OutdoorUAE - January 2018 by OutdoorUAE

Urban Ultra It’s Origins in the UAE Our UTX50 Nutrition Plan

Potatoes, Pickles, and Pascal’s Minestrone Soup

Basic Driving Instructions

The Omani Coast and Wahiba The Emirates Kayak Expedition Over 2,000 Cyclist Took Part In the Cycle Challenge of the Year

Plenty of

PRODUCTS TO CHECK OUT

Price 11.00 AED 1.00 OMR

1ST PSICOBLOC CLIMBING EVENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

THE COLUMBIA ADVENTURE ACADEMY HITS THE DUNES

Vol. 8, No. 1 January 2018

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THE UAEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIRST BICYCLE EXHIBITION

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JANUARY 12 TH - 13 TH, 2018 | DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE LATEST CYCLING INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS NETWORKING

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

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OutdoorUAE Team

New Year’s resolutions

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and Managing Director daniel@outdooruae.com

December is for many cultures in the UAE a month of celebrations and indulgence and lots of us will have put on a little extra weight as we attended celebrations with family and friends.

Traditionally we use the New Year as a time to set ourselves a few self-improvement goals which we call “New Year’s resolutions” but it can be hard to keep these up and maintain the motivation to keep going! If like me your aim is to lose a few Kilograms (especially from my waistline!) then you need all the encouragement you can get to really push yourself to achieve this. A strict diet and exercise regime may not be the healthiest or easiest option and in most of our cases we may find that we lack the discipline to keep it up. The real key to losing that excess weight is to do everything in moderation and to have fun at the same time. Instead of paying for a gym membership you may only use for the first month, go out and join a new club doing an activity you wanted to try, you’ll find several articles in this month’s issue that relate to the various clubs in the UAE for Mtn Biking, Off-road driving (more exercise than just sat behind the wheel) and Ultra running. When it comes to food you’ll find our paleo smoothie recipe in this month’s issue a real kick-start to losing weight and our advice on Vegetarianism may get you thinking too and just remember that you don’t need to radically change your diet to get trim you just need to control your portion sizes. Our feature this month on the new Cable Car in Kathmandu valley might whet your appetite to head over to Nepal for some altitude training. You can ride the cable car up and run down then ride a mountain bike up and cable car down and all while enjoying the beautiful National park that surrounds the valley – if you are lucky you might even spot a leopard or a rare bird in the forests! As ever we encourage you to go out and seek advice from the experts and training from professionals before you go into the wilds.

Thank you and stay safe.

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Katherine Cañedo Patangui Administration kathy@outdooruae.com

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EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

David O’Hara Ultra Runner and Extreme Endurance Junkie

Kit Belen Our Fishing Pro

Bandana Jain Outdoor and Lifestyle Contributor

www.OutdoorUAE.com Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE

Nico de Corato Dubai Blogger and Athlete

Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE Youtube.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.

Ireneo ‘Jung’ Francisco Designer and Photographer jung@outdooruae.com

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and Off-road Expert

Dan Editor For editorial content and press releases Tel. 04 446 8473 Mobile: 055 5760322 editor@outdooruae.com

Dan Wright Staff Writer and Outdoor Guide

Nicky Holland Personal Trainer

Pedro Gomes Professional Triathlete

Denise Ostermann Outdoor Travel Contributor

WHEN YOU’RE DONE READING, PLEASE RECYCLE!

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CONTENTS

28 TESTED TOUGH IN THE DUNES

12 OUR UTX50 NUTRITION PLAN

EVERY ISSUE 06 EVENTS CALENDAR 08 BEST SHOTS 45 PRODUCTS 63 DIRECTORY

EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS 09 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BICYCLE EXHIBITION 10 ENGLISHWOMAN TOWL WINS INAUGURAL SPARTAN WOMEN’S SPRINT 12 OUR UTX50 NUTRITION PLAN 14 URBAN ULTRA - IT’S ORIGINS IN THE UAE

14 URBAN ULTRA

16 DESERT DUNE BUGGY DRIVER RASHED MOHAMMAD AL DHAHERI 18 AL DHAFRA FESTIVAL 2017 20 WALK 7 EMIRATES 21 DAMAN’S FIT TRI CHALLENGE HITS YAS MARINA CIRCUIT 22 DUBAI OFFROADERS GPS CHALLENGE 23 BIGGER AND BETTER MUSCAT MARATHON AIMS 24 WHY SHOULD I EAT LESS MEAT? 26 HOW TO 4X4 - #3 28 TESTED TOUGH IN THE DUNES 30 OVER 2,000 CYCLIST TOOK PART IN THE CYCLE CHALLENGE OF THE YEAR 32 THE CYCLE HUB – ARLA PROTEIN TEAM LAUNCH 33 DUBAI BASED ATHLETE SETS SIGHT ON BIKING MAN ULTRA-CYCLING RECORD

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52 OUTDOOR EDUCATION: PARENTS GET SCHOOLED ON CAMP

40 WINTER WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA

34 FIRST RED BULL PSICOBLOC CLIMBING EVENT 36 XTREME LENGTHS XDUBAI UNVEILS THE XLINE DUBAI MARINA, THE WORLD’S LONGEST URBAN ZIPLINE 37 CASIO G-SHOCK SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES...

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE 38 THE ARAB PULSE: MT TOUBKAL - MOROCCO 40 WINTER WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA

54 THE EMIRATES KAYAK EXPEDITION

OUR EXPERTS 50 THE OMANI COAST AND WAHIBA – MIKE 52 OUTDOOR EDUCATION: PARENTS GET SCHOOLED ON CAMP – HAYDON 54 THE EMIRATES KAYAK EXPEDITION – NICO 56 ITS “NEW YEAR, LESS GEAR” - KIT 58 KATHMANDU’S CABLE CAR AT CHANDRAGIRI HILLS - DAN

LIFESTYLE

PEOPLE

42 OFFROADER’S CORNER: KAYLIE THOMSON 44 HABITUALLY HEALTH: POWER TO RIDE MORE TRAILS

60 ENESTO SALES III

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EVENTS CALENDAR

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STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS

YOU’RE INVITED: OFF-SHORE CATCH AND RELEASE CHALLENGE

JANUARY

Extreme Sports Expo

Date 27 January 2018 Time 1 PM to 7 PM Register Visit www.columbiaacademy.ae

The Extreme Sports Expo gathers together extreme, action, outdoor and adventure companies and communities for a two-day event in Dubai. Organised alongside four co-located events, the Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition, Dubai Motorbike Festival, One Breath – freediving and spearfishing expo and Photography Expo Dubai, the two day event promises to be packed full of exciting exhibitors, shows and competitions to keep our visitors busy. When: 12th -13th January Where: Dubai World Trade Centre Contact: www.extremesportsexpo.me

10 lucky people will be selected. COLUMBIAACADEMY.AE /COLUMBIAME @COLUMBIASPORTSWEAR_ME #ADVENTUREACADEMYDXB

JANUARY

Liwa Cycling Challenge 2018

The Liwa Cycling Challenge is a community cycling event, presented by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. The 104KM, 84K and 40K option will see riders traverse the most picturesque terrain in the Empty Quarter of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. When: 12 January Where: Moreeb Dune Contact: www.premieronline.com

JANUARY

Super Sports Run Race 3

Beat your time at the Super Sports Run Race 3, social to advanced runners, all are in on the action. When: 12 January Where: Meydan, The Track Contact: events@supersportsuae.com

JANUARY

JLL Triathlon Series 2017/2018 - Race 2

Now in its 5th year, the JLL Triathlon Series is a season favourite amongst new and old Triathletes. Featuring Sprint and Super-Sprint Distances and the Legendary Post Race Breakfast from Jebel Ali Golf Resort Hotel. When: 13 January 2018 Where: Dubai Contact: www.premieronline.com 6

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FEBRUARY

6th Reebok Wadi Bih Run 2018 - 2 & 3 February

This edition marks 26 years since John Gregory, led a total of 80 hardy souls running in relay teams from RAK adjacent the Arabian Gulf through the dramatic Wadi Bih before climbing to over 1000m and descending to Dibba via a dramatic narrow gorge to the stunning trajectory of the mountains with the Gulf of Oman. The high mountains and rugged wild terrain give the event a unique flavour and make it one of the most popular sporting events in the region. Register by 01.02.2018 to beat the Taxman! When: 2nd-3rd February Where: Dibba Contact: register.wadibih.com JANUARY

Palm Run 2018

Come and join us for the 2018 Palm Run. Starting and finishing outside Aquaventure and running along the Boardwalk and back to the finish line. Several race distances - 1km/3km/5km/10km. When: 19 January 2018 Where: Dubai Contact: www.premieronline.com

JANUARY

Urban-Ultra BIG Stinker 2018

Are you ready for a bit of a climb? Choose from a 15k, 30k or 45k ultra distance. The Urban-Ultra BIG Stinker is run up and over a beautiful mountain (540m) ascent and descent per 15k loop in Ras Al Khaimah. When: 19 January 2018 Where: Ras Al Khaimah Contact: www.premieronline.com

JANUARY

SST Super Sprint Triathlon

3 short races in one event mixing up the swim, cycle and run. Intense workout improving speed and stamina. When: 20 January 2018 Where: Rashid School for Boy’s Contact: events@supersportsuae.com

JANUARY

Abu Dhabi Sports Council City Run

The 2nd Abu Dhabi Sports Council City Run on the Corniche offering a half marathon, 10k and 5k distance run on a looped course on a closed section of Corniche Road, near East Plaza. When: 26 January 2018 Where: Abu Dhabi Contact: www.premieronline.com

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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 five free copies of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Robert Jerkins, Laura Wozniak and Subair Safdar. Well done!

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

Robert Jerkins

At Fossil Rock, Sharjah

Laura Wozniak

The start of an exhilarating descent down a steep sand dune in Khatam, Sharjah

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Subair Safdar

A rainy day in Wadi Shawka, Ras Al Khaimah

EVENT REPORT

Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition The Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition makes its debut at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 12th-13th, 2018 and is gearing up to be one of the most important cycling events in the Middle East. The Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition will gather the top local and international bicycle brands, retailers, touring companies and cycling clubs allowing both professionals and enthusiasts to experience the latest in cycling technology and innovation. Dubai now offers world-class services for cyclists including professional racetracks, performance cycling shops, a full event calendar of cycling races and a long list of Royal Family Patrons: “I strongly believe that the regional cycling community and industry have long awaited a cycling exhibition that gathers the world of cycling under one roof. The Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition will fill this demand and greatly contribute to the growth of cycling in the Arab world.” Sheikh Faisal bin Humaid Al Qasimi, President of the Arab Cycling Federation. Speaking about the event, Osama Al Shafar, President of the UAE Cycling Federation, noted; “The launch of the Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition is a direct result of the significant growth of cycling both in the UAE and the neighbouring countries. Although hosted in Dubai, this cycling exhibition will be one for the region.”

Plans for the exhibition began early in the year with bicycle companies from Italy, Germany, India, China, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States of America participating in the event. “The aim of the Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition is to bridge the cycling worlds of Asia, Arabia and Europe in Dubai. Just as important for us is to compliment the plans of the Dubai Government who are finalizing the construction of 500km of cycling tracks in Dubai. We intend to do this by creating a cycling event that will accelerate the growth of the sport and the cycling culture in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region,” said Oliver Osea, Project Director, Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai recently gave the green light for an additional 500km of cycling track in Dubai in October, which will result in over 600km of track in the emirate by 2021. Admission is AED30 per day, AED40 for a weekend pass and children under 12 are free. Show hours are 10am to 10pm on Friday and 10am to 9pm on Saturday. ■ For more information and to get your tickets visit; www.dubaibicycleshow.com or email us at; info@dubaicyclyshow.com

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EVENT REPORT

Englishwoman Wins Inaugural Jess Towl, a former pro triathlete and an in-demand CrossFit coach, put her extensive experience to use, bagging the top honours at the XDubai, Spartan Women’s Sprint, the first ladies-only Spartan race in the Middle East and Africa region that was held at the Jebel Ali Race Course on December 16. Organized by Spartan Arabia, in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council, the Sprint race attracted more than 1,000 participants, many of them Emiratis. Jess Towl, 30, finished ahead of them all, completing the 5km and 20-obstacle course in 34:09. Amina Mhih, 34, came second in 37:59, while Ivana Kolaric, 32, was third in 41:07. The 45-year-old Essarokh Latifa (43:24) finished fourth, ahead of 26-year-old Elma Aquino (44:33).

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“We are delighted with the participation of so many ladies, of different nationalities and age group, especially Emiratis,” said Julia Al Jenabi, the Marketing Manager of Spartan Arabia. “This huge turnout will certainly act as an encouragement for us to organize more such events for ladies, thus providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talent and encourage them to embrace physical activity.”

“Thanks to XDubai and the Dubai Sports Council for their continuous support, and thanks to Dubai Holding, Fitness First and all the sponsors for their contribution towards the success of this Race, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region.” Julia went on to state that; “We have made a promising start and moving forward, we will be looking to organize many more successful events like this.” ■

REEBOK WADI BIH RUN 2018 2-3 FEBRUARY DIBBA, OMAN

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

TEAM RACE CATEGORY: 72KM | 50KM SOLO RACE CATEGORY: 72KM | 50KM | 30KM

RUNNERS CAN REGISTER ONLINE AT REGISTER.WADIBIH.COM REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON THE 18TH JANUARY 2018 OR WHEN THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRANTS HAS BEEN REACHED. ENTRANTS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER THEIR PASSPORT AND VISA ONLINE IN ADVANCE FOR THE OMAN BOARDING CROSSING. ORGANIZED BY

IN COOPERATION WITH OUR PARTNERS

adi Bih WWW.WADIBIH.COM

2018

EVENT REPORT

Potatoes, Pickles, and Pascal’s Minestrone Soup Words + Photos by: David O’Hara

Running for hours and hours is my idea of fun, so running with my running buddies for hours and hours is even more fun. At this month’s UTX50 – a 50km ultramarathon through sand, mountains, villages, and wadis in Fujairah and Ras al Khaimah – I have the pleasure of pacing Olya (my wife), Alex (Olya’s colleague), and Ramzi (my colleague). We all run for many reasons, but the four of us run together for the camaraderie, which is something that most nonrunners may find unfathomable.

1pm - spectacular views

5am - one hour before the start

6am - 75 headlamps scrambling up a dune in the darkness

Start in Darkness

8am - Running is so easy, until it gets so hard

Olya – Running her First Ultramarathon

Olya’s training over the past few months has been limited to 2-3 shorter runs during the week and longer weekend runs with me and Alex. The challenge she faces is the unknown mystery of running beyond marathon distance. Olya is running the UTX50 in preparation for the ultras we have planned in 2018. Since UTX50 is Olya’s first ultra, her goal is “Finish with Dignity”.

Alex – the Experienced Marathoner Alex and I have been running together for over four years, with similar running experiences except Alex runs a little faster, and I 12

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prefer ultras over marathons. Alex enjoys running in all the events in the region, from 5km’s to ultras. Alex’s goal for the UTX50 is to have a steady run to see where his endurance level is after a few weeks of training at shorter distances.

We drive to the Start on a Thursday evening after work and camp out in the sand to be ready for the early morning start before sunrise. The first 4km is through sand dunes in darkness, and it’s a thrill watching 75 ultrarunners go up and down dunes in the darkness with only their headlamps illuminating their progress. We witness the sunrise over the dunes, before we enter the first village.

Ramzi – Running for the Adventure

Ramzi ran the 64km Ultramarathon in the Himalayas in Nepal two months ago, but has tapered off since then. UTX50 is his first step to get his fitness back up in his priorities and part of his regular routine. As a runner, Ramzi’s strength is his mental game – when he decides to do something, he gets it done. At UTX50, Ramzi’s goal is to finish.

6:30am - Ramzi and Alex climbing a dune at sunrise

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7am - running through a village

Urban Ultra’s Idea of Fun

11am - see why we love Urban Ultra and their route selection

Urban Ultra organizes great endurance events, where the routes are marked with thousands of pink dots. Unless there is an intrusive goat herd, it is really hard to go off the route. However, whenever Urban Ultra has a choice of taking the challenging wadi path or tough rocky route, they always try to find some route that’s even harder. After running five hours, we find ourselves climbing down boulders hanging on to a cliff before continuing for another 15km to the Finish.

