OutdoorUAE - May 2015 by OutdoorUAE

WHAT’S SUP? LEARN TO SKIMBOARD

RUNAWAY!

COASTEERING IN MUSANDAM

KAYAKING

AT SNOOPY ISLAND

Plenty of

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FREEDIVING WITH UMBERTO PELIZZARI

THE GRAND FINALE FOR DMX ROUND 8

Vol. 5, No. 5 May 2015

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

OutdoorUAE Team

I’m writing this again from the slopes of Mount Everest for the last time this year. Things changed here within seconds and the devastating earthquake put the summit of Everest further away than ever. It was evident after we learn about the scale of the disaster that climbing the mountain was not an option anymore. All thoughts went directly to our friends the Sherpa and their families. In the base camp on the north side of the mountain we have been spared with no fatalities but the situation on the other side and in the whole of Nepal is much worth. One thing is certain, even when I am about to leave the country and be back in the UAE soon, we will not forget about our friends in Nepal. May as well all know is a time in the UAE when events and pretty much everything outdoors begin to take the backseat. It’s sort of a hibernation period for us adventurers, explorers and pushers. But that is never an excuse to get out and have fun. The beginning of the summer season is met with careful Sean James planning about when to go Editor

out and try to beat the whopping 40-50 degrees that the UAE is known for. A lot of people try to escape it’s clutches by setting off during the evening or making a splash in some beach, or lake or hidden wadi all for the single purpose – to get wet. Basking oneself in water has become a certain rite of passage in some communities and in a way it can also resonate with the outdoor community. A lot of us have their firsts – the first time on a SUP board, the first sailing a boat, even the first time catching fish just off the coast of one of the seven emirates. Truth be told, the water that surrounds the emirates form a singular rite of passage welcoming and beckoning at all those who wish to explore it. The month of May features articles about watersports. Although the rest of the world thinks we live in a flat desert with no mountains or water, residents of the UAE are never far from the sea and the beach. We even have surf here. As the weather gets hotter, watersports are definitely the thing to do. Anything from yoga on a SUP, swimming, kayaking, jet ski, diving. This month we also have an article about coasteering in Musandam. Not a new sport but definitely a new sport for the Middle East. Once you’ve tried it you will be hooked. Check out the pictures. For the month of May, we challenge you to set off towards the blue and embrace the open sea as welcoming as it is to you. The adventure never ends when the mountains or desert become too much to bear. Let the sea tell you its secrets as you take the first steps into the water towards a horizon of exploration and learning.

sean@outdooruae.com

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 A2Z EVENTS P.O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E. Tel. 04-447 2030 contact@outdooruae.com www.outdooruae.com Cover photo by: Pete Maloney

www.OutdoorUAE.com

Keith Pereña Editor keith@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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

CONTENTS 14 INLAND SEA TRAVERSE

14 SUP RACING

EVERY ISSUE 05 BEST SHOTS 06 EVENTS CALENDAR 38 LIFESTYLE 44 PRODUCTS 58 PEOPLE 71 DIRECTORY

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS 22 COASTEERING 28 HOLD YOUR BREATH! 30 ECO-MINDED SURFER AND SUPER!

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE 31 OF KISH AND BICYCLES 36 HONEY BADGER DIARIES

LIFESTYLE

20 FREEDIVING WORKSHOP

40 BEETLING ABOUT THE UAE! 42 HABITUALLY HEALTHY

OUR EXPERTS 51 KAYAKING AT SNOOPY ISLAND - IAN 54 SALTWATER ULTRALIGHT SPINNING - KIT 56 ADVENTURE RIDING AT ITS BEST - JOHN

TIPS + TRICKS 64 HIKING EXERCISES 68 MTB EXERCISES

32 TREE RIVER

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70 SEA KAYAK SKILLS

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

MAY 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: David Kirkland, Rodney Barrell and Rey Dennis Penuela. Well done! To submit your entries, simply email us at competitions@outdooruae.com with the subject “Best Shots.”

David Kirkland

Clear direction in the Hatta Mountains.

Rodney Barrell

A day at the races.

Rey Dennis Penuela

One early morning at the foot of Jebel Hafeet Al Ain.

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENTS CALENDAR Stay up-to-date with the latest events Outdoor & Activity First Aid Course (FAA Level 2)

Al Gaffal Traditional 60ft Dhow Race 2015

May 15-16, Els Club, Dubai Sport City

May 23, 5:35 a.m., Burj Al Arab

Join OutdoorUAE and David Mawditt for our fully accredited FAA Level 2 awarded first aid course. The course will take place Friday 15th May to Saturday 16th May 2015 from 9am to 4pm at the Else Golf Club in Dubai Sport City. The fee includes all learning resources, 12 learning hours, certification from the awarding organization in the UK all with free coffee and tea.

All aboard! The Al Gaffal Dhow Race is a traditional sailing event made to honour the pearl drivers who were integral to the emirate’s development as a trading port during the earlier days. Now on its 25th anniversary, the race features around a hundred traditional boats sailing from Sir Bu Na’ir Island up to the Burj Al Arab. Family and friends can witness these beautiful, polished dhows and their crisp sails on specially chartered Dubai Ferries.

For bookings and more details email kathy@outdooruae.com or call 04 4472030

For more information, visit www.dubaicalendar.ae.

GoYAS by Activelife

May 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6:00 p.m., Yas Marina Circuit GoYAS by Activelife is an initiative for women to participate in fun and healthy activities every Wednesday of the summer season in complete privacy. Ladies are encouraged to walk, bike or run along the F1 circuit track of the Marina or take part in group exercises such as Zumba and Yoga. All activities are coached by international female trainers. Change the way you perceive ladies night and get fit with GoYAS! For more information, visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com.

Arabian Travel Market 2015 May 4-7, World Trade Centre

Held under the patronage of His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the ATM is the most popular annual travel and tourism event in the region. Designed to unlock the business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals, this prestigious event has been held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre for 19 years and counting. With over 2,500 exhibitors, and 15,000 meetings set at the 2014 event, ATM is the region’s premier travel trade forum and exhibition. For more information, visit www.arabiantravelmarket.com.

Hamilton Aquatics Abu Dhabi Long Course May 8-9, Abu Dhabi

Get ready to make a splash this summer and be refreshed. A part of the the Hamilton Aquatics Open, the Abu Dhabi Long Course is an event designed for seasoned swimmers who practice regularly. To ensure that all competitors are of the same level, there will be a qualifying round to gauge each individual’s capabilities. The two-day event will be held in morning and evening with medals to be won for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placers. For more information, visit www.hamiltonaquaticsdubai.com.

Sunman for Rich May 28, 1:00 a.m., Anywhere

Go start and finish anywhere around the UAE and the world! This honour based half or full Ironman challenge comprises of a 2-4km swimming course, a 90-180km bike ride and a 21-42km run anywhere around the world. Start whenever you want, go wherever you want and finish the event with a sense of individual victory. The disciplines may be completed in any order, but only three full days are allocated for all participants to complete this unique event! For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

Labour Run 5K – Run So They Can Run May 29, 6:00 a.m, TBC Moushina Sonapur Dubai

This one-of-a-kind event will bring local labourers and runner together in a single roof. This 5km run will have both labourers and runners going at it side by side in what is a true exhibit of equality and camaraderie. Registration is open for everyone but labourers can avail for free registration on the event date. For more information, visit www.premeironline.com.

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

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

NEWS + COMMUNITY

Be Sport

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Bike Shop

A story in two wheels Mr Aboubaker Assakaf only had one thing in mind: to share his passion for cycling. He began this by running a bike rental business way back in 2007 in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. He saw a place where people could enjoy the breeze while they pedal their way towards adventure. This is the story of how he started Fun Ride Sports. A few years on in 2012, he wanted to take it a notch higher. And with that, Be Sport was born.

Tracing its roots in Abu Dhabi, the familyoriented business, only has one goal; to spread the cycling craze in the Middle East. Their range of services is tailored around the highest amount of convenience towards their customers. Door to door delivery ensures that customers need not worry about picking up their bike from the store and the great thing about this is that they do it for free. The initial store in Abu Dhabi opened to huge acclaim and soon enough, a store in

Dubai followed. The Dubai store, which is also their largest one to date, is also known as one of the biggest bike shops across the Middle East. The youngest store in the bunch opened its doors at the Al Wathba cycle track in Abu Dhabi last December 2014. This store offers unique services to customers with specific needs; from rental bikes to retail. This store is set apart from the others with its highly specific selection of stock to satisfy the needs of customers with

specialised needs at the track. Apart from bicycles, Be Sport also offers free advice to customers from servicing of bikes, to riding tips, or maybe just for a quick chat. For this year, things are looking up as they prepare to bring more world-class brands to the Middle East and hopefully, the world. Find them on Facebook at www.facebook. com/besportbikeshopme and follow the hashtags #BesportBikeshopme and #beyondcycling for live updates.

Cristina Calin Thompson and Landor’s Filou wins Advanced Level in Dubai Dressage Championship The finale of the UAE dressage season, the Dubai Dressage Championship, concluded last 14th of April at the prestigious Emirates Equestrian Centre, where jockeys competed in what was a foremost display of skill between rider and horse. The country’s top dressage talents competed across six levels, Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced Medium and Advanced with the latter being the most highly sophisticated of the levels for two days over the weekend. Amidst the end of winter and the heat of summer, the show remained a success. Cristina Calin-Thompson riding Reem Alabbar’s Landor’s Filou claimed top honours

Cristina Calin-Thompson and Landor’s Filou claimed the Advanced Level title at the Dubai Dressage Championship at Emirates Equestrian Centre.

in the Advanced level with a 63.67% of the total score. Diane Breeze riding her own Bellissimo Vita landed the Advanced Medium class with 66.75%. League winner in dressage was Jazz Inaya Hamilton with Cloigen Fair Tulip, while the runner-up was Amy Kibby with Chloe Dazzler. For the jumping category, Axelle Talma emerged the victor with her mount Justicier De Laubel followed by Isabelle Odenbach on Corfu. Emirates Equestrian Centre General Manager, Paul McAuley said: “The EEC prides itself on encouraging all standards of rider from grass roots to advanced and this can be seen in the varied events on our calendar. We have been treated to some really great dressage performances as part of the Dubai Dressage Championship and we acknowledge all the commitment and hard work of UAE-based riders in getting ready for a high-profile event like this.”

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Summit Fever

Mount Everest – North East Ridge Everest North

Words By: Sean James

May This is Part Two following my climb to the summit of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Regular satellite phone updates are also being broadcast by The Travel Show on Dubai Eye 103.8. Part One was written a month ago as I was leaving Dubai. I started writing the first part before the massive earthquake that has affected us over the last few days at the end of the month. The last part reflects the devastation and problems that we are now facing. We have now been in Nepal just over 30 days. The team met in Kathmandu and has travelled to the Langtang region of Nepal to acclimatize. To prepare our bodies we trekked and climbed Yala Peak, a peak of just under 6000m. This process is essential to allow the body to slowly adjust to the changes in atmospheric pressure as the altitude increases. The trek up Yala took us seven days and journeyed through some amazing scenery. We had intended to climb Naya Kanga but the snow this season was even deeper and we had to change plans. We took our time and this was a new area for me. We then returned briefly to Kathmandu to rest and 8

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enjoy the amazing restaurants before travelling onward across the Himalayas and to Tibet. We are climbing from the north side and a jeep trip through this huge natural barrier of mountains is necessary to get to base camp. Because of our trek and prior acclimatization, we drove straight to Everest Base Camp at 5100m — a journey of 300km but very slow and twisting. It still took us nearly four days as our baggage is held up at the border. When I have been before on this route to climb mountains like Cho Oyu, we took nearly one week of stopping and resting in the Tibetan villages. Base camps on the popular 8000m peaks are huge, temporary villages. Each season, climbers, Sherpas, cooks, and the media move in en masse with a huge supply of food and provisions. Small generators are humming all night and the tents are very luxurious. Spending nearly six weeks here, we have a carpet, TV, gas heaters, generators and other comforts that people can’t do without. After settling in we set out taking equipment and food to the higher camps. Although the summit is less than 10km away from basecamp it will still take many more weeks to move up and into a position from which to launch an attack on summit day. Much of our time is spent checking the equipment such as oxygen, tents, boots, food, stoves etc. For something to fail at this stage, even something as simple as wet matches and not being able to light the stove to melt water could mean the end. It is wonderful being here. Over the past

20 years, the shine and glamour of expeditions and continually living a harsh life in search of very personal goals has had its ups and downs. However short the moment of standing on a summit is, it quickly makes you forget the low moments. A life of levelheadedness and mediocrity would be unthinkable. And then it happened. In less than a minute, everything changed for us and the people of Nepal - the worse climbing disaster in history. The ground moved and shook and rocks the size of cars fall from the mountains above us. We all got out of our tents and watched. We are safe as we have just returned from higher up and Base Camp is a wide flat area so large rocks will probably stop rolling before they reach our tents in the middle. There is not much snow around us so avalanches are not a problem. Within the next hour we saw the first pictures of the devastation in Nepal. Buildings and roads all destroyed. What fragile infrastructure there was in Nepal has gone. We can’t call for news there as the lines are down. It is easier to communicate with Dubai and the United Kingdom. Over the next 48 hours I am called for interviews on radio, TV and national press. It is a surreal situation. We are lucky and immediately people at home know we are safe. My blogs are hit with requests for information about

Here is a list of the camps, heights and times between key points on Everest North Side.

relatives and friends from people I don’t even know. We then think of our friends climbing on the South Side of Everest. Via social media we are constantly in touch which is a good thing. The death toll mounts. Still many are missing. At present, 2000 people lie dead in Nepal. It is now only 48 hours after the first quake and we are still feeling the aftershocks. Some are large and some small, lasting for hours. New epicentres for quakes are reported all over the region. We are probably in the safest place but we have to do something. Sitting here is pointless. I’m sure there will be no more climbing. Our Sherpas are safe but their families are home-

The sign to Everest or Qomolanga

The Lalung La Pass at 5050m Views of Shishapangma

less in Kathmandu. Other relatives of theirs are still unaccounted for and reports come in finding some of them. It is a slow process. This is a bigger disaster even than last year. Again my thoughts are with those not here, briefly. Sometimes it is harder for them to watch and wait. I’ve had a life of travel, adventure and constant change. I feel unstable and uncomfortable without it. I remind myself I’ve chosen to be here and have a job to do. What else would I rather be doing? In your life there are only a few opportunities like this even for me. For many around me in basecamp, this may be there even fewer and we must make the most of it.

Everest North Base Camp: 5182m Interim camp: 6187m - 5 to 6 hours (first time) Advanced Base Camp: 6492m - 6 hours (first time) North Col or C1: 7000m - 4 to 6 hours (first time) Camp 2: 7500m - 5 hours Camp 3: 8300m - 4 to 6 hours Mushroom Rock: 8549m - 2 hours from C3 Second Step: 8577m - 1 hour or less Third Step: 8690m - 1 to 2 hours Summit Pyramid - 2 hours Summit: 8850m - 1 hour Return to Camp: 3: 7 -8 hours Return to ABC: 3 hours So that’s all from Base Camp on the north side of Everest, a huge thank you goes to all the individuals, companies and organizations that have supported me. We hope you are following and it inspires you to keep doing what you are doing. The next update here should see me back in Dubai. I have no more heart or energy to climb this mountain. We would like to thank the following sponsors for their interest in what we do and in particular Everest 2015: GoSport and the Millet brand as well as Nite Watches and Al Mekshah have provided the best equipment and support possible as well as numerous others.

The lama praying for permission to climb Everest at the Puja ceremony

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

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Surf Ski is a great water sport which promotes teamwork and is suitable for all levels of physical conditioning. The main criterion to enjoy this sport is to be good-spirited. For those who are new to this watersport, Surf Ski is fundamentally a form of kayaking, however they are longer, narrower, more streamlined and hydrodynamic, resulting in a quicker and more efficient paddle. Due to its design, the paddler sits on top in an exposed cockpit, steering the boat with a foot-operated rudder, with focus on core stability. For first timers, it’s advisable to start on more stable boats by paddling near JBR beach, once you are more confident with your skills, you can venture out for the whole trip. Carry water to stay hydrated and leave your phone behind to enjoy nature free from intrusion. To enjoy a good Surf Ski experience it’s best to go on a “Paddle the Palm” trip near JBR. This 19km route passes below the airplane runway departure at Skydive Dubai,

goes around the inside of the Palm and returns back to JBR beach, in the choppy deep sea just outside The Palm. This sporty and adventurous experience is far more exciting than you can imagine. You will encounter different species of fauna like fishes, dolphins and turtles, stretches of classic Dubai views, luxurious accommodations and emblematic sites such as the Atlantis. The trip usually lasts between 2.5 to 3 hours which includes hydration breaks. The specialist team at Adventure HQ can provide you with all the necessary gear like life jackets, leashes, paddles and top quality boats from world renowned brands like Epic and Fenn. Rentals are also available at Adventure HQ at the cost of 300 AED for a full day rental. For further information contact our adventure specialists on +971 4 430 4419 or send an email at info@adventurehq.ae.

All-new 2015 Most capable small SUV expands the brand lineup

Available in showrooms across the Middle East soon, the all-new 2015 Jeep® Renegade expands the brand’s vehicle lineup, entering the growing small sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment, but staying 100% true to the adventurous lifestyle and 4x4 capability Jeep is known for. Renegade delivers a unique combination of best-in-class off-road capability, open-air freedom and convenience, segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission that contributes to outstanding on-road and off-road driving dynamics, fuel-efficient engine, worldclass refinement and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings. The result is an efficient vehicle created to attract youthful and adventurous customers around the world to the Jeep brand. “The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade symbolises the brand’s renowned American design, ingenuity and innovation, marking the Jeep brand’s first entry into the small SUV segment,” said Marco Tronchi, CEO/Managing Director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Middle East Regional Office. “Renegade expands the brand’s product portfolio and targets the rapidly expanding small SUV segment with a best-in-class combination of fuel efficiency and off-road

capability, while at the same time delivering the outstanding driving dynamics and openair freedom customers expect from Jeep.”

Best-in-class off-road capability thanks to two all-new 4x4 systems

Leveraging 4x4 technology from the allnew Jeep Cherokee, the all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade offers two of the most advanced and intelligent 4x4 systems in its class, all to deliver best-in-class off-road capability. Both systems can provide up to 1,475 lb.-ft. (2,000 N•m) of the engine’s available torque to the rear wheels, for optimal grip: • Jeep Active Drive - full-time 4x4 system • Jeep Active Drive Low - class-exclusive fulltime 4x4 system with 20:1 crawl ratio Innovation is also at the forefront of any new Jeep vehicle, and the Renegade features the segment’s first disconnecting rear axle and power take-off unit (PTU) - all to provide Jeep Renegade 4x4 models with enhanced fuel economy. Jeep Active Drive and Active Drive Low 4x4 systems instantly engage when 4x4 traction is needed. Both Jeep Active Drive and Active Drive Low 4x4 systems include the Jeep SelecTerrain system, providing up to five modes (Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud modes, plus exclusive Rock mode on the Trailhawk model) for the best four-wheel-drive performance onor off-road and in any weather condition.

Trail Rated: Renegade Trailhawk 4x4 model

For customers who demand the most off-road capability from their Jeep vehicles, the Renegade Trailhawk model delivers best-in-class Trail Rated 4x4 capability with: • Standard Jeep Active Drive Low with 20:1 crawl ratio • Selec-Terrain system with exclusive Rock mode • Increased ride height (by 0.8 inches to 8.7 inches / 220.98 mm) • Skid plates, and signature red front and rear tow hooks • Uniquefascias deliver 30.5 degree approach, 25.7 degree breakover and 34.3 degree departure angles • Unique 17-inch wheels with aggressive on-road and off-road tyres • Up to 8.1 inches (205.74 mm) of wheel articulation • Hill-descent Control • Up to 19 inches (482.6 mm) of water fording • Up to 2,000-lb. towing capability with 2.4-litre Tigershark engine and available tow package And the list of Jeep Renegade features continues further and we are excited and look forward to test drive the new model in the next weeks when it will arrive in the UAE show rooms.

outdoor & activity

first aid course (FAA Level 2) Adventurous, teachers, mum and dad's, are you prepared to help family and friends in case of an emergency? Skip the brunch and get the skills to help others. Join OutdoorUAE and David Mawditt for our fully accredited FAA Level 2 awarded first aid course. Apart from the regular course modules we will put a focus on common outdoor injuries and other specific topics to the region like heat stroke and dehydration. The course will take place Friday 15th May to Saturday 16th May 2015 from 9am to 4pm at the Els Golf Club in Dubai Sport City. The fee includes all learning resources, 12 learning hours, certification from the awarding organization in the UK all with free coffee and tea. The course is limited to maximum 12 people and must be a minimum of 14 years of age. Regular course price is 1,300AED but we are offering and introduction fee of only 1,100AED.

First Aid Course (FAA Level 2) 15. - 16. May 2015 (next course 5.-6. June 2015) 9:00 am to 4:00pm Els Golf Club, Dubai Sport City 1,100AED per person For bookings and more details email kathy@outdooruae.com or call 04 4472030

Organised by:

in association with:

2nd Edition Advanced Off-Road Adventure Routes

expert technical advice chapters 21 off-road routes 5 new routes & 8 updated ones price: 99.00 AED incl. CD with GPX route files for more details visit:

www.outdooruae.com

EVENT REPORT

Naish N1SCO UAE 2015 series Words By: Daniel Birkhofer Photos By: James Sullivan

I have been to many outdoor events in the past years, actually almost every weekend but I have never entered into a competition. There are two reasons why - I am usually there to work and secondly I don’t feel prepared to compete. OutdoorUAE was following and supporting the N1SCO 2015 Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race series which is organized by Ocean Sports, the local distributor for Naish. The great thing about this series is that everyone who registers can compete and the unique thing about it is that you don’t even need to own a SUP board. The registration fee includes the use of a Naish inflatable board which adds a lot of fairness to the competition, since everyone has to use the same type of board. So even if you own a super fast and light carbon fiber race board, it will not give you any advantage for this competition. The race is separated into different age and gender groups to keep it fair and fun and it runs on 1km, 3km or sprint distances. The race atmosphere is anything else than tense or competitive. It is more like a group gathering of all kinds of people of different age, gender, nationality and backgrounds with one common connection — the interest and joy of paddle boarding. Even though it

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was the last race of the season and the leading group was close together so that there was a lot at stake and the last race would decide who would be the overall winner of this season, everyone was relaxed and chatting with each other. I was caught by the great atmosphere and the friendliness of the event and competitors that I gave in to the persuasion of Leigh Pothecary, the event organizer and signed up for the event. Leigh and his wife Aey are trying to talk me in to compete for the past two years and finally they were successful. I thought I signed up for an easy 1k paddle to find out when it was already too late, that I would compete on 3k. It was a hot and windy day, so paddling would be hard work. I was not worried to not complete the distance, but to be finishing as last and go home defeated. There were about 30 paddlers on the

starting line including some ladies who would compete against each other. Ready, set and wait until they are all lined up properly, the horn sounds and go! The leading group of men was fast, very fast even against the wind. The first turn showed also how in experienced I was in competing in a race. I have spent many hours paddling on the waters in the region, in wind and choppy conditions but I never had to make sharp quick turns. While most of the experienced paddlers showed off their skills in fast and very close turns around the buoy, I did my sight seeing turn of Yas Marina with a very long and wide turn around the buoy, leaving an opening the size of a highway for other people to take me over. With six turns in the race, I knew I had to paddle really hard to stay on my position in the middle field. Three turns and after half of the race, my body temperature was already in the red level that I was wishing so bad to dive into the water or at least splash some water in my face, but the field stretched out wide and I was close to one competitor in front of me and had one in my neck, so no way for a refreshment. I could hold my position almost until the finish line but the last turn was again slow and long, the guy behind me caught up on me without me noticing and taking me over by one board length at the finish line. I was happy to make my first race experience and finish the race and being able to take a dive in the water to cool down. Even though defeated by so

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Naish N1SCO UAE Round 5 at Yas Marina

many other competitors and the winners being super fast and far ahead of me, I didn’t embarrass myself. For not being trained or prepared, I managed to finish in the mid field. So in this last race, I got my bench mark and motivation to train for the next season to be back and compete properly. I will certainly not reach the level of the dominating paddlers but I am sure to move a few positions in front especially if I train for sharp turns. So it doesn’t matter if you are trained or experienced, the N1SCO race series is for everyone. So I hope to see some new people going to the race series next year. Also a big thank you to Leigh and Aey Pothecary, Martin Young, James and Tye Sullivan, Jen and Nick Yates and all other volunteers for organizing this amazing event and putting in so many hours and hard work, so that all participants can have a great time and enjoy SUP. After this last race in Yas Marina, the prize ceremony was held at the Marina Yacht Club and the winners all received great prizes like brand new SUPs, paddles, trophies and more. Following is a list of all the winners and their respective categories.

