OutdoorUAE - April 2015

PEDAL TO THE METAL

DRIVING THE UNIMOG riders on the storm DARK SKIES CHALLENGE

SUMMIT FEVER

APRIL IN KATHMANDU

Plenty of

PRODUCTS TO CHECK OUT

Price 10.00 AED 10.00 QAR 1.00 OMR

Getting lost:

OMAN AND BACK AGAIN

Exclusive interview

JORGE LORENZO OF MOTOGP

Vol. 5, No. 4 April 2015 www.OutdoorUAE.com

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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

OutdoorUAE Team

Greetings from Nepal and from high altitude! As you read this, I am already in Kathmandu, Nepal getting ready with the team to climb Mount Everest. Getting this far has been a long journey. In the months before I left when I told people I was going, they frequently asked me “to the top?” I said yes. Next month the editorial maybe different or not at all. It will definitely be from slightly higher up the mountain.

I took up rock climbing relatively late at the age of 20. Since then, I’ve spent most of the last 25 years climbing in various forms and many places around the world: either on steep rock, in Alpine landscapes, or the massive snowy mountains of the Himalaya or simply trekking in beautiful places.

The question that people who don’t climb ask most frequently is “why do you do it?”— a difficult

Sean James Editor sean@outdooruae.com

question to answer. Big, snowy, cold mountains are often about pain. They create very similar feelings and emotions to the struggle of an ultramarathon, an Ironman or even your first sprint distance triathlon.

If we experience a positive experience such as a great day of sand biking or hiking, it is much more powerful than a negative one. In the outdoors, a positive could mean standing on a summit such as Jebel Hafeet or completing a particularly long kayak trip around the Ras al Khaimah mangroves. We remember the positive and forget the negative. Lots of small positives add up to something great and life changing. Even after spending a vast amount of money to spend 6 weeks in extreme cold on a mountain, not being able to breathe properly and eating terrible food, this is quickly forgotten simply by standing for 10 minutes on a summit.

So for April we are challenging you to let yourself experience different emotions and step outside of your comfort zone. Set yourself some goals and never is it a better time to plan something different.

This month in OutdoorUAE we are focusing on auto sports and motocross. We are blessed in the UAE by having some of the most amazing desert and mountain terrain anywhere. In addition, the restrictions to access it and get out and feel the horsepower of these incredible vehicular beasts are virtually nil when compared to other countries. In the weekend, it is truly a spectacular sight watching these brutes roar up and down the dunes. Enjoy April and ride and race responsibly.

Editor For editorial content and press releases Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 5760322 editor@outdooruae.com

Distributor Tawzea, Abu Dhabi Media Company P.O. Box 40401, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries) Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 9398915 linda@outdooruae.com

Printed at United Printing and Publishing P.O.Box: 39955, Abu Dhabi, UAE

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 Cover photo: Ian Ganderton by Pete Maloney

© 2015 Outdoor UAE FZE Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2015

www.OutdoorUAE.com

© 2015 Outdoor UAE FZE Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E. Get to us on Facebook!

Glaiza Seguia-Godinez Editor glaiza@outdooruae.com

Eulogy van Dyk Editor Qatar eulogy@outdooruae.com

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing linda@outdooruae.com

Katherine Cañedo Patangui Administration kathy@outdooruae.com

Jung Francisco Designer and Photographer jung@outdooruae.com

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS Ian Ganderton Kayaker, climber, mountainbiker and snowboarder.

Enthusiastic jack of all trades, master of none

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and off-road expert

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE

Nico de Corato Diver and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels

Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE

The information contained is for general use only.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in this magazine is provided without a full guarantee of completeness, accuracy and chronology. In no event will the publisher and/or any of our affiliates be held responsible for decisions made or action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.

All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and General Manager daniel@outdooruae.com

WHEN YOU’RE DONE READING, PLEASE RECYCLE!

Ivana Chiles Health coach and outdoor enthusiast

Dan Wright Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE

Cindy Stadelmann Equestrian expert

Trace Rogers SuperTri triathlon coach

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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

CONTENTS 14 HAJAR 100

12 RAMY 4X4

EVERY ISSUE 05 BEST SHOTS 06 EVENTS CALENDAR 44 LIFESTYLE 48 PRODUCTS 60 PEOPLE 71 DIRECTORY

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS 15 ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE 2015 20 EMIRATES SUP FESTIVAL 2015 23 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE 30 ADVENTURES IN THE UNIMOG 36 THE BELGIAN BIKERS

LIFESTYLE 44 HEALTH POWERHOUSE 46 UAE WEATHER

22 MXGP

OUR EXPERTS 56 DARK SKIES CHALLENGE - MARINA 58 THURSDAYS WITH OLIVIER – JOHN 60 FLY FISHING – KIT

TIPS + TRICKS 66 HIKING EXERCISES 68 MTB EXERCISES

32 HONEY BADGER DIARIES

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61 JORGE LORENZO GUERRERO

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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

BEST SHOTS Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly 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, five free copies of the magazine and the Advance Off-road book: Arnel Castro, James Spence and John Henzell. Well done!

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

Arnel Castro

This was taken during the February 20th sandstorm somewhere in the middle of the desert in Maleha area. The low visibility and the strong winds didn’t stop me shooting from inside my truck.

James Spence

At an endurance race in Al Wathba Endurance Village, Abu Dhabi.

John Henzell

A different kind of flight.

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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENTS CALENDAR

Stay up-to-date with the latest events Dubai International Aquatic Championships 2015 April 1 to 11, Hamdan Sports Complex

The Dubai International Aquatic Championships (DIAC) is the first international aquatics tournament for international clubs worldwide.

The event welcomes participants from 10 years of age and beyond and is also a gathering point for athletes of all levels, be it novices or professionals. The landmark competition plays host to three disciplines including swimming, open water swimming and water polo. It will be the largest aquatic sports event not only in the UAE but across the Middle East and the world as well. Bringing together locals and expats alike, this event intends to prove that everyone can be as great as Michael Phelps or Alexander Popov.

Neo Run

April 10, 7:00 p.m., Dubai Autodrome “Glo crazy with color and dance the night away” This is the motto of the Neo Run and also exactly what to expect at this fun run. The first of its kind in the UAE, the Neo Run will bring runners together at the Dubai Autodrome for a run in the dark with glow sticks and other fun lights. There’s also a ton of other fun activities to take part in at the event. Don’t miss out on a truly new and unique experience.

For more information, visit www.neorun.com.

For more information, visit dnan-sportslife.com/events.

Team Sports Road Run 10K and 3K

April 10, 7:00 a.m., The Track Golf Clubhouse, Meydan Taking place in the roads of the Meydan, this healthy and fun event is open for all age categories and novices and experts alike. Participants will be offered medals, certificates, prizes and cash vouchers. The 10K winners in each age category will receive special trophies, medals and cash vouchers. There is also a lucky draw for all participants attending. Prizes worth up to 20,000 AED are up for grabs!

Dubai Dressage Championship 2015

April 13 to 14, Emirates Equestrian Centre Widely known as “horse ballet” or the “sport of kings”, the fine art of dressage dates back to the early era and is a sport that requires great discipline from both the jockeys and their horses. The sport requires the rider to direct his/her horse with precision to accomplish certain moves and stances with minimal aid. This prestigious display of precision is open for free viewing and will be held at the majestic Emirates Equestrian Centre.

For more information, visit www.dubaicalendar.ae.

For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

Giant Duathlon Series Race 5 April 10, 6:30 a.m., Zabeel Park

Running and pedalling is all the same to us! An event for triathletes, duathletes, cyclists, runners, and fitness enthusiasts alike, the fifth leg of the Giant Duathlon series continues to please newcomers and test seasoned athletes. Kids are also welcome in the “traffic-friendly” courses providing unparalleled safety for all competitors. Each race is based on a runbike-run pattern and will be open to individuals and duos.

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

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Run for Rich from Dusk to Dawn April 16, 6:30 p.m., Nad al Sheba Cycle Park

Run for Rich is a group relay race being held around Nad Al Sheba cycle path starting on 16th April 2015 and finishing 11 hours later.

The aim is for an individual or team to complete as many laps as possible before the 11 hours is up.

Participants may enter as a solo runner, team of 2, team of 3 and team of 4.

For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENTS CALENDAR The Five Star Aquathlon Race 3

2XU Wadi Racer

After a sold out second leg, the Abu Dhabi Tri Club returns to the Emirates Palace for the third leg of the 5 Star Aquathlon. Taking place in one of the most picturesque backdrops in the world, competitors will swim and run through magnificent waters and colourful palace grounds. The event is open for the whole family and for all ages. The Junior Races is a 200m deep water swim and 1.5km run starting at 8:00 a.m. The Tiny Triathletes will then wade through the shores of Emirates Palace beach by 8:30 a.m. Afterwards they will walk, paddle and swim through knee deep water closing off with a 100m beach run finish.

Say good morning Dubai at 5:00 a.m. in this single stage, 10km, 20km or 30km marathon in the outskirts of Dubai.

Participants will begin under the cover of darkness and finish with the beautiful first light of day. The terrain is a combination of gravel jeep track and rocky wadi bed with climbs and undulations. For safety, the course will be marked with light reflective material until the sun rises. Pitch tents in the areas nearby and gaze in awe at the beautiful Dubai sunrise.

Please note that the course road is not closed to traffic and locals use segments of the area to access their villages.

To minimise the risk of accidents participants are advised to stay along the marked course track and be alert of their surroundings as well.

April 17, 7:00 a.m., Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

For more information, visit www.abudhabitriclub.com or www.premieronline.com.

The Sand Pit

April 17, Al Barari, Dubai Taking place for the first time in Dubai, the 2015 season of the Sand Pit opens up in Al Barari and will play host to a gruelling team and strength building experience. For their first event in the emirate, they will be bringing their iconic obstacles such as Barby, The Quarter Pipe and The Mountain, to name a few. Designed to test both physical and mental abilities, the 10km Sand Pit remains true to the adage that no man is an island because a team will be needed in order to prevail in this event. Expect to build fellowships, know what you are capable of and have fun while doing so. And when all is said and done, have a blast at the after-party and celebrate individual and team successes with newfound friendships.

April 24, 5:00 a.m., Wadi Showka/Helo, Dubai

For more details and updates, visit www.urbanultra.com.

Wadi Adventure Race 9 April 25, 9:00 a.m., Al Ain

Gear up for the third and final leg of Wadi Adventure’s WAR series this year. With a loyal and popular following, the event will continue with the different race categories that they have introduced since the first leg. To increase the suspense, the obstacles and race details will not be given to participants before the race. The event will introduce challenges that promote a harder, better, faster and stronger lifestyle to participants and they only have one question: Are you ready for WAR? For more information, visit www.premieronline.com or www.facebook.com/WadiAdventureRace.

For more information on this debut sport and event, visit www.thesandpitrun.com.

QRC Drift Championship Walk to Infinity 5km Fun Walk 2015 April 17, 8:00 a.m., Kite Beach

Leave competitive streaks and running rivalries at home. This event is pure family and community fun. Celebrate your health and wellness with family and friends with the splendid Kite Beach as a backdrop; baby strollers are welcome too! The walk begins at 8:00 a.m. and finishes in an ideal spot to grab breakfast in one of the many local spots. Rest areas, toilet facilities and refreshments will be provided all along the route. A great atmosphere for family, friends and crew is guaranteed from start to finish!

For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

April 30, Qatar Racing Club

Drifting is one of the fastest growing motorsports across the world. Following the success of last season’s Qatar National Drift Championship, this coming season promises an action-packed, smoke-filled championship as competitors exchange dust and vie for the coveted title. Watch participants across the Arab continent powerslide, counter-steer and clutch kick their way to victory! The gates open at 6:00 p.m. with free entry to the public.

For more information, visit www.qrc.qa.

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

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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

NEWS + COMMUNITY

Yamaha Café races its way to Dubai!

First of its kind Yamaha Japanese café opens in Dubai’s new BOXPARK Photos By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez and supplied

Buckle up as café racers, bobbers, trackers and most especially food explorers haul their way to a new haven in Dubai – the Yamaha Café. Stage your spirit in a quintessentially blended Japanese flair and sportive biking culture settling while enjoying choice sushi, sashimi, curries, tempura, and an exclusive range of okashi – a traditional Japanese sweet.

Present in the opening ceremony were members of the Al Yousuf Group – the exclusive distributor of Yamaha in the UAE who are openly supporting their new venture.

Also present were the members of Yamaha Japan as well as distributors from other countries. Amidst the amazed audience, the beauty of the café shone with its display of Yamaha bikes fused with traditional Japanese architecture. Besides the Yamaha displays, the café also showcases other popular biking accessory brands like Alpinestars, Nolan and Jobe, which can be purchased or ordered from the catalogue for delivery.

The Yamaha Café was inaugurated last 17th March by Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero, the

Mr Yoshiyuki Ito, General Manager of Yamaha Motors, Mr Mohamed Iqbal Al Yousuf, Deputy President – Marketing and Mr Jorge Lorenzo, 2012 MotoGP World Champion.

Spanish motorcycle road racer who is a twotime 250cc World Champion and 2010 and 2012 MotoGP World Champion. Lorenzo currently competes in the MotoGP class, riding for the factory Yamaha team alongside Valentino Rossi. He also competed in MotoGP’s opening race in Losail, Qatar last month.

Commenting on the opening of the Yamaha Café, Mr. Iqbal Al Yousuf, President of Al Yousuf Group said: “Our association with Yamaha has been a long-standing and highly fruitful one. The opening of the café marks a new beginning in our enduring relationship as we expand into the restaurant and café business. We are very pleased to open this unique café in Dubai in association with Yamaha.”

“The Yamaha Café is a unique blend of Japanese elegance and a biker’s ruggedness. The BOXPARK offers an ideal location for the café, being the latest and one of the liveliest hotspots in the city. We are certain it will be a huge success in the UAE.” Yamaha Café is located at The BOXPARK, Al Wasl Road, Dubai.

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

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The labour of love

Al Jayyoussi begins around the world journey in Dubai

Last March 1st, Wissam Al Jayyoussi, began his solo journey across the world on his customised KTM 1190 Adventure R motorbike.

Starting off his journey in the city of Dubai, his next stops will take him all over the Middle East, to Asia and then towards the Americas.

Embarking on this epic journey in behalf of Goodwill Journey and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Wissam’s miles hopes to generate donations towards the sick and injured children of the Palestinian region.

A seasoned traveller, the round the globe trip is the most arduous, if not most challenging of Wissam’s travels. Some of his previous missions saw him climb Mount Pumori, and ride a motorbike across 23 countries and all to raise awareness for those in need.

The Pumori journey has helped build a cancer department and school for children with special needs in the Middle East. With this ongoing journey, he aims for the bigger prize; the bigger help.

Wissam speaks of his journey: “The worst thing in life is to fall down and realise that there is no one to offer a helping hand to get you back up. Sometimes you can rise back up on your own; but that isn’t always the case. The sick and injured children of the Middle East have fallen down, and they have no strength to rise up on their own.

We need to be that hand; we must be that hand.”

Supporters could follow Wissam through his journey in social media where he will be posting up-to-date information on where he is currently on this marvellous journey.

Wissam Al Jayyoussi

Alongside this, the Goodwill Journey’s official website will also be giving live feeds as well as a map so that people could find out about his next stop in better detail.

His journey begun last March 1st in Dubai.

Afterwards, he will be driving towards Oman in what is called an X-axis; where he travels in a horizontal direction. Following this direction, he will be located in Asia before heading south towards Australia and crossing the Pacific Ocean towards the United States. From this leg onwards, he will be shifting direction and head around the globe in the Y-axis or vertical direction. This direction will see him begin in Alaska riding down towards the southernmost point of South America. In the final leg, he will travel to Africa and make his way north towards the European continent returning to Dubai in approximately 21 months since he began the journey.

Waves of support are being raised

towards Wissam and his journey for a heroic cause that increases the value and importance of this event. Steve Sosebee, cofounder and CEO of the PCRF comments: “We are extremely proud of Wissam’s bravery and courage in taking on this daunting mission to help children in the region who are in need of support. It isn’t an easy mission to undertake and the fact that he is taking it on is truly remarkable. On behalf of the entire team at the PCRF and every child that his mission would help support, we thank Wissam for his undying passion and commitment towards the cause.”

Palestine has been a location of unrest in the recent times and children as well as families are at risk. This journey intends to help out these children by giving them support via education, access to medicine, and other ways and means by which to alleviate these children from their current situation.

For more information about the mission, or how to support the PCRF and the Goodwill Journey, please visit the website www.pcrf.net and www.goodwilljourney.org.

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Summit Fever April in Kathmandu Words By: Sean James

This is a blog that will follow my climb to the summit of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, over the next few months. There are also live radio broadcasts from base camp via the Travel Show on Dubai Eye 103.8 where you can hear how progress is going.

Everest

Part 1 is written from Arabian Ranches, Dubai just before I leave. I am due to meet the rest of the team in Kathmandu. They fly out from the United Kingdom on the 30th of March. This first part is about my preparation, training, the search for support and things that need to be done for a trip that will last until the 4th of June, over 60 days away from home.

Everest has many names but gets its European name from the British Superintendent General of the Survey of India from 1830 to 1843, Sir George Everest who first surveyed it. To Tibetans it is called Chomolungma or Qomolangma which means “Mother Goddess of the Earth”. The Sherpa people call it Sagarmatha meaning “Goddess of the Sky”.

It is undoubtedly the highest point on Earth and a prize for many. Around 4,000 people, or the equivalent of five full A380s have stood on the summit as of 2014.

I’ve guided on lots of high mountains before; three have been over 8,000m plus many lower but until a year ago Everest had never been on my list. For the last three years I had been working as a lecturer so I was restricted by the times of my holidays.

Last June, my contract finished and rather than look for another rubbish job that I didn’t really like, I set my focus on climbing mountains again. Despite not earning much

Everest NE Ridge Courtesy of Adventure Peaks

it’s gone pretty well since and I’ve travelled, trained and competed in marathons and triathlons during the last 10 months which has been good preparation. Who knows what the next 10 months will bring when I return in June?

Kathmandu

I leave Dubai on FlyDubai on the 26th of March and arrive in Kathmandu early. I’m with my girlfriend and we want to enjoy a few quiet days in a city that is so different from anything that we have here in the UAE. The hippie district of Thamel is always bustling and crowded, but it also has small pockets of tranquility. I’ve been to Nepal many times and never tire of it. I could quite happily spend a week in Kathmandu trying out the different restaurants, bars and coffee shops, even though I’ve sat in them for many hours.

the UK who initially sell the “package”. They would provide advice, training, infrastructure, planning and completely oversee the trip to ensure that their standards are upheld. For an 8,000m they would also send an experienced guide with the clients. Over the last 20 years, it is these companies that I have worked for and travelled the world with. The expedition company would then contract the ground services in Nepal to a local agent who they have established a relationship with. Ground services would include the hiring of suitable Sherpas, cooks and ancillary staff plus transport, hotels, food, oxygen and everything that happens once in a country such as Nepal. Obviously this is a huge task and the expedition company wants to ensure that no corners are cut and the clients are getting what they expected.

8,000m

Meeting up with old friends again in Nepal

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All of the high mountains over 8,000m in the world are either in Nepal, China or Pakistan. The season to climb in Nepal is in the spring, pre monsoon from April to June and in the fall post-monsoon, from September to October. During these times, everyone flocks to Kathmandu or Islamabad to start their adventure.

Most people tackle an 8,000m with the help of many other people. Firstly there is normally an expedition company, normally in the climber’s home country, for example

Base camp

I’ve been working for OutdoorUAE for the past two years, writing as an editor and so for the past few months, our focus has been on the Everest expedition. We have given slideshows around Dubai at Fitness First and the Dubai International Boat Show. We have tried to involve our current partners who are the obvious first stop as their outdoor and adventure products have a synergy to what we are trying to do. Dubai is a fantastic place for energy and new ideas.

Things can happen almost immediately if you are lucky. Some of our propositions hit the right spot and fortunately we now have some great supporters whose products will be with me in Nepal and hopefully on the summit in two months.

Preparations

What I’ve learnt from previous expeditions is that food is very important and can make or break the expedition. Part of our trip is through Tibet (China) and the food can be lacking a lot. In addition, on the mountain we usually eat pre-packaged dehydrated food out of a bag that you add boiling water to. They are terrible but light to carry at altitude. I act like one of Pavlov’s dogs even at the sight of high altitude food and instantly gag after 20 years of guiding. I’m quite small so any weight loss affects me a lot so I’ve tried to ensure I’ve got my favourites. I even booked extra weight on the flight over so I could bring some tasty, spicy packaged curries from Dubai. Heavier but worth the effort. Luckily GU Energy, MuleBar and Aqualyte have given me a large packet to take up to base camp and on the mountain so I’ll be with my favourites. I’ll also stock up on Haribo, Pringles and chocolate in Kathmandu. Time to forget the waistline.

Equipment is important and over the years I have collected a vast amount of down gear, tents, boots, gloves, socks, ice axes,

Extract from the Alpine Journal in 1920 describing the terrible cold

crampons, rucksacks etc but they are all in a varying state of repair. Luckily this year we have a super motivated client from GO Sport in the Middle East. They have just secured the Millet range of products, a French brand of awesome climbing gear that covers virtually everything. Moving with speed other companies can only dream of I’m suddenly fully kitted from top to bottom in everything Millet. After 20 years of trying to avoid the corporate, commercial and world of sponsorship, having someone put their faith in you to represent their brand is exciting and gives an added boost of confidence.

The route

There are many routes to the summit of Everest. Two are considered standard - one from the south via Nepal and one from the north via Tibet-China.

The route I will be on is the Northeast Ridge Standard Route. It was first climbed on May 25th 1960 almost seven years after the first ascent from the south. The first people were Chinese; Wang Fu-chou (Chinese), Chu Yin-hua (Chinese) and Gongbu (Tibetan).

In the past, the north has been less popular and seen fewer ascents because of

Looking after clients on the mountains is very demanding

The Alpine Journal

access issues but in the last five years, the number of ascents has increased. Statistics can be misleading and despite the fact that the North East Ridge is considered safer by climbers it has a higher fatality rate – 9% more than the south. Fatality rate is fatalities/summits.

In terms of objective dangers, the most dangerous part of the North East Ridge route are avalanches from stable snow slopes of the North Col. The narrow, terraced ledges of the Yellow Band at 8,600m has also seen a number of climbers falling as they are tired and the altitude is starting to take effect.

So that’s all from April. Next time you read this, there may be fewer pictures and the text will be sent back via satellite from base camp in Tibet. Keep checking the OutdoorUAE and OutdoorArabia media channels for further updates.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their interest and support in what we do and in particular Everest 2015.

GO Sport and Millet as well as Nite Watches and Al Mekshah have provided the best equipment and support possible as well as numerous others.

If you are interested in climbing high mountains and even Everest in 2016, contact us trips@outdoorarabia.com.

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Ramy 4X4

“The Admiral” 2011 Monster JK Ramy 4x4 is well-known in the Middle East for upgrading off-road vehicles. They have been in the market for more than 23 years.

One of their favourite ongoing projects is this 2011 Jeep Wrangler 3.8 V6 with all the works.

Sulayem, the owner of this monster, has named it “The Admiral”. With its 37-inch tyres, it stands tall amongst others. Its AOR (American Offroad) exhaust emits a powerful roar as he turns up the revs and makes the powerful V6 engine come to life.

Ramy 4x4 has installed many great modifications on this Jeep, each shown below by category:

Cosmetic modifications:

• JK Mad Face Grill • Bushwacker Flat Fenders JK 2DR • Flip-style Licence Plate Mount • Black Aluminium Fuel Cap Cover • Teraflex 1” body spacers, front and rear • Bestop Stubby Bumper • Hood mount LED bracket • JK Billet Aluminium Antenna These modifications ensure a unique and aggressive look that appeal to the individual owner. Some of these modifications show the personal touch that the owner has requested.

Performance modifications:

• Diablo tuner to increase the power of the engine

• AOR Performance Heat reduction hood • AOR Catback Muffler • Differential re-geared to 4.56 • K&N Cold Air Intake All of these modifications have been designed in order for the vehicle to run at optimal performance. These are more prominent in the Gulf region, due to extreme driving conditions in the desert heat raising the need for high power output for extended periods of time.

Suspension modifications:

• Teraflex 3” Lift Kit • Teraflex heavy-duty front track bar • Heavy-duty drive shafts, front and rear • Fox Racing shocks, front and rear with reservoir The suspension setup is something that requires research and thought before installation. This is personal both to the vehicle as well as the driver. Knowing what the owner plans to do with the car, the percentage of usage on-road versus off-road, his driving style and what level of expertise he has. All these as well as the budget are all factors that influence the decision regarding the suspension setup.

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Functional modifications:

• Rugged Ridge high-tensile strength shackles • RRC sidestep rock guards • Floor Liner Mat Pair FR JK BLK • Rugged Ridge A-pillar switch pod (for night driving LEDs) • Off-road Shovel • AOR EZ Deflator • Rear Hitch kit • AOR LED Cree lighting • Artec monster front axle reinforcement • AOR “The Beast” power pack /jump starter • ZEON 10S 12V WARN winch with remote • EVO Industries rock skin tyre carrier • Soft-grab sport handles The modifications seen here are there for the purpose of off-roading in the UAE. It is very important to be prepared when driving in the desert and special attention should be paid to having quality brands when it comes to safety and security.