Finishing with Dignity

9:45am - These goats chased us down the wrong road

9am - Alex and Olya enjoy scenic Ras al Khaimah

When we finish the UTX50, Urban Ultra feeds us Pascal’s famous minestrone soup – nothing could taste better after our eight-hour running excursion. There is a sense of accomplishment that we just experienced an outdoor adventure through rural Fujairah and RAK, like we were on Urban Ultra’s Big Red Bus tour – but we achieved our goals for UTX50. Olya finished her first ultra with dignity, as she held her own over the last 10km. Alex’s fitness was strong as he ran at a consistent pace throughout the day. Ramzi finished with a big smile. And I had fun running with my running buddies – Olya, Alex, and Ramzi. ■

10am - Ramzi, Alex, and Olya with two camels

Villages, Unpaved Roads and Wadis

9:30am - cruising like a stroll in the park

Running UTX50 is like taking a Big Red Bus tour of rural UAE, only on foot instead of riding the Big Red Bus. You get to see farms, villages, wadis and everything in between up close. Most of the locals smile and say hi as we run past, but we know they are really questioning our sanity. We run past camels, goats, chickens, and even a horse stable. The only incident was when the goats chased us. We missed a turn in our heightened anxiety and got an extended detour of a village – which was my fault as the designated navigator.

Running Together

9:30am - the volunteers at the checkpoints are awesome!

As I set the pace, Olya, Alex, and Ramzi run together, helping each other, checking on each other, and ensuring that everyone has been hydrating and taking enough nutrition. Yes, there are some ultramarathon elements which in the moment are fun – like indulging in boiled potatoes and pickles instead of gels – highlighting the obvious benefits of running as a group. The real strength in numbers is keeping the mental game up, because running for hours requires as much mental agility as running ability.

2pm - finishing with dignity

2:30pm - Pascal’s famous minestrone soup

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EVENT REPORT

Words + Photos by: Pascale De Jong

Urban-Ultra was founded by a passionate team of women that have made the trail running scene in the UAE a more family friendly, outdoors mad, ultra-distance hungry community of people. How did it all happen? In 1996 we established a graphic design and Photography company here in the UAE. Always keen on our desire to be active, outdoors and part of the sporting scene, we evolved from playing GCC, to mountain biking and running. Triathlons where a natural progression in the direction of doing multiple sports which re-kindled our love for road cycling. We wanted to have a Triathlon with world class athletes like Faris al Sultan and “Macca” Chris Mc Cormack in the city center with amateur athletes competing alongside them. So that was the first Urban-Ultra. Our ambitions then started to shift. We wanted to do longer and more challenging events, and eventually our own DIY Dubai

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Ironman, just because we could…This idea came about when we sat around the campfire and wanted to do an Ironman, but there where non in the UAE and so together with two of our friends we created the first Ironman event in Dubai... (Very VVIP) LOL! Shortly after the DIY ironman, we joined a Gulf for Good Cycle challenge, cycling from Bangkok to Cambodia, raising funds for children in need, and had to create a way to raise funds in the UAE first, so we set up the first ever Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge, a 200km route, now from Sharjah coast to Fujairah al Aqah. Cyclists had families donate money for every km they finished, and this was added to the donation pool for the children in Thailand. The more long distance events you complete, changes your perspective of running / exercise, and you start to realize a lot of the success of finishing a long distance race is mental as much as physical.

We started to look for the next challenge that could truly challenge us, and the ABSA Cape Epic, 8 day MTB stage race and the HK 100km trail run over 5500m of elevation with mountains in your way was our next challenge.

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We trained in the mountains of the UAE, ran through wadis, dunes, discovered the true hospitality of the UAE again with farmers offering tea and families out picnicking to try and feed us. The landscape was so beautiful and with the need to explore we ventured out to different un-chartered grounds, with paths that where only there created by goats and donkeys, we asked ourselves… Why is no one running here…? And so the trail run races were born. First the Urban-Ultra desert stinker, Urban-Ultra Night run, Urban-Ultra Big stinker and now Urban-Ultra UTX 50 and Urban-Ultra Hajar 100 has been created while we continue with the Urban-Ultra Coast to Coast, Kalba cycle race etc.

We created these trail runs to bring new routes to runners that do 10km loops around Safa Park , just pounding the roads and help them re-kindle the passion of running outdoors and enjoying camping with your family before or after the event, bringing them just for the day to enjoy the mountains, challenging yourself to run a further distance then you thought was possible, give you a training plan to focus on reaching that goal and connect with an awesome bunch of trail runners that are just a group of nature loving people that won’t just look at the PB’s but also look after each other in the field because they know what it takes mentally to succeed! We love what we do, we strive to give different routes, different levels of difficulties, so we can give less advanced trail runners the same challenge to experience a wonder-

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ful opportunity to experience the beauty of a sunrise/ sunset in the mountains. We are proud people and we will always run the course ourselves so we know where are the difficulties to set up more support etc. We know what you are going through, after all we had to enter the HK 100 three times to finally be able to complete it! Trust me when we say “don’t give up yet”, just sit down, have a drink, eat something, sort out your blister and get going again because pain is temporary but quitting is forever! ■ If you are interested in joining us find us on www.urbanultra.comor drop us an email at events@urbanultra.com

EVENT REPORT

Desert dune buggy driver Rashed Mohammad Al Dhaheri

crowned winner of Red Bull Torque 2017 Debut edition of the adrenaline-fuelled competition took place in Aljada, Sharjah’s newest address and first urban megaproject Twelve of the UAE’s most fearless desert dune buggy drivers descended on Sharjah’s excitingnew destination megaproject, Aljada, this weekend for a chance of victory at the first-ever edition of Red Bull Torque. And it was Rashed Mohammad Al Dhaheri who emerged victorious on the day, bagging first place with a fastest lap of 01:38.370. Second place Seif Mohammad Al Oteibah was very narrowly pipped to the top spot with a fastest lap of 01:38.820. That’s a difference of 450 milliseconds between the two finalists.

Meanwhile, Nasser Al Hai and Seif Saeed Al Dhaheri rounded up third and fourth place, respectively. The competition – also the first of its kind to be hosted exclusively for purpose-built buggies in the Middle East – put contestants through their paces as they took on a challenging, 120-metre course. The aim of the game? To put their precision to the test, while making sure they’re the fastest in their heat. It’s certainly no easy task, as these dune buggies are often seen in the desert driven by hobbyists. And while the drivers no doubt have phenomenal skills, Red Bull Torque’s course requires that they control their vehicle’s power in order not to touch barriers or obstacles, incurring penalties in the process.

As it Happened

In this elimination-style race, the twelve contestants were drawn at random to go head-to-head as pairs. For every race, two buggies started from opposite sides of the track, with each driver aiming to cross the finish line with the fastest lap. Bonus points were awarded for skills and creativity, including wheelies performed, car design and that all-important engine sound. During Heat 1, six races commenced at two laps each, with the eight fastest drivers qualifying to the next round.

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This was followed by Heat 2, where the four best drivers were chosen to proceed to Heat 3. During Heat 3, the four semi-finalists battled it out for a position in the grand finale. It left Nasser Al Hai and Seif Saeed Al Dhaheri playing for fourth and third place, while Rashed Mohammad Al Dhaheri and Seif Mohammad Al Oteibah got to fight it out for the top spot. As for the entire competition, the fastest lap out of the total heats went to Nasser Al Hai, who completed the track during one heat in an impressive 01:06.570.

The Buggies

The talented contestants can’t take all the credit for what was an action-packed, thrilling weekend event. The dune buggies were also an attraction in themselves. These aren’t your average desert dune vehicles; in fact, some of these machines cost up to an eye-watering AED 2 million to build. All Funco Motorsports (or similar to Funco) branded buggies, each twin-turbo or supercharge V8 vehicle has an average of 1,200 horsepower at the rear wheels. Engines fitted at the rear enable these buggies to have excellent weight distribution, making them glide effortlessly on the sand.

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Every driver is free to modify theirs as they wish. And this is where it can get competitive, what with being given free rein with horsepower and torque. But at the end of the day, only the most gifted drivers will be able to handle all that power. Red Bull Torque took place at Aljada, Sharjah’s largest and most exciting new megaproject. Launched in September, Aljada will be an all-encompassing city within a city, allowing residents, workers and visitors the chance to live, work and play all in the same location. But before the villas, apartments, sporting and entertainment facilities are completed, Red Bull got to make use of the available space for this special event. Created by the UAE’s newest developer, ARADA, Aljada will also be home to the Central Hub, which will be a new leisure and entertainment district for outdoor, indoor and extreme sports in the country. HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of ARADA, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Red Bull to bring this first of its kind event to Sharjah. This partnership is in line with the project’s masterplan, which has put walkability and an active healthy lifestyle for all Aljada’s residents at its core.” ■

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EVENT REPORT

AL DHAFRA FESTIVAL 2017 • Camel beauty tougher than ever to judge • New dagger initiative launched • First Emirati woman in Classic Car competition

This year’s Al Dhafra festival ran from the 14th till the 28th December, and included over 20; competitions, activities and shows, including some introduced for the first time to the festival by its organizer, the “Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee” - Abu Dhabi. Hundreds of daily visitors - Emiratis, expats and tourists - experienced the event this year, which included falcon and saluki races, camel market and parades on Million’s Street, the 48,000 square meters’ souk with its 100 Emirati shops, exhibitions, competitions, live entertainment and a children’s village and, at the heart of the festival, the camel mazayna (beauty) competitions. All in all, 1,400 prizes were offered this year, worth AED 38 million, most of it (over AED 30 million) shared by winners of the 82 camel mazayna. Over the desert grounds beyond Madinat Zayed, in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi emirate, hundreds of camps were set up by camel owners from across UAE, but also from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, who brought their best camel herds to Al Dhafra Festival. Camel owners came in their thousands, most to participate in the camel mazayna competitions, but some just to trade camels. “Al Dhafra Festival was another success story this year. We had thousands of visitors, including ambassadors, ministers and

tourists from different parts of the world. We also had thousands of participants, not just in camel mazayna, but also in the sheep and camel milk competitions, best dates, handicrafts and cooking competitions, the Arabian saluki race and beauty contest, the falcon best in show and falcon racing and in the classic cars competition and the new poetry and shallah (chanted poems) contest,” said Mr. Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Planning and Projects Director at the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi. “Throughout the 15 days of the festival we did a survey for both participants and visitors and we are now going to study their suggestions and possibly add new events and regulations for the festival next year.” “Compared to last year, the camel mazayna was very tough to judge this year, as the blood line for the Asayel and Majahim pedigree camels has become really good. We also witnessed much higher quality in the souk products this year. Participating entrepreneurs, artisans and craft makers

have learnt not only to create high quality products, but also how to best present, package and price them.” “The Million Street was very busy this year with millions being traded for camels. In fact, the area has become like a camel stock market. Camel prices are still going strong, with several millions paid for a top purebred,” he added. Also at Al Dhafra Festival 2017, there were a few government initiatives announced, including one by the organizers themselves. The Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee - Abu Dhabi launched here its new Emirati Dagger initiative. The Emirati Dagger: new initiative launched at Al Dhafra Festival Coinciding with the “Year of Zayed” celebration in 2018, the initiative aims to revive heritage practices related to the traditional dagger (locally known as khanjar), preserve the craftsmanship of making traditional daggers, protect the craft’s characteristics and create a market to sustain this craft, promote the culture of carrying traditional daggers in the Abu Dhabi emirate, conserve old, traditional daggers in the UAE and document the traditional dagger craft. Throughout the festival, in the souk’s square, the Committee has showcased the Emirati khanjar with an exhibition of both old and new daggers. Still made today, the Emirati dagger is usually worn during traditional celebrations. In the past, Emirati men used to carry it as a self-defense weapon, along with a straight blade sword. The making of traditional daggers is a craft that requires specialized knowledge and high skills in working with materials such as ivory, leather and wood. In addition, the craftsmen are required to master the art of silver filigree, using various techniques such as casting, molding, adornment, stamping, engraving, granulation, gilding and polishing among others. The finest quality daggers always stand apart, being the most expensive and valuable on the market, and showing the higher status of their holders. In time, carrying a dagger was not only

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a self-protection necessity, but it became a symbol associated with a number of noble values, notably strength, dignity, courage, honour, nobility and pride. The Emirati Dagger exhibition also had daily workshops for children of all ages, who got to decorate and keep their own replica dagger. Other highlights of Al Dhafra Festival included the popular Camel Milk contest for the largest quantity of milk produced by a camel. The competition took place over four days during the festival, with milking sessions both in the mornings and evenings. Four different breeds of camels were allowed to participate, in four different categories: Majahim, Al Arabi Mahaliat, Al Maftuha and Al Qawaweer Al Mahaliat. The milk amount varied from just under five liters per camel to over 14 litres per camel. First

place winners of each category got to drive home in a brand new Nissan Patrol.

First time Emirati woman enters Classic Car competition

Another favourite at the Al Dhafra Festival is the Classic Car Competition and, for the first time this year, there was a woman participant - and winner! UAE’s Mariam Rashid Al Matmari won third place and AED 7,000 for her Buick 1975 blue convertible model. The first winner, awarded AED 15,000, was Tamer Al Nuaimi for his 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee, while second place and AED 10,000 went to Saeed Al Maskari for his 1973 Ford Grand Torino. The three main awards were followed by seven category prizes for the most beautiful car, the oldest, the biggest, the smallest, best sport car, best sedan (four doors) and

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most luxurious car. Each category winner was awarded AED 5,000. The Classic Car competition - and exhibition - was organized by the Al Ain Classic Car Museum. “We had 20 cars participating this year, the oldest being a Mercedes 280 CE from 1965. Most of these cars belong to our club members, affiliated to the Classic Car Museum, but some belong to us,” said Mr. Rashid Al Tamimi, Chairman of Al Ain Classic Car Museum. “This year we brought three new, unique projects. One was a three-in-one Volkswagen minibus. It has been converted to feature a mobile kitchen, a library and a mobile gift shop for small, heritage car models. Another was a modified 1988 Range Rover, which used to belong to HH The UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He used this car between 1988 and 1995 for hunting, mainly in Pakistan and Morocco.” “Another unique car is Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s Range River. Sheikh Zayed used to have a heavily modified 1976 Range Rover. The car no longer exists and a same year model is extremely rare on the market. We happened to find one last year and rebuilt it to the exact specifications Sheikh Zayed required from Range Rover Company in the 1976. We had 11 Emirati guys working on this project, which took almost three weeks to complete,” added Mr. Tamimi. ■

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EVENT REPORT

Walked by: Umesh Goel and Devendra Singh Words by: Bandana Jain

It was Nov 30th 2017, the Martyrs Day. The UAE was gearing up to celebrate its 46th National Day. People were in a holiday mood and busy planning the long weekend. Amidst this festive fervour, there were two Indian expatriates who were thinking a tad differently. The duo consisting of Umesh Goel and Devendra Singh were beginning their inspirational initiative to Walk 7 Emirates in order to express their gratitude towards their home away from home, the United Arab Emirates and also to pay homage to the martyrs of UAE.

WALK 7 EMIRATES was undertaken on the 30th November on Martyrs’ Day by two Indian expats, Umesh Goel, 44 and Devendra Singh, 32 who walked 172kms passing through all seven Emirates. Both Goel and Singh were very excited about accomplishing their objective. “It was a landmark day for the UAE and we wanted to celebrate this in a unique manner. Hence, we decided to walk across all the Emirates to commemorate the unity and diversity, which is an essence of UAE culture. Also, we wanted to pay our tribute to the martyrs and heroes of UAE and express our gratitude to the rulers of Dubai and UAE for developing this country as a diversified melting pot of all nationalities where we enjoy our lives with friends and family. We also wanted to inspire the younger generation to believe that it’s possible to achieve our dreams, whatever the challenges,” said Goel, who has been a passionate runner and fitness fanatic and has successfully completed a number of 10K, half marathons and full marathons. Singh, who works for a leading property developer has been passionate about running for some time as well. 20

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When asked about how the duo decided to team up for this walk, Goel explained, “We discussed the idea of walking the seven Emirates with a few close friends. Though everybody liked the idea, only four of us decided to take this walk and started regular practice and training. Two out of us had to drop out due to medical reasons. But Devendra was confident and provided good support. Eventually both of us were able to accomplish our goal.” The duo is extremely proud of the support that they received from their friends and family. One of their colleagues joined them impromptu in the walk and walked for 27kms till RAK when he decided to go back home because of pain and cramps. Umesh Goel, an architect by education and a real estate professional said, “My wife, kids and close friends walked with me during the last leg of the walk on the first day, which was also the toughest 10km. This motivated us to sail through the most tiresome part of our walk.” They continued walking along the main roads starting from Fujairah through Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, finishing at the first ADNOC station in Abu Dhabi walking for 26 hours on the first day and 16 hours on the second, with a break of 15 hours in Dubai. Overall, the duo clocked in a total of 52 hours of walk time to complete the 172kms stretch on foot. Having said this, the pair worked voraciously to prepare themselves for this walk. “We have been preparing for this long walk for more than two months. Thursday nights were reserved for practicing long walks of up to eight hours, covering 45kms in one go.” In a joint statement they said, “When we planned this walk, we knew, we were venturing into unknown territory. The support of the friends who joined us in the middle of the night and day, during the holidays was a great morale booster and made the task easier’, the duo added that“Many people stopped by on the road to enquire about our well-being and appreciated our effort.