RESULTS Keiki 100m 1st Place - Levi Chard (THA) 2nd Place - Axseli Rantala (FIN) 3rd Place - Elias Rantala (FIN)

2014/15 SEASON RESULTS AND OVERALL WINNERS Keiki 100m 1st Place - Levi Chard (THA) 2nd Place - Axseli Rantala (FIN) 3rd Place - Elias Rantala (FIN)

Junior 100m 1st Place - Spencer Chapman (GBR) 2nd Place - Guy Welchman (GBR) 3rd Place - Ralph Hussami (CAN)

Junior 1km 1st Place - Spencer Chapman (GBR) 2nd Place - Guy Welchman (GBR) 3rd Place - Ralph Hussami (CAN)

Ladies 100m 1st Place - Tracey Orr (GBR) 2nd Place - Esther Farrant (GBR) 3rd Place - Anne Cortes (PHI)

Ladies 100m 1st Place - Tracey Orr (GBR) 2nd Place - Esther Farrant (GBR) 3rd Place - Alexandra Jonker (GBR)

Ladies 3km 1st Place - Esther Farrant (GBR) 2nd Place - Tracey Orr (GBR) 3rd Place - Anne Cortes (PHI)

Ladies 3km 1st Place - Esther Farrant (GBR) 2nd Place - Tracey Orr (GBR) 3rd Place - Olga Mamoudy (FRA)

Mens 100m 1st Place - Corey Oliver (AUS) 2nd Place - Brian Stephenson (USA) 3rd Place - Marcus Sutton (AUS)

Mens 3km 1st Place - Amer El Dandachli (LIB) 2nd Place - Marcus Sutton (AUS) 3rd Place - Brian Stephenson (USA)

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EVENT REPORT

Inland Sea Traverse

Qatar’s toughest mountain bike race Words By: Eulogy van Dyk

The Inland Sea Traverse 2015, traditionally recognized as the last mountain bike event on the cycling calendar, took place last 17th April 2015. This was the 6th edition of the race that saw 74 riders lining up at the starting line. The race kicked off in the desert about 1.5km from the Sealine Beach Resort in the south of the country and covers 38km of hard desert roads and six challenging sand dunes that riders had to cross to reach the finish line at the Inland Sea. Riders participated in three racing categories: Open (Men 40 years and younger), Masters (Men 40 years and older) as well as a Ladies Category. Many of the top riders in the country joined the event, which included some of the road cyclists racing teams putting their skills to the test in the sand. There were also a few riders on fat bikes this year, which of course gave them a huge advantage when deeper/thicker sand sections had to be cycled through. The race kicked off at 7:00 a.m. ensuring the riders could still enjoy relatively cooler temperatures at the beginning of the event. However as the time passed, temperatures rose close to 40 degrees Celsius in the desert. Normally, the event enjoys a tail wind this time of the year, but in 2015 riders had to face a strong head wind all the way to the finish line. The combination of hard pack desert road, soft sandy patches and the six proper sand dunes to cross over made it difficult to cycle all the way (there was no time to build

Sand dunes to steep and long to cycle up

any sand castles as the cut off time was only three hours). Most of the riders would walk and push their bikes up the sand dunes and only a brave few were able to cycle down the dunes towards the other side. Davy Muller, 3rd place finisher of the Open Men category commented, “I chose to do the event on my Specialized Fatboy and it definitely helped me to gain some early ground in the race and take the lead. I could cycle up one or two sand dunes, but like the riders on normal mountain bikes I also had to push a bit. By Dune Four, my legs were getting tired. I guess I need to do more training — the fast guys caught up with me and unfortunately beat me to the finish line. I still enjoyed everything and hope that next year the fat bikes will be able to dominate the show!” The winning time for the event was 2:09:42 and the top 3 finishers of each category were: Open Men: 1st, Kevin Hickey (Cycle Hub Team); 2nd, Jonathan Le Marchand (Carbon Wheels Race Team) and 3rd, Davy Muller (Carbon Wheels Race Team)

Ladies Category winners (far right: 2ndJenn Wicks-Hancock ; 2nd of the right: 1st Eulogy Open Men Category Winners (far right: Kevin Hickey (Cycle Hub van Dyk (Carbon Wheels Race Team); and next Team) and next to him, 3rd Davy Muller (Carbon Wheels Race Team) to her 3rd Natalie van Loggerenberg

The start of the event near the Sealine

The advantage of having a fat bike going down sand dunes

Masters Men: 1st, Jock Hughson (Carbon Wheels Race Team); 2nd, Gil Gabriel and 3rd, Soan Thung. Ladies Category: 1st, Eulogy van Dyk (Carbon Wheels Race Team); 2nd, Jenn Wicks-Hancock and 3rd, Natalie van Loggerenberg. The main organisers of the event was Qatar Chain Reaction, a local cycling community group in Qatar which actively organises cycling events and training rides during the cycling season. The Qatar Cycling Center (Qatar Cyclists) assisted with the organisation and played a huge part in the logistics, media and communication support of the event. The Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) also contributed also toward the logistics and the ever so eager and helpful Pinoy Mountain Bikers Group of Qatar assisted with the marshalling, administration, timing and race results. The event was elevated this year with great event sponsors on board which included Rayyan Water that provided bottled water on top of each sand dune to the riders as well as at the finish line; Silverback Bikes Middle East, who raffled a brand new fat bike at the end of the event to all participants and Amwaj Catering provided much needed complimentary refreshments to everyone at the finish line. This race is definitely not for the faint hearted; it takes a strong body and strong mind to complete this race. Qatar might lack some mountains but this event proves that some pretty hard-core mountain biking can be done in the country. The cycling community in Qatar is growing year by year and it is evident through newly opened cycling shops that support the riders in the country. And like cycling in Qatar, this event is getting bigger and better every year as it promotes an active and healthy lifestyle.

DMX

Words By: Mark Ackerman Photos By: Supplied and Abdel Elecho

Very hot conditions welcomed all of the racers to the final round of the DMX season on the 24th of April. The day was set for great racing in certain classes with some of the championships for the year still to be won or lost on the steaming day. Starting with the younger riders on the Junior Track, the Juniors class championship was pretty set with Myles Sexson taking the championship. Behind in points but in a clear lead on the day was Mohammed Bin Laden who won both motos by half a lap over his rival competitors. Mohammed made a late season charge from finishing 3rd at most races, moving into second and then dominating the lead in the last few rounds. Gian Luca had an outside chance of finishing second for the year but despite some hard charging and great maturity shown by Myles, he was not able to clinch enough points for the day. A fearless Yurajsinh who was not afraid to take on the biggest of jumps with the throttle pinned dominated the 65cc class all year. This kid has a way of taking the breath out of spectators with his “pin it to win it” riding style. Yurajsinh and his team travelled to each race day from India to compete, a very exciting lifestyle for a youngster and equally great for the DMX club. He will be spending the summer months at the Millsaps Facility

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in the United State and we expect big things when he starts stepping it up to the 85cc class. Eugenio Barbaglia completed Round Seven with enough points to clinch the 85cc championship early, this left for less to watch for in arguably the most watched and exciting class of the season. Eugenio sat this round out due to a small crash earlier in the week which meant some other riders got to take a position on the podium for a change. Both Nicholas and Eugenio will be racing abroad in the summer months in Europe and we expect them to return next season ready to show their speed and nerve around the DMX track. Dean Jullien had a big crash injuring a shoulder prior to Round Eight and had to grind his teeth with the pain and race to

gather points. It’s the points gathered on a day when the hurt was at its highest which allowed Dean to take the championship ahead of the rookie in the class, Darren Berry. The two guys charged hard this year and showed that the MX2 season is due for extra depth and speed when they step up. The Clubman class was the largest for the year with 24 riders gathering points over the year. Clinton Wyngard won five of the eight rounds but had to miss the final race due to work commitments. Cel Bray had a great day in the saddle to secure first position for Round Eight. Masters class was the closest championship in points for the season with the final round deciding who would finish in the top three positions. There was a big battle for second place with Shannon O’Connor getting the best of Janne Tuohino in both motos. Mark Ackerman needed to win both motos in order to win by a solitary point over Shannon, fortunately for him he was able to secure the prime spots in both motos. Liberty Kawasaki rider Ross Runnals had a great season on his 250 this year whilst defending the MX2 title but unfortunately had a horrendous crash in Round Seven leaving him with multiple fractured bones forfeiting the last three motos of the season. This left the door open to Ryan Blair who has had an excellent first season in Dubai to take the title. Mohammad Jaffar raced well all year round to finish in third. MX1 was a Jake Shipton show this year; he won every race he started, leaving everyone in the dust. It was exciting to see his relaxed style, never looking flustered whilst often being pressured in the early stages of the races by Ross Runnals. Jake was on a Factory Edition KTM for the final moto on the day, he clearly loved this great looking bike as he lay down some of the fastest laps of the year.

Ladies were welcomed to join Round 8 as a trial for the DMX club and what a good turn out it was. It was the largest class for the day with nine ladies entering on all sorts of bike sizes and manufacturers, the largest being Sune Schaffler’s 300XC and smallest being Ashley O’Connor’s 65cc. It was great to see the support and excitement shown as mums and daughters took on the DMX track. DMX will be adding this class to the program next year and all ladies are encouraged to come out and join the fun. 2014/15 CHAMPIONS • 125 cc: 1st Dean Jullien, 2nd Darren Berry, 3rd Nicholas Kefford • 65cc: 1st Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukh, 2nd Ahmed Alnulami, 3rd Joseph Mortada • 85cc: 1st Eugenio Barbaglia, 2nd Nicholas Kefford, 3rd Abdulla Alnuaimi • Clubman: 1st Clinton Wyngard, 2nd Robert Winkler, 3rd James Thomas • MX 1: 1st Jake Shipton, 2nd Dale Julian, 3rd Ben Menzies • MX 2: 1st Ryan Blair, 2nd Ross Runnals, 3rd Mohammed Jaffar • Masters: 1st Mark Ackerman, 2nd Shannon

O’Connor, 3rd Janne Tuohino • Cadets (4-6yrs): 1st Liam Sexson, 2nd Craig Theron, 3rd Hayley O’Connor • Juniors (6-8yrs): 1st Myles Sexson, 2nd Mohammed Bin Laden, 3rd Gian Luca Holder FAMILY CHAMPIONSHIP Shannon, Hayley and Ashley O’Connor won the overall “most points for a family” unofficial competition.

Interviews with DMX Riders NICHOLAS KEFFORD (85CC) OutdoorUAE: You had an excellent season with some of the most exciting racing and results of the DMX club. What were the highlights of the year for you? NK: My highlight for the 2014/2015 DMX Season was racing with Eugenio Barbaglia, he is a great competitor with the both of us pushing each other to our limits, this gave the spectators some great viewing and hair raising moments. OutdoorUAE: Nick, what are your plans for

next year, what will you be riding and are you planning any international racing? NK: I will be racing in both 85cc and 125 cc classes again. Yes I will be competing

OUTDOORUAE

internationally, I’m off to the United Kingdom to compete in the ADAC Series in Germany Belgium and France, and hopefully be able to qualify for the British National Championship. I would like to thank KTM UAE for all their support throughout the season. A special thank you goes out to Michael Winter for believing in me and his continued support for next season. SCOTT KEFFORD (DMX CLUB CHAIRMAN) OutdoorUAE: Scott, by all accounts you ran one of the best seasons at DMX for many years. What made the difference and what can people look forward to at DMX for next year? SC: The success of the DMX 2014/15 can be contributed to a couple of things. Firstly our sponsors Fluor Construction for both the financial and general all-round great advise. Other major sponsors include KTM UAE, SRG Motorsports, Organic Cafe, Sunblast, Portable Shade UAE and Liberty Kawasaki. The second is the committee this year. Just one family cannot run a club of this size. We have received great support from all committee members. I would like to thank the club members that helped with the race preparation and on Race Day itself especially Billy and Lynette Gaugain, David and Lacey Sexson. Next season is going to be very different with the introduction of the 3 race format and hopefully, depending on cost, a night race series over the summer months, we are still negotiating with sponsors for that event. We have the Ladies Class being introduced next season; we run the ladies class on our last race this season and received great support from both rides and fans alike. So we are looking forward to a very exciting season kicking off in September 2015. Lastly but definitely not least the club could not exist with out the direction and support from both EMSF (Emirates Motor Sport Federation) and ATC UAE (Automobile Touring Club UAE). Their continued advice and leadership is how we expect motorsport in the UAE to continue to grow and expand. RYAN BLAIR (MX2 CHAMPION) OutdoorUAE: Well done on winning the MX2 championship this year. You were a pretty unknown entity at the beginning of the season, tell us who Ryan Blair is.

RB: I am 25 yrs old and from Scotland, I started racing when I was 15, competing in the Scottish and British national championships. My best achievement was winning the Scottish championship in 2007 and representing Scotland in the Junior MX of the Nationals. Winning the Bahrain championship in 2014 was cool for me too. I moved out to Dubai as a project engineer and was working in the new Abu Dhabi airport, however I got a great opportunity to become a desert motorcycle tour guide for Just Gas It and that’s what I’m doing now. I would like to thank my sponsors Balooshi Racing Academy, KTM UAE and Just Gas It. OutdoorUAE: Talk us through the season and your plans for next year. RB: I’m hoping to compete in the desert championship next year along with DMX. I also like doing the Qatar championships but no real plan yet. DEAN JULLIEN – 125CC CHAMPION OutdoorUAE: Hey Dean, You won the DMX 125cc class by 11 points by our calculations. What were the highs and lows? DJ: Overall the season was tough, the highs of the championship was battling with Darren for the first place, it was tough and it ended up who was fitter on the bike, the lows of the championship was when I dislocated my shoulder on round seven from a fall on the start. The final round was very tough for me as my shoulder was strapped up, I got 3rd overall and managed to win the championship. My plan for next season is to race in the MX2 class, I need to do a lot of training and riding to do well for next season. JAKE SHIPTON (MX1 CHAMPION) OutdoorUAE: Jake, the first season in the UAE went very well with you taking the championships for Baja and MX1, please give us the rundown of the epic year. JS: Yeah for sure the season went well for me considering I had to adapt to racing in sand and also the heat, I’ve trained harder than ever on and off the bike with physical training just to make sure I’m ready for all the races I enter. A high for me was for sure the first round, not knowing anyone and their speed and just coming off a major injury back in Europe where I punctured my lung, broken ribs, shoulder and a bad

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

concussion. I was still trying to get 100% healthy and back to where I know I can be, with this I came to the first round and just threw what I had down and came away with two solid wins with a big gap to second. OutdoorUAE: What are your plans for summer and the next season? JS: My plan for the summer is to head back home to the UK and be mainly based in Belgium and ride a lot in the sand but also compete in the British championship, the Dutch, French, ADAC and hopefully a couple more Grand Prix’s. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the support from KTM UAE, specifically Michael Winter and Benji Merlot, my mechanic. A big shout out to my buddy Sam Sunderland who brought me over to race here and finally to my fiancée, Chelsea, and

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

coming back in the next season with a bang!

finally the Kefford family have me helped a lot. JINAN CD (MX1) OutdoorUAE: Kawasaki had a big team last year, please give us come ideas on what plans there are for next year? Jinan CD: The future seems very promising for Liberty Kawasaki as a wide range of Kawasaki bikes are on the way to come on board. We will be offering various products ranges to cater to the needs and requirement of various customers in different segments of the market. The various innovative Kawasaki automotive products in the next season will pose a major threat to other competitors. Having said all that, we will be back on the race track with a bigger and better team than ever before. Beware all as Kawasaki is

OutdoorUAE: This was a very good year for you with some great results and saw very fast lap times. What was the big change for you coming into this season? Jinan CD: From our point of view, we had some setbacks this season and we don’t consider our performance up to the Liberty Kawasaki standards. Unfortunately one of our riders also got injured on the track and thus couldn’t complete the season. Lessons have been learnt and we assure all of our fans who have supported us throughout the season that Kawasaki will be back again and would even strive to break all the previous lap time records. We are heartily thankful to all of our fans and Liberty who has always supported us in every possible way.

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

No. 731 3 18 50

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

Name Jake Shipton Dale Jullien Ben Menzies Jinan CD

Total Diff 350 0 282 68 269 81 250 100

Gap 0 68 13 19

MX1 Total MX1 Total 25 15 22 16

25 15 22 16

25 18 22 9

MX Total

25 22 20 8

25 16 18 12

25 15 18 16

25 22 20 8

25 16 18 12

25 15 18 16

MX Total 25 x 18 12

25 x 18 12

1/9/2015

1/30/2015

3/13/2015

4/10/2015

4/24/2015 4/24/2015

MX Total

MX Total MX Total

x 22 x 20

25 18 15 20

25 20 18 16

25 22 20 16

x 22 x 20

25 18 15 20

25 16 18 20

25 20 18 15

25 20 18 16

25 22 20 16

25 20 22 18

25 20 18 12

25 16 22 20

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

No. 555 23 1 38

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

Name Ryan Blair Mohammed Jaffer Ross Runnals Keegan Barnard

Total Diff 357 0 307 50 303 54 235 122

Gap 0 50 4 68

MX2 Total MX2 Total 20 18 22 16

20 18 22 16

22 18 25 16

MX Total

25 22 20 18

22 18 25 14

20 15 22 14

25 22 20 18

22 18 25 14

20 15 22 14

MX Total 20 18 25 15

20 18 25 15

1/9/2015

1/30/2015

3/13/2015

4/10/2015

4/24/2015 4/24/2015

MX Total

MX Total MX Total

25 22 20 18

20 16 22 18

25 25 22 22 DNS 0 x x

25 22 x 16

22 20 25 16

25 22 20 18

20 16 22 18

20 18 22 16

22 18 25 20

22 20 25 x

25 22 x 16

25 22 x 18

DMX 2014/15 Championship 125cc Season: 2015 Pos 1 2 3 4

No. 73 5 22 32

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

Name Darren Berry Dean Jullien Nicholas Kefford Tiaan Nolan

Total Diff 359 0 328 31 259 100 252 107

Gap 0 31 69 7

125CC Total 125CC Total 125 Total

22 25 20 16

22 25 20 18

22 25 20 16

125 Total

22 25 DNS 20

22 25 20 18

22 25 0 20

22 25 20 18

1/9/2015

125 Total

20 25 22 18

22 25 20 16

22 20 25 18

22 25 20 x

20 25 22 18

22 25 20 16

22 20 25 18

1/30/2015

22 25 20 x

1/30/2015

3/13/2015

125 Total

22 25 20 x

25 x x 22

22 25 20 x

25 x x 22

3/13/2015

4/10/2015

4/24/2015 4/24/2015

125 Total

25 x x 22

22 25 DNS 18

22 25 0 18

22 18 25 16

25 20 22 18

125 Total

22 20 25 16

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

No. 19 174 22 18

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

Name Eugenio Barbaglia Abdulla Alnuaimi Nicholas Kefford Jasim Alkubaisi

Total Diff 332 0 327 5 320 12 225 107

Gap 0 5 7 95

85CC Total 85CC Total 25 20 22 15

25 20 22 15

25 20 22 16

85 Total

22 15 25 20

25 20 22 18

22 15 25 20

25 20 22 18

1/9/2015

1/30/2015

3/13/2015

4/10/2015

85 Total

25 20 22 16

16 22 25 13

25 20 22 13

22 20 25 13

25 20 22 15

22 20 25 13

25 20 22 15

25 20 22 x

x 25 x 18

25 20 22 16

16 22 25 13

25 20 22 13

22 20 25 13

25 20 22 15

22 20 25 13

25 20 22 15

25 20 22 x

4/24/2015 4/24/2015

x 25 x 18

85 Total x 25 x 22

x 25 x 22

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

No. Name Total Diff 11 Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukh 382 0 334 174 Ahmed Alnuaimi 48 287 99 Joseph Mortado 95 223 159 26 Ashley O’Connor

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

Gap 0 48 47 64

65CC Total 65CC Total 20 22 16 13

20 22 16 13

25 18 14 13

65 Total

25 20 15 11

25 20 16 12

25 16 22 14

25 20 15 11

25 20 16 12

25 16 22 14

1/9/2015

1/30/2015

3/13/2015

4/10/2015

65 Total

25 16 18 14

25 20 16 12

25 20 18 11

25 22 20 15

15 25 18 13

25 22 18 16

22 25 20 16

25 22 18 16

25 22 20 16

25 16 18 14

25 20 16 12

25 20 18 11

25 22 20 15

15 25 18 13

25 22 18 16

22 25 20 16

25 22 18 16

4/24/2015 4/24/2015

25 22 20 16

65 Total 25 22 20 15

25 22 20 15

DUBAI MOTOCROSS CLUB

ACTIVITY REPORT

Freediving workshop with Umberto Pelizzari Umberto Pelizzari, an Italian freediver, widely considered among the best of all time. Of his generation, he is the sole person to have established world records in all the then existing disciplines of freediving

Words By: Nico de Corato Photos By: Nico de Corato and supplied

I’m a scuba diver; I’m in love with underwater bubbles. I made this a passion, if not a profession, as well as a mission, joining the Bergamo Scuba Angels, an organization involved in the in-water rescue activities during sport competitions. I never (as matter of fact now I have to say “I have never”) practiced freediving in my life. Then I had the chance to meet an Italian freediver, widely considered among the best of all time. He is the only to have established world records in all existing disciplines: Umberto Pelizzari. An occasional meeting with friends of friends, who told me about the incoming freediving workshop held by Umberto Pelizzari together with one of his instructors, Gerardo Canta prompted me to give it a try. The location of the workshop - Jumeirah

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Beach Hotel, Dubai, the city where I’ve been living for years and where I go on making bubbles underwater. I cannot deny that the idea of meeting such a famous athlete and becoming a media partner for such an event made me immediately honoured; I accepted the invitation but I was not thinking of attending the course in person. But when I’ve been asked to join other participants, the answer instinctively was “yes, of course”, although the recurring thought was “but under water I’m used to exhale continuously ... you have to! It’s the first rule I’ve been taught and I always taught first: never hold your breath”. Nonetheless, I attended the course, and I was fascinated by it. I was very impressed by the professionalism of the team, amazed by the commitment required for this physical discipline (although doing triathlons, I found these days very tiring) despite the mental component being crucial, and I was fascinated by a discipline so different from the one I usually practice, albeit in the same environment. One of the things that mostly impressed me, was that the approach you must have when freediving. The preparation phase is much more important than the act itself of staying without breathing. Apnea is a voluntary suspension of your breath, so to learn how to practice apnea you have to learn how to breathe properly first. The ability to hold your breath for a long period of time is a much sought-after skill. Breathing

is a natural thing for every living being, but breathing well is something that is learned and trained for. It is also vital that you relax completely and release any tension from your body as you hold your breath, with proper relaxation techniques (designed to increase our underwater resistance without breathing); not only when practicing the static apnea, but also during dynamic freediving — any movement or displacement must be carried out in order to minimise the consumption of oxygen which in effect, extends the time/depth reached. At the workshop we also got chance to spend some time with Umberto, asking him a couple of questions: Nico de Corato: Why did you become a freediver? Umberto Pelizzari: It happened by chance. I started since I was a child, in the swimming pool. Playing with other kids and practicing “breath-holding games”. Then the games became challenges: how long you can stay underwater, how far you can go underwater, and so on. I remember at that time I was not counting how many pools, but how many tiles. I think the idea of becoming a freediver started in those situations. Adding to the passion, I also studied the correct techniques to improve on my skills day by day. NDC: How do you feel when you reach an important depth? UP: In order to feel some sensation, you don’t need to go so deep. You can feel something special when you are much less

