barbaglia

9

17:50.042

3

411

Michael Anderson

8

17:05.356

4

7

Paul Malpass

9

18:29.128

4

51

Alex Malpass

8

17:30.380

Laps

Total time

Laps

Total time

125cc Position

Competitor

125cc No.

Competitor

Position

No.

Competitor

1

11

Erik Landgren

9

17:33.717

1

11

Erik Landgren

10

17:58.433

2

73

Darren Berry

9

17:42.900

2

73

Darren Berry

10

18:20.545

3

5

Dean Jullien

9

18:16.797

3

5

Dean Jullien

10

18:51.333

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Saudi Arabian Odyssey Words By: Mike Nott Photos By: David Chambers, Manuel Schmidt, Kim Merritt and Mike Nott

Part 3

Elephant rock

I’m in danger of using too many of

the same superlatives in Part 3 but you’ll just have to forgive me. The track bed was still covered in the original ballast and the indentations from the sleepers and the rails looked remarkably fresh, as if they’d been lifted only yesterday.

It was impossible to drive on, so we had to drive alongside in the soft sand, which presented its own challenges and we stopped to deflate. The group indulged me and I was allowed to lead along the track bed and was thoroughly enjoying myself as it traversed the desert. Perhaps at this point it would be pertinent to explain the railway.

The Hejaz Railway was built between 1900 and 1908 by the Ottomans, ostensibly as a means of transporting pilgrims onwards from Damscus to Medina and the intention was to carry on to Makkah, but this extension was never built. However, the less publically declared reason was that it was a strategic military line into the heart of this part of Arabia and was much used for transporting troops and the equipment

of war. Small forts and/or large barracks were built every 20km and three major stations in Saudi at Tabuk, Madain Saleh and Medina. The line became an obvious target during the First World War and the Arab Revolt, aided by TE Lawrence, and was blown up and destroyed in parts. After the war, the part of the line in Saudi was abandoned though parts are still in use in Jordan and Syria.

Our first stop was at a really well preserved line-side small station and water tower. Unusually, as we were to later find, it was not fenced in, so we explored and photographed at will. We then needed to find a campsite and tucked ourselves away in some rock escarpments and walked up to an ancient hilltop fort we’d spotted. It was here that Streaky’s ability to be a human metal detector was outed. He picked up a couple of old Arabic rifle shell cases that none of us had spotted. It was cold that night, down to 6°, and we were to spend the following mornings waking on the railway line dressed in coats and hats and huddling round the fire. As the line

neared Tabuk it merged with the roads and we transited Tabuk to try and link up with it on the other side of the town. The line headed directly into a military cantonment and I was getting a little nervous about leading four UAE registered cars with expat drivers into this area but ploughed on anyway. The railway diverted from the cantonment road to where a huge new highway was being built but which had not been opened. Having seen such roads being openly used in the UAE and having come too far to be thwarted, we joined the new road and drove several kilometres along it, knowing the track bed was beneath us or, at times, to one side or another. Eventually we reached the end of the road construction and got back onto the track bed proper.

The line had to cross eastwards through

Author and derailed train

Abandoned station Manuel’s prop shaft

Crossing a viaduct

Underneath the arches

Medieval fort

Rock formations

a mountainous area to join a long and wide wadi that led south to Madain Saleh.

We knew there was a tunnel along the line and hoped that the road construction hadn’t destroyed it. Almost by accident, we stumbled upon it after a false turn and had a great time driving through it. From here to about 40km outside Madain Saleh we had an incident free drive. We marvelled at the stunning and varied desert landscapes, stopped and visited the abandoned stations, barracks and pristine viaducts, and explored the ancient pilgrimage forts that lay adjacent to the line. We stopped for lunch on a grassy meadow in the shadow Solo tomb

of some extraordinary sandstone outcrops, which after further exploration, became more and more remarkable. Tall, isolated pillars of red sandstone that stretched for miles into the distance. As we approached Madain Saleh it became evident that a worrying sound coming from Manuel’s front axle was getting louder and more constant.

We stopped, raised a front wheel and rotated it to try to isolate the sound. His differential sounded like a bag of crisps; in fact it was toast. He took off the front prop shaft, we discussed the situation at length and decided, wisely, to slowly cover the short distance to the town of Al Ula, just south of Madain Saleh and work out a plan.

As we approached, the landscape became breathtaking. It was reminiscent of Wadi Rum in Jordan; towering sandstone cliffs in a sea of red sand dunes.

Of all the places that Manuel could have “chosen” to break down this was by far the best. Streaky had been here before and after making a short stop at a very rudimentary garage to assess our needs and make a plan, he got to work on the phone to a friend in Riyadh and to the scrap yard owner we had called on in Al Hair. We then headed to the old town, visited the renovated hill top fort, and viewed the partially renovated and incredibly tight-knit mud house old town. Here we were intercepted by another policeman, this time off duty. It became clear he was on our side and discouraged us from camping (some Italian tourists had not fared so well in this

Tabuk Museum

area several years before) and suggested we stayed in a local hotel. We booked in and made plans to visit the World Heritage site that is Madain Saleh the next day.

Meanwhile Streaky’s friend was planning to go to the scrap yard the next morning and collect a front differential that the scrap yard owner would extract from one of the old Discoveries, which, after some judicial research and confirmatory phone calls, we believed would fit. This was then to be couriered to us at the hotel, hopefully by the next night. In the end, the differential arrived the day after, but more of that later.

Most people are aware of Petra, the ancient Nabataean capital in Jordan, and the incredible tombs and civic buildings they carved out of the solid sandstone mountains. Well, Madain Saleh is the Nabataean’s southern most city and they had, similarly, carved out tombs and civic buildings from the local sandstone mountains.

It is also, as an added bonus, the best preserved railway station and museum on the railway, hence its World Heritage status.

We had the unique privilege of touring the entire area unescorted and unmolested.

We spent the whole day here, clambering in, on and over the tombs and sandstone hills and visiting the exceptional museum.

At the end of an extraordinary, and unlikely to ever be repeated, day we returned to the hotel to find that the differential would soon be on its way but would arrive by about 2pm the following afternoon. We thus had a second spare day to fill and there was more to see in the area (you see what I mean about Manuel’s “choice”). The next day we spent visiting the excellent local museum, the Lions Tomb area, which had been carved out of the sandstone cliffs by a civilisation pre-dating the Nabataeans, going to Al Ula railway station and its oddly, old, abandoned railway wagons on the side of a residential road, and finally went to Elephant Rock for a late lunch picnic in the shadow of this most picturesque place. All the time we were waiting for the phone call from the hotel to tell us the diff had arrived.

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Old carriage at Al Ula

The Tunnel

Eventually by 6pm we had the diff in our hands and needed to fit it somewhere. We found a friendly garage, in a petrol station forecourt, who lent us two axle stands and we set to work. This was obviously an odd sight and we were bombarded with questions and greetings by the local youths and the numerous pre-teen children who were doing their best to burn rubber at the nearby roundabout in cars, which must have been fitted with booster seats and blocks on the pedals. We worked well as a team and after four hours we had fitted the new diff, re-fitted the prop shaft and were good to go (Note, if any garage tells you that this is a two-day, or even one-day job, you’re being diddled!). While we worked, a local shop owner had brought us Arabic coffee and sweets and even donated some gifts; the local people were exceptionally friendly. It now being after 10pm, it was too late to leave so we headed out the next morning but Kim had run out of time and so headed home from here, straight to Abu Dhabi, in one go, 2000km! Streaky, Manuel and I headed southwards to rejoin the railway. As a guestimate, we’d probably lost two days from the trip and realised that we were not going to get to the Yemen border with what time we had left.

South of Al Ula the railway is paralleled by and also built over by a new road for about 40km but then bears off to the right and into the deeper desert. All along the line there are deposits of railway ballast that were placed for maintaining the line.

These piles of ballast are perfectly flat and square sided and we could only blame the German engineers for insisting on such precision for rock piles. Why they hadn’t been used since for road construction was a bit of a puzzle.

As we moved on we had another ancient pilgrimage fort to visit about 1.5km from the line and turned off towards it. It was in pretty good condition but fenced. As we stopped to take photos we were joined by a goat herder from out of nowhere who insisted that we could not take photos of

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Madain Saleh

this oft-photographed fort and he started to take photos of us, so we took photos of him. The next stop was a major one for me.

It was the railway sidings at Al Hadiya. We arrived at dusk to find it well fenced and the two trains, one of which was lying on its side, and the station were well protected.

I felt a sense of disappointment but it was now dusk and we had to find somewhere to camp. Have I mentioned the landscape?

It was a classic desert-scape mixture of black rock mountains and red sand dunes, and was stunning. We camped in amongst some firm dunes. We had something of a mechanical scare in the morning. Manuel’s fuel filter was leaking diesel and the car wouldn’t start. After a couple of satellite phone calls to some diesel engine gurus, a careful reading of the handbook and some ad-hoc engineering, we got the car going and it never failed again. We headed back to the siding yard and discovered a human-sized hole in the fence. As has been said elsewhere, I can resist everything except temptation. Manuel stood close and I squeezed in to take the photos that were to be the epitome of the trip for me.

Streaky joined us, having been photographing old sleepers used as fence-posts, and squeezed in too. This had now overcome my disappointment at finding one of the famous line-side locomotives earlier in the trip having being cut to shreds by opportunistic scrap metal hunters.

There was not much of the railway Lion Tombs

left as we were nearing Medina but the desert-scape continued to be increasingly impressive; bigger sharper mountains, semi-covered by huge yellow dunes. It’s a staggering area of natural beauty and we wished that we could have spent more time there to explore all its corners. We finally reached the road into Medina, turned off to camp for the night and celebrated the completion of the Hejaz Railway with some sparkling grape juice (seriously). We now had to get home and staged ourselves through Riyadh, staying with Streaky’s friends who’d made the trip possible by couriering the diff to us in Madain Saleh and who were very generous with their home-brew. A quick tour of the sights of Riyadh, one final, chilly night in the dunes south of Al Hotuf, a photo call on the beach opposite the Qatar peninsula, a frankly surprisingly rapid transit through Saudi and UAE immigration and customs, and we were on the final stretch and eventually home.

Clichés notwithstanding, this had truly been the trip of my lifetime; the freedom to explore, the length of stay, the sights and landscapes were remarkable but it is unlikely that I’ll be able to repeat it, and this is the tragedy of Saudi. There is so much to see, so much ancient history, so much diverse and natural beauty but it remains so difficult, if not impossible, to be a free roaming tourist and traveller. Streaky, I owe you a non non-alcoholic malt drink!

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Two feet, two wheels and a tuk tuk

Travelling in Cambodia

From Phnom Penh, it’s possible to take Words By: Helen McClure a boat to Siem Reap, the launching point for the Angkor temples, the most visited Since the Khmer Rouge has put attraction in the country, but in the dry down its weapons and the landmines season this can be a very slow journey. have largely been cleared, Cambodia Your option on the road doesn’t look much has become a must-see destination. better, with potholes and unpaved tracks.

However, wishing to see life in the countryRetaining a frontier feel about the place, side, rather than city hop, this is the route its cities are underdeveloped, trying deswe took. Those with a sensitive derriére perately to cope with growing numbers of should take a cushion – it’s a bumpy ride travellers hoping to see the country before that lasts about six hours. commercialism grows roots. Larger hotel Although a tourist hotspot, Siem Reap chains are starting to open their doors, is a city of charm with art markets, wide but it’s the boutique, independent hotels boulevards and pavements to walk on. that reflect the country’s charm. Often with Angkor Wat is a few kilometres away, and great service and a smile, these smaller a trip at dawn is a must-see. You can go hotels offer a sanctuary from the persistent by tuk-tuk or taxi, but to get a real insight tuk-tuk drivers and the deafening noise of into this special location get on two wheels. the street.

There are hundreds of temples dotted They also make great bases from which to around, and a bike is the perfect mode of launch yourself into a journey of discovery transport. When you’ve seen one temple on foot, on two wheels, four wheels or by you haven’t seen them all. boat.

Built at different stages, with Our adventures started different themes, in different in Phnom Penh. You can locations, you can spend easily get to grips with the days peddling around the capital with a visit to the 400km-squared site: from Royal Palace, which is right the iconic towers of Angkor in the city’s heart. There Wat, to the many faces on are manicured gardens to Angkor Thom, to Ta Prohm, wander around, temples to the root-bound crumbling reflect in and royal artifacts temple featured in Tomb to view. The golden roofs, Raider movie. intricate architecture and Another advantage of mosaic tiles all offer an illubooking with a cycling sion of grandeur, however it company is knowledge. The is in stark opposition to one temples are so complex and of the most visited locations Where’s the ladder on this thing? beguiling you need a guide – the Tuol Sleng Genocide to help you make sense of it.

Museum (S-21 Prison).

Just to understand a little about the intricate This converted school was used to house carvings and the different types of temples opponents of the Khmer Rouge regime enriches your exploration. And it’s suitable in the 1970s. Viewing old black and white for all ages. From my four-year-old on a tag photographs of the inmates, their cells and along bike, and my seven-year-old on her the weapons used on them, you begin to own little bike, to my retired parents, the feel aloof and detached as if you are lookroute and pace were tailored to suite the ing at pictures from the Second World War. whole group.

Then, with a sudden sickening realisation, This was a special trip that will stay with you remember that these crimes affected me for a very long time. Cambodia, and its people of our generation, and the scars are struggles to modernise, move away from still open and festering. The Killing Fields corruption and develop, added to its atare still soaked in blood. A word of warning tempts to retain its historic charm, now hold – this museum is not suitable for children. a very dear place in my heart.

Cambodian’s are very aware of the issues The practical bit: Phnom Penh in their own country. And there are some Where to stay: startling statistics. According to Daughters The Plantation Urban Resort and Spa, #28, of Cambodia, which offers employment and Street 184. A 70-room hotel in a perfectly rehabilitation through handicraft boutiques central location next to the Royal Palace and cafés, one in 40 Cambodian girls is sold and National Museum. into the sex trade. 90% of these girls are Where to shop: sold by their own families. Organisations Daughters’ Boutique Shop: changing the such as Daughters is trying to break the lives of victims of trafficking. #65EO, Street cycle of rape, abuse and debt. And it’s one 178, www.daughtersofcambodia.org uplifting story of many.

Get on your bike and ride

Where to eat: Friends: a training restaurant for former street youth, #215 , Street 13, www.mithsamlanh.org Foreign Correspondent’s Club: an intuition in its own right, 363 Sisowath Quay, www.fcchotels.com Bubbles Tea & Ice-cream: a welcome rest stop to gather your thoughts after a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum The practical bit: Siem Reap Where to stay: Shinta Mani Club and Resort: ask about the hotel’s Foundation, set up to help make unemployed Cambodian’s employable.

