OutdoorUAE - December 2015 by OutdoorUAE

HEALTHY BARBEQUE TIPS

Camping spots in Qatar Petrolhead Paradise 2015 Dubai International Motor Show

Mister Handy!

Leatherman Tread

Plenty of

PRODUCTS TO CHECK OUT

Price 10.00 AED 10.00 QAR 1.00 OMR

SURFING HEAVEN AT KANDUI VILLAS

A Different Kind of Stopover:

Vol. 5, No. 12 December 2015

DUBAI TO AL AIN ON QUADS www.OutdoorUAE.com

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

OutdoorUAE Team

And Another Year Has Passed... ...Time seems to fly here in the UAE and it’s hard to believe that another year is over. 2015 has been a busy year for OutdoorUAE — we had many internal changes, entered into new business ventures, successfully organised another Off-Road and Adventure Show and then dealt with all the usual little things that seem smallbut take up so much time and energy. After the challenges and successes of 2015, we are confident that you will see the effect of all our hard work in 2016. The biggest change will certainly be that we will get more involved with all of the great opportunities the digital world is offering, to bring the outdoors even closer to you, even if you are on your computer or phone. But with all of this new technology we will continue to stay true to our roots with our beloved printed magazine, only with the addition ofmore digital options.

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and General Manager daniel@outdooruae.com

So our resolution for 2016 is more or less the same as every year, “Get more people outdoor, active, healthy and happy!” If you want to join us on this journey, do continue reading the magazine, get involved online, share your photos and stories not only with friends around a campfire, but with us and the whole community. After all, sharing information is the key when accessing and enjoying the outdoors.

Editor For editorial content and press releases Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 5760322 editor@outdooruae.com Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries) Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 9398915 linda@outdooruae.com Mobile: 055 8647125 nela@outdooruae.com Published by Outdoor UAE FZE In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS P.O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E. Cover photo by: Rod Patrick

Tel. 04-447 2030 contact@outdooruae.com www.outdooruae.com Distributor Dar Al Hikma LLC P.O. Box 2007, Dubai, UAE Tel. 04-266 5394 Printed at GN Printing P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE © 2015 Outdoor UAE FZE Vol. 5, No. 12, December 2015 www.OutdoorUAE.com Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE

Rachael Bruford Travel Editor rachael@outdooruae.com

Eulogy van Dyk Editor Qatar eulogy@outdooruae.com

Keith Pereña Junior Editor & Social Media keith@outdooruae.com

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing linda@outdooruae.com

Nela Macovei Sales and Marketing nela@outdooruae.com

Jung Francisco Designer and Photographer jung@outdooruae.com

Katherine Cañedo Patangui Administration kathy@outdooruae.com

Ian Sebeldia Circulation ian@outdooruae.com

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and off-road expert

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

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

Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE Ivana Chiles Health coach and outdoor enthusiast

Get to us on Facebook!

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.

Dan Wright Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE

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

Jake Lyle Diving and Watersport Expert

WHEN YOU’RE DONE READING, PLEASE RECYCLE!

Helle Bachofen Von Echt Elite Women Cyclist

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

CONTENTS

16 UIM XCAT POWERBOAT WORLD SERIES DUBAI

18 THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS OF ETHIOPIA

30 HEALTH POWERHOUSE: LET’S TALK BARBECUES

EVERY ISSUE

16 UIM XCAT POWERBOAT WORLD SERIES DUBAI 17 FUJAIRAH OFFSHORE FISHING TOURNAMENT

06 EVENTS CALENDAR 08 BEST SHOTS 09 OFF-ROADER’S CORNER: AHMED’S WHITE HOT WRANGLER 38 PRODUCTS 71 DIRECTORY

EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS 10 WADI ADVENTURE RACE 10 11 QATAR INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW 12 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 13 SEAYOU WATERSPORTS CHALLENGE 14 MYUAEADVENTURE 15 FUJAIRAH OFFSHORE FISHING TOURNAMENT

OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE 18 THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS OF ETHIOPIA 22 T.L.R.D – BUILT NOT BOUGHT 24 THE ELBRUSH LETTERS – FINALE 26 THE GREAT MOAB EXPEDITION 28 A STEP BACK IN TIME

LIFESTYLE 30 HEALTH POWERHOUSE: LET’S TALK BARBECUES 32 OUTDOOR FLICKS: WILD 33 HABITUALLY HEALTHY: A FESTIVE FEAST – PALEO STYLE 34 NATURAL HISTORY: THE WAY WE USED TO LIVE

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

48 FAMILY CAMPING IN QATAR - EULOGY

56 A DIFFERENT KIND OF “STOPOVER” - JOHN

66 HOW TO CHOOSE A TENT

TRIED + TESTED

PEOPLE

39 LEATHERMAN TREAD 43 NATHAN TRAIL MIX 46 SYNERGY RIDING TIGHTS

OUR EXPERTS 48 FAMILY CAMPING IN QATAR - EULOGY 50 SUP DUBAI! – JAKE 51 A RELAXING EVENING BY THE CAMPFIRE? - MARINA 52 WHY I DIY – KIT 54 CONQUERING FEARS AND PUSHING LIMITS IN NICE – HELLE 56 A DIFFERENT KIND OF “STOPOVER” - JOHN

58 AIMEE WRIGHT 59 HADEYA ALHASHMI

LOCATIONS 60 KANDUI VILLAS 62 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A BEGINNER CAMPER 64 REVIEW: ANANTARA DESERT ISLANDS RESORT

TIPS + TRICKS 66 HOW TO CHOOSE A TENT 68 GOING THROUGH A PHASE 70 CAMPING FITNESS BY FITNESS FIRST

OUTDOORUAE

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

EVENTS CALENDAR

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS

DECEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

D E C

AWAFI MTB FESTIVAL

A celebration of all things MTB in the rocky lands of Ras al Khaimah When: December 18 Where: Jebel Jais Quarry Contact: 056 105 7675, facebook.com/awafimtbfestival

D E C

DUBAI DASH

Corporate teams race it out in the region’s ultimate teambuilding relay run. When: December 9, 4:30 p.m. Where: Dubai Sports City Contact: www.dubaidash.com

DEC

01 DEC

FAI WORLD AIR GAMES 2015

Air athletes will be blotting out the sun in this spectacular 12 day event! When: December 1-12 Where: Skydive Dubai Contact: www.dubaimotorshow.com

IRONMAN 70.3 MIDDLE EAST CHAMPIONSHIP BAHRAIN

A venue for your 70.3 personal record that captures the essence and history of Bahrain When: December 5 Where: Prince Khalifa Gardens, Bahrain Contact: www.ironman.com

OUTDOORUAE

D E C

JLL TRIATHLON SERIES RACE 2

The second leg of the JLL Race Series with Sprint and Super Sprint Distances. Start off with a swim in Dubai Marina followed bike and run around the hotel grounds. When: December 12, 6:45 a.m. Where: Jebel Ali Golf Resort Hotel Contact: www.race-me-events.com

DEC

2XU 5 STAR AQUATHLON

Swim and run with the Abu Dhabi Tri Club at the breathtaking waters of the Emirates Palace open water lagoon. When: December 11, 7:00 a.m. Where: Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Contact: www.premieronline.com

DEC

URBAN ULTRA 24HR INSOMNIA

Run around a 500m flat looping course for the next 24, 12 or 6 hours. When: December 11 Where: Dubai Contact: www.urbanultra.com

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

D E C

AL AIN AIR CHAMPIONSHIP 2015

The 11th edition of the Al Ain Air Championship is ready to make its mark to amaze flying enthusiasts and families When: December 17-19, 11:00 a.m. Where: Al Ain International Airport Contact: www.alainairchampionship.ae

D E C

SPINNEY’S DUBAI 92 CYCLE CHALLENGE The grandest cycling event in Middle East spanning over several days. When: December 10-11 Where: Nad al Sheba Cycle Track Contact: www.cyclechallenge.ae

DEC

ABU AL ABIADH DHOWS RACING

A traditional boat race running from the Abu Abiadh to the Corniche Breakwater with lively Ayala dances in the nearby Heritage Village.

UIM FORMULA 1 POWERBOAT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Like Formula 1 but in the water. No brakes, no gears just breakneck speed. When: December 10-11, 3:30 p.m. Where: Abu Dhabi Breakwater Contact: www.abudhabievents.ae

DEC

When: December 12, 8:00 a.m. Where: Abu Dhabi Breakwater Contact: www.torath.ae

DEC

LET’S GO FORWARD NORTH DESERT RUN S2

A 10K or 5K run along the deserts or Kuwait in support of children in Zimbabwe When: December 12, 9:00 a.m. Where: Mutla’a , Kuwait Northern Desert Contact: www.letsgoforward.com

D E C

DESERT ROAD RUNNERS DUBAI AUTODROME 5K 2015 The annual 5K by the Desert Road Runners returns for the 4th time. When: December 14-15 Where: Dubai Autodrome Contact: www.hopasports.com

DEC

AL AIN HALF MARATHON AND 10K

The only half marathon in the Garden City. When: December 18 Where: 7:00 a.m. Contact: stadionraces@gmail.com

OUTDOORUAE

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

BEST SHOTS Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Bhaskaran Venugopal, Jean-Paul Courville and Denise Ostermann. Well done! To submit your entries, simply email us at competitions@outdooruae.com with the subject “Best Shots.”

Bhaskaran Venugopal

Showkah Pools at Ras Al Khaimah

Denise Ostermann Jithesh Sundar

Romantic Couples 8

OUTDOORUAE

Just loved my first skydive over the Alps in Switzerland last week! Thrilling experience and for sure not the last time!

THE

OFF-ROADERS corner

Ahmed’s White Hot Wrangler Full name: Ahmed Al Madani Nationality: Emirati Occupation: Bodybuilder/Trainer Ride: 2013 Jeep Wrangler

Wowing audiences during the 2015 Dubai Off-Road and Adventure and taking home the coveted Best 4X4 title is Ahmad Al Madani and his wildly modified Jeep Wrangler — oh wait, wild does not even begin to define how awesome his car is, it is just insane! A member of the UAE Adventures Club, his Jeep has combated the deserts of the region and has looked good while doing so. We sit down with him and ask more about the car. Tell us a little background story about the car…

I have been a 4X4 and adventure enthusiast for a long time, so in 2013 I have decided to head to the dealership and purchase my Jeep in order to experience the “Jeeper life”.

Could you tell us all about the modifications that were made? Performance and cosmetic-wise?

Well I have no idea where to start with, I have been literally involved in customizing every single part of the vehicle by adding

special graphics to it. But to give a brief list, it has Bushwackers, Method Rims wrapped Mickey Thompson tyres, Variable LED bars for night drive usages and fog, a Pioneer sound system, (for dune bashing music) a Warn winch, a metal bumper with a stinger, a snorkel for easy access to air. Topping it off are various accessories and tools for camping and recovery in any remote area. Under the chassis is a King suspension kit with steering stabilisers. The engine

bay meanwhile remains original with the only modification made was placing a K&N intake filter.

What were your other options before you bought this car?

Nothing really, this was the only car I want.

How do you spend time with the car?

Since I love to have a great adventure, I tend to enjoy my ride with my young son Matar, and my friends in the UAE Adventures Club or UAC4X4 for short as they tend to take my adventures to a different level with their trips.

How often do you use your car?

It’s my daily driver! And it attracts a lot of attention because of the host of modifications as well as the graphic work that I did.

Any future modifications that you are planning?

Well the world of Jeepers modifications never ends, and I believe I would work more on the engine side; specifically by adding a supercharger system.

What 4x4 do you dream of owning? I don’t need to dream, I already have my dream car.

OUTDOORUAE

EVENT REPORT

The Middle East’s first man-made whitewater rafting, kayaking and surfing destination, Wadi Adventure hosted the 10th edition of their iconic Wadi Adventure Race series (W.A.R.10), on October 31, 2015. Arriving at the crack of dawn, over 700 local and international participants with the youngest being 16 and the oldest 61 years of age, were all geared up and ready for W.A.R.10, which consisted of three different, gruelling obstacle courses (5km, 10km and 15km) that set the challengers running, crawling, climbing, swinging and swimming their way to the finish line. The event was attended by HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum who not only awarded the winners but were also seen sportingly participating in the race. The race also witnessed participation of the UAE Representative at the Ministry of Interior in the United States, National Athlete and Abu Dhabi Police Instructor Mr. Rashid Butti Al Qubaisi who bagged the second position in the second in the 15k category. The event kicked-off with participants signing and receiving their goodie bags and electronic timing chips followed by a quick warm–up session conducted by the main sponsor, Fitness 360 before heading towards the starting point at the Red Bull Arch. “It’s awesome to see how much the Wadi Adventure Race has grown in the past four years” commented Gina Capenhurst, Events Manager for Wadi Adventure. “With each passing year we try to add something new and exciting and this year was no different. With three different race distances and nine different categories to choose from, whether the competitors wanted to race to win or just enjoy themselves with friends, W.A.R.10 had something for everyone!’’