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deeper than record depths. One of the sensations I remember is when training in the swimming pool with the ballast, I feel my body lighter and lighter, up to feeling only my mind in the water. I feel like a mere spot in the deep blue, especially when I’m out in the open seas. NDC: How did apnea and the world of freediving evolve since you started? UP: Apnea has evolved a lot. I remember back in ’98 when we were in the World Cup team. The maximum depth was 60 metres and I was the only one to have reached that. There were a dozen athletes between the 50 and 60 metre mark. Today, there are over 150 athletes in a team competition with depths starting at 50 metres without no limits whatsoever. Today, there is more knowledge about the physiology of the body sleep apnea and the areas that need to be trained in order to go deeper. When I started racing, it was more on instinct rather that empirical proof. I had to understand what was going on in my body and I acted accordingly without the now available information that are behind how the body works. NDC: What is the most important skill of a good freediver? UP: To know yourself, and to listen to the signals given by your body: when to turn back, when to stop, when you can’t do what you did yesterday or when you can push your limit a little step farther. Technically speaking it’s also important to be able to equalize easily, in a natural way. NDC: Fins, wetsuit, mask. Freediving seems to require no technology at all… UP: Freediving is a human activity, more than a technological one. In the Formula 1 for example, you need to have a great driver, but without a proper car, you cannot achieve great results. With freediving you have some small advantage in terms of the practicality of the equipment (from a good pair of monofins for example) but it’s the athlete making the difference rather than the

equipment. NDC: Freediving versus scuba diving? UP: I’ll take from one of my favourite quotations: “A scuba diver immerges to look and observe, a freediver looks and observes himself”. I know lots of people doing both, but they are different. And in any case, a freediver can easily get their scuba gear on and scuba dive; but when it’s the other way around, it’s not necessarily true. NDC: Any suggestions to aspiring freedivers? UP: Choose a good instructor; holding your breath is an unnatural behaviour, so it’s important to have someone teach you to avoid some natural mistakes when performing apnea. NDC: Umberto, one last question: How do you feel after your first course in Dubai? UP: I could feel an incredible enthusiasm, will to learn. I’ve met plenty of beginners these days underestimating themselves, who achieved good performances from the first day. I can see in Dubai lots of things that still need to be done, but also lots of enthusiasm; the course for example was fully booked in a few days and without the need for promotion or marketing - a clear signal of a promising territory. After this two-day workshop, I’m not sure if I’ll go on practicing freediving myself. Most likely I’ll go back making bubbles, or maybe I will dedicate myself to some specialized fields that I have been keeping in my mind for a long time (CCR/TEC courses). But in the meantime I’m keen to go some scuba diving and see if I can take advantage of the techniques that I learned: first of all, Getting ready before the in water session

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Static exercise

Static exercise with Umberto

to breathe in a better way and perform correct movements underwater to consume less oxygen. Apnea Academy is a school for training and research for apnea diving, inextricably linked to the name of its founder and current President, Umberto Pelizzari, former deep freediving world record holder. For more information about the Academy you can contact Mr. Gerardo Canta (+971 50 532 4956) or ApneaAcademyUAE@outlook. com. 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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Enjoy the summer in Musandam Words By: Sean James

Many go to Musandam and stay dry; others go with the deliberate intention of getting wet. We have all seen the National Geographic video of the superstar climbers high above the fjords of Musandam, Northern Oman. It looks dangerous, risky and impossible but also thrilling. It is probably too much for the average person on a weekend trip from Dubai. However there is an activity that is very accessible to the adventurer looking for fun and excitement on the Musandam Peninsula. The connection between the mountains and the sea is what makes Musandam so special. The cliffs drop directly down from as high as 2000m, plunging into the ocean. Many

parts are only accessible by boat. Hikers, even if they do find the old paths of the locals still cannot experience the wildlife, fun and adventure there is to be had where the waves smash into the boulders at sea level. The British have done a lot for the Arabian Peninsula in the past and now they have introduced something different: Coasteering. Coasteering is about to be one of the fastest growing activities in Musandam. It is a mixture of climbing, scrambling, swimming, weaseling and deep water soloing (DWS). However, the advantage that coasteering has over all the others is that a complete novice can have a good time just as someone who has been at it many times would. The aim is not to do the hardest climb or longest swim. It is simply to experience the thrill of floating in the ocean, occasionally climbing out, over, around or through the rocks to explore the next part of the journey. I spent some years working off the rocky coast of North Wales and this was easily the most popular and enjoyable activity amongst

groups. In North Wales the water was cold and the waves were big but we still managed to get groups to throw themselves repeatedly into the wild ocean either from a great height or a simple step out into the surging, frothing waters. Here in the Middle East, coasteering is perfectly suited to our climate. Even in the winter the water temperatures donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require a wetsuit. Sometimes there is a swell through the Gulf which gives added excitement as you are washed to and fro by the tide. In the summer, coasteering is even more perfect as you spend a lot of time in the water to stay away from the humidity. The term coasteering was originally invented in the 1980s by surfers as they scrambled around the base of cliffs looking for the best breaks and waves. Now, coasteering is an outdoor activity in its own right. I spent a week in Dibba and Musandam recently, exploring the best places to practice this activity.

What is coasteering?

It is many things. With an experienced and

Models: Nathan Hill, Tim Stuart, Jess Brown and Jo McDonough

Climbing and exploring

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ready. You don’t even have to be able to swim although it helps. People are usually amazed at what they can achieve and how little skill they require. The hardest step is often the first so make an effort and you won’t be disappointed.

The beautiful port of Dibba

Where can you coasteer?

Coasteering can be done anywhere there is a combination of cliffs and coastline. A good day of coasteering will take place in areas with bays, ledges, caves and features. The east coast of Musandam using Dibba as a starting point is ideal. The further up the coast you go the more remote and isolated it is. Alternatively you can use Khasab further to the west as a base. Take a speed boat for the day and stop wherever you spot. With almost 1000kms of coastline in Musandam you won’t be short of something to do.

A secluded beach for lunch

knowledgeable guide, it is extreme rock pooling and cliff jumping, an aquatic naturetrail, it can be swimming, bodysurfing waves, exploring coastal caves or finding hidden passages. In general it’s about discovering life at the bottom of the sea cliffs. If you can’t climb it, you simply jump off and swim around to an easier section. Of course any activity that takes place in the sea, with tides and rocks will have a dangerous element to it. A guide will teach you the correct techniques, fit you with appropriate equipment and impart knowledge on the tides and local condi-

tions. They may also be able to point out some of the local wildlife. On my numerous trips to Musandam, I have been lucky enough to see falcons, herons and a wide variety of sea creatures including dolphins. There is also a training element to coasteering. You will be invigorated and build strength and coordination without even thinking about it. You spend all day hopping in and out of the water, only stopping in for lunch on the boat comprised of hummus and flatbread. If you’re lucky, the boat driver might show you his favourite beach which his family probably owns and invite you over for tea or coffee. Changing tides, waves and wildlife make every coasteering trip unique. One minute you might be swimming lazily past the scenery, the next you could be rinsed in Neptune’s own washing machine. You might see peregrine falcons and swim with a seal. Over an average two-hour session you’ll probably scramble over rocks, swim into canyons, explore caves, bodysurf the breakers, peer into rock pools, learn about geology and leap off a cliff.

What equipment do you need?

Climbing watching and swimming

If you sign up with a commercial company, they will provide you with a buoyancy aid and a helmet. A wetsuit is useful but can be too hot in the summer. Expect a few scrapes and bruises as you drift along and occasionally bump into submerged rocks. Old running shoes and even gloves are ideal for when you climb over barnacled rocks and jump from the top of small cliffs. It really is that simple. Grab yourself a wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet and you’re

Guidelines

The Musandam area like all wilderness areas is special, so make sure that you follow some simple guidelines to help preserve it: • Respect people particularly the local community and other users. • Ensure that you have up to date information on venues that you are visiting. Don’t visit areas that are sensitive, restricted access or wildlife breeding colonies. • Go in a group that is appropriate to the venue and be aware not to overcrowd sites. • If changing into or out of your coasteering kit at the venue, be sure to brief your group to maintain modesty at all times, and to use appropriate toilet facilities • Show respect for other users of the coast by keeping noise to a minimum when coasteering along a tranquil stretch of the coast. The tranquillity of the wilderness is special. • Observe, but avoid disturbing wildlife – be prepared to change your route if necessary. Protect the natural environment. • Leave the coast tidier than it was when you arrived – where possible, pick up litter as you go, especially old fishing tackles and plastics which can be a real hazard for wildlife • Do not damage the rocks, or remove any fossils from the coast. • Enjoy the outdoors and stay safe.

Contact us at www.outdoorarabia.com for more information on our coasteering and other adventure packages and get more out of the region you live in.

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tales FROM THE stables The riders during the first day of the Pink Caravan Ride.

Sheikh Mohammad Al Thani leading the ride.

Words By: Cindy Stadelmann and Cosmo Photos By: Supplied

Last month I concluded the story by telling you about an event that runs over multiple days and requires stamina and courage. Have you ever heard of the Pink Caravan? Well, I – Cosmo - am male but for this event and cause I would be proud to wear pink. The Pink Caravan is an initiative of the Friends of Cancer Patients Charity with the UAE being the only country in the world hosting this ever growing event. Throughout the year Friends of Cancer Patients runs three additional events that fall under the charity’s Kashf program for early detectable types of cancer: Mole Talk (skin cancer awareness), Ana (childhood cancer initiative) and Shanab (Men’s Health initiative). All schemes are to create cancer awareness but the Pink Caravan spreads throughout all the seven emirates and involves horses! The overall initiative is about the importance of undergoing regular examinations and early detection tests not only for women, but also men. This year’s event was the fifth of its kind and took place from the 16th to the 25th of March. Did you see riders in pink and horses with pink tacks on the roads of the UAE in March? Well, that was them: The Pink Caravan is organized in a way that not just this one team of skilled riders is moving through the seven emirates but three additional tracks are pursued tackling the roads and cities of this country. There is the Carevan - a medical team with a mobile state-of-the-art mammogram unit - following the Medical Route and the horse 26

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His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah announcing the launch of the Pink Caravan Ride 2015.

and rider team on a Ride Route. Further, Ambassadors are on their way supporting the fourth track “Individual Events” held at each destination. Every night, the “Carevan” sets up in a new city and offers free mammograms for UAE nationals and residents during the day. Alongside the Carevan, two additional hospitals also offered this service. Even though they have official opening hours, this year getting a checkup was in such high demand that the teams of each hospital and the Carevan worked way beyond their closing times and assisted all individuals, who want to get screened. Even doctors from France signed up to provide their skills and flew to the UAE to volunteer for this good cause. Since 2011, around 35,000 people have benefitted from the charity’s initiatives and this year’s target of the Pink Caravan to scan 5,000 women and men was exceeded by an additional 300. Overall, roughly 25% of the individuals that go to the screens are men and to date around 22 individuals were tested positive with breast cancer. The charity’s data shows, that supUAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with her daughters, Sheikha Salama and Sheikha Shamma, leading the caravan.

port cost for a patient diagnosed with breast cancer amounts to an average of 200,000 AED. That’s a lot of money and the Charity’s mission is to help those in need. Long after the Pink Caravan event was done, a dedicated team continued working on sorting out the paperwork, processing referrals and supporting patients. Riding caps off to their good and hard work. Coming finally to the horses and their involvement, the Ride Route is pursued by horses and riders, and varies between 20 and 50km per day. Endurance, patience, and courage are required. The long trek with horse and rider with hours in the saddle represents these requirements. The first question that may come to your mind may be “How does horse and rider come into play?” The answer is threefold: Battling breast cancer, as any cancer, requires exactly that and so much more; next, the Pink Caravan campaign has consciously chosen to use horses as symbol because of horses’ loyalty and courage when facing the biggest challenges. Horses do anything for their owners, never hold a

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His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development,upon arrival to the launch of the Pink Caravan Ride 2015.

grudge and can endure big pain without showing it. Loyalty and courage are generally deeply rooted within the Arab culture and universally associated with compassion and nobility; finally, who would not stand in awe at a big group of riders tackling the roads of the UAE wearing pink and be curious about their mission? For the Pink Caravan, each year around 100 riders are selected for this event undergoing a thorough proficiency test. For this, the Furusiyya Equestrian Club in Al Khawaneej supports the charity by providing horses and conducting the screening of the riders. Interested riders can apply around a month before the event and even individuals from abroad come especially to participate in this event. There are many applicants to choose from. Furusiyya Equestrian Club selects the riders, who are then allocated to the different days of the ride. Each day roughly 10 riders and horses go on their way supported by a huge brigade of supporters: police escorts, ambulances, support vehicles, veterinarians and horse-trailers. Safety goes first and no mobiles, iPods or other distracting equipment is allowed during the ride. It is just you and your horse. How wonderful is it to see the different corners of the UAE from the back of the horse and have a chat with your fellow riders. The group took a few breaks before it reached its destination. If any of the horses was found unfit throughout the ride, it was loaded onto the trailer. On the way, neighboring stables of the destination cities take care of the horses. Horses are swapped on a daily basis and riders are brought back home and replaced with new riders. There is a huge amount of logistical work going on behind the scenes. This year’s event kicked off at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club with an amazing opening ceremony by His Highness, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Pink Caravan Ride at Yas Waterworld

Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who also dedicated 17 beautiful horses from his own stable for the initiative. The Ride Track then went east to Al Dhaid, followed by Fujairah, RAK, Umm al-Quwain, Ajman, back to Sharjah, Dubai and finally Abu Dhabi. The group of riders had completed around 115km until their return to Sharjah, where they were greeted warmly by the city’s residents. On their way down from Ajman they had stopped at Sharjah’s Ladies Club, Central Market and Al Majaz Waterfront, ending the ride at Al Qasba just before sunset. The next day, a team of riders took on the streets of Dubai where they spent two days creating awareness. Day One was crowned by the attendance some of the world’s leading jockeys throughout the ride, who later in the month participated in the Dubai World Cup.That day the team rode along Palm Jumeirah’s crescent in very windy conditions. The ride started at Rixos The Palm, passing through Nasimi Beach at Atlantis The Palm, and finished up at the One & Only, The Palm. Day Two was topped by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, walking at the start of the procession alongside his daughters, Sheikha Salama and Sheikha Shamma, both of whom were on horseback.The ride started in Downtown Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and ended at the scenic Burj Al Arab. The following day, the campaign was continued in Abu Dhabi. Again, horses and riders spent two days to create Breast Cancer awareness telling about the importance of screening. The riders stopped several times on their way to interact with the audience, informing them about breast cancer and letting horse lovers pat the beautiful creatures. Besides the Carevan and Equine ride, the Pink Caravan ran numerous events. One of the most remarkable events was the Pink Bite that required some of the charity ambassa-

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dors and support teams to sell hamburgers. As the charity promotes health and healthy lifestyle, extra emphasis was made on supplying only healthy and fresh ingredients for these burgers. Yummy! The most expensive burger during that day was sold for a whopping 7,000 USD; now topping the global list of most expensive hamburgers. Unlike the other most expensive burgers, this one had been cooked with purpose and was bought for a good cause. All the proceeds went to the charity in their efforts to support cancer patients. Another initiative that was launched this year and will definitely increase in popularity in the coming years was the UAE CEO’s Ride, during which the top 10 CEOs of the country will have the chance to take part in the Pink Caravan Ride by enrolling for 200,000 AED, which is the average cost of a cancer patient treatment cost. In effect, each CEO will sponsor one cancer patient during his or her treatment. The charity’s Pink Caravan was a great success leaving lots of happy faces and an exhausted team of volunteers that worked hard to have a flawless execution. Months of preparation had gone into the event. Many screenings were done and lots of donations had been received. With the latter, a long term goal has been achieved - the launch of the first permanent Carevan mobile clinic in the region, furnished with state-of-the-art equipment and devices required for early detection of breast cancer and other related tests. It now allows the Charity to provide free breast cancer screenings throughout the year in various parts of the UAE, instead of limiting them to the 10 days of Pink Caravan as it had been the case in the past. No matter what time of the year and what events Friends of Cancer Patients are running, donations can be continued and are much appreciated. If you wish to participate and donate to support cancer patients in need you can do so by donating online at www.focp.ae/donate or sms “LIFE” to 4425 to donate 10 AED.

Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Head of the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, and his team with the most expensive burger in the world.

ACTIVITY REPORT

Why Skimboarding? Words By: Sean Jahnig

Coming from South Africa where we always had a good selection of waves, bodyboarding was enough for me. Then I moved to Dubai and discovered that with limited waves, I needed to open my mind and find other ways of keeping myself entertained. This led to surfing, skating the Canopi Bowl at Tashkeel and cruising the hills of Fujairah on my longboard. It also led to skimboarding. Of all the other sports that I’d begun, skimboarding was the toughest because there wasn’t (and still isn’t) much support for it locally. Neither in terms of professionals to learn from, nor stores that sell the equipment. Nevertheless, I persevered and progressed from a flatland woody board, to the custom, carbon fibre wave-riding boards that I’m on now. Along the way I’ve met other passionate riders from around the

globe (including Westerners, Emirati’s and other Arabs) and together we’ve formed a rad little community. Skimboarding is, no doubt, a difficult sport. But then again, so are skateboarding, surfing and many other board sports that it is associated with. The nice thing is that they’re all linked in a way and practicing one is ultimately, practicing the others. Here’s a quick graphic to give you an idea of how we do it.

Some important facts about skimboarding, and specifically doing so in the UAE: • Conditions here are less intense than other countries which make it a great place to learn. • Skimboards are stronger and less expensive than surfboards. • You can still hang out with your non-surfer friends on the shore while waiting for waves. • It doesn’t matter if you have a small car, the board still fits inside. • Just like surfing, you need a good shape wave and the right tide for a perfect ride. Other conditions are fun, but this is what you really hope for. • Waves that are good enough to really enjoy happen a lot more often than with surfing. • Going for a skim is like going for a combo surf/skate at the same time. • It isn’t easy. But be patient and enjoy the process of learning – its super fun! • It’s great for fitness. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to say that skimboarding is a replacement for surfing - why would I ever. On the contrary, they’re complimentary. I’m willing to bet that any surfer who opens their mind and gives skimming a go will fall in love with it. Check us out on Facebook at Skimboarders of the UAE where the humble community is always willing to answer any questions about how to start, where to buy equipment and what spots we skim at.

Sources: Arron Peluso, Exile Skimboards, Brandon Sears and Steve Taylor

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ACTIVITY REPORT

The Path to Tri Words By: Trace Rogers

After the tragic death of a triathlete last month, the newspaper headlines read: “Triathlete dies on tough course”; this headline was inaccurate. Describing the Mamzar venue as a “tough” course is a lot like describing Mary Poppins as a serial killer. What the newspaper article did however demonstrate brilliantly, was just how little understanding there is of this sport. In order for participants to be able to fully grasp the sport, I believe that we should all go through a rite of passage. Here is what I suggest:

Volunteer at an event. A colleague of mine was telling me that in Australia, in order to qualify as a rally driver, you first need to prove that you have spent time working on previous rallies. The same should be par for the course where Triathlon is concerned. By volunteering, I don’t mean arriving at the venue on the day to wave a flag around for a few hours. I mean spending days (many times much longer) working on the logistics of making races safe and fair. This would help participants appreciate the work and consideration that goes into doing something as “small” as a sprint distance triathlon. Go longer with time - not peer pressure. When Googling the

word “endurance” here are the two definitions that present themselves: • The ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. • The capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear. I have noticed a subculture worming its way into this beautiful sport. This subculture approaches Triathlon in the same manner that one would a CrossFit class - go hard or go home. This sport has no place for that mentality. Time needs to be taken to learn to “endure” the difficult process of the sport and to have the capacity to withstand wear and tear. Accept that recovery is an integral part of Triathlon. Follow a training plan. Whether choosing to work with a coach or download a plan from the internet, it is important that whatever training is done it has to satisfy the following requirements: it always has a specific purpose; it allows for the safe progression of the athlete; allows sufficient recovery time and ensure that the athlete is race ready on the day. Triathlon is a way of life and should therefore be a healthy and happy one. It does not matter how old or young you are, anyone can participate in this beautiful sport and I would encourage them to. Take to it but take to it easy. If the path is walked in wisdom, you won’t need to tell your grandchildren about your days as a triathlete. You can show them.

Branding opportunity

Rite of passage

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Hold your breath! Freediving in the Sultanate of Oman diving, either done recreationally or comWords By: Paul Winter Photos By: Yahya Al Hooti and Mehmet Arikok petitively, which relies on a diver’s ability to hold their breath underwater until it is time to resurface. The Sultanate of Oman has a Instead of using breathing apparatuses fantastically rich maritime hislike scuba gear or re-breathers, a freediver uses only a low-volume mask, snorkel, fins, tory, going back more than 5000 weight belt and a wetsuit. Or, when extra years ago. During these times, gains in performance are required (like durOman’s maritime influences spread ing freediving competitions) more specialized equipment like monofins, noseclips, throughout the Indian Ocean, and neck weights for added economy and right down the coast of East Africa and efficiency. to the island of Zanzibar. Recreational freedivers hold their breath for comfortable (and safe) lengths of time to Throughout the ages, Oman’s merchants explore underwater reefs, shipwrecks, and and explorers, some daring pirates and marine life. Competitions are another part smugglers, and influential Omani navigators of freediving, and trained freediving athletes like the famous Ahmad Ibn Majid, brought take part in traditional style deep-diving wealth to the country through their spirit of events, and pool-based disciplines. adventure, and their willingness to engage with new cultures and economies. Along with many other nations in the Gulf, Oman was also a key area for the pearl diving, and the ability of Oman’s pearl divers was legendary. They dived while holding their breaths, and uncovered some famously beautiful pearls from the depths. And, it is this spirit of pearl diving that could be the reason why the sport of freediving is fast establishing itself in the Sultanate of Oman, and why there are an increasing number of divers – both local Omanis and international visitors – heading off into the deep every weekend to freedive Oman’s popular divespots.

The Art of Freediving

Freediving, or apnea diving, is a form of 30

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Of course, the time that a freediver can spend underwater on a single dive is restricted in comparison with scuba, and longer breathhold times require practice and training. They also require the knowledge of how to make the most out of several of the human body’s oxygen-conserving adaptations that manifest under diving conditions like a slowed heart-rate, blood flow redistribution to the vital organs, and the release of additional oxygen-carrying red blood cells, by the spleen. But with minimal equipment to wear and a hydrodynamic profile, even beginner freedivers can enjoy the benefits of greater mobility underwater, short preparation times before a diving session, and no scheduled decompression times at the end of their dives. The silent, controlled and languid movement that freediving requires also means that closer, more intimate encounters with marine life are often possible. Lesser equipment and no air cylinder refills also mean that the costs to enter the sport are reduced.

Oman on Breathhold

For freedivers, Oman has plenty to

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offer – especially as an adventure freediving venue. Most dive spots feature coral reefs, combined with spectacular underwater rock structures. There is a huge variety of tropical marine life, including whale sharks, dolphins, large gamefish, and hundreds of species of tropical marine animals. The regular freediving spots include Fahal Island, which is four kilometres offshore of Muscat; and the Daymaniyat Islands, which are a collection of rocky desert islands surrounded by coral reefs, about a 30 minute boat ride from the coastline. Both of these are popular scuba diving spots as well. There are also several other spectacular dive spots in the area, including some interesting shipwrecks. Depending on a freediver’s requirements, depths range from knee-deep snorkelling depth down to 10 metres, 20 metres, 30 metres and deeper. In spring and summer, visibility ranges from decent (10 metres) up to 20 metres and even much more on good days. There is also often very little current, and calm surface waters, which is a good thing for freediving, as divers can concentrate on doing very relaxed breath-ups before heading down into the blue. For serious deep freediving, Oman has plenty of depth that is relatively easy to access via a short boat ride. While Oman does not present freedivers with the absolute perfectly calm, clean freediving conditions of places like Dean’s Blue in the Bahamas, or the Blue Hole at Egypt’s coastal town of Dahab, or certain parts of the Mediterranean, freedivers will have little hassle planning and executing a series of deep and safe dives during the spring and summer season. There are also dozens of sheltered bays

and coves around Muscat itself where freedivers can train and develop their equalizing skills, duck-diving, finning technique, and various other depth adaption skills. Of course, the Sultanate of Oman has around 3 000km of spectacular coastline, nearly all of which is absolute dream territory for divers (freedivers and scuba divers), surfers, sea-kayakers and beachcombers.