Junction of Oum Khun and 14th Street. www.shintamani.com Where to eat: The Apsara Terrace, Raffles: outdoor pan-Asian BBQ buffet with classical Khmer dances. 1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle Khum Svay Dang Kum What to do: Cycling: Grasshopper Adventures offers a range of cycling tours from half, full and multi-day trips for all ages and abilities. www.grasshopperadventures.com. Try the Angkor Sunrise Discovery to seeAngkor Wat at its best.

Where to shop: Artisans Angkor: Cambodia fine arts and crafts. www.artisansdangkor.com I Love Cambodia: Describes itself as giving “jobs for women in ultra poor families” by creating “handicrafts to fight against poverty”. #46, Taprum Road, Tropearng Ses, Kokchork.

TRAVEL INFO

Abu Dhabi, UAE to Phnom Penh, Cambodia via Etihad Airways roundtrip fare is approximately AED 2,900.

Helen McClure is the journalist behind www.expatexplorers.org, a travel and expat website offering free independent insights, ideas and inspiration. Follow her on www.facebook.com/expatexplorers and www.twitter.com/expatexplorers.

Her travelling experiences have included backpacking in South America and the Far East, touring Europe in a camper van, working in villages in Africa, travelling with the British Army in Kenya, Oman and Northern Ireland, working in Saudi Arabia, living in Kuwait, Chicago and the United Arab Emirates. She is known for being sport mad (all sports), running long distances (just mad) and being competitive (in everything).

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Volunteering in Thailand

The Honey Badger Episode 1: The plan

Planning the perfect trip was a favourite topic of conversation between James and Mira Raley, but it was several years before the various strands wove themselves together.

They had always shared an enthusiasm for adventure and travel, which they had found in the UAE through regular camping expeditions to the desert and mountains in the region, relishing the freshness and openness of the outdoors. These trips had required a serious off-road machine, and after trying a few vehicles, they purchased and modified a Land Cruiser 76, but more on that later. With their love of the outdoors came a fascination with the

African continent. A destination which they had considered for their honeymoon and then finally decided to visit for a year of travelling and following their dream. They were also acutely aware that there were many causes they wanted to support, so many people, animals and environments that needed the time and attention of volunteers.

Having met, lived and worked in Dubai for five years, the ache of steel and glass could not compete with the attraction of travel so the planning for their ideal trip became ever more detailed until they decided to take the leap. The plan is to take their modified off-road vehicle, The Honey Badger, on a monumental overland trip across south-east Africa through 14 countries, starting in Mombasa and finishing in Cape Town.

Diaries

Most importantly, the route also encompasses a range of charities and causes that James and Mira care deeply about, ranging from humanitarian projects to animal and environmental conservation issues.

They will visit these charities as they travel, providing their time and assistance however the charities require. Alongside this, they have been diligently fundraising for these specific causes, as well as over-arching African charitable organisations. After much research, Mira and James chose four projects varying from wildlife conservation to community service.

The projects are: Teaching and Community Project – Zanzibar, Tanzania Antelope Park Hands-on Lion Rehabilitation Project – Zimbabwe Chimpanzee Wildlife and Orphan Care Project – Zambia Whale Shark and Manta Ray Conservation Project – Mozambique As well as working on the projects, they are raising 50,000 USD to support the selected charity funds and non-profit organisations.

The charities are:

Honey Badger in Musandam

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The Happy Africa Foundation (THAF) The Happy Africa Foundation works to implement long-term, positive change in the lives of individuals, families and communities in Africa. Their commitment to “Educate, Enrich and Empower” points

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Africa Map Restrata

to three main areas of focus: education and enrichment, health and nutrition, and empowering families.

Starting from a small desk in Livingstone, the charity has grown into an organisation that has funded numerous initiatives and programmes in the communities where African Impact volunteer projects are based.

The charity is proud to have financed the building of clinics, crèches and school classrooms, provided communities with education and skills training and helped beneficiaries improve their well-being and quality of life through improved nutrition and the provision of much-needed health equipment.

African Lion and Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) ALERT works to implement locally conceived and relevant solutions that create sustainable motivation to conserve lions.

They conduct research to improve understanding of the lions’ behaviour in Africa’s ecosystems to better inform decision making.

The Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) Research, protect and conserve the large populations of marine megafauna found along the Mozambican coastline. Their primary objective is to conduct cuttingedge scientific research that can be directly applied to the conservation of the large marine species in this region.

The first order of business was to buy what is now known as “The Honey Badger,” their beloved modified Land Cruiser 76, which will serve as their home, transport and sanctuary during the trip.

With support from Ramy 4x4, Limbada and ARB, the couple spent over one year preparing the vehicle. The list of modifications is endless, but here are a few of the highlights: • State of the art GSM and satellite communications and tracking donated by SecureLocate • ARB bumper and winch • Two spare tyres fitted to the rear bumper • LED bar and KC 8” spotlights

• ARB roof tent • Two batteries, power management system and inverter • 40L aluminium water tank with pump and shower • Two fridges • Integrated drawers for storage • Roll cage • Two spare wheels mounted on the metal bumper • Viper alarm system • Side-mounted kitchen table and awning If you are interested in supporting them in achieving their target and making a difference to African communities and wildlife, please spread the word or donate using the following links.

Wedding day in June 2013

To donate: www.gofundme.com/thehoneybadgerdiaries If you would like to follow our journey through Africa: Website: www.thehoneybadgerdiaries.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Honey-Badger-Diaries/716885161656060?ref=hl Instagram: @thehoneybadgerdiaries

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Yemen behind the lens Words + Photos By: Pavel Bafeel

I was always fascinated by Yemen’s ancient history and since I live in UAE, I’ve decided to use my chance and visit this amazing country. Since my first visit to Yemen, I tried to visit it more often. This was my second trip to this amazing destination and I’m sure it isn’t the last. I love the old Arabic feel of the towns, the unexpected pure and beautiful nature of this part of world.

I travel a lot, especially to Oman, where people are very helpful and

Typical Yemeni dress, in front of Al Saleh Mosque, Sana’a, Yemen

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accommodating. In Yemen it was the same, I was surprised by the hospitality, food and traditions. I danced the Baraa dance all night long with local people from Manakah. I really enjoyed the national dish called Saltah, which is cooked in the stone pot and its meat-based stew with chili peppers, tomatoes, garlic and herbs ground into a salsa.

I decided to stop being selfish and share couple of my amazing Yemeni adventures. Yemen is country with the atmosphere of the old Arabia, hospitable people and amazing cuisine. Don’t be afraid, it’s a Yemeni custom to wear the traditional knife “jambiya” and outside of the city to wear a gun. Please be advised that in the northern and western Yemen, it’s highly recommended to travel through travel agency. The tour agency

Al Saleh Mosque, Sana’a, Yemen

Old Sana’a

will take care of visa, checkpoint passes, transportation, security, accommodation, food and beverages. Cost of the tour is approximately 100 USD per day per person. I highly recommend to hire wellestablished and trustful agency, over the years I have very good experience with Discover Yemen Tours (www.discover-yemen-tours.com) managed Mr Jameel, telephone +967 734990992. You can visit Yemen all year long, but during the summer (from May to September) it’s monsoon season.

Locksmith’s shop in the Old parts of Sana’a

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Pavel with the Yemeni

Rock Palace

Zakati city water system, Yemen

Dance with the knives called “baraa” dance

Manakah highlands

Places to see in Yemen: Old Sana’a In the mid-1970s UNESCO declared Sana’a one of the most endangered cities in the world – endangered by re-development. In the 7th and 8th centuries the city became a major centre for the propagation of Islam. This religious and political heritage can be seen in the 103 mosques. Old part of Sana’a is magical with the narrow streets, unique craftsman shops, distinctive architecture, and where smells of incense and spices mingle with the aroma of freshly ground coffee. You need to see the old merchant houses and visit Bab al Yemen, the best preserved entrance to old Sana’a, and Heritage House that will give you an insight into the structure and functionality of an old town house. When you’re in Sana’a it’s good to stop at the new town for amazing Yemeni dishes and to visit the Al Saleh Mosque.

Northern part from Sana’a You definitely need to stop in the wadi near Sana’a called Wadi Dhar and then go to Dar al-Hajar to see the Rock Palace

which used to be the imam’s summer home. This is a popular spot for Yemeni families, especially during weekends you can see the wedding ceremony and the knife dances. Afterwards you need to visit Kaukaban region which is renowned for its ancient villages with unique water systems.

Manakah Popular spot for the visitors is the most impressive mountain village Al Hajjarah near Manakah. The village dates from the 12th century. Its fortified houses made with massive blocks of unmortared stone, cluster to form an uninterrupted rampart.

Here you can easily spend days of trekking through ancient villages, terraces of coffee and plantations. In the evening almost in every village you are invited for dinner and traditional knife dance.

Western coastal route To see the pure Yemeni lifestyle, I recommend to take the route from Manakah all the way to the west coast. You can stop in Al Mukalla and see the biggest Yemeni fish market and afterwards take the coast

Jibla mosque

Taiz

highway through several historic cities.

Visit Taiz, the biggest Yemeni city, and see the city from the Taiz Cairo castle.

Because Taiz is known for cheap silver, you can purchase historic Yemeni knives or “jambiyas.” After Taiz, you can visit the historic city of Queen Arwa called Jibla.

TRAVEL INFO

Dubai, UAE to Sana’a, Yemen via FlyDubai roundtrip fare is approximately AED 1,000.

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Climbing

the Arctic Circle Words By: Rhys and Laura Jones

Our sights are now set firmly on our big expedition which is just a few weeks away. Our training has stepped up a gear and aside from being on first name terms with the staff at our local gym, we’ve also spent a week training in the Alps. Gym work can be great for some conditioning, but I have always said that there’s no substitute for the real thing, and in Greenland we’ll be skiing every day for two weeks.

Part 2

With this is mind, and to escape Dubai before it started to really heat up, we decided to squeeze in a week in Chamonix, France.

Despite hoping for a cold wind on our faces, we were surprised by unseasonably warm weather, up to 15°C! Luckily there was plenty of snow and we landed slightly red-eyed until the mountain air hit us and we drove up the final zigzags before Mont Blanc appeared in front of our windscreen. The mountains give me an energy that I don’t feel anywhere else, and looking up at the iconic granite and icy peaks filled me with enthusiasm and reminded me why I love the Alps so much. I could feel my batteries being recharged after a couple of very busy months in Dubai, and our first stop was at the boot fitters for some new ski touring boots. Laura it appears is prone to horrific blisters, and the thought of a fortnight in plastic ski boots filled us both with dread. They had to be perfect and there are few better places in the world to get a new pair fitted than Chamonix itself. She spent hours, literally, trying different boots until the best hard plastic shell was chosen.

Then it was another hour of “cooking” them: baking the inners, moulding pads of cushioning, shaping the toe box. Frankly, it was a marathon effort and by the end of it I was even more keen to actually get onto the snow!

We were then blessed with six days of perfect blue sky and variable snow conditions; again perfect training. The temperature variances meant that the skiing was extremely fast and icy in the mornings, and then as the day progressed it gradually started to resemble wet sugar, certainly not as consistent as Ski Dubai! Our extra-wide lightweight touring skis were quite a handful compared to normal narrow piste skis, and likewise the softer touring boots also made it harder to drive the skis. The most important thing for the trip itself though will be comfort, as most of the time we’ll be skinning uphill, only briefly able to enjoy the long runs back to base camps after we climb each of the four mountains. Our boots proved to be fit for purpose as we skied on them for a solid six hours each day in several different areas around Chamonix.

It was an excellent week and also helped to build our confidence in new kit, which is vital on a remote trip where there’ll be no chance to change anything once we’re there. If there are problems with boots or bindings, we’ll just have to live with them. It’s a very committing feeling.

We’ve also learnt that we’ll be the only people attempting to climb all three of the highest peaks in the Arctic this year. Our guide will be Simon Yates, who famously cut the rope in the “Touching the Void” book (and subsequent film) by Joe Simpson.

Hopefully he will be patient with us, and being such a small team, we will have great flexibility over the technical difficulty of the unclimbed peak which we choose to climb.

Our final challenge before the trip itself is proving to be a difficult one. We are still looking for a sponsor to back the trip, and part of the return will be the chance for them to choose the name of the unclimbed peak. It’s a unique opportunity and we would welcome a discussion with any interested parties. For further details, please email us at rhys@rjseven.com.

Live the life Emirates Motor Company (EMC), authorised MercedesBenz distributors in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the flagship company of Al Fahim Group, celebrates the success of its latest sports utility vehicle (SUV) range by reintroducing the valued five-year service package on the Mercedes-Benz 2014 unequalled flagship GL-Class and the powerful M-Class.

is the 4x4 and larger form of the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Individuals who place particular importance on a sporty and dynamic appearance will be delighted to know that the extensive AMG Exterior Sports package is now available for the first time,” commented Mr. Kamal Rafih, General Manager of EMC. With output horsepower of 435, the GL500 blasts from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds.

V8 engine Mercedes-Benz GL500 hitches top-selling 27-foot Emocean Marine “Voodoo” sports boat.

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class interior.

The Unequalled 7-Seater GL-Class: Built around the modern Arab family Occupying top position among luxury off-road vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz GLClass is built to cater to large families with its seven seats, powerful performance, spaciousness, refinement and cutting edge technology. “With its comprehensive assistance systems, the GL-Class has a pioneering role where safety and comfort are concerned. Basically, the GL-Class

The Legendary G-Class: An enduring off-road icon The magnificent and powerful G-Class continues to be the most impressive AMG off-road classic with its unique drive technology and distinctive design.

Known as the “strong man” in the AMG model range, the AMG high-performance vehicle offers an outstanding mix of more power and less fuel. In terms of design, AMG customers can enjoy a raft of future-oriented systems in the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, such as spraycontrolled petrol direct injection, the ECO start/stop function and generator management.

Reaching 0 to 100 km/h in only 5.4 seconds, the new G-Class also has a new top speed of 210 km/h.

The Powerful M-Class: Performance meets sophistication Confidently meeting performance with sophistication, the daring new M-Class comes with the dynamic AMG sports styling as standard, unparalleled riding comfort and high-quality elegant interiors.

The ML350 comes with a V6 engine and reaches 100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds, while the ML500 is equipped with a V8 biturbo engine reaching the 100 km/h mark in an impressive 5.7 seconds.

V6 engine Mercedes-Benz ML350 tows a heavy duty Actros MercedesBenz truck weighing 20,000 kg.

The Versatile GLK: Comfortable in any situation A leader in the compact SUV segment, the new Mercedes-Benz GLK has trailblazing assistance systems, a new design, an engine matching efficiency with agility and details which are generally the reserve of higher classes of vehicles.

Delivering effortless superior performance and well-balanced drive comfort, the lightweight GLK250 4MATIC petrolengine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and runs on 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, low-friction axle drives, electric steering and tires with low rolling resistance.

For more information, please call 02 656 7777 / 03 715 7474 or go online www.emc.mercedes-benz.com.

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YAMAHA’S SAFETY ON WATER

Summer is just around the corner and so is the water vehicles season. Before we start dusting our Waverunners and buying our water sports accessories it’s always good to refresh our minds of the water vehicles safety tips.

