OutdoorUAE - July 2014 by OutdoorUAE

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The wonders of Socotra Mountain high

Cortina d’Ampezzo

The Honey Badger

in Africa

Bhutan International Half Marathon

Interview with BMX star

Adam Kun

Plenty of

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Issue 43, July 2014

Available at: Go Sport The Dubai Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi, Adventure HQ in Times Square mall in Dubai and Dalma mall in Abu Dhabi. Qatar Doha: Go Sport in Villaggio Mall, Doha City Centre Mall

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

On the cover: Socotra, Yemen Photo by: Pavel Bafeel 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 Galadari Printing & Publishing LLC P.O. Box: 11243, Dubai, UAE

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Ramadan Kareem This is a holy month of awareness and respect for religious and cultural sensitivities. Active individuals here face some challenges during Ramadan, where in the temperatures rises to the 40s. Acute starvation and dehydration are obstacles to physical performance and should be tackled in a daily basis, but you should still follow the rules. There are disciplines on maintaining fitness during this month. Minimise playing extreme sports and intense exercises during the day, especially under extreme heat. According to experts, the best time to do activities is either early in the morning or at sun down. It is better that the level of exercise or sports should be moderate. Fluid intake, when you are allowed, is important. Doing exercises or playing sports in general, especially during Ramadan, need not prevent proper nutrition, supplementation and exercise. Yes, it will be a challenge and requires both discipline and moderation, but that is part of the whole process. As they say, respect is a two-way street. To earn respect, we must show respect.

Jane

Ramadan Kareem + +

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!

Jane Mesina Administration jane@outdooruae.com

Glaiza Seguia-Godinez Editor glaiza@outdooruae.com

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EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing linda@outdooruae.com

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

Tori Leckie Writer, runner, blogger and adventurer

Eulogy van Dyk Outdoor loving Qatar explorer

Sean James Mountaineering and MTBing expert

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

Mike Nott The 4x4 expert

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 22 CORTINA D’AMPEZZO

EVERY ISSUE

29 FREEDIVING

05 BEST SHOTS 06 EVENTS CALENDAR 27 LIFESTYLE 30 PRODUCTS 48 PEOPLE 59 DIRECTORY

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS 08 BHUTAN HALF MARATHON 12 WOMEN AND MOUNTAIN BIKING 14 DUBAI PARAGLIDERS

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE 26 ARCTIC CLIMB 30 HONEY BADGER DIARIES 50 SOCOTRA, YEMEN

44 PREPARING FOR THE ADDC

48 CHAT WITH ADAM KUN

LIFESTYLE 27 HABITUALLY HEALTHY 28 CROSSFIT

OUR EXPERTS 38 KOH SAMUI – TORI 40 QATAR EXPLORER- EULOGY

TIPS + TRICKS 55 PICNIC SEABREAM – KIT 56 MOBILE APPS 58 DROWNING – GORDON 4

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50 HIKING SPOT

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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 three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear and five free copies of the magazine: Beerta, Brendan Moloney and Mike Jobling. Well done! To submit your entries, simply email us at competitions@outdooruae.com with the subject “Best Shots.”

Beerta Maini

WINNER!

Water rocket man in Abu Dhabi.

Brendan Moloney

WINNER!

Dubai Trail Runners group running out at Showka Wadi.

Mike Jobling Let’s roll.

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

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

Ramadan Motorsports Festival

July 4 to July 25th, starts from 9:00pm, Oman Automobile Association ground, Oman Summer just got hotter with these exhilarating motorsports challenges. The Oman Automobile Association is hosting a series of events throughout July including the Ramadan SWS Karting Challenge, Drift Challenge and Rallly Super Stage. For more details, contact info@omanauto.org, +968 24 510 630 or visit www.facebook.com/OmanAutomobileAssociation.

Dubai Kartdrome Ramadan Challenge July 7 to July 21, Dubai Kartdrome

The traditional Ramadan Challenge at Dubai Kartdrome is back with four rounds held on Monday evenings with some interesting new elements added. The best of UAE’s karting drivers will be out in force to battle it on out the tracks. For more information, contact karting@dubaiautodrome.com or call 04 3678700.

Summer Camp for Kids

July 13 to 14, 7:30am to 1:30pm, Sunset Beach Keep the kids active and happy this summer with a combination of indoor and outdoor camp. It consists of a unique program three days per week with activities like paddling sessions, dancing and games that will keep the kids excited and challenged. Suitable for ages eight to 12. For details, email info@capella-club.com or call 04 4526000.

TrainYas by Activelife

Every Tuesday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Yas Marina Circuit Abu Dhabi Runners, cyclists, or even walkers who just want to take a stroll with family and friends are invited to join the weekly TrainYAS by Activelife and sweat it out on the Formula 1® track. Open to all fitness levels and speeds, the Yas Marina Circuit offers a safe and friendly training ground. 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.

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NEWS + COMMUNITY

Climbing and National Governing awards in Qatar Words By: Garreth Stockton

There is climbing in Qatar, albeit rather limited but there are delights to be enjoyed in Fuwairit, Zekreet and the unusual Musfer sinkhole. Beyond this, there is a number of climbing walls and some of these are in schools, shopping centers or the Aspire Park. Climbing is an adventurous activity, and as such has its own representative body within each home country. In that way it is no different to sailing, kayaking or mountain biking. It is those governing bodies which define the level of experience and skills necessary to instruct or coach in those environments. Gaining a National Governing Award in any adventurous or outdoor activity is the standard to which providers in the public and private sectors strive for. After all, those bodies represent a wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated by people employed in those industries for years. Within the UK, this is the British Mountaineering Council - through Mountain Training UK. There are a number of schemes to train and skills assessment required to supervise climbers on purpose-built climbing walls and structures. These vary from the Climbing Wall Award, the Climbing Wall Lead Award, the Single Pitch Award and then the Mountain Instructor Award and Certificate. Prior to assessment, candidates must have completed training or successfully apply for exemption. Following this they must have six months climbing experience and have climbed at three climbing walls, one of which must be a large commercial centre. Before applying candidates must have: lead at least 40 routes, and be able to comfortably climb Fr4 (French grade 4); gained a minimum of 15 hours of group Paul Smith talks to candidates

Coaching methods

Cutty Shark F6b, Fuwairit

management skills and hold a valid first aid certificate. During May, Paul Smith, a holder of the Mountain Instructor Award visited AKIS, assessed three staff and one student against those standards. This is a significant development as this is the first time that the Climbing Wall Award has been assessed outside of the UK. The problem here is that there is an absence of walls. Other applications have been refused in other Gulf states, because it is necessary to

Interstellar Flight F7a+ Musfer Sink Hole

be assessed on a wall which you have not been trained at. Partnership agreements between Aspire Academy, Qatar Leadership Academy and Al Khor International School have enabled this to be possible. With over 1,100 members in the Doha Climbers Facebook page, the demand and interest in all forms of climbing is healthy and alive here in Qatar. The benefits in terms of health, personal fitness, team building, leadership development and communication are numerous. Across Europe, North America, Australia and Southeast Asia there has been a significant increase in all styles of indoor climbing facilities, and Qatar has the potential to join this exciting lifestyle change with the right patronage. Involvement from Mountain Training UK is certainly welcome, and there is the further chance that a Desert Walking Leader Award could be a viable option in the future.

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EVENT REPORT

Gross National Happiness Running Bhutan’s Himalayan Kingdom Half Marathon, May 2014

Words By: Andrew Hudson

The day dawns gently over the Paro Valley as I stretch and peer out over the valley from the chalet amongst the pines. Below me the expanse of rice paddyfields and small farms watered by the Paro Chhu River slowly comes to life. The light strengthens and, while the valley turns a variety of green hues in response, the pre-monsoon drizzle drops dully off the pine trees onto the pine cushion carpet outside my window. The pine needles smell fresh and invigorating in this early morning hour. Across the valley ethereal wisps of cloud caress the pine-covered Himalayan foothills and draw a brief curtain across the buttressed walls of the Paro Dzong, the fort monastery and administrative centre of this peaceful agricultural community. This idyllic visage is, however, not the reason for my early rise.

Ascent

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Start line ceremony

I am awake because I am in Bhutan’s mountain kingdom, a small landlocked country in South Asia located at the eastern end of the Himalayas, approximately 255km east of Mount Everest; bordered to the north by Tibet and to the south, east and west by India. I am awake at this early hour because I am running the Himalayan Kingdom Half Marathon today in a country where gross national happiness – a core Buddhist value – is a counterpoint to gross national product; where economic growth is a means to achieve more important ends such as cultural heritage, health, education, good governance, ecological diversity and individual wellbeing. And, with calf and upper leg muscles still somewhat stiff from a climb to the prayer flag festooned Taktshang Goemba or Tiger’s Nest Monastery at 10,000ft above sea level in Paro’s vicinity two days ago, I approach the start line to witness the unique yet simple and evocative Buddhist ceremony to bless the race. As the countdown commences all the advice and information I have gleaned to date flitters through my mind until, all of a sudden, I become focused, and we are off into the early morning.

Running at 8,000ft above sea level is somewhat unusual; running at this altitude for the first time is even more so. I listen to my own derived advice and start off slowly. My heart beats strongly and my breath is short as I try to find my rhythm. Walk, run, walk, run for the first few kilometres and then through a narrow rocky path before I break free onto a stony country road. At last, I have some rhythm now. On my right the Paro Chhu River, swollen from the overnight rains, warbles over the rounded river stones – all descendants of the great rocks and crags that thrust Tiger’s Nest Monastery

heavenwards into the Himalayan sky. On my left is an irrigation canal and homesteads, with resident dogs cuddled up against the chill, children in the national dress on their way to school, and farming families toiling in the paddies. The kilometres pass by and I have settled down. But running at this altitude is hard work. I pass a few runners and we exchange friendly greetings and words of encouragement. Then, at around the 10km mark it starts to rain and with supporters cheering us on at the water point we turn away from the urbanised centre of the Paro Valley and progress up a gentle ascent behind which the upper reaches are white from the previous evening’s snowfall. The road becomes somewhat stony now and more care must be exercised over the surface. I reach the fourteenand-a-half kilometre mark at 7,545ft, feeling strong ahead of the four kilometre climb to the highest point of the race.

I am part of a group of runners and our progress ebbs and flows as we come to the realisation that this is a serious, serious climb. Walk, run, walk, run as the route continues to ascend, leaving the tarred surface behind until even the dust surfaced road gives way to what can best be described as a basic trekking path. The narrow path ascends past irrigation furrows then alongside a fence until it winds through thick brush and the ever-present pines. Upwards, ever upwards and, just as I thought it would level off far above the Paro Dzong, the path edges upwards once again. My calf muscles are threatening to seize up on me now as I coax myself ever upwards until the gradient eventually tempers and I have crested the hill at 8,313ft. I rapidly realise that with just over two kilometres to go there is little likelihood of a swift descent. The track is very narrow,

without any camber and at one point it runs dangerously close to barbed wire fencing, while at other points the descent to the valley below on my right is best described as cliff-like. A missed footing, or a wrong turn and one could end up far from the designated route within seconds. I hear the footfalls of a fellow runner behind me and listen to the question that is on every runner’s mind as we descend to the valley floor: “When will this punishing bush path end?”“Focus, take one step at a time and the descent will inevitably end,” I reply as we pass the route markers and check points with leg muscles straining against the pull of gravity. And then, almost unexpectedly, I burst out of the bush onto a tarred road at the 20 kilometre mark and utter a primeval cry of joy, knowing that the end is near. My fellow runner passes me and down the road I go, switchbacks and wet surface and all until race officials, well-wishers and finishers clap me across the finish line. I have conquered the altitude, the notorious hill and my tired calf muscles. But, more importantly, I have once again conquered myself, as our greatest victories are always over ourselves. What a feeling of euphoria and accomplishment! The Himalayan Kingdom Half Marathon is tough but every finisher knows full well that they have been tried and tested and that they have overcome the adversity. After all, isn’t this why we run? River crossing

38m Buddha above Thimpu

ACTIVITY REPORT

Summer friendship in UAE

Words By: Stephen Turner Photos By: Stephen Turner, Margaret Rafferty and Charo Abano

“Drrinngg” goes the alarm at

3:15am. Going to bed at 12:15am to arise three hours later is not to be recommended. Lee Harris at Dubai Trail Runners efficiently organises trail runs at Showka every Friday and Saturday morning for groups of very friendly 12 to 25 like-minded souls. Early starts are essential at this time of year, and the 25°C (instead of 33°C in Dubai) experienced on a recent June Friday morning made for a very pleasant run along the jeep tracks and wadis with 20km or 30km options. One June weekend, we decided to run both mornings. An evening meal with friends on a Friday led to a late(ish) night, so come Saturday morning we departed to go running just as we saw revellers emptying out of the Tecom metro station and stumbling their way home after an energetic night of clubbing. Arriving at 4:45 at an ADNOC petrol station just short of the agreed dam starting point, we filled up with fuel and coffee. On returning to the car the engine failed to start, a flat battery was suspected. Flat? We’d just been driving for over 60 minutes, it should be charged. Hmmm. Quick text to runners en route to the dam hoping they might stop elicited no response. A dead area. The expat community is strong and a MTB friend coincidentally drove up with his wife. “Any jump leads?” No. Go into shop. None for sale. A petrol attendant strolls up. “Need cables.” He returns to the shop and produces some booster cables. The shop assistant thought I’d asked for “charcoal” not

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“charging cables.” Oh well. Delighted that the garage sold us some, we hoped to be trail running very soon. We linked our two cars and ran the engines for ten minutes. The engine still doesn’t start, the battery not accepting a charge. Two charming and polite 21-year-olds appear in local clothes and offer help. We use their Land Cruiser engine, run the cables and rev up for another 10 minutes. All lights off, turn the key. Nothing. Battery is definitely kaput. The Emirati with long curly hair talks to his friend, who in his accented English very kindly offers to drive us 10km to Al Dhaid to buy a replacement. Thoughts of running are now abandoned. We arrive as the sun rose to a sleepy Al Dhaid at approximately 5:45. Nowhere is open. We need to wait till 6:00am... maybe. We are taken for coffee at a roadside café. The barista is still in his pyjamas when, after much shaking of hands, he sympathetically informs us it’s Saturday, nowhere is open till 8:00am. So we have two hours to kill. The two young Arabs are cousins and both named Saif, live in Al Dhaid and are Bedouins from the Shams tribe. They invite us to their house outside the town, and treat us to a tour of their neighbourhood – we see the palm tree farm/ cemetery/disused fruit farms abandoned owing to a drought/municipality building/wedding centre, etc. Then we go to a small forest in the desert

to see camels and smoke local tobacco. It’s stronger than normal and lit in a very small bowled pipe. We take photos and I begin to share some of my pics of our UAE hikes on my mobile. They reciprocate. Talk continues in the shade of the Toyota. Longhaired Saif had been to Europe and they pump me of my time working in USA and Scandinavia. The shorter haired Saif loves country music, especially Johnny Cash. Suddenly, after a discussion, they decide to take us dune bashing over the dunes to Fossil Rock and beyond. We get bounced and whiplashed a few times, become stuck in soft sand, and climb up and down the sand and rock hills that we usually see from the Showka road every week. It’s a riot. Brilliant fun. Far better than any touristy trip. Eventually we need to return to go shopping, but they both insist on a short trip back home. Mum has prepared a breakfast for us which we cannot decline. After a feast of local bread, cakes and fruit, washed down with Arabic coffee, it’s time to buy a battery. Of several car parts shops, only one has my battery size. Our two friends, who by now we have formed a strong relationship, begin bartering with the solo vendor and threaten to go elsewhere, beating him down to a lower price. Whereupon I realise he doesn’t take credit cards. So back we go into the town centre and find a local bank that not only takes my debit card but charges no commission. Success. Finally buying the battery, we return to my abandoned Mazda at the petrol station. Neither of them let me help, insisting they do all the work re-fitting the battery. One turn of the key and up she fires. Handshakes all round, photos with each other, emails exchanged and off we go on our separate ways. In 30 months in Dubai this is our first real interaction with local Emirati from a purely social perspective that’s not been via business and/or not having been previously introduced. They were both an absolute pleasure to spend a very hospitable morning. Generous with their time, enthusiasm and spirit. I can’t thank them enough. Their family should be very proud of them. Smile Factor: Immeasurable.

ACTIVITY REPORT

Queens of the mountain Women and mountain biking in the UAE Words + Photos By: Sean James

I don’t claim to be an expert of women and biking, but over the past month I have probably done more research and reading than most. The intention at the start of this project was to highlight mountain biking in the UAE and particularly what the women are doing here. I initially believed it would only cover a couple of pages but the project increased in scope when I discovered more and more. It is an interesting project as both the UAE and mountain biking are traditionally male-oriented. Whilst researching ideas and information, I came across statistics and initiatives both in the UAE and around the world that made me raise my eyebrows and want to extend this article. As a result, part one is an introduction and a general background whilst part two will showcase a number of women in Dubai who are regularly out in the heat and dust competing and training on their mountain bikes all over the world. A female friend of mine regularly gives motivational talks to other women. One of the facts I picked up from her that I thought amazing, was that to increase the performance of girls in classroom exams was as easy as ensuring that a female invigilator who was perceived as an expert was present. How easy is that to raise confidence and participation in a group of people? What is happening not just in the Middle East but worldwide is in a similar vein and nothing short of revolutionary. From the first ever female Afghani Cycle team, who now regularly compete in major championships to the Rapha 100 (July 20th 2014) to the equal prize money for women at the

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The Velo Vixens

Cape Epic, there is a growing movement of women who are regularly riding their bikes. It seems the best way for women to progress is to work together. In the UAE biking, both road and mountain seems to be booming. Shops, tracks, coaches and facilities are opening for business every month. We now have a Tour that attracts the top cycle teams. At the moment this is only the men. How much longer before a progressive leader here decides to stage a major women’s cycle tour in Dubai. “For the first time in US history, 60% of bicycle owners who are between the ages of 18-27, are women.” These figures are from a survey titled “The American Bicyclist Study: On the Road to 2020.” These figures are surprising and encouraging. However the survey also pointed out some other worrying information. The study also showed that in the USA, 3 million youngsters and juveniles dropped out of cycling between 2011–12, with outdoor activity rates amongst adolescent girls the lowest recorded. Despite the introduction of Title IX over 40 years ago in the US, female participation in recreational exercise seems to be dropping. This does not seem due to a lack of motivation or enthusiasm. Women only groups with imaginative names such as SheRiders, Dirt Skirts, Dame Cycling, Team Estrogen,

The Tuesday Tarts, Women on a Roll, Velo Vixens, Lady Loopers and PinkBikers are becoming more widespread and encouraging new entrants to the sport. They also seem to have a sense of humour and enjoy creating their own identity. The American study also asked what the barriers for women to taking up an outdoor activity, such as mountain biking, were. Listed among the top reasons were “not having someone to participate with” and “the feeling that they didn’t possess the necessary skills or abilities.” Biking or doing outdoor sports with organised groups, such as those below, helps to overcome these issues. Try them for yourself and see how much fun they are. One interesting statistic that I found gets a lot of discussion time on forums and particularly women’s forums is the use of Strava. Strava is an application that lets you record, track and analyse not only your times and efforts but also those of your friends on specific rides or segments of a route. It should allow greater collaboration and enable riders to seek out and ultimately ride with women of similar ability. Interestingly though, women riders only make up 10% of Strava users. Whereas, runners on Strava are split equally with 50% male and 50% female. So does this mean women are less competitive or not interested in