Ramy 4x4, powered by Ramy Trading offers services covering all aspects of 4x4 accessories and vehicle modifications. They are located in Dubai, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Egypt. For more information, visit www.ramy4x4.com or call 04 269 8138.

EVENT REPORT

Rocking RAK!

Urban-Ultra Hajar 100

The first and only 100km single stage trail run in the region with 2,600m of elevation The Hajar Mountains slowly took shape as runners lined up and blitzed their way in this year’s Urban Ultra Hajar 100. Starting off to face the morning sun, the contenders bolted out on the flat 7.5km to the first checkpoint following the starter horn, others taking their time, presumably to warm up their legs and take in the beautiful, Ras Al Khaimah morning.

Checkpoint 1 was stationed at the base of the first climb leading up the winding road to summit Janas Mountain. Runners looked up in awe as they realised this was their very first ascent. The summit of this mountain is spectacular, breathtaking even. The air so clear, runners are seemingly up in the clouds looking down over the city and out to sea. This gnarly trail continued across the mountain, up and down, over and through the slices of rock, sometimes narrowing and the edge feeling a little too close for comfort. It soon gave way to a more established gravel road and then Checkpoint 2 where fruit, Aqualyte and water waited for parched runners.

The 13km road down Janas led runners to the next entrance of the wadi bed for a quick 2km where Checkpoint 3 sat waiting at the start of the next climb - up Jebel Yibir. Runners slowly appeared at the base of Janas Mountain only to groan at the speed at which the second climb had seemed to come along. Pushing too hard here would almost

certainly have a serious impact on a runner’s ability to go the distance and a careful management of energy stores was the key to getting over the finish line.

It seemed the leading group of runners Sami Alsaidi, Chad Lasater and Lee Harris were keeping the pace high and only time would tell who would crumble first. This group was closely followed by Clare Mullenger for the women and Julia Ibbini a little way behind her.

The climb up Jebel Yibir is by far the toughest. A seemingly never-ending road, so steep you can stretch out your muscles by just turning arond and pointing your feet downhill. Calves worked out to the max, lungs screaming in protest. Then just when you think you have reached the top at a small village, you drop down into the ravine, and turn up into a boulder strewn gorge. No easy way through, runners must clamber up and over. Energy stores are now being depleted double time.

A small village on a plateau signalled at least the end of the climb, but a single-track ridge stood between runners and the refreshments waiting at Checkpoint 4. Then it was a short gravel road that led to the smooth tarmac and a good 8km of steep, switchback road leading down into the valley below and the welcome sight of Checkpoint 5 at 52km.

Checkpoint 5 was a hive of activity: hot soup and noodles on the go, chocolate, fruit, peanut butter and jam, tea, coffee; all the things a runner could need after such an

effort to get there. Runners left Checkpoint 5 to embark on another thankfully short, but super steep winding descent into the valley below and then into the wadi bed to follow the pink markers all the way to Checkpoint 6.

At Checkpoint 7, the runners went through some lovely landscape, eventually reaching some very flat sections to take them through an agricultural and poultry farm area of Wadi Kub and to the final Checkpoint 8.

With only 8.5km to go to the finish, it was unclear if it was Chad or Sami - having switched several times from the lead to second place and back again throughout the day, was going to be first over the last rise into the valley of Al Ghail then through a short section of farm and sand.

Draped in the Oman flag, the young 22-year-old turned into the finish still looking light footed and fresh to take 1st place in the men’s category. Coming across the line he proclaimed it was harder than he expected as he entered thinking it was 100km of sand dunes! All we can say is it seems he can turn his feet to any terrain, completing the UrbanUltra Hajar 100 in 11hrs and 37mins. Following 12 minutes later was Chad Lasater and then behind him, Lee Harris. Clare Mullanger appeared soon after taking the women’s champion trophy and an astonishing 4th place overall. Solid evidence that women are proving to be serious contenders for the top spots in endurance running, and not just in the women’s category!

As dusk finally gave way to the star-strewn sky, the appearance of runners slowed significantly, crossing the line in various states of exhaustion as the night wore on. The glow of the fire lit the spaced-out faces of finishers coming in the early hours, thrilled with their performance, but just too exhausted to celebrate it. At 22hrs and 50mins, the last runner Hishashi from Japan was cheered in, his bloodstained Vibrams which he’d chosen to run the last 48km in – a testament to his will and mental strength after such a long distance and time. From the incredible 11hrs and 37mins that Sami ran to the 22hrs and 50mins of Hishashi, both are impressive for very different reasons and no less remarkable.

And to close this season, we all deserve a rest and a good massage.

EVENT REPORT

2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Report

Words By: Ian Ganderton Photos By: Supplied

The 2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge was the 25th edition of this epic motorsport adventure race and my first attempt at participating. As the first round of the 2015 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship and the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, it is a key international motorsport event that draws the world’s best riders and drivers from all over the globe in one place.

There are also a lot of participants like me pitting themselves against one of the most extreme environments on the planet and against the world’s best in motorsport to see how they shape up.

Day 1 – 262km Yas Marina Circuit Special Stage

The first day takes the competitors from Yas Marina Circuit down to the bivouac next to

Marc Coma - Action Day 3

Qasr Al Sarab at the edge of the Liwa Crescent. Of the five days this is the one I worried about most. It’s the first day of the event and it involves gatch/sand tracks and the fast, open desert that is punctuated by technical drops that can catch the unwary and end their event just as it has begun.

I stuck to my game plan and had a steady

day making good time up until PC3 and the last quarter of the stage where I experienced some fuelling issues. This lead to me getting stuck in a hole and fighting for an energysapping 30 minutes to get out and then limping my bike to the finish line with a time of 4hrs 50mins.

At the front of the bikes leg was 2014 World Champion and Dakar winner, Marc Coma stamping his authority on the event with a time of 3:12:54 2 minutes in front of local hero and fellow KTM teammate Sam Sunderland. Paulo Goncalves for Honda was 3rd.

In the cars category, the Emirati team of Yahya Al Helei (driver) and Khalid Al Kindi Ian directly after his accident. Closing off his ADDC 2015 run with a broken leg.

Sam Sunderland - Action Day 2

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15

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APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Crazy Camel Racing team

(co-driver) took the top spot. This was particularly special as Al Helei is the only person to have competed in every single one of the 25 editions of this race. With a time of 3:20:13, he was almost 2 minutes in front of last year’s winner and World Champion Vladimir Vasilyev.

Day 2 - 279km ADNOC Special Stage

A long early morning liaison took us out to the start of the special stage just off the Madinat Zayed road. This was an exciting mass start for the bikes. I again managed to prevent myself getting carried away in the moment and stuck to my game plan of just riding my ride. I felt great on the bike and teamed up with Tony Landh to the half way point at PC2. I was faster through the technical dunes due to my local knowledge and he was faster along the open sections. We made excellent progress. Just before PC2 we came across a rider out of fuel. I stopped to help and got him going with a couple of litres of my fuel. It took 15 minutes and split myself and Tony up.

About half way to PC3 the going got tough with lots of camel grass. I’d been caught by the faster cars and they were adding to the conditions by chopping it up brutally. At somewhere just over 200km into the stage I made a mistake on the chopped up sand of a big slipface on the backside of a big steep crest. I needed to reset my bike and get going again. I did this and was on the bike ready to go when I heard the car coming. A split second later and it was over the crest and hit me. I saw the view of a rally car that can only mean bad things. I was very lucky, it was only the front wheel that went over Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi - Action Day 3

16

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my right leg, it could have been a whole lot worse. I knew I was injured and that my race was over. Within 15 minutes the paramedics were there and I was airlifted by chopper to Madinat Zayed Hospital where an x-ray showed both tibia and fibula broken. Gutted.

In the bikes Sunderland was in his element and won the stage from Austrian KTM teammate Walkner by 3 seconds. Coma was back in tenth. This left the overall standings with Sunderland in first, Coma in second and Goncalves in third.

In the cars category, Qatari 2015 Dakar winner Nasser Al Attiyah took first, in a Mini All4 Racing by 7mins 16 secs from Russia’s defending champion, Vladimir Vasilyev in another Mini, to grab a 4mins 13secs overall advantage.

With Dutchman Erik Van Loon climbing three places to third, UAE local hero Yahya Al Helei - the overnight leader, was seventh fastest on the day to finish the leg in fourth place overall alongside Emirati co-driver Khalid Al Kendi in his Nissan pickup.

Day 3 - 272 km Qasr Al Sarab Special Stage

Starting near Moreeb, this saw the rally having a hot day with temperatures close to 40 with a lot of it inside the Liwa Crescent and its sand mountains. This took its toll on competitors across the field at all levels.

This day saw Nasser Al-Attiyah strengthening his grip on the race with another measured drive in the Rub Al Khali while World Champion Marc Coma made a big move in his search for an eighth bikes triumph in the event.

Victory in the bikes by 29secs went to defending champion Paulo Goncalves, but Yahya Al Helei - Action Day 2

second place on the day was enough to give Coma a 5min 4secs overall advantage from the Portuguese rider, with overnight leader Sam Sunderland slipping to third.

Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla, Portugal’s Ruben Faria and American rider Ricky Brabec completed the top six heading, with the UAE’s Mohammed Al Balooshi still going strong in seventh.

Al-Attiyah took the stage by more than 11 minutes from Russia’s Vladimir Vasilyev to open up an overall lead of 15min 54secs from the defending cars champion.

With Dutchman Erik Van Loon another 14min 46secs adrift, the UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi finished the day within reach of a podium place after another impressive drive for his Desert Challenge debut alongside Portugal’s Jose Marques in Toyota Hilux.

Britain’s Harry Hunt in a Mini and Poland’s Marek Dabrowski in a Toyota Hilux completed the top six at the end of the demanding leg which was particularly unkind to another Emirati driver, Yahya Al Helei.

The first stage winner, who was still fourth at the start of the day, was halted by a broken clutch as he took his Nissan pickup through the mighty dunes close to the legendary Moreeb Hill, eventually slipping to ninth place overall, more than two hours off the lead.

Day 4 - 258km Nissan Patrol Special Stage

In my opinion this is the most spectacular day of the rally with most of it in the crescent passing parallel to the border amongst its huge dunes and sabkahs. But with a second horrendously hot day it took a huge toll on man and machine again.

Crazy Camel Racing’s Ben Smith who

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Sam Sunderland - Action Day 3

Mohammad Al Balooshi - Action Day 4

had been having a fantastic first FIM race running consistently around 15th on his Rebel X Yamaha was airlifted out of the stage with severe dehydration as was Crazy Camels Jan Zatko. Crazy Camel’s Tony Landh suffered a big off and was airlifted to Mafeq hospital with some significant injuries. Kurt suffered mechanical problems and Keith stayed with him for them both to limp their way back to the bivouac from PC2. Tough day in the office for the Crazy Camels! Local Superman Kobus Potgieter’s rally also ended with a broken wrist after a great consistent ride up to that point.

There were no problems for stage winner Matthias Walkner, nor for his KTM teammate Coma, who was second fastest on the day to extend his overall lead from Sunderland to 11 mins 55secs. But it was all over for the reign of Goncalves as Desert Challenge bikes champion as he waited for the sweep team while he encountered electrical problems.

Al-Attiyah won the special stage from defending champion Vladimir Vasilyev to extend his overall lead to 19min 47secs. With Dutchman Erik Van Loon another 20 minutes away in third, Britain’s Harry Hunt, and Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Poland’s Marek Dabrowski, both driving a Toyota Hilux, completed the top six.

It was a bitterly disappointing day for Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, holding fourth place overnight on his Desert Challenge debut, and fellow-Emirati driver Yahya Al Helei, winner of the first stage on Sunday. Al Qassimi retired half way through the stage with a gearbox problem, but after such a strong showing on his first appearance in the FIA

World Cup for Cross Country Rallies there could be much more to come.

Al Helei, who had slipped to ninth, 24 hours earlier after outpacing the factory cars in his locally-built Nissan pickup, rolled early on the stage and then suffered a heavy landing after 35kms. Co-driver Khalid Al Kendi was freed from the car by the medical team and evacuated by helicopter to Madinat Zayed Hospital with back injuries.

Day 5 - 234 km Abu Dhabi Aviation Special Stage

Scheduled to be a close reverse of Day 1 with the rally heading back to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for tea and medals a big sandstorm prevented safe racing leaving all the competitors to slog it out along the Humeem road in horrible conditions.

Final positions leave an amazing situation with a clean sweep on the podium for Mini in the cars and KTM in the bikes.

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in action - leg 1

Final Positions Vladimir Vasilyev - Action Day3

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (QAT / FRA) Mini All4 Racing

14:33:01.0

2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS/RUS) Mini All4 Racing

14:52:48.0

3. Erik Van Loon / Wouter Rosegaar (NED / NED) Mini All4 Racing

15:13:03.0

4. Harry Hunt / Andreas Schulz (GBR / DEU) Mini All4 Racing

15:43:36.0

5. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gotschalk (KSA / DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive

16:27:01.0

6. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive

16:42:41.0

Bikes 1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 450 RR

14:49:05.0

2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 RR

15:01:00.0

3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) KTM 450 RR

15:09:21.0

4. Ruben Faria (POR) KTM 450 RR

15:17:06.0

5. Ricky Brabec (USA) Honda CRF 450 Rally 6. Mohammad Al Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 RR

15:33:53.0

DMX

Words By: Mark Ackerman Photos By: Abdel Elecho

March 13th, Friday was a very lucky day for Liberty Kawasaki’s Ross Runnals and Jake Shipton as they won the overalls for both MX1 and MX2 classes. This tandem win was realized in the deserts of Jebel Ali which played host to Round 6 of the DMX Championship Series.

It was business as usual for both riders as they swept clear wins in both motos to keep their standings intact. Whilst the MX1 class only had six competitors it was a highly contested battle with the fighting for the top spots throughout the race.

In the 85cc class, Eugenio Barbaglia (SRG Portable Shade Husqvarna) and Nicholas Kefford (KTM UAE) chased hard with Kefford leading the two up to the 4th lap, Barbaglia took the lead on the 5th only to surrender his position in a well-executed block pass by Kefford in the penultimate lap. Barbaglia had been racing the last half of the race with his clutch hanging down which was a testament to the grit the two are showing every time they are on the track. MX2 was just as fast but it was a Barbaglia show this time around leading from lap 2 through to the checkers.

The 65cc class was Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukh’s time to shine winning both motos by over 8 seconds with Ahmed Alnuiami and Faisal Al Busaidi rounding out the podium.

The Masters class was led by Mark Ackerman (SRG Portable Shade Husqvarna) with 2 holeshots with Janne Tuohino (KTM 350) and Shannon O’Connor (Balooshi Racing KTM) swapping positions late in the motos with Shannon finishing in 2nd overall and Janne in 3rd. The Clubman class was once again the Clinton Wyngard (KTM UAE) show with clean wins in both motos.

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Throughout the day, the temperatures hovered in the mid to late 20’s and that, combined with the strong breeze made for very mild and enjoyable conditions for the racers to compete in. Thanks to Karcher for bringing along the pressure washers for all the riders to use in the wash bay.

On the junior track things changed quickly.

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Within six months, the lives of these small racers changed drastically with significant shifts in speed and in progress over the season. The finest example of this was seen in Mohammed Bin Laden on the #88 KTM 65cc who has gone from being lapped in the first few races to actively contending for a podium position. Mohammed has been working with his father and trainer this season and the results have been nothing short of amazing.

Mohammed is riding with the speed, style and attitude of a seasoned pro which is very exciting for the sport in the UAE and sets a great example to all the kids showing the results of hard work. Mohammed was able to finish in second but the day was all Miles Sexson’s with chequered flag wins in both motos, not putting a foot wrong the whole day. Gian Luca Holder put in solid motos to secure 3rd place on that day.

DMX 2014/15 Championship MX1 Season: 2015 Pos 1 2 3 4

No. 731 1 3 18

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 Name Jake Shipton Ross Runnals Dale Jullien Ben Menzies

MX1 Total MX1 Total

MX

Total

25 16 22 20

25 16 22 20

MX Total MX Total

1/9/2015 MX Total MX Total

Total 250 247 204 187

Diff 0 3 46 63

Gap

Total 278 260 221 201

Diff 0 18 57 77

Gap

Total 282 276 237 185

Diff 0 6 45 97

Gap

85cc Total 85cc Total

85

Total

85

Total

85

Total

85

0 6 39 52

25 22 20 15

22 25 15 20

22 25 15 20

25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

25 22 20 16

Total

Diff

Gap

65cc Total 65cc Total

65

Total

65

Total

65

Total

65

282 246 211 195

0 36 71 87

0 36 35 16

20 22 16 18

25 20 15 22

25 20 15 22

25 20 16 22

25 20 16 22

25 16 22 20

25 16 22 20

25 16 18 20

0 3 43 17

25 18 15 22

25 18 15 22

25 20 18 22

25 20 18 22

25 20 16 18

25 20 16 18

25 20 15 18

25 20 15 18

25 15 x 18

25 15 x 18

x 25 22 x

x 25 22 x

1/9/2015 1/30/2015 MX Total MX Total x 25 22 x

x 25 22 x

25 22 18 15

25 22 18 15

1/30/2015 MX Total 25 22 16 18

25 22 16 18

3/13/2015 3/13/2015 MX Total MX Total 25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

DMX 2014/15 Championship MX2 Season: 2015 Pos 1 2 3 4

No. 1 555 23 38

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 Name Ross Runnals Ryan Blair Mohammed Jaffer Keegan Barnard

0 18 39 20

MX2 Total MX2 Total 22 20 18 16

22 20 18 16

25 22 18 16

25 22 18 16

MX

Total

20 25 22 18

20 25 22 18

MX Total MX Total 25 22 18 14

25 22 18 14

22 20 15 14

22 20 15 14

1/9/2015 MX Total MX Total 25 20 18 15

25 20 18 15

25 22 20 16

25 22 20 16

1/9/2015 1/30/2015 MX Total MX Total 20 25 22 18

20 25 22 18

22 20 16 18

22 20 16 18

1/30/2015 MX Total 22 20 18 16

22 20 18 16

3/13/2015 3/13/2015 MX Total MX Total 25 22 18 20

25 22 18 20

25 22 18 20

25 22 18 20

DMX 2014/15 Championship 85cc Season: 2015 Pos 1 2 3 4

No. 19 22 174 18

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 Name Eugenio Barbaglia Nicholas Kefford Abdulla Alnuaimi Jasim Alkubaisi

25 22 20 15

25 22 20 16

25 22 20 16

1/9/2015 Total 85 Total 25 22 20 16

16 25 22 13

16 25 22 13

1/9/2015 85 Total 25 22 20 13

25 22 20 13

1/30/2015 85 Total 22 25 20 13

22 25 20 13

1/30/2015 85 Total 25 22 20 15

25 22 20 15

3/13/2015 3/13/2015 85 Total 85 Total 22 25 20 13

22 25 20 13

25 22 20 15

25 22 20 15

DMX 2014/15 Championship 65cc Season: 2015 Pos 1 2 3 4

No. 1 174 99 22

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 Name

Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukh Ahmed Alnuiami Joseph Mortado Jamie Horn

20 22 16 18

25 18 14 20

25 18 14 20

1/9/2015 Total 65 Total 25 16 18 20

25 20 16 18

25 20 16 18

1/9/2015 65 Total 25 20 18 15

25 20 18 15

1/30/2015 65 Total 25 22 20 18

25 22 20 18

1/30/2015 65 Total 15 25 18 22

15 25 18 22

3/13/2015 3/13/2015 65 Total 65 Total 25 22 18 x

25 22 18 x

22 25 20 x

22 25 20 x

DUBAI MOTOCROSS CLUB

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19

EVENT REPORT

2015 Emirates Palace SUP Festival Words By: Nick Yates

The second annual Emirates Palace Stand Up Paddle Festival was held on Valentine’s Day this year and it was a “date” to remember for paddlers and spectators alike.

The festival had competitive races with tight finishes, great beach vibes and events for the entire family, which even included a tandem race with two paddlers on one board. It had the thrills and spills to entertain a crowd of over 150 people and over 125 paddlers representing 19 nationalities. The daylong festival and the largest SUP event on the UAE Calendar was organised by the Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers Group and provided yet another beautiful day with plenty of fun in the sun.

The race course varied from race to race but the beach run, dreaded by some, at the end of each lap was a constant and added excitement to each lap allowing spectators to cheer on the participants up close as they ran by. Paddlers navigated themselves around the course buoys and then to the beach, summoning the necessary energy to get their legs moving in a 50m sprint; no easy feat after paddling their hearts out! The 4km and 2km race lap was around a course conveniently laid out in the shape of a heart; yes this was on purpose of course.

The races got off to a cracking start with the 500m women’s, men’s, juniors and kids races. The Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers dedicate their time to share the sport with people of all ages and abilities throughout the year and the participation

rate in the festival within the entry level beginner race was a testament to their commitment. Almost 50 paddlers entered as firsttime racers and sure, there were shaky legs followed by a few falls, but that wouldn’t be SUP racing without a few people taking dips in the refreshing water. Carrie Ingram, Nicolas Blanc, Joachim Sjodin, Victoria Sjodin, Levi Chard and Nika Vugrinec took home the top honours in their respective categories.

The 4km race was up next with a strong field lining up on the start line. The distance is a long sprint; it is not a true endurance race but neither is it a sprint. The times set by the top paddlers were quick. Amer Dandanchi and Daniel Van Dooren again duked it out by swapping the lead several times throughout the race. It was Amer who beat Dan in the end to continue his dominance of the long races here in the UAE. Esther Farrant blazed the female field on her Naish One Inflatable board making her time even more epic.

The 2km races allowed plenty of new

racers to test out their speed over a longer distance as well as plenty of buoy turns in a variety of board categories from inflatable to all around surf SUP. For more experienced paddlers, we saw some very fast strokes right from the start as enthusiasts powered through the race course in a very fast two lap sprint. Plenty of smiles on the water for Anne Cortez, Tracey Weerawarna, Jilly MacMillan, Renauld Olivier, Brian Stephenson, Corey Oliver and Ralph Hussami - the winners of the seven different 2km categories.

The tandem race debuted in this event because of the significance of February 14th.

Paddlers paired up; one person laid down on the board while another person paddled a 200m lap. At the end, the pair had to finish up with a run leg. Believe me, there was no love lost as pairs jostled for position on the water and elbowed their way along the beach run. Paddling for the most part is an individual competition so camaraderie shone through in the tandem and team relay event;

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another race where teams of three fought for supremacy with paddlers relishing the opportunity to get ahead of their friends turned competitors.

The last race of the day was the third in the N1SCO Race Series and the festival held back the most hotly contested races for last.

This race levels out all competitors as everyone must use the same race board, the Naish One 12’6 Inflatable Board. This inflatable is a great touring and all around board with easy storing as it deflates and rolls up into a bag.

It is also a fast race SUP as the men, women, juniors and kids showed us.

The N1SCO race series ended at the water line so there was often paddlers flying to shore and flinging themselves onto the sand to try and beat their fellow competitors in knockout heats. There were upsets on the water as all competitors paddled in heats of six, 50m out to a buoy and back as quickly as possible. The buoy turn provided entertainment for the crowd as paddlers fell trying to

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get around and leaving positions completely different than when the horn was blown.

Emirates Palace is certainly the most iconic landmark to paddle in. Spectators lounged on the pristine beach and paddlers were greeted with glass-like conditions to battle it out. There was plenty of entertainment

with OutdoorUAE’s very own DJ Maryo Figo pleasing his fans with an awesome musical backdrop with mixes that had a little bit of everything. Adventure HQ also set up their pump track. You should have seen the stoked grommets (and big kids!) on bikes, scooters and skateboards tearing it up. A huge thank you to our sponsors and supporters who helped make the second annual event another success including Emirates Palace, Hydro Marine Sport, Adventure HQ, Oceanman UAE, Naish, Red Paddle Co, Vogue Fitness, Al Mahara, Live Love SUP, Surf House Dubai and OutdoorUAE. To join the Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers Group, please visit www.abudhabisup.com for more information. They are the most active SUP community in the UAE with weekly paddle nights, weekend paddles, race training and social events.

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EVENT REPORT

Victory for Dylan Ferrandis as Ryan Villopoto debuts CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Dylan Ferrandis showed why he is going to be one of the contenders for the 2015 FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship by blending speed and spirit under the lights of Losail to fight for a hard-earned third position. MXGP launched in the desert coinciding with the Qatar Grand Prix for the third year on the bounce and the Frenchman recovered from a second race crash to earn his spot on the podium despite dealing with illness.

Dylan wrapped his hands around four trophies in 2014 and already has one notch on his 2015 scorecard. Running with his new number “4” Ferrandis was lucky to escape unscathed from a heavy tumble in the formative stages of the second race and just when he was starting to size-up an attack on leader Jeffrey Herlings. He then needed to recover his composure to regain ground from eleventh back up to fourth to make the box.