These small gestures kept on giving us more and more strength.” Quite happy about accomplishing their goal, Goel added, ‘It is an experience of a lifetime and I see no better way to pay tribute to a country where I have spent the most important period of my life”. However, both vouch that it was not a cakewalk. “There were challenges of many kinds. To begin with, we were expecting a temperature of 22-23 degrees but it turned out to be around 12-13 degrees C. We were not prepared for this kind of temperature. It was rather windy and the trucks passing by at high speed created more wind pressure. Another challenge was that there were few intersections where it was difficult to cross the road. Hence, we decided to detour and walked on the internal roads of Sharjah. It did make our walk a little longer, but it was much more peaceful and safer. Though, most of the highway till we reached Ajman was rather traffic-free because of UAE Martyrs’ Day holiday. But once we reached Ajman towards Sharjah and Dubai, there was lot of traffic and noise.”

When asked if they would like to dabble into something similar in future, Goel said, “There are couple of ideas, we are working on. One is to cycle from one end of UAE (in north east in Fujairah, to the other end at Ghuwaifat (on Saudi border). We are also exploring the option of doing an off road treks covering the seven Emirates. Not sure as to what will work out eventually, our whole idea is to stay inspired and keep inspiring.” ■

WALK 7 EMIRATES

Who - Umesh Goel, 44 and Devendra Singh, 32 (both Indian) When - 30th Nov’2017, 1am to 2nd Dec. 2017, 2am with a 15 hour break Kms covered - 172 Total walk time - 52 hours

EVENT REPORT

Budding triathletes descended on Yas Island as part of Daman’s Tri Fit Challenge – the three-month training programme which encourages people of all ages to get active and live a healthier lifestyle, with the aim of competing in the pinnacle of world triathlon - the ITU World Triathlon Series Abu Dhabi 2018 in March. 50 enthusiastic participants of all ages, shapes and sizes took to Yas Marina circuit last night for the Bike and Run session, headed by coaches from On Running and BeSport Bike Shop. Hoping to compete in her first triathlon at WTS Abu Dhabi 2018, Soha Abed Elaal, a physical education teacher from Egypt said; “I wanted to do something new. I represented Egypt at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 in Archery and trained some of the youth national team [here in the UAE]. I have a passion for sport and it can be boring to do the same thing again and again. I thought

‘I can run, I can swim’ – my challenge is the bike. My daughter and husband encouraged me to try and here I am! The Daman programme is very good, everyone is so helpful!” The 12-week training programme looks to support participants of all capabilities – one

tailored to first-timers looking to swim, bike and run their way to their first ever triathlon; and the second for seasoned amateur triathletes looking to beat their personal best. To find out more about Daman Tri Fit Challenge visit www.AbuDhabi.Triathlon. Org/damans_tri_fit_challenge. ■

EVENT REPORT

DUBAI OFFROADERS GPS CHALLENGE

One-day event that tests driving and navigational expertise of experienced and seasoned off-road drivers

Words + Photos by: Faateh Ahmad

The Dubai Offroaders GPS Challenge in its third chapter saw extensive participation from off-road enthusiasts from across the UAE. A total of 19 teams with 3 cars in each team challenged their desert driving and navigational skills to cover a distance of just over 60 kilometres through technical terrain and soft patches of sand dunes in Al Faqaa desert. The “Dubai Offroaders”, recognized by the Government of Dubai as the community club to endorse off-road driving and Emirati customs, organized the “DO GPS Challenge Reloaded” with the help of its support team developed through over ten years’ experience in managing convoys and ensuring the safety of its members. Ahmad Pervez, Founder and Chief of the Dubai Offroaders said, “DO GPS Challenge is an opportunity for all off-roaders, irrespective of club or group affinity to get together and celebrate our mutual passion of the great outdoors; the beautiful desert and driving on magnificent sand dunes of UAE. “It is an honour for Dubai Offroaders to host the DO GPS Challenge and to see the

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level of participation and enthusiasm from the entire off-road community.” The aim of the challenge was to minimize deviations from a set track as defined by the organizers. Forcing participants to push their own driving and car’s performance limits. The track was set by a senior Dubai Offroaders management team member, Faheem Chughtai, who was supported by other committee members including John Abiad, Saif Khan, Asem Ahmed, Martin Sedo Roper and Baher amongst other integral contributors to the success of the event. Faheem Chughtai, Senior Committee Member of Dubai Offroaders said, “Dubai Offroaders organized its third GPS Challenge and as a part of the organizing team, it was one of those days where the actual reality exceeded our own expectations. The response from the participants, as well as other attendees astonished us in a delightful way. “Setting the track and choosing the area required extensive discussions among the team, to ensure several emergency exits and accessibility points were available throughout the route. We had also assigned support teams for specific portions of the track to

ensure seamless recovery response whenever required.” DO GPS Challenge was supported by Titan Performance, Dobinson’s, Dial a Tire, Jeep Trading Enterprises, Al Shiba General Trading and Alpine Water. Team N Fury won and placed first in the challenge with the total distance of only 61.3 kilometres, Team K DR JPP ranked second with a distance 61.5 kilometres and Team J Chrząszcze successfully managed to reach the winning podium by achieving the third position with a distance of 62.0 kilometres. The awards ceremony was held in Titan Performance and was attended by the leadership team of Dubai Offroaders and all the participants. ■

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EVENT REPORT

Bigger and Better Muscat Marathon Aims for International Success In 2018

An expanded Muscat Marathon has stepped into the arena to help satisfy the increasing international appetite for marathon events, and registrations have been snapped up for the 2018 festival of running with over 5,000 participants expected.

Created and run for its first five years by the local Muscat Road Runners organisation, the grassroots event extended its international reach in 2017 with the established event management expertise of Oman Sail and the support of title sponsor Al Mouj Muscat, the renowned waterfront destination. After record entries in 2017 the global appeal of the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon will be further enhanced in 2018 as the seventh edition becomes an extended two-day festival of running with international appeal. Held on January 18th and 19th, 2018, the event will feature three new additional running categories with a significant increase of runners. Participation is expected to reach over 5,000, a large increase from 1,290 who took part in the 2017 event. January offers perfect running conditions with average temperatures between 17°C and 25°C, and a beautiful coastal course along the Muscat shoreline. The international flavour of the event was shown in 2017 when the men’s race was won by Belgian athlete Pierre Breuer and the women’s by Icelandic runner Asta Parker. “Our partnership with Oman Sail and the title sponsorship of Al Mouj Muscat has enabled the event to reach new heights,” said

Ahmed Al Malki, Chairman of Muscat Road Runners. “The exciting new aspects of the race will offer new opportunities for international competitors of various ages and skill levels to compete and provide a new way to discover our beautiful country.” “Our continuing sponsorship of the Muscat Marathon reflects our belief in the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, which is a key community objective at Al Mouj Muscat,” said Nasser Al Sheibani, CEO of the thriving waterfront complex. “Al Mouj Muscat with its world class facilities, has enabled the Sultanate to host international sport events. We are proud of Al Mouj Golf, Oman’s first signature course considered one of the world’s most stunning golfing facilities which hosts international golf tournaments. Al Mouj Marina, of course, has been providing an international focus to Oman by regularly attracting elite international sailing events,” he said. CEO of Oman Sail, David Graham, added: “In January this year we built on the foundations of a successful event established over several years by Muscat Road Runners. In 2018, we are going further in promoting the marathon to attract more regional and international runners.”

The 2018 Al Mouj Muscat Marathon route is being finalised and an announcement will follow shortly. The first of the new running categories – a Kids Run – will feature on the opening day of the event on Thursday, January 18, and will include three courses: 1km for children aged 7 and 8; 2.5km for 9 and 10 year-olds; and a 4km course for youngsters aged 11 and 12. The following day will see the running of the established full Marathon, Half-marathon and 10km races, as well as another of the new categories, a Marathon Relay open to teams of four to six runners who will each run part of the full 42km course. Though partly aimed at corporate and business teams, the Marathon Relay is open to everybody with trophies on offer for the winning male, female and mixed teams with at least two female runners. Meanwhile, the 5km Charity Fun Run – the third new running category – is offering participants the opportunity to have fun and support an organisation at the heart of an Omani national campaign to fight diabetes. The Oman Diabetes Association (ODA) is at the forefront of a project to prevent and reduce diabetes in the Sultanate and improve the lives of those already suffering from the disease. As the official charity partner for the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon, 20% of the Charity Fun Run entry fee will go directly to the ODA, a non-governmental, non-profit organisation. ■

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#3 meat drains our drinking water Words by: Daniel Birkhofer

This is the third part of our series of articles which should hopefully encourage you to think about your meat consumption and try to change your eating habits a bit towards a more sustainable diet. In our second edition we looked at the land as resource which is required for meat production and how much meat is consumed in different countries and how much it increased over the past 50 years. If you look at the land needed for meat production, you also need to look to how the animals are fed since this is part of the process of meat production. This also leads directly to look at another resource which is considered to become scarce in the coming decades - drinking water. The argument is a bit tricky since meat is not produced everywhere in the same way, so what we are talking about here is industrial farming. If you look to organic and sustainable farming where cattle is purely fed on lawns which are not watered additionally this argumentation will not apply but it will lead back to the fact that the demand

present it accounts for 15 per cent of all irrigated water. one piece of beef can be very different from another and the precise water footprint of beef depends on the production system - grazing, mixed or industrial - the composition of the feed and the origin of the feed. The global average water footprint of meat from beef cattle at 15,400 litres/kg on average globally is much larger than the footprints of meat from sheep (10,400 litre/ kg), pigs (6,000 liter/kg), goats (5,500 litre/ kg) or chickens (4,300 liter/kg). The animal feed takes the largest share with 99 per cent of the total, while drinking and service water contribute just one per cent to the total water footprint. So to be more sustainable, the below table can help giving some indicators to the global average:

on meat cannot be satisfied with traditional and sustainable farming based on a working Typical values for the volume of water required to produce common foodstuffs and balanced eco system. Quantity Water consumption, litres According to the World Wildlife Fund, Foodstuff water used for livestock production is ex1kg 15,415 pected to rise by 50 per cent by 2025 and at Beef Sheep Meat 1kg 10,412 Pork

1kg

5,988

Chicken meat 1kg

4,325

Rice

1kg

2,497

Pasta (dry)

1kg

1,849

Bread

1kg

1,608

Banana

1kg

790

Potatoes

1kg

287

Tomato

1kg

214

Egg

1pc

196

Source: Institution of Mechanical Engineers Ideally you should check where your meat is coming from and how it is produced to get a better understanding of the water footprint. But it shows even if you compare meat to the meat with the lowest footprint to the vegetarian food of pure rice with is water intensive for a plant it is still only half. If you compare beef and potatoes the vegetable requires only 2% of the water needed to get the same amount of beef. So 1kg or beef equals 50kg of potatoes. This makes it quite clear that if water gets more scarce or we need to feed more people on our planet we could do that much more efficiently with vegetarian food. â&#x2013; How does this work? One burger = showers for 2.5 months. An average shower needs 65l of water, 1kg of beef needs 15.400l and a burger has 250g of meat which is 15.400l/0.250 = 3.850l. So 250g beef equals 3.850l/65l= 60 showers. 24

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Basic driving instructions

Words by: Daniel Birkhofer

Last time we discussed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;preparation to get off-roadâ&#x20AC;? and this time we will give some very basic driving instructions. This article should just give you some ideas and inspirations how to drive but is not a complete and full guide for how to drive off-road. The best way to learn it is practice, practice and practice or find yourself a good teacher! Make sure you are prepared properly before you head out in the desert. For more details, check out the November 2017 and December 2017 issues of OutdoorUAE magazine. If you are an absolute beginner, we recommend to go with one or two people anywhere to a sand area close to a road and to stay close to the road in case you need help. Just drive around there to get used to the car and get a feel for the sand, from there you should progress deeper into the dunes and onto longer and more challenging routes. If you take your time and progress gradually you will have a lot of fun without bigger setback, accidents or damages to the car. You would not want to join a group on a trip and be the obstacle slowing down the group or even worth Straight descent

Driving in convoy

endangering other drivers, so take your time. The learning curve depends on many factors, like your teacher your skills etc. So there is no set timeframe how long it will take. Some people pick it up in one or a few days, others need weeks and months to be a safe driver off road.

Stopping in the sand:

First of all, try to always stop slowly and let the car roll out rather than hitting the break. If you stop too hard, the tires will sink in the sand and it will be harder to get moving again. Ideally always stop on slopes with your car facing down wards even the smallest angle of descent will make it easy to get the car moving and the smallest angle of ascent will make it harder. If you stop on dunes, never stop on the crescent, either stop right before it or right after it. Especially beginners tend to stop on top since you can see only the sky and not where you are going.

Starting in sand:

Use the accelerator with care and avoid too much throttle which would cause the tires to spin. Spinning tires on a static car will just sink the car in the sand rather than getting any forward movement. If you choose gears use preferably the second gear and not the first gear. If you stop on an upwards

Drifting on dunes

slope you might want to consider to reverse instead of going forward, it is important to get momentum and movement no matter if forward or reverse. Starting on flat soft sand is the hardest start.

Keep your distance:

You should never drive alone in the desert but you should keep enough distance to the car in front of you, so that you can always stop safely and that the car in front of you has also enough space to back out in case it gets stuck or a passage is not possible. It is also recommended to get one of the flexible flag poles and signal flag so your car can be seen better behind dunes which is an added safety feature.

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Going of the road

Communication:

Ideally all cars should have radios for communication (Note: By UAE law it is generally not allowed to use radios without a license, but generally it is tolerated if they are used in the desert only). You should before any drive agree on the lead car / last car and on signals - e.g. use the hazard lights to warn others of obstacles. The last car in the group should be in contact with the lead car and is responsible that the group is kept together and no one is left behind. The two most experienced drivers should fill these positions.

Ascending and descending:

Even though it looks cool to drift on dunes, this should not be attempted by beginners since the car can roll easily if done wrong. The safest way is always to drive dunes up and down straight and head on. If you have to back down, also reverse straight down and don’t dry to turn the car around. It is almost impossible to roll a car on dunes forward or backwards and it always happens sideways, so you should as a beginner never drive sideways on steep dunes or try to turn. If you drive down steep slopes go slowly and use the engine as a brake and try to avoid using the actual brakes. Braking can let your rear break out and move the car sideways with the risk of rolling. If your car is breaking out, you need to accelerate slightly to straighten out the car even if your initial instincts tell you differently.

Momentum is key:

To avoid getting stuck it is paramount to always be moving and keep momentum. Momentum dose not equal speed and one of the hardest things is to get a feeling of how much momentum you will need to get up a dune or pass an obstacle. Off-road the same applies as for the roads, the faster you go the more dangerous the driving will be, so speed should be chosen with care. Offroad it is even more important since you can easily damage your car if you drive too fast.

Dune drifting only for pros

Sometimes the momentum can be close to a standstill but as long as you are moving, don’t stop and keep the momentum and try to build it up. Also here it’s the right amount of throttle you give to keep the car moving forward and avoid over doing it that the tires will spin and dig in. A useful technique if you have only little momentum is to turn the steering right and left in half turns, this give the front tires a bit more grip since the movement is displacing a bit more sand than if you would just keep the front tires constantly straight.

Read the dunes:

Dunes can be a tricky terrain to drive in and good drivers can read dunes and sand conditions and will apply this to find the best and safest passage. Therefore, beginners should follow the lead car. Dunes can be gradually ascending on one side but have a steep drop on the other side so you should check the wind and dune direction in the area to have an idea where steep drops could accrue.

Rocks:

Driving on rocks, you need to take extra care of your clearance. If your underbody comes in contact with sand usually not much harm is done but it you hit rocks, you can damage your car severely. Also you need to be careful with sharp rocks not to cut your tires or get punctures. Rocks can be much more technical than sand and be also more exposed to deep drops, so you should know your car before you go on a challenging rocky route. You should first gain some experience on sand and gravel tracks before you go on rocks.

Water puddle

Wadis:

Never drive in wadis when there is the chance of rain. Flash floods can appear out of nowhere and even if it does not rain in your area it might rain somewhere close causing flash floods coming down your way. Never drive into water puddles if you don’t know their depth and if there are any hidden obstacles - check it first before you pass it. Gravel on rocks can be very slippery, so you should drive slowly and with extra care. Avoid at all cost the tires from spinning and from losing traction - a lot of gravel tracks are not too hard to drive but they are exposed with steep drops on either side and driving errors can lead to getting off the road dropping down cliffs.

Getting stuck:

No matter how much care you take and how experienced you are, getting stuck is something you will experience and is nothing to be ashamed of. It is better to go slow and risk getting stuck than going too fast to avoid a stuck and damaging your car or causing anything like accidents. Recovery from stucks is a huge topic in itself even though it depends on multiple factors how to recover the car, there are some general and popular techniques we will introduce in the next edition.