On the right are few of the safety tips that Waverunner riders should abide by to enjoy the waters safely.

In the beginning of 2014, Yamaha launched the new Super Vortex High Output (SVHO) engine in two new flagship luxury performance models. In addition to that the VX Series, which will now come with Yamaha’s nanotechnology-engineered NanoXcel hulls and decks, which shed 65 pounds compared to 2013 models. The new SVHO engine is a 1,812cc, four-stroke, four-cylinder, supercharged and intercooled Yamaha Marine engine.

All models featuring the SVHO engine will also come with a new 160mm, eight-

vein jet pump for maximum thrust volume and hook up.

Cooling efficiency has been increased by 25%, the supercharger air intake is up 20% with a larger diametre supercharger impeller, and Yamaha increased supercharger boost by 60%. Yamaha increased oil cooling efficiency by 110% with an all new oil cooling system, and the SVHO engine features an advanced fuel injection system to increase fuel flow and added high-performance forged pistons to deliver peak power. It’s the same 1.8L block that Yamaha has been using for a few years on the WaveRunners, but everything’s been revamped to be bigger, better, faster, more efficient. It’s already the largest displacement engine in the industry, but Yamaha has done a lot to it to crank up the power.

The FZR and FZS have always been known for their race-inspired performance, and they get a double-digit power boost from the SVHO engine. The new

160mm, eight-vein pump, new sponsons, new ride plate and new top loader intake grate combine to keep them glued to the water during high speed turns. This FX Series is about stability. It’s geared for getting the kids out and tubing and having some running around when the kids are ready for a break.

The Yamaha lineup in 2014 is all about enjoying the waters; upping what was already the largest displacement engine in the industry, and taking it to a whole new level. And with nanotech engineered hulls and decks on the VX models, entry level buyers will have amazing experiences on the water If you would like to get more information about how to stay safe while enjoying your Waverunner, visit any of Al Yousuf Motors showrooms across the UAE and our expert team will be more than happy to help. You will also receive a safety ridding poster with every purchase of a Yamaha Waverunner.

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Protective Clothing/Equipment for Operators and Passengers •Wear PFD and protective clothing/equipment •You must wear an appropriate Personal Floatation Device (PFD) at all times.

•Wear a Wet-Suit (or Wet Suit Bottom) while operating the PWC. Normal swimwear does not adequately protect •Additional protective equipment (such as Footwear, Eyewear, Gloves) may be needed.

Other Rules and Safety Information

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Eyewear

Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

Gloves

Wet-Suit (Wet Suit Bottom)

1. Follow rental agency rules and boating laws 2. Know the waters 3. Follow the additional PWC warning and instructions that may apply

Do Not Release Throttle when Trying to Steer •You need throttle to steer.

Take Early Action to Avoid Collisions

•Remember, PWCs and other boats do not have brakes.

Avoid Aggressive Manoeuvres

•Sharp turns or jumping wakes, or waves can increase the risk of back/spinal injury (paralysis), facial injuries, and broken legs, ankles or other bones.

Footwear

Operate at Safe Speed

•Keep a safe distance away from people, objects and other boats (including PWCs).

•Do not follow directly behind PWCs or other boats.

•Do not go near other spray or splash them with water.

Do Not Apply Throttle when Anyone is at the Rear of the PWC

Know How to Right the PWC in Open Water

•If you capsize in open water, swim to the rear of the PWC and turn it upright-be sure to turn it in the proper direction. Then, board from the rear.

Scan Constantly for People, Objects and Other Watercraft •Be alert for conditions that limit your visibility or block your vision of others.

Keep Away from Intake Grate

•Items such as long hair, loose clothing, or PFD straps can become entangled in moving parts resulting in severe injury or drowning.

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LIFESTYLE

Habitually healthy

Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Greenheart Organic Farms Salad and Pesto

Method:

Words By: Chef Christopher Zerbe

Here’s my recipe for Pistachio Crusted Salmon that packs a huge energy punch while keeping you hydrated. Along with plenty of water please!

Ingredients

Quantity Unit

Preparation

Mixed lettuces

50

g

Washed, torn

Beefsteak tomatoes 50

g

Cut into wedges

Tomato sauce

50

mL

Use your favourite!

Pesto

2

tbl

Super easy to make

Lemon wedges

1

ea

Fresh and organic is always the best

Avocado (sliced)

1/4

ea

Toss with some lemon juice!

Pistachio nuts

40

g

Roughly chopped and mixed with the beaten egg white

Egg whites

1

ea

Beaten to soft peak

Sea salt

1

pinch Preferably Maldon but any will do

Olive oil

2

tbl

Black pepper

1

pinch Freshly ground

Salmon fillet

200

g

Cold pressed preferred Wild caught can be found locally!

1. Prepare your favourite organic lettuce and tomatoes (I love Greenheart Organic Farms!)

2. Beat your egg whites to a soft peak and fold into the chopped pistachio nuts and reserve.

3. Season your salmon fillet with the sea salt and pepper. Sear lightly on flesh side then turn over.

4. After turning your salmon to the skin side, cook for two minutes on medium heat, remove from the pan.

5. Carefully place the chopped pistachio mixture on top of your seared salmon and place on a baking tray.

6. Place the salmon tray in a pre-heated oven (160°C) till thermometer reads 60-65°C for a perfect medium! Or as the French would say, demi-anglais!

7. While the salmon is cooking, heat up your favourite tomato sauce and spoon onto the plate. Take a minute to play around with your presentation to impress your guests!

8. Spoon some of your favourite pesto into the middle of your tomato sauce swipe.

9. Remove the salmon from the oven when done and allow to rest for three minutes while you plate your salad.

10. Finally, place the salmon on the plate and your lemon wedge, sit and enjoy with your friends! Just multiply the recipe for more people.

The Cycle Bistro GPS location: Latitude: N 25° 02.792 Longitude: E 055° 14.384 04 425 6555 Phone:

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PRODUCTS A round-up of quality products available right here in the UAE Hobie Pro Angler 12 13,995 AED

Available at Adventure HQ The new lightweight, more compact, Pro Angler 12 is the most versatile fishing boat Hobie has ever designed.

This 12-foot boat sports a 500-pound weight capacity and is packed full of “must have” features that kayak anglers demand. Stand and fish with incredible stability, securely store six rods (four horizontally, two vertically), and access your tackle with ease.

Integrated dual-steering controls for left or right-handed accessibility while under way. Vantage seating provides ultimate comfort and adjustability in a lightweight, easily removable form, along with Boa® system lumbar support technology. The “Lowrance Ready” installation system makes adding a fishfinder a breeze. Powered by MirageDrive® with Turbo Fins, the Mirage Pro Angler 12 has got the giddy-up!

• Length: 3.66m • Width: 0.91m • Fitted Hull Weight: 44.4kg • Fully Rigged Weight: 54.4kg • Capacity: 227kg

Hobie Outfitter 13,750 AED

Available at Adventure HQ Smooth, stable and built for two, the Outfitter is designed around a philosophy of utility, performance and ease-of-use. Onboard, little features such as molded utility trays, built-in drink holders, dual helm controls, or conveniently positioned rod holders make the Outfitter a pleasure to use, regardless of the destination. Whether it’s a solo after-work session or a long weekend of fishing around The Palm with a friend, the Outfitter boasts a wide, stable hull platform, dual MirageDrives® and ample stowage space to keep you well provisioned and properly organised. Available in dune, olive, red and yellow.

Length: 3.86 m Width: 0.86 m Fitted Hull Weight: 39 kg

Fully Rigged Weight: 51 kg Capacity: 193 kg

Endura Airshell Helmet 635 AED

Available at Adventure HQ Times Square Lightweight Cycle Helmet • Super lightweight in-mould cycle helmet (220g based on size S/M) • Glass fibre / carbon fibre reinforcement bridges (depending on colour) • Certified to CE standard EN1078:2012 • Reflective onrear • ClearThru™ air vents maximise air flow with minimal vent narrowing technology • Internal HeadStream™ air flow channels direct air through the helmet • One-hand micro-adjustment and three position vertical adjustment for inner head • Instafit strap system for improved hassle-free fit • Antibacterial, fast wicking, removable padding (spare set provided) • Covered by Endura’s Crash Replacement Policy and Endura Product Guarantee In sizes: S-M, M-L and L-XL

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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PRODUCTS Endura Snype Helmet 525 AED

Available at Adventure HQ Times Square Center Lightweight cycle helmet with visor • Super lightweight in-mould cycle helmet with removable visor (220g based on size S/M excluding visor) • Certified to CE standard EN1078:2012 • Extended rear-wrap design for extra protection of lower head • ClearThru™ air vents maximise airflow with minimal vent narrowing technology • Internal HeadStream™ airflow channels direct air through the helmet • One-hand micro-adjustment and three position vertical adjustment for personalised fit • Compact chin strap with twin strap dividers • Antibacterial, fast wicking, removable padding (spare set provided) • Covered by Endura’s Crash Replacement Policy and Endura Product Guarantee In sizes: S-M, M-L and L-XL

Point 65n Rum Runner Modular SUP 3,650 AED/QAR / OMR 390 3,995 AED/QAR / OMR 420

Available exclusively at GO Sport stores at Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in the UAE; Villaggio Mall and City Centre Doha in Qatar; and Muscat Grand Mall in Oman The world’s first modular SUP is innovative, high performance touring board. It is a fast, stable, straight tracking board on which to explore and exercise. The manageable sections are easy to carry and get back home in the back of your car. You can store them under your bed, in a closet or on the balcony of your condo. SUPs with displacement hulls are especially suitable for touring as they are faster, have superior tracking capabilities and handle most paddling conditions a lot better. Whether paddling on flatwater, chop or in really wild conditions.

Yamaha Water Sports Yamaha Plaid Wakeboard Red Remix 1,850 AED (original price 2,295 AED) Available at Al Yousuf Motors Shaped differently from edge to edge helping a rider compensate for the awkwardness edging, jumping and landing on a tow side edge. Our subtle three-stage rocker provides a great pop off the wake while remaining a smooth carver. Great board for riders getting into the sport or those who are looking for advancement in their skills on the board. Includes Remix Bindings. Size: 140cm and 135cm.

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Point 65n Tequila!

GTX Angler Solo Words By: Kit Belen Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer

Kayak fishing took off a few years ago and since the launch of the very first specific kayaks there have been innovations that have changed the shape of fishing.

We now have pedal powered kayaks with fins and propellers underneath them; so innovative in fact that they have holes in the middle of the hull to accommodate these pedal systems, something the past generation could not even think about doing! We also have motorised kayaks powered with both electric and gasoline engines. Super light hulls made of bulletproof materials, every kayak imaginable for the type of money you want to spend on one – in fact, it has become too much of a chore to choose which one to buy.

We get too caught up with all the latest technologies and forget that we simply need one that works for the purpose we need it to do, in this instance, a craft to use for fishing.

Innovation + functionality = cost effective One of the biggest challenges we face when deciding which kayak to buy is storage. Fishing kayaks are fast and stable, this most likely means long and wide-bodies. The GTX Angler Solo is a modular kayak: it breaks into sections. This solves a lot of problems with storage, especially for people who live in apartments with no storage areas. Disassemble the kayak and put it in a corner and forget about it until next weekend.

Transportation of the kayak could not be easier, and cheaper. Unlike other kayaks that require some sort of roof rack system plus a carrying system, you just slide the

Rigging the whole kayak took less than three minutes

off of a kayak I’m not familiar with. However, those rod holders up front are strategically located so you would be able to prop the rod in it when you are landing a fish, rigging your line or when you have to paddle out to reposition.

Fishing close to the rocks proved that the GTX had more than enough agility to get me into position and cast towards my target. Once I’ve drifted away, I put the rod in the holder and paddle to reposition, which surprisingly wasn’t as much of a chore as I thought t would be. Being short, the kayak is very responsive. It turns much faster than the Mini-X and way faster than my X-13. In fact, if I was to summarise how it felt while I was using it, it was sort of like a shorter version of the X-13 and it was almost just as fast.

Although storage up front is almost non-existent, the molded well at the back is more than enough for a small cooler for drinks or a crate for storing your tackle, a neat little kayak for short trips and exploration.

Where this kayak would shine Given its attributes, I could say that this kayak would be perfect for light tackle fishing near jetties near shore. However, this kayak will shine its brightest when fishing the mangroves. Launching in muddy banks is no easy task, being a small and lightweight kayak, launching would be less complicated.

It’s maneuverability would be a huge advantage in tight spaces and its speed would make easy work in covering some area and getting into less pressured water.

GTX Angler Solo inside the trunk or the backseat and off you go. Roof rack systems cost quite a lot – mine set me back a couple of thousand for the crossbars and mounts, plus another thousand for the kayak carrying system, almost the cost of another kayak!

In the drink I’ll be really honest, ever since receiving word that I would be reviewing a fishing kayak over the weekend, I was already skeptical going into this, having three fishing kayaks of my own and have used quite a few over the years. The three that I have are used for specific purposes and have given me a set of preferences that I wasn’t easily giving up on. Since this is a paddle kayak, I didn’t want to compare it with one of the pedal powered ones; so, I chose to benchmark it against my Malibu X-13, which in my opinion, one of the best sit-on-top fishing kayaks in production today.

While I was unstrapping the X-13 from the roof rack, the GTX Angler Solo was already at the beach, ready for me to put it together, which took about 10 seconds to my surprise, and yes, the other kayak was still on top of my car.

In situations where you need to unload as fast as possible (like at the Black Palace Beach) and when there’s no one to help you unload the kayak and its modular pieces are an especially big advantage over one piece kayaks.

Traditionally, the shorter the kayak, the The kayak is available at GO Sport stores at wider it would be (for stability) – case in Abu Dhabi Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall point, the Malibu Mini X, the GTX Angler in the UAE, Villaggio Mall and City Centre Solo however is just about as wide as the Doha in Qatar and Muscat Grand Mall in Malibu X-13.

Oman. Point 65n Tequila GTX Angler Solo As it is a fishing kayak, the GTX has fouris priced at 3,700 AED/QAR or 390 OMR, rod holders, two of which are the stand up while the Point 65n Tequila GTX Angler Tanremovable types, similar to the Scotty Rod dem costs 5,900 AED or QAR or 625 OMR. holders; these are located in front of the cockpit and two behind the seat.

To test this kayak out, I brought along a A rodholder that perfectly holds a flyrod - somefly rod, normally, I would not really fly fish thing a lot of kayaks don’t have off the shelf The modular design makes life easier for someone as short as I am and unloading it took about 10 seconds

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PRODUCTS Fishing Kayak: RTM Abaco 5,800 AED

Available at SeaYou showroom in Al Quoz 2 (behind Times Square); www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 New in the RTM Angler line up, the Abaco is a labour of love, designed by RTM’s fishing guides and an aquatic engineer.