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statistics than men and they are only interested in riding for fun? Strava has the added bonus that if you are the fastest on a particular segment you get to be called “Queen of the Mountain” for that segment. If you are a member on Strava, follow Marianne Vos. She has so many “QoMs” that she has been called the Queen of Strava. June seemed like a very good month for female role models, Andy Murray started to work with Amelie Maurismo, Helena Costa was appointed as head soccer coach at French Ligue 2 club, Clermont. Even Formula 1 seemed to want female drivers with Danica Patrick, the first female to win an Indy car race being cited as the first ever Formula 1 driver in 2016. Hot on her heels are Simona de Silvestro and Susie Wolff who have already taken part in practice rounds. So “women and mountain biking” – things are changing. All you need to do is look and get involved. Manufacturers are making specific mountain bikes for females. The women’s clothes sections in bike shops are carefully thought out and extensive. In the UAE, females hold significant positions in many of the bike shops and coaching organisations. Online, I found at least 10 training camps across the world specifically for women who are thinking of competing or simply starting in mountain biking. To finish, a few more interesting pieces of information that I found. According to a study by Fischer and Namgung, as you would expect, men’s and women’s perceptions of safety and of the feasibility of bicycling are different. Women are more sensitive to the absence of bike lanes and trails. For this reason the well-developed trails and infrastructure in the UAE, both on and off road should be appealing. Of 710 female mountain bikers questioned, 46% said they first learned about mountain biking from a partner and 44% said a friend invited them out to ride. What can you do if you’re an experienced mountain biker? • Ask another woman to go on a ride with you. Chances are she’ll enjoy it and tell her friends • Organise a weekly or monthly ride if there is not one that you like

• Start an open, welcoming online club that focuses on women via social media (Instagram, Strava, Facebook) • Start a club that also meets socially, face to face outside of mountain biking • Talk to your local bike shop about their ideas to get more local women mountain biking What can you do if you are interested in mountain biking but fear getting started? • Ask an experienced mountain biker to take you out on the trail and say yes when they ask you to go. Refuse to say no just because you don’t think you can keep up. • Join a local woman’s ride • Find a women’s only mountain bike camp • Find a local mountain bike race and enter the beginner’s category. This is a good place to meet other women mountain bikers. • Find a local bike shop that will help you get started with the correct bike and gear The following are some of the more prominent female only cycle groups that are in the UAE. The Dirt Skirts – They came together in 2013 with the goal of empowering women to learn and practice mountain biking together. There are now more than 30 who meet at Showka and ride between 15-30km off-road. Angelika Whitaker runs the Facebook group and rides so get involved. Velo Vixens – A group of experienced female road cyclists kept under control by Emma Woodcock who claim to be positive, eager, supportive, reliable, competitive, open-minded, focused, fit women. Their regular ride around the Dubai Cycle Course at Al Qudra is on Monday mornings at The Tuesday Tarts

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05:30 in the summer. They also organise other rides and events such as the Rapha 100. On Wednesday mornings, there is a skills based clinic for ladies new to group riding or those just getting back on the bike. They have a no-drop policy on this ride so you won’t be left behind. Contact them and get more details via www.facebook.com/groups/VVDXB/. TREK Seih Al Salam Women’s Cycling Group – A relatively new group that rides from the Trek store at Al Qudra on Monday evenings. The group welcomes beginners and the distances they ride reflect that and keep everyone together. The Tuesday Tarts – A group of female cyclists led by Caroline Labouchere based at Arabian Ranches who meet every Tuesday evening at Al Qudra to ride the loop. At present David Labouchere is coaching the group so expect big performances from these ladies in the future. Other female group to get involved with in the UAE • Ladies Hiking Club. Midweek hiking in the UAE mountains led by the ever keen and experienced Helen Rodd • Dubai surf club • Women’s Football (Dubaiwfa.com) • Dubai Roller Derby Addicts • GoYAS by Activelife (every Wednesday for women only) • Rapha 100 - Global event on 20th July 100km rides • Afghan Cycles - inspirational trailer about women’s cycling in Afghanistan (vimeo. com/79696482) Next month, meet the women who are pioneering mountain biking in the region and competing in races worldwide.

EVENT REPORT

Dubai Paragliders Landing in Abha, Saudi Arabia

Words By: Tony Terry Photos By: Laszlo Toth

In the sport of paragliding, a safe landing is considered a good one. With this in mind our group of four Dubai Paragliders took the opportunity to test our landing skills in the 2014 Asser International Competition for Paragliding Accuracy held in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Our group of four was headed by Laszlo Toth, a flyer since 1982 who serves as both our paragliding instructor and guide to the best sites to practice the sport. The team consisted of Laszlo’s 20-year-old son Daniel, a flyer with exceptional ability and experience, Carl Bailey an avid outdoors enthusiast with about a year’s experience

and me, the most novice of the group. The competition was scheduled for three days, June 20th to 22nd. After our flight to Jeddah, we travelled the remaining 650km by car, an opportunity to see Saudi Arabia and experience the challenges of driving their highways. In all, we travelled from Dubai, elevation zero and by day’s end we arrived at Abha’s Jabal Al Sooda (the rock mountain) that is approximately 3,000m or 10,000ft high. Our goal was not to win the competition, although this would have been a great accomplishment. We were all there for the adventure and experience the completion would offer. The Aseer competition, now in its third year, attracted a diverse group of GCC nationals and expats from all over the world. A total of 31 competitors, including one woman, took part in the event. The 13 countries that were represented included host Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, Hungary, New Zealand, Switzerland,

Locals watching the take-off

Carl landing

the Czech Republic, Scotland, America and Russia. Paragliding is a sport of extreme patience. Each and every flight must have perfect weather conditions. Wind direction and speed at the launch and landing points must be monitored to ensure safety for the pilots. On many days, I have awaken to beautiful weather thinking we would fly only to learn that the wind conditions were either too strong, weak or had shifted in the wrong direction. Weather was also the main concern in Abha. Our first day was spent waiting for the wind to slow down. During most of the day the winds were gusting between 22 to 27km per hour and were coming as a side wind to the launch zone. The optimum headwinds we waited for was in a range of 15 to 20kph so we spent most of the day in the event’s massive tent and swapped paragliding stories. Although we were not flying, we were all impressed as one participant, Tomas

Preparations for take-off

Laszlo Toth

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The participants

Lednik a Czech paragliding test pilot and instructor, who flew in the extreme conditions and performed aerobatics for the Saudi crowd filled the mountain top. Tomas was invited by the event organisers to add a higher level of professionalism to the ranks of weekend paragliders that made up the participants. In addition to performing, he also flew willing Saudi onlookers in tandem flights. From the looks of amazement on their faces, many of the locals might possibly take up the sport now. What is it that attracts men and women to the sport? Sure, we have all looked to the sky and marveled as birds casually soar in free flight as the mountain winds keep them aloft, but what is it that takes you to the next step? My paragliding fascination began with a weekend trip to Dibba, Oman. I drove to the mountains outside the Zighy Bay Resort. When I got there I expected to take in the spectacular view of the mountains and sea, instead I arrived and watched as three men prepared a brightly coloured canopy for flight. The canopy laid nearly motionless on the level dirt spot that served as the launch area there tucked in the mountains. Within seconds of my arrival, one of the group took the lines and in one swift, effortless Dubai Paragliders Team

motion, he lifted the canopy that easily filled with air from the winds coming off the sea. The pilot glanced overhead at his canopy that was completely filled and steady in the winds. He then began a slow run jog with his passenger to the cliff’s edge where they were immediately greeted by an updraft that took them into the air. I stood in awe at this incredible sight. There was only sound as they traveled away from me — my statement of “wow.” From that moment, I knew I had to fly. Soon after viewing this flight, I put Google to work and found Dubai Paragliders on Facebook. Contact was made and within a few days I was practicing lessons in proper ground handling. If you have been to Jumeirah Open Beach you may have seen some of the students practicing. Following ground handling and canopy launching lessons, it was time to fly. My first flight was at Wathba hill near the Abu Dhabi endurance riding stables and course. The 100m summit made of rock and surrounding desert sand offers one of the best and approved areas to fly in the UAE. This flight was an experience that took my interest in the sport from “I have to try paragliding” to “I have to get better.” This was the reason for my trip to

Abha and the Asser event. Only 17 of the 31 competitors were able to fly on the first day of the competition. By the time the winds shifted and steadied to the proper speed it was late in the afternoon. This meant that 14 of us, including our entire group, had to wait for the second day to make their first flight. This gave us time to properly view and access the landing area at the base of Jabal Al Sooda. It was a challenging set up that consisted of a dirt patch nearly the size of a football pitch, but more narrow. There, nearly in the centre of the landing zone they had made a series of chalk circles as the bullseye target. We each had two flights on the second day of the competition. In the late morning we made our first flight. It was a fantastic flight with nearly perfect winds and we each successfully landed. Later that afternoon we made our second attempt. Although the winds at the launch zone were good, the winds at the landing zone were a completely different matter. Landing in the confined area was made even more difficult due to the strong updraft that came from the mountain valley. Imagine trying to land as you are being pushed higher by the winds at the landing zone. Following our landings, we all shared the same comment that it was the most challenging weather conditions we had ever experienced. Our goal was a target landing, but that afternoon, safety was our main concern. That was the end, the third day the wind was too severe for any flying and the competition was called to an end. We did not win, but the experience was incredible. We had each challenged and took our abilities to the limit. Soaring 3,000m above the Aseer Mountains in Saudi Arabia never came to my mind when I first began the sport and now that I have, I wonder where my next experience will take me. For more information about the Dubai Paragliders contact: +971552120155 or +971552250193 dubaiparagliders@yahoo.com

OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Exploring new heights Words + Photos By: Rhys and Laura Jones

After several months of planning and training, the time had come to start our adventure to Greenland. The plan was ambitious – to climb the highest peaks in the Arctic, and make an ascent of a previously unclimbed mountain. It was hard to imagine the polar climate of the Arctic as we packed our kit bags in our home in Dubai. The temptation to be dismissive of just how cold it might get was something we were very mindful of as we shuffled down jackets and heavy duty mittens into various piles on the floor of our spare room. Finally though, it was time to start our long journey, and it was with some relief that the day had finally come to leave and start heading north. We flew via UK where we saw friends and family, who seemed a little concerned for us! We repacked, shaving more weight off our kit and leaving behind all of our luxuries. With just one ski bag and one

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kitbag between us, we flew to Iceland, and then onwards to the northern tip of the country, from where we’d fly in a small ski-equipped plane to Greenland. We sat at a round table in the tiny domestic airport, killing time before our pilots and charter aircraft was ready. Our first sector was from Akureyri (Iceland) to a small gravel landing strip on the coast on Greenland, called Constable Point. We heard there was freezing fog at Constable Point, which delayed our departure by six long hours. We eventually flew to Greenland, high above the icebergs and frozen ocean. By the time we landed, our pilots didn’t have enough duty hours remaining to take us on to the glacier, a further twohour flight inland. So we spent the night in a bunkhouse, getting twitchy and ever more eager to finally touch the snow and get started! The next morning we took off, just Laura and I in the back of our plane, and flew over hundreds of miles of pristine Arctic wilderness. It was shades of white, blue and black, with peaks jutting out of the icecap. It was visually stunning but the sense of commitment became ever greater as we realised we were getting farther and farther away from civilisation and medical help. If anything went wrong,

we knew we had no margin for error. Our guide, Simon, was waiting at Base Camp, a cluster of three tents on an otherwise blank canvas of glacier. He’d been escorting a small team the week before and was staying on to lead our trip. The plane then took off, leaving just the three of us, feeling very insignificant against such a vast backdrop. We had lunch and a full briefing on all of our emergency kit: satellite phones, beacons, flares. We also discussed polar bear safety and procedures. We slept with a rifle in each tent and prayed we wouldn’t see a bear. We hoped we were far enough inland that none would be passing. Fortunately, we didn’t see so much as a trace of any wildlife for the whole trip! That afternoon, we fitted skins to our skis; thin mohair sheets which grip the snow. We’d be walking everywhere on skis, as it spreads the weight and enables easier passage over very deep snow. We also adjusted our pulks, the large plastic sleds which we dragged behind us containing all of our food and kit. The next day we started a long ski tour to a high camp on Gunnbjornsfjeld, the highest mountain in the Arctic. We thought we’d climb this mountain first, and as it was my birthday I felt particularly

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excited about it. We loaded our pulks and walked towards the horizon, aiming to turn at the base of a ridge line, and then ski up steeper slopes to a small flat area where we’d pitch our tent. We planned to travel light, taking just two nights of food, as we would summit the mountain the next day, sleep, and then return to Base Camp the following day. My pulk felt like it was full of lead. I can comfortably say that hauling it up to high camp was one of the hardest days of my life (even compared to climbing Mt Everest). It was sheer physical effort, for hours on end and mile after mile. We finally reached camp after nine hours, exhausted. We melted snow to make boiling water for our freeze-dried meals, and collapsed into our sleeping bags. We woke up after a long and cold

night of perpetual daylight. The tent was shaking in the wind as we got dressed for the climb. We set off from camp and each had to stop to put on our spare layers of clothing. Extra jackets, thicker gloves, balaclavas. We just couldn’t stay warm. It was around -30°C and the wind was increasing. We decided that the only sensible decision was to retreat to our tent and wait for the wind to die down. We would certainly have gotten frostbite in those conditions, so we hunkered down in the tent for the afternoon. I was secretly glad of the extra rest, still feeling drained from the previous day. That evening the wind picked up even more, shaking the tent violently. It continued to do so for the next two days, with no respite. The three of us were sharing one small tent so there was no privacy. We also ran out of freeze-

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dried meals, not planning to stay so long at the camp. Instead we ate soup and the rations we’d singled out as being our least favourite – tinned sardines and mushroom paste. On the fourth morning, the wind was dying down, so we decided to make an attempt on the summit, else we’d have to return all the way to Base Camp, and then ski all the way back up again to have a second attempt. It had been a long few days cooped up in the tent, and we were pleased to be outside and moving again. That said, we were tired and hadn’t been eating well, so the thought of a long summit day was hard to take on with the usual amount of enthusiasm! We were just pleased that the weather was improving and we had a shot at the summit. More about that, next month. TO BE CONTINUED

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Honey Badger Episode 3: Close encounters

Diaries

Celebrating our one year anniversary in Lion Bluff Lodge

Destination: Tsavo National Park, Kenya Date: 21st May – 20th June 2014

After an incredibly long wait for The Honey Badger to arrive, James and Mira then had further delays resulting from industrial strikes at Kalindi port in Mombasa and an overpriced and less than helpful shipping agent.

Hippos relaxing at our campsite at Jipe Lake

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James had two tedious days waiting with the agents where the car had been stored after arrival at the port. Whilst all of the paperwork was in order the wait was caused by a number of individuals vying for bribes to which they considered themselves entitled. A total of 35,000 KES (400 USD) was demanded by customs, operations managers, security personnel and agents. With the existing agent fee of 1,300 USD and the interminable delays, James was not inclined to pay anything extra and therefore had to wait and haggle. Two days and 60 USD later, The Honey Badger was free.

A quick addition of a metal trunk on the roof to cater for over-packing, and a stock up on food, and The Honey Badger was ready for her first safari. Tsavo East and West National Parks, the setting for “Out of Africa” was a wonderful start to the journey. Tsavo East was the first stop, but only after a brief spell in jail for James having been caught in a speed trap. After an hour in a cell waiting for a court appearance, Mira managed to point out that no crime had, in fact, been committed, and then negotiated James’ bribe-free release, dodging the 10,000 KES which had been requested. There was still time for a quick safari before they settled down for the night at Ndololo public campsite. Other than the guard who slept in a nearby lodge, James and Mira were the only people there. Whilst this was initially an exciting prospect, the limitations of being alone in the African wild soon became clear. A large family of baboons had also taken up residence at the campsite and were clearly hungry. Whilst they were fairly cautious around James, most were happy to have a go at Mira from time to time. The Honey Badger was parked about 20m away from the loo and Mira asked James to accompany her for a quick visit after

View of Kilimanjaro from Jipe Lake campsite

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Ndololo campsite

dark to ward of any speculative baboon raids. On the way back to the car James had a quick scan of the area with a very powerful (3,500 lumens) torch only to find a hunting lioness 10m away! The lioness was walking towards the campfire next to the car, but thankfully turned away when dazzled by the torch. Not taking any chances, the couple legged it back to the loo at a speed that Hussein Bolt would be proud of, and quickly barricaded the door with anything they could find. The following hour consisted of occasional nervous glances out of the window and considering the prospect of sleeping in a loo for the night. Eventually, however, a call to the Tsavo East warden’s house saved the day and some rangers were sent to clear the campsite. The rest of the night consisted of fitful sleeping and the occasional Hyena visit. The tentative walk down the ladder to be greeted by a leopard in a nearby tree the following morning was enough to ensure that pepper spray, baton and machete have been to hand at all times since. The next day was spent exploring Tsavo East which has an abundance of African elephants and other wildlife. If you plan a visit, the pipeline road is definitely worth a look. Four of the “Big 5” were spotted within a few hours, including hundreds of elephants. The rhino is the last remained unseen. The next stop was Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary for one night at the Lion’s Bluff Lodge to celebrate the couple’s first wedding anniversary. Absolutely breathtaking views from the room, wonderful food and staff, and a plague of harmless tick-like beetles. A friendly crowd at Lion’s Bluff recommended Lake Jipe and drive through Tsavo West before heading to Nairobi. The campsite was a couple of metres from the lake and right next to two families of hippos. A group of elephants also visited for a swim during the night and came so close to Tsavo East views

the car that the alarm was triggered several times. Although Tsavo West does not have the abundance of wildlife found in Tsavo East, it does have incredible scenery including sunsets over Mt Kilimanjaro. Now taking stock in Nairobi (Nairobbery, apparently) for a few days at Jungle Junction campsite before heading with a few detours towards Ethiopia. Pricing Tsavo East: Entry fee: 70 USD per person for 24 hours Car entry: 350 KES Public campsite fee: 20 USD per person Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary: Entry fee: 60 USD per person for 24 hours Car entry: 300 KES Lion Bluff Lodge: 8,000 KES per person per night (expensive but a truly special anniversary treat) Tsavo West: Entry fee: 70 USD per person for 24 hours Car entry: 350 KES Public campsite fee: 20 USD per person A key part of Mira and James’ trip is fundraising and volunteer work. If you are interested in helping them to achieve their target and make a difference to African communities and wildlife, please spread the word or donate using the following links: 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-BadgerDiaries/716885161656060?ref=hl Instagram: @thehoneybadgerdiaries

ACTIVITY+ REPORT TRAVEL ADVENTURE

The beauty of Socotra Words + Photos By: Pavel Bafeel

Socotra, heaven on earth and the land of the kids and goats, is a UNESCO protected area and home of unique fauna and flora. Socotra is the largest island of Yemen, approximately 130km long by 50km wide and a population of 55,000 with their own district language and culture. The best time to visit Socotra is between November and May. November is mostly green with light wind and average of 30°C, while April is best for fishing and observing the unique tree’s flowers. During the summer, it’s high windy season and only enjoyable for kite surfers. If you will choose Socotra as your holiday destination, I strongly recommend you hire a driver and a tour guide. I think the best in the business is Socotra EcoTours (www.socotra-eco-tours.com), they charge approximately 700 USD for six days tour for two people. Eco-Tours provide you with hotel, transportation, guides, food, camping gear, etc. Places to visit on Socotra: Dihamri marine protected area It boasts with one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago. You can relax on the beach in palm leaf huts or swim and snorkel in Dihamri bay where snorkeling gears can be hired. Some marine species you will see underwater include: parrotfish, moray eel, rays, sea urchins and, if you are lucky, you will meet turtles. Divers can also use the services of Dihamri Diving Center and go for a dive here or another of superb diving spots in Socotra. Dihamri marine protected area