Drive safe, respect other drivers and enjoy the beautiful landscapes! ■

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Stuck on a cresent

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Tested tough in the Dunes

Words + Photos by: Daniel Birkhofer

The Columbia Adventure Academy is fastening their seat belts to enter some of the most challenging terrain a car can face. Most people visiting or living in the UAE have at least once done one of the commercial desert safaris to get a first taste of the desert. With the last adventure Academy in December we wanted to give our participants a little bit a different taste of dust and sand. We joined up with the Italian photographer and passionate off-roader Luca (@lucagoesoffroad) and with one of

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the biggest off-roading clubs in the UAE the “Ultimate Jeep Club” which is formally known as “JK Fun Club’ (@ultimate_jeep_ club). Mohamed al Rayes from the club, put together a team of 4 experienced drivers (Marie, Zainab, Ahmed, Rayyes and Hamdan) and himself to give the academy a firsthand experience of off-roading from the pros. It was great that we also had two lady drivers to show that off-roading is not a male domain and that in most club’s women are equally welcome. Looking to the cars, you could see that especially for Jeep drivers offroading is a lifestyle and their cars are modified and personalized to different extents. For us the car make was not of importance but bringing together Luca with his Toyota FJ Cruiser and the pure Jeep Club showed how much each of them was loyal to their car and brand. Each side was expecting the other side to get stuck since every owner was convinced that they drive the most capable off-roading car. But quickly this was put aside and all agreed the most important component is the driver, his experience and skills and quickly the love for the desert and off-roading made the FJ and Jeep drivers friends!

We split up the group and assigned to every car two participants. The weather forecast was not good for this Saturday in December with rain and thunderstorms forecasted. When we left Dubai the skies were bright and temperatures pleasant. On our drive to the desert on towards Maleaha and Fossil Rock, the sky got darker and darker and as soon as we stopped for our briefing and to deflate the tires, it started to rain. The briefing was cut short due to the weather and a delayed arrival after we got caught up in traffic because of the opening of the new Dubai Zoo. With slight rain

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and colder windy conditions, we all wished we had some Columbia jackets with us to keep us warm. So the only way left to get warm was to get an increase in the adrenaline levels and get the participants excited especially Syed and Mohamed who were joining Zainab in her open jeep. Our first stop was on top of the dunes a very popular spot for off-roaders since you can cross the rock phase from one side to the other with a steep descent on the side towards Maleaha. Luckily the rain clouds passed and we had amazing views from up top towards the mountains on one side and the dunes on the other side. The crossing of the ridge is a bit tricky and if the cars are not lifted to provide enough clearance it requires careful maneuvering over the rocks to not damage the car. Ahmed, who is also the safety instructor in the Ultimate Jeep Club was the guide who supervised each car to get through the obstacles. Sometimes it is important to have one person outside the car to be able to see all four wheels, the surface and the clearance and where the wheels have to go to ensure a smooth passage. The driver inside the car has very limited sight what is going on around and under his car, so he has to trust and rely on the judgment and instructions of the guiding person. Since we were driving with the pros, the crossing was smooth without any delays or damages. The next destination was a popular rock formation in the shape of some camels and therefore called camel rock. It needs a bit of imagination and the right angle to see the camel(s) in the rocks but it’s a great place to stop and take some photos. There is also a big sand bowl so that the drivers could show off some dune driving skills like drifting the dunes which is recommended only for experienced drivers since it can lead to a car rolling over if done wrong. To be able to make it to the final stop and watch the sunset, we had to continue crossing through the desert towards the area of Al Bedayer. The big dunes here directly on the E44 are most likely the busiest dunes in the area. Especially on weekends cars gather up on the long ascent to the top of a big dune, just

to see who can make it up on top. It is quite a spectacle to watch, noisy and crazy with cars going up or down without a break. We just passed the area to reach the high point and highlight of the day. Our final destination was the top of a small mountain which can only be accessed on a steep, rocky and washed out road through an old quarry. We were lucky that it did not rain here since it would not have been possible to get up the rocks when they are wet, it would have been too slippery and too dangerous. With this in mind we were all looking to the dark clouds and the lighting in the distance because it is equally dangerous to go down the way when its wet or in rain as it is to get up. With some optimism we were just hoping the clouds will move slowly and give us enough time to see the sunset with amazing views over the desert landscape and to get down safely. The thunderstorms and big clouds only added to the incredible views we had from up top and made the perfect finish for a great afternoon of driving through the desert with the pros. One participant asked at the start of the event why he would not be allowed to drive and we explained that it would be the personal cars of the drivers and they would not entrust their car to a stranger without knowing their driving skills but after the event, the participant under-

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stood, that this was advanced driving and not something you can do right from the start. But even as co-drivers you can learn a lot and of course you get exposed to the passion and love for off-roading by the driver and this is what the Adventure Academy is all about, get a real taste of adventure! Just after inflating the tires at a station in Al Bedayer the heavens opened up and it started pouring down and we all felt pity for the 3 guys in the open Jeep since the rain cover was left at home and they were exposed to the elements on their drive back to Dubai. But even this did not change their mind of a great afternoon and an amazing experience. And maybe they will carry to the next adventure a rain jacket from Columbia since even in the UAE you can be surprised by rain. It’s rare but it does happen! To see the video from this and our other events check out our Facebook and Instagram page as well as www.facebook.com/ columbiame and Instagram: @COLUMBIASPORTSWEAR_ME ■ The next adventure will take place on 28.01.2018 and we will take a group out on the ocean for a very different experience. To sign up please visit: www.columbiaacademy.ae

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EVENT REPORT

OVER 2,000 CYCLISTS TOOK PART IN THE CYCLE CHALLENGE OF THE YEAR Over 2,000 cyclists from across the world took part in the eighth edition of the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge, 15th December 2017 at the Dubai Autodrome. The event which is split into a number of different categories including the Dubai First UCI Grand Fondo World Series, the Spinneys Dubai 92km Cycle Challenge and the Oakley 53km Challenge saw cyclists of all ages and abilities take part as the cycling culture continues to grow in the UAE. Now in its eighth year, the annual Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge has continued to strengthen its offering for all cycling enthusiasts with rolling road closures and full support from the Dubai Police and the RTA, an increased number of sponsors and activities in the Cycle Village and even more for the kids to do and take part it. A spokesperson for the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge said: “We are delighted with the direction the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge is going in, with over 2,000 cyclists now taking part and an increase of participants in the Junior Rides, we are committed to cementing the cycling culture in the UAE. In addition, the rolling road closure has taken the event to new heights for

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another year and special thanks must go to the Dubai Police and the RTA for their support.” Spinneys, the locally-owned supermarket chain provided all cyclists with a delicious post-event breakfast and festive treats in the busy Cycle Village this morning. Alongside Spinneys, a number of other sponsors will ensure that all cyclists, friends and family have a fantastic morning, including UPANDRUNNING with their much-needed sports massages and Dubai 92 made sure everyone was in the festive mood with their live broadcast from the event. The younger cyclists also had the opportunity to be part of the biggest cycle challenge in the Middle East. The Dr Joy Dental Clinic Junior Rides took place on Thursday, 14 December at the Dubai Autodrome. Over 200 young cyclists took part as organisers continue to provide cycling opportunities for those new to the sport in a sensible and fun way. This year also saw the introduction of The Arbor School Dubai Mini Challenge, the balance bike course was free of charge for children from 2 to 5 and is the innovative way of learning to ride

a bike, children focused on balancing rather than pedaling and as a result they are more prepared for an unexpected loss of balance. Organisers would also like to thank the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Police and the Event Security Committee for their support in making the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge another successful event. ■

EVENT REPORT

Words by: Rebecca Morgan-Ransom Photos by: Greg Falski

The Cycle Hub are pleased to reveal the 2017-2018 race team, in partnership with Arla Protein. In December, The Cycle Hub – Arla Protein Race Team launched with a new cycling kit for the upcoming season and a number of changes to the roster. “The Cycle Hub – Arla Protein Race Team is continuing to grow in strength and we’ve had many great results so far this season. The support of Arla Protein this year will help us immensely, and the new kit from Giordana will make us look and feel great on the start line. Cycling is continuing to grow in the UAE, and competition is getting tougher – but we have seen many successes for our riders so far and we hope that will continue in 2018.”

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The team is constructed of 23 riders, 16 male and 7 female, all cycling competitively within the United Arab Emirates and beyond. Led by team captain Simon Henley, the team have had many notable results in road, triathlon and mountain bike races this season to date. Aimee Wright and Johan Hesselsøe secured 2nd overall at the Drei Cycle Race in October with a stunning team performance at the Emirates Road Team TTT with the The Cycle Hub men’s quartet sealing victory. In mountain biking, the Arabian Epic Hatta Stage 1 was won by Michael Grønbech with Francesco Parutto in third. Melowbert won the ConGen MTB later in November.

The team race on the latest Specialized S-Works range, provided by The Cycle Hub. The cycling kit is custom-made by Giordana, from the FR-C Pro range. It’s a lightweight, breathable material that will ensure the team is race-ready. 2018 season will begin with the Liwa Cycling Challenge on 12 January. Follow the team throughout the season on facebook. com/TheCycleHub or follow TheCycleHub on Instagram. ■ Team Roster 2017-2018

• Milos Bukvic • Melowbert • Michael Grønbech • Noor Hassan • Simon Henley • Johan Hesselsøe • Elton Horner • Steve James • Mogens Kjemper Jensen • Francesco Parutto • Morten SiemLynge • Carl Simmons • Morten Sommer • Peter Weiss • Henrik Westerberg • Nick Wright • Riza Conception • Laura Holton • Amber Mirza • Kara Modema • Orla White • Lucy Woolacott • Aimee Wright

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EVENT REPORT

Dubai Based Athlete Sets Sight

on Biking Man Ultra-Cycling Record • Marcus Smith, founder of Inner Fight GYM, extreme athlete and Volvic brand ambassador aims to become first manto complete Biking Man ultra-cycling race series • Self-supported series to comprise of four races across four continents in 2018 • First race slated to kick-off on February 25th, 2018 in Muscat, Oman

Marcus Smith, founder of Inner Fight GYM, extreme athlete and Volvic brand ambassador is gearing up to be the first man to complete Biking Man’s ultra-cycling race series across four continents in 2018. Founded in 2015 by Axel Carion and Léticia Perotta, Biking Man is a self-supported ultra-cycling adventure designed to bring together athletes in unfamiliar and uncommon environments. The race focuses on connecting cyclists who desire for adventure and exploring cultures in less-travelled places, with each course averaging to 1,000 kilometres for a four to five day duration. “The Biking Man series will be a monumental challenge that will assess my physical and mental capabilities all year long,” said Marcus Smith, founder of Inner Fight GYM, extreme athlete and Volvic brand ambassador. “Being a one of a kind self-supported ultra-cycling race format, the series will surely be a real test of endurance and is quite unlike anything I have ever tackled before.”

The first race scheduled to take place from February 25 till March 2, 2018 in Muscat, Oman will see Smith competing with ninety-nine other athletes from across the globe who will be covering a minimum of 200 kilometres a day without any support vehicles carrying their own their own food and supplies. Supported by Volvic throughout the series, Smith is no stranger to extreme endurance events. In 2015, he competed at the Marathon Des Sables,a five-day, 250 kilometres race across the Sahara desert where he effectively completed the equivalent of six marathon distances over sand, rock and rough terrain. “Volvic and myself are bound by the same principle of inspiring and helping people to find their inner strength in achieving what they want,” said Smith.“It is great to see the support and encouragement from Volvic as I prepare for one of my toughest challenges yet.” After Oman, the second race is set to take place in Corsica in April, followed by Peru in July and the last one in Asia. ■

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EVENT REPORT

First Red Bull Psicobloc climbing event in the Middle East Climbers from across the region gave it their all in the first Red Bull Psicobloc climbing event held in Dibba, Musandam Photos by: Christopher Pike/Red Bull Content Pool

Climbers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon gave it their all in the Red Bull Psicobloc climbing event held in Dibba, Musandam Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman, under the watchful eye of rock climbing pioneer Chris Sharma.

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This inaugural deep water solo event, a first for the region, had the participants free climbing above the water, competing to collect flags placed on one of the most challenging sea cliffs of the Musandam coast. During the day, Chris Sharma displayed his world-class talent by very nearly succeeding on his own Ultimate Route and then he set the stage for the final round by skillfully climbing the male final route, placing flags at the summit for the finalists to catch, or attempt to.

With a total of 41 participants, the qualification round was exciting and then, in the spectacular final round, Ukranian Yurii Volodko and Lebanese-Canadian Mayssam El Kaii clinched first place in the male and female categories, both nearly topping the cliff, the cheers of the rest of the participants urging them upward, before splashing down. Emirati Hamad Sajwani and German

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Jan-Georg Wagenfeld placed second and third in the male category, while Anne Romeo from France and Irma Kesler Prata from Croatia took third place. Red Bull Psicobloc was held in partnership with the Omani Ministry of Tourism, Rock Republic, Sheesa Beach Tours and Explore Climbing. â&#x2013;

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Xtreme Lengths

XDubai Unveils THE XLine Dubai Marina, THE World’s Longest Urban Zipline At 1km, 80km/hr, 170m high and not one, but TWO ziplines, the new XLine delivers twice the thrill in Dubai Marina XDubai is taking ziplining to the extreme with the unveiling of the new XLine. Set in Dubai Marina, the new XLine is not only the world’s longest urban zip line, but also one of the steepest and fastest, measuring an astonishing 1 kilometre, with a spine-tingling incline of 16o and travelling at an average of 80 kilometres per hour. The XLine follows in the footsteps of the wildly popular original which launched in late 2015 at The Dubai Mall over the iconic Dubai Fountain. Building on the earlier archetype, the new XLine literally goes the distance, doubling in length and offering daring duos the ability to experience it together – swiftly yet safely - through two concurrently running ziplines. Also new is the superman style harness, which allows zipliners to channel their inner superhero with an electrifying flight-like experience as they zip from one of the Amwaj towers in JBR, 170 metres in the air,weaving through skyscrapers and across water, down to the terrace of Dubai Marina Mall, landing in close proximity to amazed bystanders. Building upon the success of the original XLine, the new version will also be open to both visitors and residents* of Dubai for a limited time with public bookings open 36

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now. All those experiencing the XLine will be able to share the experience to the world through a helmet mounted Go-Pro with photos and video delivered via email following the experience. “We wouldn’t be XDubai if we didn’t push the limits of what is possible,” said Mohammed Javad, General Manager of XDubai.“Following the success of the first XLine, we wanted to step it up more than a notch and importantly, give both residents and visitors to Dubai the opportunity to have a true-to-form XDubai experience. The result is like nothing else– two ziplines - the world’s longest in an urban setting, in one of the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.” With two ziplines running concurrently, XLine can accommodate 16 people per hour with individuals able to take the leap - or zip - with a friend, family member or colleague. Family and friends of those ziplining will have a great vantage point from the Marina Promenade next to Dubai Marina Mall. The result of in-depth planning and preparation, including extensive safety measures and testing, and adhering to the strictest industry standards, the XLine was made possible thanks to close collaboration between a host of stakeholders, and in particular, launch and landing venue partners, Dubai Properties and Emaar. At the forefront of Dubai’s meteoric real estate developments, since its inception, Dubai Properties’ aim has always been to create destinations that deliver exceptional

lifestyle opportunities to residents and visitors. As partner to XDubai’s XLine, they have provided access to one of JBR’s Amwaj buildings which, in addition to being a vibrant residential complex, will play double duty by bringing the XLine to life as host of the breathtaking launch platform. Also partnering with XDubai to make the XLine possible is Emaar, the developer of The Dubai Marina Mall, the location where all XLine journeys will both start and stop. The mall is also host to the XDubai’s new XShop, a new retail outlet that along acting as a check-in point for the XLine experience, sells a host of XDubai merchandise. Nasser Rafi, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Malls, said: “Having witnessed remarkable success when the original XLine was launched at The Dubai Mall, Emaar Malls is thrilled to be partnering with XDubai to host a second never-before attraction with the XLine at Dubai Marina. XLine will delight visitors and is a great example of Dubai hosting innovative leisure attractions.” “The XLine is an example of what is possible through establishing strong partnerships and teamwork across a wide variety of stakeholders and in particular, Emaar and Dubai Properties and various other government entities,” added Mr Javad.“Their unwavering support and cooperation allowed us to ensure the delivery of the highest safety standards and in turn, offer an unparallelled experience.” ■