“I was sick this weekend so my goal was to make the podium; I’m pleased about this,” he said. “I was surprised to pass Jeffrey in the first moto. I made two good laps but then mentally I wasn’t ready to lead the moto and I was making too many mistakes. I was really feeling good in the second moto but made a crash when I was chasing Jeffrey. Anyway it is good to be up here.”

His teammates Jordi Tixier and Thomas Covington also tasted some of the bumpy Losail terrain as the Frenchman and American assumed the final two positions in the top ten. Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie had the scariest get-off of them all after seeming to miss a gear on the take off to the large step-up jump and was lucky to hobble away from a major incident while closing on the top three.

Over in the premier class there was little

The Winner and the Learner: Ferrandis (top right) takes away the first round while newcomer Villopoto (left) learns vital lessons.

doubt about who was the main draw in Losail. Increased crowd attendance was a sign that many were tuning in to see the Grand Prix debut of multi-AMA Champion and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Ryan Villopoto. The 26-year-old did not have a dream maiden outing however and finished seventh overall in what was only the first part of his adjustment to a new series and fresh form of racing. A few key mistakes like an engine stall in the gate and several small spills stopped the American from running his aggressive speed nearer the front of the pack.

“All I know is that every time we went on the track we got better,” he said.

“From yesterday until now we got better all the time.

We scored okay points and for me it has been about learning the system and how it all works. I haven’t ridden on Saturday and raced on Sunday or done two twenty-minute practices and a twenty-minute race followed by a fifteen-minute practice and then into the motos; that is more riding on the weekend than we have ever had in the States. I’m getting used to that.”

Teammate Tyla Rattray fared better in 17th overall and was searching for a more effective set-up all weekend. The South African will get more time to refine his suspension and Villopoto is poised to gain more Grand Prix experience with the second round slated to take place in Nakhonchaisri west of Bangkok.

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EVENT REPORT

the dock of the bay Dubai International Boat Show 2015 Words By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Abrito Rosellosa Jr. and Jung Francisco

With the cold wind, touching the seas as cruisers of all shapes and sizes are moored on the docks, it was hard not to have a great time at the recent Dubai International Boat Show which took place last March 3rd to the 7th at the Dubai International Marine Club at Mina Seyahi.

The event was attended by thousands of visitors who were either in the market for a yacht or simply admiring these prestigious aquatic machines. Other than yachts, this year’s Boat Show also introduced other water disciplines such as SUP, fly fishing, kayaking and diving to name a few.

On the outset, the Boat Show displayed the latest and greatest of boating with marine powerhouses showcasing their latest models of yachts and other craft. Also, it was a chance for interested buyers to look into what could be their next cabin cruiser in the buyers section where free tours inside the yachts was also provided. Wintry March breeze and elegant boats always go hand in hand, and it’s in the Boat Show where it reaches its zenith.

In the Outdoor Display Area, proud media partner OutdoorUAE was present to provide cheers and smiles as they demonstrated some SUP skills (with some splashes in between) pleasing visitors – young and old alike. Other than that, visitors were also amazed after posing for photos in OutdoorUAE’s very own photo booth with visitors taking home photographic souvenirs of the day they went and witnessed as the bespoke titans of the sea exhibited their regal nature.

It was also during the Boat Show where experts in the field imparted their tips and

tricks via the Marine Talks. The lectures were delivered by notable experts such as Sean James, who talk about coaststeering in the Musandam region and is currently on his way to the top of the world as of late; Ian Ganderton and Steven Bennet who, in separate talks discussed essential kayaking know-how and the challenges that they have faced; seasoned fly fishermen Kit Belen and Chris Bamford who talked about the issues that fly fishing faces in the UAE; and renowned freediver Alex Boulting who gave a talk about his freediving adventures and the things that he constantly learns from these experiences.

A crowd of eager learners paid attention as these experts shared, laughed and inspired other enthusiasts as well as inspiring starters to continue loving their sport and discovering a new route to travel. The talks inspired and challenged the audience which in turn gave rise to multiple questions thus providing a space for intellectual discussion between the speakers and the audience.

From my seat during the Marine Talks, it was nice to hear from Kit Belen and Chris Bamford about fly fishing. I admit I’ve only been introduced to fly fishing during that time. But after hearing them impart their knowledge, I might actually give it a go. Other than that, one thing I also noticed is the presence of kids during the Marine Talks. It was a pleasure to see the younger generation taking interest in the life of the outdoors; they even raised questions!

Of which Chris and Kit gladly answered.

Other than Kit and Chris, Ian and Steven shared their kayaking adventures around the Musandam area and the challenges that they faced not only there but also across the Emirate. Another amazing session was hosted by Alex Boulting who even brought freediving champion Alexey Molchanov with him as he

talked about the sport within the context of the UAE. What’s also interesting to note about Alex’s talk was his amazing use of audience participation as he gave breathing exercises to a very eager audience. It was an 5 nights of beautiful learning.

Apart from elegant yachts, the show wouldn’t be complete without some music.

Living up the event was international artist Melisa le Rue who gave stellar renditions of the latest pop music as well as giving new life to hallmark classics.

In entirety, the Boat Show was a wonderful display of not only yachts but also of knowledge. With more involvement from the watersports lifestyle community, the Boat Show has become more than just a melting pot for people to look into buying a yacht but it has also become a stage for learning more about water sports. With this development and the presence of the Marine Talks in this year’s Boat Show, we can all expect another amazing Boat Show come 2016. This year’s show is proof that the event has escalated into a place where enthusiasts enjoyed learning a thing or two as they walked along the steps of Mina Seyahi amidst the kings and queens of the seas – the yachts.

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ACTIVITY REPORT

tales FROM THE stables Words By: Cindy Stadelmann and Cosmo

Recently, I had the chance to get a sniff of the most exciting discipline of equestrian sports that is similar to triathlon. Triathlon for horses is called “Eventing”.

Eventing consists of an element of dressage, cross country jumping and show jumping. Dubai recently introduced another variation combining human triathlon with endurance riding, the Dubai Desert Triathlon.

Here competitors run 5km, cycle 50km and horse ride 40km. Most competitors race in relay teams since it is necessary to have a license issued by the Equestrian Federation to do the horse ride. Additionally, only a few participants have this license (and a horse), and are talented cyclists and runners. Back to my main subject, the sniff of the most exciting eventing discipline.

Fun at Desert Palm

A few weeks ago, I participated in a cross country clinic at the Desert Palm stable just a few minutes away from my home. In cross country, you canter over long distance on grass and dirt tracks and tackle jumps on the way. These are solidly built and can be in the shape of little huts, benches, ditches, steps and so on. “Cantering” is actually an

Beautiful surroundings to ride XC

understatement. In real eventing competitions, you actually gallop which is also a three-beat gait similar to canter just faster.

I will dedicate one of the next articles to explain the differences between all different gaits.

It was my first time to jump over those obstacles, so I took big leaps over them to be sure not to touch them. It was fun! No matter what came my way, I just jumped it. During the clinic I was accompanied by three other horses, of which two were actually ponies and they went over those jumps with absolute ease. Our trainer, Hannah, took us to a set of jumps, explained what to do, how to approach and off we went. The ponies knew what they were doing but it was exciting for everybody. Cantering in the open and tackling the brown-coloured hurdles was brilliant except when we came to the water jump.

“You want me to go into that? In canter? No, no, no. I absolutely don’t care if the ponies just went right through it, splashing the water in all directions. I have no idea how deep that is!“ Well, it took around 10 minutes to convince Cosmo to walk through the water. Before we got there, I (the rider) had to get off, push him, pull him, make him move sideways, offer treats, verbal praise and pats. Cosmo made the grass bank even soggier than it already was. My feet were soaked from the attempts where I walked ahead deep into the water. The water slowly ran into my boots as Cosmo gripped tightly to the edge with his long stretched neck to avoid any hoofcontact with the water. But after 10 minutes, Fun with the fences

Cosmo gave in and we finally rode carefully through. We repeated this twice and then how about in canter? So, we rode away down a bank, turned around and cantered up the slope, which Cosmo greatly enjoyed, and approached the water. He briefly stopped at the edge and then leaped into the air, as if tackling an imaginary 1m jump, to land straight with all four hoofs in the water. Splash! We did it! It was a brilliant afternoon that showed me how much fun horses have with these kinds of new challenges. Cross country is definitely something that needs to be put on the agenda again for Cosmo.

Cross country

Cross country is one of the three disciplines conducted in the equestrian sport eventing. Some people might know it under its previous name “Military”, due to its historic origin. In the past, officers of the cavalry met and competed against each other in this challenge testing their fitness and courage. I have seen pictures of horses jumping onto roofs of houses on one side and sliding down on the other. Horse and rider compete in three disciplines either all together in a One Day Event (ODE) or spread out over three days, Three-Day-Eventing. It starts with a dressage test that all riders need to complete. They are judged on balance, suppleness and obedience. In the coming months, I will talk more about the subject of dressage. In the infancy stage of this sport, dressage was all about the officer showing his horse’s ability to perform on the parade ground.

Dressage

The dressage test is followed by tackling a cross country course. Here, horses canter at great speed (gallop) over a distance of 4-6km and jump between 24 to 36 obstacles proving their speed, endurance and jumping ability. The jumps are of a fixed and solid nature. At lower levels, these jumps are already intimidating but if you look at big competitions, including the Olympic Games those jumps include carts, bushes, log fences, jumps into or within water and table tops. Horse and rider jump down drops that are impossible to see from the direction they have to be approached. An example of a famous cross country course and event is the Badminton Horse Trials. Go to their

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Performing in front of the clubhouse

official webpage and watch an animation of the course and some sampled rides conquering the jumps. Your heart will make a jump, too. In the old days, military officers had to complete a long distance ride followed by a cross country obstacle course within a time limit showing their stamina, courage and speed. This symbolised a charger tackling difficult terrain over distance or a courier quickly dispatching a message.

Show jumping

The third discipline is show jumping. The test is in an arena in which horses jump about 10 colourful pole-jumps in the form of uprights and oxers. An oxer is a very deep or wide obstacle. This looks similar to the normal show jumping competitions, which you might have seen on TV. The jumps are not as high as during big show jumping competitions but you have to keep in mind that these horses and riders already have completed two strenuous tests during that day or the days before.

In the past, the third discipline was to prove the continued soundness and fitness of horse and rider. Since 1963, during a three-day event, the horses are vet checked each morning and given the green light if found sound.

Scoring

The goal of the competition is to avoid accruing penalty points. During dressage, the horse collects points for its performance minus error points, which is divided by the total number of points that can be collected. This is subtracted from 100. For cross country and jumping the rider again tries to avoid penalties for exceeding the time or jumping errors e.g. rider falling off, horse refusing, knocking poles. Elimination is possible as well during cross country and show jumping if too many Warming down

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Distractions such as birds and trees test the horses

errors are made. There is more science to the calculations and the overall results but I want to leave it at this.

Protection

The cross country course is made of solid fences and bears a high risk of injury. Hence, horses and riders wear extra protection.

Horses have padded boots wrapped around their lower legs and hoofs are covered with “bell boots” to avoid any harsh impact.

Riders wear body protectors that remind slightly of “bulletproof vests”. They are not, but definitely prevent bigger injury in case the rider falls into a jump. Newer models, mold nicely around the riders body and give freedom of movement, whilst doing its job.

Some riders additionally wear inflatable vests that automatically inflate if a toggle is pulled, e.g. if the rider falls off. Certainly, all riders wear hats.

The Spinneys Cup

The first “military” competition was organised in 1902 and only allowed military officers. This continued for years and even when this challenge was added to the Olympic Games it remained only for military personnel. Only in 1949, the first civilian three-day eventing competition was held. It was in the USA and in 1953 the first shortened version of the sport was conducted. Over 2,000 additional modifications have taken place since and now form the standard international format for eventing competitions. I have been in Dubai since 2005 and ever since then, I remember the Spinneys Cup as one of the highlights of the year, at least for the equestrian sport community here in the UAE. This big event, now concluding the eventing season in this country is held

Cosmo testing the water

at Desert Palm, where Cosmo and I had the honour to follow the great riders and to test our skills. The Cup was a casual event with picnic baskets and blankets for the spectators and an exciting day out for the horses and riders. The event has grown in popularity and year after year has attracted an increasing number of competitors. Different entry levels are offered, giving novice to senior riders the opportunity to enjoy the day. You see courageous kids zipping along on their ponies as well as adults on their brave steeds.

One thing you will notice here in the UAE is that the sequence of the disciplines has been swapped around. This is due to the heat encountered during the day. It means the day starts off with dressage followed by show jumping before it gets mid-day and too hot. After a few hours rest and before sun sets as there are no lights on the course, the competitors complete the cross country section, all with fierce faces during the ride and beaming smiles once through the finishing lines. Besides Desert Palm, the Emirates Equestrian Centre close to Bab Al Shams offers competitions and clinics, either location is quickly accessible by car and should be on your “to-do list” if you want to have a look into this exciting competition.

Next month I want to write about one special event that also runs over multiple days, tests and demands courage, and is something very unique. The UAE is the only country to run this. Want to know more? Stay tuned.

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Around the world in Seven Steps Words By: Maria Conciecao

It was hard to believe that I was finally on the way to start the 777 Challenge. It felt just like another dream and I’d had many over the course of the last six months of preparation, some of them good but most of them waking me up in a cold sweat in fear of something going horrifically wrong.

The target for this challenge was to run a full marathon on each of the seven continents in seven days. To call this a challenge was a vast understatement. And one long haul flight after the other with a marathon at the other end compounded the challenge.

On the evening of the 7th of February we had a chance to learn what the other runners were guilty of to deserve this punishment. For me it was easy, this challenge was a chance to show my determination, and raise awareness.

The others were a mixed bag from all over the world: running for a cause, breaking world records but several just for fun – the crazy ones.

The first marathon in Melbourne, Australia was very pleasant with reasonably cool weather. I ran at a comfortable pace and finished the distance feeling good. I was the second female to finish from our group finishing in 4h 22m. After the race, I had 3-4 hours before we had to head to the airport. This turned out to be barely enough time for a shower, some food and to read a few emails.

Race 2 was in Abu Dhabi. I fell asleep on the flight a few times but not for long. The usual discomforts of a long haul flight were present but switched into intense mode.

We landed on time and were shuttled off to Zayed Sports City for the race. It was a really tough one due to hot weather; strong, sandy winds and of course the fact that I had already ran a marathon and flew 7,000 miles beforehand.

We had a few hours rest after the race before it was off to the airport for the flight

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to Paris. It was an overnight flight and by this time I was becoming desperate for sleep.

France was chilly, which was a welcome change after Abu Dhabi. The race was in a nice setting: eight loops around a big lake in the country. The race started well until half way around the first loop when we hit the mud section and it was a super sticky mud that built up on your shoes making your feet heavier with each step. We only had a short time to shower and relax before we were yet again rushed off to the airport. I finished the France race around 3:00 p.m.; the next race would start only 10 hours later in Tunisia!

The race organisers in Tunisia looked after us well; we were rushed through immigration and bussed to the historic Carthage Amphitheatre for the start, which was at 1:00 a.m.!

This was mentally tough; it was starting to feel like torture, but physically I felt okay and was ready to go. The busy start line helped build the adrenaline, however once we were off, we soon spread out at different paces and it became a lonely race running through the desolate neighbourhoods of Tunis. Several volunteers did well to keep us hydrated and cheered us on. I finished second place in female overall just before 6:00 a.m.

Next was another long flight, this time to New York, via Rome. I was looking forward to reaching New York for one simple reason – I would get to sleep in a bed for the first time since we started. It was bliss, but it was short lived. The marathon on Long Island was freezing cold at -7°C. The cold kept you moving, but breathing was difficult and ice patches presented danger. I enjoyed this race, thanks to the first proper rest in a bed. I ran a good race finishing in 4h 52m, not bad for the 5th marathon, in as many days and continents.

Punta Arenas, Chile, Race Six was the worst.

Remarkably my legs felt fine, but I was totally worn out, I actually felt as if I’d been dragged from New York. The race was on a concrete

path and the impact of every step sent a shock of pain through my body. Surprisingly my finish time was respectable at 4h 53m. I just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible; the next race in Antarctica was scheduled only eight hours later.

At 2:30 a.m. on the 14th of February, we were on our way to the airport for our flight to Antarctica. We reached the continent three days later. We landed at around 9:00 p.m.

Our marathon was rescheduled to start at 5:00 a.m. the next morning so after a bit of sleep in a tent (I don’t recommend this in Antarctica) I was up and raring to go. I had kept myself active during the three-day wait so that I didn’t stiffen up and I felt quite good.

The course was a tough one, a very rocky, hilly trail run with patches of slushy snow and mud. I set off quickly and maintained a good pace paying no attention to the several penguins coming ashore to see what was going on. I was so happy to cross the finish line and especially as I was the first woman. Seven marathons in seven continents in 11 days wasn’t the original plan however. The current Guinness record for females is 48 days.

My goal was to raise funds and awareness for my foundation but also to show our children that we can push boundaries and that we don’t have to accept what is normal or what is expected. A couple of years ago nobody would have expected me run a single marathon let alone multiple marathon challenges. Mission completed.

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Girl power at the UIM XCAT World Series

The first ever lady pilot Veronica Olderin Words By: Nicola de Corato Photos By: Nicola de Corato and supplied

The year 2008 witnessed the first ever series of five Xtreme Catamaran Series Powerboat Championship races in the UAE followed by four more races held in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) and the DIMC in the next two years, while another five rounds, including the Fujairah International Marine Club, was planned for 2012.

During the first race of 2015 in Fujairah, the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) welcomed the first ever woman driver to the UIM XCAT World Series. Veronica Olderin has been involved in the sport since her teens, but this will be her first XCAT race as she joins forces with former Class 3C World Champion Mikael Bengtsson in one of four teams joining the series for the first time this season.

In their first ever appearance at the UIM XCAT World Series, Swecat Racing managed to claim a podium finish at the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run. After the race, we had the chance to meet her for a coffee and some questions.

Nico de Corato: You are the first ever woman driver at the UIM XCAT World Series, how does it feel?

Veronica Olderin: It feels great! This is a huge opportunity for me and the next step in my racing career. I believe it’s very good that the guys have a woman to compete with in this series. Hopefully, this is just the first step and we will have more girls next year.

Swecat Team in front of the boat

Pilot Veronica Olderin

NDC: How did you get started in the sport?

VO: I started racing in 2006 with my father, Gunnar Olderin, who is still competing in Sweden. In 2008, I bought my first off-shore boat and have since been competing in different classes.

NDC: Who would you like to have as a female co-pilot?

VO: I have always had other girls with me in the boat and for the last three years I have been competing with Kristina Coleman, who is my navigator. If I get to choose one, I think Marit Stromoy, with whom I have been training with a little in the XCAT. We work well together and have the same mindset. It is very important to note that in this sport there are no negative sides to being a woman!

NDC: Are there other members in your family with the same passion? What did they say about your choice of becoming a racer?

VO: My father has been competing since I was very young and he has been very supportive of me. My mum too, and they are often with me when I am away competing.

NDC: How do you manage to spend a lot of time traveling away from family?

VO: Racing is a big part of my life at the moment so I am away a lot. I don’t have any children, but I grew up following my dad to different competitions, so I think having children does not hinder your racing. But of course, I miss some people so much when I am away.

NDC: Who do you bring with you during your trips?

VO: I am used to taking care of myself. The team that I have in Sweden is just me and Kristina, and we handle everything. Now, we are several more people, but we don’t bring more than we need. My dad always comes with me for support.

NDC: How do you feel before a race? What do you do the night/day before?

VO: I normally get really nervous, but I think now that we are two in the boat steering and throttling, I will be calmer, because all the responsibility is not on me.

NDC: How do you balance work and training?

VO: I work for Trig Social Media who is one of my sponsors so I have a good combination of work and race. I am still home often so I have time to do other things too. The best thing is that my best friends and the people that I care about the most are also racing, so we spend a lot of time together when we are out racing, practicing and so on.

NDC: If you win the race, how would you celebrate?

VO: Depending on which county we are in. I think I would have a nice dinner, be with the team and do something extra with them.

NDC: How was your time in Dubai?

VO: For the last five months, I have been to Dubai five times. I love the city and there is so much to see. For me, it is the best combination of racing, shopping and vacation. All the things a girl can wish for.

Blogger, marathon runner and triathlete, diver and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels. You can read my blog www.dubayblog.com, contact me on social networks or via email at admin@dubaiblog.it for information about this article or just to say hello.

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EVENT REPORT

Who is Mingma?

A Story of the Sherpas

Part 2

Words By: Sean James

This is part two of the Sherpas tale. Last month we looked at who the Sherpas are and why they are so important in climbing expeditions to the big mountains. This month we highlight a number of Sherpas that I have worked with over the years. I want to bring you their story. Season after season they work tirelessly to help us fulfil our dreams of trekking and climbing the highest mountains in the Himalayas. The title of this article is a philosophical question as there are many Mingmas and many Sherpas. However let’s start with a climbing Sherpa who is actually called Mingma.

Ongchhu Sherpa leading clients on Cho Oyu

our job. I have attempted to climb Everest 23 times but I was successful to climb it 19 times.”

Even his favourite trek is in the Everest region going to the Everest Base Camp. “I like this trek because the area is typical of the Sherpa community and we get the chance to view the most beautiful mountains. Most of the tourists want to see the highest mountain.”

Talking about his family he says: “My hero is my father. He has gone through hard times to feed us as our family is big. We are seven brothers and two sisters. So it’s hard to feed nine children. He has given his best care and love to us and now all our families are established here in Kathmandu. All my brothers are Everest summiteers and have got their names in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006.”

and summited. Since then he has climbed Everest five times, in Ama Dablam and also Cho Oyu. In 2012, he completed the aspirant guide course conducted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and is a certified National Mountain Guide (Aspirant Guide).

To further his guiding career he has taken many courses and says: “It’s important for Sherpas to gain proper training from this organisation (NMA) and our clients can feel safer working with us because we strictly follow the rules and regulations of high mountain climbing to make their trip safer and successful.”

Mingma Tsiri Sherpa

Mingma Tsiri Sherpa has been working as a guide for 20 years. When I wrote this article, he has summited Everest 19 times, K2 once, Dhaulagiri once, Cho Oyu four times, Shishapangma once and Manaslu three times, plus countless other high peaks.

He has his own company, Ascent Himalayas and remembers where it all started - back in 1991, on his first climb to Mera Peak, a popular and isolated peak in the 6,000m range. His home village is in Gauri Sankar, near Rolwaling and he now frequently travels to the USA and in Norway to guide during the monsoon season.

In 1997, he became the first Nepali to summit K2 but his favourite mountain is still Chomolungma or Sagarmatha which is of course Mt Everest in the Tibetan and Nepali tongues respectively. His motivations for climbing are surprisingly unemotional to westerners. “I climb because mountains are a source of income for us. It’s risky but it’s 28

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Dawa Jamba Sherpa Ang Dawa Sherpa

Ang Dawa was born on the 18th November 1984 in the Solukhumbu District about 50km south of Mt Everest. He started working as a trekking guide in 2003 and then graduated to being a porter guide and climbing Sherpa on peaks below 6,000 metres. In 2007, at the age of 23 he got the opportunity to work on Mt Everest from the north side

Dawa has been working in the mountains for around nine years. His first mountain was Mera Peak in 2004. He was born in Tamku in northeastern Nepal near Makalu. Like many of the modern Sherpas, he has also travelled abroad and remembers a trip to South Africa fondly. One of the hardest mountains he has climbed in Manaslu because of the bad weather conditions.

His favourite region in Nepal is around

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Ongchhu Sherpa leading the high life

Dawa Jamba Sherpa on the summit of Everest

Annapurna and he loves the Annapurna Sanctuary which is surrounded by high peaks. Coincidently his favourite types of tourists to work with are the French as he finds them helpful to the society of Nepal.

The French were the first to climb Annapurna.

He has summited Everest four times, Manaslu once, Cho Oyu twice and many more 6,000m peaks. His positivity comes from his father who he says taught him well and was his role model. He tries to project this to others by being helpful to everyone he encounters.

Jangbu Sherpa

Jangbu Sherpa is another climber with an impressive record at high altitude. For 11 times he has stood on the highest point on Earth. He has also found time to summit Cho Oyu three times and Shishapangma once. He started as a mountain guide in 2003 and took the diplomas and training offered by the Nepali Mountaineering Association. His first climb was Island Peak back in 1998 and his family lives in the nearby Solukhumbu District. His favourite trek is to Everest Base Camp and of course he comes from a long line of mountain men. His father was also a guide. Jangbu holds a pretty unique record that probably many won’t attempt to beat - in 2006 he stood bare naked on top of Everest for 4mins and 40secs.

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Ongchhu Sherpa

Ongchhu Sherpa is just starting his career on the 8,000m peaks. He has summited Cho Oyu at 8,201m twice. In spring of 2015 he will be hoping to climb Everest with eager clients. Coming from a farming family, his home village is Nagthan in the Solukhumbu District where he rushes home to his five children in between expeditions. On a normal day, he is away from home on various expeditions totalling up to eight months a year. Ongchhu is typically modest and helpful. A quiet man; you know he will do all he can to help his clients. His first peak was also Mera Peak in 2010 and he just loves being in the mountains, not having a favourite yet.