Light, fast and silent, the Abaco is a modern kayak, with resolutely dynamic lines, inspired from the racing hulls of sailboats. With its two recessed areas (front and rear), the Abaco is perfect for long angler trips (one to two days). With well-proportioned weight and dimensions, it is equipped with well placed fittings. The Abaco suits both beginner and experienced anglers.

Catamaran: RS CAT16 (RS Sailing) 46,800 AED

Available at SeaYou showroom in Al Quoz 2 (behind Times Square); www. seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 The RS CAT16 is the newest addition to the RS range. Easy to handle, exciting and highly durable (three-layer rotomoulded polyethylene construction system), the RS CAT16 is perfect for recreational sailing alone or with family.

With significant technical developments in key structural aspects of the boat, the RS CAT16 not only looks modern, it also incorporates important practical benefits. The hulls and beams are secured without holes through the skin of the boat – so the boat can be assembled or taken apart in around 15 minutes without need for sealant, using just one spanner. Bolts securing the beams and shrouds secure into stainless steel bars located in channels on either side of the hulls. Exceptionally strong, simple and fast assembly.

Phantom 295 (Starboard windsurfing) 8,500 AED

Available at SeaYou showroom in Al Quoz 2 (behind Times Square); www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 The Phantom 295 is a complete windsurfing package that includes a revolutionary racing board design and a complete rig. This windsurf board covers the widest range of conditions and the widest range of riders: young and old, small, medium or large. With its unique and innovative design, you may enjoy fast light wind and powerful, exciting planning races. All this as an affordable price. Sails available in 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5.

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SeaYou soon on the water!

UAE’s climate is ideal all year long to practise water sports, with kilometres of coasts as well as preserved nature to explore. Kayaks, SUP, sailboats and windsurfs will let you appreciate this magnificent nature completely and ecologically.

SeaYou is a company specialising in non-motorised water sports activities and the distributor of leading water sports brands as Starboard, RS Sailing, RTM, Redwood Paddle and Severne.

Are you looking for some water sports equipment with high quality and competitive prices?

SeaYou has a large range of products from sailing catamarans, dinghies to kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards (and even inflatable ones) or windsurfing equipment!

Choose the products you need and enjoy the sea!

They also sell accessories and offer after sales maintenance with spare parts to all these equipment.

You just want to enjoy water sports activities?

SeaYou has also a water sport center in Sofitel, The Palm from where you can do: - Guided kayak tours - Lessons and tours in SUP - Sailing lessons (catamaran, dinghies, etc) A must to try with them is SUP yoga and SUP pilates. The classes take place on the water on a Stand Up Paddleboard.

Innovative concept and available to all, beginners are welcome! The activities are led by Derya and Cristina, both certified yoga and pilates teachers, accompanied by an assistant lifeguard, you will spend a great sporting and relaxed time, close

to nature. It’s 125 AED per session, lesser amounts for five or ten sessions, possible to use the vouchers for both class and SUP tour. A great workout where you connect with nature!

All activities are supervised by professionals. SeaYou Team is happy to entertain you everyday from 8:30am to 6:00pm.

By going on a tour or buying a water

sport equipment, we hope to let you discover Dubai from an entirely different angle!

Email: info@seayou.ae Website: www.seayou.ae Tel: 04 4206100 Visit their showroom in Al Quoz 2 (behind Times Square) SeaYou soon!

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The lugs act as a shock absorber and return energy to the runner

The Newton Running Motion III review Words By: Edward Hawkins, TRIWings Coach

Ed running with a smile on his face again, thanks to the new 5-lug Motion

Recently, I was asked if I wanted to try the new and improved “5-Lug” Motion shoes by Newton Running. I was told they are different: “they have been updated, you will love them;” “‘Hello Better’ is Newton’s slogan;” “lug it out, go on.” “Okay,” I replied, not too sure. “And lug what out exactly?” I thought.

You see, as a runner (and a triathlete), I am a funny beast and runners are creatures of habit; we like routine and we do not like curve balls being thrown at us.

However, running shoe companies tend to throw these at us every so often. They either change the structure of a shoe or

Feels more responsive with better ground communication

Designed to accommodate the splay of all five metatarsals

delete it from their range entirely. This is a major concern for most runners as the biggest change a runner can make to their kit is their trainers. I have known runners purchase five or six pairs of the same model on a rumour that the company was discontinuing it. While this could be considered a little extreme, it is understandable since it can take years to find a trainer that works for them.

I have been using Newton Running shoes since November 2008. I still remember the first time I wore them. It was in Florida at the Ironman Triathlon 70.3 World Championships. I had read much about natural running. How it can make you run faster, longer with less fatigue and most importantly with less injuries. Which in turn means more training time.

They do this by using lugs on the sole that aid you to run more naturally. The lugs compress over a plate that flexes and in turn the energy used when planting the foot during the stride is returned to help lift your foot off the ground rather than it becoming “lost” into the EVA foam midsole, as it does with conventional running shoes. I bought some at the Expo, but waited until after the event to try them, as I never try anything new on race day.

During my first run, quite simply, I was blown away. They felt so natural and so easy to run in. After each session my feet and legs were not as beat up like they had been in my old running shoes. I did take a couple of weeks to get used to the

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shoes and change in running style, but on the whole the experience was well worth it and within a month I was running faster and more efficiently.

At the beginning of this spring/summer season, Newton had redesigned their two main shoe lines, the Mileage trainers called Gravity (neutral) and Motion (stability), and their Speed trainers called Distance (neutral) and Distance S (stability) for both females and males. I personally use the Motion for everyday sessions and the Distance S for faster tempo work and racing over the half or full Ironman distance.

This revamp was from the ground up and with it the four lugs were redesigned to incorporate an extra one. Five of them now sit proudly under the ball of your foot, offering a POP 1 (Point of Power) sensation. This means that they return the greatest amount of energy to the runner, putting the most “pep in your step” when compared to POP 2 or 3 models, like the Sir/Lady Isaacs and Energy NR respectively. With even more energy being returned to the athlete, there is less energy wastage and this translates to faster performances and less fatigue. Each of the newer lugs also covers a slightly larger surface area than before and they are placed a little differently than in previously shoes. In true “common sense” style, the clever Newton designers now have the lugs sitting directly in line with each of the metatarsals in the foot, which makes complete sense to me.

The upside of this “extra” lug is that when running I felt an increased level of support for my feet and in turn I had a greater confidence in the shoe doing its job. Having the extra lug also means that the toe box is wider, so I found the shoes a little less narrow than I did before.

The new lugs now have a tread to them, meaning a much better grip on surfaces that have been sprayed for example. Interestingly too, the lugs are also not quite as protruding as they used to be. Good news for a Newton newbie, as I’ve chuckled quietly to myself at many a new Newton wearer as they innocently trip over what appears to be nothing or should I say their new trainers. Good for them, but not so for those having a cheeky laugh at someone else’s expense.

The Speed Trainers in the new range now have an additional reinforced heel “strike pad,” something the Mileage

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Motion (Stability), Mileage Trainer 750 AED

Trainers have always had. I understand heel striking is not what we are meant to be doing, but as we become more fatigued we do resort back to old ways and it does stop the trainers from becoming worn out prematurely in this area. In the stability models that I was testing, the Motion and Distance S, there is an EMB (Extended Medial Bridge). This is designed to support runners who over pronate (or have semi collapsed arches or are flat footed). I found this helpful especially on my longer runs as the muscles in my feet became fatigued towards the end.

The 2014 models are also more cushioned, in fact plusher. I find myself wanting to run in them more than I did in previous models. It feels like I have rediscovered the shoe that changed my running so radically back in 2008. While I understand that some people prefer less cushioning than on offer in the Motion, I found them perfect.

My only grumble is about the material used on the uppers. To me it does not feel as well constructed as previous models. I know they will last, but it is just the feel of the fabrics used. They felt a little cheaper than they used to be. Having said that, they can now be worn sockless, because of the fewer seams used on the inside that could rub and give those nasty blisters we all hate. This is what we want, especially for triathlons.

Even though the redesign results in an evolved running shoe, they importantly all retained the natural foot placement in the shoe. This means that they all still have a heel-to-toe drop of 3mm in the Mileage Trainers and 2mm in Speed Trainers. This is of course the best news in the update, that there is no change to this aspect.

So what do I think of these new Newtons? I like them; in fact I like them a lot.

They do their job very well and they do it effectively. How do I know they work?

I know this, because I am finding myself running with a smile on my face again.

Distance S, Speed Trainer 650 AED

They are great shoes and I am sure they will welcome many new runners to the brand of Newton Running, as they seem far easier and faster to adapt when compared to previous years’ models.

When I was asked as to whether I wanted to give the new Newton a run for their money I hesitated. I need not have and I need not have worried about this year’s update to the shoes with their extra lug. I like them and I am going to buck the trend of so many runners by embracing the new updates with open arms whilst saying “Hello Better” to my new 5-lug Newtons.

Newton Running shoes are available in the UAE from Adventure HQ (Times Square, JBR and Dalma Mall) and Intersport (Times Square and Dubai Festival City) as well as in Bahrain from Endura Sport Center. Prices range from 575-750 AED, but the Motion costs 750 AED and the Distance S 650 AED.

Engineered to be faster and more efficient, with greater POP sensation

The shoes are broader, providing a more stable platform

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OUR EXPERTS

e r u t n e v i Ch ck Ad Sky touching the Ingeli Photos By: Anthony Grote

Tori

runner, writer, blogger & adventurer PS. My email address is tori@fitchicksandfastwomen. com for thoughts, ideas, and suggestions… or just to say hello!

April saw an influx of Dubai’s sports lovers to South Africa, for the most part for Ironman South Africa, which by all accounts, seems to have brought some epic results and a few qualifiers for the world champs in Kona.

A big congrats to all involved!

There was also Cape Town’s Two Oceans race over Easter Weekend, which always has a good representation from Dubai. And then a lesser known event, which Adventure Chick took part in… the inaugural Ingeli Skymarathon, a 42km trail run with 2,100m vertical ascent.

Not terribly well known, the Ingeli mountain range, sitting in the heart of southern KwaZulu-Natal, proved to be one of the most spectacular routes I’ve run in a long time.

The night before We arrived at the host venue for the race, the Ingeli Forest Lodge, late afternoon. Registration and the race briefing followed which made for a packed room full of bracing anticipation, nervous excitement and animated chatter.

I laughed when the race director told us that his stated race

distances rarely correlate with the actual… I suppose this just throws into the mix some added adventure!

He then went through the usual briefing stuff but to be honest, I don’t rate myself terribly highly at listening to instructions, never mind following them. Instead, I found myself looking around the room, sizing up my fellow participants… feeling like everyone looked stronger, leaner, fitter and faster than me. And I wondered whether we’re all sometimes guilty of this. It’s silly really. We sign up to these events to run our own race and our performance comes entirely from within. Add to this the fact, that at any one time, every participant is at a different stage of their game… virgin trail runner, weekend warrior or seasoned pro… running to train for their A race or this is their A race, fresh out of injury or at their peak… there’s no end of variables.

I also thought about how funny it is, regardless of the race or our experience, how we all find ourselves the night prior, discussing incessantly, what we’re wearing, what we’re taking, what we’re going to eat, drink, think… as if every single one of us were a newbie to these races. I know it’s great to share thoughts and ideas, but still, only we know ourselves what we can stomach to eat, only we know how hot we get or how we feel the cold. And one man’s mound is another man’s mountain. At least here, we’re all talking the same language.

I’m sure as the globetrotting expats

many of us are, that I’m not alone in having sometimes found myself in some pretty remote countries before having the same pre-race conversations around a table with a multitude of languages. For the record, you normally end up more confused at the end of the conversation than you did at the start!

The day of reckoning Breakfast at the lodge held the same excitement and chatter as the night before, as we filled our bellies to power us through the race. It was still dark outside but by the time we started the race at 0600, daylight was creeping in.

The first few kilometres were through the most enchanted forest on pretty technical trails. The shading from the towering trees left little to be seen below so you had to remain vigilant every moment to avoid falling on rocks and roots. You could see the sun start to filter through the trees and it looked truly stunning. When eventually we left the forest and came to wide-open hillside fields, it was like a shaded oyster had opened to reveal the perfect pearl.

From there, we had some pretty steep climbs… at times feeling long and quite relentless… but with the sun shining and the skies a brilliant blue, it was difficult not to actually enjoy and embrace every lungbursting moment (easy to say that in hindsight!)

The route had a mix of purpose cut paths and rough terrain, you know… the sort of trail that has been designed specifically to torture your ankles. Up and down we went, running, walking, fast packing… On reaching the highest point at 2,130m, the temperature dropped and the mist fell but you felt on top of the world with views as far as the eye can see and the sort of wind in your hair that makes you feel so free and alive.

I imagined myself floating along like Maria from The Sound of Music running in the meadows however, I can

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

safely state that what I looked like was far from this… rather a pair of tired legs plodding along without style or grace!

On the way up, I stopped a few times (not only to catch my breath!) but to marvel at the 360-degree beauty. It struck me that too often, when climbing up a mountain, we focus only on the next step without looking behind and absorbing how far we’ve come. And how perfectly this translates into our lives… we can get so blinkered, striving constantly towards our goals without enough thought into the journey we’ve taken before and how much we’ve achieved already. Note to self. And note to readers.

Dropping back down the mountain was, for me, the toughest part of the course. It was steep with a wicked camber, giant tufts of grass to continue the ankle torturing and some slippery sections, just to throw in the odd muddy slide. On terrain like this, you can’t help but question whether these races would be better named trail-less races.

The final 20km was far easier… a pretty leisurely amble through some stunning for-

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est on undulating trails. I was singing along to Frank Sinatra on my iPod and feeling all is right in the world. The forests just seemed to go on forever, with their endless switchbacks revealing more and more simple, rugged beauty. Nature at its best!

My final thought on finishing the race was the 100% total lack of rubbish I saw on the route. Not one single GU wrapper… this, I think, was a first in my history of races. And so it was pretty in keeping with our love for enjoying and taking care of the outdoors that every finisher was given a gorgeous little Fever Tree to plant at home.

The rest of the afternoon was spent basking in the sunshine on the lush lawns in front of the lodge. Eating, drinking, chatting, laughing… followed by a prize giving, slide show, dinner and bar. Every single race finisher was called up to collect a certificate.

The day after The course, as I think I’ve stressed enough, was wonderful; just total raw picture-perfect beauty. But beyond that, the race organisation, the briefing, the route markings and

the aid stations were all faultless. As for the Ingeli Forest Lodge, where we called home for the weekend, the team was fantastic and so accommodating. Meals were magic and the bar, the perfect spot to re-hydrate post race with a roaring fire and a giant screen to keep the boys happy.

As we packed the car and left these beautiful mountains behind us, I found myself with a secret smile. You see whilst some love to sign up for the big and bold races, the iconic events which attract hosts of international participants, I fall into the other camp. I love to immerse myself into the local scene, discover the lesser-known events then do my bit to give them the shout-out they deserve. Ingeli Skymarathon is, without doubt, deserving of this. And so I recommend you check this race out just in case you fall into the same camp as me.