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Casio G-Shock Limited Edition in collaboration with Emirati Motocross champion Mohammed Al Balooshi Casio’s initiative aims to boost achievements of local Emirati sports talent Casio G-Shock, in collaboration with Emirati Motocross champion Mohammed Al Balooshi, has launched a Limited Edition Al Balooshi Mudmaster timepiece that comes in a special Collector’s Box. The special Mudmaster Watch Box is produced in limited quantity for discerning local watch aficionados, as part of a Casio initiative to promote Al Balooshi in the UAE and support other local sports talents. The professional motorcycle rider with the largest awards, Al Balooshi and his team members were present at the launch event, which was held recently in partnership with the Concepts Store in City Walk in the presence of senior officials from Casio Middle East. The event was highlighted with a special Meet & Greet and an autograph signing session for Al Balooshi fans, followed by the announcement of winners of the social media competition that was conducted on the brand’s social media pages prior to the launch. G-Shock Mudmaster is mud and shock resistant, built to prevent intrusion by sand, mud or dust to ensure reliable operation even in harsh environments. It has triple-sensors that provide quick and precise direction and measurement of atmospheric pressure, temperatures and altitudes. Koji Naka, Managing Director, Casio Middle East, announced: “Featuring Mohammed Al Balooshi in our limited edition G-Shock Mudmaster and the special Collector’s Box is part of Casio’s efforts to support Emirati champions and highlight their achievements particularly in the field

of sports. The collaboration is a natural partnership that reflects our shared values in excellence, precision, toughness and shock resistance. Al Balooshi, who is the first Emirati to take part in the Dakar Rally in the motorcycles category, commented: “It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a noble initiative with the aim of inspiring the younger generation of Emirati sports talents and I am proud to represent the local sports community to the world. It is very important for every local talent to gain the support of world-class brands and I thank Casio Middle

East and the management for their trust and cooperation, and for helping me accomplish my mission along the way. G-Shock is a very powerful brand which has many cool features that have stayed with me all throughout my trainings. My Casio G-Shock Mudmaster is a companion that truly meets me at the performance level.” Casio Middle East declared that it will continue to promote activities and collaboration initiatives that highlight the remarkable accomplishments of local Emirati sports talents with the objective of inspiring the younger generation in further pursuing their goals, with the support of the sports community in the UAE. ■

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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

The Arab Pulse:

Mt Toubkal – Morocco Last Part Words + Photos by: Fahd Abu Aisha

Day 3 I checked the time and it was 3:30am. Rachid had not come to wake me up and I did not want to go back to sleep, anticipating he would come in and fetch me soon. I began to pack my things quietly and courteously as to not wake up the other mountaineers who had suffered at the hands of the selfish disruptive intruders. Rachid crept in 20 minutes later and told me to meet him downstairs. Feeling liberated at that point, I had a change of heart and no qualms about switching on my torch light and loudly sifting through my bags to get my gear on. The loud obnoxious climbers on the top bed deserved to be woken up and as for the mountaineers on the lower level, I was doing them a favour giving them an opportunity to get out of bed and make it in time to summit at sunrise. I scurried down to breakfast, washed remaining traces of porridge off my face and was ready to go. We put on our headlamps and strode out of the refuge. The constellations of the stars were as clear as if they were drawn onto the sky, illuminating the mountains and the trail we were to commence. I could see the shadows of the massive mountains barricading us from all sides as we walked in a series of zigzags up the side of the hill. I could make out a U-shaped rock formation in the distance above us. Rachid pointed to it explaining that was the ridge we needed to get to before the sun rose as that was the best viewpoint of the Atlas Mountains. From there it was just another 20 more minutes to the summit. We were essentially racing against the sun but we were making good time. An hour and a half later and dawn was beginning to

break as the hues of the sky grew lighter. We had made it to the foot of the U-shaped hill when Rachid told me he was going to pray quickly. ‘Carry on the trail,’ he directed, ‘and I will catch up.’ I could barely see the trail, a faint light path amongst the scree of rocks. Grumbling, I resigned myself to carry forth without him. I carefully began treading onwards; promptly losing my way in a matter of minutes. I knew I had taken a wrong turn as the scree was denser as I unknowingly walked further away from the more solid main route. I found myself losing my footing and slipping like the newborn kid of a Billy goat taking its first steps... It was a frustrating ten minutes as I was forced to crouch and walk slowly up a path I was sure was not correct. I maneuvered myself into a position where my balance was at an equilibrium searching around desperately trying to find a trail like a baby bird looks frantically around for his mother’s beak. After a few moments of scoping the scene, I found one that led right to the ridge. Beneath me, Rachid was approaching and urged me to walk across the slope to the trail. He acknowledged the path was not clear (although I think he was just trying to feel a bit better about myself) but that I should notice the surface becoming firmer, relaxing my nerves and irritation. We climbed until we finally reached the viewpoint just as the sun’s rays broke over the horizon. It was superbly serene, like the

scene in Lion King when Mufasa and Simba were sitting on Pride Rock observing their kingdom. We stood there for a few minutes, watching the sun kiss the peaks of all of the mountains ahead of us. ‘And there is the summit,’ Rachid revealed with relish a triangular structure sitting on top of a hill to our left. It was another 20 minute hike to reach the summit of Morocco with stunning views of the mountain range from all sides. I posed for a few pictures and enjoyed the moment before the other travelers polluted my ambience. Resting at the summit gave my brain time to process what my body had just endured over the past 3 hours (6 if you include the sleep deprivation). Fatigue had kicked in and the raging niggles in my thighs from the day before had flared up. I told Rachid it was best to go down now as we still had to descend all the way down to Imlin. There was a long day ahead of us. I tried sliding down on the gravel using my rear end as impromptu sleigh to hasten the descent but I learnt very quickly that was not the best idea. I lost control of my legs as they floundered beneath me and I left a substantial portion of my DNA from backside as I slid down the stones. It could have been far more painful had I landed on a boulder or sharp edged rock. Luckily for me I just grazed my hand trying to clutch onto something while hurtling down. Gritting my teeth and going down the old fashioned

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way - a stiff walk - the descent proved to be absolutely miserable, my joints experiencing uncomfortable pressure with every step down. To make matters worse the faster I tried to walk the more I felt my balance on the rocks waver. I finally limped into the refuge an hour later. There was no one there save for two travellers who had climbed Mt. Toubkal the previous day. They were preparing to climb another one in the next valley. We had a quick lunch (more tangine, you guessed it!), made sure all my gear and belongings in check and made our way down the mountain the same route we came up. It was a brisk two and a half hour walk until we finally got onto the open plain where the village of Rachid lay ahead. Rachid offered to take me through a shortcut. My adventurous side was all for it but my body was wary - clearly it meant this would be a more difficult route since barely any travelers used it. I found out the hard way, first hand, that this was precisely the case. I had been on my feet for almost 11 hours on 2 hours of sleep. All I wanted was to get to my lodge as soon as possible. We walked off the trail through thick tall bushes that clawed at my arms ferociously. A narrow path opened up after we emerged and yet another messy route presented itself. We were required to hop from stone to stone over multiple thin streams whilst pushing bushes and trees aside as they relentlessly attempted to slap my face throughout.

We finally made it out in one piece and approached the first houses of the villages. We swerved through small alleys, up some steps and down some more, turning left and then right. It was as if we were in a maze, I had already lost my sense of direction. We walked a little further until we had reached a welcome destination; Rachid’s home. While I was yearning for my own hotel room and a masseuse I was too knackered to be fussy. Rachid told me he was going to get changed quickly and invited me for some tea. His exuberant hospitable mother and sister welcomed me in to sit in their living room. The view from their window was enviable; the Atlas Mountains gleaming majestically ahead. It was overwhelming to search the distance and spot that U-shaped ridge up in the sky in the horizon I had just sat at during the sunrise. Rachid looked like a different person as he reappeared in a lumberjack shirt and jeans. Prying me out of the hands of his mother and sister, he guided me through his village, down a small trail that led us to the main path right in front of the Mr. Aladdin’s shop. He was sitting outside his shop and noticed us approaching. Ever the true salesman he congratulated us and offered me to buy anything in the shop at a discount as a congratulatory present. I thanked him but all I wanted to do was get to the lodge and sleep. The rocky trail we were walking on turned into tarmac, a welcomed sign that we had finally reached civilization. We haggardly limped into town as minivans and small cars bustled around us, careening through the rickety streets. The lodge itself was nearby, a small boutique, true to Moroccan form again well-hidden and nestled snugly in the intricate folds of the town. A long shower in the room was followed by a quick nap. Before

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long though I was interrupted by the hotel manager knocking on my door to inform me that dinner was served. Delicious tagine (it seemed that it was the only thing I was destined to eat on this trip) was served and again, like Rachid’s house, there was a beautiful view of the mountains as the sky darkened and nightfall crept over the peaks. Two Belgian couples who were with me at the refuge spotted me from across the room and waddled on over to share my company. I was too tired to engage in any conversation with them. They were lucky the did not sleep in the same room as I did in the refuge and boastfully claimed that everyone slept once the lights went out. That was exactly what happened to me when I returned to my room that night; I switched off the lights, collapsed on the bed and instantly submerged into a deep sleep, one of the best I’ve had in a long while. ■ Follow me on Instagram: @ fahdaa17

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Winter Wonderland

Switzerland and Austria Words + Photos by: Denise Ostermann

The year 2017 comes to an end and this is the time for me to travel home to Germany for Christmas. Thankfully this year I could get some more days off for the holidays and this time I wanted to use them for some winter sport activities. The plan was to explore the mountains of Switzerland and Austria. For the last couple of years, I have hardly been snowboarding 40

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in Europe due to the snowless winters. So I packed my bags taking along my snowboard clothes. Once landed in Zurich my friend picked me up from the airport and we headed directly to Flums mountains. A great skiing place in Switzerland easily reachable within one and a half hours from the airport. Driving out of the city the snowfall welcomed us all the way to the mountains. After a warming cup of coffee, the sky brightened up a little and provided us with great conditions for snowboarding. Due to the weekend the slopes were full with skiers, snowboarders and ongoing family contests.

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Nevertheless, the ski and snowboard rentals are prepared for the rush and the equipment rental was hassle free. Prices in Switzerland are quite high and for longer stays it is recommendable to bring along your own equipment or even buy it. Also the ski passes for the lifts are expensive. Many hotels are offering packages including the same which should always be checked for upon booking. After a few runs the weather turned into a snow flurry which made the visibility very low and we decided to spend the rest of the day in the Thermal Baths Tamina of Bad Ragaz. A great place to warm up after a day on the slopes and to relax your muscles. Sitting in a heated outdoor pool it is just an incredible feeling to enjoy the snow fall at the same time. A couple of days later I already found myself heading over to Austria with my friend for some more snowboarding fun! The trip brought us to Warth, which is a nice sleepy little village in the Alps. The Wellness hotel Wartherhof is the best accommodation in town. Right opposite to the ski lift and ski rental it has the ideal location. The employees are very friendly and welcoming and the service is one of the best I have

experienced. Everyone makes you feel at home from the moment you step in. With breakfast and a delicious five course dinner menu your palate will thank you! The village itself provides picturesque ambience for a digestive stroll after dinner. Lucky with the weather conditions we got ready for a day on the slopes. Heading over to the rental shop and getting my equipment together I was positively surprised when I got the bill. Compared to Switzerland it was a third of the price. Even the ski pass for the lift was distinctly cheaper. One of the biggest ski areas in Austria the Arlberg is offering more than 300km of slopes which can be reached by 88 interconnected lifts. On their website the area is advertised with guaranteed snow. Easily reachable from either Zurich or Munich Airport it avails a great and affordable winter destination. Flying into either Switzerland or Germany make sure you have a Schengen Visa if required. As Switzerland is not part of the EU, you will have to cross the border to Austria. Whether you are a beginner or you are looking for great freeride runs there is hardly anything you will be missing. Toboggan runs are available if you are not into active winter sports and you still want to have some fun in the snow.

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For those who are more interested in hiking there are snowshoeing trails and guided tours offered. Ask at the reception for advice and they will be happy to help you with bookings. But you can also experience some quiet horse sleigh or husky sled rides. You might need to book a couple of days in advance for the husky sled ride as this is in high demand but at Florian’s horse sleigh rides in Elbigenalp you might be lucky to get a spot on short notice. Beautiful Norwegian cold blooded horses will take you through an amazing scenery of a winter wonderland for about an hour. Just make sure you are wearing some warm clothes and Florian and his horses will take care of the rest for your unforgettable experience. Once you have had enough of the cold enjoy the great wellness and spa area of the hotel with amazing views of the mountains. You can get treated with massages or just relax in the indoor pool, heat up in the sauna and steam room or just hang out in the whirlpool. ■

THE

OFF-ROADERS corner

Tell us the background story of the car…

My first off-road vehicle was a Jeep Wrangler TJ (2002), a much older model than my current Jeep but it had so many problems (it was named the Lemon!). I spent too much time in workshops and not enough time in the sand! So I bought my Rubicon (Ruby), which was in the first batch of GCC spec Rubicon’s for sale in the UAE - it was the last one left on the shop floor, so it was just waiting for me! Since then we have been inseparable.

What modifications have been made, performance and cosmetic wise? Name: Kaylie Thomson Nationality: New Zealand Occupation: Corporate Services Manager (Corporate Banking) Vehicle: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013

I wanted to keep it relatively simple and avoid modifications to the engine itself, but of course wanted more power to climb those big dunes in Liwa. So gradually I made some modifications to it including a 2.5inch lift (for better clearance) with bigger tires and installed a snorkel, new Rubicon bumper and hood, as well as a winch and a cat back system.

Do you have something that you consider to be a ‘special feature’ of the car?

The colour of my jeep is Rock Lobster red which was only available on the 2013 models so it is unique because it’s not really red and not really pink, so it generates a lot of debate!

What were your other options before you bought this car?

No other options really - it was only going to be a JEEP! (jeeper for life!)

How often do you use your car, and what activities do you take part in?

It is my every day vehicle as well as my offroading vehicle so I’m driving it every day. Most weekends I go to the desert for driving or camping (or both). I’m definitely much more of an outdoor person than a city girl! As I am a Marshal with Abu Dhabi 4x4 club I regularly lead or support trips with the club, which is great because I meet so many cool people and it is very satisfying introducing other people to the desert life. In the cooler months I try to get to Liwa as much as possible to play in the big dunes, however in the summer I stay nearer to Dubai and drive at a lower level – I don’t want to be outside in the summer heat fixing pop outs or doing recoveries if I can help it!

Are you planning any future modifications?

Not right now, I am happy with it as it is.

4x4 do you dream of owning?

The new Jeep Wrangler JL – next on my list! ■ Want your 4X4 to be the next feature? Just send us an email at editor@outdooruae.com with the subject “Off-Roaders Corner” and you and your car might just be the next one on this page! 42

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$100 Cash REWARD Share your routes with OutdoorUAE and receive a reward of USD100 if we will publish your route.

es Rout ED T WAN

Your routes will be available online for everyone to download for free on outdooruae.com/route. You will be credited as the author of the routes. All we need from you is the GPS (gpx) route file, a few photos and a short description. We are looking for hiking, off-road, MTB, trail running, MX and any other outdoor related routes. Routes should be from the UAE and border regions. Help us to get more people outdoor, active, healthy and happy be able to enjoy the beauty of this region. You can upload your route at outdooruae.com/add-route and we will get back to you within a few days if your route will be published and how to collect your reward. For more details email us at routes@outdooruae.com

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

Habitually Healthy

POWER TO RIDE MORE TRAILS Words by: Rebecca Morgan-Ransom

There is no better feeling than setting off for an adventure on two wheels; freedom, independence, discovery. Mountain biking is just one discipline that can give enjoyment to all the family.

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From experimenting on the sand dunes of Dubai, to building endurance on the spectacular trails in Hatta. It’s an activity that can turn into a lifestyle, living to ride. You won’t find traditional forestry tracks and muddy downhills, but you will get cross country trails like no others. At The Cycle Hub, you can give mountain biking a go at the bi-annual Great Dubai Pulse Ride in conjunction with Dubai Sports City. Each March and November, you can bring the family to Sports City and explore the dunes. For the more experienced rider, there is a thriving mountain bike community and a series of competitive events. Hatta MTB Trail Centre is the first of it’s kind in the United Arab Emirates, with the fully established Hatta MTB Endurance Challenge attracting hundreds of mountain bikers each time. And to fuel your ride, start the day with a healthy paleo smoothie. The Green Power Smoothie is packed with nutrients. Not only does it taste good, but you’ll feel good inside too! ■

RECIPE

GREEN POWER SMOOTHIE Ingredients • 1/2 Head romaine lettuce • 2 Bananas (frozen) • 2 Oranges (peeled and seeds removed) • 1 Mango • 2 cups Water Instructions • Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth. Top tip: Keep a stash of frozen fruit in the freezer so you are always ready to blend the perfect smoothie.