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum and on inset: Sheikh Mohamed Bin Nahyan both present during the event.

The Wadi Adventure Race series is the most affordably priced obstacle race in the country, making it accessible for everyone with registrations starting from 275 AED; inclusive of a special race t-shirt, goodies bag, post–race snacks, raffle draws and an all-day admission to Wadi Adventure. 18 podium finishers from the Men and Women categories also received over 45,000 AED worth of prizes. Don’t miss out W.A.R.11 which is taking place on January 16, 2016 by registering at www.premieronline.com, or calling Wadi Adventure on +971 (3) 7818 422. W.A.R.10 Sponsors included: Fitness 360 (Main Sponsor), Al Ain Municipality, Al Ain Distribution Company, Al Noor Hospital, Eastern Motors LLC, Daman-Active Life, Red Bull, Ain Al Fayda One to One Hotels & Resorts, Al Ain Water, Al Ain Raceway,

Mercure Grand Jabel Hafeet Hotel, Future Life, McCain, Global Eye, Hilton Hotel, Al Ain and Danat Al Ain Resort Hotel. Volunteers: Al Ain Rugby Club and Mawalef Volunteers. Media: The Source, OutdoorUAE, Al Dafrah TV, Kabayan, Hype magazine and Dubai Life TV. WINNERS MEN 5K Podium 1st Place: David Grapengeter 2nd Place: Abdullah Al Kaabi 3rd Place: Khalid Busherin 10K Podium 1st Place: Hallvard Borsheim 2nd Place: Ruan Ferreira 3rd Place: Saoud Jumaa Jassim 15K Podium 1st Place: Zajko Borko 2nd Place: Rashed Butti Al Qubeisi 3rd Place: Rob Jones WINNERS WOMEN 5K Podium 1st Place: Malin Ehrman-Sylvander 2nd Place: Elizabeth Kelleher 3rd Place: Alex Cook 10K Podium 1st Place: Holly Stapleton 2nd Place: Franciska Reynolds 3rd Place: Hanlie Signorini 15K Podium 1st Place: Michelle Jones 2nd Place: Sara Aouad 3rd Place: Cara Smith

EVENT REPORT

Qatar International Boat Show:

Setting Sail and Leading the Way Words By: Maj Hinrichsen

One cannot be anything but amazed by Qatar’s unparalleled ability to exceed all expectations when it comes hosting an international event. The2015 Qatar International Boat Show was certainly no exception! The event was staged at the Mourjan Marinas in Lusail City from November 10th to 14th under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior for the State of Qatar, and organised by Snow Conceptual Communications. Whether or not you are a boating enthusiast, you would certainly enjoy an exhibition of this calibre. It was undeniably

impressive, catering to the needs of everyone, in particular those with a refined taste. With the diversity of offerings and over 90 exhibitors from 15 countries, Qatar is undoubtedly a player in the international boating community. When I arrived at the Boat Show, I was convinced that it was merely about exhibitors showing off their biggest and best boats to potential buyers – and don’t get me wrong, it certainly was… But it was also about families enjoying a day out together in an environment bursting with activities for both young and old. If you grew up on small family sailboat like I did, you will know that words such as “horsepower”, “engine” and “convenience” were worse than cursing, and taking a hot shower meant jumping in the sea. Therefore, the idea of a good time at a luxury yacht show with what some would call “floating extravagance” seems far from possible. But I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. It is impossible not to be blown away by the coolness of a luxury yacht. Perhaps it is also the implication of the lifestyle that such a vessel promises, and at the Qatar International Boat Show, only the best was on display. Some adrenaline action was provided by an effortless wakeboarding demonstration (that is of course when it is given by Khalid Al Awadhi, professional member of the Kuwaiti Wakeboard Team). And who does not secretly dream of being a wind surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddling and kayaking aficionado? You would after seeing Blue Pearl Watersport’s presentation of the sports. Their mission is to make SUP (stand up paddling) the fastest growing water sport, accessible to all groups and skill levels in Qatar. Ambitious and inspiring! Also worth mentioning is the Gais Speargun Company (under the “Made in Qatar” logo promoting local business and crafts)

where I, for the first time, was introduced to the sport of spearfishing. There is sort of an early civilization and old-fashioned “I can provide for my family” feel to the sport that is endearing, but contrasted by the adrenaline rush of hunting prey underwater. And perhaps, since I am a little scared of diving amongst stingrays, barracudas and snakes without any “protection”, this would be like bringing your own personal bodyguard. The Qatar International Boat Show was a highly successful event. The event management and services on offer definitely impressed all attendees of the show - there was even a pirates and mermaids kids zone as well as other activities such as drawing and painting, and an abundance of enticing food stalls representing international cuisine. With such excellent organisation, you were left with no interruptions to peruse and be amazed by the luxury yachts and boating vessels on display. Don’t miss out on this event next year. Boat enthusiasts will have everything they could wish for, and if you are not familiar with the boating world, this will be an experience to remember. I can’t wait to set sail (or start the engine) for the 2016 edition. Open waters await!

OUTDOORUAE

EVENT REPORT

Anything with an Engine

Dubai International Motor Show 2015 Words By: Keith Pereña

Spanning what seems to be the entire length of the Dubai World Trade Centre, the biannual Dubai Motor Show has once again wowed visitors in its five day display of all things automobile and, new in town, motorcycles. The Motor Show has everything from campers to superbikes and supercars (as expected), as well as a generous host of 4x4s on display. Walking around the exhibition halls served as a complete dream come true for every automotive aficionado, where they could buy, take photos with and look for what could be their next car. Several significant releases also took place during the show, one of which is the Nissan Patrol Desert Edition, engineered in partnership with Emirati racing legend Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who even has his signature proudly displayed on the rear panel of the new Patrol. This car is dune ready with a flag and off-road tyres and shocks already provided. On the opposite side, Toyota proudly displayed the new Land Cruiser alongside several generations of Land Cruisers in addition to a driving experience to show how the new Land Cruiser could potentially fare off-road! Topping this off was Land Rover’s offering of a driving experience with their latest models as well as showcasing the actual cars from the film Spectre – a Range Rover and Land Rover both carrying their off-road scars from the film.

On the fancier side of things, there were the obvious pavilions of luxury brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Mercedes, with the latter displaying a lifted G-Class. We couldn’t help but wonder how that would hold up against the Liwa dunes. The Motor Show also introduced some new features. This included ”Motoring Nostalgia”, which collected a bevy of classic vehicles from the bygone era, proudly displaying the art and science behind their design and inspired by a generation that had so much faith in the future of automotives. There was also the Ignition Live Talks. As part of this,we attended a discussion on how to start your own 4x4 trip which was panelled by Manuel Schmidt of the Land Rover Owners Club UAE and Neville Darukhanawallah, a local UAE journalist who also went on his own overlanding journey in Africa. The panel was well received as they talked about how to prepare one’s own vehicle as well as oneself when undertaking such a lengthy trip. Manuel and Neville both agree that in the event of a mishap, it is best “not to panic” and just go through the motions, as usually the solution to the problem is easier than expected. Another aspect that they also pointed out is that the entire purpose of overlanding is to have fun and explore. It’s not for any gain, but it’s more about personal growth. One of the most amazing things about the show took place at the Ford stand where viral video maker and drifter Ken Block made an appearance to grace the release of the Ford GT in the Middle East. Block is

known for his viral Gymkhana videos, with the latest one being held in the streets of Los Angeles in his 800 horsepower drift car. He also performed these same antics at Meydan a week after the show! In Hall 8, proud media partner OutdoorUAE was present to talk to visitors about the magazine and how taking off from the off-road aspect of things solidified its position as a keen supporter to the show. OutdoorUAE displayed and sold the highly informative “Advanced Off-Road Routes: UAE and Oman” during all five days of the show, and some visitors were keen on taking the book with them on their next trip! Visitors to the booth were also in for a treat as the team had a mini competition to win a new sports watch! Not showing any signs of declining in popularity, the 2015 Dubai Motor Show proved that it’s still a powerhouse event in the UAE calendar, and the footfall during the event was spectacular. With the Motor Show reaching out to the various facets of the automotive world – classics, tuners, customs and of course off-roaders, the show became a hub where people could talk about anything with an engine. No longer limited by visitors who’d just like to see supercars, there were people talking about restoring a classic or even planning their new overland trip. The Motor Show is indeed a motor show in the truest sense of the word.

EVENT REPORT

Do Something Refreshing On October 30-31st, SeaYou organised the third edition of the SeaYou Watersports Challenge which consisted of SUP, windsurf and the first RS FEVA dinghy race. Thanks to the continued support from Nakheel, this year’s event took place in Palm Jebel Ali, an open beach away from the city, with strong wind conditions and clear blue waters which made it the ideal location.

Over 300 participants and spectators attended the two-day event which attracted a host of families who came as far as Ajman and Abu Dhabi to attend the event in Dubai. While race participants practiced out in the ocean, children played on the beach and enjoyed the views of the Palm Jebel Ali. On Friday, it was open to all race participants and families with their kayaks and paddleboards to come down and test out the water and enjoy the stunning views of the palm Jebel Ali. In the meantime, windsurf participants were treated to a coaching lesson. During the two days, participants and spectators were also treated to a demo from AHD board’s creator Bruno Andre on the AHD Hydrofoil windsurf board. The coolest and fastest board in windsurf for light winds at the moment! The afternoon ended with a BBQ picnic as

family and friends relaxed after a busy day out in the sea. Saturday morning kicked offwith the SUP short race (1km) along the shore and the SUP long distance race (4km) and it was a real idyllic trip in between manmade islands. In the open board Long distance race, Amer Dandachi took 1st place followed by Marcus Sutton in second and Edern Lalanne in third. In the Women’s Open Long Distance board category, Jennifer Scully from Abu Dhabi took home 1st place followed by Emily Howells in 2nd place. In the afternoon, there was the Windsurf race which consisted of 12 race participants from 10 countries, Henrik Bootz took first place in the Men’s race followed by Bert Drofmans and Simon Flynn in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Janine Marchal took 1st place in the Women’s race and Agata Taworska took home a prize in the special race. All Windsurf participants raced on the Starboard Phantom 295 which is a one-design class race board, so all the competitors were sailing on the same board with only different sails fitting to their bodytype. In the meantime, thanks to the support of Watercooled, the first RS FEVA dingy race was on, organized by Tom. RS Feva is a world leading double-handed sailing dinghy

with a huge race circuit and recreational following across the globe. In the family race, Jin and Anh Ong took first spot and in the Youth class, Martina and Ginaluca Ragusa crossed the line before Jonnie and Alex Alley. All race winners were awarded prizes from our official fitness partner - Gold’s Gym. Palmers, Gypset Cruise, Sofitel Palm Resort & Spa, Smart Hairways, Watercooled and SeaYou also awarded the other prizes. SeaYou would like to thank their partners Nakheel, Averda, Watercooled, Red Bull and OutdoorUAE for their kind support throughout the event. It wouldn’t have been possible without them. SeaYou Watersports Challenge will be back in January 22nd 2016 for the fourth edition followed by the fifth edition in April. For more information on our future events, participants can contact us at info@seayou.ae or visit us at www.seayou.ae

OUTDOORUAE

#MYUAEADVENTURE This issue of OutdoorUAE magazine showcases the winning photograph from the Sun & Sand Sports #MyUAEAdventure Photo Competition which ties in with this month’s camping theme. Winner Rod Patrick tagged his snap from the Moreeb Dune, Liwa and was chosen by a panel of judges as the winner of the exclusive front cover spot. Rod talks us through the story behind thephotograph, which captures a moment from his family trip to Liwa. “It was just one of our regular camping trips in the desert to do some sandboarding and dune-bashing, as we usually schedule long drives twice a month somewhere in the UAE or Oman.” Family man and outdoor enthusiast, Rod keeps the family’s camping gear in the boot of their car, so they’re always ready for a spontaneous road trip and camping adventure whenever it suits them. They’ve covered many different camping sites in the UAE and Oman, from Ruwais to the end of Ras Al Khaimah and Musandam Peninsula. Rod’s aim is to share these experiences with his family, to build memories and to give his

children great skills, experiences and stories. “My passion is to strengthen our bonds as a family during our many adventures.” This ethos ties in perfectly with the message of this photograph and the Sun & Sand Sports outdoor campaign as a whole. The #MyUAEAdventure photo competition was all about sharing the outdoor experience with people from the local community. Reeling in over 800 entries,the competition captured the best moments of people’s outdoor experiences in the UAE. Using the hashtag #MyUAEAdventure, Instagrammers shared their snaps in a bid to win a range of prizes, including a GoPro Hero4 camera and a coveted spot on the front cover of OutdoorUAE magazine. Launching the outdoor season with a large range of new brands and a dedicated content series, the Sun & Sand Sports outdoor campaign has officially set the tone for the outdoor season in the UAE. With the weather now at a perfect temperature for heading outdoors, Sun & Sand Sports is encouraging everyone to get involved and get outside – enjoying the local landscape and making the most of what the UAE has to offer: rolling sand dunes, mountainous adventure spots, beach camping and much more. This is about getting people out of their comfort zones – learning new skills, challenging themselves

and trying something different. This could involve hiking, or rock climbing, camping or walking – the motivation is simply to get people outside and enjoying what nature has to offer. We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life, so this is about winding down and taking a step back from our daily routines to experience the simplicity of what’s out there and ready to be explored. People shared a huge range of pictures from their outdoor adventures, from sandboarding to surfing, camping to skydiving – it’s about how you make it your personal adventure and who you share it with that counts. You may be setting yourself a personal challenge – preparing for a monstrous hike, which involves training, dedication and determination; you may on the other hand be in the mood to explore – to head out on a road trip and see what comes your way. Or maybe you’re not looking for a challenge at all and you just want to be outside for the weekend, in which case a camping trip with friends and family could be just what you’re looking for. There are so many spots to go camping in the UAE and you can decide if you want to incorporate a hike into your trip, if you want to wake up by the sea, or if you fancy taking your 4x4 out on the rolling dunes. The main thing is to make it your experience and do it your way.