Love, Tori x My enormous thanks to Andew Booth at KZN Trail Running for putting on such a phenomenal event. And to Ingeli Forest Lodge for sharing with us, your fantastic hotel and its spectacular trails. You may have once been a wellguarded secret, but I doubt that will remain. www.kzntrailrunning.co.za www.ingelitrail.co.za www.ingeliforestlodge.com

photo: Stephen Whitesell

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OUR EXPERTS

Tour Morocco

Words + Photos By: John Basson

About six months ago Oliver told me about an off-road trip in Morocco, that he and Gee had booked from 22th to 28th of March 2014. Obviously interested in the topic, it did not take long before it was Oliver, Gee and myself that were booked for this seven-night, six-day ride in the majestic Southern Morocco.

Needless to say it was a long and slow six months waiting for our adventure to start. Fortunately it was during winter and we managed to do our regular weekend rides here in the UAE. This helped to pass the time and also ensured that there was no rush to obtain the required paper work (South Africans need pre-booked visas to enter Morocco).

The tour was with Easy Raider Tours and managed by a Frenchman, William Richter.

He owns 15 KTMs and brings them from France to Morocco for the three-month spring. He is fully booked for this period and the popularity of his tours has caused his business to grow from only six bikes in 2006 to a total of 15 by 2014. He does however not take more than ten riders per tour as the numbers become difficult to manage. Azis is a young and energetic Moroccan that works for him as a support vehicle driver and mechanic. Azis also inspects and helps William every night to ensure all bikes are in perfect condition.

I was totally exhausted after the tedious and almost nine-hour flight from Dubai to Casablanca (the capital). Then a four-hour stopover followed by the connecting flight to Marrakech. As all the correspondence was in French, I thought that the tour actually started and finished in Marrakech. This however was not the case and by noon the following day (22nd March) eight of the 10 riders had arrived in Marrakech and we

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departed by bus to Ouarzazate. A “short” stop at Marrakech airport to collect the remaining two riders who arrived “late,” and off we went.

The road to Ouarzazate is only 190km and there was no way possible that any person could have remotely prepared me for this four and a half hour bus ride! I think after seven years of living here in the UAE I have forgotten what “normal” roads look like in other countries. More than 100km of this road is a mountain pass that snakes its way across the Haut Atlas Mountains.

Initially just seeing these incredibly beautifully snowcapped mountains was amazing!

This time of the year Morocco is very green and the picturesque green valleys really made me miss South Africa. Some places almost a carbon copy. Then as the altitude increased, this narrow winding road with limited or no barriers became less and less appealing to me. The water erosion, at places, had already reached the tar and I remember one turn where the barrier had been totally destroyed and driven over by large trucks due to their size and the intensity of the hair-bend turn. Apart from no barrier the tracks of these trucks show that at least one of the rear wheels must have been “suspended” for about half a metre as the tracks cross the erosion “ruts.” Nerve wrecked and thankful to be alive I thanked and gave the driver a well deserved “tip” by the time we reached the hotel in Ouarzazate.

That night it was the big safety briefing and William explained the dos and the don’ts of the trip. This was also where all riders had to give a 1,200 EUR deposit for possible breakages on the bikes. After the formalities it was off to an early night for me to try and get some good rest before the first day’s riding started.

Day 1: 190km from Ouarzazate to Boumalne du Dades As the majority of day one’s route was in the mountains the total distance was only

190km for the day. The last time I was in mountains, and on gravel roads, was about two years ago in the mountains near Dibba.

The mountains in Morocco are certainly on a different scale and one had to keep the speed down. Those who have ridden dirt tracks in mountains will know that if the bike starts to skid, it does not stop. At least half the riders, including myself had some close calls! The way William does the tour is by daily selecting a new rider to be in the back and act as a “sweeper.” This sweeper then gets a two-way radio and William rides with his radio permanently connected via headset. Should any rider encounter a problem the sweeper will call William who would then attend to the situation. This works great and allows William to continue riding without continuously stopping to ensure all are present.

The first call from the sweeper was hardly 5km into the ride as we got our first of thirteen punctures for the tour! Watching William change the tube by himself was almost like reading poetry. I have changed several tubes and also fixed punctures on rides, but nothing compares to this. Surely he has done this a bit more than the average rider.

Apart from the odd scare and some riders that “dropped” their bikes, day one ended in the small town of Boumalne du Dades and words cannot describe seeing the sun set on those mountains!

Day 2: 310km from Boumalne du Dades to Merzouga Early start after a good breakfast as we had a hefty 310km to ride and William did not want to waste too much time. I was initially a bit frustrated with speed and was hoping for a bit more adrenaline. About midway through the morning one of the riders kept overtaking William at speed and then waited for the group. This, William told us, in no uncertain terms was not allowed.

He was responsible for our safety and no one was allowed to overtake him. William

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

explained (again) that he has to cater for all 10 riders and if speed was why we came to Morocco we should have entered the annual Morocco Rally.

It was after this that I realised William was right. This was a tour, not a race! From that moment on, the riding became truly enjoyable and for the first time in many years I was actually sightseeing, rather than concentrating to stay on the bike, and believe me, there is a lot of beauty too see in this country!

My whole mood was different as my mindset had changed from speed to nature (if that makes any sense) and the day ended at a fort like hotel near the town of Merzouga. (William has selected all the accommodation to give the riders a spread of true “Moroccan” adventure and every night was a pleasant surprise!)

Day 3: 260km from Merzouga to Zagora Welcome to the Sahara! A very big “tick” was made on my bucket list as the day started with us riding into the Northern Sahara desert! Of course Oliver and I were right at home in the sand and were both looking forward to “display our skills.” I had forgotten how difficult it was for guys who had never ridden in sand and our progress was very slow as many riders struggled and fell in the sand. Luckily the dune section was short and within about an hour and a half we were out in the open.

By mid morning we reached a type of oasis where William bought fuel for the bikes from the local “fuel man.” This guy was selling the fuel in plastic water bottles, at a profit of course, as there were no other facilities for many miles to come. It was also at this point that William briefed us on the section to follow and reminded the riders about falling on sand if you are fast. His words were: “On gravel you will slide, but if you fall here, and on your shoulders, you don’t slide and you break your collarbone.”

The call from Oliver, who was the selected sweeper for the day because of his ability to ride in the sand, came less than 15 minutes after leaving from the fuel stop!

“Patrick had a bad fall and we think he might have broken his collarbone,” was the radio message to William.

This was not a good place for an accident as there was no mobile coverage. We were four riders that stopped with William and the rest were an “unknown” distance behind us. William had to continue about 30km to a high point from where he called the support vehicle to come and look for us. After returning from the call we all went back to join the others. It was pretty obvious from the pain Patrick was in that it was 99% certain his collarbone was broken. William and Patric Bolagno (a paramedic by profession) attended to Patrick Arrighi by securing his left arm in a bandage. Then due to the amount of time already lost we decided to leave both Patrick and his son-in-law (Ainice Syoud) there whilst we continue to the planned lunch stop.

It was getting hot and we had more than 150km remaining for the day. Then, just to add to the drama, Gee’s bike had a flat rear tyre. Again William fixed this in minutes, and the remainder of the riders were off to the “restaurant” in the middle of nowhere for lunch. There we waited till we had confirmation that the recovery team was with the injured rider.

Apart from almost an hour driving after sunset due to the events, we all safely reached Zagora. It was confirmed at the local hospital that Patrick had a broken collarbone. Obviously that was the end of his riding, but he did however opt to ride with the recovery vehicle and this way still enjoyed the rest of the tour.

Day 4: 210km from Zagora to Erg Chegaga By now some riders had blisters on their hands from riding seven to 10 hours every day, but the mood was positive and the beauty of the surroundings easily makes one forget these little things.

The route took us through a massive meteor crater (cannot find or remember its name) and also a beautiful lush green natural oasis near the Algerian border. It was an easy ride and my camera worked overtime during the ride.

Our accommodation for the night was in a desert camp where the colourful Arabstyle tents and carpet covered sand made for a true desert experience. We spent the night around the campfire relaxing and reliving the adventure till late into the night.

Day 5: 220km from Erg Chegaga to Foum Zguid During the early hours of the morning the howling of the wind woke me. I knew that if this was how the wind was blowing by 3:00am it was not going to go away before we ride and that surely we were in for some sandy conditions! The first section was very poor visibility and William requested us to stay close to each other and not go out of his tracks. It would be almost impossible to find someone if he went off the track as we had maybe 50 to 70m of visibility. Also due to the strong wind and shifting sand, the bike’s tracks would be erased in minutes!

After about an hour into the ride conditions cleared and apart from one guy that had an impressive tumble, and at least two more punctures, the rest of the day was easy going and good riding.

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Day 6: 210km from Foum Zguid back to Ouarzazate Almost a sad day to wake up to as we all knew that it was the last day of this amazing adventure. Nevertheless, the mood was still very positive and we knew we had to do an early start as it was going to be a very long day. Once we reached Ouarzazate we still had to shower, re-pack our gear and return by bus, via the awful winding pass, back to Marrakech.

The riding on the last day, apart from our 13th puncture was without incident.

To me the highlight of the day was surely the snow in the mountain pass on route back to Ouarzazate. To many, this might sound surprising, but at the youthful age of 42, I have never seen snow from up close.

It took about 20 minutes and the once green mountains were totally covered in a white blanket of snow. Then of course the thought of the bus now having to drive this “horrifically scary” pass in the snow spoilt my mood totally.This was an unforgettable riding experience and something I hope I can repeat one day with my sons.

Final confession Those who know me also know my opinion of KTM motorcycles. I have not been shy in expressing my “subjective” negative opinion, and up until this tour honestly believed that these bikes might perform well, but seriously lack reliability. Well the following facts cannot be argued and now KTM ranks number two, after Honda of course.

William has fifteen KTMs. Six of these are 2006 models of which all six now have more than 35,000km. The EXC 400 William was riding had done a staggering 50,000km by the time we finished the tour.

He showed me all the detailed records he has of his bikes. The bikes get new rings (not piston and rings, just new rings) every 10 to 12,000km. Then at between 30 to 35,000km he does a top-end rebuilt and just in case also replaces the timing chain.

These are unheard of figures on off-road bikes and to date William has not had any failure other than accident damage on any of his fifteen bikes. Of the eleven we were using they all started every morning first time and even a rebel like myself cannot argue these statistics.

Ride safe and go for gold,

John Basson OUTDOORUAE

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PEOPLE

Alexey Molchanov Occupation: Professional freediver Nationality: Russian Age: 27

This freediving champ

has won first and second place twice in the previous Fazza Championships, and this year was his sixth time participating. Freediving is a form of diving where divers swim great depths in a single breath. The Fazza Championship for Freediving is modelled on the traditional technique of pearl diving in the region that required pearl divers to be able to hold their breath for several minutes as they looked for pearls. This year, Alexey clocked 7.09 minutes.

How did you get into freediving?

I have been swimming and diving since as long as I can remember. A lot of young people in Russia enjoy diving for recreation and there is no shortage of places where one can dive. I have fond memories of diving with family and friends in the Black Sea. I enjoy the

physical and mental stamina that the sport demands. I took to professional diving at the age of 17.

Diving into the deep unknown is a daunting experience for many, but what is the appeal of this sport for you?

I suppose I enjoy swimming and diving.

When you grow up with it around you, you have no choice but to fall in love with it. My mother Natalia Molchanova is a world champion freediver as well with 40 records in freediving, and she has passed on her passion for the sport. For me, freediving is a leisure pursuit rather than a serious activity. I enjoy the physical and mental challenge of the sport.

What’s your training like?

It is important to be physically fit and I make sure I exercise and train at the gym for a few hours. A couple of pool training sessions and then some dry training in the gym with some stretching sessions.

Additionally, I practice my breath holding technique. My strength is depth diving.

What is the best and toughest part about this sport?

This sport is very liberating. The toughest part is being able to relax in the static apnea event. The Fazza Championship for Freediving is, in my opinion, the most difficult international competition for freediving because it is based on the traditional form of diving.

What’s your gameplan during a competition?

My strategy is to train and perform to the best of my abilities and to push the limits of my physical endurance.

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There have been cases of freedivers not surviving dives in open water. How do you feel when you hear news like this and how do you keep yourself safe in competition and training?

You have to practice safe diving, that is all I would say. Like any other sport, you have to know and accept your threshold and push yourself only when you know you can.

How does the first breath after being underwater for a long time feel like?

It feels like the first breath of life. It makes you appreciate the gift of living.

What is your advice for those who want to get into freediving or other heritage sports?

Try it, it is extremely rewarding. In Russia, we have a Freediving Federation which trains scores of young people. My mother is the president of the Freediving Federation in Russia and she enjoys training young people. Some of my favourite locations to freedive include the Red Sea, in terms of its location and the temperature of the water. The Mediterranean Sea, including Greece and Croatia, the Caribbean, The Bahamas are also some of my other favourite locations.

How do you see this sport progressing in the next few years especially in this region?

The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center is doing a great job of organising this event and the separate categories for UAE and GCC nationals will encourage more participation in the future. Also, there is great opportunity for freediving to become an Olympic sport.

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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PEOPLE

Stefan Glowacz Occupation: Climber and adventurer Nationality: German Age: 49

Climbing legends Stefan Glowacz and Chris Sharma descended to the bowels of the Majilis al Jinn (which means the “gathering place of the spirits”) in Oman to climb up the roof of the world’s second largest known cave chamber on a never attempted before route. The athletes negotiated 13 pitches with overhanging inclines, and even though Stefan suffered an injury, they grit their teeth and conquered it. Red Bull athlete Stefan talks more about their epic “Into the Light” project.

How did you get into climbing?

I got into climbing when I started walking. My parents loved the mountains and I grew up hiking in the Alps with them. I always climbed every rock along our way.

As I grew older the rocks got bigger, the walls steeper. That’s how it all started.

Why choose to do the Majilis al Jinn cave?

When I saw the cave I knew I had to see if there were lines you could climb.

I’ve climbed all kinds of walls. I’ve never climbed a cave. I found the idea fascinating to lower yourself into the dark bowels of the earth and then try to climb back up into the light. And the Majilis al Jinn cave is simply breathtaking. It’s one of the most awe-inspiring places I’ve been to. When the idea took form, I realised that the lines that seemed climbable were all very hard, long and steep. No one has tried to climb the cave. Exactly the kind of challenge I like!

How did you train and prepare for this climb?

Training is part of my life. I train several

hours a day, every day. I get up early to get the most out of my day and combine endurance and strength training. I knew the Majilis al Jinn would require a good amount of prep training since the climb is hard and long. For endurance, I prefer to bike for several hours and combine that with climbing long, hard routes, preferably multi-pitches and compliment that with boulder training.

How did you manage the climb in two weeks?