Trek to Homhil

Homhil A protected area with fabulous sceneries that give you a kind of prehistoric feeling. You can take a trek to Homhil that starts at the bottom of a spectacular ravine on sea level. The trek is of medium difficulty and won’t take more than one and a half hours. You will have enough strength to enjoy the view back towards the sea where you started ascending. Once at Homhil, you can choose from a selection of walking trails. You will be astonished by the prehistoric atmosphere of the landscape rich with dragon blood trees (Dracaena cinnabari) and bottle trees (Adansonia digitata). You will be addressed by local children who sell dragon blood resin and frankincense. One of the trails leads to a viewpoint with a natural pool of almost freezing blue water. Hoq cave and Arher Hoq cave is easily accessible by foot and you have to plan for about one and half hour trek to the entrance of the cave. Cave

Homhil Plateau with a bottle tree

Arher

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View from the Diksam Plateau with a dragon blood tree

is approximately 1-1.5km long, path is marked by reflection tape and make sure to have a good flashlight with you. Arher is a place where a fresh creek comes out from a granite and meets salty seawater on the beach. You can relax on the green grass around, swim in the water or if you feel fit, climb a huge sand dune to get a fantastic view of this charming spot. Diksam and Derhur Canyon Diksam Plateau and gorge is definitely the most spectacular limestone landscape feature on the island. The gorge drops 700m vertically to the valley floor. The edge of the gorge has attractive stands of dragon blood trees and the extensive limestone pavement. Sections of the plateau have

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Derhur Canyon

partially slipped into the gorge, leaving “lost worlds” accessible only to buzzards and vultures. The plateau is home to nomadic Bedouin herdsmen who move from one site to another with their herds. They welcomed me with a cup of tea. The forest in Diksam is the last dragon blood woodland. Nowhere else in the world can one find these trees growing in such densities as here. After Diksam Plateau, the road plunges 400m into a profound chasm slicing through the granite, giving a completely different atmosphere from the airy heights of the plateau. The lush canyon floor has been planted with palm trees, in the shade of which lay Bruce’s Green Pigeons (Treron waalia) and Laughing Doves (Spilopelia sen-

Detwah Bay

egalensis) and you can refresh by swimming in the wadi’s deep pool, escaping the heat. Qalansyia, Detwah Bay, Shua’ab area Fishermen’s town of Qalansyia is located on the western part of the island. It consists of traditional Socotri houses, narrow alleyways and a long beach full of fishing boats ready to set off for today’s catch or to take you to Shua’ab beach, which is the most beautiful beach on the island. Detwah lagoon, which is a marine protected area, is renowned for its magical landscape. You will be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by turquoise waters of the bay. This surely is one of the best views on the island. When you are there you have to ask for a fisherman Abdullak the “Cave Man” and he will show you all the species living in the lagoon. After the lagoon tour, he will prepare delicious mussels or blue leg crabs in his cave above the lagoon. Thank you,

Pavel

*Please refer to your consulate for travel advisories to Yemen.

Catch of the day on the Shua’ab beach

Dolphins on the way to Shua’ab beach

Pavel with the Yemeni

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Summer

on the

Dolomiti

Cortina, the Queen of the Dolomites! Words By: Nicola de Corato Photos By: Cortina Turismo’s Archive

Cortina has been always considered the Queen of the Dolomites, where you can enjoy trekking to the vie ferrate (iron roads), road bike trips through the passes to free riding, sophisticated gourmet events to activities for the whole family, and a range of sport, musical and cultural events like the Coppa d’Oro (historical cars race) to the many marathon and triathlon races that take place here. The silhouettes of pinnacles, spires and towers, impressive and unmistakable Dolomite shapes, are carved into the brilliant blue sky. Cortina’s timeless landscape, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Area, is a paradise for hikers and climbers with a wealth of hiking trails, classic and sport climbing itineraries, and some of the most beautiful via ferrata routes in the Dolomites. Enjoy classic family walks to Croda da Lago, perhaps via Mondeval to visit the prehistoric burial site of the Mondeval Man, or visit the extraordinary Lake Sorapis with its turquoise waters. Hike through the spectacular Val Travenanzes and experience its continuously changing scenery or visit the trenches in the 5 Torri area where the Alpini, the Italian mountain troops, were positioned during the First World War. The legacy of the mountain soldiers is not limited to the vast open-air Museum of the

Great War. The hugely popular via ferrata routes in the Dolomites were originally pioneered by the Alpini and the Kaiserjager during the war in order to access hard to reach areas of the mountain. Today, these are maintained by the alpine guides who have also added more recent routes. In fact some of the most beautiful via ferrata routes in the Dolomites can be found right here in Cortina and now is the perfect time to try one. Following a metal cable for safety, hikers move along spectacular mountain passages at altitude equipped with a safety harness. Cortina has a rich variety at all levels of difficulty, from beginner routes suitable for children aged eight and up, like the ferrata of the cascate (the highest permanent waterfalls in the Dolomites) and the ferrata degli Alpini, at Col dei Bos, to highly vertical technical routes for experts, such as the Sci 18 in Faloria. Some of the more

challenging routes are also among the most spectacular for sheer beauty, such as the Lipella which takes you to the peak of the Tofana di Rozes, and the Tomaselli, which rises to reach the Cima Fanis. The Olivieri to Punta Anna, which departs from Pomedes on Mount Tofana is another all-time favourite, offering breathtaking views of Cortina as you rise above the green meadows and into the Dolomite rock. Thanks to 56 refuges, restaurants and 34 lift facilities, the summits are just waiting to be conquered, offering natural viewpoints for admiring the Ampezzo valley below. It is highly recommended to seek the advice of mountain professionals prior to attempting a via ferrata for the first time. Cortina’s alpine guides organise individual and group excursions. They also furnish you with the correct safety equipment and teach you the basic techniques for how to

approach a via ferrata in safety. Sometimes, in order to find yourself, you first need to get lost; what better way than exploring the Dolomites’ vertical miles with climbing, free climbing and dedicated climbing areas. These numbers make Cortina the natural home of rock sports. There are technically demanding, incredibly scenic climbs as well as a huge number and variety of vie ferrate, which were created in Cortina during the First World War to facilitate movement of troops and artillery. Local alpine guides organise special tours, lasting from three to seven days, with the option of staying overnight in one of the refuges and availing of a luggage transfer service. Among the numerous areas for free climbing activities is the historic 5 Torri area with incredible 108 routes. This is where the legendary red-shirted Cortina Scoiattoli (Squirrels) climbing club was formed back in 1939. That’s why you can find a red squirrel in the logo of Cortina! Cortina offers the chance to learn rock climbing with courses and mini courses, under the expert tuition of professional climbers, even if you’ve never climbed outdoor before. Just remember that the indoor climbing experience is very different from outdoor climbing, which requires an entirely different competency and skills for a

safe experience. But also an “easy” outdoor approach with a professional guide can let you experience the Dolomitis in safe way. First important step is to wear proper gear and in a proper way: your instructor will assist you in that, if it’s your first time. Try different ways to grip different handholds. Some holds will be crimps with just your fingertips crunching down on the top of the small hold. Others are jugs that you can comfortably wrap your whole hand around; holds that you can pinch; or pockets which you can cram a few fingers into. No matter what the holds though, your forearms are burning and your upper arms are getting pumped. The problem is that you’re trying to power up the wall with your arms, and you’ve inadvertently discovered one of the keys to successful climbing, either indoors or outside—use your feet effectively. Legs are not only stronger than arms, but they’re also better for bearing your body weight than your arms. Moving from your feet and legs helps keep the weight off your arms. You’re able to move with economy and balance rather than with sheer strength since with vertical posture your weight stays over your feet and you maintain a natural balance. Other common sport activity you can easily do is trekking: one of the best trek we had, is the one along the canyons and waterfalls trail in the Ampezzo Dolomite Natural Park. Discover many alpine lakes, streams and waterfalls hidden away in the mountains surrounding Cortina. For the adventurous, canyoning offers a refreshing alternative to hiking on a hot summer’s day. For unforgettable water experiences walk along the waterbed of alpine streams, abseil down gorges of incomparable beauty, or climb down rushing waterfalls with ropes. If you prefer some more relaxing activity, you can enjoy the sunrise in the mountains. It is an unforgettable experience and nowhere is this spectacle more impressive than in the Dolomites. Ticking this one off the wish-list is easy:

simply book an overnight stay at one of the many mountain refuges and ask to be woken up in time to catch the first rays of sunlight creeping between the towering peaks until they glow with warmth. And after marveling at the magic of sunrise, there’s nothing better than a hearty breakfast before embarking on an intense day of exploring Cortina and its environs, or joining one of the fantastic events taking place there, such as the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti This event has been held every year since its creation in 1947. It was an instant success because of the spectacular landscapes of the Dolomites. The race was launched by Ferruccio Gidoni, president of AC Belluno, and its most famous testimonial was the legendary Tazio Nuvolari, who was guest of honour at the first races. It was a very useful testing ground for the top drivers of the major car makers of that time. The course has always been the same: 303.8 km.

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Starting out from Cortina, it took in Passo Falzarego, Agordino, Arabba, Passo Pordoi, Val di Fassa, Passo Rolle, San Martino di Castrozza, Fiera di Primiero, Feltre, Belluno, Longarone, Pieve di Cadore, Auronzo, Misurina and Passo Cimabanche. And back to the town known all over the world as the “Queen of the Dolomites”, Cortina d’Ampezzo. Nowadays the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti is a proper event, more than a race. The 2014 edition will take place from Thursday, July 17th to Sunday, July 20th. Ready to explore,

Nico Nico is a blogger, marathon runner and triathlete, diver and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels. You can read his blog at www.dubayblog. com or email him at admin@dubaiblog.it for information about Dubai and desert trips, to schedule a desert run together, or just to say hello.

For more information and pictures, please do not hesitate to contact me or visit www.cortina.dolomiti.org Cortina Turismo Consorzio di promozione turistica Via Marconi, 15/b 32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) How to get there The village has nearly 7,000 inhabitants and it is located at 1,224m. Geographically it is included in the Belluno province and it is 72km from the town of Belluno. It is located between Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions, the border between the two regions is at Cimabanche Pass (1,530m) 13km from Cortina. By bus There are direct bus connections between Cortina and some Italian cities: • Bus service between Mestre (Venice) railway station and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Bus line Cortina Express) in connection with the Eurostar trains from/to Milan. • Bus service between Bologna railway

station and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Bus line Cortina Express/Zani) in connection with the Eurostar trains from/to FlorenceRome-Naples and with the “Adriatica” line (Rimini-Ancona-Pescara-Bari). The journey from/to Mestre takes about two hours and 15 minutes and from/to Bologna three hours and 55 minutes. It is possible to pay the ticket on board. For further information, please contact Seam Office at info@cortinaexpress.it The Cortina Express is operated through very comfortable buses, also with Wi-Fi connection: panorama is enchanting and the service is available all over the year (triplicate during the high season). There are also regular bus services to and from Venice with stop at Mestre and Treviso. The travel takes about three hours and 15 minutes. During the high season there is a daily service, whereas, in other periods of the year, the service is on Saturdays and Sundays only. Booking at the Seam ticket office in Cortina is required (service not available by telephone). Information at ATVO Bus company.

TRAVEL LISTINGS

Socotra, Yemen: A Botanical Odyssey To step foot on Socotra is to embark on a botanical odyssey through one of the most alien-looking places on earth. This island, off the Horn of Africa, is the most isolated island in the world of non-volcanic origin. Scientists call it the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, with one-third of its plant species being unique to the island. Socotra is located 380km from mainland Yemen, and there are absolutely no safety or security issues here. Travelers do not even leave the airport in Rayan en-route to the island. Day 1: Wednesday - Arrival, Dihamri (snorkeling) and Ar-Ar Beach Day 2: Thursday - The Interior: Homhil Hiking and Diksam Plateau Day 3: Friday - Qalansiya, Shaub Beach and Dolphins in Detwah Lagoon Day 4: Saturday - Departure from Socotra Accommodation: Two nights camping on the beach (all equipment included), and one night in a basic hotel. Board: Full board Transfers and activities: Private 4X4 vehicles (max of four travelers per car) for the duration of the trip

Fitness Level: This trip is suitable for people of all fitness levels

Escape Travels +971 56 694 5364 www.escape-travels.com

Activities

Hiking, snorkeling, camping, cliff diving, dolphin watching

Length

4 Days / 3 Nights

Cost (not including flight) Starting at 2,300 AED not including flights. Two-way flights with Felix Airways are 2,730 AED Departures

Departing on request every Wednesday and returning on Saturday.

Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley Two days exploring the Kathmandu valley For many, stepping off a plane into Kathmandu is a pupil-dilating experience: a riot of sights, sounds, colours and smells that can quickly lead to sensory overload. Whether you’re strolling the winding streets of the old town, marveling at exquisite medieval temples of Darbar Square or haggling your way through Thamel’s many shops, Kathmandu is an intoxicating, amazing and simply fascinating place. The Kathmandu Valley is home to the UNESCO World Heritage villages of Patan and Bhaktapur, and is a patchwork of terraced fields and sacred temple towns that showcase the glory of Nepal’s architecture. The whole valley is a living museum of Nepali culture. It is hard to go a few hundred metres without stumbling upon a medieval village or a centuries-old temple. If Kathmandu is the head of Nepal, the valley could be its heart. Full-day Rafting Trip The rivers of Nepal are full of life and drain from the highest mountains in the world. Nothing compares to the rush of rafting these rivers! With professional guides and a support team, no experience is necessary; overall physical fitness and a sense of adventure is all that is needed!

Activities

Hiking, white water rafting and sightseeing

Length

4 Days / 3 Nights

Cost (not including flight) 2,140 AED not including flights Two-way airfare is approximately 1,600 AED Departures

October 3rd, 2014 (Eid Holiday Escape)

Half-day Hike Draped along the heights of the Himalayas, Nepal’s sublime scenery, time-worn temples and peerless walking trails leave visitors spellbound. With an easy or challenging route to choose from, all ages and abilities can do this hike. You’ll see temples and rice paddies along the way, and be amongst the country’s most spectacular nature. Accommodation: Three-star standard hotels in Kathmandu and a Mountain Lodge overlooking the mighty Himalayas Board: Daily breakfast and lunch while rafting / hiking / sightseeing Transfers and activities: • Exploring Kathmandu Valley includes • All transfers, including airport transfers • Professional English speaking guides during all tours

• Activity option of white water rafting or hiking • Two days of sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley • One night in the mountain village of Nagarkot White water rafting includes: Transfers, lunch, all rafting equipment and permits, guides and support team Hiking includes: Transfers, lunch, group hiking guides and hiking permits Fitness Level: This trip is suitable for all fitness levels Escape Travels +971 56 694 5364 www.escape-travels.com

TRAVEL LISTINGS

Golden Tulip Dibba - Resort Golden Tulip Resort, Dibba is located on the shores of the East Coast of the Musandam Peninsula in the Sultanate of Oman, just 60 kilometres north of Fujairah, and only 120 kilometres, or less than two-hour drive from Dubai International Airport. Nestled on a pristine sandy beach, in the foothills of the rugged Hajar mountain ranges, it immerses guests to this legendary hideaway for its blend of

natural beauty, romantic heritage and contemporary luxury. From its site it offers dazzling panoramic views as well as terrific base point for recreational activities and excursions, such as exploring the region stunning Wadiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Wadi Bih, Wadi Khab Al Shamis, Wadi Sidr/Sana, Wadi Tayyibah, Wadi Asimah, Wadi Wurrayah). The area is also renowned for its fascinating marine life, home to many exotic species of fish. The coral reefs off

the coast offer divers and snorkelers the ultimate underwater experience. Enjoy adventurous excursions and activities such as dolphin watching, dhow cruise, scuba diving, fly fishing, cannoning, kayaking, rock climbing, and mountain safari, just to name a few. With its idyllic climate and deep embrace of the outdoors, Golden Tulip Resort Dibba is the perfect place to indulge the senses and invigorate the soul.

Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort & Spa The Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort and Spa is a Mountain and Spa Retreat in the heart of the Arabian countryside at the foot of the Majestic Hajar Mountains, overlooking a beautiful valley full of date palms and farmland. The Resort & Spa is around 45 minutes from Dubai and only 20 minutes drive from the beautiful beaches of Ras Al Khaimah and five minutes from RAK airport. During your stay with us you will enjoy our leisure and dining facilities as well as our spacious and comfortable rooms. Mountain and Spa Retreat Khatt Springs Wellness & Spa is an unrivalled heaven of peace and tranquility spread over an area of more than 2,000sqm that will help you

hydro pools with gentle massage jets, 14 treatment rooms, ice grotto, steam and sauna rooms, snail showers and warm stone beds. We will be pleased to welcome you as well to The Harmony Ayuverda Centre in which you will try a new way of therapy and philosophy of living life with our wide range of herbal and mineral medicines.

relax and rejuvenate your soul, mind and body. A wide range of spa services will be offered to you and will be provided separately for men and women: 38Â° warm

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LIFESTYLE

Habitually healthy Thai chicken skewers scented with lemongrass and lime leaves served with raw papaya salad Words By: Chef Christopher Zerbe

Well, it’s summer time here in the Middle East and you know what that means! Vacations! (Well, for some of y’all!) During this time, we tend to break our carefully crafted diets that we swear by all year round in favour of the more convenient foods we find in our little summer sanctuaries away from home. Personally, I just returned from a short trip to Thailand where food is in abundance and can be found just about anywhere. Whether it is a little street hawker stand selling Pad Thai or crispy fried chicken or grilled squid on a Ingredients

stick, there are so many tempting choices! The biggest thing to watch out for when

Quantity

Unit

Preparation Method

Chicken

0.200

(I like to use boneless free range chicken thigh meat) cut into 2 inch cubes

Thai marinade

1.000

Just put a bit of lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, red chili, coriander, sea salt, coconut oil in your food processor and grind into a paste, marinate meat for up to 2 hours in it. (Some coconut aminos are a nice addition too!)

Green papaya

0.100

Peel the hard, outer dark green skin off to reveal the light green flesh inside. Cut in half and remove the seeds. Using a peeler just shave off a big handful then cut into thin julienne

Tomato julienne

0.040

Cut your tomatoes into half, then half again and remove the seeds. After cut into thin strips

Sliced red onion

0.010

I prefer the taste of the small local red onions. Be sure to slice nice and thinly

Red chili

0.001

Slice the chili in half and remove the seeds to cut down some of the intense heat! Then cut into little strips

Sesame oil

0.005

I like to use just a small little bit like a teaspoon

Vinegar

0.005

Either use white vinegar or if you can find, I like coconut aminos (similar to soy sauce without the soy!)