HERE ARE OUR TOP 10 PHOTOS! GREAT SNAPS EVERYONE!

EVENT REPORT

Angler’s Paradise:

The 2015 Fujairah Offshore Fishing Tournament Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, the Fujairah International Marine Club and Palma Holding organised the 2015 Fujairah Offshore Fishing Tournament – the only Offshore World Championship Qualifying Event in the UAE - which took place on 18th to 21st November 2015 after the tournament was postponed due to the weather conditions. 102 anglers of different ages were briefed at RJJ’s German and Peruvian Bar Restaurant on the 18th November. Major Ahmed Ebrahiem, Managing Director of Fujairah International Marine Club, welcomed the anglers and gave them a brief about the tournament, the prizes, and announced that the Fujairah Offshore Fishing Tournament will be a yearly event in the FIMC. He later thanked the sponsors of the tournament, Gulf Craft, Adventure HQ, Blue Waters Marine, Knot Big Enuff, Fujairah Aviation Services, Fujairah Free Zone, Fujairah Chamber of Commerce, GTC Commercial Brokerage (Global Tourism Club), Novotel Fujairah, and RJJ’s German & Peruvian Bar Restaurant for their support. Overall Score Position

Team Name

Day 1

Day One

20 teams gathered before sunrise to prepare their boats and were all lined up in front of the FIMC for the flag and bimini start at 6:30 a.m. As the flag rose, all the boats sailed off in different directions and quickly disappeared over the horizon. At 4:15 p.m. the boats started to come back to the marina for the weighing and scoring. Sea Prince set the standards high with an impressive 520 points as he successfully landed a marlin, followed by Team Natalisa with 250 points, landing a sailfish. Day One Catch: • 1 Marlin • 1 Sailfish • 23 Tuna • 28 Dorado

Day Two

All the teams gathered to develop a strategy to increase their scores. They then lined up and set off. By 4:30 p.m. all the boats Day 2

Day 3

Overall

started to come back. Team Soolyman raised the bar with an amazing catch of two marlins and Team KBE2 with a sailfish. Day Two Catch: • 2 Marlin • 1 Sailfish • 14 Tuna • 21 Dorado

Day Three

Day three was the most exciting as the teams were all aiming to improve their score and position. Team Soolyman captured another two marlins, securing their win of the Fujairah Offshore Fishing Tournament. Team Sea Prince hooked a grander marlin and were fighting it for about five hours but unfortunately failed to land it. Team Changler later hooked and managed to land a marlin whereas Team Sashimi landed a sailfish. Day Three Catch • 2 Marlin • 1 Sailfish • 26 Tuna • 44 Dorado Later on, Major Ahmed Ebrahiem along with Mr. Kareem Derbas handed the prizes to the winners.

1st

Soolyman

138

1051.45

1000

2189.45

2nd

Sea Prince

520

94.25

614.25

3rd

Changler

500

4th

Sashimi

170.5

21.45

250

441.95

5th

SSK Fishing

162

48.35

187.55

397.9

Team Name

379.75

Bliss2

6th

Xtreme Derbas

153

194.1

32.65

7th

Bliss2

138.25

361.8

8th

Contender Blue Lightning

128

175.3

360.6

9th

Natalisa

250

336.5

10th

KBE2

250

11th

Sumire

99.5

21.65

149.15

12th

Reel Adventure

72.8

130.8

13th

Team Alghwas

41.9

128.9

14th

Flipper

89.95

15th

The Whalers

26.85

32.2

59.05

16th

Armstrong

42.1

17th

KBE1

21.5

18th

Adventure HQ Bliss1

0 0

Al Yammahi*

*Team Al Yammahi has been disqualified due to violation of rules

Biggest Tuna Angler Name

Weight

Mohamed Shaeen

12.47 KG (27.49 lbs)

Biggest Dorado (Mahi Mahi) Team Name Sea Prince

Angler Name

Weight

Mohamed Fadel

10.7 KG (23.59 lbs)

Best Lady Angler Angler Name

Team Name

Total Points

Jessica PackenhemMoney

Team Sashimi

97.95

Best Junior Angler Pos.

Angler Name

Team Name

Total Points

1st

Dhiyab Almarri

SSK Fishing 135.7

2nd

Contender Blue Lightning

Henry Fournie

127

EVENT REPORT

The fifth round of the UIM XCAT Powerboat World Series saw two Italian teams on the podium Words By: Nico de Corato Photos By: Getty Images

Formed in 2008, WPPA are the exclusive promoters of the Extreme Catamaran (XCAT) World Series. There was quite a familiar look to the start of Saturday’s Dubai GP with the overall UIM XCAT World Powerboating Series leaders, XDubai, back in the top spot. The boat driven by Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir bin Hendi got the fastest time in the race for pole position on Friday at 2:33.93. Their teammates, Dubai, were second fastest, over two seconds back, with Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali securing a time of 2:36.34. At every round, beside the main race, there is a special competition named Speed Cat Run; a drag racing event where all the teams clash in a series of knockout competitions. There was further glory for the XDubai team on Friday afternoon when they won the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run, after defeating T-Bone Station (Giovanni Carpitella and Luca Fendi) in the final head-to-head showdown of the day. But conditions during the Saturday race changed and Italian teams defeated the local boats. Overall series leaders and defending champions XDubai, who started the race in pole position, succumbed to a gear casing fault in the sixth lap of the race. Joakim Kumlin and Alfredo Amato outlasted a field

that diminished at a rapid rate as half of the 14 teams didn’t make it to the finish line thanks to the massive waves and rough conditions. This of course meant lots of work for the rescue teams involved, but luckily there were no accidents. Fellow Italian team T-Bone Station finished second with Team Abu Dhabi (Rashed Al Tayer and Faleh Al Mansoori) overcoming initial problems and overtaking a heartbroken Swecat team (Erik Stark and Mikael Bengtsson), who broke down on the final lap, for third place. Saturday’s drama also saw the other Italian team Six (Matteo Nicolini and Tomaso Polli) taking an underwater dive while leading the race on lap nine, but still managing to keep the engines running and making it to the penultimate lap. But the day belonged to Videx in the end

and Kumlin was thrilled with the victory. “It was a really tough race. We started very well from the beginning and then Fazza had a problem, Abu Dhabi had a problem and we just kept on going,” explained Kumlin. “After they dived we had a chance to take boat Six and we were leading the race right after that.” “We felt it on the last lap so I was very stressed about it because I felt the boat was going really slowly,” explained Kumlin. “I was just holding thumbs that it was going to be ok.” “I don’t know what to say. I’m so, so happy about it. Dubai is a really good place to win.” T-Bone Station’s Fendi was equally thrilled with second spot after a hair-raising start to the race. “It was more than exciting. I was a little bit scared too,” he admitted. “I have to say, it was really rough and our boat is the shortest so we were sometimes going inside the waves.” “I said, ‘I don’t know if we can finish,’ so we slowed down a bit to save the boat because it was really rough. I don’t think we would have made it if we had pushed to the limit for 16 laps. That tactic paid off because those that were really pushing broke their engines or the boat or something. It was our decision to slow down.” “These were the worst possible conditions for our boat but Giovanni is so good at managing this.” For further reading, check Nico’s website www.dubaiblognetwork.com, contact him on social networks or via email at admin@dubaiblognetwork.com for information about this article or just to say hello.

EVENT REPORT

The FitQ triathlon group with Dondie Montiague showing the victory sign

Rider gathering before the start of the safety ride

Uniting the Qatar Cycling Community Ride of the Champions and Share the Road Campaign Words By: Eulogy van Dyk Photos By: Nhel Agra

History was made in Qatar when over 550 cyclists united to raise awareness for road safety in the country at the recent Ride of the Champions ”Share the Road” Campaign. The event was held at the Katara Cultural Village and this was also the first time that all the various cycling groups came together to promote one common goal, and it was clear that this prompted the record attendance. This unity among the Qatar cycling groups started when Dondie Montiague, from the Filipino International Triathletes Qatar group, was out training on a hard shoulder at the

National Day Ceremonial Road (which connects the Dukhan Highway to Shamal Road) when a bus pulled out in front of him, causing him to slam head-first into the vehicle. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury, and is currently still confined at Al Rumailah Hospital in the Rehabilitation Unit. Previously another club member also suffered a severe injury, and these incidents urged the cycling community to do something about safety on the roads between cyclist and motorists. The event was supported by the Qatar Cycling Federation and with the 2016 UCI Road World Championships taking place in the country next year, it gave the federation and organisers of the event the opportunity to promote the championship and show their support for safe cycling in Qatar.

The three main objectives of this event were:

1. Promoting and advocating the Share the Road Campaign, with the objectives of educating cyclists and motorists to share the road courteously and safely. 2. To promote the 2016 UCI Road World Championship, which signifies the growing success of cycling as a sport in Qatar. 3. The unity amongst the different cycling groups in Qatar dedicated to the recovery of one of their cyclists and triathletes – Dondie Montiague. When riders gathered on the morning of the event they were each handed a high visibility vest to wear for the ride, which could also be used for future rides out on the roads. There were two route distances to choose from to ensure riders of all abilities and fitness levels were able to support the campaign. The long route traversed a 96km route

starting from Katara Cutural Village through the Pearl-Qatar and out towards the Losail Circuit. Riders then continued up until Tenbek in Al Khor and then headed back to Katara. This was also a part of the planned UCI Road World Championship route, which was fantastic for the riders to experience and get a taste of where the professional riders will be fighting their way to the podium next year. The short route, for riders looking for a more manageable route, covered 19km from Katara to the Pearl-Qatar and back. The cycling groups that joined the event included the United Filipino Mountain Bikers Qatar, Pinoy Roadies Qatar, Qatar Chain Reaction, Sandstromers, VeloStars, SMCC and the Qatar Cyclists. The Tri Club Doha and FITQ (triathlete groups) also took part in the event. All around the world cycling communities and cycling enthusiasts are promoting and spreading the word of safe cycling initiatives. It is great to see that this is also now being supported in Qatar! If we all stand together, obey the traffic rules and look out for each other, motorists and cyclists can share the road safely and responsibly.

Triathlete Dondie Montiague who was recently injured on the road attended the event

OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Simien Mountains of Ethiopia

Words By: Jean-Paul Courville Photos By: Katie Aun

In October 2014, thirteen residents of the United Arab Emirates set out for a week-long trip in the remote Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, Africa. This excursion was heavily planned with trekking and horseback riding through this vast and beautiful landscape near the border of Ethiopia and Sudan. Within our group, twelve different countries were represented. Two people were from France, one each from Poland, Estonia, India, New Zealand, Netherlands, China, Norway, Lebanon, Egypt, Russia and the United States of America (me). The trip was hosted by Trekkup Dubai, with Piotr Bural (Poland) as the group organiser and leader. Through Piotr many of us have trekked together within the UAE and Oman, planting a seed of friendship. Our backgrounds are diverse, from management office jobs to former military, but the common thread we share is a love of travel, hiking and diverse cultures. On a late afternoon at Dubai International Airport we boarded Ethiopia Airlines enroute to the capital, Addis Ababa, then to the small town of Gondar, followed by car journey to the Simien Mountains. My childhood memories of what I thought I knew about Ethiopia came flooding back along the ride, from the most extreme shallow jokes in junior high school to the commercials played on American television featuring actress Sally Struthers bringing awareness to the poverty stricken country. One of the first enlightening Chinups with local men outside of Gondar

Our scouts and guide during the coffee ceremony

moments came outside of Gondar where we stopped for tea and coffee in a small village. I noticed seven Ethiopian males (late teens to early 20’s) standing near a building where a wooden plank substituted as a chin up bar. They were doing repetitions, competing with each other and laughing; it piqued my interest so I walked over and before I was able to offer “hello” they began flexing and pointing in my direction. I didn’t need to speak their language; I understood clearly, they were calling me out. I removed my outer garment and mounted the chin up bar. We had a great encounter, and they began to challenge me to do behind the neck chin-ups and one-armed pull-ups, which I enthusiastically joined in with as we mocked each other and celebrated with high fives.