The last time I climbed with Ongchhu was in October 2014, since then we have kept in touch via Facebook and he delights in telling me his stories about the training courses and certificates that he receives from the Nepali organisations.

Before the ceremony starts, equipment such as climbing boots, crampons and axes will be piled around the stupa or chorten. A small fire of juniper branches rises from each group at base camp daily in the first few weeks. A lama presides over the ceremony and chants as he reads from an old Tibetan prayer book. It is a happy time and at some point everyone throws their handful of rice or flour into the air three times. Food and drink, and usually alcohol are offered to everyone and more flour is smeared all over the climbers’ faces. This symbolizes a grey beard and long life.

Maybe someday you will be lucky enough to spend time in Nepal amongst the Sherpa people and experience their customs, culture and traditions.

Namaste dai!

Dawa Yangzum Sherpa a female Sherpa

The Puja Ceremony

Before any climbing can take place, there must be a Puja ceremony. A Puja is a prayer ritual performed by the Hindus to host, honour and worship one or more deities, or to spiritually celebrate an event. However, Puja rituals are also held by Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. There are several aspects to a Puja ceremony and they can last up to two hours and are essentially asking the gods for safe passage and the right to enter their kingdoms.

Prayer flags are found everywhere in Nepal. They come in sets of five colours. The five colours are arranged from left to right and must be in a specific order: blue, white, red, green and yellow. The five colours represent the five elements: sky, air, fire, water and earth respectively. At the start of an expedition prayer flags are hung around base camp and in high places. Prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom and it is believed that the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Maiden Voyage to Oman

Words + Photos By: Rachael Harrison

What on earth is a Unimog? I hear you ask. I asked the same question when my husband first mentioned getting one about a year ago, but have since discovered that there are a significant number of blogs dedicated to these vehicles and their fantastic off-road capabilities.

They’re made by Mercedes-Benz and are basically medium sized trucks/tractors, often used by the military. In fact, our Unimog enjoyed a previous career as an ambulance in the Abu Dhabi Military (I doubt it ever saw any action) before it came to us. They’re suitable for going over a range of different terrains, meaning that we can make trips through the desert with ease and cross rocky areas without too much stress. It also has a pretty high ground clearance, which helps reduce the risk of us getting stuck on a dune. It’s by no means a fast vehicle, with a top speed of about 80kph, but it’s sturdy and reliable despite being only six years younger than me!

We’ve since taken out the insides and have

started to build an interior to make camping trips more cosy, and have also installed air conditioning in the cab. There’s a lot more work to be done but we have done enough to allow us to go away for a couple of days at a time. It’s an ongoing project that will hopefully one day allow us to make lengthy trips, exploring countries off the beaten path and sleep wherever we choose to pull over. This short trip was a way of testing what has been done so far, and finding out what things need to be taken care of pretty soon.

The trip

In our usual fashion, we were pretty slow in getting organised and left the house at about 4:00 p.m. We also had to endure a trip to the supermarket to buy some food to sustain us for a couple of days, so in reality we probably hit the road at about 4:45 a.m. heading to Oman via the border at Hatta. We drove through sand dunes as the sun began to set.

Reaching the border, we experienced what I feel is going to be an ongoing issue when leaving the UAE. As we are not a commercial truck (and because the truck queue at the first border point was ridiculous), we tried our luck by going through the car queue. Uh oh. We were promptly told off and directed to the truck queue. Then we were stopped Mosque in Omani town as my husband tried to explain that we were merely a camper van, not a truck with goods on board. The solution was for them to allow Oman mountains

Unimog in desert sun setting

us to push in the truck queue, and we made our way to the next border post. There were so many checkpoints and border posts that I have forgotten what happened where, but at one point we stayed in the truck queue only to be directed to the car queue, and vice versa. Some of the immigration officials were so intrigued by the Unimog that they insisted on having a look, which was lovely but it also slowed us down – although we were some coffee by one very kind man! Reaching the Oman border, we had to park the Unimog on the side of the road to go and get our visas, rather than leaving it in the car park, because of course it’s not a car. All in all, it took us over an hour to officially enter Oman, and the sun had well and truly disappeared by the time we set off for our destination: Sawadi Beach.

So far, we had noticed two things that needed fixing. The first was that the cab desperately needed cup holders (the above mentioned coffee ended up all over my husband’s lap), and secondly, sound proofing was a must. The Unimog is loud, and we were both wearing ear defenders. We attempted a conversation a couple of times but on each occasion it went like this:

Me: How much further is it?

Hubby: What?

Me: Pardon?

Hubby: What did you say?

Me: I CAN’T HEAR YOU!

Silence

So the journey was pretty boring with no chatting paired with a dark, straight road. We eventually reached Sawadi just after 10:00 p.m., and pulled up to go to sleep. The bed was extremely comfortable, just like being at home, and I was excited to wake up and see the sunrise over the sea.

After spending the day at Al Sawadi, we found a spot for lunch before making our way towards the mountains where we intended to spend the second night. Before we rejoined the road, we had another drive along the beach, taking in the beautiful surroundings.

It’s one of the many things I love about Oman, from beaches to mountains to sand dunes to wadis, there are so many different landscapes that are as stunning as they are unique.

As we had been pretty unorganised before leaving the house, we didn’t have a specific route planned, and once again sunset was quickly approaching. This is something I’d do differently next time. It’s all well and good to just roam about and see where you end up, but it’s also nice, especially if time is limited, to have options that you know will bring you to a safe and scenic place to spend the night.

As it was, we ended up on very rocky terrain, near a burning rubbish tip, with the mountains tantalisingly close. However, we didn’t want to risk continuing in the dark in case we shredded a tyre on the jagged rocks, so we pulled

up for the night and finally cooked our stew as we watched increasing numbers of stars appear in the night sky.

The following morning, we realised that we were very close to a road that would have taken us straight to the mountains. And after taking our time over breakfast, we took the road and ended up in a small village. There was a fort and some very curious local boys who seemed just as intrigued by us as we were by their village.

We drove around, happy and aimless, for an hour or so before once again being surrounded by rocks that threatened to puncture our tyres. Nonetheless, the Unimog did well and I now have much more confidence in its abilities.

Reality was calling and we made our way slowly back to Dubai after rejoining the main road. Once again we had issues at the border, with some telling us to go in the truck lane and others telling us off for being in the truck lane. I think that this is something we’re just going to have to get used to.

What we enjoyed

• The bed was awesome. We both slept really well and didn’t have to worry about the mattress deflating in the night!

• Making the most of very cheap diesel prices • The look on people’s faces as they tried to work out what on earth that vehicle is. Eyes on the road, please!

• Going over terrain that would have been impossible for a car • Sleeping wherever we wanted and not having to put up a tent • Being so high up on the road

Boys in Oman

What we’ll work on next time

• Cup holders! So simple yet so important • A fridge. Chiller boxes are not ideal for long trips • Having a bit more of a plan, but being prepared to abandon it if we see somewhere we’d like to explore • Sound proofing the cab so that we don’t have to travel in silence. It made the trip feel so much longer as our interaction was limited. It’s so true that company makes for a good journey!

• Knowing what to expect at the border So the work on the Unimog continues, and we’re looking forward to many more trips in future. I’d love to go to Liwa, so the next time we have a couple of days off it looks like we’ll be heading to some very impressive sand dunes!

Unimog in the desert Unimog tyres in the desert

Omani roads

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Honey Badger Episode 12: Working with chimpanzees

Diaries

Destination: Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, Zambia Words + Photos By: James and Mira Raley

The story of Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage started when Sheila and David Siddle decided to move to an old fishing lodge by the Kafue River in Northern Zambia to start a small cattle farm.

They bought a 3,000 acre plot in paradise as part of their semi-retirement plan. Little did they know that they were about to create the most significant chimpanzee orphanage in the world with over 100 chimps and a variety of other animals including Billy the Hippo.

Sheila started to spend her time helping injured wild animals found on the farm before returning them to their natural homes.

It came as little surprise when a local ranger passed by with a badly bruised and cut chimp called Pal. They spent weeks helping him recover by treating him like they would a human baby. With time, Pal recovered and the Siddles’ reputation as carers for chimpanzees started to grow. In the 1990s, Zambia passed a law making it illegal for families to own chimps as pets, so the Siddles had a

huge influx of young chimps arriving at their doorstep. They soon took the decision to turn Chimfunshi into an official wildlife orphanage and David bought a further 7,000 acres and six enclosures which house the 110 chimps today.

Chimfunshi was our fourth and final volunteering programme in Africa. It was an extraordinary and rewarding experience with a variety of daily activities. It did not take long before we learnt our place in the chimp pecking order, and we realised that they are rather less predictable than the lions we had worked with previously at Antelope Park.

Lions’ instinct are comparatively simple and behaviours can been learned to avoid an attack in a controlled environment. Chimpanzees, however, are intelligent and much better at luring you in and catching you out.

On our first day, we watched the chimps playing at lunch time. James had his first encounter with Renee, one of the older and cleverer chimps. She appeared uninterested with us whilst tucking into a cabbage, but when James looked away for a moment she grabbed his shirt to pull him in for a bite.

Luckily James was unharmed, but the shirt was less fortunate with all of the buttons ripped off. Whilst a bit of a shock, this was a useful lesson and taught us to respect the safety precautions and avoid getting too close to the chimps until we knew them better. So, with a watchful eye, we started work with the fascinating animals by preparing their food, feeding them, cleaning their enclosures, and preparing behavioural enrich-

ment sessions – our favourite activity with the “escape artists”.

All of the enormous enclosures are surrounded by electric fencing to ensure that they do not get lost or cause any damage to the employees or their families, who live nearby. However, the fences are no obstacle for the four escape artists who either disregard the current and climb over anyway, or find ways of jumping from nearby trees.

They are also able to detect the clicking sound made by the fences and therefore know when the current is low due to bad weather or plants falling onto the fence.

Sadly the only way of preventing escape is to put them into a smaller enclosure with a roof – similar to what you might find at a zoo. This leads to boredom which is why the volunteers are tasked with finding ways to stimulate and challenge them both physically and intellectually. We therefore spent two

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hours every other day making toys and puzzles that would be filled with their favourite foods and hidden around the enclosure. Our favourite part was watching Mila, the eldest chimp, use a mirror to check herself out and remove sleep from her eyes. One day two of the chimps, Chiffon and Cleo, had a fight.

Poor Cleo received a nasty gash to her left eye which she later poked through a hole in the fence for us to clean. Luckily the resident vet was able to help, but she would not accept any stitches.

When we were not working with the chimps, there were a number of physical tasks for us to help with and manage. This included painting the chimp enclosures which are really in need of a significant overhaul – something that requires a lot of money which is woefully scarce at the orphanage. We also started work on a neglected orchard which hadn’t been touched for eight years but, when cleared, will provide a significant source of food for the chimps with its 150 mango trees. Orchard clearance was a tiring but very satisfying job.

It is extremely overgrown with acacias and surprisingly sturdy weeds which provide a harbour for some of Zambia’s more interesting reptiles. Vicky, a fellow volunteer, was to learn this the hard way when a snake fell out of a tree that she was clearing and on to her back. Thankfully, it was relatively harmless and was more interested in escaping than taking a bite out of its unsurprisingly shocked landing pad.

Another highlight was spending time at Sheila Siddle’s house. She was an encyclopaedia of knowledge with fascinating stories about the history of the orphanage

and the many awards she and her husband received for their good work. She shared her photo albums of her favourite orphaned hippo, who sadly died four years ago, whilst she beat us at endless games of scrabble.

We also spent afternoons playing with the other orphaned animals including Moffet, a cheeky baboon, and Nova, a baby female vervet who was rescued after watching her mother get stoned to death by villagers. She was the cutest monkey but was terrified of most men, so the female volunteers spent hours cuddling and cooing over her.

A key difference between Chimfunshi and our other volunteer projects was the autonomy and flexibility afforded to the volunteers. We were allowed to be creative and provide support to the areas where we thought that we could help the most. A small example was the absence of a vehicle for the volunteer team which wasted a lot of time travelling over 20km per day by bike to get to the enclosures, or even further to get to the local town to buy provisions. The Honey Badger, and its roof, provided an ideal temporary solution and, despite suffering a broken windscreen from the chimps throwing stones, we thoroughly

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enjoyed exploring the tracks around the orphanage. James and Rosie, the project manager, had a few adventures of their own when they went into town. On one occasion they met a boy who was naked from the waist down sitting by the side of the road.

They went and bought him clothes and food and tried to give him some money. He refused to make eye contact, let alone accept their gifts, and it seems that he suffers from mental illness and is just left to fend for himself in the town. On another occasion a drunk man jumped onto the side of the car and tried to steal a mobile phone. He refused to get off the car and was in danger of falling and hurting himself, assuming he did not manage to rob or hurt someone else beforehand. Thankfully the emergency pepper spray proved to be quite effective.

We had a fantastic couple weeks at Chimfunshi, which is beginning to show the signs of financial neglect. Whilst it is full of passionate individuals who are trying to create a healthy and comfortable life for the chimps and other orphans, it is in dire need of funding to be able to survive.

The best way to contribute is to spend some time volunteering, which provides funding for the orphanage as well as a platform from which you can spread the word of their good work and need of financial support. If volunteering is not for you then we would welcome your donations. Please follow the link below to contribute and mention ‘Chimfunshi’ when you donate.

A key part of Mira and James’ trip is fundraising and volunteer work and they are currently teaching nursery school children in Zanzibar. 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 their journey through Africa and see more photos, recordings and videos: Website: www.thehoneybadgerdiaries.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ pages/Honey-Badger-Diaries Instagram: @thehoneybadgerdiaries

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Words By: Tati Coco

Snowshoeing is a sport that everybody can do. If you think that winter sports are not for you, you are wrong. Snowshoeing is a really accessible sport to everyone and you will find all levels from easy tracks on flat land, to very hard tracks climbing high mountains.

But there are very important factors to consider: the dangers in the mountain, snow, avalanche and extreme weather. So if you are not an expert, go snowshoeing with a guide. A specialist guide can also teach you about risks, wildlife and traditions.

To begin to understand and do snowshoeing, you first need some good ski clothes to keep your body warm. Gloves and hats are obvious choices as well as a good pair of snowshoes. A snowshoe is a kind of footwear for walking over the snow.

It is a large pair of shoes which will avoid you from sinking completely into the snow.

In the past, snowshoes were used by everybody living in the snowy mountains to move faster and more secure. Today, you can find three types of snowshoes: running, which are small and light; recreational, which are a bit larger for gentle to moderate walks; and finally mountaineering, the largest pairs

meant for serious hill climbing. It’s also highly recommended to have trekking poles.

Besides being a really old outdoor activity, snowshoeing is also a healthy way to keep fit in winter or just to practice an easy activity accessible to everyone. It has been found to have beneficial effects on resting heart rate, blood pressure, exercise capacity, maximal oxygen consumption and of course quality of life.

So I had the luck and the opportunity to walk a few days with a guide named Serge Dobias from the Alps. He is an ex-mountain rescuer with more than 200 interventions in avalanche and 20 years of experience. He is also an experimental free ride skier and now that he is a retired military serviceman, he still finds time to share his passion for the mountains. Thereby I decided to have a go with Serge in the Alps. He took me and a few other people to a place called PeiseyNancroix where we walked for five hours and we learned about wildlife and told us anecdotes about the big avalanche of 1995 in which 12 people were found alive after the avalanche crushed their houses. Serge is never alone; he is always accompanied by Vautan, a very friendly and intelligent German shepherd rescue dog able to quickly find anybody smashed under the snow after an avalanche.

As soon as I did my first paces into the virgin snow, my mind started to feel the silent mountain, the shy birds, the infinity of time in life. Your mind embarks in a kind of timelapse along with a deep peace inside your soul. All you can see is the gorgeous white mountain offering you the best view and an endless blanket of snow. To top it all off, a few doe and chamois were grazing while some rested on the autumn grass. At some point, the mountain climb was long and slow, with the shoes deep in the snow, trying to find an easy way to get out from its heavy cover. My heart rate increased and felt the snow falling and sliding on my cheeks, cold and wet, but it wasn’t a problem. This expedition was simply stunning and the scenic views and cliffs have attracted and captivated me all throughout the walk. One of the prominent peaks was dominating the entire valley and Serge’s stories - the sound of the snow cracking under my feet were all just like the song of an angel.

As always I strongly invite you to try this activity, to connect with wildlife and try new adventures.

Interview By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez Photos By: Jung Francisco

Jean Paul Michiels, 63, found a new home in Thailand after retiring from the Belgian Air Force, while Christiaan Pradolini, 51, settled in the country after his leukaemia treatment. Both self-confessed motorbike freaks, the two became good friends and decided to go for their ultimate dream: to ride from Thailand to Belgium and then back to Thailand.

This overland journey is roughly 35,000km, over nine months, across borders and various terrains and weather, but for them it’s just another adventure. We sat down with them during their stopover in Dubai where they were having their bikes checked at the Liberty Kawasaki service centre.

What inspired you to do this trip?

JPM: We are just two good friends and in the past we have driven our bikes from Cambodia and Laos; just small trips. We met each other in Thailand. Belgium is too big to meet [laughs]. One day, Christiaan proposed to me why not go to Belgium, because they have to do a treatment for his daughter there. I said why not.

CP: I was very sick 11 years ago. The trip started for myself because I survived my illness, but my daughter is sick too. She needed to go Belgium for six months of treatment so I wanted to do it for her as well.

How did you prepare for such a huge journey?

CP: The day he decided to go with me, we started planning already. We did preparations as early as April last year because it’s Jean Paul and Christiaan at Kawasaki Dubai Service Centre going to be a lot of work. We bought the Kawasaki Versys 650 LT bikes especially for the trip. It’s a fantastic bike!

You are lugging a lot of weight, how did you manage?

CP: The bike is about 181 kilos, plus the kit weight, plus our weight. We are on the limit.

We already fell down because of the weight.

JPM: But once you drive, it’s easier. You can manoeuvre easily.

CP: We try to sleep every night in a hotel.

I want to really enjoy this trip because this is once in a lifetime. Normally, we drive for three days and then we take one day off.

How’s your trip so far?

CP: From Thailand to Myanmar, it’s normally impossible to drive with your own vehicles, but because of the help of some people, we were allowed. It was rocky and we’ve fallen many times and damaged the bike. We rode 130km in Myanmar for 12 hours.

JPM: We then headed to India and saw plain roads and noticeably a lot of churches.

At the border, the formalities were fairly simple and fast with little traffic. In less than two hours, including immigration, we were on our way. We met a young French couple, Damien and Marie, who have been on the road for almost one year and now on the way back to Europe by bicycle!

CP: Personally, we find that it’s more

dangerous to drive in Thailand than India.

In India, nobody passes the 100km on the highway. From Dubai, we will be on our way to Iran.

But Dubai wasn’t in your original route plan...

JPM: Yes, because we’re not allowed in Pakistan. We are re-preparing and servicing the bikes here.

CP: Thank you, Kawasaki Dubai. Great work on the repairs and the service is jackpot. I have to say we are very disappointed with Kawasaki Thailand. They told us there that if we have problems on the way, we can contact them. We bought the bike in Thailand. We paid the full price and everything, but they told us they can’t do anything. We are not expected to come to the Belgian

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embassy in Dubai, but we are expected in Iran. We don’t want too much publicity though [laughs].

brings us directly to the entrance of hotels in the middle of souks. We are followed by friends and family on phone and GPS.

How long will this trip take?

How did your wives feel about this whole trip?

JPM: Nine months in total. We will stay for one month in Belgium with our families. But we’re still thinking if we are going to take the same route on the way back to Thailand.

How is your communication while on the road?

CP: Communication is great. We can talk, hear music and speak on the phone through Bluetooth. The Garmin is also very reliable.

We download the maps beforehand. It even

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CP: [Laughs] Oh they know us so well. We do all these stupid things. They’re very supportive, happy and proud of us. The hardest thing for me is missing my daughter and she already left for Belgium.

JPM: We will meet our families in four or five weeks and they will welcome us there.

Follow Jean Paul and Christiaan’s adventures on their blog: www.belgiumbiker.com/home.

Off to Dubai We’re in India

Last day in Thailand

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APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

457 steps to paradise Fishing at Crocodile Bay, Costa Rica Words By: Antonio Varcasia

They are 457. I counted them several times and it is a thing almost impossible to forget. These are the steps you have to do for crossing the Crocodile Bay pier to board one of the boats of the famous lodge and leave for another day of fishing on the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica.

As you cross that long pier many things come to your mind: the first is to give thanks for being there, kissed by the sun a few minutes from the beginning of a dream, or better, that your has dream finally come true.

Crocodile Bay is located near Puerto Jimenez in the Osa Peninsula southwest of Costa Rica overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The “Rincon de Osa” as it is called by locals is a very interesting spot because on one hand it closes the loop of the coast which is known as the Golfo Dulce, the other overlooking a stretch of untamed wilderness sea that quickly (15 miles approximately) finds the continental drop and many oxygenated waters where pelagic fishes love to swim in.

In addition, the Osa Peninsula is known as

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a natural corridor for many animal species between the south of Costa Rica and closer countries and one of the most important national parks of the world, the Corcovado. For this reason, it’s extremely easy to see animals that elsewhere are extremely rare like the scarlet macaw which you can see and hear directly from your habitation.

On the way to Jurassic park…

Three hundred miles west of Crocodile Bay emerges from the ocean the most remote national park in Costa Rica, Cocos Island, where, among other things Jurassic Park, was filmed.

Although Cocos is quite far, there are at Crocodile Bay creatures capable of arousing the emotions even of a longtime angler. In fact, inshore you can fish all the typical species of the eastern Pacific, there are at least six species of Jack (Pacific crevalle, bigeye trevally, blue runner, blue trevally, black jack, golden trevally) but also African pompano, several species of amberjack, roosterfish, barracuda, giant needlefish, Spanish mackerel. These species typical of the surface layers are catchable with topwater spinning or trolling.

In addition there are the species that lives in closer contact with the bottom as different species of Pargo, Cubera snapper and groupers, including the famous goliath, which reaches embarrassing sizes. Matapalo Rock Jurassic roosterfish and Cuberas are wideworld known and several records have been placed here.

The inshore fishing has no seasonal

variations like off-shore, which suffered more of season changes. The high season of offshore starts in November, a time when there was a first run of about a month of marlins (Black and Blue in prevalence, and occasionally striped). December to April begins instead to grow exponentially the number of sailfish, that during the hot months (February/ March), can really give great satisfaction with catches in double digit. The dorado are present throughout the year but during the rainy season (August) you can have a great time with them thanks to the large number of logs drifting. Tuna are present too, with at least two species of interest, the bigeye and yellowfin tuna above all, with sizes vary widely, but can also get to 200 pounds. The yellowfin are normally intercepted between 15 and 20 miles following the spinners, one of four species of dolphins in these waters (besides the bottlenose, the most common, panza blanca and falsa orca, as they are called by locals). For lovers of marine mammals, the Osa Peninsula is also a great place to practice whale watching or dolphins tours.

Tropical weather and tides

For an angler used to fish in temperate weather, the main differences with which he must to become familiar are the meteorological conditions and the tides and understand how they affect fishing in Central America.

The region of the humid tropics that encompasses all the countries of Central America is characterised by two main seasons, a dry, which runs from November to April and a wet

instead goes from May to October. This is true in general, because in the areas covered by forests and generally all over the Atlantic coasts of the countries of the isthmus, the rain is something that knows no season.

The tropical rain is not like the one you know in your country. You wake up with a beautiful sun that at 9:00 a.m. burns the skin, when the wind gets up at 12 and you start to see the horizon clouds running down. In 10 minutes the water flows as if someone had forgotten upstairs an open faucet. This can last a few minutes, or even hours, with incredible intensity, able to change the landscape and the sea conditions dramatically.

The tide is another important parametre because the tidal range in the Osa Peninsula can range from 2.20 up to 2.70 metres and beyond. For people who come from the Mediterranean this is something shocking, if used to having the tidal 30cm. The tide completely changes the scenario of fishing, so putting a number of phenomena related to the current and the waves it generates, which are essential, especially if you are fishing in the coastal area most affected by this phenomenon, where your “piedra” were preferred to cast could easily be surrounded by sand or rocks!

The tide changes every six hours, in which we move from the peak of low to high peak, and then continue to follow this rhythm usually by delaying and moving forward about an hour every day. Knowing (or at least the day before before exiting) when is the peak of high tide if you want to fish inshore is essential, in order to organise your day and avoid wasting energy unnecessarily and maybe get to highlight completely destroyed. This is even more true for those who love to fish with a spinning: personally I go fishing inshore when I can optimally utilise the early hours of the day accompanied by a rising tide. However the peak of high is sacred and if you can it’s important to be there and give before and after this the best of themselves, knowing that it is harder to fish (usually the sea that enters creates current and raises the wave).

What to bring

All boats are fully equipped with trolling inshore and off-shore fishing gear, and on demand with jigging and fly fishing rods and some spinning rods. So depending on the kind of fishing you like, you can leave at home all the hardware. For those who are popping and spinning fanatics it is recommended to bring at least two rods, a 20-30lbs that can cast up to 2oz to fish inshore, with a reel of class 5000 or 6000 (high ratio) with 50lbs braid for all the inshore pelagic species.