Coriander leaves

0.010

Just chop roughly with the stems

Mixed lettuces

0.035

I like a little salad with all my meals

Beefsteak tomatoes

0.045

Just can’t get enough tomatoes

traveling throughout places like Asia is the amount of Ajinomoto (aka “flavour enhancer,” aka MSG). Even though they start off with fairly good quality meats and poultry, you really should avoid the usage of these seasonings and stick with a little old fashioned sea salt and some pepper. Fortunately in a place like Thailand, seafood and fish is in abundance! Steamed or grilled with hints of lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, spiced up with Thai chili and coriander, cooled down with opal basil leaves and simple cucumbers. It’s a veritable explosion of amazing flavours each bite you take! No need to “enhance” anything. Just keep it natural. Don’t forget all the lovely coconuts freshly cut and opened just for you each and every day too. Definitely my favourite! Anyway, here’s a recipe for my own little Thai dish that I love; done up in a simple, tasty, healthy way. The Cycle Bistro GPS location: Latitude: N 25° 02.792 Longitude: E 055° 14.384 04 425 6555 Phone:

What is fitness? And are you as fit as your life needs to be? Words By: Candice Howe Photo By: Ales Vyslouzil

At LifeSpark, like many CrossFit facilities, we believe that fitness is essential to a great life. It is the physical embodiment of confidence, dedication and passion. We love the freedom that comes with being physically able to do anything that you want to do; whether it a day’s surfing, rock climbing, wadi bashing, desert driving or travelling on adventures to remote corners of the earth. We want a level of fitness that enables us to enjoy everything we demand of life, and to be fit enough to be able to handle whatever surprises life throws back. With this in mind, your fitness programme has to support whatever life throws at you! The fitter a person is, the more they are physically able to do things that bring excitement and fun into their lives. Fitness is about being able to push the car out when it’s stuck in the desert, as well as enjoy driving the dunes. It’s about the paddle boarder who can single-handedly re-strap the board to the car roof, in high winds, after an hour on the water. It’s about people maintaining and improving their functional capability, exceeding rather than meeting the demands of their sport or activity. It’s about excelling, accepting any challenge and achieving your goals. We believe that everyone can achieve great fitness and that great fitness facilitates all life’s adventures. When looking for a definition of fitness it is difficult to find a decent answer. The dictionary defines fitness as: 1. the state of being fit 2. Biology: a. the degree of adaptation of an organism to its environment, determined by its genetic constitution b. the ability of an organism to produce viable offspring capable of surviving to the next generation These definitions do nothing to advise or guide an individual to achieve any level of fitness. The key themes are there; ability to adapt, survive, but by defining fitness as a state of being, there is little scope for growth or development. There is certainly no accounting for an individual’s ability to thrive. CrossFit’s definition of fitness is the one that we aspire to, and use to inspire our community. CrossFit is a strength and

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conditioning programme that delivers genuine fitness. The beauty of CrossFit’s definition of fitness is that it is quantifiable. There are four elements to the definition: 1. 10 Components of Fitness The 10 general physical skills or components of fitness are widely outlined in sport physiology and exercise science. CrossFit aims to increase fitness in all 10 areas in order to broaden the general base of physical preparedness. While this may be seen to limit potential in one area, results have shown that for the vast majority of people, improvement across all 10 components leads to an increase in overall, and often task specific performance. The 10 components of fitness are: Power, Speed, Strength, Stamina, Accuracy, Endurance, Balance, Coordination, Agility and Flexibility Fitness is therefore developed through a programme that improves all of these skills. 2. Task performance This focuses on breadth and depth of performance. Fitness requires the ability to perform well at every, and any, combination of tasks – essentially a constant state of preparedness. Picture an infinite number of physical challenges. Fitness can be measured in how well you can perform at any and every imaginable task. 3. Energy systems There are three metabolic pathways that provide the energy for all human action: a. Phosphagen pathway, which is used in

high-powered activities lasting up to 10 seconds b. Glycolytic pathway, which is used in moderate-powered activities, lasting up to several minutes c. Oxidative pathway, which dominates low-powered activities, those lasting in excess of several minutes Fitness in each of these pathways dictates the time and power within which you can perform physical tasks. Total fitness, requires competency and training in each of these three pathways. 4. Health continuum Viewing fitness as continuum from sickness to wellness to fitness ensures that a measure of fitness will account for health as well as physical prowess. Nearly every measure of health will conform to this continuum; which considers fitness as a form of super-wellness, thereby placing the eradication of illness and achievement of health or wellness as essential in the development of true fitness. Consideration of all four of the above elements enables the achievement of broadest and most general fitness possible. This definition deliberately develops broad, general and inclusive fitness. The aim is to maximise potential and ensure fun, adventure and challenge. It enables the ability to say “Yes!” to whatever opportunities come your way. Life rewards this kind of fitness. Want to give LifeSpark’s approach to fitness a try? Contact CrossFit@LifeSparkCoaching. com to schedule your free taster class!

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LIFESTYLE

The AIDA Freediving Education System

Although freediving is something anyone can try, it is important to remember that freediving is a sport with a recognised hierarchy of training courses in place. While you don’t have to sign up for a training course to enjoy a casual adventure near the beach, enrolling in a certified course will help you learn more about freediving and, more importantly, how to practice it safely when you attempt deeper dives. AIDA International AIDA was established in 1992 and is the worldwide federation for breath-holding. AIDA International is the regulatory body for all competitive freediving competitions. It oversees record attempts and is responsible for freediving education.

AIDA freediving courses The AIDA education system is the most popular training system for anyone interested in freediving. An AIDA course is a great way to learn more about safe practices in freediving. Although you will almost certainly improve your depths and times underwater as a result of completing the various levels of AIDA education, what is more important is that the AIDA education system teaches students how to dive safely with the right mindset. There are AIDA training courses suitable for all levels of the sport, from total beginners through to competitive freediving. AIDA courses are progressive and in order to enrol on a higher level course, you must have successfully completed the previous levels. The foundational levels provide you with not only

the practical skills which are taught in the pool and open water environments, but also the theory behind the exercises and safety measures presented during the courses. Minimum requirements for AIDA courses In order to sign up for an introductory or foundation (Level I and II) AIDA course, you must be at least 16 years of age (with a parent or guardian’s signature) or 18, in good physical health, and capable of swimming at least 100 metres without stopping. You don’t need any previous experience of freediving in order to sign up for an introductory AIDA course. Instructors are happy to teach students who have never done any type of diving before, although many students use freediving as a step up from snorkelling and scuba diving. Complete beginners would need to start off with the Level I introductory course but more experienced snorkelling enthusiasts and scuba divers may be able to start off at Level II. Level I The Level I Introductory course is perfect for anyone who would like an introduction to freediving in a safe and controlled environment. The course is a mixture of practical and theory lessons and at the end of it you will have gained a good understanding of what this sport entails. The Level I course includes breath holding exercises, descending and ascending using fins, plus some theory lessons in a classroom environment. Level II Level II Foundation is designed for people who are already competent and confident in the water. The course covers everything taught at Level I, but practical sessions will take place in open water as well as in a swimming pool environment. Unlike the Level I course, students will be introduced to the four main freediving disciplines: • Static Apnea • Dynamic Apnea • Free Immersion • Constant Weight After completing the AIDA Level II you would be able to dive to 16m and hold your breath for over two minutes! Level III The Level III Intermediate course builds on knowledge gained in the Level II course. You will also learn about different safety issues and techniques, including free

falling, as well as how to use training tables and the risks associated with increasing and decreasing water pressure. Theory sessions are more in depth than Level I and II courses. Upon completion of a Level III you will be confident diving down to 20m and holding your breath for over three minutes! Level IV The Level IV Advanced AIDA course is designed for those who want to do more than recreational freediving. As well as building on the knowledge gained in the first three courses, students will be introduced to variable weight diving, body and lung stretching, cross training and diet. Students have to be certified in First Aid and CPR in order to complete the Level IV Freediving course. After completing this course you will confidently dive to 30m and possibly go on to compete. AIDA Instructor Courses Students who have successfully completed Level I to IV can study for their AIDA Instructor qualification if they wish. This will allow you to teach students up to Level III. AIDA Master Instructors are qualified to teach students up to Level IV and AIDA Instructor Trainers are qualified to teach trainee instructors. Just be careful because you may end up like Rachael from Muscat who after just one trip said: “Into the blue – my exciting new addiction! Wow, where do I begin? I’m a scuba diver and thought I’d give freediving a go. Feel bad saying this but the feeling I get from freediving is like no other. Totally at one with the ocean – my biggest love. I’m now obsessed on promoting this awesome sport here in Muscat to spread the love I have found for this amazing experience.” There are numerous ways to get involved with this exciting sport through AIDA freediving courses, so if you are a complete novice or you want to improve your existing skills, visit www.FreedivingUAE.com today or email contactus@freedivinguae.com for more information.

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Rum Runner :

A modular touring SUP Words + Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer

If you are an outdoor enthusiast you would also love to try new products, and so do I. But sometimes I face some ethical issues when we get a product to test and it is hard to find reasons to recommend the product. We have one golden rule: we try to find the pros of a product, but we will be honest and not make up reasons to buy a product if there are none. So when I went to GO Sport to collect the Point 65n Rum Runner 12.5 Stand Up Paddle board (SUP), I was sceptical. The Swedish manufacturer Point 65n is the only supplier in the region that provides modular kayaks and now also SUPs. The kayaks of Point 65n are very similar to the shape of the known kayaks in the market, but the SUP is a complete new shape and I have not seen anything similar to it the region. More about this later. The SUP, comes in three sections which are held together by straps. The first thing I noticed is that the gaps between the sections are not seamless, and even allowed for some movement when the board was assembled and carried to the car. This brought up my first worry; that this will affect the performance on the

water and that the board will not be stable. Dismantling and assembly of the board is super easy and very fast. Since the board breaks down into three pieces, each section is light and easy to handle regardless of your body height or strength. It fits in the trunk of any 4x4, but takes up some space and might not fit in all cars. What I liked a lot is the retractable fin which is spring loaded and released by removing a small bolt. So there is no need to unscrew the fin and you cannot lose or forget it on your way to the water. Now back to the shape. The Rum Runner is not built for the waves, it is a touring SUP and that is the reason for the different body. The hull is a displacement hull which means the board is actually deeper in the water and cuts through it rather than float on top of the water like most common SUPs in the region. In my opinion, the vast majority in the region use SUPs mainly for touring

Toggle

Oval hatch for Rails for attaching rod, water-tight holders, GPS gear compartment and smilar Comfortable EVA

pad with structured surface D-rings

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Spring-loaded fin automatically retracts when hitting obstables or hitting the beach Toggle

Super tough PE

simply because we have perfect flat water conditions on the sea. When the board is assembled, it is heavier than a normal rigid or inflatable SUP and therefore much harder to carry. The two handle straps make this more convenient and easy to carry with two persons or you can simply drag it along the sand. The plastic body is also much more forgiving than other (molded polyethylene) materials, so that little scratches are almost unnoticeable. Also, the material will not bleach out in sunlight. In the water, the heavier body and the

Grab rail for easy carrying

deeper waterline make the board very stable yet fast. I am about 85kg and I was able to stand on one leg on the board with the foot on the outer edge. Try to stand on any flat SUP on one leg if it is slightly off-centered and you will certainly dive into the water within seconds. The standing platform of the board is even lowered to the waterline so that the centre of gravity is really very low. This performance is the best I have ever seen on an SUP and would make it only for that reason the perfect beginner board since it is almost impossible to fall off it. The standing platform is covered with foam and the plastic body is also suspending further, so that paddling on your knees is more comfortable than on other boards. Being a touring SUP the waterproof hatch in front is a great additional feature to store a towel and drinks. Yet the rubber hatch was not easy to open and to close, but I think this will get better over time when the rubber gets more flexible through use. I have used my other paddle boards for fishing and I had to be quite inventive to be able to put a rod holder and gear box on the SUP. The Rum Runner

has a very useful rail which can be used as grab rail to carry the board but the real plus point is that it can be used to attach rod holders, GPS or any other kind of accessory you might want to take with you. One of the places I enjoy most is the flat water around the mangroves preferably in Umm Al Quwain since there is almost no one else around. If you ever paddled in the mangroves and creeks, you certainly know you have to be very aware of the tides in the already shallow waters. The water can get so shallow that the fin touches or even gets stuck in the muddy sandy ground. The retractable fin is ingenious in this situation because it will suspend up if it touches the ground. In that way you are able to get through water even if the depth is only a few centimetres. It would not be the first time that tides set in earlier than expected and you get stuck somewhere in a shallow area which you didn’t expect to be so shallow. So all in all, I have to revise my first impression and admit, I am even positively impressed with the performance and features of the Rum Runner. Of course, the best thing is that with a price tag starting

from from 3,650 AED/QAR or from 390 OMR, the Rum Runner is far below the average price of rigid or inflatable boards, which are usually 5,000 AED and more. So if you are looking for a touring SUP, this is a great choice and you can even get it in the elevator and store it in your apartment or balcony. The Point65n products are exclusively sold by GO Sport.

Length 381cm / 12,5’ Width 81cm / 31,9” Weight 28.4kg / 62lbs Capacity 135kg / 300lbs Weight nose section 7.4kg / 16lbs Weight mid section 11.7kg / 25.7lbs Weight tail section 9.3kg / 20.5lbs Length nose section 130cm / 4’3’’ Length mid section 133cm / 4’5’’ Length tail section 130cm / 4’3’’ Front hatch 44x26cm / 17,6”x10,4” Colours

red and blue

More details on www.point65.com

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PRODUCTS A round-up of quality products available right here in the UAE

Yamaha Rider Cockpit 2-Person 1,050 AED (before 1,295 AED)

Available at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE The bottom of this fun tube is shaped like a boat hull which is the key to the unparalleled lively ride. It has comfortable inflated floors, durable 30 gauge bladders that are completely encased in durable double stitched nylon. Measures 74” x 73” (deflated).

Lifeventure – SoftFibre Trek Towel 165 AED

Available at Adventure HQ in Times Square Center in Dubai and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi Travel the world your way with these lightweight and small packable SoftFibre Advance towels. • Ideal for travel, sports, trekking or beach use • Lightweight, ultra compact and highly absorbent SoftFibre material • Treated with Ax Antibacterial formula • Dries 8x quicker than a standard beach towel • Absorbs 9x its own weight in water • Weight: 310g • Dimensions: 150 x 100 cm • Patterns: Words, Explorers, Flowers

Lifeventure - Ultralite Wash Holdall 165 AED

Available at Adventure HQ in Times Square Center in Dubai and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi Washbag made with lightweight siliconised Cordura fabric. A spacious main compartment is accessed with an open top flap which zips open. A detachable mirror and tuck away hanger mean you can create a washroom wherever you are. • Lightweight siliconised Cordura® fabric • Large zipped main compartment • Internal zipped pocket and tuck-away hanger • Detachable mirror • Weight: 98g • Dimensions: 240 x 100 x 150mm

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PRODUCTS SonicBoom for iPhone 5 120 AED

Available at Go Sport Dubai Mall, Bawabat Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, Villaggio, City Centre Doha and Adventure HQ Times Square, Dalma Mall Abu Dhabi and JBR as well as online through www.sportsouq.ae Sleek armband offers easy-touch window. Ergological™ design integrates NDurAthletic™ and moisture-wicking material. Fits iPhone 5, iPhone 4, and 4S and is Ant+ dongle compatible. • Unique hybrid of polyurethane and performance textiles delivers enduring protection • Soft ergo-armband optimises comfort and eliminates friction • Moisture-wicking material moves sweat away from body and adds breathability • Reflective hits promote low-light visibility up to 1,200ft

Polar RC3 GPS BLUE Limited Edition 1,450 AED

Available at Go Sport, Dubai Mall and online through www.sportsouq.ae The RC3 GPS has been developed to provide sports and fitness enthusiasts with an all-in-one training device with the latest GPS technology built in. Ergonomically designed, with naturally placed buttons, the RC3 GPS has a breathable wristband for maximum comfort. Weighing only 58g and measuring just 1,37cm in depth, the device is one of the lightest and slimmest integrated GPS devices on the market. Its supersized digital display makes it easy to read and customisable, allowing a user to display up to three rows of training data. The RC3 GPS combines the very latest GPS technology with “Smart Coaching” - unique training guidance and features developed by Polar over the last 35 years. The device contains a wide range of easy-to-use heart rate based features including “Sports Profile,” where users preselect a sport and can monitor intensity specific to the demands of that discipline, and “Training Benefit,” where instant intuitive feedback is given straight after exercise.

Sony Outdoor Premium (Action Camera) 1,795AED

Available at Adventure HQ Light and compact full HD Action Cam perfect for recording all your active pursuits. Capture every epic moment with amazing clarity and stunning detail, whatever the situation, then play it back instantly with the included LCD mount. • Exmor R CMOS Sensor; excellent low-light performance • Full HD 1080 (60p,50p, 30p, 25p) HD 720 (120p, 60p) • Steadyshot Image Stabilisation; shake free footage • 12MP Still Image Mode • Built-in NFC and WiFi; one-touch remote control • GPS geo-tagging with data overlay Includes: • Universal HeadBand (BLTUHM1) • Grip with LCD (AKALU1) • Ball Head (ADPBH1) • 16GB Micro SD

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PRODUCTS Sony Chest Mount 120 AED

Available at Adventure HQ Mount the Action Cam on the chest using AKA-CMH1 enables stable 360° (non-step) operation in a vertical direction and can swing from side to side using a pan-articulated mechanism. User can give video a sense of realism by shooting at preferred angles while enjoying action sports. • Hands-free shooting • Protection of the human body from strong impact • 360 degrees non-step freedom of operation

Corran SUP Matrix 6,495 AED/QAR 706 OMR

Available at GO Sport stores at Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in the UAE; Villagio Mall and City Centre Doha in Qatar; and Muscat Grand Mall in Oman

90” 89” 88” 87”

86”

The Matrix is truly the master of all. Solving all the problems of flex and wobble of inflatable boards, this ultra rigid do-it-all board acts like it’s a hard shell, with the advantage of being able to roll it up and put it in your Fiat 500, carry it onto an airline, or hike up the furthest peak in Peru. Once inflated, this board is fast and stable, making it possible to paddle long distances with ease, or fish off of it. Aside from its obvious pedigree design, we’ve solved the problem of the board flex in inflatable boards. Pumping it up to a sturdy 15psi after inserting the carbon rods, this board is almost as stiff as a hard shell board, with all the advantages of being able to roll it up. The cream on top is the innovative flip-up skeg that means you can launch into the water with the back of the board beached (keeping feet dry) and paddle over shallow shelves without getting bumped off.

Corran SUP Helium Carbon 1,095 AED/QAR 119 OMR

Available at GO Sport stores at Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in the UAE; Villagio Mall and City Centre Doha in Qatar; and Muscat Grand Mall in Oman Designed to have the maximum power for the minimum blade surface, the Helium’s smaller blade shape, combined with the flexy carbon shaft, is designed for recreational racers and surfers looking for power, without the risk of injury to joints and muscles from extended use. You’re going to love this paddle.