Locals during the coffee ceremony

Into the Simien Mountains the elevation increased at every turn as we made our way to base camp. Prior to arrival we stopped in an open field where there were roughly 30-40 Gelada Baboons grazing and grooming one another within their colony. It was a beautiful sight, from what I knew of a baboon they were supposed to be aggressive and fierce, but these baboons were reserved yet possessed the most ferocious teeth. Their chests looked like an open bleeding heart and their size was impressive, their noises sounded human, and their playfulness made anyone watching giggle, and we even witnessed the birth of a baby baboon. This day was certainly a great day. Over the next two days we made camp high in the mountains and had dinner and

Taken about an hour after the hailstorm and the death of our scout

breakfast together prepared by cooks who travelled ahead of us. We packed and carried our own lunches. The terrain was magnificent with carved rocks on the mountain faces, and the weather changed every 20 minutes like somebody had literally flipped a switch from rain, to clouds, to sunshine and mixtures of all three. Two local scouts accompanied our guide; these men carried assault rifles and knew the mountains like a walking GPS. Our first embrace of the landscape came at a peak roughly at 4,070 metres (13, 535 feet), where beautiful waterfalls surrounded us in the distance pouring from the peaks like an open water faucet. It was a moment to cherish. I was sitting in a remote location within Africa “How amazing is life?” I asked. We had planned to alternate our trekking of five to seven hours a day with three to four hours on horseback, but we soon discovered that we wouldn’t receive horses as originally scheduled. This was a blessing in disguise and I felt it allowed more time on foot to really get our bodies and minds into the exertion of the activity. That evening it rained and the temperature dropped drastically. Thankfully, our campsite had an old foundation structure with a roof overhead. We changed into dry clothes and huddled together next to the fire waiting for our well-prepared dinner. This was a ritual during the entire trip and the power of “breaking bread” is still a wonderful way to unite. We stayed up late, devouring a warm meal, sharing tea and coffee and telling intimate stories. These people are extraordinary. For instance, Katie Aun (Estonia) is remarkable woman and photographer who decided one day that she wanted to start trekking. She had never been before, so a friend mentioned trekking the Mount Everest Base Camp. With no previous experience, Katie said, “ok I will do that”and then she went out and did it - how incredible! Also on the trip were Adib (Lebanon) and Shereef (Egypt) who have conquered Mount Kilimanjaro. Each person had unique stories and was humble. I really enjoyed listening throughout the night, in fact I didn’t share one story about me on this occasion. Sunrise was extraordinary; we had a hearty breakfast above the clouds then immediately departed to begin horseback riding. To our surprise, instead of seeing 13 horses with 13 owners we saw an estimated 30 horses and owners all expecting us to ride their horses, which of course became immediate chaos. Ultimately our guide, with Piotr’s recommendation, was able to work out the details and

we mounted the horses and rode through narrow trails decorated with mud and rock. The horses were strong climbers but very small in stature, and many of us chose to hike on foot along the muddy trails then ride the horses in the open fields. We arrived at a village located at a greater elevation than the climb the day before, the imagery of which is burned into my memory. If I were placed there and told to open my eyes and guess my location, I would guess Cambodia or Vietnam — it had that appearance to it. The locals greeted us with smiles and their children gathered around us as we shared high fives before being graciously invited into a hut to attend a local coffee ceremony. To my complete surprise, I found out that Ethiopia is often referred to as the birthplace of coffee. This ceremony is customary and everyone in the village was invited. We observed three ladies laying out fresh coffee beans, breaking them apart with hardened sticks, roasting the beans over a fire, boiling water, mixing, draining, and finally pouring the coffee into a cup for serving. It was the most enjoyable moment of serenity thus far on our trip. One of the local villagers we met had worked for an Arabic couple in the country of Sudan and she became fluent in Arabic. This was beneficial to us since we had two men in our group who were Arabic, and were able to translate her fascinating stories to us. For dinner,our beloved cook prepared meat for the first time since Sarang (India). I was in the military for a career so eventually the story and questions were directed at me. The setting was made for a Hollywood film: a fire atop the remote Ethiopian mountains, the sound of a slight drizzle, the cold chill in the air… I was asked “Have you been to war?” and was vague in my reply but mentioned Me overlooking the mountains above the clouds

Striking the #JPCPOSE to inspire outdoor activity in unique locations around the world

Local boy and one of the many horses we rode in the mountains

some heart-felt stories, receiving a very warm and attentive audience. The following day’s events challenged everyone’s patience and moral fibre. We climbed to higher altitudes, then at midday with the weather change an aggressive hailstorm ensued. We had two hours left on foot to our final campsite with no tree coverage or overhang to protect us. I laughed a few times as I went from walking to riding horseback to walking in constant repeat while being belted by “stinging” chunks of hail. About that time I vividly remember thinking “Will this end soon?” At that moment the air was interrupted with my name being shouted: “JP, JP!” On my horse I went from a walk to a trot to quickly observe one of our local scouts lying motionless in the mud. My friend Linda, (Holland) calmly told me the man just collapsed while having a conversation and that he appeared to have had a heart attack. I ran to the man, turned him over, opened his jacket and did an assessment of his breathing and pulse. He didn’t have either, so I executed a sternum rub to get a response, and there was

The magnificent village where we had our coffee ceremony.

none. I began rescue breathing and chest compressions for a cycle of two breaths and 30 compressions for four cycles before taking another assessment. Immediately Sarang jumped in to assist me as the hail continued and the wind ripped through the peak of the mountain. Quickly we dismissed the elements as instinct and focus took over. Moments passed in slow motion and after another attempt with no response I looked up to those near and said “He is gone, there is nothing more to do.” The rain and hail ripped across my face and there was silence followed shortly by whimpers of sadness. The local guides quickly built a makeshift sled from nearby wood and the decision was made by Piotr to have one group of locals take the body down the mountain while the trekking group made it to our campsite with a guide. The evening camp was a “come together” moment; we sat around a fire, collected donations in local currency for his family, and told stories. We had only known him a few days yet he seemed to be in all of our moments fromthe coffee ceremony, hiking, camp sites, and to the Munchbox moments of laughter (a local UAE company that provides convenient snacks) provided by Shereef. Piotr arranged a visit with the deceased man’s family before we would depart for Gondar — they resided in a nearby village.

Gelda Baboon

OUTDOORUAE

Me celebrating with local children high in the clouds near a village

We continued on with trekking and horseback riding to reach the summit of Mount Bwahitat (4,437 metres, 14,557 feet). Not everyone was able to reach the summit on foot, with some riding the horses and some on the mules, but we all came together in the cold windy and wet morning for a group photo holding our now traditional Trekkup banner. Personally it was the highest summit I had climbed. I have trained at high altitudes in the military multiple times (even once at 3,500 metres where I had mild altitude sickness) but on this day I was strong, had no fatigue, and I felt enthused. The following day on our way back to Gondar, we diverted to the village of our deceased friend’s family. His funeral was in session; his wife, his children, and his father (the village elder) were in attendance. The mood was sombre and there must have been 50 local people of all ages dressed in white. We had the pleasure of sitting down and observing the memorial, and his family were incredibly courteous ensuring we were

comfortable and had food and drink. It made me feel extremely aware of how selfless these people are. We were able to speak to them as the guide interpreted our words and we offered our donations, leaving them humbled yet overwhelmed with emotions. People use the term “adventure” often but when plans change and things go wrong (Murphy’s Law as we say in the USA) this is when the true adventure begins. We shared a unique adventure together in the wonderful land of Ethiopia, Africa. Jean-Paul is a retired US Marine and is currently living in Dubai. He is part of Trekkup Dubai – a group that focuses on having active holidays and taking a break from the daily city life, away from clubs and malls. Jean-Paul also inspires people to take on the great outdoors in his Instagram handle @jaypee1972 with the hashtag #JPCPOSE. For more information about Trekkup Dubai, contact Piotr Bural at trekkup@yahoo.com.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

T.L.R.D

Episode 2

The Land Rover Diaries

Words By: Theo Measures Photos By: Neil Walton

“The coolest toys don’t have to be bought; they can be built. In fact, sometimes the only way they’ll ever exist is if you make them yourself.” – Adam Savage It has been a month of mixed emotions in camp TLRD. After 11 years and 220,000kms of faithful service, the 4.6L V8 engine in the Range Rover, or “The Elephant”, as it is affectionately known, developed a major head gasket leak and had to be replaced. In total, it took three weeks to diagnose the problem, source and rebuild a new engine and then finally transplant it. During that time “The Bedouin” (Discovery 1) was also out of action owing to a plethora of issues that only Land Rover geeks would find to be of interest. I won’t bore those unaffected by the green virus with the details but suffice to say we have not had much of a chance to get out and explore – never mind camp. To think we could have bought a new car for the price of the repairs! Owning these cars really is a labour of love…

“They say 90% of all Land Rovers manufactured are still on the road. The other 10% have reached their destination.”–Anon Being but overgrown children, and in order to stave off the sense of desolation and boredom that came with being separated from The Elephant and The Bedouin for so long, we decided to distract ourselves with a new (and almost as expensive) toy… in for a penny, in for a pound! Our new amusement, or “new investment”, as we have managed to convince ourselves, takes the form of a camera drone from 3D Robotics specially made for the GoPro cameras we love so much and pur-

chased from Adventure HQ, along with an expensive but also very well made protective bag and spare battery from the same manufacturer to increase play time – sorry, “flying time” from 25 to 50 minutes. I must abandon any attempt at eloquence here and simply say, cars aside, it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever played with!

“Though the male can be noble in reason and infinite in faculties, he is also easily amused by shiny toys, especially ones that do dumb things…” – Patricia Marx On top of the stress of not having the cars but nonetheless having the expense, which was at least anticipated, Neil decided to amplify my plight and delay our enjoyment

“We were in the Arabian Desert… And I was having the time of my life.” – Peter O’Toole of the drone by suddenly presenting himself with all the symptoms one would normally associate with an impending heart attack. The inconvenience of the event in the first instance, coupled with multiple hospital visits thereafter, is something readers will be relieved to hear I have now fully recovered from.

Thankfully, both Neil and The Bedouin once again proved indestructible and were revived just in time for us to get out to our cherished desert to test the drone’s capabilities and create some content. This also afforded us a much needed opportunity to get back in touch with nature which, if you happened to catch Episode One of The Land Rover Diaries in last month’s issue, you will know is very important and rewarding for us – all the more so on this occasion after the drama of the preceding weeks. Using a word I try to reserve only for its proper use, the drone is awesome. Having also splashed out on a new set of all-terrain tyres (a precious moment for any petrol-head) for The Bedouin we had a phenomenal day carving up the dunes from Dubai all the way to the foot of the Hajar Mountain range, whilst learning how to control the drone and scheming for the best shots possible. Our excitement was as refreshing as it was pathetic – two grown men playing in the sand, laughing away and mimicking the noises of a toy helicopter… it was brilliant. Stepping into such a desolate environment and having so much fun puts into perspective how much vivacity comes from within and from each other. That of course sounds rather obvious but is a fact easily forgotten amongst the distractions of the city, which one can easily become reliant upon for enjoyment and stimulation. Knowing how differently this month could have ended for one of us, that is a lesson we resolved to bring back from the desert with us.

“You should not see the desert simply as some faraway place of little rain. There are many forms of thirst.” -William Langewiesche I am relieved to say that we now have both cars back in their respective parking

spaces and although I am glad Neil is safely home too, it’s a shame that owing to his health scare, we were unable to document the remarkably interesting work that has put our cars back on the road – please forward your complaints to him. Albeit too late for this month’s feature (which was supposed to be on camping) we are planning to head out this weekend for our first of the season’s overnight trips. The weather could not be more perfect and neither we nor the dogs, who have been cooped up for most of the summer, can wait. Wherever we end up pitching our tents, we shall endeavour to take as many quality pictures as possible for next month’s feature - Episode Three. Neil has made me promise to excuse the quality of this episode’s images as due to time constraints we had to just pull stills from the drone footage after our only outing. I still think they are fantastic, I hope you do too! #ChooseToBeInspired and #EscapeTheMundane.