Competitive Freediving in Oman

The competitive freediving spirit is also very much alive in Oman right now, with several freedivers training regularly to improve their personal best performances in traditional deep freediving disciplines and pool events. Recently, a number of Omani freedivers also took part in the now-famous Fazza Freediving Championships, which takes place each year at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai. The event, which takes its name from its patron, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, a passionate freediver himself, provides a link to the past pearl diving culture and heritage of the people of the Arabian Gulf. During the event, participants compete to hold their breath for the longest time in the venue’s 5 metre deep pool. To make sure the event remains true to the pearl-diving style of old, competitors are not allowed to wear any modern freediving equipment like dive watches, masks, wetsuits, noseclips, or weight belts. Oman’s freedivers achieved some good results at the event, and there is talk of having a similar style event at home, in the city’s capital, Muscat. Competitive freediving in Oman was also recently given a boost by the presence of the current static apnea world record holder, Branko Petrovic, who visited the country to host a breath holding performance clinic.

Travelling to Oman: Bring Your Freediving Fins!

Mehmet Arikok Medfish Freediving

If you are a total beginner in freediving, or an experienced deep diver, the Sultanate of Oman has some spectacular reefs and islands to explore, and deep waters to descend into – as well as a bunch of freedivers who are very willing and qualified to be your freedive buddy for the day. So bring your fins, and a big breath of air!

Competitive Freediving: Terminology Constant Weight: The athlete dives down a dive line as deep as possible, using bifins or monofins for propulsion. Constant Weight No Fins: The athlete dives down a dive line as deep as possible, using only their arms and legs for propulsion. Free Immersion: The athlete pulls themselves down a dive line as deep as possible, using a hand-over-hand pulling technique. Static Apnea: In a pool, the athlete holds their breath for as long as possible, while floating on the surface of the water. Dynamic With Fins: Using bifins or a monofin, the athlete swims as far as they can underwater, in a competition swimming pool. Dynamic No Fins: Using only their arms and legs for propulsion, the athlete swims as far as they can underwater, in a competition swimming pool. No Limits Freediving: The extreme, No-Limits form of freediving is currently practiced by a handful of competitive freedivers around the world. No-Limits divers use a weighed sled device to descend, via a dive line, to spectacular depths on a single breath of air (the current world record is 214 metres!) after which they are lifted back up to the surface via a pulley system, or air-filled balloon.

Freediving Safety

If not done correctly, and without qualified tuition, recreational and performance orientated freediving can be a dangerous leisure activity. Before any type of freediving breath hold activity in the water, divers should seek qualified instruction from an established freediving school.

Find Out More

For more information about freediving in the Sultanate of Oman, readers can visit www.facebook.com/FreedivingOman or contact Yahya Al Hooti, an SSI Freediving Instructor, on +968 998 10004.

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

ACTIVITY REPORT

Stand UP PADDLE XL Words By: Tati Coco

It is always a pleasure to do some paddle boarding with friends and go for surfing or some exploration. But what about being all together in the same Stand Up Paddle board? Yes, that does exist — a massive SUP board. This weekend I had the opportunity to try the XL board. It is exactly the same board as a standard SUP board but this one is really huge and it can take up to 14 people for one amazing ride! It was just such a big fun, in the beginning; it looked challenging but immediately everybody worked as a real team paddling and controlling the board against the waters and waves. By chance, someone was elected to be the team leader to manage and give instructions otherwise it can be a big mess.

I tried it for first time on the waves in the west coast of Ireland. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard - it was excellent, brilliant and as Irish people say “mighty craic”. I was shouting, screaming and laughing so hard because of the

excitement and adrenaline that was completely over the top. What a crazy new sport. If it wasn’t difficult enough to surf alone on my own board, now we surf good size waves on an XL board with a lot of crazy and passionate SUP enthusiasts! After a few attempt on the first waves, we immediately discovered, after much experimentation how to take the wave we have at hand: concentration, coordination and hard work. A few seconds later we were smashed by the wave and bodies flew, mates jumped, as we loosely navigated the board to somewhere safer but we wanted more; we were determined to ride this wave. So without much objection, we got back on the board! We all hopped back on the XL board, daring to go through the waves as brave as sailors. As we placed the board back into the sea to set off, we got hit by the waves countless times and it made us shake but we managed to place the board perfectly. By the time it was set, everybody knew exactly what to do, it was time to ride this huge board. We saw the good waves coming closer to us and we started to paddle. Everyone was cheering “Go!” at the same time as we all put over best surf skills on practice; the surfers at the back was in charge of the control of the direction. Suddenly I felt the tail of the board starting to elevate and my face going down (I was at the front holding the GoPro) and then the next moment, we were on the wave - we were surfing! We did it! Everybody turned crazy and mad with laughter, walking up and down, dancing and pushing at each other. We surfed a long wave and everyone was so happy. Hugs, smiles, laughter and conversation sprouted from this incredible experience. They have some events that they organize in flat water with different teams on the XL boards; it is definitely very sociable and friendly.

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Of Kish and Bicycles Words + Photos By: Keith Pereña

Hearing the mention of Kish Island does not exactly give a positive note. The Iranian vacation island is famous in the expat community as a place to go for the occasional visa run. This may not be true for everyone of course. Touted as a resort island, the island of Kish is proudly known as the “Pearl of the Persian Gulf”. But I will not be giving out a history lesson. I started out as an expat that needed to go to Kish for the visa run. A lot of my friends and colleagues here in Dubai dissuaded me from going there as they narrated harrowing stories of how life is in Kish. The stories ranged from the use of dangerous substances to the much larger problem of desperation especially among those who want to secure an entry permit back to Dubai by any means necessary. I admit that it got me pretty scared as I booked and boarded my flight to that island but with no

The road to freedom

choice left and the option to explore uncharted territories, I faced that fear hoping to debunk whatever sob stories I heard from Dubai - time to leave prejudices behind. Skipping the entire landing and staying in the hotel part. The island is suffice to say, a huge anathema to what everyone has told me about it. No, it’s not a ragtag place where it’s dangerous to go out; no there are no bad persons and no, it’s not a place where people bore themselves to death. It’s in fact a tranquil island surrounded by the ocean breeze where the silence is a home away from the hustle and bustle of city life. With two days in my hands, it was time to go up and about. Most of the people I met in Kish had all manners of aversion to let the time pass. There were the crossword solvers, the chess players, the movie watchers. I’m not about to fall into that same spiral and mope in my hotel room. The hotel was near Along the route are places of elegant the coast line and the afternoon wind beckons – I went out to the beach. decay. Such as this building A short walk towards the coast and the breeze from the waters immediately took me in. There was even a rock platform where one could stand and let the waves crash trying to reach you. The sea was of a blue that sounded of lyres as it pressed to and fro along the shore. I walked onward. An interesting thing to take note of in Kish is that the prices are very reasonable. A five or ten dirham bill goes a long way in this island. And I was about to discover that as I saw a bike rental kiosk that lent customers their bikes for an hour. Bikes are a great way to circumnavigate the island within the span of a day and I say this because you only get to pay 5 AED or so and they don’t mind if you go past the one hour mark. The path stretches around the island and has its fair share or swirls and uphills something similar to the likes of Jebel Hafeet and there are a lot of interesting sights along the path. Abandoned buildings sit along the coast, some of which are open

It only takes 5 AED to have so much fun

Inside one of the coastal buildings in Kish

for exploration. There are sand tracks where you can take your bike on the road less travelled, plus the path is filled with other riders. I also had the opportunity to see some locals enjoying the traditional way of life – people who have not yet been subject to the surge of consumerism and glitz that the city proper exuded. As they lighted their campfire and prepared to cook dinner, I knew in myself that the notorious island that my friends and family in Dubai told me was gone. It was about 7:00 p.m. when I got back to the rental kiosk – three hours after I rented the bike and cruised my way to disprove whatever fears I had when I came to Kish. It’s not a bad place after all. In fact, I can truly say that if you want a quiet ride to muse about life, or listen to the voice of the ocean serenading you to calm, there is no better place than Kish Island. Contrary to majority of expats that bore themselves there waiting for their visas, a lot can be done only if they would drop whatever they have in their hands and head outdoors to debunk the nightmares that surround this majestic and serene island.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Tree River: Words By: Rasmus Ovesen Photos By: Rasmus Ovesen, Klaus Boberg Pedersen and Craig Blackie

Tree River in the western corner of Canada’s Nunavut province is a fabled arctic char fishery with a reputation that is blown completely out of proportions. At least so it seems – until finally, one day, you get to experience for yourself the truly incredible fishing the river has to offer. I THREW MY ARMS JUBILANTLY INTO THE AIR as Klaus nets the big, broad-shouldered arctic char that I’ve been vehemently fighting with along the edges of the river’s frothing white water. In that same instant, I felt a piercingly sharp pain radiate from my left shoulder, and it is with consternation and panic that I realize, that my shoulder has been dislocated. It was unwaveringly locked in a semi-conic

(and historically inappropriate angle) – and the pain was so unbearable that I gasped for breath. Klaus, who still hasn’t the faintest idea about what is going on, looked at me with amazement from the water’s edge. He saw me toppling bewildered about in circles – like a headless chicken, and he hears the screechy noises of torment that my trembling fistula voice produces. He also sees how I desperately try to support my left arm with the right, and suddenly he too realizes what has happened. Gloomy thoughts stormed deafeningly through my head as I staggered across the distorted boulders along the riverbank. The situation was grave! We’re at Tree River, in the middle of nowhere right on the border of the bitterly cold Arctic Ocean, several hundred kilometres from the nearest hospital and totally cut off from the outside world.

Granted, there is a hydroplane coming in tomorrow, but the remainder of our northwestern Canada trip is in imminent danger. The ill fate of an old friend lingers hauntingly on the edge of my consciousness — He suddenly found himself in need of surgery when his shoulder was dislocated and all the muscle tissue cramped and locked the shoulder unwaveringly in place. It all ended in a painful operation that had serious consequences on his mobility. “Oh my God, why is this happening?” MY THOUGHTS were chaotic, shapeless and incoherent, but in a brief moment of clarity I managed to place myself over a big boulder, so that my shoulder and arm are supported – and all the muscles can relax a little. The relief granted my tormented mind a painless window, where my thoughts were allowed some resonance, and suddenly I found myself carefully coaxing, twisting and lifting my arm and shoulder. Something seemed to fall into place, and as I got up, my arm came down alongside my upper body. My shoulder and arm were back in position, and even though the pain hasn’t subsided, it has yielded to such a degree that I can walk towards Klaus and pick up where I left. A few moments later, I lifted a staggering eight-kilo arctic char momentarily out of the water, while Klaus’ blinking camera lens scrutinises its olivegreen and turquoise flanks, its innumerable orange dots, the charcoal-grey marbling of the gills and the elegant white tinge of the fins. FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS, we have stayed at Plummer’s Lodge and fished Great Bear Lake – a massive freshwater reservoir in the Northwest Territories surrounded by an immensity of fir forests, swamps and barren plains. On the lake we have experienced

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some spectacularly good fly fishing for fierce lake trout in cannibalistic sizes, but throughout the whole ordeal the guides and guests have been talking excessively about another body of water: The Tree River, in the Nunavut Territory. Now, there’s obviously nothing controversial about fishermen talking longingly about other destinations than the one they’re currently fishing – no matter where that may be. But Tree River soon comes to sound like a place of special interest. It is talked about with an enthusiasm bordering on religious fanaticism – as if it was a mythological place from a long-gone era. The guides and guests, who have previously visited Tree River, lighted up with blissful and devout looks on their faces, when Tree River came up in conversation. They pronounced the name with such respect that you’d think the name was sacred – and when the enthrallingly beautiful river’s record-sized arctic char are mentioned in passing, their eyes glisten and their voices come alive with a sudden, high-frequent eagerness. The turquoise blue Tree River on the brink of the Arctic Ocean seems to have an almost bewitching effect on the people who travel

there – these initiated individuals who nod knowingly to each other, when someone talks about swinging streamers in Presidential Pool, rising to the challenges of Second Fall’s whirling eddies, and spey-casting in Amsterdam’s deep runs. They all seem to lack words to describe exactly what it is about the river that makes it so special, but their accounts were saturated with an incisive yearning and nostalgia. We obviously had a hard time understanding all the hype, but when we heard that it was possible to charter a small hydroplane and fly out the river, it obviously didn’t take us long before we’re packed and ready to go. AS THE HYDROPLANE touched down on Tree River’s lightly milk-coloured glacial water, we still had no idea about what awaits us. Here, downstream from the provisional Tree River Lodge, where we’ll be sleeping over, the river wasn’t something out of the ordinary. It meanders drowsily downstream towards the Arctic Ocean set down in a harsh and barren terrain, and it might as well have been any random river in Greenland or Northern Norway. It wasn’t until we have unloaded all our equipment and supplies at the lodge, pieced our fly rods together and hiked upstream that the river really started to work its subtle magic on us. Up here, the river has an altogether different character and temperament. Radically different even! It is WILD! Up here the calm waters of the lower river was superseded by frothing white water that gushed purposefully downstream prompted by dramatic increases in terrain gradients. Here, the river was a roaring and intimidating force of nature. Riffles, eddies, and waterfalls were

succeeded by maelstrom-like back waters, sheltering boulders and temporary windows of limpid water – all of it dangerously proximate to rushing currents with meter-high, foaming waves. In its upper reaches, Tree River was a truly chaotic and unbridled river – an intimidating but fascinatingly beautiful whirlpool of water that ripped and tore at our fast-beating hearts as we followed its course further upstream (frequently looking over our shoulders for grumpy grizzlies). FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS we thrust ourselves upon the river and its massive arctic char, and in the process our naivety and lack of tackle preparation was exposed and severely punished. We have previously experienced prolonged trips with broken rods, failing equipment and spooled fly reels. However, what happened over the course of a single day at Tree River was almost tragicomic in comparison. In addition to burst leaders, broken links and straightened-out hooks we lost a shooting head, a full-length fly line and 50 metres of backing. And we broke two 8-weight rods into half. Granted, we started off by catching a stringer of insolently beautiful 4-5kgs

arctic char in the Presidential Pool – a slightly insignificant pool that has gotten its name because George Bush Sr. likes to fish there. But as we charter further upstream and faced the challenges of Relay Pool, Slippery Jack, Montreal and Second Falls, we suddenly felt as if we’re hunting buffaloes with slingshots. And we cursed ourselves for leaving the 10 and 11-weight rods at the Great Bear Lodge. Not surprisingly, the combination of a river with torrential currents, steep banks, waterfalls and myriads of partially exposed boulders on the one hand and some explosive, strong-willed and more or less incontrollable arctic char on the other resulted in some over-dramatic fights. It was simply extreme! And to even stand the slightest chance, the fish must be fought mercilessly. The crux of the matter was to prevent them from reaching the frothing and waterslide-like main current and simply disappearing downstream. If that happened, all was lost. Pursuit was impossible, so all that’s left was to block the reel and hope that it was the leaders and not the fly line that frays and breaks; we were only halfway successful in this regard. UNDER A LIGHTLY GRIZZLED SKY, lit subtly by the midnight sun’s lazy gloom, we experienced some fishing that by far exceeded our wildest expectations. We have been fortunate enough to hit one of the season’s first considerable runs of arctic char, and after sufficient experimentation with different line densities, flies, and techniques we started making contact with one fully-grown char after the other. The majority of them – including a small handful of fish that must have been shockingly close to the magic 20lb mark – we lost, but that’s beside the point. The statistics notwithstanding, we caught more and bigger arctic char than most uninitiated people would immediately be inclined to believe, and every dramatic and nervewracking fight left its own indelible impression in us. Along the way, we both lost all sense of time. We were right on the edge of the end of the world, on the bank of an intoxicatingly beautiful river, but we were both painfully aware that we were here on borrowed time. And the thought that we had to leave this paradise on earth made us fish with equally dosed amounts of focus and fright – as if every cast might be the last. At one point during the night, Klaus broke his fly rod on a chrome beauty just shy of eight kilos – a fish he miraculously landed

despite the accident. After that, we took turns fighting and landing fish. Then my fly rod snapped too – with a loud whiplashing sound! The sudden crack woke us up – as if from a dream. The river poured downstream with renewed intensity, the beautiful tundra came back to life with vivid colours, and all of a sudden we were awkwardly aware of the surroundings and ourselves. We have now broken both the treacherous wands that we have been flinging subconsciously over the river all day, and a spell has been broken. The river has set us free, and even though it might have been tempting to hike the rough five kilometres back to the camp to pick up the backup rods, there seemed to be no point in doing so. All day, we have willingly let ourselves become seduced and enraptured by the river’s promises of record-sized arctic char, and we have quietly lost ourselves in all the hectic activity. Now that we have journeyed back to the camp – full of impressions and as quiet as a couple of staunch believers in church, something far more comprehensive and essential intrudes. Neither of us can pinpoint exactly what it is, but it is something far more significant than the sum of the fish we have caught – something seminal and epochal. The river has changed us, and its indomitable willpower and life nerve is now within our hearts. THE HYDROPLANE LEFT THIS MORNING and there are no guarantees that I will ever see Tree River again. But as I crept into my sleeping bag, closed my eyes and waited for sleep to overpower me, I am certain that, somehow, the river’s furtive magic will haunt me for the rest of my life. I too have lost my heart to Tree River!

TREE RIVER (Kogluktualuk) is a glacial river in the northwestern corner of the Canadian state, Nunavut. The river pours into Coronation Gulf, which is a part of the frigid Arctic Ocean to the high north. The lower stretches of the river are fairly chaotic with gushing white water, whirling pools, waterfalls and long riffles. 10 kilometres from the ocean there is a natural barrier for the arctic char’s spawning run, which occurs over the course of the summer – from the middle of June through September. The barrier is a plummeting and several metrehigh waterfall that is impossible for the fish to climb. Downstream, the river gets packed to the bursting point with fully-grown arctic char, which become increasingly coloured up as the season progresses. Tree River Lodge provides access to the upper four kilometres of the lower river stretches. From the lodge itself you hike upstream from one pool to the next, or you fish from a boat or spey cast in some of the bigger and more slow-flowing pools close to - and below the lodge. The fishery is administered by Plummers’s Arctic Lodges in cooperation with the local Indian tribe. The season is short and hectic – just like the arctic summer, and it runs from the beginning of July through August. However, because of the midnight sun, you can fish 24 hours a day. Additional information can be found here: http:// www.plummerslodges.com/lodges/ tree-river

THE ARCTIC CHAR in Tree River are the world’s largest, and the majority of all existing world records stem from this river. This, for instance, is the case with two notable line records, the fly fishing record, and – last but not least – the biggest arctic char ever landed on a rod and reel: a giant of 14.77kgs. Presumably, there are several good explanations as to why the Tree River arctic char grow to such incredible sizes. They have ample amounts of prey fish to feed on in the Arctic Ocean and in the estuary of the river, plus there’s an extreme form of natural selection in play when it comes to the spawning. In effect, only the biggest and most powerful fish are capable of climbing the many waterfalls and torrential currents. A more weighty argument, however, is probably that the Tree River arctic char are of mixed blood. There are lake char in the river too, and throughout the ages hybridization must have occurred. New investigations have proven that the Tree River arctic char have traces of lake char DNA in their genetic codes, and genes from lake char – a species that grows to 35-40 kilos, might explain how the Tree River arctic char get to be so enormous compared to other strains.

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Getting out on the water The hot summer is upon us and unless you want to spend the next six months trawling the malls of the UAE every weekend, it’s time to find a way to get yourself out on the water. Jake Brodie - owner of Brodie Boats commented, “winter or summer, the inshore waters of the UAE offer an unparalleled playground for any watersports enthusiast. No other group of activities can get you outdoors at any time of the year. Boating is a social affair and whether it’s with family or friends and whether it’s on skis or boards no one ever regrets the decision to start boating.” Wakeboats in the UAE

Wakeboats are a relatively new arrival in the UAE. Most of the boats available in the local market offer a compromise between cruising and sports. “Compromise” being the operative word i.e. acceptable at many things yet good at none. The reality is that a boat that offers a cabin for overnighting does not also deliver an optimum wave for surfing or wakeboarding. For those that seek the thrills and spills of wake sports i.e. wakeboarding, wakesurfing or wakeskating it is essential to buy a bespoke boat or be disappointed. A boat that is great for dragging inflatables and towables is not necessarily a great boat for wake sports! However a boat that is great for wake sports is also ideal for a day cruise, beach visits, towables and, in most cases, water skiing. The lesson here is to find a boat that will meet the basic needs of the users but also the developing needs of the wake sports enthusiast.

How is a wakeboat different?

Most speedboats are outboard or stern drive boats. That is, the power unit or drive is located at the back of the boat. Given that

this is exactly where you want to be surfing these boats pose a significant limitation. Wakeboats have an inboard engine and a propeller mounted approximately one meter back under the stern. This means users can surf straight off the back of the boat and climb in and out of the water in safety. Wakeboats also have bespoke surf systems that help create a mammoth wave behind the boat. This wave is enhanced by taking on significant ballast in the form of water pumped into storage tanks fore and aft. Jake commented that “...without ballast tanks and a high capacity power unit you simply can’t generate a wave worth surfing.”

Wakeboating options

Getting yourself on the water can be as easy as picking up the phone and calling one of the numerous bespoke watersports operators in the UAE. Brodie Boats recommend EYWOA in Abu Dhabi who offer the highest levels of equipment, safety and tuition. For those hankering for greater flexibility and more hours on the water then chartering, boat share or ownership are the way forward.

Boat Ownership

For many around the world, wakeboating has become a lifestyle choice and much of the pleasure gained from the sport revolves around the freedom that ownership brings. That is, being able to go out when you want and where you want. Owning a boat is nowhere near as complex as people think. Brodie Boats will settle ownership contracts, arrange registration with the authorities, prepare the boat for the water, arrange for transponder fixing and ultimately deliver your

boat to the chosen marina or on a trailer to your house. With training also provided for those owning their first craft all of the time, consuming and / or daunting aspects of getting on the water can be handled by others.

Membership (the alternative to ownership)

One new and exciting alternative to ownership are boat membership schemes. These schemes give the member significant hours on the water without the responsibilities of ownership (e.g. maintenance, berthing, insurance etc.). Jake commented that“...this solution fits many of our customer’s needs perfectly. For example a pilot with free time during the week wanted to buy 50 hours a month of off peak time on the water. With a busy schedule and young family, this solution was perfect as all he needed to do was book online and then turn up and ride. Even the wash down and berthing was taken care of by our team.”

Next Steps

Whichever solution suits you, one thing is certain, you will never regret getting out on the waters of the UAE. Jake mused that “The amazing sea and beaches are strong pull factor for many people moving to the UAE. Being able to offer affordable solutions and quality wakeboats that get people on the water was a key motivator to opening up Brodie Boats in Yas Marina.“ Brodie Boats 2GDA Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (+971) 2 565 0155, www.brodieboats.com

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Honey Badger Episode 13: East of the Delta Destination: Chobe River and the Savuti Marsh, Botswana

Diaries

Words + Photos By: James and Mira Raley

We arrived at the Botswana border town of Kasane after a short drive from Livingstone in Zambia, and decided to stock up on petrol, food and water before spending a few days on safari. It is fortunate that we did because we saw neither a petrol station nor a shop in the northeast of Botswana for several days afterwards. Chobe National Park, which follows the banks of the Chobe River, was our first adventure. It has a reputation for being home to huge herds of elephants and we were not disappointed. It was spectacular. The track hugs the riverbank almost through the whole park, and this is obviously the best place to find the elephants and numerous hippos. River tours also seemed to be popular amongst the tourists and we were surprised that they did not get stuck whilst poking about the shallow eddies to get up close to the wildlife. We spent the night with a reasonable view over the river at Ihaha Camp. However, at $35 per person without electricity or hot water, it was a bit of a sting. It is also renowned for armed robbery,

apparently committed by villagers over the river who approach in their canoes at night. We arrived after dark having been followed by a large leopard, which can be quite time consuming, and found no sign of any staff. More than a little wary of being robbed, not to mention the wildlife, we set up the barbeque and got cooking as quickly as possible. To our relief a group of six armed policemen arrived an hour or so later in the back of a Land Cruiser pickup and said that they would be patrolling the area for the night. The expensive campsites seem to be a recurring theme in Botswana. The government’s strategy is for high value / low volume tourists, and the former does not really cater for overlanders. Having spent a few weeks in the country at the time of writing, we are now accustomed to paying up to $50 per person per night for mediocre campsites in the National Parks – a sum for which I would expect a plot on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in England. Many of the campsites have been privatised. This might be a good idea under normal circumstances, but there is no competition and therefore the prices can be set as high as the owners wish. Nevertheless, Botswana is an incredibly beautiful country with many attributes that cannot be found elsewhere, so the overlanders, like us, keep coming regardless of the financial damage.