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85”

84” 83” 82” 81”

80” 79” 78” 77”

76” 75”

74” 73” 72” 71”

70”

69” 68”

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New display

WAECO CFX-35 against CF 35 The most powerful compressor cooler WAECO is one of the leading manufacturers of portable fridges and freezers. We did a longer review in last year’s October 2012 - page 44-45 (you can download the issue free of charge from www.outdooruae. com) issue about the Waeco cooling box. The CF and CFX are the smallest coolers in their line and the ideal companions for short or long weekend trips. The CFX-35 is the latest version of the cool/freezer and the successor of the CF 35. So what’s new? The CF 35 is already a great product so we were not surprised that the changes are in the detail. First of all, the design changed and the cool/freezer does not only look more rugged, it is more rugged with re-enforced edges. The handles are now spring loaded and can be folded down to save some valuable space in the trunk (about 7cm in depth). In last year’s test, I actually removed the handles to have more space in the trunk, so this is not an obvious improvement, but in my eyes a very practical one showing the attention to detail of WAECO in further developing and improving their products. As per the product brochure a lot of customer feedback influenced the redesign of the CFX 35. The dimensions increased slightly as well as the weight but therefore you have 3.5L more storage volume. The lid is now more integrated in the body rather than setting on top and has a 10mm wide lid seal gasket with air pocket for added insulation. The hinges are also made of metal and will detach automatically when opened too far and clips back in easily. The control panel

Thicker insulation especially for the lid (left CFX 35 right CF 35)

has now a user-friendly angle and a bright display for good visibility in sunlight. One completely new feature is the USB charging port which nowadays one very useful plug used to charge various gadgets like torches, phone, GPS etc. The compressor is one of WAECO’s genuine compressors built and tested for Australian hot conditions which find perfect application in the hot environment of the Middle East. The second generation of Variable Motor Speed Optimisation (VMSO) provides an even softer start for the compressor, and takes the compressor turbo speed to higher RPM than before until set temperature is reached, after which the speed\ drops back to economy mode. With VMSO and thicker insulation compared to the CF 35 the cool/ freezer fulfills the energy efficiency standards for A++. One more small detail which is very useful is the drain plug which makes cleaning easy and convenient. There are also some new accessories for the CFX series which are the universal fixing kit (belt system) and a wireless display. And what are the common points? The cool/freezer run either on 12V or 24V on the route and can be plugged as well to 100-240V power supplies. The cool/freezer can be set to any temperature from +10°C to -18°C. If it is run through you car battery, the cool/freezer has a guard which can be set to three different levels to ensure the car battery is not drained. As soon as the

New retractable handle with the CFX series to save more space

charge of the battery is high enough the cooler starts cooling again (eg you stop for some hours and then continue driving again). The WAECO cool/freezer is certainly one of the best quality and performance products in the market. Quality comes at a price but if you buy a cheaper electrical cooling box from discounters or hypermaket and have the chance to compare to a WAECO product, you will certainly be happy to spend a bit more and have a working and lasting product. Many coolers are only capable of cooling the inside of the cooler 10°C below the ambient temperature, so you can now calculate yourself how much this is with our summer temperatures in the mid-40s. Since there is nothing to compare the CFX-35 with in the market, the only possible comparison was against the earlier model the CF35. Both are great products but with the CFX series, WAECO address many smaller issues to further improve the cool/ freezer. The only thing I can think they could improve and certainly will is the everlasting challenge to make coolers and freezer especially those you might be sourced by batteries more energy efficient. The CFX-35 is priced at 3,399 AED. The CF35 still available and priced at around 2,759 AED. The CFX is definitely the better choice but if you want to save a little bit of money you also get an amazing product with the CF35. All Waeco range are available at ACE Hardware, Adventure HQ and Jumbo Electronics.

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OUR EXPERTS

e r u t n e v i h d C ck A soul in Koh Samui soothes the

Tori

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

Dubai is going from strength to strength and sending me no end of work so after a crazy start to the year, a chance to recharge was just what I needed. As I’m sure many readers identify, we’re sometimes excellent at working hard, training hard and playing hard but when it comes to downtime, quality rest and relaxation, we score an epic fail. I know I’m not the only stereotypical Type A out there. The thing is… abundant sleep, nutrientdense fuel and a break from high impact training and our hectic 24/7 lives, really does bring us improved performance in the long run (no pun intended!). It certainly helps to reboot our systems,

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improve our motivation levels and create a surge in our overall health, vitality and wellness levels. I’ve just returned from one of the most idyllic spots on the planet, where I’ve been doing just this. Tucked away in a beautifully secluded spot in the southeast of Koh Samui, Thailand, award-winning wellness retreat and holistic sanctuary, Kamalaya, is the sort of place that you dream about, you know, when suffering in a long race and you transport yourself far away to utopia. This is Kamalaya! Centered around a Buddhist Monk’s Cave, the place is perched on a hill, overlooking the ocean and wrapped up in tropical vegetation, streams, boulders, rocks and trees. It’s a sanctuary where beyond the stunning villas nestled amongst the tress, beyond the incredible food, beyond the hospitality and friendliness that redefines both, beyond the perfect pools and idyllic beach, is a world-class wellness centre where you can immerse yourself in complete and utter decadence to soothe your body, mind and soul. From Detox and Stress & Burnout

to Personal Yoga, Optimal Fitness, Emotional Balance and Embracing Change, you’re truly spoilt for choice. Beyond your chosen programme, there’s a weekly timetable of other activities to dip in and out of as you wish. Think group yoga, meditation, Pilates, tai chi, cardio combat and various wellness workshops. The gym is fantastic too and the steam and plunge pools, the perfect place to chill out at the end of the day. There’s a library, art gallery, regular movie showings, cooking classes and regular cultural events as well as year round visiting practitioners, all experts in their field, offering various holistic healing and alternative medicine treatments. It was in fact, a fellow ultra running friend who introduced me to the place. I was here last September, fresh off the podium from Indonesia’s Bromo Marathon and this time, arrived, far from fresh off the podium but certainly, as I mentioned, following a crazy few months. But again, within a day, I felt totally renewed. It’s so peaceful, so quiet, a little slice of paradise to detach from our digitally driven lives and give our bodies a well deserved rest. An integral feature at Kamalaya is their astounding cuisine. The entire menu has been designed to be healing in function, refreshingly wholesome, uniquely creative and organic wherever possible. All foods

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As we all know, junk in, junk out. Quality in, quality out. We certainly can’t ever expect to hit peak performance, in whatever activities we do, if we’re not paying attention to our nutrition. The formula for optimal performance full stop requires regular physical activity, plentiful sleep and food that promote health and wellness and everything on the menu at Kamalaya does just this. I find myself recommending Kamalaya to … well, pretty much everyone I know, and for good reason. From Dubai, it’s so easy. Less than six hours to Bangkok then a short hop on Bangkok Airways to Samui island. It really does take a visit to truly discover the sense of calm and peace it invokes, the inward reflection, the physical lightness, the nutritional wellness, the mental clarity … I could go on. The very word Kamalaya says it all, kamal meaning lotus and alaya, realm, an ancient symbol for the

Photo: Darrell Wong Rider: Chuck Patterson

and juices are served as close to their natural state as possible. No processing, no additives, no artificial flavours. Fresh herbs and spices are used abundantly and every dish has been designed and created to be low allergenic, low-inflammatory and low glycemic. Everything on offer is ridiculously healthy but somehow, you spend ages pondering over the menu at each meal because everything sounds so more-ish.

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growth and unfolding of the human spirit. After fourteen heaven-sent days there, I left feeling totally recharged albeit with a heavy heart. And now, I write this en route back to the desert, feeling excited about getting home. Time to get back into some training with Mauritius’s epic Dodo Trail, just around the corner. Till next month!

Love Tori x Emirates, Dubai - Bangkok www.emirates.com Bangkok Airways, Bangkok - Samui (one hour shuttle) www.bangkokair.com Kamalaya, Koh Samui www.kamalaya.com

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QATAR EXPLORER

Travel to Qatar: Part 1 Make it more than a stopover Words By: Eulogy van Dyk Photos By: Erlanka Paquet

A country that only stretches 160km from north to south and 90km from east to west, it could be quite easy to miss Qatar on a map. A small peninsula above Saudi Arabia, to the east of Bahrain and west of Dubai. Qatar doesn’t immediately jump to most people’s minds as a tourist destination (I mean it is just a small country built on a large rock right?) However, with Qatar having one of the world’s largest gas reserves and massive economic growth in recent years, it is truly developing into a modern nation and a country that is worth the stopover effort. Doha, the capital of the country, is home to the headquarters of major oil and gas companies and serves as an international hub for transit passengers. This city is definitely where most of the “action” takes place with quite a few attractions for visitors to experience. When travelling to Qatar it is best to base yourself here, as it is also where the main hotels are situated. Other cities include Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Ras Laffan, Mesaieed, Madinat Al-Shamal, Dukhan and Shahaniya. Qatar is home to a series of worldclass museums that boasts with some of the world’s premium art collections. Home to some extraordinary cultural landmarks, some of which dating back thousands of years, demonstrating Qatar’s rich cultural heritage. Such a small country, but with so much to offer! To get most of your visit it is best to tap into the lifestyle of the resident expats and locals. Below is a list of these types of activities and places to visit to discover and experience some of this nations’ culture. A two to three day visit might all be that you need, but beware, it will be a jampacked one! Discover the culture Doha Bus (the hop-on hop-off bus) This might be the perfect place to start! A new addition for travellers visiting the

country, it allows you to discover the city at your own pace and time. With six official stops at top sites in Doha (also mentioned below), it really makes exploring easy (www.dohabus.com).

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The Museum of Islamic Art With many visitors commenting on the resemblance the museum bears to an Arabic woman wearing an abaya, this monumental museum has become an icon for art, culture and heritage of culture in Doha. Designed by renowned architect IM Pei (architect of the Louvre’s pyramid), it displays minimal windows with a “virtual” moat and shaped like a postmodern fortress. It houses precious works from more than 200 years of Islamic civilisation (www. mia.org.qa). For museum junkies, here are a few more option to visit: Grand Mosque, Al Khor Museum, Weaponry Museum, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, Al Wakrah Museum, Qatar National Museum and Islamic Culture Center. Doha Corniche (and don’t forget the skyline) The Corniche is a waterfront promenade extending for several kilometres along the Doha Bay. Hugging the water, this horseshoe shaped promenade is a buzz with activity especially during the milder months from October to April. It offers visitors to the city the perfect opportunity for taking a stroll enjoying beautiful views of the city skyline by day or by night. Don’t miss out on a cruise in a traditional boat known as dhow which you will find located all along the Corniche. The Pearl-Qatar Located just outside the West Bay area, this artificial island spans nearly four million square metres and is one of the Middle East’s most glamorous addresses. Created of Italian, French, Spanish and Arabic influences, it captures the charm

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of the old world infused with modern culture. A must visit for boutique shopping, fine dining or simply marveling at the stunning scenery. Souq Waqif By far the number one tourist attraction in Doha, history shows that this market dates back at least a hundred years. It has recently been restored to its former glory. Quiet during the day it becomes alive and vibrant during nighttime with people from all over the world taking in the many attractions it has to offer. From tacky souvenir shops, bulk food stores, spices, tobacco and a wide variety of world cuisine on offer, no visitor leaves disappointed. Grab a map at the information centre, located in the main thoroughfare and make sure not to miss the local art galleries as well as the gold and falcon souq. Katara Cultural Village With a very short history, Katara Cultural Village is leading the way in highlighting the importance of culture through theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions and exhibitions. It offers art galleries, an

amphitheatre, opera house, drama and concerts performances as well as restaurants and beach sports activities. A perfect day out for the whole family to enjoy this unique village that embraces common causes to promote a united humanity (www.katara.net). Al Zubarah Fort For a taste of the ancient civilisations that once lived in Qatar, take a two-hour trip from Doha to the 18th century Al Zubarah Fort and Museum in the Northwest of the country. This historical landmark is the oldest archeological site renowned for

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

Markhiya, is another firm favourite with families. (Opening Hours: 07:30 to 24:00) Al Rumaila Park: This park runs parallel to the Corniche adding beautiful scenery. Don’t be surprised to see fitness enthusiasts taking part in bootcamp or similar classes. (Opening Hours: 10:30 to 23:00) Museum of Islamic Art Park: Take a stroll along the crescent shaped walkway to the park’s café where you can sit in front of the sea and watch the Doha skyline light up as the sun goes down. (Opening Hours: 10:30 to 23:00)

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unique part of Middle East culture and beware you might feel yourself swept up in the excitement! Helpful websites to read more about the country, activities and events taking place: www.qatartourism.gov.za, www.lifeinqatar.com or www.iloveqatar.net.

Camel Racing If you are lucky enough to visit Qatar during November to February you might want to take a drive down to the camel racetrack just north of Sheehaniya. A 30-minute drive from Doha, this purposebuilt racetrack offers the visitor a unique opportunity to observe this traditional sport. You will find locals enjoying this its fort and it features many antiques that exhibit the history of Doha. Other forts to explore: Al Wajba Fort, Barzan towers, Doha Fort (Al Koot), Umm Salal Muhammad Fort Parks Visitors to this desert country are often surprised by the well-maintained parks that are located all over the city. Excellent for picnic spots, walking with the kids or afternoon run, the parks offer green oasis for some peace and tranquility. The most popular major parks are: Aspire Park: With a long walking, running and biking track, this is the most active park in Doha. Expect busy afternoons with lots of visitors. (Opening Hours: 8:00 to 22:00) Sheraton Park: While the kids swing on the monkey bars and play in the sandpit, you can relax on the grass nearby. (Opening Hours: 10:30 to 23:00) Dahl Al Hammam Park: Located in

TRAVEL TIPS Weather: Qatar has a typical desert climate. Hot humid summers and cooler winters. The best time to visit Qatar is between October and April, when the temperature dips. The coolest months are December, January and February. The hottest months (touching 50°C) coupled with very high humidity are July and August, restricting outdoor activities. Local time: 3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time Language: Arabic is the official and main language, but English is widely spoken in every part of the country. How to get there: By air: Average direct flight price from the UAE +/- 1,000 – 1,200 QR (round trip) Average traveling time +/- 1 hour (one way) By car: Driving from the UAE is not really recommended, as you need to cross the Saudi Arabia border that has its own challenges with visa, insurance and residency issues. Visas: Tourist visas are available on entry for citizens of 33 countries. The cost of visa for a month is 100 QR per person, and an additional 50 QR per companion registered on your visa. Alternatively you can arrange one via Qatar Airways website. (Visit: www.qatarembassy.net for more details). How to get around: Bus, taxi and limousine services (Karwa) are available through the national transport company Mowasalat. Taxis as mainly used and reliable. For a longer stay, car rental services are also available. Money: Qatar’s official currency is the Qatari Riyal. Currencies from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are easy to buy and sell at banks and money changers. Clothing: Dress modestly as a sign of respect to local customs and culture. Both women and men should refrain from wearing clothes that go above their knees and women should preferably cover their shoulders and upper arms. Visiting women are not obligated to cover their hair. Swimsuits and beachwear are acceptable at the hotel beaches.

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OUR EXPERTS

Taking up the challenge Part 1

Words By: Ian Ganderton Photos By: Šárka Svobodová

This is proving a surprisingly difficult article to write as it’s more about emotion and the feeling of “why” than the cold hard facts of “where” or “how” that I normally write. Bear with me as I set the scene on the why and in other articles I’ll move onto the easier subjects of how.

Ian Ganderton

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

First of all the “what” though! While interviewing Patrick prior to his participation in the 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, I felt my switch click from “aspiration” to “action.” When I covered the 2013 event I knew straight away I wanted to participate “at some point.” When I was talking to Patrick, I felt the distinct change flick over to “I’m going to do the next one.” My New Year’s resolution had been about actioning my dreams so I had no choice! So that’s what these series of articles will be about. How does a person who has never competed in an event like the ADDC get from such an incredibly low base point to actually starting (and hopefully finishing) an internationally recognised event that attracts the world’s best teams and riders? So for those of you who don’t know the event, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a Dakar style raid rally in which cars, buggies, quads and bikes compete over six long days (special stages are over 200km long) mainly in the Liwa region of Abu

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Dhabi in the most spectacular and brutal sand dunes on the planet. It’s part of the FIA and FIM World Raid Rally series and has a reputation for very tough terrain amongst its international following. The event has a strong local following as well as international. In this region we are very lucky in that we have the kind of open space freedom and terrain to drive/ride in recreationally that has drivers/riders from other parts of the world sobbing into their coffee. This home advantage certainly helps but I know from talking to them that the terrain doesn’t cut the locals any slack. Incidents this year proved it and guys I spoke

to were visibly cooked at the end of stages by the psychological pressures with bodies or vehicles battered and beaten into the ground by the huge dunes. And yet when speaking to these folks, you can see a bright light in their eyes. They love it. They accept the significant risks and financial commitments of the independent racer again and again. I wonder what I’m letting myself in for, am I opening a Pandora’s box and bringing upon myself a whole world of trouble?! To be honest, I know I probably am and the reality is I’m excited for it. Car, buggy, quad or bike? For me there has only ever been one option, it’s bike all the way. I used to ride motorbikes on the road back in the UK and I love the way it feels. The rider is part of their bike and every movement affects the bike in significant ways. I also love the complete efficiency of a bike; it’s everything stripped back to the bare essentials. The bike choice brings with it some advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, it’s probably the cheapest option. There is just less of a bike than any of the other vehicles, in simple terms there is just two wheels and the engines only have one cylinder. This leads to simpler mechanical maintenance and ease of transport. The major disadvantages are to do with risk. Fact of the matter is

riders hit the ground more than drivers, and hitting the floor can hurt. A lot. However risk and acceptance of it is part of motorsport. The trick is to manage it and try and keep it within acceptable levels though the reality is that this is easier said than done. A major problem I have is that at the point I made the decision to ride in the 2015 ADDC I hadn’t actually ridden a motorbike on sand. My off-road biking experience was limited to a few days on dirt roads in coastal Kenya. Based on this fact, it could be argued that I’m being a bit over ambitious. Perhaps I am. I needed to find out how hard it is to

ride a motorbike on the sand and evaluate whether my ambition was realistic. After an internet search I booked a two-hour lesson with Gas Gas Tours. This was extremely lucky and has turned into a hugely positive thing. The company is run by James West, a talented and fast rider of huge experience including competing in many ADDCs (note the use of “competing” not “participating!”) and a Dakar rider. The guy who took me out was Sam Smith who again is hugely talented, experienced and fast as hell; he is also Sam Sunderland’s training partner. Both are planning to compete in the 2015 ADDC. I’m very conscious that connecting into this skills/ experience base has dramatically increased my chances of achieving my goals. The first ride in the sand with Smithy was awesome! Anyone who knows me will vouch for the fact that I’m now officially obsessed. This is a good thing because to get to the start line I need to ride, ride, ride. Building my riding skills is crucial and there is nothing better for that right now than time on the bike. So that’ where I’m up to right now. The decision is made to participate in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on a motorbike and for the summer my plan is to ride as much as possible including weekends as well as before and after work. From September onwards I will start to

look at modifying my bike, doing longer rides, learning to read road books along with preparing myself physically and mentally. In this series of articles I hope to share what it is to be a first time Raid Rally rider and what is required to prepare man and machine with a view to telling the story and also helping those who may have similar aspirations.

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OUR EXPERTS

Top rider!

To say that I occasionally stress about things would be an understatement! Those who know me are probably commenting as they read this, “HUGE understatement.” So let me enlighten those who don’t know me very well what typically stresses me out. I bought my first “high perfor-

John Basson

Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

mance” bike in 2006, and of all the exciting sports I have done, nothing was as “addictive” and “wow,” as riding my CR 250! About a year later, as my riding skills were improving, the addiction only grew stronger and that was when I started stressing. “How long will I be able to ride like this? At what age will life sneak up on me and steal my passion?” Imagine that, only 36 and already stressing about my age!

Mr Paul Tops, in “Top” condition and riding like a pro

To me, realistically, I thought that by 60 I would have to hang up my off-road gloves and buy something that is more suited for the “elderly” (like a GS1200). Then earlier this year during my riding in Morocco I met Mr Claude. He rode and completed the Dakar Rally at the age of 60! He was 61 when I met him and still riding like a pro. This was great news as I immediately added five years before having to hang up my gloves. However Mr Claude’s Dakar does not top Wyndham’s father, Mr Paul Tops! It was already getting hot and the riding had to start early when Wyndham called and asked me to join them on a “Sweihan Ride.” He told me that his father was visiting and he managed to get him a bike for the weekend. I reminded Wyndham that we had to start very early and asked regarding his father’s experience. I also reminded him that the ride from Sweihan usually involves very soft and bright white sand that makes riding a two-wheeler very difficult, especially for newbies. Wyndham humbly told me that his father should be “OK” and that if needs be, he will ride in the back

Paul Tops, a true ambassador for life

with his father. As Wyndham is in his mid-thirties surely, Mr Tops is in his fifties. No problem as my best riding buddy, Oliver, is still faster than most riders, and he is in his fifties. Wyndham’s father should thus be OK. We rendezvoused before sunrise and whilst off loading, Wyndham introduced me to his father. A tall, soft-spoken gentleman, without a gram of fat on his body and a solid handshake was introduced to me. Wyndham explained that his father has lots of experience, but it has been a while since he had ridden in sand, and never in high dunes like we were about to enter. Looking at his father I could see that he

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59 years age difference between these two riders!