We pulled hard, climbed all day. We didn’t take rest days and put all our energy into the route. Our strategy was to get the moves needed to climb down in our heads while we were setting up the route. We studied and memorised the rock. We tried as many sections as we could while setting.

I think Chris and I were the perfect team for this kind of climb and this kind of tight schedule.

What were the most difficult and easiest parts of the routes?

This route is really strange. Every single pitch is super steep and overhanging but in the middle of the roof there is a traverse we managed to climb with our trekking boots. We called it the adventure hike. We could not figure out the dimensions from the ground. It was very hard to get any beta through the binoculars. Climbing this route was a bit like trial and error. And of course the tight schedule was one of the biggest difficulties.

Did you have any unfortunate moments during the climb?

When I was cleaning a pitch, both jumars unhinged and I fell. I grabbed the rope instinctively and severely burned both my hands. The second I grabbed that rope I thought, “You idiot!” When I felt the pain and saw my hands, I thought that was it. I didn’t want to put anybody down

and Chris was totally motivating. I knew I wouldn’t be able to climb the hard pitches, but with Chris as partner it was clear it could be done. We had a doctor with us but with burns you need time. There was nothing we could do. So we had the choice to cancel the project or just do it.

So I taped my hands and let Chris climb the tough pitches. It was a great team effort.

What was the most eye-opening experience from this trip?

To see Chris climbing. When I started climbing, I always had “older” role models.

Now when you get older, I am more fascinated by the young generation. Most of all I am inspired by Chris because of his way of thinking about climbing and life.

What are your next projects?

In the summer I am going to Asia for climbing and at the beginning of 2015 I’m going back to Patagonia with Robert Jasper. With him I climbed “Gone With the Wind” on Cerro Murallon in Patagonia and “Take the Long Way Home” in Baffin Island.

What would you advise those who want to get into this sport in the Middle East?

I wouldn’t recommend anybody who is an inexperienced climber to go climbing somewhere unexplored. If you want to experience climbing in the Middle East I suggest you begin with the main crags like Dibba or Hatta and go from there. Exploring new areas is always connected with getting permission to climb there. Get all the info you can before going!

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Get outdoors in the UAE Hiking – A series of articles to help you start or progress your hiking in the UAE

Part 5

Words + Photos By: Sean James

Hiking in the heat Although there is no official start and end to the hiking season, every year there is a weekend in which the consensus is that it is now too hot to hike during the day. Residents of the UAE have been lucky this year and the hiking season in 2014 has extended well into April.

Although hiking is still possible in the summer months, it is often humid and the views are slightly hazy. In addition, finishing early before the sun reaches its zenith, shorter hikes and staying high are essential.

This month OutdoorUAE has a number of tips to keep you safe in the hot months. These tips can apply not just to hiking but any outdoor activity in the UAE. Exercising in the heat is not all bad and can have its benefits. After a recent cycling trip to Spain, I can confirm training in low temperatures with the possibility of rain is not a source of inspiration.

Indeed a group of researchers from the University of Oregon have suggested heat training may have more benefits than altitude training for increasing performance. Although the athletes, who were cyclists, were only tested in 30% humidity and at temperatures around 38°C there was a 7% increase in the performance over those who trained at temperatures of 13°C. The researchers also discovered that not only was a higher level of heat acclimation achieved, but also that heat training also helped

athletes to compete better in cooler environments.

But before you go rushing out in the middle of a Dubai summer, there are a number of things that you should consider.

1. Liquids It is so important to maintain the salt and water balance in your body. Both over hydration and dehydration are dangerous. While drinking too little fluid will cause problems and reduce performance, drinking too much water can flush the body of all essential minerals and salts.

Hydration varies from person to person and the amount that is required also varies. Sports scientists have many theories and recommendations about the amount required. Some suggest drinking to thirst but this requires very good judgement achieved only through trial and error. For the majority of people, a good guide

Altitude brings a decrease in temperature but watch for increased UV effects

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Mornings and evening still provide stunning vistas

when exercising is 1/2L per hour. A good check is the frequency and color of your urine which should be copious and light in color. Try avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated drinks and consider fluids (either natural like coconut juice or manufactured like many sports drinks) which have salts and minerals to replenish those lost electrolytes. Many athletes also take tablets which add salts to your body.

Take every opportunity to refuel and hydrate

2. Time of the day To get the most out of your summer training or hiking, exercise during the cooler parts of the day, either early in the morning or in the evening. In the summer this means early starts. I personally prefer late evening starts and that means taking a head torch and being prepared to navigate in the dark.

3. Intensity and duration When the temperatures and humidity start to rise you have to be realistic and plan your activity accordingly. A decrease in the intensity and duration will see you active through the summer months and avoid serious long term issues. Plan easier routes and you will still be able to get outdoors and hike.

Cooling the body is important

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4. Acclimatise If you’re not accustomed to the heat, take it easy the first few times. Similar to altitude, it takes time for your body to adapt to the heat, somewhere between four and fourteen days. Be aware of the weather forecast and in particular the heat index. Heat index is a combination of both humidity and the temperature and can result in very different conditions. For example a temperature of 35°C with a humidity of 30% is very different from a day with 70% humidity.

5. Cover up Covering up has a number of benefits.

Cooling of the body by evaporation is assisted by wearing loose clothing. Covering the skin whether with sunscreen or material also prevents direct sun damage but be careful not to trap too much heat.

Not all clothes have UV protection so if you have sensitive skin, check the label for the technical aspects. In the heat, there is a temptation to strip off to help with the evaporation of sweat to make the body feel cooler. Being in a Muslim country, skimpy clothing can make you feel uncomfortable and can also lead to sunburn. A ventilated hat or visor and sunglasses are also great to protect the head from the effects of the sun.

Google Earth Screen shot of the route You can download the GPS files here: www.outdooruae.com/downloads/mayhike2014.zip

intended activity is essential. Consider choosing a route that is shaded by plantations or deep in a wadi and not across a barren desert that is scorched by the sun.

What are the signs of heat problems?

There are two conditions that are serious; heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Both Symptoms of heat exhaustion Headaches Heavy sweating Cold, moist skin, chills Dizziness or fainting Weak or rapid pulse Muscle cramps Fast, shallow breathing Nausea, vomiting or both

6. Hike with someone Safety is found in numbers and especially someone who knows you and can recognise problems before they become serious. It’s great to push each other to do a hard session but alwaysknow when to call it a day and ease off.

Symptoms of heat stroke

7. Planning Planning is even more important in the summer months. Any mistakes such as underestimating the time or distance are magnified. The ability to modify your

Warm, dry skin with no sweating Strong and rapid pulse Confusion and/or unconsciousness High fever Throbbing headaches Nausea, vomiting or both

Quick Checklist Route planning Start Point

25°54’30.05”N 56° 3’53.02”E

Off road driving required

No. Parking can be limited so be sensitive in the village at the start.

Distance & Time from Mirdiff to Start

120km 80min

Navigation on hike

Navigation required. Up and back.

Can be extended

Time required for hike

7hrs – 8hrs

Distance

8km

Elevation gain on hike

988m

High Point

976m

Grocery / water on hike

No

Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail

No

Suitable for all the family

This hike is VERY strenuous.

Vague tracks and some loose rock.

Not recommended for small children.

Directions to the start Enter the start point coordinates into your GPS device or follow the directions from Google.

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are serious with heat stroke being life threatening.

Heat exhaustion will inevitably happen when you hike in the heat. The symptoms are not nice but are manageable. The key is to prevent further deterioration that could lead to the much more serious heat stroke.

A hike for May Hiking at this time of the year requires serious planning, route consideration and judgment. This route starts at near sea level and takes you up to a height of nearly 1,000m. It is a fantastic route that starts along the top of a gorge, scrambles through a shaded wadi with places to rest in the shade and then onto a high ridge looking back over the city of Ras Al Khaimah. At the high point you can peer into the start of Wadi Bih and Jebel Jais. It will definitely test your endurance and is not a route for novice hikers. Once at the top, have lunch and a rest before heading back down the same way. Alternatively for the more adventurous this can be the start of a longer excursion.

And for those not wanting a full day, the bottom part of the gorge is fantastic to explore. Simply turn around when you have had enough.

The author has guided hikes, treks and climbs all other the world.

He gained his qualifications from the British Mountaineering Council, a national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers. At present he lectures in a college in the UAE. Before that he worked for a private company that trained the UAE military forces. He has also appeared on TV programmes in the UK and Brazil talking about outdoor activities.

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LOCATIONS

martini rock Dive sites in the UAE

How to get there: This site is around a 40-minute trip on our speedboat from the Al Boom, Al Aqah Dive Centre located at the Le Meridien Hotel. The drive to Al Aqah from Dubai normally takes 1.5 to two hours. Alternatively, if you are not driving yourself to Fujairah, you can also use Al Boom bus transfers from Dubai. Meeting point is from the dive centre in Al Wasl Rd. Description: This dive site gets its name from the shape of the rocky pinnacles that are below the surface, which resembles a martini glass on its side. The pinnacles are coloured with a variety of soft and hard corals, which make a beautiful habitat for an abundance of marine life which include: cuttlefish on the sand, nudibranchs, fusiliers, trigger fish, lion fish, scorpion fish, puffer fish, snappers, broomtail wrasse, morays, turtles and rays.

In summer you can expect water temperatures of around 30°C, and in winter, an average of around 20°C. Divers can enter in many different ways, and backward-roll and giant-stride are the most common.

Visibility will vary between 5-15m, and on a good day you can even get up to 20 metres visibility! Even when the visibility isn’t that great, you can still find lots of amazing marine life to get some great

Name of the dive site:

Martini Rock

Location:

Fujairah, UAE

Depth:

10-22 metres

Type of dive:

Rock pinnacle covered with soft and hard corals, with sandy gullies and surroundings.

Level:

Open Water and up, but enjoyed more by Advanced Open Water divers and photographers.

macro shots of. Make sure your buoyancy is up to scratch for these days.

Be aware of the usual suspects on the east coast, such as lion fish, urchins, scorpion fish, and occasionally jellyfish!

Hopefully you will get a chance of seeing a whale shark close to the surface, or a zebra shark on the sandy bottom.

OBSERVATION: “I absolutely loved the amount of a life on Martini Rock! So glad that cameras now use high volume storage, as I was a little trigger-happy with my snaps!” Sonja, from Germany.

“Martini Rock was great! Even though the vis wasn’t great on the day that we dived, we still saw so much. It was also my first dive after doing my Advanced Open Water course, and I really felt comfortable with my newly developed skills… thanks Al Boom.” Hind, from Dubai Contact: Al Boom Diving, Al Wasl Rd. Call Centre: +971 4 342 2993 or abdiving@emirates.net.ae Al Boom Diving, Al Aqah, Fujairah: +971 9 204 4925 or andrew@alboomdiving.ae Al Boom Diving, Atlantis, The Palm: +971 4 263 3000 or bietha@alboomdiving.ae

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TIPS & TRICKS

Finding your swim form Breathing easy Words By: Trace Rogers, Coach and Founder of SuperTRI

As a triathlon coach, I find that 90% of the people who approach me for coaching mainly want assistance with swimming.

Most aspiring triathletes are confident with their bike and run skills but dread having to face the swim. It’s not that they cannot swim the front crawl, it’s just that they feel they expend too much energy doing so. Over the next few months we will examine why and what to do about these challenges.

The challenge: shortness of breath whilst swimming This is by far the biggest concern for most people and a very easy problem to solve once you are aware of it. Many people hold their breath whilst swimming when they should in fact be exhaling when their face is in the water. Breathing during swimming should be as natural as breathing when walking. What many athletes do however, is to hold their breath underwater and then try to exhale and inhale at the stage of the stroke where the face is out of water.

Because there is not enough time to do both, the lungs are neither emptied of the carbon dioxide build up nor is the oxygen supply sufficiently replenished. Very soon, this leaves the athlete feeling exhausted.

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The quick fix: practice gliding and exhaling As basic as this is – it works.

Stand against the pool wall. Lift your hands above your head and squeeze your biceps to ears.

With your arms above your head, bend forward and “aim” half a metre below the waters’ surface.

With your feet – push off from the wall and as you do so, exhale into the water. It should be a smooth exhalation – more of a sigh than a blow.

Re-emerge whilst you are still feeling comfortable but have emptied your lungs of oxygen (please note that the goal of this exercise is to train yourself in a proper breathing rhythm, not in underwater swimming so you don’t need to glide much further than two to three metres at a time).

Turn around and immediately glide back towards the wall.

You will know that you have got the hang of this once you can keep doing this constantly and indefinitely.

Once you reach this point practice three and then six and then nine strokes of Front crawl focusing purely on constantly exhaling into the water when your face is in the water and inhaling once your face comes out of the water. Only progress into practicing this for a full length of the pool once you are comfortable breathing over shorter intervals.

Remember, the key is to reinforce the correct technique, so only move on once you are satisfied that you have achieved this.

Before you know it you will be able to swim continuously with great ease.

Useful knots #4 Double Uni Knot The Double Uni Knot is used to tie lines of equal or different diametre or strength together. If you are not familiar with a Single Uni Knot please check issue number 38 of OutdoorUAE page 58, where the single Uni Knot is explained. If you are tying braided to monofilament line, make more turns with the braided line (10) and only five with the mono line, since the braided line tempts more to slip. This knot is very strong and holds up to four times the pound test of the weaker line.

1. Overlap the ends of lines to be joined. Take the end of one line and double back and make three to four wraps around both lines and through the loop that was formed. Pull tag end to tighten.

2. Repeat with the end of the line making the same number of wraps unless tying with braided line in which you should double the number of wraps.

3. You have now tied two Uni Knots.

Pull the standing lines in opposite direction to slide the two knots together.

4. Clip ends close to the knot.

In climbing, a similar knot is used and is called the fisherman’s or Grapevine Bend. Since ropes have a bigger diametre, as less as only two turns are used. The knots are commonly used to join ropes because of its strength but it is very hard/impossible to untie after stress load.

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TIPS & TRICKS

Silver Grunter

How and what to catch in the Middle East #4

Words By: Kit Belen

The Silver Grunter, locally called nagroor is a shallow water inhabitant of the Gulf. Found in estuarine and shallow areas, the Silver Grunter is one of the most important food fish in the UAE. Calling the Indian and some parts of the Pacific Oceans as its home, the Silver Grunter can be easily distinguished with its silvery body with numerous scattered dark brown to blackish spots, dark blotches on the dorsal fin. The juveniles are pale brown with a lighter belly while the back has irregular longitudinal streaks on alternate scale rows, the dorsal fin of juveniles have dusky coloured membranes and have a dark spot in their gill covers. They grow up to 60cm; the normal sizes caught in the gulf could be anywhere from 30cm or less.

Where to find Grunters can be found in mangrove areas and estuaries throughout the Emirates.

Although the mangroves in the Gulf side are the easiest bets, you can also find patches of them in the east coast.