We followed the riverbank out of Chobe the following day and headed southwest for the Savuti Marshes. After a brief 70km on tarmac, the main road to Savuti turned into deep sand. Clearly not a challenge for the Honey Badger, but self-drivers should be aware that Botswana’s parks are only for 4x4s – and proper ones at that. We recently stopped to help a 4x4 Kia which had boldly driven past the sign saying “4x4s only” outside a National Park and had got stuck in the sand less than 50m past the entrance. Savuti was very different to Chobe. The northern entrance was dry with a lot of trees, which is not great for game viewing. The journey south reveals sporadic marshes linked by small, seasonal rivers before opening up into grass and marshland, which is fantastic for game. Unfortunately for

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Botswana, the 2014/15 rainy season has been extremely poor. Due to diamond mines and tourism, Botswana is one of the wealthier African countries that we have visited, but subsistent farming is still necessary for a proportion of the population and many of them are suffering now. In fact, rain is so important here that they named their currency after it: Pula. For us, after our multiple unwilling adventures in the mud, the drier ground was welcomed and allowed us to explore much further than would normally be possible at this time of year. We parted with our $100 for the camping in Savuti and got up early the next day to look for Honey Badgers (real ones). Despite finding Honey Badger and Wild Dog spoors, we saw neither in the flesh. However, we had some exciting river crossings and watched a buffalo give birth, an experience which was equally fascinating and disgusting, before we arrived at the central marshland in the park. We had been advised to avoid the marsh, but we were feeling confident and decided to go through the centre to look for the elephant-hunting lions which can be found there. We did not see any lions, or other cats, but the drive was fun and despite a few muddy moments and a few thousand grass seeds in the radiator, we made it through without getting stuck. With one more night before James’

parents arrived for a 10-day luxury safari, we headed to the eastern edge of the Okovango Delta. The drive-in was a challenge. We made the mistake of following the GPS directions initially, but after three river crossings that reached the windscreen we had to find another route to the northern gate of Moremi National Park. The river crossings were fun though. Neither of us were overly keen on the croc and hippo populated route walking option, so we tended to just take the plunge rather faster than the 4x4 rule books would recommend in the hope that we would make the other side. Sadly our air horn and ARB compressor did not make it, but having already sent us a fridge from Australia, ARB offered to send the replacement parts for the compressor too – fantastic! We finally found a rather more civilized route into the park, not without its own smaller river crossings, and made it to Xakanaka (which is almost impossible to pronounce in the local dialect) for the night. Xakanaka, also expensive, was a fairly comfortable campsite, and after a brief chase on foot by a male elephant we shared a bottle of spirits with a Dutch couple and had a good night’s sleep. Moremi was not great in comparison to many of Botswana’s other national parks, but it came alive as soon as we took a boat for the one hour trip north to Kwara Camp to meet James’ parents.

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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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LIFESTYLE

Health Words By: Ivana Chiles

Powerhouse

Upgrade your next outdoor activity or gym workout with the best possible clothing. Pros and cons of different types of outdoor wear

Picnic during kayaking trip around Musandam (merino top on, of course)

While we pay attention to forms of exercise and food we fuel on, one barely ever considers the right clothing and its possible effect not only on your performance, but also health. In this month’s issue, I will share some opinions on different materials your clothes are made out of, what effect it has on your skin and possibly overall health. I will also give you some tips for rather unusual, yet natural ways to treat your dirty laundry to keep it bacteria and odour free, in a gentle way.

Ivana during yoga hike wearing organic cotton top

Imagine this scenario:

You showered with soap and water this morning, used your usual antiperspirant, put the season’s latest awesome looking top and shorts. Yet two hours into your hike you have a feeling that the unpleasant odour your body is creating is so bad, that everyone around you must have noticed. Sounds familiar? You want to change into a clean top that you are perhaps carrying, but contemplating on possibly same results soon.

Why is it, that sweating during physical activities can become such an unpleasant experience and why some of us expel more pungent odours than others?

First of all let’s clarify the simple biological function of sweating: We all sweat. Sweating helps your body eliminate toxins, which supports proper immune function and helps prevent diseases related to toxic overload. Through sweating, your body regulates the

Merino wool top

Merino socks

temperature preventing it from overheating. Sweating helps kill viruses and bacteria and by using antiperspirants, you will stop this process. I am not saying “do not use antiperspirants”, but use them sparingly (avoid the habit of putting antiperspirants before going to bed, for example) and use them wisely. Good quality antiperspirant should be aluminium and paraben-free. They are toxic chemicals directly entering your blood stream causing lots of damage. Believe it or not, your sweat odour depends on many factors. Foul body odour is related to food you eat and the environment you live in. Living a clean lifestyle means a low toxic burden and therefore less odour. I cannot agree more and remember the time, when I went for a nine day detox and my sweat was literally odourless. Just a quick tip for you, next time you head to the beach expose your armpits to the sun. Tanning your armpits for about 30 minutes every week eliminates armpit odour almost completely, because UVB kills odourcausing bacteria.

What are your options out there? Synthetic tops Say no to cheap synthetic tops! 40

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Bamboo fibre top

I keep sadly looking at the piles of cheap t-shirts my husband brings home with each race, wondering, what to do with them. I sort of even feel guilty giving them to charity knowing they will do no good to anyone.

Here are the reasons why:

Although popular for their light weight and quick drying properties, synthetic polyester wear give off more stink than others, because of the odour-causing bacteria called micrococcus that loves hanging on their fibres, chomping on the long-chain fatty acids in our sweat and turning them into shorter, smellier molecules. And there are many more kinds of bacteria. In order to target bacteria growth, the manufacturers are now using nanosilver in sports textiles. While we happily use diluted nanosilver in our house to treat anything from sore throats, healing cuts and detoxifying, one should be careful when concentrated nanoparticles are part of your clothing. Nanosilver is composed of particles of silver so tiny (smaller than a virus) that they kill bacteria on contact. However they can be easily inhaled and absorbed through your skin during wear. Research shows that nanosilver does not simply stay in clothes, instead it leaches out of the clothes during washing (first 5 washes will deprive your clothes

Merino wool tops are perfect even for golf! (in Mauritius)

treated with nanosilver for up to 35% of it). Another antimicrobial added to fabrics is triclosan. Animal studies raised concerns about its ability to affect fertility, cause cancer and resistance to antibiotics. The list goes on: stain-proof compounds, UV resistance causing compounds etc. If you want to avoid all these effects, steer clear of all treated fabrics.

Cotton

Cotton is certainly a good choice, but only if organic. Natural cotton clothing helps reduce odours, but as you will agree, cotton is not the fastest drying material. While I love using organic cotton clothing for yoga or home, I have other preferences when it comes to exercise. Why use organic cotton? Cotton covers over 2.5% of world’s cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world’s insecticides, more than any other single major crop. Those inevitably travel up the food chain and accumulate in our body.

My recommendations: Shop ethically and consciously and choose one of the following fabrics next time you shop! Merino wool

Merino is popularly known as high-end, performance athletic wear for any kind of outdoor activity. There are many factors contributing to merino’s high popularity. I have been wearing merino outfits for runs and hikes for over 10 years and have always Merino wool tops keep you incredibly warm in cold climate. Me hiking in my native Czech Republic in autumn.

been appreciating its excellence in regulating body temperature. The wool provides some warmth but cools you down when it is hot outside. While absorbing the sweat, unlike cotton, merino wool retains warmth. It dries out fairly quickly and the presence of lanolin makes it antibacterial. Merino clothes are soft and very pleasant to wear and should definitely be on your next outdoor wear shopping list!

Bamboo wear

Bamboo is an excellent natural fibre with a silky texture that quickly absorbs moisture. It is naturally anti-microbial, hypoallergenic and grows without using pesticides or chemicals. Bamboo benefits the environment by buzzing greenhouse gases storing four times more CO2 compared to other similar trees. Bamboo is anti-static and UV protective, cutting out 98% of harmful UV rays. It is 100% natural and sustainable and is the fastest growing plant in the world. For us, gardeners, bamboo fibre is 100% biodegradable, unusable garments can be thrown in the compost bin! Although not particularly cheap, merino or bamboo clothes can become rather expensive. However looking at all advantages and positive impact on my health, I choose to buy 4-5 pieces of merino and bamboo outfits which I regularly rotate. They last for about 3 years in average. My satisfaction surely beats any negative comments and I will always recommend them to anyone looking to upgrade their training on a totally undiscovered and unknown level. There are many good brands out there, some available from major UAE retailers. If you do struggle finding the one you like, internet shopping always helps! And remember to opt for lighter colours rather than dark ones which will attract the sun.

Bamboo fibre top while hiking in Musandam

work out and let them dry. The sun kills the bacteria, freshens clothes up and removes odours. Detox your wardrobe by using your home made laundry detergent or opt for the nontoxic ones in supermarkets. You can wash the clothes using preferably one of the natural laundry detergents adding a couple of tablespoons of white natural vinegar (the one made from grains) and about 10 drops of tea tree oil (known for its magnificent antibacterial, antiseptic and anti fungal properties) to the last rinse. I also strongly recommend you dry your clothes in the sun for the same above mentioned reasons. Here is my tip for all natural and super easy laundry detergent that I have been using for several months and loving it! You will need: 2 natural soap bars 1 cup washing soda 1/2 cup aluminium free baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/4 cup sea salt Grate soap bars on a fine grater and mix with the rest of ingredients. Store in an airtight container and use about 1/4 cup for each laundry load. You can create a small silica filled bag and keep it inside the container with your laundry detergent to keep the moisture away. Works really well!

What to do with your sweaty clothes?

One of my friends asked me the other day, what to do with her husband’s gym clothes. While he was convinced that soaking his stinky gym attire in a bucket filled with water will help, the truth is, that the bacteria will spread even faster. My best advice is to expose your clothes to the sun after your

Merino wool tops are perfect for any activitity, even kayaking.

Home made all natural washing powder

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. Siesta in Jebel Akhtar mountains in Oman

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LIFESTYLE

Words By: Dan Wright Photos By: Ajmal Hassan and Dan Wright

It has to be said that “I love beetles” and in fact this was one of the ways that I originally got into Natural History. After finishing my degree in Environmental Education in the United Kingdom, I spent the next 10 years working seasonally all round the world as a wilderness and adventure sports guide. Some of these jobs took me into very remote locations and this brought all sorts of opportunities for me to get closer to nature. One day out of the blue my cousin Miriam in the UK contacted me and asked if I would like to become an amateur collector for the Natural History Museum in London. She was a volunteer entomologist with the behind the scenes team who curate the biggest beetle collection in the world. She told me that if I made collections of beetles on my travels then the museum would happily take them and add them to the main collection in London. So over the next 10 years I gave five collections to the museum… But what use are a bunch of dead beetles I hear you cry? Well that’s a good question. Why do scientists collect insects and store them in drawers in museums? There is a video on the Internet which features the curator of the Natural History Museums collection, Dr Max Barclay in a TED Talk discussing why we should be interested in beetles. In that TED Talk, Dr Barclay tells us some of the most prestigious characters in our history started out life as beetle collectors. Charles Darwin is probably the most famous and he later went on to write the still current theory of how living things have evolved rather than been created. Beetles are biologically classified as “Coleoptera”, which is taken from a Greek word that literally means “sheathed wing”. In fact the beetle has two pairs of wings but the first is a hardened pair called Elytra that protect the under wings and the body. There are over 400,000 known species of Coleoptera around the world which makes them the biggest order of species on the planet, around 25% of all living things are Coleoptera and in fact beetles make up around 40% of all known insects and 30% of all living things on the planet. Scientists are constantly discovering new species and it is suggested that there are in excess of one million beetle species on the planet. They appear in every environment and habitat on Earth except for Marine (salt water) and Polar (ice).

Some Beetles found in the UAE

In the UAE I have found many beetles on 42

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Giant Longhorn Beetle

my hikes and photographed them. Below is a picture of a Rhinoceros Beetle I saw in the Hajar Mountains (they are harmful to crops and date palms) and I have used it as part of a diagram to explain the life cycle of beetles:

Life cycle of a Beetle

Scientists use collections of beetles to study their effects on crops and trees, some beetles are very bad for crops like the Red Date Palm Weevil which is found in the UAE. These are such a threat to date farms that the UAE police force has a special dog team trained to sniff out the beetles so that the palms they are in can be destroyed.

destroyed. One reason to study ladybirds is to ensure that the pesticides used on crops to kill some insects that threaten them are not harmful to the ladybirds that help the farmers. Another species of beetle that is good for the environment and important for us to study their distribution for this reason is the Dung Beetle. They collect all the dung dropped by much bigger animals like; Horses, Donkeys, Camels, Cattle, Goats etc. They roll the dung into balls and roll them to the sand where they bury them. They lay their eggs in the dung which not only keeps them warm and moist but also provides a food source for the larvae when they hatch. That may seem pretty gross to us but imagine if you were born inside a giant Oreo cookie and had to eat your way out, well that’s pretty much what it’s like for a young dung beetle! The pitted beetle (Adesmia Cancellata) is an interesting species of Darkling Beetle found in the very dry desert areas of the UAE. It has an unusual way of collecting drinking water. Fog condenses on its outer shell into droplets which collect and run down tiny channels in its Elytra to the mouth parts where they swallow it.

Pitted Beetle (Adesmia cancellata), is a type of Darkling Beetle

Red Palm Weevill

But other species of beetle are essential to the protection of crops. The Ladybird is the main predator of Aphids which are small insects that eat all vegetation they infest including farmers crops. Without the Ladybirds to keep the aphids population down, crops all over the world would be quickly

The Sulphurous Jewel beetle (Julodis Euphratica), found here in the UAE usually amongst Acacia trees, is not only a truly beautiful looking species with its torpedo shaped body and yellow flecked outer shell but it has a quite incredible life span for a beetle. The larval stage is the longest of all known beetles on the planet and can last up to 35 years! The adult stage then only lives normally for two to three days and a maximum of a week. It emerges to feed, mate

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and then die. Whilst the larvae are wood borers the adults feed on sap and nectar of plants which is why you will often see them flying around scented flowers making a lot of noise as they look for dinner and a date – not a bad lifestyle!

Jewel Beetle, Julodis euphratica

In the UAE one of the most famous book series on beetles and in fact all things “Creepy Crawly” are the five volumes of “Arthropods of the UAE” By Tony Van Harten which are available in the bigger bookshops here and will give you a great insight into almost everything you can find in the Emirates and beyond into the Arabian peninsula. These books may take up a lot of shelf space but they are by far the most detailed insight into the insects around us that you can buy.

Arthropods of the UAE book cover.

If your budget or shelf space (!) won’t stretch quite that far then you can go for a more general book like “Insects” by George C. McGavin who is not only a former entomology curator at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History but has also hosted numerous TV shows in which he literally crawls around inside old logs and tree trunks in remote jungles in search of really big insects which then crawl all over him! A bit like, “Man Versus Wild” but with really big wild insects!

These books explain to you how to recognize and identify different species and give a whole load of interesting information on where they live, what they eat, how they reproduce etc. For the budding Beetle enthusiast or insect inspector you really can’t go wrong with investing in: 1. A magnifying glass (around 25 AED from Carrefour) 2. A notebook to draw anything you see 3. A camera to capture it on film 4. You can even buy small plastic boxes that are see-through and have a magnifying glass for a lid and air-holes. You catch an insect and put it inside and you can view it up close from all angles or see it magnified from above. Here in The Emirates we are very lucky to have a truly massive beetle, in fact it is the biggest beetle in the world outside of the Brazilian rainforest. The Giant Longhorn Beetle (Anthracocentrus Arabicus) grows to an astonishing 11cm and its front mandibles are big enough to draw blood if you don’t wear gloves to pick one up! Their natural habitat is the UAE’s National Tree, the Ghaf and it is almost exclusively the only place you will be able to spot one of these beauties and even then only at night if you are very lucky. The beetles in their larval stage are laid by the female deep in the Ghaf’s roots which can extend up to 60 meters down to water. They may not hatch for up to five years but when they do they eat their way out of the root (that’s what the big mandibles are for; that and fighting other males!) and when they finally emerge, the males live for just 1 month with the express purpose of mating and the females live for just a few days. Research by Dr Brigitte Howarth and Dr Michael Gillet showed that there are around 6-10 males for every one female and that the beetles are fully formed and never eat once they emerge above ground they just live off the reserves of fat they built up in the root systems. If you want to see one, be prepared for a long wait. Try Dr Howarth’s trick of placing flat boards around the base of a Ghaf tree and keep checking them every couple of nights. The Giant Longhorns love enclosed spaces. Research has shown that the beetles play an important role in the ecological balance of Ghaf and Desert woodlands. Ghafs planted for ornamental purposes have been shown to not have these insects living in and around them. Sadly they are getting rarer now in the UAE due to many Ghaf trees being cut down or transplanted to make way for progress.

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If you do decide to take up Entomology or Beetling as a hobby please be respectful of insects in their natural habitat. It is not necessary to kill them to study them and you can learn just as much by drawing and photographing them then releasing them back to where you found them. Children should be very careful about picking up insects without gloves as some species may cause itching or a rash. It’s much better to take a photo then wait till you get home to identify which species it was in a reference book. Remember you can also book introductory hikes through OutdoorUAE to learn about insects in the wild with an expert. Good luck and enjoy Beetling about the UAE!

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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Habitually healthy Madras infused Kerala Prawn Curry with Cauliflower Rice

Words + Recipe By: Chef Christopher Zerbe

Summer is heating up quick, and it’s time to decide where to go for the summer to beat the heat of the desert! Personally one of my favourite past times, when it comes to watersports, has always been surfing. Now that I’ve gotten older and am busier with my career and work, I find it harder and harder to find the time to enjoy it! However, due to our location here in the UAE, we have access by car, boat or even plane to some of the coolest surf destinations in the world! Whether it be that soul surfing journey through Bali, Indonesia or the long weekend getaway to Sri Lanka for the nice weather, friendly people and of course spicy food and shore breaks! However, being a chef for so many years in so many different places, my palate and my (getting to be a bit too ample) stomach drives my choices for my time away from work! I would have to say that one of my most favourite dishes (soon to be on my next menu here at The Cycle Bistro) is the Kerala style prawn curry. Of course I have my own version of it with slight changes to the classic recipe, but overall still bears the roots of traditional Kerala and Tamil style cuisine. The creaminess of the coconut milk, the pungent aroma of curry leaves and fried 44

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mustard seeds to the succulent local shrimp and the spicy chilli powder are all complimentary to each other in this wonderful dish. Many years ago, I spent a short week in a little village in Kerala near this amazing shore break near Varkala Town by the cliffs. The place was super rustic, very simple and yet warm and friendly with locals and of course their love for seafood and spices! I’ve always wanted to go back over the years to see the change but I can imagine that it’s still not overrun by surfers and crowds. But, from time to time I am reminded of the splendid week there - cut off from the workaday world of cell phones and email, by the smell of the curry that I make and the silky, spicy notes of the fresh ingredients that go into it! So if you are ever looking to just get away from everything and have a week to spare or more, go check out that little spot and see if you can walk away with an incredible memory of surf, tastes and of course a nice tan! During the months of May and June, the F4 winds typically blow from the southwest and northwest and bring a nice SW 4-5ft swell with it. Water temperatures lean towards 28 degrees but with the nice breeze, feel quite comfortable, as the Arabian Sea is teasing the Indian Ocean there on the west coast of India. However always remember that the beginning of June is also known as the Monsoon Onset season there so pay close attention to your flights and the weather! If you cannot find the time to travel to this haven of surf and seafood, try my recipe here for my version of the traditional Kerala Prawn Curry, it’s designed to be a bit milder for the majority of folks but just throw some more chilli in there to spice it up proper! A little sweat is good for the soul!

Ingredients

Amount

Notes

Cauliflower Rice

120

Prawns

160

Green Ship Curry powder

tbsp

Chilli Powder

tbsp

Chopped Tomatoes

Chopped Garlic

1/2

clove

Chopped Ginger

1/2

inch pc

Chopped Red Onion

Turmeric Powder

tbsp

Coconut Milk

1/4

can

Chopped Coriander

sprigs

Coconut Oil

tbsp

Black Mustard Seeds

tsp

1. First, heat your large fry pan and add the coconut oil 2. Next add the mustard seeds and lightly fry. 3. Next add your onion, ginger and [chilli if you like it hot!] 4. Next add your garlic and cook all till nicely browned 5. Now add your dry spices, and stir till all is dry and combined 6. Now to add the chopped tomatoes, they will introduce water back into the pan and create the sauce base. 7. Once all that is done (about 10-15min) add your prawns and toss to coat evenly. 8. Now add your coconut milk, little by little while stirring continuously. 9. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat by half and let it simmer, allowing it to thicken while stirring. 10. While that is simmering for 5-6 min, Prepare the cauliflower rice 11. Chop your cauliflower into 2 inch pieces and pulse in your food processor till it resembles “rice” size grains 12. Place the rice in a bowl and cover with water, microwave for 2 min covered or till the cauliflower is tender. 13. Drain any excess water off and make a pile on your plate. 14. Now that the Curry and the rice is ready, pour the curry over the rice, garnish with a bit of chopped coriander and some chopped tomatoes. 15. Enjoy!

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

WATER WOLF CAMERA TESTED 1.0 UW BY SAVAGE GEAR

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Words By: Antonio Varcasia and Dario Alicicco

The last five years has been marked by the spread, first gradually and then exponentially, of the ActionCam, known for its use in diving and extremely compact design. Being accessible to all, it has become an everyday object, from sports enthusiasts and experts in different categories; to photographers and videographers, who appreciate the versatility to shoot in extreme conditions and with very specific angles. Recently, the Danish company Savage Gear, specializing in fishing equipment, has designed and released the Water Wolf camera, developed specifically for sport fishing. The Water Wolf comes in a bullet shape and is about ten centimetres to 1.5cm in diameter. The camera is capable of recording video in high definition at 30fps in widescreen format. It can float on water and is completely waterproof up to a hundred metres deep and is equipped with a built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to four hours. The Water Wolf is designed for fishing, and for this system has a very special mount, made of a thin steel cable that engages with the spindle axis of the chamber,

giving the angler the ability to locate it at the end of its system of fishing. Through a system of seals that come with the package, you can change the layout of the room and redirect it down depending on the fishing technique. Also using the float provided with the kit and leads simultaneously can keep the camera in a vertical position, then recovering towards the bottom (ideal for bottom fishing or other vertical techniques). With these specifications it can be used practically in all the fishing techniques such as spinning and casting, documenting therefore also the launch phase due to

its cylindrical shape that is both aero and hydrodynamic. It can also be used for trolling and also for vertical techniques including those dedicated to cephalopods. The Water Wolf presents the advantage of being able to float and is extremely hydrodynamic, plus it can also be used in fishing without additional mounts. In short, a combination of technology addressed to all fishing enthusiasts who want to know and document everything that happens underwater and behind their bait! For more information, visit www.waterwolfhd.com

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

California Seakiss Reversible Bottom Surf Bikini

Ocean Glasses – Bamboo and Skatewood Polarized Sunglasses

290 AED

325 - 365 AED inclusive of soft case

Seakiss surf protection tassle beads

Available at all Adventure HQ stores

60 AED

Available at www.seakiss.me The California Surf Bikini is inspired by the palm tree filled sunshine state with style influence from Huntington Beach & Malibu. It offers practical support with a crossover design at back to take the tension off the neck, built in non-removable padding, bottoms that reverse to gorgeous mint for a mix and match look, drawstrings on bottom for secure fit with an on trend palm tree print in quality materials.

and neoprene retaining strap

Ocean Glasses skatewood and bamboo sunglasses are handmade, high-quality, performance products that respect the environment and have a great natural style. The best ecofriendly sustainable bamboo and Canadian maple skatewoods have been selected to manufacture them from. The lenses are polarised (vital for water or snow based activities) with UV400 protection (UVA/UVB). The frames are lightweight and strong with flexible stainless steel hinges to suit the face. Coated with a water/sweat protective layer you can get them wet and they float on water! (bamboo models).