Theo and Neil are two “overgrown children” who love nothing more than climbing into their “heroic old Land Rovers” and pursuing adventure in the beautiful UAE landscape. A passion for documenting their exploits has been joined by a motivation to inspire others to explore, in turn promoting both awareness and appreciation of the United Arab Emirates’ natural treasure chest. Stay up to date with all their latest adventures by following their Instagram account @TheLandRoverDiaries’

OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Elbrus Letters Words + Photos By: Fahd Abu Aisha

Day 6 – The Day Before The Summit

Today was all about controlling our nerves and relaxing our bodies. After an uncomfortable sleep (a Turkish couple shared our crate that night and were quite vocal about preparing for their summit in the early hours of the morning), we had some breakfast and took more time than usual in the kitchen, keeping warm and maintaining our high spirits. We planned to unwind as much as possible to physically prepare for our summit attempt, which would begin at 4:00 a.m. We learned how to use our ice axes and how to tie our harnesses - skills that would be crucial when making the final ascent to the top. Most of the day was spent nestled in my sleeping bag, keeping warm and preparing myself mentally for the long night ahead. While we were all gathered at the table, Suzanne shared with us her story about the longest day of her life – the summit of Everest. She will definitely write a book about it, and it was an honour to hear it in person. Her message to us was something that will always resonate with me when faced with any challenge or obstacle; we would summit if we truly wanted to, no matter how tired we were. The strength to summit would only come from the strength of our spirit.

Day 7 – At the Summit of Europe

I only managed one hour of sleep due to the escalating apprehension of what was to come. Wide awake at 1:45a.m., I was packing in the dark, well before the generator in our crate would automatically switch on for us. As Mohammad and I squeezed into and stretched over layer upon layer of clothing, we woke up one of the Belarusian climbers who had moved into the crate with us that night. It was starting to feel like a mountain halfway house. He smiled and wished us luck, and then to our amazement, slipped out of his sleeping bag wearing nothing but a T-shirt and boxers. As he put on his slippers, Mohammad and I almost choked as he traipsed out into the freezing cold to make a trip to the bathroom. We stared at each other in awe, like decorative snowmen, then broke into guffaws of laughter. That successfully thawed our nerves, which up until that moment felt as though they were etched in ice. The team was ready to go at 4:00 a.m. as planned, and we walked over to the snowcat - a truck-like contraption that was to take us to the point at which we stopped on the Pashtakov Rocks. Driving through the snow with the flickeringdots of lamplight scattered throughout the endless, ink black night cloaked around

Finale

us made me feel as though we were flying through space surrounded by the stars. Upon reaching our point I started to feel the mild headache again. Not knowing the meaning of altitude sickness the year before during my ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro had made that summit day easier for me. I was able to take solace in being blissfully ignorant, attributing the pain to exhaustion without worry. Now however, after accumulating knowledge and experience I knew altitude sickness was the cause of the headache and it made me uneasy knowing it would only worsen as I started ascending into the darkness. The sun rose about an hour into our walk, when my body was already starting to feel heavy due to the lack of sleep. A few moments later, the team suffered the biggest blow to our morale yet when Suzanne (who was struggling with stomach pains the night before) sat down on the slopes to rest. Seeing our leader struggle was a mental knockout at that point as I allowed the mountain demons to climb into my head and over exaggerate any minor pain I was feeling to a full blown hospital emergency in my head. Lisa, still at the helm, ordered us to keep going. We continued onward against the slope of Elbrus’s second peak, trailing up and around it for a few hours before descending into the final checkpoint; “The Saddle.” This was a short, flat plateau that offered some respite to climbers, before elongating upward into the final gigantic slope of Elbrus where our goal lay in wait. Seeing the enormity of the task ahead caused a few of the team members to crumple initially, but I was having none of it. I told them to man (and woman) up because we were all going to make it. It was at that point that I knew nothing would stop me lest my body collapse without my control. At that perfect moment of crystal-like clarity, Lisa cried out, pointing back at the trail we had come from. Suzanne was ploughing through the snow at an extraordinary pace, catching up with us hard and fast. It is an understatement to say that in that second, any negative thought from any team member dissipated instantly. Together, we simultaneously felt this indescribable, palpable surge

Day 6 - Rest Day at Camp

of energy shoot up and resonate between all of us, connecting us together as we basked in the glory of what the true meaning of determination was. We, The Team, all felt it together. We made our way up the vast sheet of white, pummelling through the frost. My nostrils by that time were frozen, but I didn’t care. My nose had been running earlier in the climb but by that time the cold had frozen my body fluids into mini icicles around my nostrils. The final ascent required us to attach ourselves to a harness. As we had practiced the previous day, we promptly used the correct technique to pull ourselves upwards. We were only a few metres (or so I thought) from reaching the peak, however it was one of the longest stretches of the climb. A group of climbers ahead of us were climbing at a snail’s pace. The stopping and starting was tiring me out, making me impatient and irritable. I could see the goal in front of me. My internal tank was running on almost nothing, and all I could do was gnash my teeth together and envision myself at the top. As I climbed over the hill, the elation I was feeling came crashing down at the sight of what lay ahead of me; an infinite plateau of white and a small hill in the distance. This meant another 20 minutes of walking and, although it was a flat surface, made me feel quite distraught. We were 5600+ m high and the altitude had me full on. Some of the team were ecstatic, cheering and

jumping with joy. I was fading. I wanted nothing more than to just get there — to be there. I painstakingly conjured up the last few millilitres of energy I had left, starting at a slow sprint. Gathering momentum, feelings of pent up frustration started to elevate into enamoured, boundless energy. I ran past the team, only to make a mutinous mistake; attempting to overtake Lisa. She immediately stopped me, roaring that on the mountain nobody from the team was to be infront of her. Feeling like a revolutionary caught attempting a coup, I felt the frustration amplify tenfold within. Dejected, solemn and close to committing a mass murder on Mt. Elbrus, I turned to the back of the line, where I found Suzanne, standing in front of me. Like the true Master and Commander of mountain climbing that she is, she had caught up with us, saving me from myself and injecting me with that one last sliver of willpower to get me through that final stretch to that hill. The feeling of being on top of Europe is inexpressible. Your mind goes through 1001 thoughts; the body feels regenerated, reborn and replenished. Emotions are on a high that are too alien to humanise, to put down in words. We raised our flags (mine for the Al Jalila Foundation) and shared hugs. It is a moment I will never forget. The climb back down was when I actually felt the consequences of what I had put my body through. It did not take long for the headache and pain to come rushing back to me full throttle as we began our descent. It is a strange thing to write but I do not remember much of anything on the way down. I was fading into black, the view of the white snow (tinted red by ski goggles) was growing darker. My eyelids felt like they were carrying the weight of the world and all I could hear was my deep breathing. My body was on auto pilot, one foot in front of the other. I must have wondered if this was what a monk that has reached Zen must feel. I don’t remember how long it took. All I wanted to do was sit and rest for a bit, but sleeping was not an option at that dangerous altitude. We could not stop until we descended back to camp. We found the faithful snowcat waiting for us at the same point it dropped us off, and as it whisked us down the mountain, my legs groaned with grateful pleasure. It felt

like every tendon and ligament in my body was thanking me. Going down at a rapid pace in the snowcat awakened my body and I regained awareness. We got back to the camp, where we packed our things and headed to the chairlifts, which I found myself welcoming the sight of. Back down at the hotel, I spent half an hour taking a warm shower and feeling invincible, revelling in the satisfaction of knowing how this will remain with me for the rest of my life. Suzanne and Lisa treated us to the most savoury dish of Shashleek at a local restaurant, before we boarded the plane the next morning to head home. I would like to thank Rahhalah and our guides for taking us on this extraordinary journey, all the while never faltering in the meticulous care they took of us. I would like to thank Suzanne for being such a wonderful inspiration and, like my beloved Grandmother, always pushing us to strive past our limits, establishing and conquering mental boundaries we at one point thought were impossible to overcome. I would like to thank my special team who are an amazing group of individuals; Danah, Manal, Mohammad and Rama – Team Awesome! And finally I would like to thank the Al Jalila Foundation and my friends and family who supported my cause for Cancer research in memory of my grandmother Safeya Sarwat.

Fahd climbed Elbrus in support of Al Jalila Foundation. It is a global philanthropic organisation established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform lives through medical education and research. 100% of funds donated to Al Jalila Foundation are invested into local healthcare programs. For more information please visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae.

OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Great Moab Expedition Words By: William Kelly

William Kelly from Arabian Outback and Yousuf al Shehhi from Absolute Adventure Musandam are no strangers to overland expeditions having completed some of the toughest four-wheel drive tracks on the planet: The famous Rubicon Trail in the United States, the Telegraph Track in Cape York, Australia, Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, Botswana’s Kalahari Desert/ Salt Pans and Iceland’s Snow Fields to name just a few. This year’s trip took us to Utah, the Red Rock Canyon lands and home to the Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track.

Day One

26 hours after our departure, we touched down in Salt Lake City, or SLC. We went out into the parking lot to see what vehicles they had to offer, and chose a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk complete with off-road tyres. We could not resist the temptation to take our chosen rental vehicle for a spin. Foot flat to the floor, and with a wheel spin, I clocked 180kph but on salt that’s a scary feeling. Super adrenaline pump achieved.

Day Two

After a four hour drive south from SLC, we entered the Canyonlands National Park, a prehistoric landscape of oddly shaped red sandstone rocks which resembles something out of a Flintstones cartoon. We checked in to our hotel and started planning our routes for the next day. This was to be the last time we saw any facilities, as we would be camping all the way from now on, with the weather forecast to be snowing and -2 degrees in the coming days.

Day Three

After a final check of our equipment, we

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needed some supplies so headed off to the store and then hit the first route. The adventure begins! . Before entering the trail we had a crack at Baby Lion’s Back, a 60 degree incline slope straight up for 50m, 4WD low and rear locker engaged. All I could see was blue sky, and the stock Jeep solidified itself as trail rated — a huge relief for my passenger and I, having reached the top. Armed with confidence we entered the trail, which was only nine and a half miles long, but took us five hours to complete the steep rock walls, vertical drop offs and tight twisty sections. We managed to bury the nose of the vehicle on one section and climb a near vertical slick rock. The trail was rated as 4 out of 10. It was definitely interesting and excellent fun. Hell’s Revenge was next - rated at 6 - and then it was back to camp to energise for the next day’s adventure.

Day Four

The Arches National Park was our next highlight with 76,000 rock formations. Erosion of time has led to some of the rock formations being named, such as the Matchstick Men, the Court House, Tower Arch and the Windows. It was very touristy and we were itching to get away from the crowds. After speaking to a Camp Ranger and consulting our 4WD handbook, we set our sights on Tower Arch, a seven mile off-road track leading to a prehistoric landscape. It was well worth the effort. Surrounded by giant sandstone sculptures that dwarfed us in the valley below, we took a half mile hike to the Arch and had a moment to experience our beautiful surroundings. We backtracked out and made our way to the campsite. Sub zero temperatures made our bush camp uncomfortable. It was time to get the fire going and get a hot meal inside us and then get to bed ready for Hell’s Revenge.

Day Five

We rocked up to the start of this 4WD trail in a stock Jeep Cherokee. We were surrounded by wranglers on 37 and 40 inch tyres with winches. The trail had some incredibly steep inclines that just looked impossible, with names like Hell’s Gate, the Escalator and Wipeout Hill. We sat back and let the little Jeep do its thing, in crawl mode and hill descent - rear locker saved us countless times. We had one wheel in the air for most of the route, balancing like a seesaw. It was fantastic fun and extremely dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. This was the

adrenaline kick I had so longed for since the adventure began. We managed to complete the route in three and a half hours with only a scrape on the front lower bumper. We then went back to Moab town centre to buy some much needed warm items and headed to Dead Horse Point, elevation 1,780m with snow. All our electrical items started to fail because it was so cold. It looked like another cold night.

Day Six

I woke to freezing temperatures. My swag had completely frozen, forming ice all over it, and the ground was so cold that we had to chisel the pegs out. My colleague spent the night in the car due to the extreme cold. We waited for the sun to come up so that all of our equipment could thaw out before setting off on our next trail, Potash Road. This was an 18 mile dirt track with washouts, switchbacks and mud that led us from the top of the canyon at 1,780m to the bottom, the 1000m descent bringing much warmer temperatures. This was a mild change to the trails we had driven before, with fantastic views from cliff edges overlooking the Colorado River.

Day Seven

The Sal Pass is the highest elevation point in the area at 3,466m snow capped. The trail was described as impassable in some areas but we needed to see it for ourselves. We set off with the sun shining and eventually reached the start of the trail, deflating the tyres to 25psi. The first part of the route was easy with jagged rocks. The trail zigzagged around the mountain with steep drop offs and narrow pathways. As we climbed higher the track became more difficult. We started to see snow on the track and the inclines became steeper, stopping us in our tracks. We had to reverse onto a flat area and give it another go. Power, power, as we slide the little Jeep around a steep snow-covered slope, then the vehicle’s engine cut out at the worst possible time. The transmission had overheated, so we

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waited for it to cool and then set off again. Due to the extremity of track conditions this happened several times in our three hour adventure. We aired down to 18psi to get more traction and were 580m from the summit. The track disappeared from here and so it was up to us to make the road, with the snow half a metre deep at 3,000m. Our progress was halted and it was a constant battle to clear the path back and forth countless times, gaining a metre each time. With the pedal to the floor and one final push, we ploughed through the deep snow to reach the summit. What a relief, but what an adventure. It was all downhill from here, and we planned to camp in a national park 100 miles away. We found ourselves in the middle of a rock climbers’ paradise. Steep canyon walls towered above us. Our camp was nestled between the canyons at 1,475m and we were in for another freezing night so I heated a rock on the fire and wrapped it in a sock. Wow, what a difference it made!