Paul and Wyndham Tops

was in excellent physical condition, but not in his fifties. This was surely going to be an interesting ride as we now had the two extremes with us. John-John, my son, on the one end of the age-scale and Mr Tops on the other end. The standard Sweihan trip we ride is a total distance of +-120km and as mentioned the sand is very soft and by midmorning already the sun causes the sand to be a “bright white” making riding very difficult. We were seventeen riders, and this caused the groups to stretch out over several hundred meters. The faster riders can thus gas-it and after about 10 minutes stop and wait for the other riders to regroup. As the faster riders slowly increase the gap in the front, the spacing after 10 minutes is usually no more than 50-100m between riders. This means that the slower riders, even though they are far behind the front riders, have someone “just in front” that they can follow. Combine this with clean dunes that only reflect our tracks, it makes managing larger groups much easier than in Dubai. This was my consolation for what I thought was going to be a slow group. Surprisingly, every time I stopped it only took a minute or so for all the riders to be accounted for. Both Mr Tops and JJ were doing well. As a matter of fact,

neither of them were in the back! Mr Tops was comfortably riding somewhere in the middle of the group and not even building a sweat! By the time we reached the garage I was truly impressed with his riding. The conditions were not easy and his skill as an experienced rider was evident. I don’t want to spoil the story now by revealing Mr Tops’ age, but to give you a hint: the age difference on this ride between our youngest rider and Mr Tops was – are you ready for this – 59 years! The ride back was not as easy and several factors were now against us. The sun was already high making visibility very difficult. You just cannot see the crest of the dunes and often would close the throttle too early in fear of crossing a dune at too high speed. If you do this, you stop almost immediately and pulling away whilst facing uphill is impossible. It is then a huge physical battle to get the bike facing downhill and re-attempting the crossing. Combine the heat with the physical effort, and then the lack of airflow when you ride (tailwind) and it does not take long for the average rider to empty his hydration pack! I would say about half the group was battling with this and before we ran out of water a decision to exit the dunes was made. This was also when one of the newbies learnt

the hard way to never open your overheated bike’s radiator cap, and look at the cap as you unscrew it, whilst the bike is still hot! The guy was very lucky that he only obtained minor burns to his face. We all made it back safely to the cars on what I would certainly not describe as an easy ride. Even for the experienced desert riders we found the conditions everything but pleasant. To Wyndham’s father, Mr Paul Tops, who completed this strenuous ride without a word of complaint, I can only say: “Wow, well done, and thank you for putting me at ease regarding how many years of riding I have left.” Hoping of course that I will be in as good physical condition when I reach his age. Surely Mr Tops’ physical condition and superior riding cannot be taken as an average, but it just goes to show that if you live a healthy life, and keep fit, even at 70 years of age, you can still play in the dunes! Ride safe and go for gold,

John PS: Mr Paul Tops did a solo ride on a BMW R69S from Cape Town to Europe 47 years ago. He plans to “reverse” this route on the 50th reunion of his expedition. His sons will join him and guess what Mr Tops will be riding? The same bike from 50 years ago! He still has it and it runs well enough that he is confident that it will be able to repeat the journey 50 years on. Surely Mr Tops has an above average appetite for life!

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PEOPLE

Adam Kun

Occupation: Professional BMX Flatland Rider Nationality: Hungarian Age: 28

The World Champion BMX Flatland rider flew in from Amsterdam to Dubai so the heat and lack of bicycles on the roads were a change of scene for him. But Adam was stoked for his visit in the region, and to show some of his tricks and meet fans at the new The Zoo Skatepark. How’s your first visit to Dubai? Everything is new and the architecture is amazing. I feel like I’m in the future or something! We also went to the old part of Dubai, which is very nice and it’s the real Dubai. It was great to see both sides of the city. It’s also very hot [laughs]. How did you get into BMX flatland? I started riding 14 years ago. I’m a pro since 10 years old and that’s hard to keep on this level. I’m born in a very small city and it’s like a village actually so we didn’t have any skate parks. Back in the days, there were only two flatland riders there and when I saw them ride I wanted to do that too, so I asked my parents to get me a bike and I just started riding. Back then, the BMX is not as popular. There was no Internet so I didn’t even know there were competitions for it. I just knew that I wanted to do it because it’s fun. In the beginning, my parents told me, “If you enjoy it, do it.” Then they realised, I wanted to do it professionally and they said it’s going to be hard, but I didn’t care. They always supported me and they’re really proud of where I am today. How has this sport progressed? The flatland was included in the X Games years ago, but people wants to see big

crashes, crazy stunts so they decided to take it off. The sport has changed, but I won’t say it went down because we still have professional flatland riders and we have so much international contests with the big prize money, so the sport is still going on and doing very well. When I started, we were riding with two brakes, front brakes and back brakes. We were stopping the tyre with the leg to get speed and these days we don’t have any breaks on the bike. We don’t scratch too much on the tyres. Even the technique of the ride has changed. These days we spin a lot, doing fast tricks and switches. What’s your training like? I try to ride five or six days, depends on how motivated I am. Since it is a freestyle sport, we don’t have any coaches. On one hand, it’s good because you can decide how and when you want to practice. On the other side, if you don’t have the motivation, you can get lazy. My main motivation is the love of the sport. I really like to do it and it’s the main reason why I ride every day. Sometimes I don’t ride very hard, but when I’m creating tricks and switches, I want to get it right. When it’s not perfect, I just keep on going. What’s the hardest trick you’ve got? I have a trick that nobody else in the world can do, but I’ve only pulled off for a few times on video because it’s super hard. I have to train for a week just to film that trick. It’s called Monster Rip where the bike is upside down and I do a tail whip and landing.

What do you love most about this sport? Finding news switches and new links, then you do it for the first time and pull it off in a contest or for a video. I also enjoy it when you do super hard tricks and the people like it and they get inspired to try BMX too. I really like travelling all over the world and meeting people. I basically grew up with my bike and because this is a solo sport, I learned so much about patience and myself. I met my best friends because of bikes and I met my girlfriend also because of this sport. Tell us more about the My Reality video project. Some people think BMX is only a hobby because when we do tricks it looks so easy. With this, we want to show to people that it’s a sport. We wanted to show that apart from the physical aspect and it’s about creativity too, repeating tricks and mental preparation. How have you developed as an athlete? I just do my best, travel the world and show to the people that this is a great sport and you can reach your goals if you really like what you’re doing. That’s the main thing, passion is my fuel and it doesn’t matter that sometimes I get hurt. What’s your advice to those who want to get into the sport? Follow their feelings and the best motivation you have is to like what you’re doing. Keep progressing and you will reach your goal. There’s no easy way. You have to train hard as hell and it takes years and so much work, but it’s all worth it.

PEOPLE

Garreth Stockton Occupation: Teacher Nationality: British Age: 44

The bouldering community is alive and continuously growing in Qatar. A local group composed of climbing enthusiasts called The Doha Climbers have now 1,000+ members who find time to explore the country’s climbing spots and advance the sport. We talk to Garreth Stockton, climber and professional mountaineer, about what he enjoys and how training and professional awards can come to the Middle East. How did you get into climbing? I first got in to climbing when I was put through an instructor’s course in a previous career. This interest developed two years later, when I started climbing at a commercial wall in the UK, where I “learned the ropes.” When was the Doha Climbers group formed? Doha Climbers were set up by a friend of mine Zenon Remi. As far as I understand it, it is a sociable group loosely formed around climbing and outdoor living. They are an extremely helpful and supportive group, who welcome all and can be found easily through their Facebook page. What’s your approach to coaching climbers? Coaching has now been completely formalised in the UK and it is receiving significant funding from Sport England. “Mountain Training” (as part of the British Mountaineering Council) took their successful FUNdamental’s courses, and then developed their own coaching scheme which started this year. This is like any other UK award, in that coaches attend a training course (coaching foundation, coaching development, coaching performance), then conduct a period of personal consolidation before returning for assessment. Coaching has developed perhaps in connection with the explosion in the number of young people entering the sport, and the number of climbing centres

that have their own academy squads. From a coaching perspective, being able to question effectively and make good observations is essential, and this comes from an awareness of the FUNdamentals of climbing and also the volume of movement the coach has accumulated. Equally as important is knowing the right time to give a succinct explanation or when to just stay quiet. Finally, reflection and evaluation of the learning objectives and their appropriateness is essential for all participants. Coaching and instructing are quite different, but mutually compatible. I have worked with adults and children, walking, climbing and scrambling over the last four years in the UK and Qatar. I am currently working towards my Mountain Instructor Award (MIA), similar to the Rock Guide scheme ran by AMGA. The MIA is the UK qualification required to instruct lead climbing outside, whether on bolts or in a more traditional approach using wires and cams. What’s the best thing about this sport? There are many aspects I enjoy: the locations – where I climb is often quite scenic; the people are really important and should not be underestimated; and the fact that you can look at an amazing line in a rock face (no matter what the grade) and think, “Am I really going to climb that?!” Having played a number of competitive team sports and not always won the fixture or game, the decisions I make as a climber are solely mine and there is never anyone else to blame, they represent a combination of three things: strength/endurance, strategy and confidence. What are your favourite climbing routes? The UK is home to many different rock types which all have their own unique styles of climbing, each location being different in character and in terms of its environment. Some of my favourite locations would include the mountains of Snowdonia (Wales), the gritstone edges of the Peak District (England) and the limestone cliffs of Yorkshire and Derbyshire (England). As a keen “boulderer” an annual visit to Fontainebleau, France is a necessity. What are the most difficult routes you have climbed? The most difficult routes or boulders are not

always the most memorable, although you do remember them! I find it’s often the experience you have on that day which is the real memory – few can forget the first time a fulmar chooses to share its stomach contents with you as you approach its coastal cliff nest. I don’t climb particularly hard by today’s standards, but I certainly remember all the F8a routes I have led, and the Font 7c boulder problems. However it’s the routes where it has taken all of your mental and physical strength to finish, which stay with you the longest. What are your top climbing tips especially for the hot summer months? The climbing year is often split into seasons, dictated by the weather which isn’t a bad thing. This can help from a training perspective forcing you in to regular cycles of power training and endurance. Here in Qatar when the temperature gets really hot, you have little choice but to go inside. During the summer months I train on a finger board called a “beastmaker,” which is basically a block of wood, with pre-drilled pockets and edges of various depths. During the winter, personally I spend time bouldering at Fuwairit and Musfer, although the school I work at has a brilliant 13m high wall. What are the good climbing spots in Qatar? Social climbing at the weekend at Zeekreet remains popular with the addition of a new crag. However, this is only bottom roping (ie the position of where the belayer stands), and the rock is sandy and loose. At Musfer Sink hole, routes have been added over the last two years up to Font 7a+. The setting is quite bizarre (vimeo.com/66083717). Since October I have been developing the climbing at the beach at Fuwairit, where the rock is cleaned by the sea. Although it doesn’t offer much height, there are a number of very good traverses, and one or two up problems up to Font 7b. There are still many unclimbed problems too (g2stockton.blogspot.com). There is little doubt that with over 1,000 members in the Doha Climbers FB group there is certainly a lot of enthusiasm for a national wall. What do you think could be done to improve this sport in the Middle East? There is certainly a lot of enthusiasm for a national wall. Getting more people involved would mean building more commercial walls. You only need to look at how successful these are commercially in Europe, North America and South East Asia to recognise the benefits in terms of lifestyle, health and participation.

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LOCATIONS

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

Part 7

Words + Photos By: Sean James

Are you trying hard enough? Following on from the discussion about fitness and hiking last month, July will be about how hard you try when you are hiking or participating in outdoor activities. Virtually all hiking in the UAE has stopped now over the summer months and those who are continuing are probably doing so for a particular reason or because they have an objective in mind: pushing themselves to train for longer or harder hikes abroad or because they are simply addicted to the feeling of intense exercise. So how do we make sure that we don’t “overcook” the hiking or training and burn out? In previous articles, we have

looked at tips that could be used to enable survival in the outdoors such as covering up, drinking enough water and

Pick a route that is exciting but suitable for the conditions

planning a suitable route. But when it comes to the level of effort that we put into our activity, is it enough to someone who you see is struggling, “just take it a bit easier” and what exactly does that mean. PE or perceived exertion in the athletic community is a concept that can be used across many aspects in both training, racing and of course hiking. Many of us now cannot train without technology or a coach telling us at what speed we should be going, for how long and at what pace. Devices and straps attached to our bodies tell us how fast we are running, how quickly our heart beats, which zone we are in and how much power we are producing. When we get home and upload the data, we know if we have had a good session. But do we really want to enjoy our beloved hiking in the wilderness with all these accoutrements and make this part of the hiking experience. After all, one of the reasons we go hiking is for a sense of freedom, risk and to declutter our lives. In the 1980s, Gunnar Borg, a Professor in Perception and Psychophysics at Stockholm University suggested a scale to estimate heart rate and therefore effort. It is such a simple scale and one that goes right back to basics. Of course it is closely linked to the zones that you would use with a heart rate monitor or device that measures power but the difference is that it relies on the decision making and sensitivity of the human. I frequently use a version when guiding clients in the high mountains. It is a fact

The ability to judge your effort is essential in the mountains

that most people who suffer from altitude sickness are young, fit males between 20 and 30. Why? Because they overestimate their levels of fitness and approach even a day hike at 4,000m in a similar fashion as they do a sprint at maximum effort on the stair trainer. At sea level, with a good diet and healthy lifestyle they may be able to squat massive weights and run intervals up and down hills. At higher altitudes with less oxygen available in the air, things become more difficult. It is frequently those who amble along, chatting, eating and taking a more relaxed approach who have the most success in the mountains. So how does the scale work? To start with, no technology is required. It is subjective and scores will differ between people. It is a linear scale and starts with a value of six which has the description “no feeling of exertion.” At the top end is “very, very hard,” which

Overexertion can lead to problems

rates a 20. Moderate activities register 11 to 14 and have descriptions such as “fairly light” to “somewhat hard.” You can immediately see these values

None

Reading a book, watching TV

Very, very light

7-8

Tying shoes

Very light

9-10

Easy to breathe, feels like you can maintain for hours and carry on a conversation. Tasks that take little effort.

Fairly light

11-12 Brisk walking or tasks that require moderate effort but don’t make you out of breathe

Somewhat hard 13-14

Feels like you can exercise for hours. Breathing heavily but can hold conversation

Hard

15-16

On the verge of becoming uncomfortable. Could be brisk walking. Short of breathe. Can speak a sentence.

Very hard

17-18

Very difficult to maintain exercise intensity. Can barely breathe and speak a single word.

Very, very hard

19-20

Max effort activity level. Feels almost possible to continue. Completely out of breathe, unable to talk. This could be a finishing sprint in a race.

connect directly to the zones that your trainer is asking you to work at. The image left shows the values and also the feelings that you should experience within the scale. Alongside these is the level of intensity of your exercise. Use it so that when hiking you can monitor your intensity and also that of your companions to make sure you’re working at a pace that is challenging enough to help you reach your goals, but not so hard that you blow up mid-hike. Once in a while ditch the technology. Don’t think about how many kilometres you’ve run, how fast or what zone you are in. Pick a route and just hike. Judge your efforts and make sure you are developing a feel for what is possible with what you have and the level of fitness at the point in time. Remember in these hot summer months, you are likely to experience higher values on the PE scale for routes that were much easier in the winter months and had lower values.

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

Google Earth Screen shot of the route You can download the GPS files here: www. outdooruae.com/downloads/Julyhike2014.zip

Fossil Rock is easily reached and can provide both long (hard) and short (easier) efforts.

A hike for July The months are super hot and humid now. Daytime temperatures are constantly in the 40s. Care is needed whenever exercising during the day. The mornings are generally cooler than the evenings and hiking is still possible. The morning temperature on the outskirts of Dubai

is often in the low 20s if you wake at 02:30. Overnight temperatures in the Hajar mountains for areas above 1,000m still require a fire and sleeping bag. As a result the hike for this month is much shorter and definitely requires an early morning or late evening start. It is best to pick a day that is clearer as the views of the sunset over Dubai are spectacular. The route starts just off the E102, Sharjah

Quick Checklist Route planning Start Point

25°10’2.88”N 55°50’28.88”E

Off road driving required

Yes. Park on the large gravel area just off the highway.

Distance & Time from Mirdiff to Start

54km 35min

Navigation on hike

Very easy navigation. Multiple options to extend.

Time required for hike

2hrs but can be extended

Distance

3.1km

Elevation gain on hike

160m

High Point

280m

Grocery / water on hike

Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail

Suitable for all the family

This hike is very close to the road with spectacular views over the desert, Dubai and the mountains. Depending on the route taken to the high point there is a small amount of exposure and small technical sections.

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Kalba highway and is an introduction to Fossil Rock. The route stays on the rocky part and simply follows the ridgeline for a short distance until dropping back down to the edge of the desert. It is possible to do a traverse of the first part on the sand for a longer outing. Directions to the start Enter the start point coordinates into your GPS device or follow the directions from Google. 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.

LOCATIONS

Hole-in-the-Wall Dive sites in the UAE and Oman

How to get there: This site is around a 30-minute trip on the speed boat from Al Boom, Al Aqah Dive Centre, located at the Le Meridien Hotel. The drive to Al Aqah from Dubai normally takes 1.5-2 hours. Alternatively, if you are not driving yourself to Fujairah, you can also use the Al Boom bus transfers from Dubai. Meeting point is from the dive centre in Al Wasl Rd. Other pick-up points are available, please contact the call centre for more info. Description: This is an amazing shallow site covered with soft and hard corals, and plenty of passages between the rocky outcrops to explore. It is very close to Martini Rock and Inchcape 2 along the shoreline and slopes down to around 15m. The swim-through (aka: Hole-in-the-Wall) is in shallow water with a few entry and exit points. The largest entrance is close to 2m wide, and the swim-through is close to 10m long. You will find a large variety of fish and lots of them, along with turtles, rays, morays, and many more that call this beautiful ecosystem home. In summer, you can expect water temperatures of around 30°C, and in winter, an average of around 20°C.

Location:

Fujairah, UAE

Depth:

5-15 metres

Type of dive:

Rocky coral outcrops along the shoreline, with a sandy passages and sandy bottom.

Level:

Open water divers and up, and especially enjoyed by photographers. *Please note: if you are planning on entering the swim-through, please get sufficient over-head environment training beforehand.