Seakiss Swimwear is designed in Dubai and made for all water sports by an Australian female surfer. Designed to stay on and avoid bikini malfunctions in either high intensity water sport or just partaking in simple beach leisure activities: Seakiss has you covered!

Men’s and Women’s Newton Running Distance IV Speed Trainer 650 AED

Available at all stores of Adventure HQ Introducing the P.O.P.1+ with 30% more ‘”pep” in your step This update to our neutral Speed Trainer offers a lightweight performance feel on the P.O.P 1+ platform. Now with a new forefoot Flex Zone that offers a custom fit and greater forefoot splay. Runners who have evolved their gait to a more midfoot and forefoot focus will feel like they have hit the sweet spot jackpot with the Distance IV. Efficient runners will enjoy this pair as a regular training shoe and as a racing shoe. The Distance IV is a great choice for runners seeking a shoe for short or mid-distance racing and weekly speed workouts.

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Jobe OMNIA Board (4 sports in 1) Price: 2995 AED | Now: 2395 AED

Available only at Al Yousuf Motors Across UAE Not enough storage in your boat to fit all your gear or tired to drag those hefty skis in and out every single day? The Omnia is your all-in-one solution! Ready to be used as a kneeboard, ski, wakeskate/ board AND wakesurfer, this lightweight board adds a whole new dimension to multi-functionality. Compression molded out of PU foam and fiberglass, this family focused board can be used with great variety. Suited for all skill levels. • 4 sports in 1 board: • Lay • Stand • Kneel • Surf

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The Wanderer Presents:

Words By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Jung Francisco

In 1961, Dion DiMucci recorded the song “The Wanderer” where he states that he “roams around, around, around”. I evoked that line because that’s how I feel about walking – it’s about roaming around and taking the roads obviously slower than inside a car or in the Metro. To expound on it, I’m a firm believer that we get to see things – amazing things that we normally wouldn’t see while we’re using certain modes of transportation. Walking is, so to say the purest form of exploration and all other types of adventure stem from it.

When it comes to walking, shoes are highly important. They not only function as fashion statements but also to protect our feet from the elements. Being comfortable in it is another thing worth of note, and this is where I begin telling you about the amazing pair of Mocks that I am wearing as I write this story down. Mocks are relatively new to the UAE, but that doesn’t mean that they’re newcomers to what most people would call the “shoe game”. Well established in the United Kingdom as fashionable outdoor wear, these brightly coloured, pop culture beauties definitely reawaken the 1960 sentiments of peace and love — the easy life. I have two pairs with me, one pair of Mocklite Classic IIs in Veneto Navy and one

pair of Classic Canvas loafers in what they call as Bubble Camo. As I interchangeably wore them (saying that both looks good is a vast understatement), it immediately immersed me into the vast open sea, that frothy expanse ripe for the taking of any explorer. While these shoes are made for the sea and the shore and would easily fit in at a beach or boat party, they also lend their style perfectly well with formal events, in the mall, even during the weekdays in the office! They’re highly casual, but I commend the Mocklite Driver IIs for adding some panache to what I was wearing as it delicately struck the fine line between casual and formal to create a shoe that is both comfortable yet elegant all at the same time. Technically speaking, both pairs share one common characteristic – Comfort. The soles have an easy ride to them plus the construction of the soles makes sure that they don’t get scraped off – a sad yet normal trait among other driving shoes. It’s extremely light and if you wear them for the first time and feel like they’re gone, don’t worry – its part of the magic of Mocks, to feel easy and focus on the more important things such as exploring an entire world out there rather than complaining in fuss because “your feet hurt”. Another amazing thing that I have to mention is that the Mocklite Classic IIs cool your feet down so that it doesn’t smell. I was in Downtown Dubai this morning and despite the first waves of summer coming in, my feet didn’t even break a single tear of sweat with my pair’s superior cooling system. Given the chance I’d even consider it to be wizardry because it’s just so amazing.

From Downtown, I ended up in what I consider to be the bohemian capital of Dubai and what I consider to be my home away from home – Deira. The Creek is simply astounding and my pair weren’t ones to shy up about it as we walked beside the Creek, occasionally hopping onto yachts (with permission from the owners of course); Going to and fro into abras from Bur Dubai to Deira because if I may say, the sea is the natural home of these pairs. And to have them so close to the waters of the Creek makes them feel more... alive. As I step on the jetty and take my leave while the sun sets in the horizon. A photo must be taken. As an artist with a “strange” sense in fashion (thank you Wes Anderson!), I can’t help but sit along the rails of the Creek, as I gaze upon the sun and raise my feet up to unwind and ponder upon the larger scheme of life. Oh, but I’m taking the topic too far and being too artsy. What I mean to say is, I’m very lucky that I wore these pairs with me today as I set off from my house towards both ends of the town. I have made a lot of walks in my 22 years of existence in life and this one with the Mocks easily falls into my long list of memorable adventures. Mocks are easily available in the UAE for men, women and kids at Namshi, Athletes Co, TAF and Stadium.

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PRODUCTS 2015 Moomba Outback V 230,000 AED

Available at Brodie Boats 2GDA Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi Moomba Boats builds the 2015 Outback V to provide great value with versatile performance, a long feature list and a comfortable interior. The 2015 Outback V carries some nifty features for performance watersports like 1200lbs of Gravity III Ballast, Digital Cruise Pro speed control, the OZ Tower with bimini, the Multi-sport Wakeplate and a 330 5.7l Engine that delivers a lot of power on the sea for some high speed cruising! The Outback V has social seating for 12, a walk-through open bow, fiberglass transom walk-across, Sony sound system, boat cover, pull-up cleats and a trailer! Seriously, the Moomba Outback V is fun!

Chaos Pro Wakesurf Board 3,500 AED

Available at Brodie Boats 2GDA Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi The Chaos Pro is the ultimate competition ready wakesurf board, designed for riders that demand the best. It features a highly responsive parabolic stringer system attaching the fins to the deck of the board for improved drive out of every turn. A deep single concave forces water into a split-barrel hydrohull whipping it past the fins for improved speed and control. The board starts with a pressure-fused high strength EPS foam core. It is then laminated with multiple arrays of S2-fiberglass and biaxial fiberglass for lightweight yet extremely resilient 3D lamination. The Chaos Pro is the perfect board for getting out on the water with this summer!

AGFA Wild Fun Action Camera 800 AED

Available at all stores of Adventure HQ The affordable Wild FUN is a great way to capture and share all your fun moments – whether its playing with the kids in the pool or any outdoor activity like cycling or surfing with your friend! If you want an easy to use, action camera Wild FUN is for you!

Parrot Bebop Drone + Sky Controller 4,300 AED

Available at all stores of Adventure HQ Heavyweight technology combined with a featherweight design. 14 megapixel Full HD 1080p “fisheye” Camera and outstanding 3-axes image stabilization. Records videos and pictures in a 180° field with remarkable image quality. Built-in GPS for automatic return home and high altitude flight control. Piloted with Freeflight 3, an ultra-intuitive free application available on iOS, Android and Windows 8.1.

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• HD Video Resolution (720P/30fps) • 120° Wide Angle Lens • 2.0 LCD Touch panel for easy and convenient use • Up to 5 Megapixels image resolution • Waterproof housing for recording underwater up to 12M • X4 digital zoom • Up to 100 minutes of battery life • Automatic car recording –just put your camera on the car’s dashboard and it will automatically record the road ahead! • Ultra compact size and light weight

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

MX10-201

THE MX10 – MILITARY HERITAGE, TIMELESS DESIGN Tested By: Fergus Beeley

The MX10 is a Nite classic. Built with the highest quality materials including aviation grade stainless steel, thick sapphire crystal as well as a Swiss Ronda movement, the MX10 is ready for any adventure. So what happens when you wear your MX10 during one of the United Kingdom’s toughest endurance events?

We asked MX10 owner Fergus Beeley to test his MX10-201 during the Winter Fan Dance Race Where/when did you test the watch The Winter Fan Dance – 18th January 2014 Tell us about the event Multi-terrain, non-navigational, 24km with rucksack over Pen Y Fan – The Winter Fan Dance Race 2014 organised by Avalanche Endurance Events Estimated duration Nine weeks training. One day event that was achieved in 4hrs 18 minutes. Location and type of terrain Pen Y Fan region, Brecon Beacons, South Wales, UK. Multi-terrain, steep ascents and descents with rocky boulders, moorland, bog, mud and gravel road. What are your reasons for doing this challenge Raising money for the following charities: Cancer Research UK and Oracle Cancer Trust. So far I have raised £290,000 and I am aiming to raise a total of £500,000.

Which model of nite watch will you be wearing during the event The MX10-201 How long have you owned a Nite Watch Nine weeks Have you worn your Nite Watch during any previous events Not yet, only during training and event of the Winter Fan Dance Tell us how you and your watch stood up to the challenge The watch was invaluable during both training and the event itself. It was accurate, robust and gave me confidence at all times. No other make would endure the extraordinarily extreme pressures put on it. I fell on it often, had to let it get drenched in rain as it remained outside my glove and it was at all times exposed to all the elements. Did you use your watch for timing the event Yes, as the race signal to start was shouted, I took note of the exact time and took it again at the half way point. It was easy to read and I was always confident that it was accurate. Did your watch keep good time Yes. I had heard about the MX10 from colleagues in HM UK Armed Forces. They spoke very highly of it and I was keen to have one, as most of my work involves working in extreme environments like rainforests, deserts, mountains and other. It kept very good time and this is important when one’s life depends on time accuracy (perhaps for a departing helicopter, or other critical timing, then one must be able to trust one’s watch). Did the watch become covered in mud and sweat Yes, during the event the watch endured major knocks against rocks and falls into puddles. The event took place on one of the wettest days in South Wales through Winter 2014. Did you take the watch under water No. Was it raining Yes, it was raining torrentially for four hours. The watch was exposed to the rain on the outside of my glove. Was it snowing Yes. There were two visits to Pen Y Fan during the training when it was snowing at the summit. The watch was exposed to this snow but continued to perform at all times. What was the estimated average temperture +4 – 5 degrees celsius. Descending with increasing altitude to the summit of Pen Y Fan where it was generally at or below freezing.

Were you on the ground covered in mud or dirt Yes. Descending from the summit of Corn Du, on the last and final stage of the race, I fell to the ground. I was exhausted and tired and lost my footing. Stumbling to the ground at speed my arms and legs hit the rocks. The added weight of the Bergen rucksack put even more pressure on my body for the fall. I gathered myself together, got up and continued running, but not before checking that my MX10 was still on my wrist and working well. It was. Did you do any climbing or similar activities No, not during this event although I enjoyed riding the Cresta Run in St Moritz and kept my own toboggan out there. Were you able to easily read the time Yes, I was able to easily read the time. During training there were afternoons when the afternoon light was closing quickly. I was able to continue reading the time confidently. Was the watch comfortable Yes, the watch was very comfortable to wear. Did you need to use the gtls illumination No Did you damage your watch in any way Yes, I would say that the pin securing the strap to the watch was the only weakness. I lost my watch on a training session and with hindsight (for various reasons) think that though it was still entirely my own fault, the watch could have come off because the pin was forced out either by my glove being removed or the rucksack sliding down my arm to be removed. Was the glass scratched or broken No Was the watch suitable for the activity Yes, very much so. What was the most extreme thing that you and your watch had to endure during the event The fall, as described earlier.

RATING COMFORT

10/10

DURABILITY

8/10 (it would have gained 10/10 if I had not got a concern about the strength of the pin!)

RELIABILITY

10/10

ILLUMINATION

10/10

APPEARANCE

10/10

DESIRABILITY

10/10

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

PRODUCTS Silver Ridge Long Sleeve Shirt

Zero Rules Short Sleeve Shirt

Available at COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR: Mall of the Emirates; Dubai Mall, Mirdiff City Centre; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi; Bahrain City Centre; Granada Centre, Riyadh, KSA; Doha city Centre, Qatar; Red Sea Mall, Jeddah KSA

What’s this long-sleeve shirt have that others do not? It’s got fold-out cuffs and a collar that offer even more protection from the sun. It’s performance sportswear masquerading as a buttonup, long-sleeved, collared shirt. Shhhhh.

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Boost Tube

Jobe Bamboo SUP

195 AED

975 AED/QAR 106 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 The Boost Tube is perfect for lake cruisers and adrenaline junkies alike. The Boost tube employs HO Sports all new tapered cronut” design. This croissant + donut inspired shape allows for better vision and back support while riding seated or laying down. Get wild with multi-directional towing options for added fun. 4 no-show nylon webbing covered foam handles on this tube make it easy to hold on, whether you are lying on the tube, or sitting with your feet up! Enjoy the ride! This durably built nylon covered tube has a PVC bladder, dual HO quick-connect tow attachments points and Boston Valves for quick and easy inflation/deflation. Tube is 54” (137.16cm) in diameter inflated, requires a 2K (907.2kg) tow rope, has a 170lbs (77.10kg) maximum weight capacity.

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110 AED

SUP in style Price: 4,995 AED | Now: 3,995 AED Available only at Al Yousuf Motors Across UAE SUP in style This all-around SUP stands 10.6 ft tall and comes in at 32” by 5” wide. It’s made from ultra durable, yet lightweight EPS foam, so its substantial girth doesn’t translate to its weight at all. The bottom shape, outline and rocker line of this SUP makes it very versatile. You can catch your first waves or have a smooth ride on flat water. Its featherweight status is also because of its bamboo layered construction. Perfect for any beginner and enough challenge for an advanced rider... Totally righteous.

PARA’KITO™, natural mosquito solution, for anyone at any time Thanks to special essential oils blends, all the products’ patented formulas make PARA’KITO™ an efficient solution to get naturally protected from mosquitoes. These essential oils intergrated in pellets or as a gel in the roll-on, act as a natural repellent and make body smell hard to be detected by the biting insects. The pellet protects all family members in any situation The PARA’KITO™ pellet is integrated with a blend of seven essential oils extracted from plants, carefully selected all over the world. Inserted in a band or a clip, (each accessory is sold with two pellets) it naturally protects you from mosquitoes for 15 days. This solution and its patented technology allows a constant diffusion of the formula throughout 15 days, fits any activity and can be worn by all family members. There’s nothing simpler or easier. As the formula is chemical-free and the pellet doesn’t come in contact with the skin, it’s suitable for everybody, including pregnant women, young children or individuals susceptible to skin allergies and irritations. The pellet is even waterproof so no need to take off the band when you go swimming, canyoning, canoeing or practicing any watersport! The bands are adjustable and can be worn directly on your wrist or ankle. Clips can be attached to a belt, bag or even stroller. All the accessories have been created in a range of colors and designs that makes them all unique and the perfect match to your outfit! PARA’KITO™ didn’t forget the younger ones and their tiny wrists and ankles. They now have their own bands! With three designs inspired from the sea world, they are shorter, especially adapted to children ages 3-7 and come with an identification label on which parents can write their phone number

in case of emergency. The roll-on gel has got you covered in infested areas! The PARA’KITO™ mosquito protection gel has been formulated for infested areas. It is delivered in a roll-on, enabling fast and precise application, without spreading! It also gives you the possibility to adjust the lines in number and length according to infestation level and your sensitivity. Its efficacy was tested up to five hours in a laboratory against the Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Dermatologically tested as well, the PARA’KITO™ mosquito

protection gel is your best ally in infested areas. All PARA’KITO™ products are easy and risk-free to use but their efficacy has also been proved by tests in different laboratories or in natural environment – in different climates and conditions – in USA, Europe, Africa and Australia. Effective, economical, easy to use, natural, universal, innovative — THE solution to be protected from mosquitoes! The PARA’KITO™ brand is distributed in more than 30 countries in the world in Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Central America. Number one natural mosquito protection in France and Spain, the refillable bands and clips of PARA’KITO™ have been a great success since 2008, thanks to a very specific equation: natural ingredients, a patented technology, original designs and all that in a product that is very easy to use.

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n e20w 15! for

Fishing Kayak: ABACO 3.60 TORQUEEDO (with electrical engine) 13,500 AED

Available at SeaYou in Al Quoz Two behind Times Square. Visit www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 for more information. This kayak made in France has been designed by fishermen and official fishing guides. For 2015, RTM surprises us by adding an electrical engine at the back. The ABACO 3.60 Torqueedo is the must-have kayak for the fisher that wants to go farther in total security. Light, fast and silent, the engine is easy to use thanks to its adjustable footbraces with rudder control. Light (only 7kg), fast and silent, the engine is easy to use thanks to its adjustable footbraces with rudder control and its waterproof battery, it can speed up to 10km/h.

AHD Hydrofoil AFS-1

Inflatable SUP: SUP‘R 10’ RWP

Available at SeaYou shop in Al Quoz Two behind Times Square. Visit www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 for more information

15,000 AED

The AFS-1 board is a great news for all the windsurfers in UAE as this “progressive” concept with its 112L volume allows rising quickly onto a plane in light wind conditions. When flying, there is very little pull from the rig into the arms. Concentration, anticipation and balance between both feet positions are the keys to exhilaration.

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2,745 AED

This inflatable SUP boards are designed by Chris, a French surfer and sea lover whose company is set up in the south of France. We love the design and especially the price! It includes a bag, pump and fixing kit. A large range is available in hard board or inflatable. Race boards are also available.

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OUR EXPERTS

LOCATION MINI GUIDE:

Kayaking at Snoopy Island Words By: Ian Ganderton

Snoopy Island is a perfect spot on the UAE’s East Coast to explore by kayak. Easy beach access for vehicles with mountains providing a great back drop to the coast and the island itself is just a couple of hundred metres off the shore providing great snorkelling. It’s a great location away from the big cities. So named because viewed from the right direction the island closely resembles the famous profile of the cartoon mutt, Snoopy Island lies between Dibba and Khor Fakkan just 200m offshore from the Sandy Beach Hotel and Resort and can be found easily on Google Maps. There is public sandy beach access (including vehicles) on both sides of the hotel but be careful of extremely soft sand on the northern most access point. One kilometre south of the island there is access to the sea via a stony beach. Kayaking off the sandy beach access and exploring the circumference of the island is simple fun for all especially if you take your snorkelling gear too. A sit on top kayak makes a perfect snorkelling platform and there are lots to see living around the island. Now be very careful not to lose contact with your paddle craft when using it as a base for swimming and snorkelling from. The floating craft will be affected by the wind where as the swimmer will not and even in a relatively light breeze this can cause the craft to “blow away” much faster

Google Earth screenshot of the route

than you will be able to swim. Consider using a leash. If the island area and its beaches are too busy for your taste (quite likely on weekend afternoons) head to the stonier beach to the south and instead explore the rocky bay formed by the little premonitory and maybe

go on a two kilometre mini expedition to the island and back.

Start / Finish

• Snoopy Island 25° 29.536’N56° 21.840’E • Sandy Beach Vehicle Access 25° 29.770’N56° 21.652’E Beware of the soft sand here; even 4x4s can easily get stuck.

Considerations

Look at a map and you will see that the East Coast is exposed to a huge body of water when compared to the Arabian Gulf on our West. This leaves the potential for weather and sea conditions to be very different. Be particularly careful of potential surf conditions. Bear in mind that the wind always picks up as the day goes on (heat generated weather conditions) so I always recommend an early start as paddling on calm water is quite special. Be extremely cautious when winds are offshore. Wear a PFD. Respect other water craft. Paddle within your abilities and experience. Paddling in small groups is the safest. Tell someone where you are going and let them know when you are back.

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QATAR EXPLORER

A great way to spend time outdoor & keep active! Words By: Eulogy van Dyk Photos By: QSUP

The summer heat is slowly rolling in over the Middle East (especially in Qatar!) and if you are an outdoor lover like we are, one tends to get concerned about how we are going to make it through this hot season without our daily dose of outdoor adventure as well as training to stay fit! It seems to make sense that the best place to spend your time outdoors (especially during the summer months) will be in or “on top” of the water! Stand up paddling or SUP, has taken off in the past few years as a sport worldwide but also as a great recreational activity to keep fit and be QSUP Surf Fit Class – 1000 calories challenge

QSUP Yoga session

active with friends and family! So, you can have your bread buttered on both sides this summer! We recently spent some time with the QSUP community here in Doha, which is Qatar’s first SUP school since 2012, to find out more about the sport and the different activities they offer. If you thought you can only stand up and paddle on a SUP board, think twice – there’s much more to it than that.

Why to SUP in Qatar?

Whether you are serious about competing in the sport, want to get fit or just want to have fun; SUP can tick off all those boxes. The benefits of SUP include improving core muscle stability, which helps posture and general health, low impact exercise that is easy on your major joints and stress relieving - something we all need from time to time in the Middle East! Qatar has the perfect conditions to start your SUP journey with relatively calm waters, and of course, sunny skies, making it a great place to enjoy this activity. QSUP is now well established, and offers a range of different classes and workshops

to cater for everyone’s needs; so whether you need to learn the basics or want to get super fit (for more challenging conditions), you will find it there. Sometimes it’s more about exploring, sometimes you can just go out to enjoy the sunset; even if you are looking to let go and unwind the body and mind by doing yoga on your board, it’s all possible. There are family-focused sessions as well as kids-only workshops which combine beach activities and SUP. With their client focused approach and expertise, QSUP has covered all the elements of making SUP a fun, safe and enjoyable experience (visit www.qsup.me for a full list of activities and sessions). So whether you are just visiting for the weekend, or longing to take up something new, this might be just the thing you’re looking for.

Where to SUP in Qatar?

Although Qatar is surrounded on both sides of the country with water, you are unfortunately not able to just jump on your board and hit the water from any spot! You can only launch your boat from The Pearl in Doha itself, but this is a residential area, so

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

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you need to live there to have access to the beaches. The easiest way is to join one of the QSUP group sessions any time during the week! The QSUP base is at the Costa Malaz Marina at the Qanat Quartier Beach in The Pearl. The base gives you access to the most versatile routes in Qatar: the Venetian quarter of the Qanat Quartier, Porto Arabia, Lusail Marina and Al Aaliyah Island which is a migratory base for flamingos and other bird species. They even paddle half marathons and marathons around the Pearl-Qatar! Outside of Doha you can take a drive up or down the east coast to the unrestricted beach areas that are only a mere 30 minutes away from Al Wakrah. On the west coast, there is Zikreet, but it’s a bit farther down and it usually takes 1.5 hours to get there from Doha. It is always best to paddle in a group, or at least take a partner with you. If you are not familiar with Qatar’s marine traffic it is best to stick to the QSUP group sessions and excursions.

When to SUP in Qatar?