A second rod, of 30-50lbs with a casting rate of 3oz with a good backbone is suggested for big Cuberas, XXXL roosterfish and big yellowfin tuna paired with a reel of 10000/14000 class with excellent drag and filled with 60-80 pounds braided. Both types of rods can be used to have fun with the switch and bait with sailfish and dorado, if you are not used to trolling reels. Bring a bunch of topwater lures, like skipping and WTD, pencils and poppers generously sized. For those who have never had the pleasure of fishing in these conditions it is recommended to wear technical clothing with UPF filter of at least 30 or better 50, polarising glasses and sunscreen suitable for your complexion (at least 30), and expecially for those who like popping/spinning is recommended that a good security device such as Restube.

Why CBR?

Going back to fishing, we can close by saying that the real reason why it is worth going to Crocodile Bay is that you can fish all important pacific gamefish in one place and without excessive movement. It is not unusual to see boats that start fishing off-shore sails in the morning and in the afternoon stop inshore looking for Cubera and roosterfish, because the environmental conditions (fishing distance and fish presence) allow this.

Crocodile Bay is also a suitable place not only for fishermen, but also for families, wives and girlfriends, because while you are fishing, if your ladies do not like to stay on a boat, they will have a wide choice of activities to do, with over 40 eco-tours, from those more adventurous (canopy, hiking, bird-watching) to the more family-friendly as the tour of the Café. In addition, the resort has a spectacular pool with Jacuzzi and bar and a spa of over 400 square metres where you can do any kind of facial or body treatments, massages you have always wanted. The resort has recently started the construction of a new marina and a village that will be a new reference point on the west coast of Costa Rica. For more info look here www.crocodilebay.com

Getting there:

To get to Crocodile Bay you must reach before the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose

and then take a (small) domestic flight with the company Naturair (www.natureair.com). You need to book early to get to Puerto Jimenez.

The lodge is located a few metres from the small town. The resort has a very efficient reception and its staff usually welcomes you at airports. To get to Costa Rica from Europe you have two choices: from the US, via Atlanta (Delta) or Miami (American Airlines), and then catch a flight of 3-4 hours for the Central American capital. The flight from the USA is more cost effective and provides more alternatives, only negative is you have to do a visa even for transit and have an electronic passport approved by USA. The alternative is a direct flight from Europe to SJC, possible at this time through Madrid (Iberia) and Amsterdam (KLM), which is more comfortable but generally more expensive.

Depending on the flight you choose, inevitably you will need to spend a night in USA or in San Jose before you get to the resort, we recommend the beautiful Hotel Martino, (www.hotelmartino.com). For more information, you should visit the website of the Tourism of Costa Rica: www.visitcostarica.com.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Lost in the middle of Omani desert Made the best 4WD travel ever!

Words + Photos By: Nina Kogej

Each time I think of our Oman travel, I get goose bumps. Travelling to this little known Arabic country was a decision which Simon (my husband) and I made overnight.

We did not know anything about it, except for the fact that it gets few foreign visitors, that it’s perfect for off-road driving and that wilderness camping is allowed.

Oman lies just under the more famous UAE and contains vast areas void of life. For us, renting a 4WD was the best option to really get a feel for what Oman is all about.

Landing in its capital Muscat, did not convince us to stay long, as this modern and fast growing city cannot really compare with the adventure we had been looking for. We stocked our rented Toyota Land Cruiser with water and food supplies and were ready to roll.

As soon as we came out into the open, we were greeted by mesmerising views of untamed countryside. Driving through small coastal towns, where fishing represents the main economy, was like travelling back in time. Goats roamed in the middle of the street, while men rested in the shade talking over a cup of coffee. Combining these sights

with the fact that hardly any women were out, we deduced that Oman is still a very traditional country.

Even though our Arabic is limited to a simple greeting, “As-salamu alaykum”, they appreciated the efforts made by us foreign travellers. The language barrier outside of Muscat can be a challenge, but show and tell always works and turns simple conversations into a comedy for all.

Even though we tried to blend in by wearing long trousers and shirts, we could not really hide. People stared at us constantly, but we quickly got used to it. They mean no

harm; it just does not happen often that they see travellers from faraway places.

The long distances between major attractions demonstrated the diversity and richness of Omani culture and history. Due to its strategic position, Oman has always been a tempting conquest. As a result, there are more than a thousand fortresses throughout country. These strategically placed outposts have the most amazing views on towns, oases, mountains, rivers, beaches, wadis and deserts. The stunning views make you realise, that even its dry landscape makes Oman amazingly beautiful and diverse.

The further we travelled from Muscat, the rougher the roads became. We finally found ourselves off the beaten path and could not have been happier. For the most part, Oman offers good asphalt roads, but small towns and remote villages can only be reached by dirt roads. We happily found that the poorer the road conditions, the nicer our destina-

tion, including Bilad Said – the most beautiful village in Oman. Reaching it was quite a challenge, especially because of the steep and narrow track, where sometimes not even two mules can pass. Asking for directions was futile, but sometimes the best and most memorable things happen when you are lost.

Our biggest wish during the Oman travel was visiting Wahiba Desert, home of the sand dunes. There is no greater joy and freedom than driving over the first, second and third sand dune, knowing it does not end there.

Deserts are no doubt a big playground for off-road enthusiasts like us.

As we drove, the dunes became increasingly bigger, until 200m dunes soared around us. The day was ending and we decided to pitch our tent under one of them. The sense of freedom created by these vast and remote areas is indescribable, and only intensified by the starry sky above us. It was perfect!

Even though we have never driven on our own in a desert, we decided to go deeper the next morning. There was a solid track marked on our maps, which made us feel confident. But a feeling was actually all it was.

The hot sun was blazing and there was not a single person or animal in sight. It was just us and sand – and lots of it! After a few hours of driving, the track we followed became less and less visible and the sand dunes around us were getting higher. Even the camels and the occasional nomadic tent had disappeared. Suddenly the track ended when we realised that we were lost!

The adrenaline started to kick in hard and tension was rising. Instead of smiles, our faces became serious and worried.

What now? Where to? Should we turn back?

Should we go left, right or just continue the direction we were driving? We were stuck right in the middle of 4,800 square miles of sand! We tried to ignore the “what if” questions and were desperate to make a good decision that would lead us out of this mess.

We did not have a compass, satellite phone,

or even a shovel. Crossing the desert was not in our original plan at all. We were completely unprepared for everything we were doing, but it was too late now to have regrets. We had to react, and we had to do it fast! We just hoped that the car was well maintained and that the suspension wouldn’t break after all the bumps and abuse it received from driving up and down the sand dunes. At least we had a full tank of gas and enough water to last for more than a week.

We decided to drive south, as we eventually would hit the ocean road. We used the sun as our compass and looked vigilantly for anything other than sand. It was deadly silent in the car, when I suddenly screamed out in relief. Oddly enough, the cause for my shouts was the camel dung lying all over the sand. I thought, “there must be people somewhere close”. Driving further south, we saw a camel again; soon came more. Our encouragement increased, but we were wrong again. There was nothing, nothing except new dunes, new sand and new disappointment.

We were feeling completely devastated when the flash of a sun reflection came from somewhere. “What was that?” we asked in unison. Our eyes almost popped when we saw a car! “Oh my goodness, it is a car! We are safe, we will not die and we will make it out alive!” I was totally overwhelmed with emotion and breathed a sigh of relief.

Simon took a sharp left and after a mile or two, we reached a nomadic tent, where men were sitting in the shade of a tree, talking, drinking coffee and eating hawla, a traditional Omani jelly-looking dessert. I am not sure who was more surprised to see each other, but within moments they were shaking our hands, offering coffee and lunch and creating a place to sit with them in their circle.

We showed them our map and pointed to where we wanted to go. It was time again for another game of show and tell. An older bearded man with a scarf on his head was not displaying a promising expression on

his face. It looked like we are still far from any desirable civilisation. He started to draw some directions in the sand, but we were completely at a loss to understand him. A loud discussion arose between them but all Simon and I could do was look at each other in bewilderment. Then one of them stood up and walked to his car, saying: “Yalla, yalla!” Meaning, “let’s go, let’s go”.

He started his car and we did the same. We zigzagged behind him through the dunes for about 30 minutes when he stopped in the middle of nowhere. What now, we were wondering, when he got out of the car and started walking towards us. Another round of charades ensued and we figured out that he was showing us the direction to a T-cross where we should turn left.

Before saying goodbye, we reached for some money to give him as a token of our thanks. This simple gesture did not seem enough for the sacrifice he made for two complete strangers. To our surprise he just raised his hands up towards the sky and shook his head no. My Arabic is bad and does not extend past a few basic words, but it sounded as if he tried to explain that this is something Arabic people do – helping others in need, especially if they are guests.

Our adventure continued for several more days, but from the safety of our home, we can now say that this is our best memory of Oman. We know now that crossing a desert without any knowledge, equipment or a real plan was one of the most stupid and dangerous things we could have done. It was also very humbling. Reaching home safely felt like winning the lottery. The thought of what could have happened in that desert makes me shiver. Mother Nature taught us well and we should never underestimate her. On a positive note, getting lost in the middle of a desert showed us that acts of human kindness still exist - people who have nothing, but are willing to give you their last piece of bread, and not expect anything in return, are still out there. It does not really matter where in the world you travel, all you need to do is open your heart and mind and they will come to you.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Adventures from the sky Words By: Monica Antal

Since childhood I liked to have my bags packed and ready for adventure. My mother used to joke that I had my entire life packed in a suitcase. So after I finished my studies, it was time. I applied for the airlines, and got a job in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. I’m Monica and I’m from Romania and here are my adventures that unfold straight from the sky.

Around the world in running shoes

My idea of travelling the world was a little different than what the job of cabin crew actually proved to be. I was more interested in nature and mountains rather than the fastpaced city life. I had to adapt to make it more enjoyable. It became a journey of observation; I soaked up the people, their culture, their lifestyle and their cities.

For air crew, a layover in a destination commonly takes 24 hours long, and out of this you have to balance your rest and exploration time.

I wanted to do everything, including sightseeing and most importantly my beloved sports, but in time I discovered that I would have to choose. So it was my destiny that those running shoes would accompany me to every corner of this beautiful world, they became my most loyal travel companion.

I started with running marathons and halfmarathon races long before I joined the airlines. My dusty medal collection, dormant in a drawer of my childhood desk, back in my home country of Romania, encompasses the finisher’s souvenirs from races all over Romania, and also Vienna, Paris, Munich, Barcelona and Hungary.

After I started flying, planning and signing in for races became difficult, and I could not

A medal from Paris

get days off for specific dates, so I planned my own race, my own route in each of my travel destinations.

Running 21km still feels like an accomplishment. Running in a city with a camera in your CamelBak gives you the chance to cover much more ground. Exploring on foot, you can discover hidden corners; indulge in little treats on the street - things you can’t even find in comprehensive tourist guidebooks.

You become aware of the surroundings; you feel the culture, notice the peoples’ expressions and what lies under a nation’s façade.

Running is for loners, or for social people; for optimists or pessimists. For people who love rain or hate it. Adding obstacles always gives more value to your achievement. So going flat or always choosing the path most travelled by is not always the most rewarding experience.

Out of my travels I came up with three places where I love to run.

PARIS (The city trail) - Oh la la! One of my favourite European cities to run. Has so many parks, so many good runs along the Seine.

What catches my eye is the way the French ladies dress up, the way they carry their umbrellas during rainy days, and the way they cycle. France is also home to the Tour de France! The city cycles while in suits, with the laptops in the basket, or wearing a mini and the handbag on one shoulder then add some heels. I find it trés chic!

SINGAPORE (The jungle and the beachscape) - The tropical climate and the high humidity doesn’t make it an ideal destination for running. You can easily trick your feet by allowing your eyes to enjoy the lush greens and the lovely vegetation. If you feel like

Monica at the Grand Prix

Running around Spain

Monica at Fossil Rock

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covering as much ground as you can, just choose Sentosa Island. Every step on the luxurious beaches, or the muddy and hilly jungle, makes you pick up the pace. Outrunning mosquitoes is always a good stimulant to increasing your speed, but the earthy smell and greenery makes it worth it.

OMAN (The social mountain run) - One of the most pleasant escapes, the Sultanate of Oman offers so many options to hike. From Khasab to Muscat, the landscape is stunning as well as the beautiful curvy roads, the sea breeze and the desert. Simply stunning it will leave you breathless. From March to October it will be hot, but Jebel Shams or Jebel Akdar remains cool even during the summer months. The capital of Oman, Muscat, is the home of one of the most active running community in the Middle East. Here, if you prefer running on solid ground you can join the Muscat Road Runners, or if you want to head up to the remote mountain surroundings of Muscat you have the option to get involved in some serious socialising: Jebel Hash House Harriers (H3) and Muscat Hash House Harriers (MH3). The two non-profit institutions organise weekly events where people of all ages and fitness levels, get involved and have fun, trying to cover together a previously marked path, followed by a rehydration social gathering, that I would classify from its cheerful beat as an after-run party.

Made you curious? Want to be part of it?

Put your running shoes on. Ready? Get set!

Go! I will join your path no matter where; still, I have a world ahead to discover.

Monica Antal is originally from Romania and has been living in Abu Dhabi for five years.

She currently works as air crew for Etihad Airways. The UAE is a world hub for the aviation industry. These are her adventures from around the world as nights and days merge into one and she seeks out adventure in the UAE and in far-flung places.

LIFESTYLE

Au Natural: Health powerhouse Hydration and how to restore your lost electrolytes in the most natural way Words By: Ivana Chiles

As summer quickly approaches, staying hydrated is becoming more and more important in preventing heat related issues and overall health. If we get properly hy-drated, then we are going to feel a whole lot better and we are going to detoxify a whole lot faster.

This month I will share with you some tips about how to stay hydrated with some exciting drinks you have probably never even considered.

H20

Water is the basis of all life. While you can survive for weeks without food, without water you would not last for more than few days.

Optimal hydration is essential for the body to function correctly, especially during an exercise in hot weather. You need extra water if you are active, because your muscles generate heat and the body perspires to stay cool. Water also transports energy-providing glucose to muscles and carries the waste away from them, which helps to prevent muscle fatigue. To maintain endurance, you need to drink 15-30 minutes before, during and after your workout.

Warning signs of dehydration are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and even more severe, heat stroke. The common signs and symptoms are muscle cramps, high body temperature, headache, lethargy, nausea and you may even pass out and become unconscious.

If you have become dehydrated, it is important to restore your body’s water balance as soon as possible. Just remember, drinking plain water is not sufficient. The water in your body contains electrolytes, which are important minerals that allow your body to carry out critical chemical reactions. They are responsible for muscle contractions and neural activity.

Getting your fluid replacement issue right means that you have made one of the most important and powerful steps in taking control of your health.

To be properly hydrated, you need to replace fluids lost from the body with one that is similar to the body’s natural composition!

Why is being hydrated so important?

Dehydration generally means that you have 44

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lost more than 1% of fluids. But why is it so important to stay hydrated?

• In the blood, water helps to transport nutrients and oxygen to all cells of the body.

• In sweat, water removes body generated heat and toxins out of the body.

• In saliva and stomach juices, it helps to digest food.

• Proper hydration helps to lubricate joints and cushions organs and tissues.

• In urine, water carries away waste products.

• Salt helps with regular bowel function; small and large intestines require mineral salt in order to retain moisture in those environments to stop constipation and to allow bowel movements to occur regularly and for detoxifica-tion to happen smoothly.

How much water is actually enough?

Have you ever questioned the general recommendation to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day? I personally agree with the fact, that we are all different and the key is how you are feeling about your own hydration.

Also remember, that about 20% of your daily water intake comes from food you eat.

Your body has in fact a built-in mechanism that tells you when you need to replenish your water supply. Hydration needs are very individual and vary from day to day. They depend on the duration and type of activity you are involved in, environmental conditions and even the clothes you wear. Generally, if your workout lasts longer than one hour, then you need more than just plain water to rehydrate.

Are you hydrated?

There are two factors to tell you how well you are hydrated: • The colour of your urine. If your urine is dark in colour or you have not urinated for several hours, it is an indication that you are not drinking enough water. I recommend that athletes weigh themselves before and after exercise. The goal is to stay hydrated and weigh the same before and after workouts or races.

• Use thirst as a guide to determine how much water you need. Once your body has lost between 1-2% of its total water, the thirst mechanism will let you know that it is time to drink some water.

Contrary to that, drinking too much water can cause hyponatraemia (sodium levels

in the blood dangerously low). While most of your body cells can handle the excess water, your brain cannot and starts to swell.

This condition is commonly known amongst athletes.

Hydrate for optimal performance

There are two things you should be adding to your hydrating drink along with water: • Carbohydrates (no more than 14g pre 8oz.)

• Electrolytes Electrolytes lost through sweating can be replaced by adding small amounts of natural, unprocessed salt like Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt (contains more than 84 naturally occurring minerals and trace minerals) into your drink. Sodium holds water so it helps with rehydration.

Coconut and chia

Coconut water is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man. High in potassium and fat free, some remote areas of the world use coconut water intravenously to hydrate critically ill patients as it has a similar content as blood plasma!

Next time, try to add one tablespoon of chia seeds to your coconut water. Chia seeds were traditionally used by the Aztecs

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to increase stamina, strength and endurance on battlefield. Besides being packed with healthy Omega 3 and 6 acids, this superfood is coated with unique soluble fibre, which is hydrophilic (absorbs water). Water-soaked chia will prolong hydration and will help you retain electrolytes.

Types of coconut water to look for:

Eat avocados or make them part of your race smoothies

Avocados contain more potassium than bananas and are source of healthy fats and fibre that will hold on to water for longer.

Eat food containing electrolytes One medium banana contains about 400mg of potassium

Always look for coconut water with no added ingredients.

Your best choice will always be fresh coconut, but if you find it difficult to locate it in your grocery store, these are the healthier ones. You can add one teaspoon of chia seeds to your coconut water to stay hydrated for longer.

Drink thin soups

Drink and eat watery vegetables and fruits that will hydrate you more effectively than water alone

Sports drinks/ energy drinks/ vitamin water

Cucumber contains 95% water and is an excellent source of Vitamins A, C and folic acid.

Blend them in a powerful blender like Vitamix to keep the fibre in to stay hydrated for longer. Add green apple, freshly squeezed lemon, a piece of ginger and a handful of mint leaves to make yourself a super hydrating drink! You can also add 2-3 organic celery sticks!

Some fruit juices are better than others; I recommend watermelon for its high content of Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and 8% sugar content. It also contains lycopene and beta-carotene to give your body protection from UV light!

Make a mint/ lemon cooler to hydrate during hot summer days or after exercise Herbal teas

Next time you are preparing for a race or long workout, prepare yourself a tea from your favourite herb (mint, elderflower, lemon balm, etc), let it cool down and add some more water, honey, lemon and chia seeds. You can also use green matcha for a small dose of caffeine.

Elderflower drink

I remember my first ever marathon where I ran comfortably with bottles filled up with mum’s homemade elderflower syrup diluted with water, some honey and one teaspoon of sea salt added. Perfect electrolyte!

My ever favourite organic, reduced-sodium miso soup or organic chicken broth is certainly something which will replenish your energy stores in a fast and healthy, efficient manner.

I know some of you will now comment that most of these drinks will be difficult to sip on from your drinking bottle. Remember you can always alternate between thin drinks and other nourishing beverages like smoothies.

You just need to find the right balance.

Drinks to avoid

If you have recently switched from soda to highly popular “vitamin water” because you believed it to be a healthier choice, you might be disappointed. It is unfortunately nothing more than a marketing trick designed to promote a product.

Most people believe that sports drinks are the best alternative to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes during and after exercise.

Sadly, just like vitamin water, they are full of sugar and unwanted substances which certainly do not contribute to optimal health.

Furthermore, they contain high amounts of sodium in the form of processed salt and are very likely to give you stomach pain. I personally do not recommend any processed energy drinks. They contain dangerous high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), additives, preservatives, artificial colours and caffeine.

I have been simply discouraged from them by the fact that they leave my water bottle or drinking bladder nastily coloured and that is what they do inside your precious body. They have certainly have no place in the diets of children and adolescents.

Distilled water is one of the worst types of water you can put into your body. It is completely free of minerals; however, it is an active absorber. When in contact with air, distilled water quickly absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes acidic.

Beware of bottled water

Besides massive environmental destruction, bottled water is likely to contain chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic hormones in your body and are major cause of breast cancer in women. If you have tried to do something for our environment and got yourself one of the water fountains, think about how often was your water delivered to your door step warm, especially in summer.

Other tips:

• Always drink slowly to avoid stomach upset.

Drinking too fast will cause your body expel a significant amount of urine, which will slow down the rehydration process

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• Drink at regular intervals throughout the day, especially in the morning • Drink in between the meals • My philosophy is not to drink with your meals, as you will be diluting precious stomach acids and slow down digestion • Slow down towards the evening to ensure good night sleep • Carry a re-usable bottle on you at all times, preferably a glass bottle rather than a plastic bottle. Do not leave your car in the heat as the heat will cause chemicals from plastic bottle to leach out into the beverage.

• Sip tepid water, because your body has to expend energy to bring cold water to body temperature before being absorbed. Cold water cools you off, but does not hydrate you as quickly.

• Install a water filter in your home. Most of them work on the principle of reverse osmosis. In addition of removing chlorine, they will also remove most of the fluoride. Just make sure that you add the mineral back in after filtration.

Banana and Mango Pre-race Smoothie Ingredients:

1 medium banana 1 small mango 2 cups coconut water 1 cup Greek yogurt (has more protein than regular yogurt) 1 tsp maca powder (excellent for endurance!)

1 tsp chia seeds 1 tsp honey 1 tsp flax seed 1 tsp bee pollen (increases performance by up to 40%, fights the fatigue) 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (helps muscle recovery)

Optional: 1 tsp protein powder Method: Blend all ingredients together and drink at least one hour before the race or workout. Use as recovery drink within 30 minutes after the physical activity.

You can find some more tips and links on my website www.ivanahph.com or follow me on my Health Powerhouse Facebook page for some more gardening tips, delicious recipes and natural cosmetics.

Ivana Chiles has been living in the UAE for almost 15 years. Her passions are nutrition, healthy cooking and gardening. Ivana is a certified health coach, member of American Association of Drugless Practitioners and also a keen outdoor enthusiast.

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LIFESTYLE

Why we have the weather we do!

“Whether the weather be nice, Or whether the weather be not, Whatever the weather Wherever the weather, In the Emirates it’s normally hot!”

Words + Photos By: Dan Wright

The first year I was in the UAE I was amazed at how hot it was for how long and then suddenly when the heat and humidity was at its most unbearable we’d get torrential rain for several days and everywhere would be flooded.

These extremes of temperature and weather were the most varied I had ever encountered anywhere in the world and it took some years for me to get used to it. Now of course like all the old hands who have been here so long I look forward to the 6-10 days of rain we get a year and my wife and I will sit on our balcony with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and enjoy the spectacle of a storm over the mountains! So the question this month is: where does our UAE weather come from?

Geologically, the world we live in experienced two major climates each of which spans many thousands of years. The Glacial Periods (when everything was covered in ice) were drier and much colder. And the Inter-Glacial Periods (when the ice melted) were wetter and warmer. We are currently in an inter-glacial period and in fact the world is getting a lot warmer. Scientists have proved that rising C02 levels bring on warmer climates. It is also agreed that most of the global warming in the last 50 years is linked to mankind’s increased industrialisation of the planet. We only have to look at rapidly shrinking glaciers around the world (Kilimanjaro, The French Alps, The Himalayas, The Andes) to know this will become a major problem for us, perhaps even in our own lifetime. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi has been leading the way in finding initiatives to counter the greenhouse gas emissions. Projects like “MASDAR” which aims to develop clean energy technologies, the “Sulphur Free Gas Oil (SFGO) project” which will decrease diesel fuel emissions or the 2030 Vision for Urban Planning that is focusing on proper land use and sustainable transport systems, all help to reduce the overall C02 emissions of the UAE. In the last 5,000 years the UAE and the surrounding Arabian Peninsula has experienced 46

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a very dry period that has turned the postice age green and fertile landscape into the desert we know today.

Before the Union of the Seven Emirates in 1971, there were fewer people back then than what we have now. There are around eight million people of which 7.2 million are expats and the rest are Emiratis. In those days the water table underground was much higher with less people drawing on it as a resource and it was common to see pools of water in the wadis all year round. And although there were no flowing rivers, there were several areas where spring water flowed via rock pools downhill forming small streams. I have several local friends who have told me that in their childhood they would swim in the wadi outside forts like Bithna pretty much all year round. The falajas (manmade drainage channels) which you can still see in the mountain areas today, transported water from springs to crops and farms and flowed in all but the hottest weeks of the year. Unfortunately now these sights are rare to see and there are only a very few places where water flows all year, like Wadi Wurayah National Park and Wadi Shawka in the Eastern part of the UAE. Precipitation (rain) is very low every year with the highest rainfalls being on the East Coast and the lowest out in the Western Region. In the Abu Dhabi emirate for example, on average there is an annual rainfall of just 100mm with some years much less. So how does such a small amount of water cause so many problems? Well the main problem in the cities is the urbanisation of surface areas which basically means how much concrete Pools at Wadi Wurayah

there is on the ground compared to soil.