Day Eight

We started late due to the swags covered in ice as we had to wait for them to dry out before setting off. We planned to hike one of the trails to Spring Cave and Cowboy Camp as we were in the area - a pleasant stroll through some amazing landscape. Back in the Jeep we headed to the Natural Bridges National Monument to visit the National Geographic site that was published back in 1904. This area was home to many

traditions over time including the Navajos. Once we reached it, the Park Rangers informed us that a snow storm was expected for the following day, so we packed up early and viewed the National Bridges Monument from the viewing areas. It was a race to get out of the Canyonlands to a major city before we got snowed in, as we had to cover over 220 miles on a narrow twisty road. We managed to get halfway before getting caught in a whiteout, when our progress slowed and we saw a vehicle on the side of the road on its roof. The roads became slushy and iced, and the temperature dropped to – 5. Once through the worse of the weather we stopped for lunch. We just happened to stop next to an off-road wonderland with mountains of gravel shaped like sand dunes, and the little Jeep once again did us proud

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as we played in the dirt. We finally made it across the mountain roads where we shacked up in a hotel for the night. Our final leg of this adventure was the drive back to SLC. We reflected on our Moab experience and started to discuss where our next trip would take us. Moab is definitely a 4WD’s paradise. It has easy, moderate, hard and near impossible trails with a variety of conditions ranging from slick rock, mud and snow. We covered a total of 2520km, and a third of this was off-road. What an adventure, a petrolhead’s playground. Be sure to visit the information centre in town before embarking on a trail, pick up a copy of a map and familiarise yourself with the weather and track conditions.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

A Step Back in Time:

Words + Photos By: Kathryn Pardoe

We are sitting on the roof of a Nepali bus; myself, my brother Will, and our guide Sam are perching on luggage railings and holding onto the bus’ hard outer casing. We attempt to secure both ourselves and our luggage as the packed vehicle shudders along uneven roads at 60kph, horn blaring as it approaches blind corners, sometimes on the wrong side of the road. The roof is normally reserved for luggage but as India has closed the border to Nepal, a fuel crisis riddles the country and public transport is constantly overloaded. Following the recent earthquake, it seems a callous act. The bus stops at Dhampus and it’s time to scale the ladder back down to solid ground. We haul our backpacks on, and we’re off... almost. A few Tibetan tradeswomen greet us at the foot of the mountain, selling friendship bracelets “for good luck”. I politely decline but my brother arms himself with one, and we begin our ascent. There are a lot of steps here, which I imagine will taper out into a The view from Chhomrong

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Mountain view

hillside incline at some point. They never do. In the Himalayan foothills, steep steps are interspersed with quaint mountain villages and teahouses; the smell of campfires drift from each village and homestead as food is cooked and water is boiled. The scenery in these foothills is reminiscent of landscapes seen in Lord of the Rings, and the farming activities that take place give you a firsthand insight into how lives were lived in the olden days. You see millet being thrashed, straw being wound into stacks or spread across fields, buffalo and yaks working the land as chickens and dogs scavenge for scraps. The frequent sound of bells ring through the valleys as donkeys transport goods or goats ascend the mountain, herded by a wailing shepherd. There really is nothing like it! After a total of four hours of stair climbing, we reached our first guest house in Pothana. The fuel and electricity crisis means there is no hot water for showering, but they kindly boil a bucket of water over the fire; I mix in cold water and use the smaller bucket to pour the water over me. Primitive or not, I’m grateful for the opportunity to warm up a lit-

tle as the temperature is already dropping. The next morning, we look out across misty mountains and spot Annapurna, the first snowy-topped mountain range we’ve seen. A hard light falls through the tall trees around us as we discuss trekking routes. We were heading to Mardi Himal, but we’re now changing direction to include the hot spring in the limited time we have. We’ve got to reach it today, and then we will decide on our final destination as we have several options. We stop for lunch once and tea once again, but time is ticking and the spring is still so far away. We keep going and we just don’t stop. No rests, no teas, nothing - we need to make the hot spring and we need to make it tonight. I lead most of the way, setting a fast pace. I would say that doing eight hours of stair climbing on your second day of trekking is not ideal... the last hour is the real killer and the sun sets just as we reach the guest house. We’ve made it to our destination but we are so exhausted we don’t fancy the journey down through the jungle to the hotsprings. We decide we’ll go when daylight comes. That was the most interesting walk of the

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A hobbit house with a watermill beneath it

The steps leading to our first camp

trip - we saw waterfalls, a watermill, gushing rivers, bouncy suspended bridges, donkey processions, walking hedges blocking our path and buffalos running us off the road - I had to hold onto one as he passed to stop myself falling down the mountainside! We also saw the beautiful iced mountain, Annapurna 2, getting larger and larger as we made tracks. We only made it a couple of villages further that day and decided we wouldn’t have time to go further as my brother’s flight date was looming. We relaxed at Chhomrong instead, 2,177 metres high, enjoying sweet masala tea and tasty chicken curry. We took it easy walking the next day as my knees were painful and my brother’s ankle wasn’t doing too well either (an old injury). We knew we were injured before we began the trek but reckoned that if you listened to the advice of everyone you’d never do anything, so we did it anyway! During the walk back down, we were stopped at sunset by a woman carrying rice back home. She took a shine to my rather expensive blanket and since she had no money and we were half way between her village and the guesthouse we were meant to reach, she offered a stay in her family home in exchange for the blanket! They arranged everything between herself and our guide in Nepali and we stayed with them, ate dal bhat, drank homemade wine, watched her music videos (she was a singer) and had an enjoyable evening in a family home, watching the twinkling lights of the stars and the other villages across the valley. The next day, they gave us some popcorn and armed us with a tikka. After I had handed over the blanket, plus an extra one as thanks, they asked for my brother’s expensive one too. After being given three blankets, they

Will, chilling like a villain on the roof of the bus

then came to us with a very pricey itemised list of everything. We paid a little extra and left but our guide stayed, only making the situation worse. In the end my brother went back and took the blankets, he told them to choose. They chosethe blankets and he turned to leave. We walked an hour away from that sour turn of events and stopped in a nice, friendly place for breakfast, it was our last day. That experience was in no way characteristic of Nepali culture. The people we encountered in the mountains tended to be colder than those at ground level, but we have both stayed with Nepali families separately and they have been very friendly and hospitable, expecting nothing from you, but keen to have you in their home. Only that one mountain family put their gestures of kindness on a tab. To end the trek, we walked down further and met a former Buddhist monk on the trail, who was now a head Sherpa, using his business to help rebuild Nepal after the earthquake - something I was keen to volunteer for. After a good chat with him, we stopped for a lassi and cooled down before heading onward to catch a local bus. As expected, we boarded the roof. This time we made a bed out of the bags around us and chilled out for most of the way, watching the mountainside pass by; its flora given a monochrome tint by the dust. Other mountains that came into view on our descent stretched out into the distance in stunning gradients of blue. Behind me, the snowy mountains became An overloaded local bus during the Nepali fuel crisis

Inside the restaurant at our first guest house

visible; Annapurna, Fishtail and some other unknown beauties. The smell of fires and the sound of bells that rung so reminiscent of the mountains, gradually faded away and were replaced by the hustle and bustle of the towns and the screech of horns. We jumped out at Pokhara, our trek completed. It had been a worthwhile struggle, frequently punctuated with cultural gems and a first-hand look at ancient farming methods. The fuel crisis has really brought Nepal back to basics, affecting even the trade and survival of the mountain people who are used to a raw way of life. It is an interesting if not a convenient time to be in Nepal, and it’s a real insight into the true strength of community and humanity. They have lost a lot here and life is much harder than before, but they still keep their spirits high. Despite prices rising in the crisis, it’s still more than affordable for tourists. Combine trekking with yoga, or hike with a Buddhist monk –there are so many possibilities! It is absolutely and undeniably an experience you will never forget, so come and trek in Nepal!

LIFESTYLE

Health

Powerhouse

Let’s Talk Barbecue Words + Photos By: Ivana Chiles

Dear outdoor enthusiasts, Now, when the weather is just perfect, I really hope that you have managed to squeeze in several outdoor adventures, including camping. This article will give you some simple tips on how to barbecue safely while out there in the mountains or on the beach. My hope is that you will be more health conscious when you are preparing your meals next time, rather than unconsciously poisoning yourself. Your delicious food should fuel you, nourish you and recharge you. Because that is what youdeserve!

Think Twice Before Eating that Burnt Burger!

A burnt burger can do more than turn your taste buds. It can produce cancer-causing chemicals. When meat is cooked at high temperatures, (be it chicken, fish, beef or any meat really), it forms heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs). According to the National Cancer Institute, HCAs and PCAs cause Cancer in animals. Experts advise against eating cooked-crispy meats, since there’s a pretty good chance they can up your risk of prostate, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. That doesn’t mean you need to give up grilling, however I advise you to protect your health and

Whole fish on barbecue is one of the healthiest alternatives.

eliminate charring meat while grilling. Direct exposure to high temperatures— especially those above 300 degrees—are a main contributor to HCA and PAH production in meat, according to the National Cancer Institute. So the next time you’re heating up your barbecue—or just the stove—follow these simple tips for cooking cancer-free meals.

1. Why Not To Use Newspaper to Start up your Fire

When starting up your fire, use collected kindling wood (if possible) or bring paper towels. You may now ask, why it is not okay to use newspaper? It’s interesting how things in life become generally accepted as being OK, but when they are looked at more deeply, there are often gremlins lurking. Newspaper is made from paper which comes from wood. When the paper is created, chlorine is used to prepare the pulped wood so that it can be made into paper and then bleach (made predominantly from chlorine) is used to dye the paper to a whiter level. Newspaper ink was initially all based on petro-chemical substances and over the last 30 years, printers have moved towards more vegetable based inks, with soy being the most common ingredient. Soy based inks are predominantly derived from genetically modified soy crops. Petro-chemical inks are highly toxic to the environment, whilst vegetable based inks are not so toxic and more biodegradable. Newspapers normally use a combination of petrochemical and vegetable inks. The newspaper inks have pigments in them to create the print colour. The most common pigments Enjoying our favourite camping spot in RAK area

are based on petro-chemical substances. When released into the atmosphere, petrochemicals can contaminate your lungs, your food, soil and even groundwater. Take care of your health and do not use newspaper!

2. Marinate your Meat

The American Cancer Society suggests choosing lean cuts of meat and trimming excess fat before placing your steaks or chops on the grill, because fat dripping onto hot coals causes smoke that may contain HCAs and PAHs. Less fat means less potentially carcinogenic smoke that may come back up onto your meat. Reduce the heat and turn the meat frequently to prevent it from becoming charred, although this one is tough to make a juicy steak, right?

Vegetable skewers

3. Clean your Grill Before Use

Cleaning the grill before cooking will remove charred debris that may stick to your food.

4. Use Spices to Marinate your Meat

Cooking meats with garlic, rosemary, chilli powder or paprika may lower HCA

Burnt steak, not good!

Burnt meat and vegetables may contain carcinogenic substances

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Only use sausages from organic meat. Eggplant and corn on BBQ are delicious

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Bring your own supplies, enjoy the place and leave it in the same state as you had found it!

production by as much as 70 percent! If you can, marinate your meat at home before you go camping. My favourite marinade is a mix of olive oil, garlic and lemon pepper. We also like to grill whole fish and simply put only herbs and fresh lemon slices inside the fish.

5. Be a Picky Eater

If your burgers or steaks char despite your grilling precautions, cut off the charred portions before eating because they are hot spots for carcinogenic chemicals. Avoid grilling anyprocessed meats like sausages, (unless they are from a reputable butcher or provider). They really are not good for you. If you do like to use condiments, limit yourself to organic mustard or ketchup or take a complete control of the ingredients by making your own marinades and sauces.

6. Use the Right Oil

Many common cooking oils simply can’t take the heat. The only exception is coconut oil. While coconut oil might taste great on your chicken kebabs, your beef steak might not be quite the same. I would still opt for a good quality olive oil, as long as you don’t burn your meat. Avoid any genetically modified oils like soy or canola (which is known for withholding high temperatures however canola is a genetically modified crop and I suggest you avoid it completely!). Some experts recommend lining your grill with foil and poking small holes in it. This allows the fat to drip off but keeps the smoke away from the meat. The question is, does this practice outweigh the negative side effects you could possibly get by ingesting aluminium from the foil? I will leave it up to you to decide.