The best time of year to SUP in Qatar, as in most of the Middle East countries, is during the winter season from November to February. You will then also be able to experience and see the flamingos at their migrating spot! However there is still plenty of time from March to June to get out in

QSUP kids workshop

the water and stay active. It always boils down to how you dress (for protection from the sun), the time of day you go out and ensuring you have enough water with you. Plan accordingly and you will be able to go out almost all year round. Generally during July and August the activities becomes a bit less. As with most watersports it is important to check the weather forecast when planning to go out for a paddle because you really don’t want Qatar’s special shamal winds (north wind) to surprise you along the way! In the words of Melinda Behumi, founder and owner of QSUP, “I believe SUP is a sport that helps you get fit and stay fit by becoming a stronger paddler and definitely it contributes to living a healthy & balanced lifestyle! It is also very important for us to learn about water safety and ocean conservation while we explore and connect with the fantastic nature all around the world we live in. SUP is a non-intrusive sport where you can see things up close and personal that you will not be able to see from a boat or personal water craft and it is also ecofriendly! Qatar is not just a desert, it actually has amazing sea and marine life to explore which you won’t expect to find here! There are beautiful mangrove areas with many bird species during the winter seasons. Come see it and appreciate it! For more information about SUP in Qatar visit www.qsup.me

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

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OUR EXPERTS

Adventure Riding

at Its Best Words By: John Basson

With the recce ride completed, it was time to take the big bikes out for some adventure riding. Even though the route was now known to me, the difference in the handling and riding style of an off-road bike - like the one I used for the recce ride versus my 800GS is such that it would almost be like riding a new/ unknown route. Humps and bumps that seemed insignificant on the Honda, might just catch you off guard on the GS! We were initially eight riders that confirmed for the ride, but with a very active implementation of Murphy’s Law only four crossed the border into Oman. Ewert on his 650 Dakar, Edwin and Dominic both on KTM 990’s and me on my 800GS crossed the Hafeet border crossing at about 7:00 a.m. As we had lost some time at the border with one of the riders, who had to return due to bike problems, we only started the off-road section at Dank. The off-road section from Dank to Ibri is easy to navigate as you just follow the power lines that run all the way to Ibri. However beware of getting too comfortable on the straights as regular erosion ruts, that cross the road, catches you off-guard and the adventure bikes don’t stop on a dime if you’re are doing 100km/h on a gravel road! Once we reached Ibri, it was time for coffee, snacks and refuelling before we tackled

the 130km off-road stretch to Nathi. As I mentioned last February, this section must be one of the best sections I have ever rode on a bike, and was even better this time around, as it is perfect for the adventure bikes. Just after we started this section I had my first fall on my new GS. A rather embarrassing one I might add: About five kilometres after the garage I remembered that there was a dog that chased me during the recce ride. You know those dogs that chase whilst aggressively barking, BUT never have what it takes to actually “go for the kill”. Well, he was there again and as I was the lead bike, he just had to do his thing. I knew he was just going to run and bark so decided to tease him and slowed down whilst revving my engine. All this whilst looking at the dog rather than the road. It was a two track-gravel road that just happened to have some “fesh-fesh” (very soft powder-like sand) which I did not see. By the time I hit the ground I did not even know I was busy falling. This explosion of white powder-like dust must have been the dog’s signal to disappear, as he was nowhere to be found by the time the dust had settled. With only a bruised ego, three other bikers laughing out loud and not a single scratch on my bike, we continued. As with the recce ride, the skies were crisp with unlimited visibility, causing the colours of the mountains and the desert to be bright and vibrant for most part of the morning. With regular stops for photos and attempting some limited technical sections, the morning’s ride was nothing other than perfect. No one had any more accidents (don’t worry Dominic, I won’t tell them about yours...) and we all agreed that adventure riding is a special type of riding and how much it can add to one riding experiences is impressive. Later, around midday, even before we reached the guesthouse at Nathi, the wind was already pumping and dust started to drift across the plains. Lunch was as predicted — for less than 50 AED each, we feasted like kings! We could however see, whilst eating, that the wind was picking up significantly and made the call not to return via the off-road

section, but rather follow the road back to Ibri, then Al Ain. With lunch behind us it was time to attempt the road back home. I say “attempt” because by the time lunch was over the wind was probably 50kmh or more. We have all been riding for more than twenty years, but no one has ever ridden in conditions like that. I attempted to capture the wind and sand on camera, but trust me; the photos don’t do justice to the conditions. The wind was perpendicular to the road for the whole section till we reached Ibri. From the leaning against the wind and trying to keep the bikes, and our heads, straight I had a spasm in my neck by the time we reached Ibri. Luckily from Ibri to Al Ain the wind was almost on the nose and a lot more pleasant (if pleasant is the right word) than the first section. The day ended at around 1700h for Ewert and myself with almost 600km of riding. Dominic and Edwin however still had 150km to go to Abu Dhabi. Just to crown their journey they ended up in a cloud break only five minutes before reaching home. They thus ended their day with 932km of riding, and totally drenched! That is why they are called Adventure Bikes, and we love riding them!!! Remember that we only have two or three more weeks of fair weather then these big bikes go into storage so go out there and ride them! Ride Safe and Go for Gold Regards,

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OUR EXPERTS

Saltwater ultralight spinning Words By: Kit Belen

In recent years, technology has grown and gave way to a new breed of rods and reels that are light weight and tough enough to stand up against the harshness of the saltwater environments. Anglers were quick to recognise the potential of these new rods and reels for finesse applications that were previously only used by freshwater anglers. With the number of bigger fish dwindling or the fishing pressure increasing, as anglers we have to evolve with the conditions and look for ways around it and be successful in our outings. It has been an accepted fact that the lighter you fish, the more strikes you get. The problem with this is also the fact that when you go lighter, you also need to ensure that everything you do, from tying knots to selecting and presenting to fish, is going to get more challenging. Your knot tying should be better than just good. Fishing with light line means you have to scale everything down - if you tie knots with nothing less than perfection, it would mean lessening your chances because you are staring with lines that test less than 5kg, tying a knot with lines as light as these would further weaken it, resulting in knots breaking, lost fish, bruised egos and endless cursing.

The Tackle

There are a lot of brands to suit each angler’s preference and pocket depth. For anglers, such as myself, that is very budget conscious; there are rods from Abu Garcia and Berkley that fit the bill well. My choice is almost always a rod with a rating of 8-17lb. (4-10kg) with a minimum length of 7 feet (213cm) if I can get a longer one, I would. The perfect length for me would be around 9-10 feet (274-304cm). Although you will find rods of this length, they are almost always Japanese Domestic Market models (JDM) and are mostly expensive. If you can afford these rods, I highly recommend them because they will take off a lot of limitations (such as casting distance, better backbone power, sensitivity, etc). Of the few rods I use, my favourite is a 9-foot (274cm) Majorcraft Solpara Seabass series rod, about 500AED in Barracuda Dubai. Of course there are times when a shorter 58

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Short rods are good when you don’t need to cast far for fish Shallow water and decent fish - tough sitution for big lures and heavy line

Nice fish like this one will happily eat a small soft plastic

rod is best and that is when I’m fishing in a place where I don’t really need to cast that far to get to fish or when I’m on a kayak or boat, in which case a more traditional (short) ultralight rod is used.

Reels

Spinning reels were initially invented because there was a need to cast small and light lures - I believe, we are in the Golden Age of Spinning reels right now. People skip all the headaches and use spinning reels for this purpose, most are priced reasonably and are very easy to use - for this type of fishing, you are looking at reels within the 1000 to 3500 sizes.

Daiwa Aird 2500SH - a very affordable reel loaded with top end features

(Shimano and Penn sizing) with 2500 and 3000 being the norm. Depending on which size of line you want to use, these reels typically hold about 300 meters of braided line (or PE line if you want to go the Japanese sizing system). You don’t have to go overboard - you want a reel that would be able to take the punishment of table sized fish - realistically, nothing over 5kgs. Spending on an expensive reel is a matter of choice. I use a Daiwa Aird 2500SH, it has 9 ball bearings, a light composite body and a large capacity extra spool - All those features for under 300AED (and if you don’t mind the funky colour scheme!) Line braid is the line choice of the modern era in most situations. It gives you a thinner diameter line that enables you to cast small, light lures farther than you would with monofilament. Braid is also three times stronger than it’s equivalent mono diameter. Which means braid that has a breaking strain of 10lb (5kg) would be the same diameter as 3lb (1.5kg) mono. Braid also over tests, 10lb (5kg) braid would beak at about 15-16lbs (7.5-8kg). Braid has very little stretch, which helps keep you in contact with your lure even if you are dealing with long casts. Paired with a very sensitive rod, you could almost feel the fish breathe on your lure before it strikes! Braid makes your

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

diving lures dive deeper because it has less resistance, cuts down on drag when you are fishing areas with high current so you get your lures or bait down and keep them in the strike zone. Because of these qualities, braid would also enable you to use lighter lures to reach the bottom. Seems like the perfect line? It’s not. It works in most situations and you have to be a bit experienced to really make use of it. If you are still starting out, I suggest you use mono because the main drawback of braid is the cost. The best ones will set you back about 300AED per spool, the mind end ones will cost about +/-200AED on average - stay away from the cheap ones. They will give you more frustration with wind knots (tangles) and you spend time mending your line than fishing. I use 4lb (2kg) to 6lb (3kg) braid (+/PE 0.3-PE 0.4). If my braid is not enough to fill the spool, I use a length of mono for backing, or old used braid.

easy as casting them out and reeling them in on or close to the bottom. Their tails move on their own and just as long as it’s moving fish will bite. There are some brands with scents in them (like the Berkley Gulp! baits) that have fish attracting enzymes, even if you don’t move these things, they can catch fish - It is that easy! Jig heads of 3-5 grams with plastic bodies will catch fish in almost any fishing condition/situation.

When distance is a factor, small metal jigs are the ticket

Leaders

Nylon is in most cases good enough. Although a lot of people use fluorocarbon leaders nowadays, I don’t really use a lot of it unless I am fishing for tuna. As fishing is mostly personal preference, if you feel that your chances are higher if you use fluorocarbon, go ahead and use it, it will most likely make you fish with more confidence and will have your lure in the water more as a result and if the lure is in the water, you are always in for chance at a fish. Lures In my opinion, you spend most of your money on lures in the long run, than you do with your rod and reel. I label lures “consumables”. You can’t have just one, you can’t use them forever, you lose them even if you take good care of them, one way or another, they get banged up and will eventually need to be replaced…and you need more than one colour for a specific one, two or more if the lure is “that good”. There are a ton of lures in the market available to confuse the angler, you could easily get lost with the choices even in the smallest of tackle shops. To make the choice easier lets break them down to the 3 types I use most often:

Small jigheads for the soft plastics

Small swimming Jigs - these are chunks of metal shaped like fish. They wobble when you reel them in slowly, reel them too fast and they spin. These lures are perfect when you want to cast a long way like when fishing off the beach, jetties and piers. They cast like bullets and are easy to use, just cast them out and reel them in a slow and steady retrieve, when you feel the lure pulsing you know you are doing it right. Nothing over 10 grams for these, but you can check your rod on exactly what your lure weight is.

Although I don’t use a lot of them, I still carry a few plugs with me, just in case the need arises A selection of soft plastics that covers a lot of conditions

Soft plastics - These are made of gummy plastic and shaped like small fish, shrimp, crab, worms and other small critters - basically these are the closest thing to real bait. They are the easiest to use but also the one that gets chewed up the fastest. You mount them on a jig head: a hook with a weighted head or a weighted shank. Using them is as

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Plugs - These are the fish shaped lures made of plastic or wood with “lips” and armed with treble hooks. Again, very easy to use; cast out and reel in. These lures are great, but I don’t really like using them that much because of the treble hooks and they take up a lot of space. If I do use them, I like the small stick baits and poppers - when fishing for fish like Gold Spot Trevally or Golden Trivially, the explosion they create

when chasing after these top water lures are more than enough to get you addicted to them. You might have noticed that I didn’t mention anything about lure colours, this is because I believe that any coloured lure will catch fish because of movement rather than anything else. Fish feel whats around them by feeling vibrations in the water with their lateral line, and only switch to visuals when they are very close by. In muddy water, they don’t even see your lures! In my opinion, colour selection is a personal preference and that the more you like the colour, the more you fish with it. If by chance you are standing in front of a row of lures and are confused of what to buy, or what to stock up on, get the ones that look natural, or ones that attract you the most. I like using whites, pinks in clear water and dark colours like black and brown in stained or muddy water. This type of fishing is not for everyone; the expense alone on mid end gear will set you back about 1000AED. But the fun and challenge it gives you is something you don’t outgrow till you get old and grey. It is very applicable in the UAE and when do you go with this type of fishing, you end up packing a little less because everything is scaled down. Add a small bag to hold a small box of lures and leaders and you set yourself up as a very mobile and flexible fishing unit. Smaller lures and lighter gear doesn’t really mean smaller fish - Elephants eat peanuts as they say. Think about it this way - instead of feeding the fish a meal, you are feeding them snacks, and we all know you eat more snacks than you do with full meals. Till next tide change,

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

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PEOPLE

Ali Mohammed Yousuf Al Lanjawi Occupation: Senior Supervisor, DEWA Nationality: Emirati Age: 34 Words By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Supplied

Amidst the heat of summer slowly creeping into the entire UAE this year, I was very refreshed to be standing in Breakwater Beach in Abu Dhabi accompanied by several personal water craft as they cut through the waves during the 3rd heat of the UAE Jet Ski race. Among others, this was where I met Ali Mohammed Yousuf Al Lanjawi or as his friends and teammates call him Ali. Where did you begin your jet skiing career? I began my jet skiing career in 2008 during a race in Dubai where I finished in 16th place out of the 55 participants. There was an old guy there who taught me how to drive a personal water craft properly. After that, in 2009 I tried to participate in course races due to his advice and I finished in 9th place – I saw this as a sign that I was gradually improving. Then in 2010, I was in a championship race in the United States – my first time outside the UAE and I finished second overall. I had a significant lead during the entire competition but then lost my key during the final race landing me the second spot on the podium [laughs]. In your opinion, how have you improved from before? I improved a lot — the experiences that I

gain during races as well as from watching world races in the television helped me to hone my racing skills. What have you learned from jet skiing? Patience. I have learned to be patient in the sense that I have learned to wait until I get good results. Like for this race – we have been preparing for it for a year now. It’s not as simple as sitting on the WaveRunner and riding. I have learned to be patient with myself and with my WaveRunner until the right time comes for us to be our best. Is there any training regimen that you follow? Yes, I train in the gym, in the sea with the WaveRunner and I also train in my bicycle two times a week. I do a different training regimen everyday because I believe that variety in training in the gym and the sea makes me for fit for the races. How often do you train? Every day, but like what I said, it’s not always the same training regimen. I train in the water thrice a week with my WaveRunner and a mock course. My team sets up the course in the same way as the race course. We also train in the waves and in calm waters as well because both require specific techniques. In calm waters it’s all about top speed and when to hit the brakes and when to put the pedal

down. In the waves, it’s more about how to handle the WaveRunner so that it is in the same speed as the waves. Waves are more of handling than of speed, so to prepare for both situations we train in both calm waters and in wavy waters. Is the UAE a great place to go jet skiing? The UAE is a perfect place to go jet skiing. The jet skiing community is highly active with six races during the season. The standards are also very much up to par with international standards; it’s like a world-class racing experience here in the UAE, plus there are a lot of champions inside the country. What do you love most about the sport? I love the adrenaline, the exhilarating feeling and the speed. The craziness [laughs] I can take it out in the water, not on the road – much safer. Are there any challenges that you have encountered before? Sometimes, when I’m not fit, because I didn’t have time to train because I’m also working and I have family. There are even times when I don’t even have a month to train and when the race time comes I’m not ready and when I’m in the water I’m not fit enough. What would be your most memorable race? I think it is when I am with a lot of champion racers. It presents a really nice challenge and when I win in those, I feel genuinely happy because of the heightened sense of competition present. What would you say to all the people that you have inspired? I’d like to promise them that I will be better than I am now. I will show them more than what I consider to be my best now and I wish there would be more racers coming from Dubai and the other emirates. Al Yousuf Motors sponsored Ali Mohammed Yousuf Al Lanjawi during the whole season with the powerful unit Yamaha FZS.

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Persian volcanoes Mount Damavand Words By: Sean James

At 5671m, Damavand is the highest peak in Asia and the Middle East. When a mountain is a near perfect cone shape it is known as a stratovolcano. Damavand still has some minor volcanic activity and provides inspiration to many poets and artists. Standing in isolation and being the highest point in the Alborz Mountains it truly is a destination that leaves climbers, hikers and tourists gazing in wonder. It is the stunning visual appearance plus its exotic location in Iran that draws many not only to visit the surrounding area but also to climb to the summit. This month we look at why Damavand is becoming increasingly popular for hikers and climbers. In August, OutdoorArabia is running a guided trip to Iran to climb this evocative peak so continue reading to whet your appetite for adventure and find out what it is all about. An attempt on Damavand will definitely put Iran on your list of destinations to visit. A symbol of Iran

Iran

Iran is pretty special. Everybody has their own image in their mind of this mysterious country in Western Asia. Formally known by the more romantic name of Persia, it is the 18th largest country in the world and the 17th most populous country in the world with nearly 80 million inhabitants. Bordered by such countries as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey and Iraq it is not surprising that its history is turbulent and constantly changing; religion, politics, 62

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A village near Damavand

economics, culture. Virtually every aspect of life here has been subject to many influences and abrupt changes. This is what makes it interesting. Over the last few years however, foreign visitors are once again rediscovering Iran as a fascinating place to explore as they once did when it was part of the hippie overland trail in the 1970s. The Hippie Trail was a 10,000km â&#x20AC;&#x153;pilgrimageâ&#x20AC;? from Western Europe and the United Kingdom across land to places in the east such as India and Thailand. Pleasure seekers carrying nothing but rice bowls The beauty of Damavand and wear brightly colored clothes went in to explore the trails and with trekking poles search of a different lifestyle and the finest to climb the mountains. herbs. Places and countries they visited Because of its geographical position Iran have become famous such as Freak Street has been subject to enormous influences in Kathmandu. Iran was on the trail back in all its walks of life. It is also home to then and freely open to all nationalities. one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest civilizations. Any Present day explorers now arrive in Tehran visitor who returns from Iran will show you via FlyDubai and with new mountain bikes pictures of stunning architecture, contrasting landscapes and talk of the welcoming friendly people. Of course if you are from a country such as the UK or the US, the visa situation is slightly more complicated but still possible. Visitors from countries such as Germany and even South Africa can get their passport stamped on arrival.

Mount Damavand

Porters

Mount Damavand is important to the Iranian way of life and is even featured on the national currency. The peak is located only 66kms northeast of Tehran and plays a significant role in many Persian myths. It is

the symbol of Iranian resistance against evil rulers and foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. In other stories, the three-headed dragon AĹži DahÄ ka was imprisoned within Mount Damavand, and had to remain there until the end of the world. At the summit of Damavand there is a well-preserved crater that is 300m in width. Here you will see active fumaroles, yellow sulphurous rocks, pumice stones and even a lake in the summer. A fumarole is a common feature in land sculptured by fire and volcanoes. It is an opening in the Earth, through which steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen sulphide are emitted. It can be quite spectacular and gives a climber an ethereal, unearthly feeling. Damavand is relatively young in its formation and the conical shape that stands in isolation makes for a route that is very direct on nearly all sides. Currently despite changing global temperatures there are still two large areas that hold glaciers, both on the north side. The climb in the summer involves only a small passage of hiking on snow and the path is well trodden. During the winter, the terrain completely changes and temperatures drop. Deep snow and temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius can be expected but this makes it a paradise for ski mountaineering. Winter is definitely quieter and provides a completely different experience. Amongst Iranians, Damavand is very popular and there is skiing at the resort that is even possible in spring. Being close to the capital, Tehran, accessibility is easy and the hiking routes can get busy at the weekends.

Climbing routes

There are many routes to the top and at these altitudes it is always a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to adjust to the altitude, include a spare summit day for those moving at different speeds and even to allow for periods of bad weather. Damavand is only a few meters lower than Kilimanjaro, slightly higher than the trek to Everest Base Camp and as an alternative to other mountains in this height range, it is perfect for those seeking their first adventure at altitude. It is a relatively short trip and can be done in less than 10 days. The hiking distances and length of days

are shorter than a Kili or EBC trip so in this respect it is easier. As always care and a gradual schedule for acclimatization is appropriate but with this approach, most hikers should be able to summit and take home some memorable experiences on a high altitude mountain. Around the mountain, the villages have been developed to cater to tourists, although still basic which is a good thing. At the village of Polur to the south of the mountain, the Iranian Mountain Federation have established a camp. The most popular route to the summit is the Southern Route which has some steep steps and a camp midway at 4220m called Bargah Sevom.

How to prepare yourself

The Damavand climbing season in summer starts from the middle of June and can last to mid-September. The best time is in July and August. During this period the footpaths are generally free of snow and the weather is usually stable. The climb to the summit of Damavand in summer is not technically difficult but physically it can be challenging unless you have followed a pre-expedition training schedule. See the coming months for exercises that can be used to strengthen your hiking muscles. The main challenge of the climb is allowing your body to adjust to the higher altitudes. To raise the chance of success and lower the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS),

it is best to allow extra days in the overall itinerary. Sometimes they are not used and sometimes they are. Although statistics can be misleading you can expect to climb a total eight kilometre trail distance in 10 hours. One of the advantages of a summer ascent to Damavand is that you can access some of the lower camps by vehicle saving your efforts for summit day. Summit day is about six hours which is achievable for many and with a height gain from the base to the summit of just over 2600m that is spread over three to four days. The average angle of the slope over this distance is 21.8 degrees but with some sections up to 30 degrees. If you are successful and the weather is clear, standing on the summit will give you clear views of the Caspian Sea, the capital Tehran, Lake Lar, the huge plain of Varamin and the green jungle in northern Iran. Climbing Damavand in Iran is a lifelong memory and to be able to stand on the highest point in the Middle East will be life changing and maybe a start of a life of future adventures. To enquire more about the OutdoorArabia trip to Damavand, see our webpage or get in contact via Facebook or email. http://outdoorarabia.com/ international-trips/damavand/

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The Oman Quad A circumnavigation of Oman

Conclusion

Words By: Clive Delves Photos By: Clive Delves, Elisna and Lawrence Vincent-Edwards

Day Six - 26/11/2014 - Ad-hoc Desert camp to Desert camp Distance covered - 174kms

After reaching the next sabkha, helped by the early morning dew, we turned back to Qitbit in a roundabout way, en route we fell upon another green and fertile oasis [N19.13975° E54.20783°] and also happened upon a group of 10 4WDs driven by Omanis in what seems to be the middle of nowhere, they had gathered there and corralled their vehicles into what may have been a circle for celebration and seemed to be having a great time of it. We tried our luck with the checkpoint, which was laid on the sand-track that would take us directly to OE51, and as we explained our situation, they reacted positively to our planned route but politely told us for our own safety, since some tourists were “lost” a while back, the policy is to not allow anyone through without an Omani guide. “By the way”, the younger policeman said, “I saw you yesterday at the Oasis, yes?”It turned out that he was the driver of the patrol car, the day before. Further route changes were called for and our new path would take us ‘OP’ again across gravely sandy sabkha, passing some interesting geological features, including geodes, which are round ball shape formations which held a lining of crystal on the inside, and on to the track heading towards the lost city of Ubar which is also the start of the YOS route

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in Mike’s book. During this leg we gained a third puncture from the dried, spiky and tough vegetation that hung on to life in these remote desert areas. Even so, we celebrated our fifth night under the stars with a warm camp shower in the late afternoon sun, and the luxury of a double chocolate TimTam biscuit, in an area of pillow rocks and large trees.

Day Seven - 27/11/2014 - Desert Camp to YOS track - Distance covered - 322kms

Arriving at Ubar around midday, it is a hive of activity. We saw several municipality workers in their bright orange overalls busy at work, and it seemed that the place is being given a facelift. We refilled and refuelled and then set

off down the YOS route towards the confluence of the Yemen-Oman border. We planned not to venture farther than YOS13 given the disputed border lines and after going OP, tearing along kilometre after kilometre of hard sand and gravel sabkha many kilometres wide, surrounded by huge versions of the starfish dunes at the start of our journey, we popped out between the dune’s fingers at YOS13 and head south towards the Omani border town of Mazyouna along unused red flowing sand tracks. Just before YOS13 we had come across a solitary Nissan Patrol with five Omani men trying to get it unstuck with no tools or recovery equipment to hand, just their bodies with which to push and shove and free the vehicle. They managed to do it just as we arrived on the scene, then out of the blue there appears an Omani farmer in his Land Cruiser pickup with crazy hair and frightening teeth, and a questioning gesture. He was probably asking why, why are you here? I doubt the sight of three foreigners and one a woman, so near to his home and the Yemeni border is that regular an occurrence for him. And just as quickly as he had appeared, he disappears.

Day Eight - 28/11/2014 - YOS track to Fizayah Beach Camp - Distance covered - 348kms The corrugations on the tracks to Mazyouna were some of the hardest that we have encountered and they took their toll on our vehicles. Our steel roof rack mountings began to literally crack under the weight of their load and not before long, the grinding sound of bare metal on metal is heard from inside the car. As this happened, we hoped that the remaining mountings were resilient

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wadis, in the way that the Omanis do so well and which linked Hasik to Shuwaymiah for the first time. Time was pressing and covering distance was the name of the game, and after the monotony but quietness of the tarmac surface, another overnight camp by the beach this night at Lakby, was interrupted by the visit of some locals who were interested in who we were and where we had come from.