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Located at The Cycle Hub, Dubai Motor City Call: 04 425 3000 Website: www.thecyclehub.com info@thecyclebistro.com facebook.com/thecyclebistro instagram.com/thecyclebistro

The Cycle Bistro GPS location: Latitude: N 25° 02.792 Longitude: E 055° 14.384

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

For Men

Boulder Ridge™ Long Sleeve Flannel

Peakfreak™ XCRSN XCEL Outdry™ 200 X

119 AED | Was: 159 AED

329 AED | Was: 499 AED

Available at Columbia stores across the region

Features • Multi-functional pocket

Modern lightweight construction methods make the Peakfreak XCRSN XCEL II versatile and indestructible. 200 grams of critical zone insulation.

Fabrics • 100% Cotton

Upper • Textile upper with welded synthetic overlays and 200 grams of critically placed insulation. • OutDRY® breathable waterproof construction Midsole • TECHLITE™ lightweight midsole for long lasting comfort, superior cushioning, and high energy return Outsole • Omni-GRIP™ non-marking traction rubber

For Women

Northern Comfort™ Jacket 169 AED | Was: 329 AED

Available at Columbia stores across the region Features • Zippered hand pockets Fabrics • 77% cotton / 23% polyester fleece.

Peakfreak™ XCRSN II XCEL Low Outdry™ 299 AED | Was: 399 AED

Available at Columbia stores across the region Modern lightweight construction methods make the Peakfreak Xcrsn II Xcel versatile and indestructible. Upper • Textile upper with welded textile overlays provide support and protection • OutDRY® waterproof, breathable construction Midsole • Lightweight TECHLITE™ midsole for long lasting comfort, superior cushioning and high energy return Outsole • Omni-GRIP™ non-marking traction rubber

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PRODUCTS Jobe Chipper Multi Position Board with Handle Model Year: 2018 1,295 AED

Available only at Al Yousuf Motors Across UAE Specification • Board Including Rope and Handle • Plastic Roto Molded • Tow point for Easy Starts and Touring • Nylon Webbing Side Handle • Comfortable Eva Traction Pad Provides a Great • Foothold • All-In-One Product • Size: 100cm

Jobe Aero SUP Inflatable Package SUP in style

2,995 AED | Was: 4,295 AED Available only at Al Yousuf Motors Across UAE Either beginner or advanced lightweight user you can find your way into SUP with this super lightweight and highly accessible board. Making use of a non-detachable thruster fin system the 9.4 SUP is ready to go as it is and supremely manoeuvrability. Unzip your accessory SUP bag, inflate the board and you’re good to go and start paddling! This SUP is perfect for flat water conditions. • Length: 9’4 • Width: 30 • Thickness: 4 Board • Volume: 165L • Recommended Rider Weight: up to 80 kg • Board Weight: 7.2 Kg * Package includes: Inflatable Board, Paddle, Air pump, Fins, leash, repair kit & bag

Sony RX0 - An All New Type of Camera

Nokia 2

Available at The Sony Store and at select authorised outlets in the UAE

Available at UAE in Pewter/Black, Pewter/White and Copper/Black

The Sony RX0 marries the leading-image quality of the Sony RX series with advanced photo and video capabilities, all compressed into a robust and ultra-compact body. Designed to facilitate creative photographic and videographic expression beyond current limitations, the RX0 is equally adept at shooting still images, filming video or can be used as part of a multi-camera set-up to create an inspiring series of images, videos and super slow-motion footage from a multitude of different perspectives.

Nokia 2 is built to keep going long after other smartphones need recharging.

2,799 AED

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349 AED

Its impressive two-day battery lifei doesn’t come at the expense of performance. Combining a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Mobile Platform and a 5 inch, high quality display with the pure, secure and up to date AndroidTM experience, the Nokia 2 offers technology that you can depend on, all day every day.

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PRODUCTS Benq GS1 Portable Outdoor Video Projector 1,999 AED

Available at major retail stores e.g. Jumbo Electronics, Sharaf DG The first BenQ projector designed to bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor space, giving you endless entertainment possibilities. Try something new and transform your camping experience into one that you’ll never forget. The GS1 is packed with all the benefits of an indoor projector. So bring the GS1 along and set up camp wherever you want!

Ricon Cooler Box (4L, 26x16x18.5cm)

Quari 45L Backpack, Green 259 AED

Available at Al-Futtaim ACE stores and online at www.aceuae.com Explore the adventurous streak in you with this dynamic and tough as nails Quari Backpack. It’s a spacious bag constructed from ultra-durable with conveniently placed compartments. The bag also facilitates easy storage of multiple hiking and camping gear and more that make your expedition a breeze. • Loads of Space to Meet Your Needs • Utmost Sturdiness and Reliability Guaranteed • Smartly Devised Backpack • Hip Belt that Amplifies Comfort

Coghlan’s Expandable Water Carrier

35 AED

55 AED

Available at Al-Futtaim ACE stores and online at www.aceuae.com

They are insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Cooler box continues to be a family staple for any outing. Ideal for storing drinks and snacks for a picnic in the park, lunch on the beach or a car trip. Designed with quality materials and construction, they stand up to any occasion, at any time. They are light and made of robust construction. The handle locks lid in place and the insulation is made of polystyrene.

Durable outdoor essential Coghlan’s water carrier is made of high strength polyethylene and promises durability and long-lasting use. The sides of the carrier expand to increase the capacity. The water carrier also features a comfortable carry grip for easy handling and a screw-on cap with on/off spout for convenient dispensing. The 2-gallon capacity provides sufficient water supply for short trips.

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PRODUCTS Crazy Safety Helmets

BBB Cycling Condor Helmet

249 AED

199 AED

Available at Adventure HQ, Go Sport, Revolution Cycles, Sport in Life and Wheels (KSA)

Available at Go Sport, Adventure HQ, Yas Cycles and Sport in Life

Crazy Safety offers a series of cool and colourful children’s bicycle helmets and accessories. The range consists of twelve different animal-themed helmets, matching bells, locks and gloves. All helmet models are equipped with LED lights, soft chin pads and in-mold quality, which makes them comfortable to wear.

The Condor helmet features an in-mold shell construction for crash protection and is fitted with 18 air vents for a cooling airflow through the helmet. The adjustable chin strap provides a comfortable fit. The anti-bacterial pads are easily removed and can be washed. The rear has reflective elements for optimal visibility in dark conditions.

Features • Ventilated shell • EPS foam inner for optimal head protection • Lightweight • Quick release buckle • Size adjustment through adjustment wheel • Integrated LED light for additional safety

Features • Rear vents for optimum airflow • Insect mesh protects against bugs • Easy Twist Close adjustment system • Removable visor included • Rear reflective stickers

Salomon Quest 4d

Garmin Fenixs 5S

Available at Adventure HQ across the UAE

Quest 4D 2 GTX® makes backpacking just a little easier. This lightweight but supportive boot borrows from running shoe technology to provide stability and comfort while keeping the weight down. And a high-top cuff and full waterproof bootie ensure protection all year long.

Beat yesterday all day, every day. fēnix 5 is the premium multisport GPS watch with wrist-based heart rate1, advanced training features and interchangeable bands that let you go from workplace to workout without breaking stride. Whatever sport you want to track, fēnix 5 has it covered, thanks to built-in activity profiles and advanced performance metrics which let you better control the efficiency of your training plus smart notifications 2.

850 AED

2,399 AED

fēnix 5 is a compact 47mm diameter multisport watch packed to a performance optimised size. fēnix 5 features a tough athletic design and superior quality feel with a stainless steel EXO-Antenna as bezel and a forged steel back to guarantee performance in the most demanding of environments (water-rated to 100 meters). The fēnix 5 matches both your aesthetic and athletic ambition.

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PRODUCTS 2017 Naish Orbit Kiteboard

2017 Naish One

Available at Go Sports, Adventure HQ and visit www.kitesurfsupuae.myshopify.com

Lightwind Freeride The Orbit is designed with a large surface area and low rocker for early planing and freeride fun in lightwind conditions. Its surface area, flat rocker, double concave bottom shaping and responsive flex provide easy planing, a smooth ride, superior edging and soft landings. The newly refined outline makes the Orbit more playful and the ride more forgiving, even when small chop starts to develop. It also features an angled heel-side center fin for strong upwind performance while still maintaining a playful ride.

ONE 12’6” Inflatable Racing/Touring The ONE 12’6” is hands down, the bestselling inflatable SUP around the world for all-around cruising, long distance touring and N1SCO one design racing. It features a sleek race outline, 30 inches of width and six inches of thickness for incredible rigidity, stability and speed. It also has an integrated number guide on the deck pad for referencing proper stance position.

GST- B100X

GPW-2000

Available at all G-Factory

GST- B100X - From G-SHOCK, the watch that always strives for toughness, the first G-STEEL lineup models to offer chronograph performance in analog format, along with a carbon bezel that is the product of state-of-the-art materials and innovative technology.

GPW-2000 - 2018 will mark 35 years since G-SHOCK first revolutionized timekeeping with its innovative toughness back in 1983. The gold ion-plated case back is impressed with a 35th Anniversary logo that was created in cooperation with graphic designer Eric Haze, while the band ring is decorated with a group of stars representing the number 35. Special 35th anniversary packaging makes these models something special to mark a truly special anniversary.

2,321 AED | Was 2,578 AED

2,695 AED

5,300 AED

N1SCO stands for “Naish International SUP Class Organization” which is a one design racing class where all riders compete exclusively on the ONE 12’6”. N1SCO competitions include sprint, intermediate distance and long distance racing, as well as team relays that are accessible for any level rider. They are competitive, fun events that are easy to follow, thrilling to watch and a great social experience for the whole family.

4,195 AED

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OUR EXPERTS

Last Part

Words by: Mike Nott Photos by: Colin Campbell, Mark White, Adam Davidson, Dave Shennan & Mike Nott

The Wadi lines through the Dhofar mountains from Mazyouna to the coast are deep, spectacular and deserted. We followed this part of Route 14, the Oman Empty Quarter to the coast road. Happily, a new, but short section of tarmac road has been constructed and this obviates having to pass through the nearby military checkpoint, which you now bypass. As we neared the coast the landscape colour changed from white and brown rock to green grass covered slopes. We'd caught the end of the Shareef wet season and the coast line vegetation was just beginning to turn. Our target was the beach a Fazayah. We reached the turn off from the main coast road (N16 51.133 E53 43.048) and descended this fantastic hair-pinned road and onto the line of beaches. Thankfully we found a beach to ourselves, set up camp, swam in the warm waters of the Gulf of Oman and even managed a small bit of deep water soloing in Crocs on a stack just off the bay. On the way out the next day Mark spotted a chameleon and Adam, Campbell and him persuaded it to hang out with us for a while. The main road then descends and climbs and descends again to Mughsayl beach via a stunning piece of road engineering that crosses precipitous Wadi sides. The coastal road West of Salalah is truly spectacular and must rank as one of the most scenic roads in the region. If you're in the area,

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you'd be missing a treat not to go. On arrival in Salalah we re-provisioned and continued along the coast, stopping at the fort in Mirbat for a small pilgrimage and a tour of the old, crumbling town. On we went via brief stops at the beach at Sadah, the fantastic limestone curtain cliffs and waterfalls near Hasik and then onto the

spectacular new road towards Shuwaymiyah. This road truly is a world class engineering feat. We spotted what looked like a suitable sea inlet, which we hoped would allow us to get to the beach. We turned in and drove as far as we could, eventually coming to a stop amongst a forest of palms (N17 36.113 E55 15.363). There was no drivable or walkable track to the beach, we were on the wrong side of a sea lagoon but we could see the spotless beach beyond. We'd need to swim across the lagoon and then walk towards the beach and, if we'd had time, it would have been worth it. Sunset was approaching and we were heading

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to a camp spot I'd used 4 years before. The road climbs to a plateau and eventually comes to a section that skirts what can only be described as a Grand Canyonesque Wadi; it is immense and apparently impenetrable because it's protected on all sides by precipitous cliffs. It seems you can only stare and wonder at the enormity of it. Colin led us to an isolated spot on the edge (N14 44.070 E55 19.737), we set up camp and were then rained on for the only time during the trip. This is one place I am desperate to come back to and to explore on foot. The descent would certainly be tricky and the terrain is arduous but once you reached the Wadi floor, the route out to the coast would be a fascinating line to follow. I can only imagine how pristine it would be and how unlikely it would be to find rubbish. The coast drive continued via a brief diversion to the signposted 'Pink Lagoon', which was not worth the effort. The amount of litter that was strewn along the beach line was horrendous and totally disfiguring. As a 'signed' tourist spot it was rubbish. However, a later lunch stop at the fisherman's beach at Ras Markaz was definitely worth the diversion: (N1912.165 E57 45.271). We were hoping to get into the 'sugar dunes' just South of Al Khaluf to a campspot that Adam had used before. Turning off to the salt factory on the coast we deflated and headed along the beach before Adam took us on a short play diversion into the 'sugar'. Fortunately, common sense took over and after a series of stucks in these nasty dunes we headed for the hill, the campsite and a spectacular sunset (N20 25.120 E57 57.239). The drive out of the campsite and along the beach towards Al Khaluf was, again, horribly blighted by litter. There needs to be a concerted effort to remove and then prevent this disgusting pollution. Shortly after Al Khaluf, Colin and Mark headed back to Dubai but Adam, Dave and I headed towards the Wahiba. Dave had not been though the area and Adam had a previously recorded route which he promised would not take long. I was a little skeptical. The first time I'd crossed the Wahiba a decade earlier, from North to South, it had taken two days. Adam promised us it would take less than three hours! We arrived at the turn off point in to the Wahiba at about 10:30am. We'd had lunch en route and had finished the crossing by 13:30. Adam was

true to his word but I could scarcely believe it! The tracks running along the line of the dune valleys were huge, well-travelled and clearly fast. Whilst impressive it was also a little disappointing; the mystique has been lost. Adam's guiding duties done, he left us and headed back to Dubai. Dave and I were heading to Wadi Shab. We needed to get to Wadi Shab by about 4:00pm so we'd have enough time to get to the end of it before dark. Dave, motivated by a lack of time, drove very well indeed! We arrived at the car park and were on the 1 Riyal ferry across the lagoon by 4:15pm. With unattractive haste we stormed up the line of the Wadi, in the face of many others coming back, having been told to be back for the last ferry by 5:30pm. The Wadi is stunning, huge cliffs, and plenty of running water. Our aim was to get to the point at which you have to swim to get further up the Wadi and reach the famous collapsed cave and waterfall. With some shouted directions and encouragement from some returning Frenchie’s we reached the target. The water was deep and beautiful to swim in; we then came to the key point. A very narrow runnel through the rock for about 6 or 7 metres, with just enough room to fit your head and to keep it above the water line. We passed through this and into the collapsed cave and waterfall. We were the only ones there and were so pleased to have made it. We both climbed the rope along the edge of the waterfall and up to the next level but

JANUARY 2018 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

were now running short of time and had to return. We hoofed it back down the Wadi and arrived at the lagoon crossing point at about 5:45pm, assuming that they really didn't mean 5:30pm but it seems they did. We shouted in the hope of attracting any remaining boats but gave up and resigned ourselves to swimming across the lagoon. We entered the water to find that, at its deepest, it only came up to our thighs. Ha! During my short stay in the region I'd hoped that I would be able to meet up with Marina Bruce and her husband Neil, who were then living in Barka, on the outskirts of Muscat. A quick call elicited an invitation to come and stay the night, so again, we hit the road, and with unseemly haste managed to get to their house by 9:30pm. A good chat and some hot tea was a lovely way to end the day. The 10 day, trip had been superb. We'd covered 4,500km, some favoured old ground but had also been to places new to us all, many of them of world class scenery. I owe a great deal of thanks to Colin for inviting me, to Adam and Dave who had to put up with me as a passenger and to all for such great company during the trip. Oman has so much to offer but, like the UAE, development is moving fast and the possibilities of true remoteness and adventure are lessening. Make the most of your time in the region and get to these places before the tarmac and fences and familiar brands render them 'normal'. ■

OUR EXPERTS

Educat ion

Parents Get Schooled On Camp Words + Photos by: Haydon Kerr

One of the barriers to getting many students into the outdoors or on a school camp can be the perception by parents of the activities or hazards involved. So, immediately as the weather became perfect for staying for longer periods outdoors, a group of parents & students from across the Deira International School community came together for the first ever Parent Camp at the UAQ Adventure Centre.

The invitation to attend was for anybody wanting to learn more about the fun adventures their children experience while away on the School Camps with DIS. This was considered an important initiative from the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view, in order to dispel any issues involving parental anxiety when it comes to sending students on outdoor adventures. It was a day trip filled with lots of great activities & plenty of laughs. The morning session was divided between some of the Adventure Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most challenging & exciting options. Children watched on & yelled encouragement to Mums & Dads as they scaled up the climbing walls to navigate their way to the top. Parents were also able to see first-hand how some of the children made their way up the same wall by problem solving where hands & feet needed to be carefully positioned.