A good way of locating them is to look for areas that have a bottom of sand

Silver Grunters are challenging targets with a flyrod - especially in waster as shallow as this In deeper water a weighted lure or fly works best

and mud with patches of grass and shell beds. Look for shallow areas that have this type of bottom and are close to deep water. This type of bottom structure attracts this fish and holds them longer.

The best spots I have found almost always have good current going through them when the tides rise and fall.

How to catch The most popular method of catching the Silver Grunter is by bottom fishing.

Although targeting them like this is effective, you can use different methods to successfully catch them. When bottom fishing for them, the best bait is peeled shrimp, it is easy to find and less messy.

Catching them in deeper water is easier than in really skinny water, in fact, the shallower it gets, the more complicated catching them will be. The rig I use for them is the sliding sinker rig. This is a very simple rig that uses a small ball or egg shaped weight with a hole in the middle where you pass your fishing line through. You then put a small bead (I always use red, however this is a matter of preference; this bead will protect the knot that connects the swivel). A swivel, a short leader and a hook complete the rig. Once you cast out with this rig, I keep some slack on the line. This slack Sight casting with small soft plastics fished with light lines can outfish baits when the conditions are right

Wading around estuaries is a good way to find them

line enables the fish to nibble and run with the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. Done this way, I have caught more quality fish than with the usual inline three hook arrangement that is popular in this region.

When you find them feeding in the shallows, you can target them by using small lures and flies. Sight casting for them in shallow water enables you to choose the bigger fish and is more sporting. It may be more challenging to catch them this way, however, it is more enjoyable; the tiniest of splash from your lure or fly will spook them and before you know it, they will be out of the area.

I especially love chasing after them with a flyrod. The light flies hardly make a splash when they land and they almost always never spook, aside from that errant cast once in a while.

The Silver Grunter will give you a spirited fight. Although they will not give you long scorching runs, they will give you a jitter or two when they bolt for the ledge. They will struggle close in before eventually giving up. What they lack in strength will be made up with their numbers since when you catch one, there would most likely be a few of its brothers and sisters behind it.

Availability and conservation The Silver Grunter is not on any of the lists in Choose Wisely and I believe if listed, they would be in the red. Commercial and recreational angling in the region have greatly reduced their numbers in the past few years. It is an important commercial target in the region and due to habitat loss, we might have to say goodbye to this fish before the authorities take notice.

To see a list of the fish we need to conserve, please visit www.choosewisely.ae.

Fast, simple and effective - the sliding sinker rig is my go-to rig when I fish with shrimps as bait

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TIPS & TRICKS

Traumatic injuries The Initial Survey

We are all aware that with the opportunity to travel the world is becoming more accessible and people are venturing further afield in the quest to get their fix of whatever sport they are participating in or searching a new place for the first time.

Unfortunately, things do not always go to plan and sometimes sh*t happens. It is one thing when somebody gets injured in a country such as the UK, but it is a completely different scenario when someone gains a similar injury in the middle of nowhere, where there may not be the luxury of medical assistance a simple phone call away.

Many of you will have participated in a first aid course, some of you may be highly qualified lifeguards, some may be paramedics and some may be proper grownups and work as doctors. For those of you out there who have got no experience in first-aid then I urge you to enrol in a course.

It may be a case that the life you save will be that of a friend.

Remember, injuries don’t just happen while you are participating in sport: You are involved in a car crash on the way to the beach, you pass an incident involving local people in a foreign land, the country you are in is in political unrest and things go “pop,” or the universe decides to show us how small we are and a natural disaster occurs whilst you are there. Any of these would be traumatic to encounter. The chances are that you are going to offer assistance in one way or another (all of these examples have happened to European surfers in the past, in the UK and abroad) and it is vital to at least know the basics.

There is one thing that is written in stone, it doesn’t matter where you are or what training you have, the initial approach to any patient will be the same: “The Primary Survey.” Obviously, if you have more knowledge and more equipment you can deal with incidents at a deeper level but with no equipment available, everyone is in the same boat.

So, what is the Primary Survey?

The Primary Survey is a systematic approach to rule out any life threatening conditions and is one of the most difficult things to carry out whilst a person is screaming in agony – the fractured limb

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they have sustained is probably not going to kill, but a hidden chest injury may well.

Many of you will have heard of the DR ABC approach to a patient. This is a good system to follow but I would like to take things a step further.

If someone has suffered a traumatic injury then we need to use some common sense. “Is it safe for me to help?” “Is he/ she conscious?” “Do I need some help?”

“That’s a lot of blood” “Have they been sick?” “Is he/she breathing?” “Is their circulation okay?” “Have they suffered a head injury?” “Do I need to get them out of here and somewhere safe?”

In essence, we have just covered the Primary Survey: DR C ABCDE D – Danger Am I going to put myself in danger if I try and help?

R – Response Is the patient conscious, are they talking, do they open their eyes when you shout at them, if you pinch their ear lobe do they respond or are they fully unresponsive.

HELP Ensure assistance is heading your way at the very earliest opportunity.

C – Catastrophic bleeding Very important in major trauma. If the patient is losing lots of blood quickly they are going to die. It needs to be stopped. With Hawaiian surfer Bethany Hamilton – a leash was used as a tourniquet to stop her losing blood after a shark attack, if this was not done she may well not have lived.

A – Airway If a patient has a blocked airway then they cannot breathe. It needs to be clear. Simply turning a patient onto their side to allow vomit/blood to drain from the mouth may be all that is required.

B – Breathing Adults breathes approximately 12-20 times per minute.

Anything less than 10/minute or more than 30/minute may indicate something is severely wrong.

C – Circulation Have they got enough blood flowing around the body? Look at their colour, are they pale? If we press our finger on their breastbone for five seconds and release, does the colour return in under two seconds – if not, there may be a circulation problem. Taking a pulse is great but can often prove difficult in a stressful environment.

D – Disability Here we are looking for signs of a head injury. Has their level of response changed from earlier? Are they quieter? Are both pupils the same size or unequal, a tell-tale sign of a head injury.

E – Environment/Evacuate Are they hot or are they cold? Is the patient comfortable? Are we able to get them to safety or are we going to have to wait for help?

If a primary survey is completed and nothing life threatening is found then we can move on to treating any injuries which may be causing pain or discomfort to the patient. Obviously I cannot cover how to treat every eventuality in depth which is why I urge you again to enrol on a suitable course.

The majority of injuries you will possibly see are going to fall into the minor trauma category. Cuts, sprains, strains, fractures and dislocations. These will be covered in the next issue.

Take care, stay safe,

Gordon Gordon Ingram is a paramedic with experience and knowledge of pre-hospital care in remote areas. He has been involved in surfing for over 15 years, being sponsored by Rusty in his younger years; he was Senior Instructor at both Harlyn Surf School and with Saltwater Training in the UK.

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DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +97142839392 Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +97143253595; Ibn Battuta Mall: +9714368 5344; Mall of the Emirates: +9714341 3251; Mirdif City Centre: +97142843034 InterSport, Dubai, Times Square Centre and Dubai Festival City, +97142066587, www.intersport.ae Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping centres, +97143504444, www.sunandsandsports.com

Adventure tours and desert safaris

MMI Travel, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata Travel Centre, Shk Zayed Road, Dubai, +97144045888, www.mmitravel.ae Alpha Tours, +97142949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Oman, +96824400873, www.bikeandhikeoman.com Cyclone Tours & Travels, Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Street, +97126276275, www.cyclonetours.com Dadabhai Travel, Sama Bldg. next to Al Mulla Plaza, Dubai-Sharjah Road, Dubai, +97142209393,www.dadabhaitravel.ae Desert Rangers, Dubai, +97143572200, www.desertrangers.com Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +97142959429, twww.arabiantours.com Dream Days, +97144329392, www.dreamdays.ae Dream Explorer LLC, Dubai, +971433198801, www.dreamexplorerdubai.com Dubai Relax Travel, Dubai, +97144221776, www.dubairelaxtours.com Element Fitness, Dubai, +971502771317, www.element-fitness.net Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai, +97142861991, www.explorertours.ae, Gulf for Good, Dubai, +97143680222, www.gulf4good.org Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre +97144045880, www.gulfventures.com Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, +97126794656, www.netgroupauh.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +97142628889, www.opdubai.com Rahhalah, Dubai, +97144472166,

www.rahhalah.com Relax Tours Travels, Dubai, +97144221776, www.dubairelaxtours.com Wild Guanabana, Dubai, +971567954954, www.wildguanabana.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, & Adventure Club, +971504920860, mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com

Air

Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai, +97142854949, www.ballooning.ae Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +9716139859, www.jac-uae.net Seawings, Dubai, www.seawings.com Sky Dive Dubai, Dubai, +971501533222, www.skydivedubai.ae

Boating & Sailing

Manufacturer Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz, +97143235181, www.alfajermarine.com Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +97167436443, www.alshaalimarine.com Alyousuf Industrial, LLC, +97143474111, www.aym.ae, yamboats@alyousuf.com Gulf Craft, Ajman, +97167406060, www.gulfcraftinc.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam, +97172682333/+971504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1 office # 3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com Distributors and Dealers Art Marine, Dubai, +97143388955, www.artmarine.net Azure Marine, Dubai, +97143404343, www.azuremarine.net Leisure Marine Beach Street, Dubai, The Walk JBR, +97144243191 Luxury Sea Boats, Dubai, +971505589319, www.luxuryseaboats.com Macky Marine LLC, Dubai, +971505518317, www.mackymarine.com Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +97165576818, www.nautilusyachts.com UAE Boats 4 Sale, Dubai Marina, +97144471501, www.uaeboats4sale.com Western Marine, Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +97143039744 The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +97143405152, www.theboathouse.ae Equipment Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Deira, Dubai, +97142263220 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143808616/+971553899995, info@bluewatersmarine.com, www.bluewatersmarine.com Extreme Marine, Dubai, +97143992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +97155 9299111, +97142828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Dubai, Al Quoz, +97143391512, www.rinehemiratesme.com Repairs and Maintenance Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +97143992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1, Al Quoz, +97143391512, info@rinehemiratesme.com, www.rinehemirates.com SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971501405058, info@snsmarine.ae, www.snsmarine.ae The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +97143405152, www.theboathouse.ae Cruise Operators 4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae

Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi, +97126665491, www.marinaalbateenresort.com Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba, Musandam, +96826836550, +97165441232 Leisure Marine Beach Street, TheWalk JBR, Dubai, +97144243191 Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite the British Embassy, +97143994994 Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina, +97144309941, www.bristol-middleeast.com Captain Tony’s, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +97126507175, www.captaintonys.ae Delma Industrial Supply and Marine Services, Al Bateen Jetty, Abu Dhabi, +97126668153, www.delmamarine.net Eden Yachting, Dubai Marina, +971504586171, www.edenyachting.com Emirates Yachting, Dubai, +97142826683 El Mundo, Dubai, +971505517406, www.elmundodubai.com Four Star Travel and Tourism, Dubai, +9714 2737779, www.fourstartravels.net Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +97192449888, www.rotana.com Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971558961276, +971503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225, Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143437734, www.jpsyachts.com Khasab Divers, Oman, +97156 7255889, khasab.diver2@gmail.com Khour Shem Tourism, Oman, +96826731919, www.khourshemtours.com LY Catamaran, Dubai, +971505869746, +971566506683, www.lycatamaran.com Marine Concept, Dubai, +971559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com Nautica1992, Dubai, +971504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +97126503600, www.noukhada.ae RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton Marina, +971504912696, +97172066410 Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats Rental, Dubai Marina, +97142951011 Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Smoke Dragon Of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi International Marine & Sports Club, +971507011958/+971504546617 Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +97142573084 The Club, Abu Dhabi, +97126731111, www.the-club.com The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk – opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel Marina, +8008044, www.theyellowboats.com Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours, PO Box 411, Khasab, Musandam, +968 93350703, info@tourkhasab.com Marinas Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater, +97126815566, www.adimsc.com Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area, +97126440300 Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam +971 7 2682333 or +971 50 4873185 www.aljeerport.ae Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman, +968 2453 4554, www.almoujmarina.com Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai, +971 4 380 1234, www.dubaigolf.com Dubai International Marine Sports Club, Dubai Marina, +97143995777, www.dimc.ae Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +97143627900, www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina, Dubai, +97143455545 Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai, +97143941669, www.dosc.ae Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi,

+97143388955 Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar, +97444948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com Fujairah International Marine Club, Fujairah, +97192221166, www.fimc.ae Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina, Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +97126666888, www.intercontinental.com Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +9714814 5555/5029, www.jebelali-international.com Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar, +9745584 3282, www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman, +96824737286 (ext 215), www.marinaoman.net Pavilion Marina, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +97144068800 The Pearl–Qatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar, +9744965801, www.ronauticame.com Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club, Umm Al Quwaim, +97167666644, www.uaqmarineclub.com Dragon Boat Groups Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating, Dubai+971508795645 (Michael), www.dubaidawnpatrol.org Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, pier next to 360, Dubai, +971501547175 (Nick Hando), www.dubai-diggers.com UAE Dragon Boat Association, +971507634008 (Jason), www.dubaidragonboat.com

Camping & Hiking

Equipment Blingmytruck.com, +971505548255, www.blingmytruck.com Jack Wolfskin, Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +97142840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, +97124437802 Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143951113 Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink, The Dubai Mall, +97143398801 Gulf Camping, Dubai, U.A.E, support@gulfcamping.com Tour Operators Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +97143459900, www.adventure.ae Libra, +971559228362, www.libra-uae.com Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +97143480214, www.mountainhighme.com Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba, +97150336046, www.sheesabeach.com Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +97142959428, www.arabiatours.com

OUTDOORUAE

63

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Caving

Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +96824543002, www.holiday-in-oman.com Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +97143480214, www.mountainhighme.com Oman World Tourism, Oman, +96899431333, www.omanworldtourism.com

info@adventure.ae Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome www.cyclechallenge.ae Dubai Roadsters, www.dubairoadsters.com

Climbing

Diving

Equipment Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +97148829361, www.globalclimbing.com Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +97143466558, www.barracudadubai.com Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +97142840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi +97124437802 Services Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +97143459900, www.adventure.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +97126429995, www.alshaheenme.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, +97143065061, www.climbingdubai.com E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +97142824540, www.esportsuae.com The Club, Abu Dhabi, +97126731111, www.the-club.com Information UAE Climbing, +971506456491, www.uaeclimbing.com

Mountain Biking & Cycling

Equipment/Dealers Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +97143415415, www.cyclesportsuae.com Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor, C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, info@funridesports.com, www.funridesports.com Micah’s Bike Shop, Warehouse no.4 6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +97143805228 Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1, +97143255705, www.probike.ae Rage Shop, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City, +97143369007, www.rage-shop.com Ride Bike Shop, Dubai Mall, Festival City, Oasis Centre, Mirdif City Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143750231, www.ridebikeshop.com Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +97143697441, www.rcdxb.com Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road & Jebel Ali, Dubai, + 97143388644 Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, +97126222525, www.tamreensports.com The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai, +971505528872, www.thecyclehub.com Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 4 508 1202, +971 55 609 6757, www.trikkeme.net, info@trikkeme.net Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +97148327377, www.trekbikes.ae Fun Ride Sports, Rm no. 4, Mezzanine floor, C-13 bldg. Khalifa A City, Abu Dhabi, +97125566113, www.funridesports.com Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Dubai, +97143413056/+97143308023 Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97143394453, www.wbs.ae Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE, 052 622 1888, products@allbikers.net Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +97143459900, +971506259165, www.adventure.ae,