Areas with soil and sand can absorb rainfall much faster but areas of concrete and tarmac have to rely on drainage systems. In an area where the drains fill up with leaves and debris during the dry days, the one or two days of heavy rain each year quickly causes them to overflow back onto the streets. The response to rainfall in the mountains is equally as impressive as in the cities. The ground is baked all year in the sun and when it rains is usually too hard to absorb the water causing it to run off and follow gravity to naturally low lying areas which in the mountains means that the wadis fill up. If you ever watch the rain (from a safe place) in the mountains you will see thousands of waterfalls all spewing water down into the wadis, which are then prone to flash floods. These are both incredibly destructive and very dangerous. You may have noticed as you drive to Dibba or Fujairah or Kalba that the wadis look like they have been carved out of the rock and landscape sediments with a giant spoon, well that’s not far off! A massive wall of water will pick up anything lying in its path from trees, to shrubs, to whole sections of hillside debris and carry it further downstream and redeposit it somewhere lower than where it started.

In the aftermath of these rain storms the desert and mountains which are usually dry and arid landscapes, literally change overnight and green plants bloom everywhere. Flowers come out and the air buzzes with active insects collecting nectar and carrying pollen around for their host plants. Hamath (Sorrell) with its apple/lemon tangy flavoured leaves springs up all over the place and the locals will collect baskets of it in the evenings to add to their salads.

The UAE is affected by six different air masses which approach us from different directions and produce different climatic changes:

1. Modified Maritime Polar – Produces drizzle, cloudy weather and long but light rain. It approaches us from a northwesterly direction.

2. Continental Tropical – This builds up moisture in the air over the Red Sea and can lead to tropical thunderstorms. It approaches us from a southwesterly direction from the Sudanese deserts.

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Lightning off the East Coast

Hamath in a hat

3. Highland – Brings on thunderstorms and come from the southeasterly Hajar Mountains.

4. Maritime Tropical –This creates most of our thunderstorms and comes again from the southeast from the Arabian Sea. 5. Continental Polar – This brings us colder temperatures from the northeast.

6. Arctic – These are cold polar air masses and they come from the north.

The “Water Cycle” is responsible for the flow of water from rain into the earth then back up again as evaporation to form clouds which then rain again! The picture below shows how a typical water cycle works. The water that collects in the groundwater storage takes longer to replenish if there is a bigger demand of its use (being pumped out for farming) or if there are long, dry spells with little or no rainfall.

In the summer months the majority of rain that falls in the UAE is in the eastern region.

Indian monsoon humid air masses that approach us from the Indian Ocean push up against the Hajar mountains which causes the air to move upwards where it condenses into clouds and falls on the eastern seaboard, which in turn keeps the air temperature lower than the rest of the country. This feature of the eastern area is why so many locals have holiday homes in Kalba, Fujairah, Korfakkan and Dibba which they retreat to at weekends in the summer to escape the heat of the inland desert areas. Often when it is 52°C or more in Abu Dhabi in August it is still only 46-48° in Fujairah! Temperatures are higher all over because the northern hemisphere is facing the sun.

The autumn is when the Gulf waters reach their highest temperatures and this in turn to leads to mass evaporation which causes high moisture content in the air and leads to the fogs we experience especially in Dubai and

Abu Dhabi at that time of year.

The most popular season in the UAE is the winter and this is when we can see desert camps all along the roadsides especially around, Madinat Zayed, the Hatta Road, Al Ain and Maleha. Many families make the most of the cooler temperatures to go hiking and camping and to do sports like quad biking etc. Clear skies in the winter lead to fast cooling of the earth’s surface and much lower temperatures and it can even drop below 0° in the cooler winter months. Temperatures are lower everywhere because the Southern Hemisphere is facing the sun.

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Interesting weather phenomenons that most people living in the UAE or Middle East will have seen are “Dust Devils” or “Djinns”.

These are mini tornadoes that form when hot air near the surface rises quickly through pockets of cooler low pressure air above. If conditions are perfect then the air will begin to rotate and as the air rises fast the column stretches out and as it sucks in more hot air from the base it picks up dust particles from the floor and spirals them up the column. The air that is cooling descends outside the dust column and acts as a stabilising wall which holds the column together. The friction on the ground and further hot air at ground level that gets sucked in is what gives the column motion and when it hits a pocket of cold air at ground level it can suddenly collapse! We see them most often with flat terrain like building sites or desert or tarmac that allows a constant hot air supply. We also see them around buildings where the micro-climates generate their own wind tunnels and these dust devils appear suddenly and spin very fast.

So despite being a country famous for its hot weather we are actually quite lucky to see some variety in our climate, from big storms to mini tornadoes. Those who like to work on their tans poolside have plenty of opportunities in the summer months and those people who, like me, enjoy outdoor activities have the winter to look forward to. It’s definitely fair to say though that we all enjoy the rain when it comes and look forward to those thunderous storms. We’re also very lucky that my family can’t wait to come out and visit us and soak up some of those sun’s rays we get to enjoy almost daily. My mother is coming out this April for a month and no doubt she’s looking forward to the sun. But just between you and me and the editor I’m secretly hoping for a bit of rain.

Land Rover camping in the wilds of the UAE

In the spring we experience more rain and fog than other times of year this is due to tropical cyclone fronts from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. In 2014, the Abu Dhabi Government issued a storm warning to all schools before 11:00 a.m. one morning in spring to send all students in the country home before the UAE was due to be hit by huge rainstorms that caused a lot of flooding on the roads. All the staff at my school went and stood outside to enjoy the rain when it finally arrived!

About the Author: Dan Wright is a freelance Wilderness Guide in the UAE and Asia, prior to that he worked for an Emirati Citizenship program. He has a degree in Environmental Science. Dan has been on several International wildlife and exploration expeditions with UK Radio stations and writes for a range of publications in Asia and the Middle East. His wife is the former Nepal National Mountain Bike Champion, Nirjala Tamrakar (See OutdoorUAE, issue44, page 8). They live in Fujairah with their son Percy and spend all their spare time exploring the UAE!

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Landyachtz Switch 35 Words + Photos By: Mark Jayson Remot

It was about four years ago when my friends introduced me to longboarding. It was love at first sight from then on; every time I hop on to my longboard, I get a whiff of the fresh breeze as it touches my skin.

There’s a lot that I have experienced being a longboarder here in Dubai – I’ve seen the places I never even thought existed and it gave me a way to relax especially after a long day in the office. It makes me feel good; longboarding gives me a taste of freedom combined with summertime beach lifestyle. I consider myself a sailor on the asphalt when I cruise the streets or spend some time travelling down the shore with my stand up paddle in hand. Longboarding is not just a way of travel or a sports gadget it is both a lifestyle and a fashion statement.

As a lover of board sports both on land and sea, I’m always in the pursuit for the hottest brands with the coolest products. Recently, I got the chance to try the Landyachtz Switch 35, which according to my knowledge is a very formidable and interesting longboard.

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As I got my hands on it, I knew I was in love; and we were both going to have fun over the weekend “knowing each other”.

Staying true to its name – Landyachtz, it’s a fairly large board standing at 35” long and 9.5” wide. Keeping this Canadian Maple board rolling is its huge wheelbase (26.80”).

An interesting thing to note about the Switch 35 is its drop-down design that kept my feet closer to the ground as I pushed the board onwards. The wide wheels provide a stable ride even if I was carrying my big SUP board.

Even if I would be bringing in groceries or bringing my office bag, the Switch 35 would be my best choice – it’s more than just a longboard, it’s a mode of transportation that puts convenience and versatility on the forefront. Another aspect that I noticed is its amazing freeriding capabilities thanks to the short wheelbase.

As I continued the day with the Switch 35, I tried to do something all skaters do – some tricks. So I got some friends and went to Jebel Hafeet to really put the Switch 35 to its paces. After several runs along the swirling mountain roads, I discovered the Switch 35’s superb sliding capabilities - it does its job infinitely well as I found myself throwing 180 slides on it with minimum effort. What’s more, the Switch 35 is also the ideal board to use when going for downhill runs at high speed because of its unique drop-down design that keeps it stable no matter how fast you are. And for skaters like me stability is always synonymous to safety.

Overall the Landyachtz is what it says it

is – it’s a land yacht. Easily comparable to a Cadillac from the 50’s which exudes large bodies with majestic styling, the same could be held true for the Switch 35. It’s a showstopping longboard with the looks and the skills to prove it.

The Landyachtz Switch 35 is readily available at GO Sport stores across the UAE and Qatar for 1,299 AED/QAR. This is my personal rating to the amazing Landyachtz Switch 35 Cruising Freeride Downhill Push

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Habitually healthy The Off-Roader’s Snack Words + Recipe By: Chef Christopher Zerbe

Hello all! Happy spring, errr, more like happy early summer here in the UAE! As we can all see and feel, it’s already starting to warm up quite a bit! You know what that means, right?

Yes, it’s off-roading season. Tons of great off-road trails to hike and drive over, lots of weekend wadi trips to be had and, of course, the quintessential off-road trip you’ve always wanted in Oman, where it’s quite a bit cooler by the sea and in the Hajar Mountains compared to Dubai! As a seasoned off-roader back home in the states, I have always maintained a strict discipline

when taking off-road adventures in my trucks. Whether you have a bulletproof off-roader like the Land Rover Defender or more of a “weekend warrior” CSV type off-roader, there are always essentials to bring that will make your adventure, safer and more fun. I would like to hope that everyone attempting to do these activities remembers to bring a good first-aid kit and, of course, plenty of water!

However, the majority of off-road enthusiasts tend to forget the golden rule: always bring double the food you think you need!

And of course that should concentrate on non-perishable items! One of the biggest problems with this though is the sheer amount of sodium and preservatives that are in those types of foods. So what can you do to be a bit healthier on that off-road trek?

How about a simple home made trail mix?

Or perhaps you are a bit more adventurous like me and have an affinity for beef jerky or biltong? How about dried fruits like golden raisins or dried apricots or even dried cranberries? Each of these food is loaded with natural energy and packed with essential vitamins and minerals and can even contain power packed proteins. If you decide to make your own biltong at home, do some research online and ask your South African friends; they can, for sure, give you some great ideas for your off-road snack. As for a Paleo-friendly trail mix, see my recipe with this article. I am sure you will love it!

Paleo Trail Mix Ingredients

Amount

Notes

Almonds

1 dry cup

Whole unsalted

Cashews

.5 dry cup

Whole unsalted

Pumpkin seeds

.5 dry cup

Whole salted

Sunflower seeds

.5 dry cup

Whole salted

Dried apricots

.5 dry cup

Chopped

Dried cranberries

.5 dry cup

As is

Cacao nibs

.5 dry cup

As is

Dried flaked coconut .25 dry cup Lightly chopped (toasted is great too!)

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss together!

Pack in airtight containers (I like our Cycle Bistro Jars, they double as great drinking glasses when the trail mix is all gone!)

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

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PRODUCTS A ROUND-UP OF QUALITY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UAE

PARA’KITO™ bands and clips 89 AED

Available at Adventure HQ, GO Sport, Golf House and many more retailers (store locator at www.mapyr.com) Number one natural prevention against mosquito bites, PARA’KITO™ refillable bands and clips offer a very unique combination: natural ingredients, patented technology, original designs, with an extremely easy use.

The PARA’KITO™ pellet is soaked with essential oils extracted from plants selected all over the world. You just have to insert it in a band or a clip (each one is sold with two pellets) to be naturally protected against mosquito bites for 15 days.

PARA’KITO™ is suitable for everyone, because it doesn’t touch the skin. The protection is optimal under all conditions: sweat, water, hot and cold environment.

Sport-Brella 280 AED

Efficient and economical, PARA’KITO™ is the solution to stay protected from insect bites when doing outdoor activities.

Available at Modell’s Sporting Goods Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre

Buff Shemargh

TCX R-S2 Boots

Available at Adventure HQ, GO Sport and Modell’s Sporting Goods. Coming soon to Sun and Sand Sports

Available at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE

75 AED

Original Buff® headwear now in new Shemargh colours Original Buff® headwear keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The Original and still the best – so uniquely versatile it can be worn in up to 13 different ways for protection, comfort and fun! Made from seamless 100% microfiber, the breathable fabric wicks away moisture and dries quickly.

• Soft, breathable 100% microfiber polyester • 100% seamless • Polygiene® Active Odor Control • Moisture-wicking • Thermal protection from cold & wind • Quick-drying • 2-way lateral stretch • One size fits all adults • 2.9 oz.

The 8ft wide Sport-Brella is the original portable sun and weather shelter with all the features you need to enjoy your time outside. Whether you are on the sidelines, at the beach, or having fun just about anywhere, there is no easier, more convenient or effective protection available.

1,300 AED (previously 2,200 AED) Precise Air Fit System and CE certification Upper: Light micro fibre, breathable and highwear resistance; microinjected inserts and wider padded front and rear area for better comfort and flexibility Lining: Air Tech breathable, new double compound PU soft padding around the ankle area Protections: Polyurethane shin plate with iron mesh air intakes; polyurethane shift pad integrated in the sole, internal suede heat guard to grant maximum grip Sliders: Replaceable highresistant alloy toe, rear and ankle sliders Mid sole: Anatomic, with heel shock absorbing foam, extra light and breathable Sole: Low profile

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Discover Mocks Your First Steps in Mocks Are your feet ready for an adventure? One where they’ll be stepping into a world of pure colour, pure comfort and pure style? You’ve arrived at Mocks, the award-winning footwear for mens, ladies and kids that your feet will thank you for.

Taking our lead from traditional moccasins - and generations of native Americans can’t be wrong - we’ve looked at a comfort classic and given it a few 21st century twists.

With so many colours and styles to choose from, you can express yourself and get your feet fizzing wherever you are: in the city, in the country, on the beach.

Explore our world. Take your first steps in Mocks and you know good times are ahead Available at Namshi, Athlete’s Co, TAF and Stadium

MENS

Specifications: Sterilizable - Our “mocklite material” is made of STERI-TECH technology (a high-quality polymer material).

Coolmax Technology - The Coolmax insole allows air to circulate inside the shoe, keeping your feet drier.

Soft Scent - Our footwear has a soft scent to keep your shoes and your feet smelling fresh.

Closed Heel - Additional support making our shoes the ideal casual footwear for a range of locations, from the bar to the beach.

Washable at 90ºC - Our Mocklite Classic shoes can be washed at high temperatures - in the washing machine or dishwasher - however we recommend not putting your Mocks in with your plates and cups (please remove the insole and laces first).

Antislip - The sole is designed to reduce the risk of slipping.

Upper Protection - Avoids the entrance of liquids to the inside of the shoe.

For more information, call (+971) 50 436 2485

WOMENS

KIDS

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PRODUCTS Eton Rugged Rukus 395 AED

Available at Adventure HQ Rock the outdoors with the Eton Rugged Rukus portable wireless speaker. With Bluetooth connectivity, built-in solar panel and durable splash proof body, it’s your perfect outdoor music companion.

Shimano Dynalast

495 AED (Shimano R088) 375 AED (Shimano R065) Available at Adventure HQ Have you tried the new Shimano cycling shoes with Dynalast technology Adventure HQ? It combines both comfort and rigidity which is a rarity!

We have two new models: • SH-R088 - Perfect for the club and recreational cyclist with expert-level performance • SH-R065 - Compatible with indoor cycles and the best entry level shoes for beginners

Stages Power Meter

Polar V800

Available at Adventure HQ, Cannondale, Probike, Trek and online at Stages Power Middle East Facebook page

Available at GO Sport, Adventure HQ, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Mega Sports, City Sports, Virgin Megastore Mall of the Emirates, Intersport, Saucony, Orlando Sports and Sportone.

Starting from 3,299 AED

The Stages Power Meter is primed to bring power-based training to all disciplines of cycling. With advanced technology and a simple, elegant design, the Stages Power Meter is perfect for any cyclist. Whether they are looking for their first power metre or a savvy power-training expert wanting to add power measurement.

Stages Power Meter weighs only 20 grams and are the smallest, most technologically advanced unit available today and they are being distributed by Sport In Life Distribution.

2,290 AED

Designed for professional athletes and demanding amateurs for whom sport is a way of life, the new Polar V800 sports watch with integrated GPS helps you reach peak performance just when you need it. It combines your workout training load with data on the small activities you do every day, so you have a true picture of your required recovery time before getting out there again. It’s technology you’ll want on your wrist 24/7.

Most importantly, the Polar V800 helps serious athletes gain an edge by training, and recovering smartly. It offers: • Smart and accurate monitoring of training sessions as well as the smallest activities in your everyday life, thanks to an integrated activity tracker.

• Instant analysis and in-depth insights into all your training and recovery on the Polar V800 when used with the Polar Flow web service.

• It records your heart rate even while swimming – making it perfect for triathletes – and includes the most accurate altitude readings with a built-in barometric pressure sensor.

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Simple Things are Sometimes the Best

NITE WATCH NATO Words + Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer

Nowadays we expect a lot of features from small gadgets or at least be given the idea that we need all these features which is a great driver for consumerism. On the other hand, I tend to be more conservative - loyal to my old stuff and keep mobile phones until they die. Today’s gadgets are loaded with a lot of things most of us don’t need and never even explore. They are mini super tools doing everything a bit but nothing in perfection. Sport and outdoor watches also fall into this category and while they are loaded with features you really need, the core functions of simply giving the time are neglected.

So testing the Nite Watch was something refreshingly simple - all the watch does is tell time. No bling, no nonsense, just a

rugged watch with precision Swiss made movements, stainless steel housing with an ultra tough, highly scratch-resistant sapphire glass which is waterproof up to 300m.

Another thing worth mentioning about a watch which only comes to life in darkness is that the dial of the watch is illuminated

by Gaseous Tritium Light Source or GTLS which works properly all night and in complete darkness. My Tissot watch is actually also supposed to have illuminated (fluorescent) dials but the performance is very weak and will not last all night.

GTLS is a unique, highly specialized technology that uses a combination of tritium and phosphorus to create visible light. As

The watches at night. My Tissot versus the Nite Watch Nato’s superior GTLS illumination.

a cold light source, it requires no external electrical energy and is used for numerous applications such as emergency exit signs, military equipment, kit markers, compasses and wristwatches. It is a completely self powered, light source and works up to 25 years.

So if you are looking for a tough watch that could show you the time in any condition - be it trail running at night, diving into underwater caves, fishing or just camping in the desert, the Nite Watch Nato is a good choice.

If you’re wondering where to get the Nite Watch Nato, they can be found in Al Mekshah in Dubai for 2,000 AED. Their staff focuses on direct customer service which is also a good indicator that most of the money really goes in producing the watch rather than marketing and sales channels.

Meaning, you get a great value for money.

You don’t need to climb Everest like Sean who is taking his Nite Watch to the top of the world, but for us more grounded people, the simple but ingenious feature of seeing the time anywhere and everywhere is highly appreciated if not pragmatic. The Nite Watch can either be with you on the top of the world or when you are checking if your steak is rare or medium done while BBQ-ing at night.

Available at Instagram: @almekshah Facebook: www.facebook.com/almekshah Mobile:+971 55 4005441

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PRODUCTS ABOVE Sandboards Jolly Roger Sea Dog 1,900 AED/QAR 206.500 OMR

Available at GO Sport stores at Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in the UAE; Villaggio Mall and City Centre Doha in Qatar; and Muscat Grand Mall in Oman When designing the Sea Dog, no effort was spared in creating the optimal performance of a 295cm or 9’8’’ sit-on-top kayak, while maximising comfort and stability. Using the most advanced design technology available, paired with life-long experience and a deep understanding of the sea, we have managed to create an outstanding craft.

Performance kayaking The ride is stable, comfortable and dry with lots of space for dry bags, fishing gear and other necessities in the storage compartment behind the cockpit.

Comfortable and ingenious backrest The standard equipped backrest is in itself an innovation worth mentioning. Not only does it offer superior back support and optimises paddling performance but it is also extremely easy to attach.

Performance is everything So if design and performance is important this is the perfect kayak. It not only paddles great, it looks the part.

Available at GO Sport stores at Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in the UAE; Villaggio Mall and City Centre Doha in Qatar; and Muscat Grand Mall in Oman Sled – Sit down family fun board, but don’t let this fool you, its super fast.

Speed Demon – Standup speed board perfect for carving down dunes, for riders over 85kg.

The Drop – Short and agile, great for tricks and spins, for riders under 85kg.

All ABOVE boards are handcrafted in Dubai. They are made of laminated quality hardwood.

The footstraps have been developed from kiteboards and offer excellent control and comfort.

Stellar Elite Intermediate

Stellar Mid-Wing Value Paddle

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

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

The Stellar Elite Intermediate (SEI) Surf Ski provides intermediate paddlers with an all-condition boat that has high top-end speeds as well as great stability in rough conditions. Other features of the SEI include a narrow catch, low volume footwell and a comfortable seat with a slight curved on the back side. We expect the SEI to set a new standard in the intermediate surf ski class for speed and stability.

Our Wing paddle provides strong connection through the drive and a clean release on each paddle stroke. The low twist Airfoil cross-section of our wing provides hydrodynamic lift during a high angle stroke that is easy to paddle. Comfortable Oval Shaft fits your hand well and is stiff for maximum power application. The paddle is easy to adjust on both angle and length with a simple and secure cam lock. Length adjustment is available in ranges of 10cm and is scribed with 1cm increments for accurate length adjustment as well as angle for left and right feathers.

6,995 AED/QAR 760.300 OMR (Advantage model)

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650 AED/QAR 70.700 OMR

QATAR EXPLORER

Do something different Words By: Eulogy van Dyk Photos By: Michael Anderson

Gone are the days of people saying, “There’s nothing to do in Qatar.” If your body’s own engine is not keen to take you out for a spin, why not hop on a motorised engine and join a group for a motocross session in the desert. But beware, although powered by fuel it is still a demanding sport both physically and mentally.

The MXGP World Championship returned to Qatar for the third consecutive year this 2015 and kicked off with the first race of the championship at the Losail International Circuit. A few more similar international events took place in the country, which makes it a good indication that Qatar is a favourable location to participate in a sport like this. With rumours that Formula One might be headed to Qatar in the near future, it is clear that motorsport is becoming increasingly popular in our small, Middle Eastern peninsula.

The local community (expats and Qataris

alike), however, is still a rather small group of people participating in the sport, but according to some of the riders, the group is growing each year and showed a significant increase the past two years. Similarly, events that cater to motocross enthusiasts have been increasing steadily every year.

Currently, there are no motocross clubs in Qatar, but an active Facebook community, the Qatar Duners, exists where you can connect with like-minded people. It consists of a mixed group, from all walks of life and is open for all to join. Normally they go out for rides on Friday morning and Saturday, which is becoming increasingly popular.

The riders focus on the following types of riding; Motocross, Endurocross (longer distances with less jumps) and Free riding (just going out for a ride in the desert, weekend warrior style).

There are two tracks “built” in the desert

by the Qatar Duners and located close to the Inland Sea in the south of the country.

One track is less technical and the other with more demanding, adrenaline pumping jumps. This serves as the main training area for the locals currently. It is possible to go on a cross-country ride with no formal routes, although it is advised to take care before embarking on an individual outing. In a sport where open space and alluring area is a must, the desert is the perfect place to be!

The season runs mainly from October to April where pleasant weather equals pleasant riding conditions. In the hot summer months you will only find a few daredevils chasing out at 4:00 a.m. in the morning to get their daily dose of adrenaline pumping through their veins.

Tips for the local riders: never ride alone and be aware that some sand dunes do change shape during the course of a season!

At the moment there are limited shops that cater for motocross specifically, so most people order spare parts and accessories online.

There is however Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and KTM bike dealerships in Qatar.

The motocross community in Qatar is warm and welcoming. There is a special camaraderie between them where great friendships are built. And the best of all, families can join for a day out in the desert whilst the boys (or girls) go out to play in the dunes.

So if you are looking to do or try something else, motocross is a fantastic way to get out of the house and do something different in Qatar, instead of falling into the trap of getting the hump that there is “nothing to do”.

To get in touch with the motocross community contact Qatar Duners at qatar-duners@googlegroups.com or visit their Facebook page.

OUR EXPERTS

2015 Winner Best Stuck Jeepers Bigfoot

Words By: Marina Bruce

After the success of Oasis Offroad’s Dark Skies Challenge 2014 (see OutdoorUAE December 2014 issue), it was decided to run the event again with a few changes.

The inaugural event was held on the last weekend of October, when temperatures were a bit on the warm side (averages 34°C/21°C), the sunrise was too early and the sand super soft.

Taking these factors into account we moved the Dark Skies Challenge 2015 to 20th/21st February, when the average inland temperature in Abu Dhabi Emirate is 27°C with overnight averages of 15°C, although the actual recorded temps on the day were 33°C and 22°C respectively. The day started much later too – the campsite was bathed with the first rays of the winter sun at 6:53 a.m. (as opposed to 6:28 a.m. on 30th October) with sunset at 6:20 p.m. – a total of 11 hours and 26 minutes of daylight driving time required by the challenge rules.