7. Look for Meat Alternatives

Try grilling fruits, vegetables or cheese. None of these need long cooking at high temperatures, therefore you minimise the risk of contamination with Cancer-causing chemicals. Halloumi or camembert are especially delicious!

Sausages, especially those processed ones, are not great food at all

I suggest you prepare this simple dressing at home and only add it to your salad prior to serving: Healthy barbecue

Tips for Easy-to-Prepare Camping Meals Chicken Skewers Slice organic chicken breast into small pieces. Create skewers, alternating chicken pieces with bell peppers, onions, garlic and halloumi cheese. Marinate in coconut oil with a pinch of salt and pepper. Grill for about 5-10 minutes, making sure that the cheese does not run out! You can always make these skewers vegetarian, substituting meat with other kinds of preferred vegetables or even mushrooms. You can also drizzle some balsamic vinegar onyour skewers, which will caramelise. Beef Burgers Mix organic ground beef with finely chopped fresh rosemary, some salt, pepper and minced garlic. Create balls, place a piece of camembert in the middle and gently press to create patties. Grill at a medium temperature until juicy. Fresh Salad Impress everyone by bringing some fresh washed lettuce, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and avocado on your trip. It is fun to sit on your camping chair cutting the fresh veggies and surprise everyone with a fresh salad, while the boys are taking care of thebarbecue! You can also cook some millet or quinoa at home and make your salad more nutritious and protein packed. Sprinkle some nuts on the top for some extra minerals.

Honey/Mustard Salad Dressing: 2 tbspn olive oil 2 tbspn apple cider vinegar 2 tbspn water 1 tspn mustard 1 tspn honey 1 clove minced garlic Simply place all ingredients in a 250 ml glass jar, shake well and pack in the cool boxalong with your salad. It can also be used as a marinade for either meat or vegetables.

Other Useful Tips for Camping Meals

Homemade soup which has been frozen serves as an ice block in your cool box during the day and can be easily heated in the evening for delicious dinner.

Be a Responsible Camper!

The last thing I would like to add is to encourage you to invest in a proper picnic basket or a camping set. Save our environment and stay away from disposable paper or plastic equipment. Washing up while camping is fun. Get your kids (or husband) involved, so everyone feels like they have contributed in some way. Always leave the campsite in the same state that you found it, if not better. Collect all garbage, which can be a major threat to goats, camels, donkeys and birds. I hope I have motivated you to become more health conscious on your outdoor adventures, and until January, happy camping! Ivana Chiles has been living in UAE for over 16 years. Her passions are nutrition, healthy cooking and gardening. Ivana is a certified holistic health coach and member of American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Find various healthy tips on her website www.ivanahph.com or Health Powerhouse on Facebook.

Avoid processed meat!

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Outdoor Flicks

LIFESTYLE

Straying in the Right Direction Words By: Keith Pereña Photos By: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Wild does present a closer to reality view of how it really looks when a person goes on to face the outdoors. Sure, to some of us who haven’t experienced it seems to be majestic, a cakewalk even. But, the characters supporting Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) on her journey in the Pacific Crest Trail seemingly has no idea of the hardship she has to face. And this is where Wild seems to add more truth – we see Strayed’s former husband sending her provisions (which is not a bad thing) but he also goes out of his way to send her letters saying how proud she is and the voiceovers of these letters seem clueless or apathetic to the challenges the protagonist faces such as the wrong equipment, carrying more than she could bear and last but not the least, harassment some members of the male population present in the film which I would like to discuss in depth later. First, the motivation; the film does a really good job in establishing the protagonist’s motivations. There are flashbacks and visual illusions scattered throughout the film that remind the audience of how her life used to be. Vallée’s implementation of this technique served its purpose which is to allow the audience to relate and connect with the character and not just dismiss her as some “person with issues that is literally taking a hike.” Throughout the film, we walk beside a character that has experienced events some of

us might have gone through – loss, sadness, misdirection and as the film progresses we also experience the same liberating feeling that our protagonist shows. One of the things that is quite likeable of the film is its superb cinematography. Some of the scenes in the film hearken back to the photos of renowned photographer Ansel Adams. The vistas shown of the Pacific Crest Trail are completely astounding. While it does start slow in the beginning at the Mojave Desert, there are little bits of beauty to be found in the open farmlands early on in the film. Delving deeper, I cannot help but notice the feminist undertones presented in the film. Sure, we see Strayed as independent from the patriarchy most of the time but there are some aspects in the film which still touch on her “fragile” nature as a woman. One of these includes the scene with the hunters where all of a sudden in the course of the film; the audience encounters a familiar trope in most films – the damsel in distress. But the way Wild implements it is by taking a step back and not letting anything happen, only inspiring fear. It is quite disappointing in a sense and looking at it, it seems that the film is forcing the idea of Cheryl running away from the bad experience with men and not her more personal issue with her parents in the forefront – which it unsuccessfully does as proven by the end of the film. There is also the presence of the Michael Huisman who seems to appear as a stock character and only adds to the proof that Cheryl is still a woman which goes entirely against the film. That being said, despite some hiccups in terms of undertones, the film is very em-

Film: Wild (2014) Director: Jean-Marc Vallée Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski and Keene McRae

powering and recommended viewing for the soloists – men and women alike out there. It provides a gritty, realistic view of what really happens in a hike if one (or in the Cheryl’s case, more) are not what they should be like gear choice for example. But Wild really shines in terms of its superb cinematography as well as how the scenes were laid out perfectly, the flashbacks being sandwiched perfectly to move the narrative forward. In the end, it’s both an educational and inspiring flick about what the outdoors really does for some of us - a means of finding solitude and peace of mind.

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Habitually healthy A Festive Feast – Paleo Style Words + Recipe By: Chef Patrick Ikinofo

Season’s greetings paleo lovers! Since we are now in December it feels only right to have a recipe to suit, and get in the spirit of things. Christmas is that time of year to give and be merry, reflect on the year that was and start to plan the year that is coming. Down at the café it’s business as usual having numerous events left right and centre, new menus and thinking about launching a delivery service early next year. It’s all go around this neck of the woods, but as Christmas draws closer I can’t help but think of my loved ones and remembering what Christmas was like for me as a child.

Back home in New Zealand we would always have Christmas Lunch with a glazed ham, potato salad and all sorts of different Pacific island delicacies — my favourite always being a raw fish dish. White flesh fish marinated in lemon juice and finished with coconut cream. I remember sneaking into the fridge the night before and helping myself to a sneaky bowl hoping that my mum wouldn’t notice. There was always a lot of seafood - fresh sliced tuna, oysters and sea urchin. Ah, thinking about it all is making me hungry. Since being in Dubai for my second Christmas this time I’ve noticed that a lot

of people enjoy having the classic roast turkey for their Christmas spread. Turkey is a very staple meat as it is very low in fat and is a rich source of iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus. It’s a little tricky cooking such a large bird if you’ve never done it before. So here is a quick little recipe for the perfect roast turkey and a couple of tasty side dishes to accompany your bird. From all of us at The Cycle Bistro, Merry Christmas and we will see you in 2016!

Roast Turkey Brine Ingredients

• 4L of water • 1 cup of salt • 1 cup of maple syrup • Bay leaves • Cracked pepper • Crushed garlic • 5 apples

Glazed Brussel Sprouts and Bacon

Method

Mix all the ingredients and making sure that all the salt has been diluted. Choose a container where you can fit the whole bird ensuring the brining mix covers all the bird. Refrigerate for 24 hours before removing from the brine. Rinse of the bird and season with pepper before roasting. Do not salt. Fill the bird with some onions and herbs for some extra flavour. Fill the roasting tray slightly with some chicken stock and cover, then roast for an hour. A good rule to go by is 13mins for every 500gms; after one hour remove the cover and continue roasting until cooked. Don’t forget to baste every 30mins or so. For the last 30mins drizzle some maple syrup to help get you that nice, crispy, brown skin.

Ingredients

Baked Sweet Potato with Pecans and Honey Ingredients

• Sweet potato • Pecans • Honey

• Brussel sprouts • Beef bacon • Onions chopped • Garlic crushed • Olive oil

Method

Blanch your brussel sprouts until tender. Then cut in half lengthways. Sauté with bacon onions and garlic until nicely colored and ready to eat.

Method

Wash your sweet potato and wrap with aluminium foil. Roast until cooked. Coat your pecans with honey and a pinch of salt then bake until golden brown. Allow to cool fully and garnish the sweet potato.

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

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Natural History LIFESTYLE

The Way We Used To Live Words By: Dan Wright Photos By: Nirjala Tamrakar, Dan Wright and Ajmal Hassan Falcon - Nirjala Tamrakar

I once asked several local friends to tell me about their lives before the Union and in the early years just after. They recounted to me a gentler existence in which their daily lives were much more involved with the environment in which they lived. Their needs were simpler but harder to reach and a lot of their work was towards producing food and water. Communications and transport between the Emirates was much harder and a lot of families still lived a very tribe-based lifestyle. Here are a few of the stories they shared with me. I have changed the local names to protect their anonymity. Ahmed from Kalba on the East Coast told me that when he was a boy, he and his friends attended the local Mosque to learn the Quran every afternoon but often they would not go (especially in the hotter months) and they would run around the Palm groves and swim in the water tanks and the Falajah water channels where the water was cool and they could eat fallen dates or pick mangoes in the season. They used to use fishing lines they found on the beach and after spending hours untangling them they Wadi Helo modern dried up pools

would set snares to catch birds by the leg so they could then keep them as pets. When he got older he would spend his summers on the farm up in the mountain wadis and he and his grandfather would produce and collect salt for trading with other villages in the mountains. To do this they would ride to the coast at Kalba and when the tides were low, dig pools at the high tide mark which when the tide came and filled them would be left standing in the sun so the water could evaporate leaving a dirty residue of salt crusted around the edge of the pool. They would collect this and store it in clay pots and when they had enough (after several days) they would transport it all by donkey back to the village to issue for cooking and for salting meat to store it or for trading. Ahmed told me that everywhere along the seashore where there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t salt there would be layers of small fish drying in the sun from the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catch and the air would be thick with flies and the smell would catch the back of his throat! Another friend, Bedr grew up in the desert in the Western Region and his family had camels which they kept for milk and to trade with. Their milk herds were the dark black camels (Mujaheen) and their trade herd were the red camels (Asayel). Bedr grew up listening to his uncles and his grandfather singing the traditional songs which were really historical stories and they would be invited to weddings and special events to perform and the partygoers would pay them and feed them well. They would also compete with How wadis used to look

Modern fishing for small fish to dry

each other amongst the families and farms to see who had the best camels. They would use categories like the best milk producers and the most beautiful camels. These competitions are still run today at festivals like the one at Al Dhafra in the Western Region which runs all through December every year. It attracts camel owners from all over the GCC and they come to compete and to buy and sell camels. Bedr used to go for long walks with his grandfather in the desert and he would learn all about the plants and animals and their food benefits or their medicinal uses. Sometimes they would capture an animal to keep as a pet for a few months and to learn about it. Bedrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite was the huge Dhrub lizard (spiny tailed lizard). They would set handfuls of leaves on fire to produce smoke and place them at one entrance to the Dhrubs home which was a hole in the sand, then they would go round the back of the mound of sand and wait for the Dhrub to use the emergency exit they dug and they would catch them with a net. He said he and his sisters would walk the lizard like a dog with a collar round its neck but their grandfather would always make them release it back in to the wild so it could breed. My friend Abdulrahim who is from the Fujairah emirate used to go with his friends and their mothers by old Land Cruiser or Land Rover to the fort at Bithna on the Kalba to Fujairah Road. The fort was above a wadi and the banks were surrounded with lush

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Milking Competition in the Western Region

Mujaheen in the Western Region

Ajmal Hassan Dhrub Lizard

farms because the wadi always had water in it. Even in the height of summer it was possible to find standing pools under the shade of the date farms and he and his friends used to swim and splash in the water to stay cool whilst their mothers would sit on the edge and paddle their feet and talk. When the water was high in the rainy season it would flow from pool to pool like a small river and there would be little fish that could be caught in the shallows using cupped hands. They would sometimes catch lots of them and fry them on a fire by the pools for lunch. The families would bring big old kettles to make sweet black tea and bitter Arabic coffee. Abdulrahim’s mother would carry the spices for the tea or coffee in a small pouch in the

pocket of her abaya so he always knew when they were going out to picnic because he would smell a mix of cardamom, cinnamon and clove when he stood next to his mother. On Fridays Abdulrahim would go to the Bull Butting Competition with his father. It was held on a square piece of dirt just up from the sea shore and all the local farms who kept bulls would come. These were massive Brahma bulls with the enormous shoulders and a ring through their nose to control them. Two of them would face each other, and then lock horns in a competition to see which could push the other back three paces to win. It wasn’t just about the size of the bull or how much it weighed, it also came down to experience in the ring and skill and often Bull fighting in Fujairah

the lighter smaller bulls would win. Every year the ruling Sheikhs would put up prizes for the winner of the season to take home but for the families involved a lot more was at stake and to them it was about family honour. The bulls lived a luxury life with the best fodder and regular exercise up and down the beach with their handlers. After the Union in 1971 these traditions continued but some faded away. Swimming in pools beside the tracks and roads became a rarely possible trip as the water levels in the wadis dropped as more people lived near them and drew water. Now it’s really only the day or two after heavy rains that this can be done. You can still attend the Bull Butting in Fujairah every Friday in the season and there is a Royal perpetuity fund that ensures there will always be prizes each year so this tradition can continue. You can also travel to the Dhafra festival in the Western Region (outside Madinat Zayed City) in December to see the Camel festival which is one of the biggest in the GCC. Sadly it is now rare to see a Dhrub lizard in the wild. You can drive into the Hajar Mountains and find old date farms with tall trees giving plenty of shade and concrete channels between them to irrigate the farm. It is also still possible to see a lot of wildlife in the form of birds and insects on these farms. The practice of collecting salt died out when it became readily available in the markets but you can still see the fisherman drying their catch beside the road in Kalba in the hot sun and it really does smell so keep your windows wound up!