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +97142894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97143468000, Dubai www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Blue Waters Marine, +97142232189, Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi, +97126710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi, Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +97126665226, www.premiers-uae.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +9714 3444468 Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +97192388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai, +97143414940, info@scubadubai.com Diving Centres 7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan, +97192387400, www.7seasdivers.com Al Boom Diving (equipment), Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, + 97143422993, www.alboomdiving.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam, +97172682333, www.aljeerport.ae Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St across from main bus terminal, +97126437377, info@divemahara.com, www.divemahara.com Al Marsa Musandam, Dibba Harbour, Musandam, Oman, +968 26 836550, www.almarsamusandam.com Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah, +97172226628, +971502428128 www.arabiandiver.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Coastal Technical Divers, glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com, www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com Deep Blue Sea Diving, Dubai, International City, +97144308246, www.diveindubai.com Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +97128015400, www.divemahara.com Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, +97192370299, www.diversdown-uae.com Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi, near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444, www.edc-ad.ae Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman, +96895035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam, +96826735555, www.extradivers.info Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba, Royal Beach Hotel, +97143944275, www.freestyledivers.com Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +97192449888, www.rotana.com Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation Club, Oman, +96899317518, www.global-scuba.com Khasab Divers, Oman, www.khasabdiver.com Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +97192449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Moonlight Dive Center, Madinat Qaboos, Oman,

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +97150 3289642, www.holiday-in-oman.com Neptune Diving, +97150 4347902, www.neptunedivingcentre.com Nomad Ocean Adventures, www.discovernomad.com, +971508853238, Dibba, Oman Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman, +96824284240, www.omadivecenter.com Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +97144068828 Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +97192388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba Oman, Oman, +96899558488, www.scubaoman.com Scuba UAE.com, +971502053922, www.scubauae.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +97150 784 0830, www.bsac406.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Sky &Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +97143999005, www.watersportsdubai.com The Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +97144068828 The Dive Shop, 34G, European Center, Green Community, Dubai, UAE, +97148135474, www.thediveshopdubai.com Clubs Atlantis Underwater Photography Club, Dubai, +97144263000 Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai, www.desertsportsdivingclub.net Emirates Diving Association, Diving Village, Al Shindagha, Dubai, +97143939390, www.emiratesdiving.com Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC), Dubai, UAE, +971 56 6952421, www.thefilipinoscubadivers.com Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971507840830, www.bsac406.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +97142894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +97143390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +9714 3444468 Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143808616/+971553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97143468000,

New rates for 2014 Single visit 80 aed 10 visit pass: 500 Summer Sizzler 1 May to 30 Sept (5 months) 1,500 Courses starting in May for beginners and intermediate facebook.com.rock.republic.dubai or info@globalclimbing.com 04 88 29 361

The Beach-JBR, Dubai | Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi

RENT ADVENTURE GEAR | BIKE WORKSHOP | DELIVERY AVAILABLE | IN-STORE ADVENTURES

DUBAI Times Square Center | Tel No.: +971 4 346 6824 The Beach, JBR | Tel No.: +971 4 430 4419 ABU DHABI Dalma Mall | Tel No.: +971 2 445 6995 info@adventurehq.ae | www.adventurehq.ae

www.masaoodmarine.com Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +97143466558, www.barracudadubai.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +97148829361, www.globalclimbing.com Leisure Marine Beach Hut, The Walk JBR, Dubai, +97144243191, www.leisuremarine-me.com Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971502898713, www.oceanactive.com Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, 056 1060798, contactus@challengingadventure.com Al Kashat, Shop No. 14, Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar, +974 44 175950, www.alkashatqatar.com Operators Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah, +97143422993 Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +97143459900, www.adventure.ae Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +97172434540, www.alhamramarina.com Al Mahara Dive Center, Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971501118125, www.divemahara.com Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +97126429995, www.alshaheenme.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing (Al Wasl Passenger Yachts and Boats Rental LLC), Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai, +97142394761, www.cruiseindubai.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah International Marine Club, +9719222558 Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi,+97126594144 Captain Tony’s, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +97126507175, www.captaintonys.ae Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai, +97153244550, www.funbeachsports.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971558961276, +971503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +97126811900 Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +97192449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +97126503600, www.noukhada.ae Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971502898713, www.oceanactive.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +97142573084, www.summertimemarine.comz

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Soolyman Sports Fishing, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971508866227, www.soolymansportsfishing.com Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +97144327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking Club, mohamed.almahrouky@gmail.com Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers’ Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai, +971554986280, www.dskc.hu

General Sports Equipment Distributors

800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai +971 4 346 7751 www.800sport.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Flip Flop Arabia, flipme@flipfloparabia.com, www.flipfloparabia.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai +97148829361, www.globalclimbing.com Goal Zero, +971509128353, www.goalzero.ae Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +97142840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi +97144437802 Ocean Sports FZE, +971559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Sakeen General Trading, +97147094224, www.sakeen.ae Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE, +97142896001, +97142896002, info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae Tresspass, The Dubai Mall 2nd floor above ice rink, +971 4 339 8801

Horse Riding

Equipment Al Asifa Horse Equestrian & Requisites Trading, Al Khawaneej 1, Dubai, +971554733110, www.asifa.ae Black Horse LLC, Abu Dhabi, +97126422237, www.blackhorseuae.com Bonjour Equestrian Supplies, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai, UAE, +97142896001, +97142896002, info@bonjourequestrian.com, www.bonjourequestrian.com Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies, 16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, +9172 2222433, www.cavalosuae.com Emirta Horse Requirement Centre, Sheik Zayed Rd, Dubai, +9714 3437475, www.emirtahorse.com Horse & Carriage Equestrian Equipment LLC, Dubai, +97142895069, www.horseandcarriageuae.com Mirzan Equestrian Equipment, Dubai, +971 4 4472808, www.metdubaihorse.com Equestrian Clubs/Centres Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +97124455500, www.adec-web.com Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street, Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +97142988408, www.alahliclub.info Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +97125568555, www.alforsan.com Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai International Endurance City, Dubai, +971505995866, info@aljiyad.com, www.aljiyad.com Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +97144274055, equestrian.centre@alsahra.com Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai, +971508879847, www.dubaipoloacademy.com Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, Arabian Ranches, +97143618111, www.poloclubdubai.com Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai, +971503099770, +971501978888 Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai, +97143238010, www.desertpalm.peraquum.com Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +971505587656,

www.emiratesequestriancentre.com Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +97125629050, www.grpc.ae Golden Stables Equestrian Club, Al Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri) +971555528182, www.goldenstables.ae HoofbeatZ, located just inside the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, +971501810401, www.hoofbeatz.com Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club, Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai, +97142571256, www.mushrifec.com Qudraland Community, info@qudraland.com, www.qudraland.com Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area, Abu Dhabi, +971566127914, www.rahalranch.com Riding for the Disabled, Dubai, lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae, Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road, +97165311188, www.serc.ae Racecourses Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +97124455500, www.adec-web.com Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +97125629050, www.grpc.ae Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road) beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, +97143474914 Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +97143270000, www.meydan.ae Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah, +97165311155, www.serc.ae Equine Hospitals/Clinics Dubai Equine Hospital, behind World Trade Center, Zabeel 2, Dubai, +97143178888, www.dubaiequine.ae Gulf Vetcare, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, +971508617590, www.gulfvetcare.com Sharjah Equine Hospital, Bridge No. 6, Al Dhaid Road, next to Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Center, Sharjah, +97165311881, www.seh.ae Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, next to Dubai Equestrian Hospital, Zabeel 2, Dubai, +97143375165, www.cvrl.ae

Jet Ski

Dealers Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97143468000, www. masaoodmarine.com Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +97155 9299111, +97142828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97143419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +97143390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Rentalst Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai, +971 5 3244 550, www.funbeachsports.com The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, +9717206000, www.rotana.com Xventures, Dubai, +971555404500, www.x-ventures.ae Regal Promotions, Level 14,Boulevard Plaza Tower 1, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. Downtown Dubai, PO Box 334036 Dubai, UAE, +971 4 4558570, info@regalproms.com

Motocross & ATV’s

Dealers Al Badayer Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, +971507842020, www.albadayerrental.com Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor, +97143200009, sales@alshaalimoto.com. www.alshaalimoto.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +97143390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +9714323151, www.ktm.com Golden Desert Motorcycles Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971551532550, www.goldendesert-dubai.com

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Polaris UAE (atv’s), Ras Al Khor, Nad al Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai, +97142896100, M4, Sector 13, 10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +97125555144, www.polarisuae.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, 04-3419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental), Al Quoz, Dubai, +97143470270, www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 Dubai, +97143393399, www.sebsports.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai, +97148321050, www. wildx.ae Equipment Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +97142959429, www.arabiantours.com 2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai, +97144548388, www.2xwheeler.com Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental), Al Quoz, Dubai, +97143470270, www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, +97143393399, www.sebsports.com Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial Area, +97142852200, www. wildx.ae

Motorcycling

Distributors and Dealers Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, www.aym.ae/yamaha Ducati, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +97125535771, info2@ducati.ae, www.ducati.ae Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz, +97143476712, www.dusejamoto.com Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +97125540667, hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae, www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97142822144, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex, Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor, +97142896100, www.polarisuae.com Tristar Motorcycles, +97143330659, www.tristaruae.com Workshops and Services 2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai, +97144548388, www.alainraceway.com Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +97125568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +97143678700 www.dubaiautodrome.com Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain, +97167681717 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Off-Road

Dealers 4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai, +97143384866, www.4x4motors.com Bling My Truck, +971503634839/+971505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 8005423789, www.libertyautos.com Repairs and Services Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz, +97143392449, www.offroad-zone.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +97143382744, www.icon-auto.com Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +97143476939 www.salukimotorsport.com Equipment Advanced Expedition Vehicles, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +97143307152, www.aev.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +97143390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Bling My Truck, +971503634839/+971505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +97143382744, www.icon-auto.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +97148321050, www.wildx.ae Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times Square Center, Dubai, +97142898060, www.yellowhat.ae

Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 56 7231967, www.heartlanduae.com Tour Operators Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +97142959429, www.arabiantours.com Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +97143034888, www.arabian-adventures.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +97142628889, www.opdubai.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club, www.ad4x4.com ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club, +971507665522, www.almost4x4.com ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club, suffian.omar@yahoo.com, www.jk-funclub.com Dubai Offroaders, www.dubaioffroaders.com

Running

Clubs ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi, www.abudhabitriclub.org Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi, +971504188978, alainroadrunners@yahoo.co.uk Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info Abu Dhabi Striders, admin@abudhabistriders.com, www.abudhabistriders.com Dubai Creek Striders www.dubaicreekstriders.org

OUTDOORUAE

65

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 4 2894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +97143468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Picnico +97143941653 Jumeirah Beach Road Opposite Sunset Mall, Dubai Pearl Water Crafts, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, +971553749398, www.pearl-watercrafts.com Surf Dubai, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971505043020, www.surfingdubai.com Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai, +97143791998, www.surfshoparabia.com UAE Kite Surfing, +971505626383, www.ad-kitesurfing.net Ikönic Brands, Suite 509 Düsseldorf Business Point Al Barsha Dubai, UAE +971 50 687 4178, info@ikonicbrands.com Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3 +971 50 558 6190, info@kitesurfdubai.ae, www.kitesurfdubai.ae Distributors Ocean Sports FZE, +971559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store,

International City, Dubai, +971504559098, www.kitepeople.ae Operators Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +97125568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Kite Surf School, Dubai, Umm Suqeim Beach, +971 504965107, www.dubaikitesurfschool.com Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, +971508703427, www.ducomaritime.com Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,+971507586992, www.dukite.com Kite Fly, Dubai, +971502547440, www.kitesurf.ae Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi, +971505441494, wwww.kitepro.ae Kite4fun.net, Abu Dhabi, +971508133134, www.kite4fun.net Nautica1992, Dubai, +971504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim Dubai, +971507689226, astrid@shamalkitesurfing. com, www.shmalkitesurfing.com Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +97143999005, www.watersportsdubai.com Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,+971556010997, www.surfschooluae.com Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Dubai, +97148876771, www.watercooleddubai.com

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ONLINE DIRECTORY Do you have a business related to outdoor activities, sports, lifestyle or travel? Or are you an active club or social group who is looking for new members? Then list your businesses, clubs or groups with us.

The listing should give all people interested with the outdoors a good overview of what is offered in the UAE, easy access to contact details and a reliable location map.

To ensure that all entries are genuine and complete, we review any listing before it will be posted online. We also review all entries on a quarterly basis, to keep the directory up to date.

MAY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Water Cooled, Watercooled Sports Services LLC, Hilton Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 2 6395997, www.watercooleduae.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle, www.abudhabisup.com, abudhabisup@gmail.com UAE SUP www.uaesup.com

Water Parks

Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, +97144260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain, Emirates Road, +97167681888, www.dreamlanduae.com Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, +97137818422, www.wadiadventure.ae Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai, +97143484444, www.wildwadi.com

Other leisure activities

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, + 97125588990, www.adgolfclub.com Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah, +9716743 1122, +97144370505, www.tamimistables.com Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971556101841, www.blokartme.com Children’s City, Creek Park Gate No.1, Dubai, +97143340808, www.childrencity.ae Dolphin Bay Atlantis Dubai, +97144260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate No. 1, +97143369773,

www.dubaidolphinarium.ae iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +97142316292, www.iflyme.com Sadiyaat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, +97125578000, www.sbgolfclub.ae Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah, +97143999005, www.golfandshootingshj.com SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of The Emirates, +97144094000, www.skidxb.com Spacewalk Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, +97124463653, www.spacewalk.ae

Health, Safety & Training

Safety Lessons Marine Concept Yacht Charter & Sea School, Rania Business Centre, Dubai, +971559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com Safety & Leisure Training Middle East, Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +97144502418, www.sltme.com Sport and Health Centres Bespoke Wellness, Dubai, +971553724670, info@bespoke-wellness.com, www.bespoke-wellness.com The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, +97144370570, www.physiocentre.ae Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +9712406 9404, info@originalfitnessco.com, www.originalfitnessco.com Orthosports, 5B Street, Jumeira Beach road, Dubai, +9714355060, www.orthosp.com

Integrated Tie-down points Extremely low heat absorption Lightweight, hygienic & easy to clean Strong ABS latches with stainless steel fixing screws Integrated polyethylene feet & large diameter drain plug Strong, ergonomic polyethylene handles ( WCI-42 and up) largest service network Thick polyurethane refrigeration grade foam insulation Designed for optimal performance/weight/volume balance Strong, seamless, UV stabilised/food grade polyethylene CFC free construction

www.waeco.ae – info@waeco.ae Available at