Most of the UAE was hit by torrential rainstorms in January including the “Dark Skies” area in the Western Desert, so I was sure that the going would be so much easier this time round – or it would have been, had

Winner Desert Life by Jeepers Bigfoot

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Winner Teamwork by Tusken Raiders

we not been hit by some sandstorms during February!

All 11 teams checked-in at our base camp near Arada on Thursday night before 11:00 p.m., were issued with their t-shirts (kindly supplied by Eastern Motors Al Ain) with instructions to be back at reception for a pre-trip briefing next morning at 6:30 a.m. sharp! To be sure that everyone was up and awake, I arranged for Andy to tour the camp with a special wake-up call – a trumpet reveille followed by the theme to “Chariots

Treasure - by the Highjacks

of Fire” – and this must have worked as everyone was gathered on time!

Having fielded five teams from Oasis Offroad in 2014, the club did the same again and our trip leaders led the Oasis Ospreys, Oasis Saffas, Oasis Slipfarces, Dig Out Your Soul Oasis and Oasis Dubai All Stars onto the sand. We added to our numbers by inviting some external teams and we welcomed Jeepers (Jeepers Bigfoot), Knight Riders, Just Offroaders (Desert Strike Force), Desert Buccaneers (Patrolling Buccaneers)

Nature by DigOutYourSoulOasis

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together with two private teams which were the Tusken Raiders and the Highjacks.

To keep everyone safe we had three sweep teams equipped with winches – Jo, Lia and Sarah near the front; Ian, John Flavin and myself tried to keep somewhere in the middle of the field; and the third sweep team comprised Ivan, Stephen and Alan, who patiently lingered near the back of the field. A total of 53 cars took to the sand.

Administering such an event is quite an undertaking and I was ably assisted by Karen C in organising the teams and distributing the information.

One thing beyond my control was the weather – you’ll no doubt have noticed the photos which accompany this article – we had a mega sandstorm where everyone was sandblasted for most of the day; thankfully the wind died at night so we could enjoy a lovely camp not very far from the Saudi border where we enjoyed a truly dark sky, free from light pollution.

The challenge itself was made slightly easier than last time round with the addition of some intermediate waypoints to pull teams away from a 6km stretch of relentless, soft, technical dunes which were torture for some of the teams in 2014. The course was also lengthened – from a 108km straight line to 144km which included an overnight stop at 101km. The teams who completed the Friday section in the shortest distance were Knightriders and Desert Strike Force with an impressive 108km; and overall shortest distance over the two days were Knightriders with 157.3km.

Once more we implemented a grid system over the course which saw teams sending an SMS at the end of each sector to Sandy, who armed with her clipboard, kept an eye on all the teams’ progress and ensured we did not lose anyone in the vast expanse of the western desert.

The cars set off and despite the weather made good progress over the course which had been chosen to set both a driving

Teamwork by Oasis Ospreys

and navigational challenge; the run of the dunes is northeast - southwest and the first waypoint was around 70km northwest. Team leaders had to search for sand saddles to allow them to climb over each dune line yet keep on course – penalties would apply if they went more than 2.5km off the straight line.

You cannot believe how excited people can get over finding a tiny treasure chest containing sweets, matches, a carabiner and a “get out of stuck free” card in the desert and so as not to disappoint our drivers we dashed into the desert a few days prior to the event and buried some swag in some uber-soft dunes just beyond the first waypoint.

Despite the atrocious weather, all teams made it to the Friday night camp before sunset, where we had a huge campfire and gave out certificates to all the participants.

Some teams had sped through the course quickly and on arriving at the camp spot in the horrendous sandstorm, decided to finish the course and head home. I don’t blame them but they did miss a great campfire and the chance to drive in a second sandstorm the next day.

On the Saturday morning, we had one team with a car which literally was not firing on all cylinders so I escorted them on a super easy route out, then raced round to meet the other teams as they reached the final point.

Post-event, all teams submitted their tracks and a selection of photos for our competition and you can see the winners here. Each category was sponsored by a company: Rahal Outdoor, Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, the Liwa Hotel (who graciously sponsored two), Black Pearl Car Care Centre not forgetting OutdoorUAE. Oasis Offroad thanks you very much for your support.

When they reached the end point I asked Miriam of Oasis Dubai All Stars, “Same time next year?” And her reply was “No, we need another one before that, maybe in October!”

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Winner Sunrise by Jeepers Bigfoot

Stuck by Oasis Dubai All Stars

DesertLife by DigOutYourSoulOasis

Sunset by Oasis Saffas

Winner Nature by Jeepers Bigfoot

Ian Huggins of Sweep 2 is ready to rescue

Teamwork by Knightriders

Winner Action Shot Jeepers Bigfoot

OUR EXPERTS

Thursdays with Olivier Words By: John Basson

What’s more appropriate than this issue of OutdoorUAE to say farewell to a great mentor, guide and friend. It is hard to believe that it was almost seven years ago that I did my first ride on a bike in the UAE desert. It was on my CRF 250X that accompanied me from South Africa with myself, Patrice and Olivier as the riders.

They were already competent desert riders and they were on quads. You can only imagine how far I was out of my league on that ride. I think I dropped (no accident, just dropped it a little) my bike about eight times on that ride. What I do however clearly remember was Olivier constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure that I was okay.

Every time I dropped the bike, got stuck or hesitated crossing the dunes he would turn around and assist me.

Let me give you all a short history on Olivier Almairac’s riding career and then try to reflect in words what a great inspiration he has been to me over the last seven years.

Olivier started riding at a very young age and raced his first race at the age of only 15. He won that race. His MX riding/racing

progressed to the level of being 125cc pilot for Honda in France. Olivier’s passion for riding was certainly not limited to MX, but also included go-karts, trials bikes, quads and more. Not only does he ride, but he also services and maintains his bikes/quads to a level that can only be admired. It was this passion for not just the riding, but the machine that I think “connected” us. We both prefer doing the work ourselves and would not even let others wash our bikes/quads, never mind servicing them!

Our initial routine used to be Thursday afternoon rides from Al Ain, for about two to three hours. As my riding skills and experience increased, Olivier and I started doing more, longer trips together, and also riding not only on Thursdays, but Friday and Saturdays. The weekend rides generally being over 100km and three or more hours. By this time I had bought Olivier’s Suzuki LTR 450 quad when he upgraded to a KTM. The Suzuki obviously resembled a new rather than second-hand machine. It was the occasional riding of my CRF 250 that got Olivier to again buy a two-wheeler (CRF 450X). This naturally triggered me to also get a CRF 450X just to maintain a fair level of competition between us. These bikes we collected from Honda in their boxes and assembled by ourselves.

Suddenly our new bikes opened opportunities that were not previously possible on our quads. These included trips from Al Ain to Liwa, Al Ain to Kalba (where we nearly got arrested), Dubai to Dibba, Dubai to Fujairah and many more. Each ride being a learning curve as I learnt from Olivier’s vast experience. His knowledge on bikes, adjustments and their performance regularly caused me to lose a friendly bet. Not only did our passion for riding and machines complement each other but our wives, Mari (my love) and Claudia (Olivier’s love), are both one of the reasons we had so much fun. They both

allowed us to ride as much as we wanted, as long as we were together. They were regularly invited to join us at the resorts we rode to. I am sure they knew the invitation had something to do with them having to take our pickups with trailers there to collect us, but they never declined. I supposed they thought we were safe in each other’s company. If only they knew how often we were racing each other, they probably would never have allowed us to ride together. Nevertheless, thank you to both ladies, you were (are) great!

About three years ago Olivier decided to upgrade his KTM 450 quad to new KTM 525.

He did however still want to have a second quad just in case a friend or his son came to visit. He subsequently made me a deal that was at first difficult to comprehend: “You can have my 450 if you are willing to maintain it like your other bikes, and if I could use it maybe once a year.”

I thought he wanted me to maintain it so that his friends could ride it? No, he gave me a virtually brand new KTM 450 quad as a present. By far the most impressive gift I ever received from anybody!

Now seven great years later, it is time to say good bye. Surely it is not a permanent one as I will still join him in France for trials riding and he will come to SA for some adventure riding within the next few years.

However, there will no longer be early Friday morning rides from my villa. Something we will both miss.

Olivier, thank you for the seven amazing years and thousands of desert miles you rode with me. It was awesome riding with you!

Ride safe, appreciate what and who you have, and go for gold!

Regards,

JB

OUR EXPERTS

Fly fishing

What you need to get started Words By: Kit Belen

When I first started, there was hardly any information on what to buy and where to buy. There were only a handful of fly fishermen and most of them were not interested to share. So like many others before me, I had to do everything the hard way – learn with whoever I can watch and mostly learn on my own.

I soon discovered that putting together a fly fishing outfit was mostly like putting together a puzzle. You will soon realise that you have preferences you need to discover to make it work for you. Putting one piece out of place would give you somewhat of a bad experience, but through it all, if you are committed enough, you will find the pieces of the puzzle yourself and make your experiences more enjoyable.

Navigating the jungle

The very first thing you notice when you look at fly fishing gear is the mention of line weights. As each rod has a rating, the line has a rating and the reels also have a rating.

Without complicating things, the very first thing that you need to know is to balance an outfit; you get the rod, line and reel with the same rating. So, let’s say you want a starter outfit – something you can use anywhere and catch almost anything – look no further than a 9wt.

The fly line does a few things; it’s the part of the fly casting system that you cast, as the flies themselves are nearly weightless. The lines come in a few varieties, but the main ones are floating (meaning, the line floats), intermediate (sinks very slowly) and sinking (speaks for itself). The best line to get as your first is the floating; this is the easiest to cast.

Although I have to say, the most useful one is almost always the intermediate line.

The rods are the part of the system that to me is the most complicated. It is what propels the line and I find it complicated because this is where you start with your preference. Generally, the stiffer the rod (fast action) the farther the potential cast. However, not everyone can cast a fast rod. It takes a little juggling until you find what is right for you, regardless of the brand, keeping in mind

that the rods are not cheap; it is an expensive juggling act for most people. The best way around this is to look for people that have different rods and ask to cast them and then you would find out what suits you the most. A medium action rod is the path of least resistance; however, there is a danger of the rod being outgrown fast.

The reel, for me, is the least complicated of the system. You basically get one with a good drag system, if you can find one with a sealed drag (which means the whole system is encased and isn’t as prone to saltwater intrusion) even better and one that holds at least 200m of 10-15kg backing (a length of fishing line that comes after the fly line, which is mostly only 100ft in length, some fish will run and take you to your backing, but most of the fish you encounter will not get you there).

The leader in fly fishing is tapered, meaning the section that attaches to the fly line is thicker than the section that you tie your fly onto. This has something to do with the transfer of energy from the fly line to the leader, which enables your fly to turn and roll out to straighten when you present the fly to the fish. They each carry a weight and at times labelled after the fish that they are designed to catch. Although you can make your own, it’s better to purchase a few to get you going; bonefish leaders rated at 12lbs or 6kg is a good place to start.

A selection of flies to start (clouser minnows and crazy charlies will catch almost anything that swims!) and all that’s left is to put the backing on the reel, attach the fly line and leader, attach the reel to the rod and you are ready to learn how to cast.

Casting

The best way to learn how to cast is to find someone who knows how to cast and learn from him/her. The second best thing is YouTube. As I am self-taught, I feel that I am not really qualified to teach people. Fly casting is like the golf swing; you can easily learn bad

habits and these are more often than not harder to get rid of than learning better form from the start.

Where to fish

You can fly fish almost everywhere you can use spinning gear, just make sure you have enough room for a back cast, and that it’s not crowded to avoid accidents.

Yas Island is a prime location with a lot of possible places for anyone to explore, as are the mangrove areas of Umm Al Quwain.

Across the border, Oman offers a lot of possibilities and is only a committed drive away.

If you are not shy of boats, a charter with Soolyman or East Coast Charters, both having experience with fly fishing offshore, can help you catch some good dorado off the coast of Fujairah.

Where to buy

Barracuda Dubai has a selection of Orvis rods, reels, lines, leaders as well as flies.

Ocean Active at the Garden Centre has some gear as well. Aside from these two options, you can find some deals in the US online shops and eBay.

Parting cast

Everything in fly fishing will be a challenge – from the cast to catching consistently. Just when you think the fish is hooked well, things could easily go wrong and it will throw the hook before you could react. Fly fishing takes commitment, perseverance and a whole lot of patience. It is not the most efficient way of catching fish; in fact, it just very well may be the least efficient of all. It is also very expensive as good gear commands a premium price. It is not for everyone, not because of the price, but because of the learning curves involved. Learning how to cast a decent distance would take a long time (about a year on average). Casting a fly rod is undoubtedly one of the most frustrating things you will learn (or not), and it’s the experience that make a lot of people give up.

Our fishing pro who shares his experiences and erpertise with OutdoorUAE through his regular column. thefishingkit@gmail.com

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Iain Winterbottom Occupation: Geography teacher at GEMS Cambridge International, Abu Dhabi Nationality: British Age: 28

Iain says he is pretty much new to the world of running. He disliked it at first, but moving to the UAE last September has made him reconsider. And this decision took him right at the doorstep of the toughest footrace on Earth – the Marathon des Sables. We asked about his decision to run the MDS 2015 from April 3rd to13th and how he finds the running community.

running rhythm. Of course, daily life doesn’t stop and after a hectic day at work, going for a long run is often the last thing I want to do especially when I’m tired. When I break into my natural cycle however, I love the feeling of being free. I become removed from my normal life and the world that goes on around us. I feel small and consider the bigger picture of life. I see myself as though I am looking down on myself - as if from a satellite or on a map. I think about where I am on Earth and see myself as a small dot running on the surface. Sounds strange but I guess that’s what happens when you force yourself not to think about the daily grind.

When did you first hear about the Marathon des Sables?

A friend of mine decided we needed a new challenge. We had both completed long distance walks before, mostly in Europe.

These events include the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen (160km over four days) and the Belgian Dodentocht (100km in 24hrs). Having completed these events several times and having not had a challenge for a while, my friend took a day off from work to sign us up for the MDS. I don’t think either of us, especially me, expected we would get a place. A few years on, here we are.

Could you tell us more about the cause you chose?

I am running for the Bluebell Wood children’s hospice in the United Kingdom. I used to live in an area where their work touched the lives of many. Bluebell Wood helps young people and their families who have a shortened life expectancy. The work they do is invaluable to families and friends at a very difficult and precious time.

How are you preparing for the MDS? I have been following an intensive running and gym schedule since September. I completed my first half marathon in Dubai in November/December, and my first marathon in Dubai on 23rd January. I now have all the appropriate kit I need. The MDS is a self-sufficient race meaning I will carry all my food and will be limited to 10L of water per day. I spend my evenings running with my desert pack and wearing my sand gaiters.

I often get funny looks until I reach those sandy areas. I think it looks weird but equally cool.

What do you love most about running?

I love the sense of accomplishment. Sometimes it is difficult to get into my natural 60

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Are there any other sports you are involved with?

I am a traditional outdoor pursuit person. I enjoy hill walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, road cycling, climbing, abseiling and canoeing and kayaking. I used to work in the outdoor pursuits industry in the UK and a lot of my time was spent doing the above.

What’s next for Iain? Are there any other events that you are preparing for?

I am preparing for a week of not running anywhere when I return from the MDS! After that, I’m not sure. I feel like I have started a journey and found that I am actually quite good and enjoy something I always disliked.

Besides, I have bought a lot of expensive and specialised desert running kit now.

Lastly, how did your decision to take part in the MDS impact your life?

I think the true answer to this remains to be seen. However, up until now I have gone from not being able to run very well or for very long, to running marathons. I have no spare time and I have lost weight (something I didn’t need to do!). I know I am going to experience something very different and very tough with people I do not yet know. The impact on my life could be profound — let’s hope I don’t think about the big picture too much whilst in the middle of the Sahara. And to my fellow 2015 MDS participants, I hope we can all help each through and complete the MDS together.

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PEOPLE

Occupation: MotoGP rider with the Movistar Yamaha Team Nationality: Spanish Age: 27 Interview By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Supplied

We met Jorge on a windy Tuesday afternoon in the newlyopened BoxPark in Dubai. It was a very modern and artsy strip with shops set inside coloured shipping containers. The Yamaha Café façade was in black, but running in contrast are the reds of the brand logo, carpet and ribbon poised for the opening ceremony; while the interiors are white and wooden, remaining true to the aesthetics of Japanese minimalism. MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero joined the Al Yousuf and Yamaha family in welcoming everyone into the first ever Yamaha Café.

At age of 27, he has successfully won the 250cc World Championship and the coveted MotoGP World Championship twice, racking up four trophies. A native of Spain, he began his racing career back in 2002 when he qualified for the 125cc category of the Spanish Grand Prix. We had a quick chat with him after the Yamaha Café ribbon cutting to talk about riding and racing for the pure fun of it.

How’s your visit to Dubai?

I’ve been in Dubai twice or thrice if I could remember correctly. I’ve been to many places and Dubai remains one of the beautiful cities.

We have read that you are taking part in the Grand Prix of Qatar on the 29th, are there any preparations that you are doing?

Well, we are doing some training, riding and lots of exercises. But most of the time we’re out on the track and testing out the bike – looking for areas to be improved, things to be fixed. Majority of the training I do is

focused on gaining the best times on the track which is important when the race starts.

Since you’ve been here in the UAE a couple of times, what do you think of it in terms of motorsport? Or, to be exact, how does the Dubai Autodrome fare as a track based on your experience from various tracks such as the Circuit de Catalunya, Silverstone and the Twin Ring Motegi?

The Autodrome is a very sophisticated track – it is very secure, and the facilities are upto-date and the turns are challenging. I have seen it in the A1 Grand Prix, but have yet to see it as part of MotoGP. But from what I’ve watched, if it’s good for the A1, then it’s good for MotoGP

Hopefully, to become the world champion for this season of course. More fun, races, safety, competition, winning and of course, no crashes [laughs].

Lastly, what’s next for you?

Are there any other events that you are preparing for?

Well, the 2015 MotoGP season is underway and we’re mostly focused on that. All our time is devoted to training, riding and trying to beat lap times.

What’s the most challenging race you had?

It’s difficult to tell. I’ve had more than 200 races in my entire life and each one was challenging to a degree. So it’s pretty hard to say which one is the most challenging of all.

What do you love most about the sport?

The bikes – there is just so much fun to be had in riding bikes; my crew, the Yamaha team and getting to travel the world. I love the exhilarating feeling of riding my bike every time. Also the fun, the fun of racing and training.

What are you expecting for this MotoGP season?

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

The highest points in the UAE Words By: Sean James

Making lists, ticking challenges, collecting race medals and bagging peaks are all things that adventurers and particularly hikers or mountaineers do quite regularly.

There are seven continents in the world and climbers like to stand on top of the highest mountain of each continent and complete what is known as the Seven Summits. There are around 196 countries in the world if you include Taiwan. Each of these countries has a highest point or mountain. That is a big list to complete. For those of you who like facts here is another list: • Antarctica is the continent with the highest average elevation; most of the land is covered by an ice sheet 1.6km thick.

• Australia is the continent with the lowest average elevation at 330m.

• Kyrgyzstan has the highest average elevation at 2,750m.

• Netherlands has the lowest average elevation at 11m.

• The country with the highest low point is Lesotho at 1,400m.

• The country with the lowest high point it Maldives at 3m.

• The countries with the lowest high point are Israel and Jordan at -418m.

• The country with the highest difference in elevation is China at -154m to 8850m.

• Aconcagua is the highest point outside of The Himalayas and The Karakoram.

Some of the paths cling to the side of the cliffs

What is a mountain?

In the United Kingdom, the government has decided that a mountain is a peak over 600m. This is to define freedom of access.

Mountaineers have further classified mountains of a certain height with different names.

For example any mountain above 914m is called a munro. To those using the metric system, 914m could be a strange point to pick until we look at the imperial equivalent of 3,000ft which is slightly more rounded. The term was created by Sir Hugh Munro and was originally only applied to Scottish mountains meeting the height criteria. Such is the fervour and fanaticism of mountaineers that the trend soon caught on and they created terms for all their mountains of a particular height.

There is no official reward for climbing all or The mountains form a natural border here overlooking Dibba

any of the Munros, Corbetts, Donalds, Grahams, Murdos, Wainwrights, Birketts - only personal achievement. However many spend a lifetime trying to stand on the summit of each if only for a brief moment.

In the UAE there are no names yet for our mountains. But here is a list of some of the highest so that when there is a name, you can claim to have done them.

Highest point in the UAE The highest point in the UAE is not massively high by world standards but is a very worthy objective. Most people think the highest mountain in the UAE is Jebel Hafeet. Others think the highest mountain is Jebel Jais. They are both wrong. The summit of Jebel Jais is actually the ninth highest mountain in Oman.

In fact it can be quite a confusing issue. The highest point and the highest named mountain are actually different places. The highest mountain or peak in the UAE is Jebel Yibir.

But the highest place you can actually stand on in the UAE is a point on a mountain slope on Jebel Jais. However the true summit of Jebel Jais is in Oman. Jebel Yibir is at 1,527m while Jebel Hafeet is at 1,240m.

Below is a list of the highest points in the UAE with the GPS reference. Many do not have paths to the summit so using software

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like Google Earth is an ideal way to plot a route. Alternatively, you can contact OutdoorArabia and join one of their guided hikes to the summits.

The region and its mountains Many people only envisage the UAE as a flat desert and gleaming new cities. In fact, the mountains are of worldwide significance.

Known as the Al Hajar Mountains, translated in Arabic as stone mountains, the range runs from northeastern Oman through the eastern United Arab Emirates and down into southern Oman. Although there are no official tourist hiking trails in the UAE, The Ministry of Tourism in Oman has developed a wonderful set of 11 marked trails, grading them from Grade 1 to 3 with hiking time anywhere between 1.5 hours to 18 hours. The highest point in Oman is Jebel Shams, meaning mountain of the sun and is just over 3,000m.

The UAE In the UAE, the Al Hajar range separates the Al Batinah coast from the rest of the UAE. You would be mistaken for thinking Ras Al Khaimah is the most mountainous emirate but in fact, Fujairah can claim to have many more peaks, although not quite as high. In many places such as Dibba, Kalba and Khor Fakkan, the mountain slopes run directly

Google Earth screenshot of the route You can download the GPS files from our website www.outdooruae.com in the downloads section

down to the shore. The emirate of Fujairah was the first to create a decree by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah protecting Wadi Wurayah and it is now the UAE’s first protected mountain area. The wadi is a 129km protected nature conservation area that due to its permanent water resources has been used by local communities for thousands of years. It is home to rare and endangered species such as the Arabian Tahr and Arabian Leopard which are vital to the UAE’s national heritage.

Musandam The Hajar Mountains extend into Musandam and the landscape is a sharp contrast of sea and mountain. Jebel Harim is the highest point in the north at a height of 2,000m. This area is known locally as the Ru’us Al-Jibal, which literally means “heads of the mountains”.

Geographically, these mountains are of special interest to geologists because they consist of the world’s most extensive surface exposure of ophiolites. Many years ago the surface here lay much further north and now this rich seam of igneous and sedimentary rock is very visible, displaying obvious movement of the mantle and oceanic crust. These are the beginnings of the Mesozoic carbonates of the Arabian Platform which further west bear the oil that drive the region.

Some of the high points in the UAE are very isolated

A natural border formed by the mountains

Quick checklist route planning Start point

25° 0’18.61”N 56°21’0.58”E

Off-road driving required?

No

Distance and time from Mirdif to start

152km and 92min

Navigation on hike

Intermediate skills of navigation

Time required for hike

3 -4 hours

Distance

8.4km

Elevation gain on hike

660m

High point

932m

Grocery / water on hike

No

Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail?

Yes

Suitable for all the family?

The trail is loose rock, some steep but never too hard

Looking down on the Green Mubazzaarah from Jebel Hafeet

Jebel Hafeet Jebel Hafeet is worth a mention although not the highest, it is definitely one of the most beautiful and gentle introductions to hiking in the region. You can actually drive very close to the summit of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain but a good hike is detailed below. The mountain road curves gradually up 12km to overlook the desert and at nearly 1,250m the view on a clear day is both over the desert and the city of Al Ain. Jebel Hafeet is outstanding because of its isolation and easy accessibility. In addition to hikes around the slopes there is an extensive cave system that apparently opens up into the Royal Palace on the top. At the bottom, the Green Mubazarrah is a busy area of hotwater springs, streams and lake as well as the nearby Wadi Adventure.

All of the data regarding the mountains in the UAE has been compiled from a number of sources including Peakery and Geonames.

If you have further information, we would like to keep it updated, so please contact us.