Day Twelve - 02/12/2014 Lakby to Wahiba Sands - Distance covered - 624kms

enough to hold the rack until we arrived in Salalah, where we would be able to have them repaired. We passed an abandoned bus a few metres off the track, that had become bogged down in the sand and since that day it had been left there at the mercy of the elements. Mazyouna itself felt like a forgotten frontier town from the old Wild West days. Peoples’ eyes followed us as we move around. The heavily protected border crossing into Yemen can be seen only a few hundred metres away, it was a place to refuel and refill and be swiftly on our way. The tracks through Wadi Aydam towards the coast are heavily corrugated and physically punishing to both man and machine but provided us with the most beautiful scenery. The white sand, white river stones, abundant green trees and bushes grew full for the camels to indulge themselves, and steep almost vertical Wadi sides have been carved by the elements into the most interesting and unusual patterns. This stayed with us for many a weaving kilometre until finally we popped out on to the tarmac of the Salalah road. Our ninth night under the stars was spent on the beach near the village of Fizayah [N16.82599° E53.70206°] with the sound of the waves crashing a few metres away and a cool sea breeze, that blew away the stresses of the hot and dusty days behind us. This was the night that the shooting stars gave all three of us the chance of seeing the single best sighting of the trip.

Day Nine and Ten - R’n’R in Salalah - Distance covered - 127kms

In contrast to the last nine days, Salalah beautiful at any time of the year. It was like a pearl in the oyster to us. After overnight camping, dusty tracks and wind-blown sandy plains, we relished the chance for a hot shower and air conditioning, and took the opportunity to wash clothes and to pamper ourselves over the next two days with some good food and the much anticipated ice cold in Salalah drinks, which had become a milestone target for us.

Day Eleven - 01/12/2014 Salalah to Lakby - Distance covered - 455kms

With roof rack repairs sorted, vehicle and drivers washed and refreshed we set off on the return leg north up the coast road. This took us through the final section of the remarkable feat of engineering that was the recently opened road across the mouth of several high

More kilometres of tarmac, but by 3:00 p.m. we entered the Wahiba sands where the local farmers have created a small village of shacks and sheds built out of what appears to us to have been things blown ashore by the winds coming off the coastline only a few metres away. 30kms into the Wahiba track we are stopped by a 4WD full of Omanis, one of whom jumps out and very agitatedly demanded “water and chips”. I hand over some water but had no chips, despite his insistence. He quickly made his way to team VE’s vehicle with similar demands, but again he would be out of luck for chips. Team VE sniffed out a campsite avoiding the chance of being disturbed by interested locals for a second time, and we settled down for another night under the stars.

Day Thirteen - 03/12/2014 Wahiba to Yiti - Distance covered - 405kms

Continuing our path through the Wahiba, we set a steady pace. The fact that the area looks so green only a few months after the summer means that the place would most likely be a veritable garden by the end of the winter months. That would be a great reason to repeat the Wahiba track. Our planned route of 135kms meant we surpassed the 1001 Nights camp. We then went into Al Mintrib for a refuel and refill, and it was now time to rejoin the coastal road, which we did by heading into Sur and following the Muscat road. One more overnight camp remaining and we planned to head for the As Sifah/Yiti area, a track through a dry wadi was used and we arrived at Yiti in the late afternoon, and found a small enclosed beach at the bottom of a steep slope which was ideal for the last night camp.

Day Fourteen - 04/12/2014 Yiti to Home - Distance covered - 343kms

The final day and the drive from Yiti on the weaving coastline is beautiful, a popular area for local and overseas visitors alike, where the As Sifah beaches are being developed as a tourist paradise. We hoped that the next time we visit, the area will not have been developed beyond reason. And with a sense of

disappointment that our drive was coming to an end, in a similar way, we also hoped that the drive we had completed would not be changed beyond reason. So that others can experience what we have, to succeed in their own small way and to be able to just get out there into real nature and see for themselves what “The Real Oman” has to offer.

Drive statistics

Total distance driven in Oman = 4164kms Total off-road distance driven in Oman = 1944kms Average speed off-road = 53kms Slowest pace off-road = 274m in 2hrs Fastest pace off-road = 102kms between OE10 and Yibal Number of stucks = Lost count

Credits and appreciation

Big thanks to Mike Nott for his initiative, Lawrence and Elisna Vincent-Edwards for their team work, navigation assistance and their undaunting enthusiasm, Martin Wennerby and Anthony Bolton for the loan of equipment, Ian Huggins, Norman MacKenzie and Cheryl Lyou for offering backup support. Clive’s trusty old Pajero is serviced, maintained and modified by Bejoy at Auto Dynamics, SHJ.

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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

Navigating without a compass Words By: Sean James

Navigation should be easy. In fact it is. When you’re not lost, navigating is the easiest thing in the world. However when you’re lost that is probably when you need your navigation skills most. Combined with stress and the possible danger to life, it’s always good to have an understanding of basic navigation to fall back on. There are many different techniques and methods that you could use and to be able to pick the correct one is important. We are going to have a look at some methods of navigating that can provide fun and entertainment but also could prove vital in certain situations. An important aspect is whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere. The methods used here can be used in both although must be reversed in some cases.

First steps

The first thing you should do if you are lost is to remain calm and assess the situation. Try to remember where you have come from and the type of terrain that you have been hiking across. If you are near a high point it would be a good idea to climb it to have a good look around. The next step is to picture in your mind your intended route, where you have been

Hiking around the amazing Hatta Dam

Trees grows thicker on the south side of trees.

and where you wanted to go. You can even write some points of interest down to make your own map. Try to remember which direction you were travelling - was it north, east etc. If you are lost or need a marker throughout the day, it’s always a good idea to try to determine north and this can be done in a number of ways. If you still have your map, knowing north, you will at least be able to place it in the correct orientation. Navigating without a compass is also something that can be done deliberately on a regular hike or trail run if you want to go light and have a sense of freedom or adventure not just when you are lost.

Finding north

This method requires a clear sky and takes a lot of time and is the most complicated here. It’s good fun to practise in the back garden

or at a camp. Take a stick such as a hiking pole about one metre in length, two small rocks, another small stick that needs to be sharp, and some string. In the morning, before midday stick the hiking pole in the ground, directly upright. Mark where the end of the shadow of the hiking pole is with one of the rocks. Next, tie the string at one end to the base of the hiking pole and the other at exactly the length of the shadow. At this end tie the small, sharp stick. Mark out half a circle in the sand with your sharp little stick and wait until the evening. During the morning, the shadow will get shorter and shorter, until noon, when it gets longer again. At noon, when the shadow is at its shortest, you may want to mark the point. The shadow is now pointing north (if you are north of 23.5° north). Finally, the

Vegetation is thicker on southern aspects.

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shadow reaches your circle again, and when it does, place your other little stick at the spot where the shadow ends. If you haven’t got a string, you could use a pole that has the right length, or try to come up with some other improvised solution. Just make sure what you draw is a circle. Now, the line from the first stick to the second is west-east, like on the figure. Actually, you may want to mark points regularly, because any two points that have exactly the same distance from the base of the pole will give the West-East line.

Use the North Star to Find True North

In the northern hemisphere, the Big Dipper constellation is the key to finding the North Star and the direction of true north. Polaris; or the North Star, has a huge significance in navigation and the lives of people. Polaris is the only star in the northern hemisphere’s sky which appears not to move. As the Earth rotates, the sun and stars move from east to west, the North Star stays relatively still. If you are at the equator, the North Star lies directly on the horizon. At the North Pole, it is directly overhead. Therefore by measuring the angle formed between the horizon and the pole star you can determine your position of latitude in the northern hemisphere. The Big Dipper or Plough consists of seven stars and looks like a ladle or drinking gourd. The Big Dipper is also used on the Swedish coat of arms and on the state flag of Alaska. Among the American Indians, the Dipper appears on some tribal flags. Once you have located the furthest two stars in the “spoon” part of the Big Dipper, visualize a straight line connecting the two, then continue away from the top of the spoon with that line for approximately five times the distance of the space between the two stars. Along that line you should end right at the North Star. But how does that help? Next remember where that North Star is and place a stick in the ground, one metre tall, and then a second shorter stick, 50cm about one metre away. The taller stick should be directly between the shorter stick and the North Star. Now, crouch down and line your eye sight across the tops of the two sticks and the North Star forming a diagonal line. Finally, draw a line in the ground from the base of the shorter stick to the base of the longer stick -- and then continue to draw a line in the ground so it points away from the longer stick. If you’ve done this right the line will be pointing true north.

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

Two Sticks at Night Method

At night another method using stars and two sticks can be used. Place a stick in the ground so that it stands vertically. Place a second taller stick just beyond the first stick. Crouch down behind the first stick and look along the line created by the tops of the two sticks, and then finally to a star in the night sky. Pick one particular star and watch it. If the star moves up, you are facing east; if it moves down, you are facing west; if it moves right, you are facing south; if it moves left, you are facing north.

the shorter one and the 12 numeral. The direction of the bisected angle will point to south. The exact opposite is north. In the Southern Hemisphere point the numeral 12 at the sun and bisect the angle between this and the hour hand to get the North/ South line. This method gets less precise the nearer you are to the Equator and relies on you having a watch with hands, knowledge of true local time and a visible sun.

The sun

If you can see the sun it is very useful. When you notice the sun going down in the evening and you are in the northern hemisphere make a note where it is setting. This will be roughly in the west. If it is in the morning and the sun is rising, then this will be the east. The sun rises due east on only two days of the year, the equinoxes, close to March 21st and September 22nd each year.

Use the watch hands to find south.

Use your watch

If you have a wrist watch with hands, you can use the time to find north. We know the sun rises in the east, sets in the west and is due south at local noon if you are in the northern hemisphere. Take your watch off and hold your watch out level in front of you. Point the hour hand, normally the shorter one, directly at the sun. If your watch is set to true local time, bisect the angle between the hour hand, normally

Fish and dolphins often give indications of the location of land particularly far out to sea. Use the watch hands to find south.

The Moon

We see the moon because it reflects the sun’s light. This means its bright side will always be ‘pointing’ to the direction of the sun. This is either approximately east or west. When the moon is in a crescent method we therefore know that the line that joins the horns of a crescent moon together

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is at right-angles to this east/west line. Any line that is perpendicular to an east/west line must be a south/north line. You can try this at night in Dubai or whenever there is there is a horned moon. Imagine a line that connects the horns of a crescent moon and then project this line down to the horizon. In the northern hemisphere this will give an approximate indication of south. It works best when the moon is high in the sky and not too near the horizon.

Reading the land

There are a number of small, sometimes inaccurate signs that you can also take from the land around you. Added together, they may give you clues. In the northern hemisphere, the north side of cliffs and trees are often in the shade. As a result growth patterns are affected. Trees are never symmetrical and on north faces there are therefore likely to be less things growing e.g. fewer branches on trees. Walk around a tree and try to take note of all the small differences. The sun will also shape individual branches. The branches on the southern side tend to grow more horizontally, out towards the sun, whereas the shaded northern branches tend to grow upwards, closer to vertical. This is because they are trying to search for more sunlight. On the north side of a cliff or boulder there may be more moss or lichen if there is humidity or dampness. The south side of a cliff, mountain or tree will often have thicker vegetation and undergrowth and fruits,

Observing the land from above.

flowers and berries will ripen faster. And in areas where there is snow, the snow will melt faster on south facing slopes leaving them barer.

Animals

Animals can also give clues as to direction. Ants like to build their nests on the south side of trees. At sea birds in particular are valuable aid in working out direction and the proximity of land. The annual and daily patterns of bird flight, combined with the habits of marine life like whales and dolphins offer valuable

help to those who look for these clues. Birds will often fly towards land in the evening.

The wind

One of the first things to do on arriving in any new area is to look at the prevailing wind direction. In an area like the UAE, the landscape in the deserts such as the dune will give you a clue as to direction. The crescent-shaped Barchan dunes form in many areas around Dubai and the end or horns of the crescents point in line with the wind. Traditionally nomadic cultures like the Bedouins could read the sand in this way and relied on it for navigation. The prevailing wind in Dubai comes from a north-westerly direction. Sand dunes form at 90 degrees to the prevailing wind so we would expect the majority of dunes to run from north east to south west.

Clouds

Navigating with clouds is also possible to keep you on track. If there are low, fluffy, cumuli clouds in the sky at the start of your hike check which way they are moving. Generally at this level they won’t change direction over the course of a day so keep yourself in the same orientation. The direction of the clouds in the sky is different to the wind you will feel at ground level. This is a phenomenon known as “backing” in the northern hemisphere whereby the wind turns left, sometimes by as much as 50 degrees when it contacts the ground. Sand dunes form at 90 degrees to the prevailing wind. Quick checklist route planning Start point

24°47’43.41”N56° 6’31.90”E

Off-road driving required?

Distance and time from Mirdif to start

111km 85min

Navigation on hike

Very easy route finding on wide gravel tracks

Time required for hike

1 - 2 hours

Distance

4.6km

Elevation gain on hike

94m

High point

432m

Grocery / water on hike

Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail?

Yes

Suitable for all the family?

Yes

OUTDOORUAE

A hike for May

This hike takes you to the beautiful area around Hatta and one of the dams. Hiking near water is amazing and this trail is easy to follow and can be extended and time spent around the lakes or exploring adjacent wadis. This is a great introduction to hiking and this area. 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

Ski Fitness Words By: Mark Poolan Photos By: Jung Francisco

SKI Fitness is becoming more and more popular around the globe, specifically throughout the UAE.

Skiing is extremely demanding on the cardiovascular system; More specifically, the aerobic energy system with demands of aerobic power. The key areas which play a very important role in skiing are the following: Cardiovascular Fitness, Muscular Strength and Power Core Stability and Weigh Distribution and Flexibility. These exercises are designed to improve your physical fitness, optimal range of motion and strength across key joints used

whilst skiing. When performing these key functional exercises correctly, this will improve your performance, reduce the risk of injury and maximize your time on the slopes. Each exercise is specifically designed to mimic the movement patterns in skiing in order to condition your body to be ready for the slopes. The main muscles used during a typical day on the slopes are: Erector Spinae, Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads and your Core Stabilizing Muscles.

Exercise 3: Multi level box jumps Exercise 1: Ski Squat

Start standing upright with both your feet together. Initiate the movement from the hips and drop down with your bum ensuring your weight is kept through the heels and your knees donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go past your toes. Go as deep as possible ensure good form is kept throughout and return to the starting position pushing through your heels. In this exercise it is important to keep a neutral spine and keep your head and chest in an upright position.

Exercise 4: Explosive Squat Jumps

Start standing upright with both your feet shoulder width apart. In this exercise we are going to perform three mini squats then explode up into a jump as high as you can. To perform this exercise, perform three squats but only focus on the first 45 degrees of the squat. Once three mini squats have been performed, drop into a deep squat and explode up into a jump trying to maximise the time you spend in the air. It is important that once you land, you land with bent legs to cushion. Repeat this process once a secure landing has been made.

Exercise 7: Swiss Ball Jacknife

To get onto the Swiss ball, start behind the ball, place your mid-section on the ball and roll forward until your hand reaches the floor. Walk out with your hands until the ball is placed on your shin or underneath your ankle. Also have your hands shoulder width apart. To perform the exercise, keep your core muscles nice and tight, bend your knees and roll the ball up towards your torso then return to the starting position. It is important that you keep the movement smooth and do not drop your hips or raise your lower back.

Exercise 2: BOSU Lateral Shuffle

Start with the soft part of the BOSU facing up with one leg on the BOSU and one leg off the BOSU on the floor. With both legs in a powerful movement, transfer to the same position on the opposite side of the BOSU. Start off slow and ensure that good balance and coordination is kept throughout the exercise.

Exercise 5: Kettlebell Stiff-Legged Deadlift

Start with a slight bend in the legs with your arms straight and the kettlebell hanging in between your legs. Keep the kettlebell close to your body. Initiate the movement from the hips and lower the kettlebell down towards the floor as far as you can go keeping the legs in a fixed position. Once you have reached as far as you can go on the downward phase, contract your hamstrings, glutes and erector spinae to return to the starting position making sure full hip extension is achieved.

Set up two step boxes one metre apart from each other. Start with one leg on the raised step box and one leg on the floor. With explosive power from your legs, propel your body from one box to the other. Make sure both feet leave the box and the floor at the same time and land on the box and floor at the same time to ensure balance throughout the exercise.

Exercise 6: Isometric Wall Squat

Stand with your back against a wall and lower the body down so that there is a 90 degree torso/hip/knee alignment. Once this position has been achieved, hold this position as long as possible. Remember to always keep your weight through the heels and not your toes. This type of exercise is called isometric exercise in which the joint angle and muscle length do not change. This type of exercise is a great way to train to increase muscular strength.

MARK POOLAN Fitness Manager Fitness First Al Manzil

OUTDOORUAE

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

TIPS & TRICKS

Sea kayak skills The forward paddling stroke Words By: Steven Bennett

There are many skills a sea paddler will use during a typical trip, and whether you are a recreational paddler or a committed, hardcore sea kayaking junkie, the most important skill to learn is effective forward paddling. You will be spending 99% of your time doing this and a good, effective technique will allow you to paddle for hour after hour. It starts with your kayak. Correct posture is important, so sit with your feet against the footrests, your knees braced into the deck of the boat next to the cockpit with your backside comfortable in the seat. Sit slightly forward with your back supported by the back rest. You do not want to be too tight as this will restrict movement so adjust the footrests or backrest to suit. With your feet against the footrests you should be able to lower your knees and straighten your legs. With sit-on-tops, obviously you cannot brace your knees in the same way but the principle is basically the same. A backrest with sit-ontops is especially important. Next, you need to hold the paddle in the correct manner. Most kayak paddles have feathered blades which means the two blades will be set at an angle to each other. The reason for this is that as the lower blade is in the water, the upper blade is slicing through the air making your job easier. Hold the paddle with your hands just slightly over shoulder width apart and an equal distance between each hand and the blades. Paddles can be either left or righthanded and depending on which is your orientation. This hand will be your controlling hand. This hand provides the control to set the paddle for whatever stroke you intend to use. The knuckles of your controlling hand should be in line with the blade on that side and should not move in relation to that blade. The other hand holds on loosely but firmly. Kayak forward paddling is a rotational action that theoretically doesn’t have a start or finish however, it can be broken down in this way. Catch. Power. Follow through. Fig 3. Catch

Fig 2. The knuckles of the controlling hand (right hand in this case) in line with the blade on that side.

Fig 1. The correct hand position on the paddles.

Catch. With your controlling hand forward and the other hand up level with the opposite shoulder the blade is placed fully into the water at 90° to the boat, close to the hull at a point level with your feet. The trunk is rotated with the shoulders at about 45° to the boat ready to unwind to provide power. Power. Power comes not from the arms but from the back and shoulder muscles which are stronger. As you unwind your trunk you pull back on the paddle and the boat moves forward with the blade close to, but not touching the hull. To counter the twisting action involved, the foot on that side braces against the footrest. At the same time the upper arm is pushed forward at a head height and the trunk is rotated.

in relation to the blade on that side. Trunk rotation to provide power. Top arm does not cross the centre line of the boat. Remember, with a smooth, rhythmic action you can paddle for hours on end. One point to note: this technique is for use with conventional kayak paddles. For wing paddles, the technique is very different. Wing paddles are used by competition paddlers and surf skiers and are rarely used by sea kayakers.

Happy paddling. Fig 6. Looking from above. At the end of the stroke notice how the top arm does not cross the centre line of the kayak.

Follow through. The trunk is now fully rotated with the blade exiting the water just behind the cockpit. At this point the upper arm at full extension will drop slightly and during the entire stroke the top arm does not cross the centre line of the kayak. The only time it does is for turning or correction strokes. Upon leaving the water, the blade will be raised with the hand coming up level with the shoulder, at the same time your controlling hand will twist backwards allowing the blade on the opposite side to be presented to the water. The process is then repeated on the opposite side. During this cycle do not hold too tightly onto the paddle. This can put strain on the hand muscles and become very tiring. On the push phase, the hand of the upper arm can be opened and the palm used to push the paddle. This will allow the hand muscles to relax. The key points to remember: correct posture in the boat. Hand positions on the paddle with the controlling hand not moving

Fig 4. Power

Fig 5. Follow through

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

UAE DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

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

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

YAS

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

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 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

OUTDOORUAE

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome www.cyclechallenge.ae Dubai Roadsters, www.dubairoadsters.com

Diving

Services Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, +971 43065061, www.climbingdubai.com E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 42824540, www.esportsuae.com The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111, www.the-club.com Information UAE Climbing, +971 506456491, www.uaeclimbing.com

Mountain Biking & Cycling

Equipment/Dealers Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE, +971 526221888, products@allbikers.net Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415, www.cyclesportsuae.com Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor, C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, info@funridesports.com, www.funridesports.com Micah’s Bike Shop, Warehouse no.4 6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228 Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Dubai, +971 43413056 / +971 43308023 Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1, +971 43255705, www.probike.ae Rage Shop, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City, +971 43369007, www.rage-shop.com Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441, www.rcdxb.com Ride Bike Shop, Dubai Mall, Festival City, Oasis Centre, Mirdif City Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43750231, www.ridebikeshop.com Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road & Jebel Ali, Dubai, + 971 43388644 Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525, www.tamreensports.com The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai, +971 505528872, www.thecyclehub.com Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377, www.trekbikes.ae Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 45081202, +971 556096757, www.trikkeme.net Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, +971 506259165, www.adventure.ae, info@adventure.ae Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com

OUTDOORUAE

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, Dubai www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Blue Waters Marine, +971 42232189, Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi, +971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi, Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +971 26665226, www.premiers-uae.com Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai, +97143414940, info@scubadubai.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Diving Centres Al Boom Diving (equipment), Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993, www.alboomdiving.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam, +971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St across from main bus terminal, +971 26437377, info@divemahara.com, www.divemahara.com Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72226628, +971 502428128 www.arabiandiver.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Coastal Technical Divers, glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com, www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City, Dubai, +971 44308246, www.diveindubai.com Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015400, www.divemahara.com Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, +971 92370299, www.diversdown-uae.com Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi, near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444, www.edc-ad.ae Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam, +968 26735555, www.extradivers.info Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba, Royal Beach Hotel, +971 43944275, www.freestyledivers.com Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation Club, Oman, +968 99317518, www.global-scuba.com Khasab Divers, Oman, www.khasabdiver.com Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Moonlight Dive Center, Madinat Qaboos, Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +971 503289642, www.holiday-in-oman.com Neptune Diving, +971 504347902, www.neptunedivingcentre.com Nomad Ocean Adventures, www.discovernomad.com, +971 508853238, Dibba, Oman Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman, +968 24284240, www.omadivecenter.com Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +971 44068828 Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488, www.scubaoman.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922, www.scubauae.com 7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan,

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

+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, 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

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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 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

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

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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 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

OUTDOORUAE

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

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, www.godiveoman.com Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240, www.nomadtours.com Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917, NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441, www.omantrekkingguides.com

Diving

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,

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

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 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

Clubs

Cycling, Running & Triathlon Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach +974 44439840/+974 55649995 www.qmsf.com Qatar Chain Reaction, www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com

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

Add your free listing to the 74

OUTDOORUAE

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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

Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65, Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Oman Dive Center Resort, PO Box: 199, Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman, +968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info Omanta Scuba Diving Academy, Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area, Muscat, Oman, +968 97700564, www.omantascuba.com Oxygen Diving and Adventures, PO Box: 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat, Oman, www.o2diveoman.com Seaoman, PO Box: 2394, RUWI PC 112, Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com Sub Aqua Dive Center, Hilton Salalah Resort, PO Box: 699, Salalah 211, Oman, +968 99894031, www.subaqua-divecenter.com

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 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,

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

Oman’s Kite Center, +968 94006007, www.kitesurfing-lessons.com

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

ONLINE DIRECTORY

The Dubai Mall

04 434 1280

Mall of Emirates

04 347 8277

City Centre Mirdif

04 284 3143

Al Wahda Mall

02 443 7397