Divers can enter in many different ways, and backward-roll and giant-stride are the most common. Visibility on average is around 10m, and up to 20m on a good day. With all that marine life be sure to take your camera. Be aware of the usual suspects on the East Coast, such as lionfish, urchins, scorpionfish, and occasionally jellyfish! Even though this is a great dive site for all levels of certified divers, we highly recommend that you get overhead environment training beforehand if you are planning on entering the swim-through. OBSERVATION: “This is a beautiful site full of marine life! It is a great dive for young divers to see a

thriving underwater ecosystem, with lots of juvenile species.” - Moh, Dubai, UAE “On the right day with good vis, this is one of the most interesting sites you can dive on the East Coast!” - Andrew, Bournemouth, UK “Such a cool swim-through!” Ben, South Carolina, USA 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

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TIPS & TRICKS

What to consider when competing overseas Words By: Trace Rogers, Coach and Founder of SuperTRI

I remember the days when the triathlon season in the UAE ended in April and resumed at the beginning of November. In between that, the odd swim, bike or run happened but the training season was definitely over. This is no longer true. Most of us now train throughout the year in the hope of being so much better in the new season. Even more of us view the end of the local season as a reason to aim for a race overseas. If you are planning on racing overseas this year, here are a few things to consider. Read the race briefing. This is the first thing that you do. Races overseas may differ in many ways. The race rules may be different in that (unlike most races here) they are draft – legal. If this is the case, TT bikes will not be permitted on the course. You need to ensure that you have the right bike for the race. The temperature might differ. You may be able to get away with racing an entire race wearing nothing but your tri suit in a race out here however, races in other parts of the world (despite it being summer) may require that you layer up. Get the required

kit ahead of time and test it out. Race day nutrition. Find out what nutrition is on offer and start practicing training with this. Also, consider how temperature changes would affect your nutritional needs. Be prepared for this by taking additional or different nutrition to what you use out here at this time of year. Luggage allowance. Check the details regarding all the airline carriers that you will be using for your bike. Plan your travel accordingly and arrive with your bike alongside you. It’s all about the bike. If you are planning on having your bike serviced or professionally packed before the race, plan well in advance. This way you can avoid any last minute challenges; you can plan your bike training around the service and make adjustments to the bike if necessary. Always check that everything that should be in the bike box is packed. After having her bike packed by a bike shop that will

remain unnamed, a client of mine arrived at an overseas race to find that the front wheel had been left in Dubai. True story. This story would have had a catastrophic ending had a kind soul not come to her rescue and lent her a front wheel. Don’t let this story repeat itself. Check and double check. Also ensure that your wheels are deflated for the flight. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Take the time to write out a checklist of everything that you will need for your race including the last days leading up to it. Pack everything, using the checklist and then get someone else (preferably a competitive triathlete) to double check both the list (that everything that should be on it, is on) and your packing (that everything that should be packed is packed). With all your training boxes ticked and your travel needs addressed, all that will be left to do is enjoy the adventure and the challenge. Happy racing!

How to get rid of the plastic taste in hydration packs Words By: Daniel Birkhofer

Most hydration pack advertises that their packs are tasteless and will not add any flavour to the water if you use them. I followed the instructions with the hydration packs of several brands and washed them before use, but with the same result. The water always kept a strange plastic taste. My solution then was to use sweet energy drinks to cover up the strange taste. The downside, of course, is the sugary drink which is not ideal for hydration.

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Not to mention the intense cleaning after to get rid of all the sticky remains of the drink in the pack. The other thing I was always questioning was how hygienic is the pack after using it for some time, since the inside is not easy to clean and usually doesn’t dry out well. Both of my problems found their solution when a friend (thanks, Tom!) gave me the hint to add some toothpaste in the pack fill it with water over night and clean it with fresh water after. The whole trick worked well and I was able to fill the bag with water and with no bad after taste. Only a slight hint of mint remained from the toothpaste for the first fill. The other great advantage is that toothpaste is antibacterial and therefore great at preventing germs. If you are also looking for a solution you will love it – it is simple, cheap and it works.

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TIPS & TRICKS

How and what to catch in the Middle East #6

Picnic seabream Words By: Kit Belen

The picnic seabream (Acanthopagrus berda) belongs to the Sparidaey, or the seabream family. Like most fish, the picnic seabream has a few common names, however, it is commonly called is the yellowfin seabream, a name that best describes the bright yellow fins contrasting the darkish body of this fish. Shaam is its Arabic Name.

They grow up to good sizes and are great table fare

Yellowfin seabream love softplastics

Leadhead jigs dressed with soft plastics are my go to lures for yellowfin seabream

They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters and are bottomdwelling carnivores. Most species possess grinding, molar-like teeth. Some of the species, are over fished, however, the yellowfin seabream is marked as OK to fish for according to choosewisely.ae. Where to find The yellowfin seabream is a native of the gulf and is probably one of the fish with the widest distribution. It is commonly found schooling in estuarine waters and other sheltered areas such as docks and jetties. It is a shallow water bottom-dwelling fish preferring structure and sandy muddy bottoms. How to catch Although easy to find, you will discover that they are often picky biters. As these fish are often bait profiling, meaning, they will only eat the bait or lure when it is the same size of the fish or crustacean they are foraging on in that particular day or week. We do know for certain that they will not bite big lures, which cut down on a lot of guesswork. A few lures work on them, just

Estuaries that have a deep water drop around it are prime areas for these fish

remember to cast your lure as close to structure as possible. Since the areas they inhibit are a challenge to bait fish in without snagging, a lot of fishing for the yellowfin seabream is done with lures and flies. If you find yourself fishing for them with bait, the standard up and down dropper rig works well; use just enough weight to get your baits down to the bottom. They will eat pieces of shrimp, squid and if you can find them, small crabs. Small jigs dressed with soft plastic bodies of about three inches (7.5cm) work well for them, the same size for any subsurface lure works well. Poppers and stickbaits work well in dawn, dusk and very cloudy days. When this condition presents itself, catching them on topwater lures makes for some serious fun.

Small plugs also work well for them when they are a bit more agressive, make sure to cast close to structure and work your lures slowly

Small stickbaits and poppers are effective early in the morning or towards dusk

Flies such as this crazy charlie work so well on bream when they are feeding on crustaceans

Because of the small lures and weights and because they don’t really run long distances when hooked, you can effectively catch them with light tackle. A long rod will help you cast a good distance and longer rods have sensitive tips that help you detect them as they peck on the lure. Lines of up to 12lbs (6kg) paired with a reel of a 2000 to 4000 size (Shimano or Penn Sizing) round up the ideal tackle for them. Staying within this range gives you an efficient and sporting outfit that will make the fishing more exciting and enjoyable. Availability and conservation A thing to note about any seabream is the fact that they are slow growing fish; good specimens such as those pictured in this article are about 10 years old. This means it is very easy to do some damage on the stock if you take out the breeders (the big ones!). The main challenge with this fish is also the fact that they are good table fare. Choosewisely.ae have listed this fish in the green and that it’s OK to harvest them. I personally return most of the big ones I catch because I know how slow they grow. Just keep in mind that detail when you catch a few of them. Leave some for our children to enjoy so we can take them fishing for these great fish when they are old enough to fish with us.

Bottom fishing rigs with multiple hooks are effective when used with shrimps and strips of squid

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TIPS & TRICKS

Apps for the outdoors Words By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez

Some frown upon the idea of tinkering with gadgets while exploring the outdoors. This is understandable, because why bother going for a backbreaking hike just to play Temple Run on SAS Survival Guide Developer: Trellisys.net Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (iOS 3.0 or later); Android devices; BlackBerry File size: 243 MB Price: 20.99 AED in App Store; 22.00 AED in Google Play; 14.66 AED BlackBerry World Hopefully, you won’t need to go “Man vs Wild” when venturing outside. But if the situation calls for it, you might find this app helpful with text, images and videos on how to build a fire, find water, navigate using the stars and signals for rescue. Optimised for mobile use, it contains the full text of the bestselling book of the same title authored by former Special Air Service (SAS) member, instructor and survival handbook writer John “Lofty” Wiseman. It also has a Morse code signaling device, sun compass and extreme climate survival. The free Lite version covers the essentials and survival scenarios, but not as comprehensive as the full version.

This month, instead of a featured knot, we recommend a useful smartphone app for all your knot needs...

What Knot to Do

Developer: Columbia Sportswear Co Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later) File size: 19.6 MB Price: Free Knowing how to tie knots is useful in any situation, especially in the outdoors. This app serves as a pocket guide to 70 kinds of knots in six categories like bindings, hitches and loop. It contains knot description, its different uses and step-by-step instructions with coloured illustration. It also has an introduction to knots, labeled illustration of the parts of a rope and glossary for a quick search. Easy to use and free.

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your phone at the summit? But digital revolution has provided us with advantages that even the hardcore outdoorsman won’t feel too bad whipping out his phone when needed. We downloaded some mobile apps we think might be useful to your adventures. AccuWeather Developer: AccuWeather Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (iOS 7.0 or later); Android devices; BlackBerry File size: 29.9 MB Price: Free So what’s the weather today? Well, now you don’t have to guesstimate, because you can easily swipe through the app for minute-by-minute weather forecasts, RealFeel® temperature, UV index, humidity, wind speed and direction, and localised alerts for worldwide locations. There’s a daily forecast for the week, sunrise and sunset timings, map of your location. The interface is really fuss-free and, more importantly, accurate. We would love to hear your recommendations or alternative smartphone apps for the outdoors.

TIPS & TRICKS

Stay hydrated this summer Interview By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez

Don’t let the rising temperature keep you from your summer shape-up and adventures. But before you start slabbing on the sunscreen and chasing the sun, it is important to know how to properly hydrate during these hot months. Dehydration is one of the most common concerns when exercising in the heat. Perspiration or sweating is your body’s way of regulating temperature whether from the heat or strenuous exertion. The more you sweat, the more body fluids you lose, and the more you need to replenish them by drinking. OutdoorUAE consulted Dr Mirey Karavetian, PhD – a clinical dietitian at Genesis Clinic and assistant professor at Zayed University – to learn more about alternative hydrators and on how to avoid dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration Feeling thirsty means you are already mildly dehydrated Headache Dry skin Constipation Low urine output Dark urine (see figure below) Urine Chart TARGET

DEHYDRATION

SEVERE DEHYDRATION

How to prevent dehydration • Drink, drink, drink plain water • Stay in cool places and wear light clothing • When under the sun, add two cups of water to your usual needs • Use ice cubes to suck on • Diluted fruit juices • Eat watery fruits, not more than three per day

• Eat plenty of salads, they keep you hydrated and give you healthy nutrients Hydration when working out • Start with drinking plain water (1-2 cups) before your workout • Keep on sipping on water during exercise • After you are done, again drink 1-2 cups of water Daily hydration The usual eight cups of water (a cup = 240ml; a regular mug) per day is needed. But here is an individualised calculation: Body weight Fluid requirement Young: 15–30 years 40mL/kg Average: 25–55 years 35mL/kg Older: 55–65 years 30mL/kg Elderly: >65 years 25mL/kg Sports drinks, salt tablets and other alternatives According to Dr Mirey, energy drinks have too much sugar and caffeine. Both of which cause even more dehydration. They can boost your energy, but not replenish your body fluid levels. Salt tablets would increase water retention in your body. Since we all eat salt more than we need, there is no need for extra tablets. But salt tablets are good in cases when water is not available, so they would keep the little water consumed inside the body. Compared to coconut water, plain water is the best for hydration. If you do not like the taste of water, you can add fruit pieces in your water bottle. Any other fluid will give you extra calories that you do not need. Ingredients and components to look for in other hydration options Ideally, a sport drink should be 6-8% sugar and the rest

electrolytes. Most sports drinks in the market have higher concentrations of sugar which not only give you more sugar than you need but also dehydrate you and cause fatigue. You can either heavily dilute your sports drinks or chose water with electrolyte tablets. The addition of electrolytes decreases risk of dehydration and boosts your energy. The scenario is different when you finish the workout; for this, the diluted sports drink or plain water would not be enough. Here comes the role of the regular sports drink which has a high level of sugar to resume your energy. Drink that on top a protein rich snack and you would have the best results. Recommended hydration options Dr Mirey mentioned earlier that plain water is superior to coconut water for regular hydration purposes. After a workout, to maintain your energy level, coconut water has the perfect blend of low sugar level yet rich electrolyte concentration. One bottle has around 90kcal, 22g of sugar and 0g of fat. Moreover, recent studies on animals have noted the positive effect of coconut water on general health. Its consumption has been associated with reduced blood pressure and cholesterol. Summer hydration tips • Drink water whenever you can • Before you start the meal, drink two cups of water. • It will make you full, prevent you from overeating and keep you hydrated during the day. • Avoid salty foods; they will make you feel thirsty during the day.

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

JULY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

TIPS & TRICKS

Drowning Words By: Gordon Ingram

Over the last couple of issues we have looked at both the assessment of a patient and also how to deal with any minor injuries which they may have sustained. In this article, we will look at an incident which is always possible with any water sport and that is the risk of drowning. With regards to surfing, I think that it is true that each and every surfer has a comfort level. For some, it may be that they feel most at home bobbing around in a 3-4ft beach break, for others they may feel confident being towed behind a ski with 25-30ft bombs surrounding them. Whichever category you fall into the main points are exactly the same – confidence and comfort. I can put my hand on my heart (as I am sure most surfers can) and say that there have been several times when I have felt out of my comfort zone, usually because I have been coaxed out there by some UK charger telling me that it will all be ok! Thankfully, this has always been true otherwise I wouldn’t be here writing this article! However, there have been instances where surfers have ventured into the sea, to take on waves well within their “comfort levels” and unfortunately not returned. Mark Foo, Hawaiian big-wave surfer, used to being in the ocean surrounded by massive walls of water. He sadly passed away surfing 20–25ft waves near San Francisco, for the majority of us the sight of waves breaking at 20-25ft would have us reaching for the cameras rather than choosing which board will do the job, but for Mark this should have been a walk in the park. Interviews with friends afterwards stated he was tired, jet-lagged at not feeling 100%. Again, how many of us have been drawn into the sea when not feeling 100%? It would be stating the obvious to say that you are taking more risk when surfing larger waves, but there is also a risk when surfing smaller “normal’ size waves, in fact the risk may be higher than we think as we become complacent and push ourselves further. All it takes is one lapse in concentration, a hit to the head, surfing a shallow reef and hitting the bottom, surfing a busy beach-break and being involved in a collision, the list goes on. So, what can we do? I am not saying we should all give up water sports and head

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to the gym (there is probably more risks involved by doing that). What I am saying is that we should all be aware of what could happen. So what is drowning? Drowning itself is quick and silent, although it may be preceded by distress which is more visible. A person drowning is unable to shout or call for help, or seek attention, as they cannot obtain enough air. The instinctive drowning response is the final set of autonomic reactions in the 20–60 seconds before sinking underwater, and to the untrained eye can look similar to calm safe behaviour. Lifeguards and other persons trained in rescue learn to recognise drowning people by watching for these instinctive movements. Drowning is most often quick and unspectacular. Its media depictions as a loud, violent struggle have much more in common with distressed non-swimmers who may well drown but have not yet begun. In particular, an asphyxiating person is seldom able to call for help. The instinctive drowning response covers many signs or behaviours associated with drowning or near-drowning: • Head low in the water, mouth at waterlevel • Head tilted back with mouth open • Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus • Eyes open, with fear evident on the face • Hyperventilating or gasping • Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway • Trying to roll over on the back to float • Uncontrollable movement of arms and legs, rarely out of the water. Seawater is hypertonic to blood (more salty). Osmosis will instead pull water from the bloodstream into the lungs, thickening the blood. In animal experiments, the thicker blood requires more work from the heart leading to cardiac arrest in 8-10 minutes.

So what can we do if someone drowns where we are in the water? Rescue involves bringing the person’s mouth and nose above the water surface. A drowning person may cling to the rescuer and try to pull himself out of the water, submerging the rescuer in the process. Thus it is advised that the rescuer approach with a buoyant object, or from behind, twisting the person’s arm on the back to restrict movement. If the rescuer does get pushed under water, they should dive downwards to escape the victim. Special care has to be taken for people with suspected spinal injuries, and a back board (spinal board/surfboard) may be needed for the rescue. In water, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is ineffective, and the goal should be to bring the casualty to a stable ground quickly and then to start CPR. Once on ground CPR is performed if the patient is not breathing. Even in hot countries, treatment for hypothermia may also be necessary. As with any medical assistance, the level of care which you can provide will depend on the training you have received and the equipment you have available. I urge everyone who participates in water sports to partake in lifeguarding or pre-hospital care course as the life you have saved may be that of a friend or relative. I hope that none of you have to act on this information but it is always better to be prepared! 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.

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

JULY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

UAE DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, +971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai: +971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42839392 Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595; Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240 InterSport, Dubai Times Square Centre: +971 43418214 and Dubai Festival City: +971 42066581,www.intersport.ae Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping centres, +971 43504444, www.sunandsandsports.com

Adventure tours and desert safaris Alpha Tours, Off #512, 5th Flr., Al Qwais Bldg., Al Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai, +971 42949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873, www.bikeandhikeoman.com Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers, Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566, www.dadabhaitravel.ae Desert Rangers, Dubai, +971 43572200, www.desertrangers.com Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr., Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., +971 44329392, www.dreamdays.ae Dream Explorer LLC, Shop no # 9, Plot # 312-504, Al Musalla Building , Mina Bazar, Bur Dubai, +971 43544481, www.dreamexplorerdubai.com Dubai Relax Travel, National Towers: Churchill Tower Suite #614, Business Bay, Dubai, +971 44221776, www.dubairelaxtours.com Element Fitness, Dubai, +971 502771317, www.element-fitness.net Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai, +971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae, Gulf for Good, Dubai, +971 43680222, www.gulf4good.org Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre +971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com MMI Travel, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata Travel Centre, Shk Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43166579, www.theemiratesgroup.com Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, +971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889,

www.opdubai.com Rahhalah, Dubai, +971 44472166, www.rahhalah.com Wild Guanabana, Dubai, +971 567954954, www.wildguanabana.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, & Adventure Club, +971504920860, mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com

Air

Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai, +971 42854949, www.ballooning.ae Dubai Paragliders, www.microaviation.org, +971 552120155 or +971 552250193 Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 6139859, www.jac-uae.net Seawings, Dubai, www.seawings.com Sky Dive Dubai, Dubai, +971 501533222, www.skydivedubai.ae

Boating & Sailing

Manufacturer Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam, +971 72682333/+971 504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443, www.alshaalimarine.com Alyousuf Industrial, LLC, +971 43474111, www.aym.ae, yamboats@alyousuf.com Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1 office # 3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE, +971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com Gulf Craft, Ajman, +971 67406060, www.gulfcraftinc.com Distributors and Dealers Art Marine, Dubai, +971 43388955, www.artmarine.net Azure Marine, Dubai, +971 43404343, www.azuremarine.net Luxury Sea Boats, Dubai, +971 505589319, www.luxuryseaboats.com Macky Marine LLC, Dubai, +971 505518317, www.mackymarine.com Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 65576818, www.nautilusyachts.com The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae UAE Boats 4 Sale, Dubai Marina, +971 44471501, www.uaeboats4sale.com Western Marine, Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 43039744 Equipment Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Deira, Dubai, +971 42263220 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 / +971 553899995, info@bluewatersmarine.com, www.bluewatersmarine.com Extreme Marine, Dubai, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +971 559299111, +971 42828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, www.rinehemiratesme.com Repairs and Maintenance Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, info@rinehemiratesme.com, www.rinehemirates.com SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 501405058, info@snsmarine.ae, www.snsmarine.ae The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae Cruise Operators Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665491, www.marinaalbateenresort.com

Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba, Musandam, +968 26836550, +971 65441232 Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite the British Embassy, +971 43994994 Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina, +971 44309941, www.bristol-middleeast.com Captain Tony’s, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae Delma Industrial Supply and Marine Services, Al Bateen Jetty, Abu Dhabi, +971 26668153, www.delmamarine.net Eden Yachting, Dubai Marina, +971 504586171, www.edenyachting.com Emirates Yachting, Dubai, +971 42826683 El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406, www.elmundodubai.com Four Star Travel and Tourism, Dubai, +971 42737779, www.fourstartravels.net 4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971 558961276, +971 503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225, Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43437734, www.jpsyachts.com Khasab Divers, Oman, +971 567255889, khasab.diver2@gmail.com Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours, PO Box 411, Khasab, Musandam, +968 93350703, info@tourkhasab.com Khour Shem Tourism, Oman, +968 26731919, www.khourshemtours.com LY Catamaran, Dubai, +971 505869746, +971 566506683, www.lycatamaran.com Marine Concept, Dubai, +971 559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600, www.noukhada.ae RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton Marina, +971 504912696, +971 72066410 Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011 Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Smoke Dragon Of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi International Marine & Sports Club, +971 507011958 / +971 504546617 Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +971 42573084 The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111, www.the-club.com The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk – opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel Marina, +8008044, www.theyellowboats.com Marinas Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater, +971 26815566, www.adimsc.com Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300 Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam +971 72682333 / +971 504873185 www.aljeerport.ae Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman, +968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai, +971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com Dubai International Marine Sports Club, Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 43627900, www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina, Dubai, +971 43455545 Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai, +971 43941669, www.dosc.ae Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 43388955 Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar, +974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com

Fujairah International Marine Club, Fujairah, +971 92221166, www.fimc.ae Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina, Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555/5029, www.jebelali-international.com Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar, +974 55843282, www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman, +968 24737286 (ext 215), www.marinaoman.net Pavilion Marina, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800 The Pearl–Qatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar, +974 4965801, www.ronauticame.com Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club, Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644, www.uaqmarineclub.com Dragon Boat Groups Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating, Dubai +971 508795645 (Michael), www.dubaidawnpatrol.org Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175 (Nick Hando), www.dubai-diggers.com UAE Dragon Boat Association, +971 507634008, www.dubaidragonboat.com

Camping & Hiking

Equipment Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255, www.blingmytruck.com Gulf Camping, Dubai, U.A.E, support@gulfcamping.com Jack Wolfskin, Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, +971 24437802 Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43951113 Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink, The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801 Tour Operators Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959428, www.arabiatours.com Libra, +971 559228362, www.libra-uae.com Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba, +971 50336046, www.sheesabeach.com

Caving

Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +968 24543002, www.holiday-in-oman.com Oman World Tourism, Oman, +968 99431333, www.omanworldtourism.com

Climbing

Equipment 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, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi +971 24437802 Services Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, +971 43065061, www.climbingdubai.com E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 42824540, www.esportsuae.com The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111, www.the-club.com Information UAE Climbing, +971 506456491, www.uaeclimbing.com

Mountain Biking & Cycling

Equipment/Dealers Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE, +971 526221888, products@allbikers.net Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415, 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, +971 43805228 Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Dubai, +971 43413056 / +971 43308023 Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1, +971 43255705, www.probike.ae Rage Shop, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City, +971 43369007, www.rage-shop.com Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441, www.rcdxb.com Ride Bike Shop, Dubai Mall, Festival City, Oasis Centre, Mirdif City Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43750231, www.ridebikeshop.com Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road & Jebel Ali, Dubai, + 971 43388644 Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525, www.tamreensports.com The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai, +971 505528872, www.thecyclehub.com Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377, www.trekbikes.ae Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 45081202, +971 556096757, www.trikkeme.net Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, +971 506259165, www.adventure.ae, info@adventure.ae Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome www.cyclechallenge.ae Dubai Roadsters, www.dubairoadsters.com

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Diving

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, Dubai www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Blue Waters Marine, +971 42232189, Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi, +971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi, Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +971 26665226, www.premiers-uae.com Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai, +97143414940, info@scubadubai.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Diving Centres Al Boom Diving (equipment), Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993, www.alboomdiving.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam, +971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St across from main bus terminal, +971 26437377, info@divemahara.com, www.divemahara.com Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72226628, +971 502428128 www.arabiandiver.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Coastal Technical Divers, glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com, www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City, Dubai, +971 44308246, www.diveindubai.com Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015400, www.divemahara.com Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, +971 92370299, www.diversdown-uae.com Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi, near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444, www.edc-ad.ae Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam, +968 26735555, www.extradivers.info Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba, Royal Beach Hotel, +971 43944275, www.freestyledivers.com Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation Club, Oman, +968 99317518, www.global-scuba.com Khasab Divers, Oman, www.khasabdiver.com Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Moonlight Dive Center, Madinat Qaboos, Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +971 503289642, www.holiday-in-oman.com Neptune Diving, +971 504347902, www.neptunedivingcentre.com Nomad Ocean Adventures, www.discovernomad.com, +971 508853238, Dibba, Oman Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman, +968 24284240, www.omadivecenter.com Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +971 44068828 Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488, www.scubaoman.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,

JULY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922, www.scubauae.com 7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan, +971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 50784 0830, www.bsac406.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Sky &Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005, www.watersportsdubai.com The Dive Shop, 34G, European Center, Green Community, Dubai, UAE, +971 48135474, www.thediveshopdubai.com Clubs Atlantis Underwater Photography Club, Dubai, +971 44263000 Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai, www.desertsportsdivingclub.net Emirates Diving Association, Diving Village, Al Shindagha, Dubai, +971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC), Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421, www.thefilipinoscubadivers.com Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 507840830, www.bsac406.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Kashat, Shop No. 14, Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar, +974 44175950, www.alkashatqatar.com Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 / +971 553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798, contactus@challengingadventure.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com

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

Operators Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993 Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72434540, www.alhamramarina.com Al Mahara Dive Center, Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125, www.divemahara.com Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing (Al Wasl Passenger Yachts and Boats Rental LLC), Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai, +971 42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah International Marine Club, +971 9222558 Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi, +971 26594144 Captain Tony’s, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai, +971 53244550, www.funbeachsports.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971 558961276, +971 503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26811900 Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600, www.noukhada.ae Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Soolyman Sports Fishing, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971 508866227, www.soolymansportsfishing.com Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.comz Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking Club, mohamed.almahrouky@gmail.com Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers’ Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai, +971 554986280, www.dskc.hu

General Sports Equipment Distributors

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha 800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai +971 43467751, www.800sport.ae Flip Flop Arabia, flipme@flipfloparabia.com, www.flipfloparabia.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Goal Zero, +971 509128353, www.goalzero.ae Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi, +971 44437802 Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Sakeen General Trading, +971 47094224, www.sakeen.ae Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002, info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae Tresspass, The Dubai Mall 2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801

Horse Riding

Equipment Al Asifa Horse Equestrian & Requisites Trading, Al Khawaneej 1, Dubai, +971 554733110, www.asifa.ae Black Horse LLC, Abu Dhabi, +971 26422237, www.blackhorseuae.com Bonjour Equestrian Supplies, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai, UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002, info@bonjourequestrian.com, www.bonjourequestrian.com Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies, 16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, +917 22222433, www.cavalosuae.com Emirta Horse Requirement Centre, Sheik Zayed Rd, Dubai, +971 43437475, www.emirtahorse.com Horse & Carriage Equestrian Equipment LLC, Dubai, +971 42895069, www.horseandcarriageuae.com Mirzan Equestrian Equipment, Dubai, +971 44472808, www.metdubaihorse.com Equestrian Clubs/Centres Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street, Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +971 42988408, www.alahliclub.info Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai International Endurance City, Dubai, +971 505995866, info@aljiyad.com, www.aljiyad.com Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +971 44274055, equestrian.centre@alsahra.com Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai, +971 503099770 / +971 501978888 Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai, +971 43238010, www.desertpalm.peraquum.com Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai, +971 508879847, www.dubaipoloacademy.com Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, Arabian Ranches, +971 43618111, www.poloclubdubai.com Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +971 505587656, www.emiratesequestriancentre.com Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +971 25629050, www.grpc.ae Golden Stables Equestrian Club, Al Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri) +971 555528182, www.goldenstables.ae HoofbeatZ, located just inside the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, +971 501810401, www.hoofbeatz.com Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club, Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai, +971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com Qudraland Community, info@qudraland.com, www.qudraland.com Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area, Abu Dhabi, +971 566127914, www.rahalranch.com Riding for the Disabled, Dubai, lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae, Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club,

Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road, +971 65311188, www.serc.ae Racecourses Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +971 25629050, www.grpc.ae Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road) beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, +971 43474914 Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 43270000, www.meydan.ae Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae Equine Hospitals/Clinics Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, next to Dubai Equestrian Hospital, Zabeel 2, Dubai, +971 43375165, www.cvrl.ae Dubai Equine Hospital, behind World Trade Center, Zabeel 2, Dubai, +971 43178888, www.dubaiequine.ae Gulf Vetcare, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, +971 508617590, www.gulfvetcare.com Sharjah Equine Hospital, Bridge No. 6, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah, +971 65311881, www.seh.ae

Jet Ski

Dealers Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +971 559299111 / +971 42828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Rentals Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai, +971 53244550, www.funbeachsports.com Regal Promotions, Level 14,Boulevard Plaza Tower 1, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. Downtown Dubai, PO Box 334036 Dubai, UAE, +971 44558570, info@regalproms.com The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 7206000, www.rotana.com Xventures, Dubai, +971 555404500, www.x-ventures.ae

Motocross & ATV’s

Dealers Al Badayer Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 507842020, www.albadayerrental.com Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor, +971 43200009, sales@alshaalimoto.com. www.alshaalimoto.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Golden Desert Motorcycles Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 551532550, www.goldendesert-dubai.com KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +971 4323151, www.ktm.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE (atv’s), Ras Al Khor, Nad al Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai, +971 42896100, M4, Sector 13, 10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 25555144, www.polarisuae.com Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai, +971 48321050, www. wildx.ae Equipment Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental), Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43470270, www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com 2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai, +971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial

JULY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Area, +971 42852200, 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, +971 25535771, info2@ducati.ae, www.ducati.ae Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667, hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae, www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 42822144, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex, Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor, +971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com Tristar Motorcycles, +971 43330659, www.tristaruae.com Workshops and Services Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +971 43678700 www.dubaiautodrome.com Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain, +971 67681717 2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai, +971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Off-Road

Dealers Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 / +971 505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com 4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai, +971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789, www.libertyautos.com Repairs and Services Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43392449, www.offroad-zone.com Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939 www.salukimotorsport.com Equipment Advanced Expedition Vehicles, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152, www.aev.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 / +971 505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 567231967, www.heartlanduae.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 48321050, www.wildx.ae Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times Square Center, Dubai, +971 42898060, www.yellowhat.ae Tour Operators Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43034888, www.arabian-adventures.com Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889, www.opdubai.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club, www.ad4x4.com ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club, +971 507665522, www.almost4x4.com Dubai Offroaders, www.dubaioffroaders.com JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club, suffian.omar@yahoo.com, www.jk-funclub.com ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com

Running

Clubs ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi, www.abudhabitriclub.org Abu Dhabi Striders,

admin@abudhabistriders.com, www.abudhabistriders.com Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi, +971 504188978, alainroadrunners@yahoo.co.uk Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info Dubai Creek Striders www.dubaicreekstriders.org

Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Ikönic Brands, Suite 509 Düsseldorf Business Point Al Barsha Dubai, UAE +971 506874178, info@ikonicbrands.com Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3 +971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae Pearl Water Crafts, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, +971 553749398, www.pearl-watercrafts.com Picnico +971 43941653 Jumeirah Beach Road Opposite Sunset Mall, Dubai Surf Dubai, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai, +971 43791998, www.surfshoparabia.com UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383, www.ad-kitesurfing.net Distributors Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store, International City, Dubai, +971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Operators Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, 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, +971 508703427, www.ducomaritime.com Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440, www.kitesurf.ae Kite4fun.net, Abu Dhabi, +971 508133134, www.kite4fun.net Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi, +971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae

OUTDOORUAE

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim Dubai, +971 507689226, astrid@shamalkitesurfing.com, www.shmalkitesurfing.com Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005, www.watersportsdubai.com Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,+971 556010997, www.surfschooluae.com Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771, www.watercooleddubai.com Water Cooled, Watercooled Sports Services LLC, Hilton Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 26395997, www.watercooleduae.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle, www.abudhabisup.com,

OMAN DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Dolphin Qasab Tours, PO Box: 123, P.C. 811, Khasab City, Musandam, Oman, +968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com Go Dive Oman, Capital Area Yacht Club (CAYC), Sidab Muscat, +968 99289200, www.godiveoman.com Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240, www.nomadtours.com Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917, NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441, www.omantrekkingguides.com

Diving

Equipment Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba,

QATAR DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Al Mulla Travels, PO Box: 4147, Doha, Qatar, +974 44413488, almullatrvls@qatar.net.qa Alpha Tours, PO Box: 13530, Doha, Qatar, +974 4837815, info@alphatoursqatar.com Al QAYED Travel & Tours, Al Qayed Holding Bldg., D-Ring Road, PO Box: 158, Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244, www.alqayedtravel.com Arabian Adventures, Al Asmakh Street, PO Box: 4476, Doha, Qatar, +974 44361461, www.arabianadventureqatar.net Black Pearls Tourism Services, PO Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar East Marine, West Bay, Doha, Qatar, +974 55200078 E2E Qatar Travel and Tours, PO Box: 23563, Doha, Qatar, +974 44502521, www.e2eqatar.com Falcon Travels, PO Box: 22031, Doha, Qatar, +974 44354777, www.falcontravelqatar.com Gulf Adventures, 29, Aspire Zone Street Aspire Zone Al Rayyan City, PO Box: 18180 Qatar, +974 44221888, www.gulf-adventures.com Net Tours Qatar, PO Box: 23080, Doha, Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa Regency Travel & Tours, Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, Doha, Qatar, +974 4434 4503/4718, www.regencyholidays.com Qatar Adventure, Al Matar Street, PO Box: 13915, Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561, www.qataradventure.com Qatar Desert Gate, Doha, PO Box: 18496 Ad Dawha, Qatar, +974 55594016, www.qatardesertgate.com Qatar Inbound Tours, Commercial Street, Al Muaither, Al Rayyan, PO Box: 21153, +974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com Qatar International Tours, PO Box: 55733

Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 556101841, www.blokartme.com Children’s City, Creek Park Gate No.1, Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai, +971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate No. 1, +971 43369773, www.dubaidolphinarium.ae iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42316292, www.iflyme.com Sadiyaat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, +971 25578000, www.sbgolfclub.ae Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah, +971 43999005, www.golfandshootingshj.com SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of The Emirates, +971 44094000, www.skidxb.com Spacewalk Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, +971 24463653, www.spacewalk.ae

Health, Safety & Training

Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550, www.almarsamusandam.com Al Sawadi Beach Resort, PO Box: 747, Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545, www.alsawadibeach.info Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.com Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar Al Rhowda, PO Box: 940, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box: 498, PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman, +968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346, www.global-scuba.com Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65, Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Oman Dive Center Resort, PO Box: 199, Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman, +968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info Omanta Scuba Diving Academy, Al Kharjiya

Street, Al Shati Area, Muscat, Oman, +968 97700564, www.omantascuba.com Oxygen Diving and Adventures, PO Box: 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat, Oman, www.o2diveoman.com Seaoman, PO Box: 2394, RUWI PC 112, Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com Sub Aqua Dive Center, Hilton Salalah Resort, PO Box: 699, Salalah 211, Oman, +968 99894031, www.subaqua-divecenter.com

Camping & Hiking

Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141, www.qittour.com Qatar Ventures, Barwa Village Bulding No. 12, Shop No. 33, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679, www.qatar-ventures.com Clubs Doha Sailing Club, Doha Sailing Club, PO Box: 4398 (9995), Doha, Qatar, +974 44439840, www.qmsf.com

+974 44435626 Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club, PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar, +974 66304061, www.dohasubaquaclub.com Extreme Adventure, PO Box: 33002, Shop 3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha, Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall, Qatar: +974 44517574, www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar Pearl Divers, PO Box: 2489, Doha, Qatar, +974 44449553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, PO Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar, +974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com Q Dive, Souq Al Najada cnr of Grand Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Str.; Al-Odeid Aisle numbers 129-132, +974 55319507, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, PO Box: 6944, Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989, www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com Dive Centres Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street (near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar, +97444435626 Pearl Divers, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, Doha, Qatar, +974 4444 9553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, PO Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar, +974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 44313331, www.qatardivers.com Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center West Bay, PO Box: 16657, Doha, +974 553199507, www.qatarmarine.net Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277 / +974 44422234, www.qatarscubacenter.com

abudhabisup@gmail.com UAE SUP www.uaesup.com

Water Parks

Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, +971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain, Emirates Road, +971 67681888, www.dreamlanduae.com Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, +971 37818422, www.wadiadventure.ae Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai, +971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com

Other leisure activities

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, + 971 25588990, www.adgolfclub.com Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah, +971 67431122 \ +971 44370505, www.tamimistables.com

General Sports Equipment Megastores

Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44822194; Villagio Mall, Qatar: +974 44569143; Ezdan Mall, Qatar: +974 44922827, www.galaxysportqatar.com GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall, Qatar: +974 44517574 www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar Sun & Sand Sports, City Centre Mall, Qatar: +974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall, Qatar: +974 44932973, www.sunandsandsports.com

Boating & Sailing

Equipment Regatta Sailing Academy, Al Isteqlal Road, West Bay Lagoon, PO Box: 18104, Doha, Qatar, +974 55507846, www.regattasailingacademy.com Distributors and Dealers Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum Road, PO Box: 9145 Doha, Qatar, +974 44410109, www.speedmarinegroup.com

Horse Riding

Equestrian Clubs/Centres Al Shaqab, PO Box: 90055, Doha, Qatar, +974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Racing and Equestrian Club, PO Box: 7559, Doha, Qatar, +974 44197664, www.qrec.gov.qa

Diving

Equipment Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street (near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar,

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OUTDOORUAE

JULY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment, Operators Kiteboarding Oman, Sawadi Beach, PO Box: 133, PC 118, Muscat, Oman, +968 96323524, www.kiteboarding-oman.com Oman’s Kite Center, +968 94006007, www.kitesurfing-lessons.com

Safety Lessons Marine Concept Yacht Charter & Sea School, Rania Business Centre, Dubai, +971 559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com Safety & Leisure Training Middle East, Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 44502418, www.sltme.com Sport and Health Centres Bespoke Wellness, Dubai, +971 553724670, www.bespoke-wellness.com Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404, www.originalfitnessco.com Orthosports, 5B Street, Jumeira Beach road, Dubai, +971 4355060, www.orthosp.com The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, +971 44370570, www.physiocentre.ae

Tour Operators Safari Desert Camp, PO Box: 117, Postal Code 421, Bediyah, Ghabbi, Oman, +968 99310108, www.safaridesert.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Az’Zaha Tours, +968 99013424, www.azzahatours.com Water World Marine Oman, PO Box: 76, Muscat, 113, Sultanate of Oman, +968 24737438, www.waterworldoman.com

Boating & Sailing

Manufacturer Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11, Post Code 118, Muscat, Oman, +968 99877243, www.sapphire-marine.com

Qdive Marine Center, PO Box: 16657, Doha, Qatar, +974 44375065, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, Old Salata Street, near the Qatar National Museum, Doha, Qatar, +974 55508177

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment, PO Box: 6449,Old Salata, Doha, Qatar, +974 44444238, almamzoore@qatar.net.qa Fish World, PO Box: 1975, Doha, Qatar, +974 44340754

Motocross & ATV’s

Dealers Qatar Adventures, Barwa Village, Building # 9 Shop # 11, Doha, Qatar, +974 77700074

Fishing & Kayaking

Spearfishing Shops Equipment Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 66724828 Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4 Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234, www.stateofqatar.com

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment, Operators Fly-N-Ride, Al Muthaf Street, Doha, Qatar, +974 4498 2284, www.fly-n-ride.com Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha, +974 55041039, www.flokiteschool.com Kitesurfing Qatar, +97430179108, www.kitesurfingqatar.com QSUP, Qanat Quartier, Costa Malaz, The Pearl-Qc, Doha, Qatar, +974 66602830, www.qsup.me

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