A hike for April This hike takes you to the beautiful area around Al Ain and up the slopes of Jebel Hafeet. The hike is relatively short; around four slow hours and the views open up to show the desert and the green oasis of Al Ain. If you are not confident going or starting hikes alone or you just want to have an expert or a group of nice people with you, OutdoorArabia is offering hikes lead by our expert Sean James. outdoorarabia.com/regional-trips

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The Oman Quad

A circumnavigation of Oman Words By: Clive Delves Photos By: Clive Delves, Elisna and Lawrence Vincent-Edwards

Taking the initiative from Mike Nott through his book “Off-Road Adventure Routes: UAE and Oman”, I stitched together four Oman routes (Starfish [SF], Oman Empty Quarter [OE], Yemen-Oman-Saudi [YOS] and Wahiba Crossing [WX]) into one long circumnavigation driven in one continuous loop over 14 days, and with help from Colin Campbell and Marina Bruce both of whom have experience of the intended routes, we chose an anticlockwise direction since it allowed the ‘hard stuff’ to be taken care of first, then delays could be ‘absorbed’ into the second half of the drive which would be predominantly on tarmac.

We also decided to not take Mike’s YOS route to its extreme westerly point close to the Yemen-Saudi-Oman confluence given the less than friendly welcome received there by a convoy last year and to allow two nights stop-over in Salalah to provide a break in the camping and the luxury of a halfway celebration “Ice-Cold in Salalah” at the Khareef Pub in the Crown Plaza.

‘Team VE’consisting of Lawrence and Elisna Vincent-Edwards and ‘Team CD’ just myself, had 14 days to complete the drive, so it was necessary to simplify Mike’s routes to a manageable level of difficulty and achievability, especially given the extra weight that we would need to carry. 120L of petrol and 40L of water, adding close to 180kg, so as always compromises were necessary in packing only the ‘bare essentials’.

“Safety first”, since accidents do happen and in the remote areas where we were 64

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going it becomes more of a critical situation, so an 8:00 p.m. reporting schedule was arranged and a procedure to follow if the scheduled calls were not received. For this we were equipped with a satellite phone in case of no mobile coverage, which could often be the case.

Day One 21/11/2014 Mezyad to Starfish Camp Distance covered 97km

The much simpler SF route provided excellent views of the dunes in their full beauty without too much effort, the bridges across the lower choppy tongues of the dunes were testing for our fully loaded vehicles and the crossings were ‘adapted to fit’. Even so, we encounter several stucks, some resolved with good old fashioned dig and push and several with the winch. We all appreciated the workout and the winch, and by the time the sun was lowering its head, we had fallen short of our expected distance and we settle down for camp in a large bowl. The stars are in full bloom as the new moon was not yet full and Team VE were on shooting star lookout.

Day Two 22/11/2014 Starfish Camp to Fahud Distance covered 356km

A very humid night results in bedding hung out in the early morning sun. We join the OE route by crossing the long sabkha via zigzagging tracks to avoid the stony ground, and by-passed the start of the OE route to take in the beautiful scene as camels took a dip in a small lake [N23.34740° E55.69076°] surrounded by large dark orange dunes, patrolled in the air by hawks gliding on the air currents. As we wiggle our way through tongues of dunes blown across the track south into the deserted industrial area of Safah, all to be seen is pipe heads and pipes

that follow our track for many kilometres.

Farther south we skirt around the industrial area of Al Khuwayr and head southwest on faint tracks, past a sign boldly stating the “Road Conditions” [N22.81932° E55.33118°] but whose status looked never to have changed judging by the condition of the sign itself. Heading OP “off-piste” towards the confluence of UAE-Oman-Saudi borders we travel along the fence-line to locate the actual post that denotes the joining point of the three countries borders [N22.70135° E55.21337°].

Once regaining the OE track south, the hard surface of compacted sand and sabkha is fine for a faster pace to make up for time lost earlier on, however the surface is also able to exploit any weakness that it finds and soon Team VE have their first puncture near the oil and gas area of Yibal. A tyre change and soon we are continuing on our route, with plans to fix the tyre in Fahud which would be our first refueling point.

We drive the 70km detour east to the Bridgestone tyre shop at Fahud, where we were unlucky to arrive just after closing. So with chicken biryani in our belly and the sun going down on Fahud we camp outside the

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town and plan for an early visit to the tyre shop the next day.

Day Three 23/11/2014 Fahud out and back again Distance covered 234km

Up with the sunrise and into Fahud proper, unfortunately neither the Bridgestone nor the Michelin shop next door stock off-road tyres ‘off the shelf’, so the decision was taken to purchase a road tyre of the same size to act as the second spare, which while not ideal, would do the job if needs be and we would keep any further delay to a minimum.

So back out again through Yibal and return to the OE route, heading towards the start of the Umm Al Samim, the notorious flat expanse, famous for quicksand and other desert trickery. However only 40km out, Team VE’s second rear tyre suffers a similar fatal puncture and the plan is quickly changed to return to Fahud and fit a full set of new off-road tyres that we confirm would be brought from the warehouse by 5:00 p.m. that day. Job done by 8:00 p.m. and another overnight camp outside Fahud.

Day Four 24/11/2014 Fahud via Al Ghaftain to Muqshin Oasis Distance covered 531km

Leaving Fahud behind in a trail of dust as we head out across the Umm Al Samim, we are passed by a police pickup whose occupants wave enthusiastically to us. This is the only vehicle we see for the next 370km. Weaving our path through some of the most spectacular dunes, in shapes hard to believe, along tracks covered in places by drifting sands blown by the same winds that had created these almost vertical walls and towering dimpled pillows of sand all around us.

No punctures, a varying terrain and good track surfaces allow us to make very good time and complete that day’s route before closing time at the Al Ghaftain petrol pump and we drive on-road to set our next overnight camp near to the Muqshin Oasis, where we will visit the next morning. During the evening while sitting out in the glow of the star filled sky, we see a flare penetrate the dark skies and hear several gun shots, but that was the highlight of the evening’s fireworks and we settle down for our fourth night under the stars.

Day Five 25/11/2014 Muqshin Oasis to ad-hoc Desert Camp Distance covered 125km

The Muqshin oasis [N19.58298° E54.88633°] is full of vegetation growing around a large natural lake that appears to be present year-round, judging by the size of the area. Local municipality workers are hard at work pruning trees and it is nice to see the area being taken care of for visitors, local and not so to enjoy.

We had planned to take an alternative track away from a checkpoint which we expected would not allow people to pass without an Omani guide and also due to the terrain which was said to contain large areas of tyre puncturing dried vegetation protruding from the hard sabkha floor.

So instead of taking the OE route, our planned route takes us ‘OP’ across the white sand plains of Muqshin to Al

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Montasarvia a track we name the “white sand road”, which seems more like driving on the surface of the moon, passing what appears to be a tree graveyard on either side, and where those hardy enough to thrive are placed on its own individual raised island. We had planned to check out another oasis spotted earlier on Google Earth [N19.45362° E54.61974°], smaller than Muqshin but with just as much life for such a remote location and as we arrived we encounter many birds, green grasses waving in the wind, tiny fish, dragonflies, butterflies and very shortly after, a police patrol car. The driver watches and waves politely as we roam the oasis, the wind billowing the white sand adding dramatic contrast to the fertile land which lay only metres from barren desert floor.

The second part of our alternative track, did not go as well as hoped. Anticipating going ‘OP’ again for 45km and crossing the low lying dunes between Qitbit and meet the OE route at OE51, using a straight-line track planned on GE, based on old tyre tracks, but those images cannot show the consistency of the sand and how the wind has whipped it up into a powder. This kind of sand along with the extra weight carried by the vehicles made it very difficult to cross, and at one point we struggle to advance more than a few hundred metres in an hour. Even though the dunes are low, as we cross one ridge the next would cause another stuck that we need to recover from, on what seemed to be at every rise and fall.

The first 15km across the sabkha took 20 minutes, the next 10km on the dunes took four hours 30 minutes. We were in a fix and would not be able to complete the whole route if we continue to battle ahead at such a slow pace.

The sun became lower on the horizon, we agree to spend the night on the dune ridges, arise early to get down to the next sabkha with the help of the damp sand from the morning dew, and then follow the sabkha back out. To reduce some weight we removed four petrol jerry cans and drag them bodily across the dunes to the sabkha edge thus removing approximately 80kg of weight from team VE’s vehicle.

(To be continued)

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Hiking tips to help you go further 2. Mountain Climbers

Words By: Ben Press Photos By: Jung Francisco

Hiking is the single, most popular outdoor activity in the world. The combination of fitness, nature and landscape makes for an amazing day out, for singles and groups of all ages. But how can we improve our fitness and strength so we can spend more time appreciating the great outdoors and not our lack of breath or burning thighs.

In this article, I will be taking you through five simple, but highly effective exercises to help improve your fitness levels through cardio-based exercises and increase strength with compound-based movements.

1. The Hip Thrust

Our glutes (our bums) are one of the single most important muscles in our body and having weak glutes can cause a load of problems from lower back pain to joint issues. The hip thrust is a compound movement that primarily targets our glute muscles. Position your upper back on a bench with your feet a little wider than shoulder width. Drop your hips down towards the ground then drive them up squeezing your bum at the top.

Imagine your core muscles as a belt that wraps around your waist and lower back, keeping everything tight when we exercise.

The appropriately named mountain climber is a combination of a core strength and cardio output. Start in a press up position with your back straight and abs tight. Bring your knees up to your chest, alternating legs as fast as possible.

5. Back Extensions

Most hikers fill their back packs with drinks, food and snacks to keep them fuelled on their hikes. This all adds weight and makes the trek a lot harder. Back extensions focus on our lower back strength to help keep our posture correct when on the move. Adjust the back extension so your hips are at the top of the pad, lower yourself slowly keeping your back straight and abs tight.

3. Lunge onto BOSU

We have all been walking or running on the street and twisted our ankle at some point.

Ankle stability and strength is a must when hiking up or down steep and uneven terrain.

Place the BOSU ball blue side up and take a big step back. From this position step onto the middle of the BOSU bending both legs to 90 degrees. Alternate for each leg.

4. Step Ups

Being able to ascend steep hills or mountains is one of the main challenges and motivations for hikers; we all want to reach the summit to admire the view. But I’m sure we have all had that burning feeling in our thighs where we just want to stop and sit.

Find a box that is knee height or higher. Step on and extend until you are standing, pushing your hips through at the top.

Back Extensions 1

Back Extensions 2

The Hip Thrust 1

Mountain Climbers 1

The Hip Thrust 2

Mountain Climbers 2

Mountain Climbers 3

Building strong legs and a strong core will not just help when hiking, but also in day to day life. Your legs and core muscles are the foundations of your body, they keep you moving forward and standing tall. Like always if you need any help with technique or form ask one of the fitness professionals in your local Fitness First. Add these five exercises into your BEN PRESS training programs to Fitness Manager help you go further.

Fitness First Al Manzil Example training program

Lunge onto BOSU 1

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Lunge onto BOSU 2

Step Ups 1

Step Ups 2

Exercises

Reps/Time

Sets

Rest

Hip Thrusts

10-12

3-4

60 seconds

Mountain Climbers

30 seconds

3-4

30 seconds

Lunge onto BOSU

10-12

3-4

60 seconds

Step Ups

30 seconds

3-4

30 seconds

Back Extensions

10-12

3-4

60 seconds

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LOCATIONS

Location mini guide

Kayaking in the Marina

Words + Photos By: Ian Ganderton

Kayaking in the Dubai Marina area offers a unique perspective on the city and there aren’t many places in the world where you can be floating completely surrounded by towering skyscrapers one moment or view sky divers from directly below as you pass Skydive Dubai.

It also offers a sheltered area very suitable to beginners.

There are two options. A there-and-back trip launching from one of the access/egress points, exploring a bit then returning the same way. The other option is the 8.5km circumnavigation which is a fantastic trip exploring the whole area.

My favoured launch point is the beach next to the Sheraton at the far southwestern end of JBR’s The Walk. Parking is easy and close to the shoreline.

Starting out from the beach, you can head out just 100m and savour the seaside view of JBR’s impressive skyline before turning left and rounding the sea wall to enter the Marina. You quickly feel yourself being surrounded by the imposing, albeit majestic towers.

The route is obvious and there are lots to explore. But any day of the week at any given time there can be plenty of boats moving around so take care to stay well out of the way.

From this point onwards, your option would be to putter about and explore the area before heading back the way you’ve come or to continue through the inland waterway passing under bridges and passing the luxury yachts on the right and the palm tree and café-lined walkway on the left.

Google Earth screenshot of the route

After a few kilometres you reach the Marina’s northeastern corner with yet more luxury yachts and speed boats racked in the jetties. Turn left and head towards the open sea. Grovesnor House is on the left then Mina Seyahi on the right, just after the bridge, then Skydive Dubai on the left.

Don’t get too distracted by the sky divers as this is a busy area of the sea between the drop zone and The Palm.

Once you get past the end of the runway, JBR’s magnificent skyline will again be visible to your left. You’ll find the water quieter and closer to the beach, and you make your way back to your start point at the far end.

Starting and finishing points • Sheraton End Beach (25°04’26.3”N 55°07’33.8”E) - Easy parking pretty close to the beach. Easy access to the southern end of the Marina • Yoga Beach (25°05’07.5”N 55°08’13.5”E) Beware of the soft sand here, keep well over to the right and park sooner rather than later if you are in a 2wd. This area provides great access to the Skydive Dubai area and the northern end of the Marina.

Things to consider Once inside the Marina you are completely sheltered from the wind but the launch points are more exposed despite the construction work going on for the Dubai Eye Ferris Wheel. Bear in mind that the wind always picks up as the day goes on so I always recommend an early start as paddling on calm water is quite special. Be extremely cautious when winds are offshore.

The area is busy with plenty of water traffic away from the beach. Keep your wits about you and use common sense to keep out of harm’s way. Keeping to the JBR side of the Marina away from the jetties will keep you safe.

Wear a PFD. Respect other water craft.

Paddle within your abilities and experience.

Paddling in small groups is safest. Tell someone where you are going and let them know when you get back.

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TIPS & TRICKS

A view while you ride is good motivation

Major Muscles Words By: Sean James

You don’t have to have to be strong or have big muscles to enjoy your mountain bike in the UAE, but it definitely helps! The number of mountain bikes and road cycle races in the region is growing.

If you are interested in getting a higher position in the finishing results or simply want to feel more comfortable when you go out riding over the next few months, we are going to look at some simple exercises that can be used to improve your strength on a mountain bike. A systematic programme of muscle strengthening will also decrease the chance of becoming injured. This month we point out some of the main muscle groups and show some simple exercises. These exercises can be done at the gym, at home or at the beach. They deliberately do not use weights. Next month, we look at exercises to improve your core.

overtraining, doing too many repetitions and using weights that are too heavy can lead to a condition called DOMS (delayed muscle onset soreness) and a lack of motivation to continue with the programme.

Start with your feet shoulder width apart, your core tight and spine neutral. As you come down, bend at your hips and knees, making sure your knees don’t pass your toes, and stop when you’re parallel to the floor. On your way up, emphasize pressing through your heels. You should feel the glutes, hamstrings and quads all working.

We are not trying to take them to exhaustion, only to isolate them with relatively light movement and create a muscle memory that will then be transferred to your mountain biking.

It is more important to do the exercise slowly with the correct style and technique and with controlled breathing. If you are new to these types of exercises you should do four sets of 10 reps for each of these five exercises. Twice a week for the first five weeks until your body becomes accustomed to working like this.

Start by balancing on one leg then lean forward, making sure to keep your core tight and the spine is neutral. Stop once your upper body is parallel to the floor. You should return to the upright position by squeezing your glutes and hamstrings on the working leg and slowly bringing your feet together again.

Again you should aim for four sets of 10 reps for this exercise. Twice a week for the first five weeks until your body becomes accustomed to working like this.

3. Push-ups

1. Squats

Squats will work on your glutes, hamstrings and quads. These muscles are the key to a powerful pedal stroke, both on the down and the up stroke. In the gym they are often done with weights but be careful if you are starting out for the first time as 68

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2. Single Leg Deadlifts

Single leg deadlifts isolate and focus on the posterior or rear side of your body by working your glutes, hamstrings and quads. They also improve your balance and you will easily be able to tell if you have an imbalance and one leg or side is stronger than the other.

Holding your mountain bike steady over rough ground is important. Some strength in the upper body will improve your confidence and control. Push-ups are an upper body exercise that improves upper body strength by working on your chest, arms and shoulders.

Place your hands shoulder width apart and bring your chest as close to the floor as you can without touching it. Keep your elbows tucked in close to your side. It is important to do all of these exercises in a slow and controlled manner, breathing in and out. As you return to the starting position don’t lock out your elbows.

You should try to keep your head slightly raised and look ahead so that your body,

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chest and chin are inline. Add this exercise into your circuit of the five and do four sets of 10 reps twice a week for the first five weeks.

and perpendicular to the ground and the back leg must be bent. As you come back to the starting upright position try to press through your heel. Throughout this exercise make sure that your chest is out, core is tight and spine is neutral. Repeat with your other leg and a lunge with each leg can count as one lunge.

Do four sets of 10 lunges twice a week for the first five weeks.

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in an almost vertical position remembering to breathe in as you lift up and out when you slowly lower. Keep your core tight and spine neutral.

Do four sets of 10 lifts or rows on each arm, twice a week for the first five weeks.

Tips and advice

These exercises are very intense. Start slowly and make sure that you recover after each.

Remember, you are trying to get stronger and your muscles only rebuild and get stronger when you rest. When you are doing the exercises you are actually getting weaker.

Give the muscles time to repair. A continuous programme over weeks and months will benefit your health as a whole and make you a better rider.

An interval workout on the bike

5. Bent Over Rows

4. Lunges

Lunges are slightly dynamic and again should be done in a controlled and smooth manner even though the name suggests differently. Over exertion can place pressure on the joints and tendons. Lunges also work the glutes, hamstrings and quads. An important point to note is that your knee, when it goes forward and bends it should not pass your toe. You should keep most of your weight on your front leg. The correct position for a lunge is to keep the front shin almost upright

Riding a bike all day can make you slightly hunched and the chest muscles can become slightly dominant. Bent over rows are a great exercise to balance the body and work your back and arms. You will need something that is easy to pick up and has some weight to it. Try around 10kg to start but you don’t have to be precise. Again the lift should be smooth and controlled and you are not trying to jerk the heaviest weight that you can. If you are outside, some rocks inside a plastic bag will be sufficient. Start with your feet about shoulder width apart and in a staggered position i.e. one slightly backwards of the other. Bend your body at the waist until it is nearly parallel to the ground.

If you have your left foot forward you will be lifting the weight with your right arm and vice versa. Raise the weight slowly upwards Downhills are also fun and improve technique

The exercises above will isolate the key muscle groups that you will be using when you ride your mountain bike. If you do them regularly you will see your power on the flat and on climbs increase. Something else that you can do to increase your climbing power is to add intervals into your mountain bike rides. If you cycle at the same speed every ride then your power and speed will generally be the same and you may plateau and see no improvement. An interval is a short period of time where you produce a higher level of effort than normal. You can measure this with a heart rate power metre or simply go by feeling at how much effort you are putting in.

You could go out specifically to do intervals or during a long ride you could add some intervals during your route. Intervals will most definitely give you an increase in your overall strength and it will feel like you have more gears in your legs.

The best place to do intervals will be on an uphill trail with a 3-4 minute climb. The trail can have some moderate technical features but you must be able to ride the technical sections without difficulty. The objective is to ride up the climb without stopping and to be at a heart rate zone of five or power L5 or VO2 max pace. If you don’t know what that means, it’s about 90100% of maximum. This is pretty hard and virtually everything you can give. To keep this up for an entire ride is not possible so an interval of 3-4 minutes is perfect. You can then coast back (ride easily or spin a light gear) to the start or continue on your ride and recover for three minutes. This is one complete interval.

Again, start with four back to back intervals in a session. If you just warmed up, do the intervals and then warm down. You may almost feel like the session is too short and you have more to give. But remember the aim is not to overdo it and completely burn yourself out. You will feel your legs energised and the strength will build over time making you much stronger.

See www.outdoorarabia.com or contact trips@outdoorarabia.com for details of our courses and hikes in the UAE wilderness.

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TIPS & TRICKS

Never too young to Tri! Words By: Trace Rogers

Besides the obvious benefit of enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle, we take a deeper look into the advantages of getting youngsters involved in triathlon.

Tomorrow’s champions start training today. Dr Ander Erricson came up with the theory that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at anything. Although there are many who disagree with this theory, they all agree that practicing your sport is vital to success. The younger children start, the more time they have to spend on honing their skills. This puts young adults who have trained in a sport for a large part of their childhood at a distinct advantage to those that take on a sport as an adult for the first time.

Quality family time. Triathlon is something the whole family can get involved in.

A triathlon requires that three disciplines are completed and most races provide the option to enter as a team or individual. This would therefore allow family members to divide the workload Outdoor UAE march.pdf 1 3/11/2015between 4:15:57 PM themselves

and focus on one or two discipline(s) only, knowing that the rest will be covered by another family member. This is a great way to encourage bonding and teamwork.

Strategic thinking. Unlike many singular disciplined events where the focus is to complete the said discipline in the quickest time possible, triathlon requires a participant to pace and place themselves efficiently so as to complete all three disciplines. This requires having a strategy.

Learning and practicing strategies as a child will certainly benefit the future adult

in tasks that require planning and organisation.

Patience. Being an endurance sport, a young triathlete needs to be prepared to think long-term. This is both in terms of an actual race as well as in terms of seeing their own progress and development in the sport. Technique plays a big role in being successful and it takes patience to master a swim stroke or a fast transition. We live in a world of instant gratification where many results can be obtained through pushing a button. In triathlon, there are no short cuts. Time needs to be invested to achieve results.

Discipline and commitment. There is no hiding in triathlon. If you want to succeed you have to commit to training and be disciplined to learn the rules and techniques.

It’s fun! This is the most important reason why children should try competing in a triathlon. There is a sense of achievement in participating in a fairly daunting sport. It’s a great way to meet likeminded friends and develop a healthy sense of competition.

How to get involved. Both SuperTRI and Starfish offer Triathlon specific training to children. For more details, visit www.supertriuae.com or www.starfishsports.com.

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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 Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street, Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 26262332, www.peiniger.org 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 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 Vera City Tours, Downtown, Dubai, UAE, +971 556100414, www.veracitytours.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, Shed Nr. 31, Jaddaf, Dubai, UAE, +971 4324061, www.artmarine.ae / www.artmarinechandley.com 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,

YAS

+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 Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +971 42394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.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, UAE, www.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

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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 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,

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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

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,

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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, +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 Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000,

Walltopia’s ME Sales Showroom and Bouldering Facility Single visit: 80 aed Special rates for kids at weekends 10-visit pass: 500 Courses for beginners every month

Unleash the Beast! facebook.com.rock.republic.dubai info@globalclimbing.com 04 88 29 361

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 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 Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +974 4 2394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.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

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 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.com 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 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 Highbury Trading, Dubai, UAE, www.highburytrading.ae Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi, +971 44437802 Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com PORTABLE SHADE UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.portable-shade.net 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 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

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

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 Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai, UAE, +971 509192394, www.JustGasIt.net 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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.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 Area, +971 42852200, www. wildx.ae Workshops and Services Moto-X and Quad, PO Box 476214, Dubai, UAE, +971 50 6169727, www.gasgasmotos. me

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 AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 285 8989, www.aaadubai.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.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 Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.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, Jumeirah Beach Road Opposite Sunset Mall, Dubai +971 43941653 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 Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997, www.surfschoolarabia.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

OUTDOORUAE

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

OMAN DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873, www.bikeandhikeoman.com 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

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, PO Box: 158, Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244, www.alqayedtravel.com Arabian Adventures, 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, 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, +974 4434 4503/4718, www.regencyholidays.com Qatar Adventure, 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, PO Box: 21153, +974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com Qatar International Tours, PO Box: 55733 Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141, www.qittour.com Qatar Ventures, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679, www.qatar-ventures.com

Clubs

Cycling, Running & Triathlon Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach +974 44439840/+974 55649995 www.qmsf.com Qatar Chain Reaction, www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.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 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

UAE SUP www.uaesup.com

Diving

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

Equipment Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba, 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 Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207 / +974 77776634, www.facebook.com/ QatarSandstormers Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/ groups/587539064642288/ Doha Bay Running Club, www.dohabayrunningclub.com TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.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 GO Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44631644; Villaggio 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, Katara Beach +974 55503484 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/Centres Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street (near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar, +974 44435626 Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club, PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar, +974 66304061, www.dohasubaquaclub.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 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

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

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 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 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 Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 66724828 Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment,

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

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

Camping & Hiking

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 PO Box: 6449,Old Salata, Doha, Qatar, +974 44444238, almamzoore@qatar.net.qa Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4 Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa Fish World, PO Box: 1975, Doha, Qatar, +974 44340754 State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234, www.stateofqatar.com Operators Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895, www.paddleqatar.com Entalek, +974 3023 3207, www.entalek.org

Motocross & ATV’s Dealers

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

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding Equipment, Operators Fly-N-Ride, Ras abu Aboud, Doha, +974 33117089, 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

Cycling (Road & Off Road)

Bike Servicing, Equipment Carbon Wheels Bike Shop, Al Maha Center 10, Salwa Road, Doha, +974 44419048, www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq, Shop C.06, +974 6600 9116, www.flashbikeshop.com Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha, +974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, +974 44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456 9143; Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827, www.galaxysportqatar.com; Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha, +974 40165155 / 40165156

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