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Right next to the climbing wall was the Jacob’s ladder where parents & children operated together to reach the top with a lot of teamwork! Ascending the Jacob’s ladder is all about communication & determination. Families & friends on this apparatus had a great time clambering over each other & using various boosting or lifting techniques to get as far up as they could. A highlight for many on this fantastic day was the ever popular Zip Line! Many of the group made it to the top of the tower to have several rides on the line that starts off at around 13m high! The acceleration down the line at the beginning got hearts racing

before the challenge of launching a ball into one of the targets to score maximum points. While some were busy on the high ropes course activities, others were having a go at finding routes through the on-site Maze or playing a game of ‘Human Foosball’. At every station there were families having a great time together experiencing the activities the students on school camps get to face. With the adrenaline pumping through the veins, it was time to take a rest and enjoy some time aboard the UAQ Marine Club House-Boat. Lunch was served aboard the boat as we headed out to moor off the shores from one of the neighbouring

JANUARY 2018 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

mangrove islands. Everybody had a chance to launch themselves from the top of the House Boat on the slide which ends with a drop into the warm UAQ waters. Along the way at every step were the highly qualified & enthusiastic staffs to guide & instruct our group. They ran the whole day with an efficiency that helped parents understand the level of care & attention to detail required when dealing with students in the outdoors. It shed some more light on how well students are looked after while they are away on these school camps & reassured those with any doubts. The feedback from all that attended has been nothing but supportive & highly appreciative. Above all it was a fun day for families to come together & have a great time. We can’t wait for the next ‘Parent Camp’ experience! ■

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OUR EXPERTS

The Emirates Kayak Adventure

The Emirates canoe adventure of Francesco Gambella Words by: Nico de Corato Photos by: Nico de Corato and Emiliano Pane

Almost one year ago I received an email from a guy, named Francesco Gambella. He told me had a project where he would like to involve my organization as a media partner: A Kayak Adventure in the UAE, during the 46th National Day. I was not sure about that, so I proposed to meet each other and to discuss it in person. Just after the winter holiday I was back to the UAE and we were able to plan a meeting, during which Francesco proposed me: "let's have a training together around the palm... and let's talk about this project while we are in the water". Deal! Of course during that training I decided to support Francesco as media partner during the adventure. Born in Rome on the 27th of December 1973, Francesco's tale is an amazing one. When just three months old he suffered

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two heart failures due to a serious bowel malformation. This legacy strongly affected his very attitude towards life. He started canoeing when just 12 years old, very soon his passion granted him remarkable achievements. Today he is the Italian canoeing world ambassador for the "Federazione Italiana Canoa Kayak", the Italian Canoeing Association. He mastered the Third Level in such Association and is Ambassador for the African NGO Amref Italia Onlus. All of Francesco's endeavours have been given

exposure by international and national media. He helped to start up the Kenyan Kayak Association with the Lake Victoria Kayak Expedition, which has seen remarkable media coverage. He is also an honorary member of the world renown Porto Rotondo Yachting Club for his sporting achievements. After numerous journeys around the world, and kayaking in places like Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Polynesia, Indonesia and of course Italy, Francesco Gambella now decided to bring his kayak to Dubai.

Francesco Gambella with Valentina Setta Italian Consul

As planned on December 2nd, on the occasion of the 46th United Arab Emirates' National Day, he started his new adventure from the "Fishing Harbor" in Dubai, he went through the inner circle of the "Palm Jumeirah" islands around the leaves of the palm, straight towards the entrance of "Dubai Marina Channel". In Dubai Marina Francesco was followed by more than 200 jet ski riders, there to celebrate the National Day of the UAE, but that made it even more difficult to paddle due to the wave motion caused.

All required and necessary water security measures as well as boats for Francesco's expedition were provided by the "Nakheel". This event promoted Dubai in Italy greatly, thanks to a pool of journalists who followed Gambella from Italy. In Dubai Francesco is supported by the "Al Jalila Foundation" a global philanthropic organization dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al

Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai in April 2013, to position Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation. The adventure was being also supported by the Dubai Sports Council and the Italian Consulate in Dubai; the Italian General Consul Valentina Setta followed all the stages of the adventure itself. â&#x2013;

Keep on Kayaking!

OUR EXPERTS

Words + Photos by: Kit Belen

The New Year is here and there are quite a lot of things I Want to do a little differently this time around. I have too much fishing stuff. I have a perfectly good excuse – It’s part of work. However, over the years, I have accumulated a lot that I don’t find use these days. I could be because the type of fishing I do has changed, or more likely, after using them a few times, I got myself to buy something better to do the job. How often do you realize that you bought something that doesn’t really do the job you bought it for? Quite a few times if you actually have the habit of looking for a bet-

Reels of these types stay

ter mousetrap, like me. The problem with “Trying things out” is the fact that you end up buying a lot and not really get the right one…ever. Things do work well for some time, but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. When you realize that – guess what? You have spent more than enough to buy a really good one. It happens a lot – most especially with Rods and Reels. There’s two sides of the spectrum – going too expensive for the use and actually under utilizing rods and reels, or going too cheap and ending up with a lot of cheap stuff in your “collection” down the line. I don’t know with you, but for me, I expect to use all my gear, as they’re tools that help me with my job, I expect them to give me their money’s worth and they should do exactly what I expect them to do without failures or headaches. As lures and line are more expendable, we have to consider those as well as terminal tackle as “consumables”. Rods and Reels are tricky business and no matter what your brand loyalty may be, there comes a time in your life when your “collection” might just be a useless heap of rods and a senseless pile of reels that you won’t ever get to use - I know, I’m there right now. Believe it or not, the reason why it’s like this now isn’t even because I wanted to buy most of them – back in the day, I founded a forum that a lot of people back home followed. In that forum, I get requests from people that don’t have the budget to buy top shelf reels – the funny thing is that down the line, these people were able to buy the

Need to trim the number down to the ones that are most useful

right reels – after a few years of doing the research for them, the purpose of the whole thing became moot. Which brings us to one very good point – Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you would be able to save money by buying cheaper stuff to do the job. There’s a defining line between gear that can do the job, and gear that can do the job and last a long time. Here’s an example –If we don’t knitpick the finer details, there is very little performance difference between a Shimano Stella and a Twin Power, most people will buy reels like Penn Conflicts, which are good reels, but they just don’t last longer than a Twin Power. US brand reels are made “tough” as their advertising claims, but after going trough a few Penn Conflicts, I realized I had spent enough to afford a Stella. The next reel I bought was a Twin Power and I haven’t looked back since. Rods are the same thing, you buy a lot of low-end stuff and top end stuff, but now that all my rods are “work rods” I have found the balance of cost and value and surprisingly very good rods for well under 1,000 AED. What I’m trying to say is simple – look for the balance of value and look into what you want to do with your gear – Twin Powers are half the cost of the Stella and it can do what a Stella can do, It lasts longer than a mid end Penn reel and it’s lighter than the most expensive Penn Spinning Reel. This is the reason why I don’t see myself owning a lot of Stellas. It should be noted though that I should have really started early and invested Most of the Penn Reels will have to go

Possibly the most useful reels in the lot

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There's a few here I need to dispose or send home

So here’s the thing – This year, I want my tackle collection to shrink down to about 2030 combos from the present god knows how many. The key to this is really just keeping those that need to be there and for the reels that are sup par with my new standard to be disposed of. The result will be worry free fishing and a lot more fishing time and less fiddling and fixing. ■

There are some really good ones there, but most will go on storage and out of the way

in them without buying all the other reels that now take up a lot of space. Rods are the same thing – people tend to go overboard and say this rod is better than the other – it’s funny when someone who doesn’t even know the dynamics of the rod tries to justify why “it’s the best”. I have lost the interest to buy rods that are over 1,000 AED – and I don’t think I’ll be in a hurry to do some buying any time soon.

I have found some really good rods in the rods we sell in Asia (for Rapala/Storm). After testing quite a few of them for the waters locally, I have chosen a few to import and sell to our dealers – I have found that they do the job and really, they don’t break the bank – paired with good reels; you have combos that would sit side by side with brands from japan and you wont even notice the difference.

Happy New Year and Tight Lines!

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

OUR EXPERTS

Words + Photos by: Dan Wright

If you are headed to Kathmandu for a long weekend and want to see as much as possible in a short time then you should seriously consider heading to a resort like the new Chandragiri Hills Cable Car in Kathmandu Valley. This is part of a drive by Nepali Tourism to create “Destination Attractions” in which you can take part in multiple activities all in the same location. Not only does Chandragiri Hills Ltd offer a World class (Built by Dopplemeyer of Austria) Cable Car ride over a 2.5 kilometre, 12 minute ascent starting from 1500 m elevation up to 2551m but they are also building a 5 star Hotel at the summit (due to open in January 2018) and a Zipline Adventure Park (due to open in June 2018) with 2 x 900 meter ziplines reaching speeds of 70km/hr! View of the Himalayas

For the religious or cultural travelers there is the beautiful Bhaleshwor temple located at the top of the ridge where it is said that the forehead of Lord Shiva’s first wife is buried. There is also a statue of the first King who United Nepal. Historically this is where King Prithviya Narayan is said to have seen Kathmandu valley for the first time and Top station in the rain

proclaimed that; “I will make this the Capital of our new country, Nepal.” For those wanting a glimpse of the majestic Himalayas no location above Kathmandu valley can rival the views of the whole range, from the Annapurna’s through to Everest and beyond, that is visible from the top station of the Cable Car.

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For children there are a variety of playgrounds and fun activities like horse riding and for wildlife lovers there are several forest footpaths and nature trails as well as a Natural History Museum in development for 2018. The area around the Resort is known for; Leopard, Martens, Civets, Deer, Birds and Wild Boar and the Resort has a Natural History program in which they are actively photographing the different species for a diversity study. The Cable car bottom station is just a 16km journey from the center of Kathmandu or 7km from the Ring road around Kathmandu, easily accessible by taxi, hire car or a free Chandragiri Hills bus service from the ring road and the Cable Car up and down is priced according to different regions: • $22 – Western Foreigners • $15 – Chinese • $10 – SAARC Countries • 700 NPR – Local Nepali

*Discounts are also available for students, disabled and senior citizens.

Truly Closer to Heavenly feelings.

Bhaleshwor Temple

can bring a mountain bike (easily for hire in Kathmandu) and ride down instead! If you want to check out the resort online before visiting then have a look at these two video links: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=uDxDRsPAEO0 – Chandragiri Hills Nepal TV Advert https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZLAC8EVVaP8 – YouTube video of Chandragiri Hills ■

Cable car

Bhaleshwor Temple

View Tower

The Resort is spread over a top and bottom station with several outlets for souvenir shopping, snacks and restaurants including a Himalayan Java cafe at the bottom station. There is a reasonably priced Nepali Dhal (Lentils / Curry) Bhat (Rice) buffet at the top station for just $5 per person. The top station also has the highest bar in Kathmandu (2520m) and the various restaurants serve food grown organically in and around the resort. There is a view tower at the top station and the resort has just been granted a license for paragliding down into the Chitlang valley that lies behind the ridge. If you don’t want to fly down then you

Bar @ 2520

Café Fountain

Panthera Pardus - Chittaura - Leopard (Nepal) taken at Chandragiri Hills (Dan Wright) 2017

Children’s Playground

Amphitheatre

Multi-purpose hall

Dan checking camera traps

Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)

Thankot, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 01-4312515 / 01-4311719 E-mail: info@chandragirihills.com

Name: Ernesto Sales III Age: 27 years old Nationality: Filipino Profession: Brand Buying Coordinator, Splash (Landmark Group) Words by: Bandana Jain Photos by: Supplied

Ernesto Sales is relatively new to mountain running, but the excitement of this twenty- something runner is palpable. Every time, his group plans a run or a climb, he is flooded with mixed emotions of excitement and fear. Mountain running for him is synonymous with facing the fear and conquering himself. When did you start mountain running? What has made it your passion?

I started mountain here in the UAE last year. It became my passion because in that short period of time I fell in love with the beauty of mountains, challenges that it brings and facing those challenges has kept me coming back to the mountains over and over again.

How would you describe the treks/runs that you have done in this short yet significant time?

My journey in this discipline is a vivid one considering that I have just been doing this for little more than a year. The most memorable so fartrek or run I made was in Oman and most of the time I am training in the Ras al Khaimah mountains mainly; Wadi Shawka, Wadi Ghalilah and Wadi Litibah.

Which has been your most memorable race and why?

The most memorable one was the Wadi Bih, Oman Ultramarathon race in which we ran 72km and climbed more than 1000m high. It was the toughest race I experienced in bad weather. We started at 4:30am with a temperature of 11ยบC and as we went higher, the temperature dropped down to 5 ยบC, and then it started to rain. It was the best experience because I like challenges. More the challenge, greater the fun!

What does your training involve?

I run at least 50-80km on flat roads during the week with a cross training involving weight training and tempo speed sessions at least twice a week combined with proper diet and sleep.

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How challenging is mountain running to you? How have you kept yourself motivated despite these challenges?

I’ve tried a lot of extreme sports and trail running/mountain running is one of the top on my list. If ever I feel like giving up, I always think of one quote: "Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life even more interesting" by Joshua J. Marine.

How do you intend to take your enthusiasm further?

I am training for the ultramarathon 72km at Wadi Bih, mountain of Oman and 100km in Hajar mountains of RAK next year. Since I love to challenge myself and experience the beauty of mountains, I’m aiming for the next level races like the UTMB - Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc(UTMB is a race of Ultra-Trail World Tour).

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shoes, comfortable clothing and a bag with food and water. It goes without saying that fitness is primary for mountain running too. Set your schedule and level of training depending on your fitness level. Invest and buy the gears that are needed. Train in navigation and Mountain safety - Find a mountain and enjoy! ■

How has mountain running changed you as a person?

Running the mountain trails is like achieving our life goals. You will never know what’s ahead of you. There is neither exact distance nor altitude. There will be ups and downs but when you reach the peak, the view is rewarding.

How interesting do you find UAE as a place for mountain running?

The UAE interests me a lot because UAE mountains are a different level compared to other mountains in other countries. UAE Mountains are like 90% rocks and it is not easy to survive the steep and rolling stones.

According to you, why and how should people get into mountain running?

Scaling something higher than yourself with your own two feet is like a personal trophy for your morale. It can make you stronger and fit in every way that you won’t imagine to be possible. All you will need is a pair of

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UAE DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, +971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai: +971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42839392, www.decathlon.com Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595; Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240; Yas Mall: +971 25650812; MOE: +971 4395 8951, www.go-sport.com 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 43599905; Online store: +971 43149001; Retail store: +971 43504400, http://en-ae.sssports.com

Adventure tours and desert safaris

Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 25718, 27th Floor, Burlington Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, +971 47019111, www.alphatoursdubai.com Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers, Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566, www.dadabhaitravel.ae Desert Rangers, P.O. Box 33501, Dubai UAE, +971 44569944 or 507035111 www.desertrangers.com Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr., Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.desertroadtours.com Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai +971 44329392 or 44329393, www.dreamdays.ae Dream Explorer LLC, JLT, Dubai, P.O. Box 214576, +971 44563390 www.dreamexplorerdubai.com Dubai Relax Travel, P.O. Box 37459, National Towers: Churchill Tower Suite #614, Business Bay, Dubai, +971 528996307, www.dubairelaxtours.com Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai, +971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae Gulf for Good, P.O. Box 506006, 1/F, Building 4, Dubai International Humanitarian City, Dubai, +971 43680222, www.gulf4good.org Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre, +971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com MMI Travel LLC, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata Travel Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 4 4045999, www.theemiratesgroup.com Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, +971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com Oasis Palm Dubai, P.O. Box 181258 Dubai, Office 404, Royal Plaza Building Al Rigga Street, +971 42628889 or 42686826, www.opdubai.com Rahhalah, Shata Tower – 27th Floor, Office No. 2711, Media City, Dubai, +971 44472166, www.rahhalah.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, & Adventure Club, +971 5 04920860, mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com

Air

Balloon Adventures Emirates, Office 123 Oasis Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43884044, www.ballooning.ae Dubai Paragliders, +971 552120155 or 552250193, www.microaviation.org Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72446416 or 555531318, www.jac-uae.net Seawings, Dubai,+971 48070708, www.seawings.ae Skydive Dubai, The Palm: Al Seyahi St, Dubai Marina, +971 43778888, 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 or 504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443, www.alshaalimarine.com Al Yousuf Industrial, LLC, +971 4 3474111, www.aym.ae,

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/ColumbiaME /ColumbiaSportswear_ME yamboats@alyousuf.com Elite Pearl Charter, P.O. Box 214173, Saeed Tower 1, office #3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com Gulf Craft, P.O. Box 666, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street, Ajman, +971 67406060, www.gulfcraftinc.com Distributors and Dealers Art Marine LLC, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Sheikh Zayed Road, 3rd Interchange +971 43388955, www.artmarine.ae or www.artmarinechandlery.com Azure Marine Dubai, +971 4 3706886, www.azuremarine.net Luxury Sea Boats, Showroom #8, The Curve Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 4 3284629, www.luxuryseaboats.com Macky Marine LLC, Box 37594, Ground Floor, Marina Yatch Club, Office # 5, Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 505518317, www.mackymarine.com Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 553419494 or 503419494, www.nautilusyachts.com The Boat House, P.O. Box 71628, Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae UAEBoats4Sale, Dubai Marina, +971 42932465, 567001801, www.uaeboats4sale.com Western Marine, P.O. Box 52938, Sheikh Zayed Road, Knotika Marine Mall, Dubai, +971 44327870 Equipment Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Ground Floor, Tara Hotel Building, Abdul Nasser Square Street, 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 or 553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Extreme Marine, Dubai Marina Branch, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Japan Marine / D1 Marine, WS # 110, Dubai Maritime City, +971 4 4426395 or 55 1666035, www.japanmarine.co Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Al Quoz, Dubai, www.rinehemiratesme.com, +971 43391512 Repairs and Maintenance Extreme Marine, Jebel Ali Branch, Jebel Ali, Industrial Area, P.O. Box 97705, Dubai, +971 48830777, www.extrememarine-me.com Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, SNS Marine, Dubai Creek & Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 501405058, www.snsmarine.ae The Boat House, P.O. Box 71628, Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae Cruise Operators Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665491

Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, P.O. Box 32261, Sharjah, UAE, +971 65441232; Dibba, Musandam, Oman, +968 26836550 Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite the British Embassy, +971 48145553 Bristol Middle East, Marina Heights Tower, Dubai Marina – Marina Walk,Dubai, +971 4368 2480, 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 43282930, 50 3716377, www.edenyachting.com Emirates Yatching, P.O. Box 8380, Dubai, +971 42826683 El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406, www.elmundodubai.com Four Star Travels and Tourism, Dubai, +971 561012599, www.4startravels.com 4 Yatch Chartering LLC, Toll Free: 800 YACHT (92248), Office #4, Dubai Marina Yatch Club, Dubai, www.4yachtchartering.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 48706668, www.happydaysdubai.com LY Catamaran, Bur Dubai, +971 566506683, www.lycatamaran.com Marine Concept, P.O. Box 282586, Office 611, Al Barsha Business Centre, Dubai, +971 43958022, 559603030 www.marine-charter-concept.com Nautica1992, Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, Dubai Marina, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company - P.O. Box 73373, C/O Ali & Sons Real Estate LLC, Plot No. 29, Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Rd, Um Al Nar, Abu Dhabi, UAE - +971 25581889 www.noukhada.ae RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton Marina, +971 72066410, 504912696, 507682345 Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011 Smoke Dragon of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi International Marine & Sports Club, +971 507011958 or 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, 800892, 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 or 504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +971 42394760 or 42959477, 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 26907725 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 www.jebelali-international.com Pavilion Marina, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800 Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club, Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644, www.uaqmarineclub.com

Dragon Boat Groups Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating, Dubai, +971 508795645, www.facebook.com/DubaiDawnPatrol Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175, www.dubai-diggers.com UAE Dragon Boat Association, +971 507634008, www.dubaidragonboat.com

Camping & Hiking

Equipment Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255, www.blingmytruck.com Gulf Camping, Dubai, UAE, +971 551222252 or 502550666, www.gulfcamping.com Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, +971 24437802 Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink, The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801 Urban Peak, PO Box 9587, Office 502E, Ibn Battuta Gate Offices, Dubai, +971 44548805, www.urbanpeak.com Tour Operators Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463, www.adventure.ae Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959428, www.arabiatours.com Libra Travel & Tourism LLC, +971 43397700, www.facebook.com/ LibraTravelDubai Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +971 506595536, www.mountainhighme.com Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba, +971 50336046, www.sheesabeach.com

Caving

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

Climbing

Equipment Adventure HQ, Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai Times Square Center, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, Dubai, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi +971 24437802, www.jack-wolfskin.com Services Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463, www.adventure.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae

OUTDOORUAE

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

Diving

Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 28137444, 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 43697817, 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 Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415, Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor, C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455838, www.funridesports.com Micah’s Bike Shop, Warehouse No.4 6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228 Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1, +971 43255705, www.probike.ae Rage Shop, Al Ghurair Centre: +971 4294 8634; MOE: +971 43413388; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24437617, Dubai Mall: +971 44341549, www.rage-shop.com Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441, www.rcdxb.com Ride Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road: +971 43395602; Mirdif City Centre: +971 42840038; Al Seef Village Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 26337172, www.ridebikeshop.com Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, + 971 43388644 or 43391333 Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525, www.tamreensports.com The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai, +971 505528872 or 44256555, www.thecyclehub.com Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377; Shop #5, Reemas Building Al Quoz 1, Exit 46/47, Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, +971 43211132, www.trekbikes.ae Trikke UPT, P.O. Box 53527, Dubai, + 971 43434499; P.O. Box 33869, Abu Dhabi, +971 26333377, www.trikkeme.net Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463, www.adventure.ae, info@adventure.ae Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome www.cyclechallenge.ae Dubai Roadsters, +971 43394453, www.dubairoadsters.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, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Blue Waters Marine, +971 43808616, Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi, +971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com Premiers for Equipment, Sheikh Zayed 1st. Road, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665226, www.premiers-uae.com Dive Shop.ae, Building #123, Street 26, Area 369, Al Quoz Industrial Area 4, Dubai, +971 43414940, www.diveshop.ae 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 or 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 28015454, www.divemahara.com Divers Down, +971 559888687, Dubai; Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, +971 92370299, www.diversdownuae.com Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi, near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444, www.edc-ad.ae Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, +971 506130486 contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Freestyle Divers, Al Corniche Street, Dibba, Fujairah, +971 504514259, www.freestyledivers.me Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Neptune Diving, +971 504347902, www.neptunedivingcentre.com Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +971 44068828 Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922, www.scubauae.com 7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan, +971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 506683430, 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 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.facebook.com/FSDCuae Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 507840830, www.bsac406.com

JANUARY 2018 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.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, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390000, 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 or 553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798 or 44538386, 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 43926463, 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 72432274, www.alhamramarina.com Al Mahara Dive Center, Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125, www.divemahara.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +971 42394760 or 42959477, 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 503366224 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 507050433 or 506947764, www.seaworlddsf.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971 48706668, 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 25581889, www.noukhada.ae Ocean Active, +971 504592259, www.oceanactive.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Soolyman Sport Fishing, Umm Suquiem, Fishing Port No. 2, Jumeirah Beach, +971 508866227, 508866228 or 503402379, www.soolymansportfishing.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, +971 556881793, 501084010, www.flipfloparabia.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Highbury Trading FZE LLC, P.O. Box 16111, RAK Free Trade Zone Authority, Ras Al Khaima, +971 526799506, www.highburytrade.com Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, +971 24437802 Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43951113 Portable Shade UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE, +971 508897125, www.portable-shade.net Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE, +971 42896001 or 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 Equipment & Requisites Trading P.O. Box 77282, AL Khawanij 1st , Dubai, +971 554733110, www.asifa.ae Black Horse LLC, Baniyas West, Near Empost Abu Dhabhi, +971 25866205, 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 or 501978888 Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai, +971 43238010, www.dubaipoloclub.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 Hoofbeatz, located just inside the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai, +971 569424551, www.hoofbeatz.com Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club, Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai, +971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area, Abu Dhabi, +971 565066741, 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

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 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, Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +971 44426395, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442, 45019412 or 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com

Motocross & ATV’s

Dealers Al Badayer Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 68861161 or 507842020, www.albadayerrental.com Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor, +971 43200009, www.alshaalimoto.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Golden Desert Motorcycles, P.O. Box 47912, E-44 Hatta road, Al Badayer Madam, Sharjah, +971 529484616 or 505 033 800 KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +971 43468999, www.ktm.com Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442, 45019412 or 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Motoventure, Hobbies Club, Al Awir, Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 555437392, www.motoventure.net Elite Dune Off Road Motorcycles Rental L.L.C. (MXDUBAI / Just Gas It), Falcon Oasis Desert Safari Camp, Al Awir, Dubai info@mxdubai.com / enquiries@justgasit.net +971 552622707 / 552621377 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 26441478, www.polarisuae.com Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com Equipment Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental), Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43395608, Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com 2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai, +971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com

Motorcycling

Distributors and Dealers Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Ducati, Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 24918593, www.ducati.ae Duseja General Trading Co. LLC, Warehouse No: B3, Alquoz Ind Area #3, Umm Suqeim Road next to Max Garage

Diagonally opposite Lulu Hypermarket Al Barsha, +971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667, hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae, www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442, 45019412 or 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex, Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor, +971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com Tristar Motorcycles, Al Awir Road, Nr Oman Transport, +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 67681166 2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai, +971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, 800 YAS (927) or +971 26599800, www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Off-Road

Dealers Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 or 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 2858989, www.aaadubai.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 43469600, 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,

JANUARY 2018 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152, www.aev.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha ARB Emirates 4x4 Accessories, Dubai International City, +971 4 4327190 & Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, +971 2 5553600 www.arbemirates.com Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 or 505548255, www.blingmytruck.com Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 569796524 or 506472447, 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, 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.desertroadtours.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 4 2628832 or 4 2686826, 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 Desert Road Runners www.desertroadrunners.club

Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3 +971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae Picnico, Al Fairdooni Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Near Sharaf DG Metro Station and Mall of Emirates, +971 43951113 Surf Dubai, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, +971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai, +971 564716180, 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, Umm Suqeim Beach, Dubai, +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 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, www.shamalkitesurfing.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 43791998, 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, +971 26395997, www.watercooleduae.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle, www.abudhabisup.com UAE SUP and Surf Association, +971 26665588, www.ridersuae.com

Water Parks

Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, +971 44260000, www. atlantisthepalm.com 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, P.O. Box 51234, Sas Al Nakhl, Abu Dhabi, +971 28853555, www.adgolfclub.com Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah, +971 67431122 or 44370505, www.tamimistables.com Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 556101841, www.blokartme.com Children’s City, Creek Park Gate No.1, Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai, +971 44262000, www.atlantisthepalm.com Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate No. 1, +971 43369773, www.dubaidolphinarium.ae iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42316292, www.iflyme.com Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, +971 25578000, www.sbgolfclub.ae Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah, +971 65487777, www.golfandshootingshj.com SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, +971 44094000, www.skidxb.com Spacewalk Indoor Skydiving, Abu Dhabi, +971 26577601, adcountryclub.com/ spacewalk/about-spacewalk/

Health, Safety & Training

Safety Lessons Marine Concept Yacht Charter & Sea School, Rania Business Centre, Dubai, +971 559603030, www.marine-charter-concept.com Sport and Health Centres Bespoke Wellness, Dubai, +971 553724670, www.bespoke-wellness.com

OUTDOORUAE

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

JANUARY 2018 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404; P.O. Box 126469, Office 508 The Fairmont

Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43116571 www.originalfitnessco.com Orthosports Medical Centre, 5B Street,

Jumeira Beach road, Dubai, 800 ORTHO (67846), www.orthosp.com The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49,

Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, +971 44370570, www.physiocentre.ae

OMAN DIRECTORY

Al Sawadi Beach Resort, P.O. 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, P.O. Box 940, Muscat, Oman, +968 97899094, 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 Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours, P.O. Box 786, PC No. 811, Khasab, Musandam, Sultanate of Oman, +968 91713449, info@tourkhasab.com Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman, +968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box 65, Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Nomad Ocean Adventures, +968 26836069, Dibba, Oman; Fujairah, +971 508918207, www.discovernomad.com Diving Centres Euro-divers Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, P.O. Box 940, Postal Code 100 Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, +968 98194444, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Zighy Bay, Oman, Musandam, +968 26735555, www.extradivers.info

Moonlight Dive Center, Near Grand Hyatt Muscat, Shati Al Qurum, Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman, +968 24284240, www.omandivecenter.com Oman Dive Center Resort, P.O. Box 199, Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman, +968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info Omanta Scuba Diving Academy, Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area, Muscat, Oman, +968 99777045, www.omantascuba.com Oxygen Diving and Adventures, P.O. Box 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat, Oman, +968 92537494 or 9723 2661, www.o2diveoman.com Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488, www.scubaoman.com Seaoman, P.O. Box 2394, RUWI PC 112, Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com

Camping & Hiking

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Boating & Sailing

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

Manufacturer Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11, Post Code 118, Muscat, Oman, +968 24568887, 24566566, 24561619 or 24568881, www.sapphire-marine.com Marinas Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman, +968 24737286 (ext 215), www.marinaoman.net

Clubs

Horse Riding

Fishing & Kayaking

Adventure tours and desert safaris

Bike and Hike Oman, P.O. Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873, www.bikeandhikeoman.com Dolphin Qasab Tours, P.O. Box 123, P.C. 811, Khasab City, Musandam, Oman, +968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com Go Dive Oman, Marina Bander Al Rowdha Dive Center, +968 9548 3813 or 98194444, www.godiveoman.com Khour Shem Tourism, Oman, +968 91713449, www.khourshemtours.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, http://omantrekkingguides.tumblr.com Cruise Operators Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +968 26836551, www.sheesabeach.com

Diving

Equipment Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box 44, Dibba, Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550; UAE: +971 502124100, www.almarsamusandam.com

QATAR DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Al Mulla Travels, P.O. Box 4147, Doha, Qatar, +974 44413488, almullatrvls@qatar.net.qa Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 13530, Doha, Qatar, +974 4344499, 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, P.O. Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar, +974 44357333 E2E Qatar Travel and Tours, PO Box 23563, Doha, Qatar, +974 44516688 or 444515995, www.e2eqatar.com Falcon Travels, PO Box 22031, Doha, Qatar, +974 44354777, www.falcontravelqatar.com Gulf Adventures Tourism LLC, P.O. Box 18180, 29 Aspire Zone Street, Aspire Zone Al Ryyan City, State of Qatar Switchboard: +974 44221888, www.gulf-adventures.com Net Tours Qatar, P.O. Box 23080, Doha, Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa Regency Travel & Tours, +974 44344444, www.regencyholidays.com Qatar Adventure, P.O. Box 13915, Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561, www.qataradventure.com Qatar Inbound Tours, P.O. Box 21153, +974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com Qatar International Tours, P.O. Box 55733 Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141, www.qittour.com Qatar Ventures, Barwa Village Bulding #12 Shop #33, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679, www.qatar-ventures.com

Cycling, Running & Triathlon Qatar Chain Reaction, www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207 or 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, The Pearl(Parcel 9) +974 40027513, Souq Jabor +974 44430322. Office: +974 44417935, www.galaxysportqatar.com GO Sport Qatar, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, +974 44631644; Villaggio Mall, +974 44157463, www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar Sun & Sand Sports Qatar, City Centre Mall, +974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall, +974 44510179; Mustafawi Exhibition, +974 44935183, en-ae.sssports.com

Boating & Sailing

Equipment Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach +974 55503484 www.regattasailingacademy.com Distributors and Dealers Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum Road, P.O. Box 9145 Doha, Qatar, +974 44410109, www.speedmarinegroup.com Marinas Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar, +974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar, +974 55843282, www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com The Pearl–Qatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar, +974 44953894, www.ronauticame.com

Add your free listing to the 66

OUTDOORUAE

Equestrian Clubs/Centres Al Shaqab, P.O. Box 90055, Doha, Qatar, +974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Racing and Equestrian Club, P.O. Box 7559, Doha, Qatar, +974 44197704, www.qrec.gov.qa

Diving

Equipment/Centres Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street (near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar, +974 44435626 Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club, PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar, +974 50483794, www.dohasubaquaclub.com Extreme Adventure, P.O. 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, P.O. Box 2489, Doha, Qatar, +974 44449553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, P.O. Box: 11538, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, 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 Marine Centre, Souq Al Najada cnr of Grand Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Street; +974 55319507 or 4375065, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, PO Box 6944, Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989, www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 55246651, 40405156, www.qatardivers.com Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center West Bay, P.O. Box 16657, Doha, +974 55319507, www.qatarmarine.net Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277 or 44422234, www.qatarscubacenter.com

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

Caving

Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +968 24543002, www.holiday-in-oman.com Oman World Tourism, Oman, +968 24565288, www.omanworldtourism.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Az’Zaha Tours, +968 99425461, www.azzahatours.com Water World Marine Oman, P.O. Box 76, Muscat, 113, Sultanate of Oman, +968 24737438, www.waterworldoman.com

Equipment Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 70057489 Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment, P.O. 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, P.O. 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

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment, Operators Fly-N-Ride, Ras abu Aboud, Doha, +974 33117089, Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha, +974 33155628, 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 44151687

ONLINE DIRECTORY

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