Dan Wright is a freelance Wilderness Guide in the UAE and Asia. He has a degree in Environmental Science. Dan has been on several International wildlife and exploration expeditions with UK Radio stations and writes for a range of publications in Asia and the Middle East. His wife is the former Nepal National Mountain Bike Champion, Nirjala Tamrakar. They live in Dubai with their son Percy and spend all their spare time exploring the UAE!

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

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

Eye Light

Tranquility Sleeping Bag, Plum/Magma

30 AED

Available at Adventure HQ, yallaoutdoor.com Extremely flexible and bendable, the Vango Eye Lights have a 40cm arm that can be attached to almost anything and rotate 360° in any direction. Available in five vibrant colours, they are great for night time reading for all the family. Features: • One LED - Bright light • Rotates 360 degrees Flexible light direction • Weight: 0.05kg

Available at yallaoutdoor.com If you are looking for an affordable, square-shaped sleeping bag, the attractive Tranquility is the best one for you. Available in two sizes (single and double), using quality fabrics and fill, combined with the small price tag, this bag will appeal to those cost-conscious family campers, festival goers and kids planning the occasional sleep-over with friends.

Airzone Pro 35-45L Tabasco Amber

Non-Stick Cook Kit

Available at yallaoutdoor.com

Available at Adventure HQ and yallaoutdoor.com

A four-season hiking pack, fully adjustable and superbly comfortable, with space to spare for cold winter days and short overnight trips.

Contains two pots with lids, one frying pan and four cups. Don’t waste time on your holiday or expedition scrubbing pots and pans. These non-stick cook kits will ensure you are not hovering around the washing up the area for long before you can put them back in their handy carry bag. A bargain!

665 AED

Volume Weight Load Zone Back System Fabric

175 AED - Double 195 AED - Single

35lt+10lt extension = 45lt/2135+610cu.in 1.57kg/3lb, 7oz 10-15kg/22-33lb Torso Fit Centro - 18-20”/46-51cm N6.6 210D Mini Rip

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200 AED

Here’s Something for a Better Camping Experience Dubai 4WD’s main aim is to provide with the best and most reliable products for all your 4wd needs. We are proud to say that our products are being fixed on automobiles for renowned organisations. Some of them include the United Nations, World Food Program, UAE and United States Military, and UAE government. Dubai 4WD offers comprehensive range of accessories and equipment to suit almost every 4x4 vehicle. Our wide range of products offers customers the choice of accessories. Our experience and technical knowledge in 4WD cars and accessories enable us to supply our customers with a wide variety of products which will improve the vehicle’s appearance, performance and functionality. At Dubai 4wd we believe in offering our customers the widest possible range of products and assisting them to make decisions for their vehicle’s specific requirements, we can guarantee that you will be left satisfied from the experience of purchasing from Dubai4WD and posses total confidence in our product. Our products also reach customers in North America, Palestine, Sudan, Iraq, Russia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Kazakhstan. Our mission is to consistently offer the finest quality products available to accomplish customer satisfaction and satisfying consumer demand in the best possible way. We believe that every customer that we deal and communicate deserves nothing but the best service in all fields. Your trust is our progress. We are very cautious of our environment and aim to provide the best environmentally friendly products to the customers. Here’s one of our best camping trailers and its specifications. This camping trailer can accomodate a lot of people and also has a wide selection of options available. • Body Length: 2,900mm • Body Width: 1,850mm • Overall Length: 4,950mm • Travel Height: 1,435mm • Internal Living: 5.3 x 1.7m • Bed Size: Queen • Tare Weight: 1,050kg • Towball Weight: 130kg • With 360 degrees off-road hitch; 15inch offroad wheels and hot dip galvanized chassis.

Options

• Rim Size: 16 x 7in alloys • Tyre Size: 265/75/R16 • A full 240V compatible system and two 110 A/H AGM deep cycle batteries. • Redarc battery management System which

monitors and charges your batteries and regulates solar input, making for a stress-free adventure. • A lockable box on the passenger’s side of the camper houses a switched fuse box, that looks after all the power and lighting on the trailer. • A fully installed 500 watt pure sine wave inverter. • White personal LED stork lights, 240V outlets and USB charging outlets flank each side of the queen mattress and a step light helps you see your way down when the sun has set. • Independent suspension and rear hitch receiver. • 12V/220V electric water heater. • A three-speaker multimedia sound system that can be operated inside and outside the camper. The system is MP3 and DVD ready, giving the ability to attach an LCD screen and watch DVDs! The passenger side USB outlet also receives data from your MP3 player so you can play your favourite tunes through the campers’ speakers. At the end of the bed you’ll also conveniently find another 240V, 12V and USB charging outlet. • Electric 12 inch drum brake set-up. • 120 litre stainless steel, baffled water tank

with A water level indicator inside the camper too so you will always know how much is in the tank. • A huge 60 litre fridge storage box which can be accessed from both sides of the camper. The box comes complete with slides for your fridge, a handy LED stork light and a particle air filter to maintain circulation but minimize dust. The box has 12V and 240V outlets so you can connect your fridge and other appliances with ease, and is conveniently located in close proximity to the kitchen. For more information on this trailer as well as other trailers, you can drop an email at dubai4x4@emirates.net.ae or contact +971 50 651 1828

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PRODUCTS Millet Carline Baselayer Top and Pants – Men

Top – 250 AED/QAR | Pant – 195 AED/QAR Available exclusively at all GO Sport stores Ceramic™ reinforcement. A technical knit for intensive applications, Carline® features the latest developments in fabric construction. It offers improved drying and moisture-removal properties thanks to its Grid interior, which allows enhanced air circulation and moisture wicking. Thermolite®, a hollow heat-retaining fibre, guarantees excellent protection against cold.

Jacket – 1,049 AED/QAR Pants – 965 AED/QAR

Available exclusively at all GO Sport stores Feminine ergonomic design. Jacket and pants have everything you need: attached powder skirt, pit zips venting allowing heat to escape, ski pass pocket, adjustable waistband stretch fabric for comfort and insulated for protection from the cold.

Millet 7/24 Stretch Pants and Jacket – Men

Millet Carline Baselayer Top and Pants – Ladies

Available exclusively at all GO Sport stores

Protective warm insulating pant and jacket designed for new-generation free-riding. For tasting the pleasure of fresh snow and backcountry glide. Insulation, comfort, fluid movement guaranteed, part of the Ride On series.

Ceramic™ reinforcement. A technical knit for intensive applications, Carline® features the latest developments in fabric construction. It offers improved drying and moisture-removal properties thanks to its Grid interior, which allows enhanced air circulation and moisture wicking. Thermolite®, a hollow heat-retaining fibre, guarantees excellent protection against cold.

Jacket – 1,675 AED/QAR | Pants – 1,049 AED/QAR

Millet Katmai Stretch Pants and Amaknak Jacket – Ladies

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Top and Pants – 195 AED/QAR each

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Leatherman Tread multi-tool bracelet Words + Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer

I am a big lover of multi-tools and usually always have one with me when I go outdoors, so when I heard about a new gadget you can wear on your wrist even on a flight I got excited. The Tread looks really cool and therefore let’s take a new approach and not necessarily a typical one for OutdoorUAE. What kind of fashion accessories do rugged outdoor guys wear? Usually apart from a watch none — we usually don’t even need a shave. For what reason would we need a bling-bling? Man need tools as women need shoes - we need to have them even if we never use them. In case this

situation would ever occur where we would need it, we can triumph in having it. And what could be manlier than wearing a tool box on your arm wrist? The design is rugged and modern and the Tread could be taken directly from a Terminator movie. No matter if you wear the silver or the matte black one, people will recognize your new accessory and will certainly ask what it is. I got very positive feedback from both genders - respect and recognition from other men for the cool tool as well as compliments from women for wearing stylish accessories. Now back to the real stuff, how useful are the tools. Since the Tread has mainly technical tools like screw drivers, box wrench keys and hex drive it makes not too much sense for me hiking but there is definitely use if you go cycling, motocrossing or anywhere you could make use of the tools. The Tread packs 29 different tools into its nine links and watch-like clasp. The latter includes a bottle opener. I would never take my Leatherman with me on a bike, but the Tread is comfortable on the arm wrist (I had to take out two links to fit well) looks cool and you have your small toolset with you. Especially the hex driver for the saddle was of great use, since I need to adjust the saddle frequently when I am in the desert with friends. Adjusting the saddle to the different body heights was fast and easy and you even get good leverage on it to tighten the bolts properly. Also the screw drivers

work well and you can feel the quality of the heavy duty and high quality steel - this tool is made to withstand any abuse, it’s as tough as it looks. For me, after the screw driver and hex keys, the most useful tools are the bottle opener and the cutting tool even if it is very small. There is also a watch link available to add to the Tread which would make it even more useful for everyday life - substituting a separate watch. So all in all, the Tread is missing a few tools (e.g. knife and pliers which make it safe to bring on airplanes) compared to the normal line of Leatherman multi-tools, but since you can wear it conveniently everywhere, it also has its practical advantages. Most of all it is a unique accessory for tough men and certainly a great present for the festive season. The Leatherman Tread is available at all GO Sport stores for 1,030 AED (Black) or 775 AED (Stainless Steel).

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Make the Most Out of the Holidays with Yamaha With this beautiful UAE weather and the holidays just around the corner what a better way to enjoy the season and to spread the joy, than the new Yamaha 2016 ATV and it’s adjoining line-up. The new and exciting products that you grew to love are all adorned with new features to make this season, as always a memorable one. For more info and to get your very own unit visit any of the Al Yousuf Motors branches across the UAE.

YXZ 1000R SE The YXZ1000R is proof why Yamaha is the leader in motorsports technology and design. The SE version gets bead lock rims and heritage yellow and black color scheme to go with the 998cc inline triple, massive FOX RC2 suspension, pure sport chassis, 4-wheel disc brakes, electric power steering, On-Command drive selection, and 5-speed sequential shift manual transmission. This is a complement for the hardcore driver, and every inch of the YXZ bleeds Yamaha high performance. Sequential 5-speed manual transmission with reverse permits rapid and smooth shifting and is ideally matched to the potent three-cylinder engine. Optimized

RAPTOR 700R Push the throttle, feel the adrenaline, smile... repeat. The key to the Raptor 700R’s longevity as the “King of the Trail” has been an ever evolving chassis that houses the most potent, torquey, big-bore engine on the sport market. There really is no substitute for the Raptor 700R. A Yamaha fuel-injected engine makes this the most powerful Yamaha sport ATV ever, with big torque right off idle, transitioning into a fat mid-range and

frame dimensions make the YXZ1000R the best handling ATV around. In addition to the performance and durability that comes with Yamaha’s exacting standards, the YXZ1000R also includes a ROPS-compliant structure without sacrificing driver visibility, and a full-frame composite underbody protection system protects the chassis from rocks and debris. The YXZ1000R features Yamaha’s class-leading speed-sensitive EPS, for reduced steering

monstrous top end. Race-bred five-speed transmission with reverse, along with Raptor 700R’s monstrous power band, means there’s a choice of gears in just about all situations. Hybrid steel and aluminum frame with controlled-fill aluminum sub frame and cast aluminum swing arm combine to produce a super-strong structure and the lightest ATV in its class. Get your kids started with ATVs with the Yamaha Raptor which is available in three versions; 90CC for the young Yamaha riders, 700R and 700R SE.

effort and precise handling in all conditions. Developed exclusively for Yamaha, the YXZ1000R mounts 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 radial tires that offer extreme performance, with increased ground clearance, optimum traction, durability, comfort and steering precision. These tires are mounted to strong yet lightweight 14-inch alloy wheels. It also seats two so you can bring your friend or significant other with you on your riding holiday!

RAPTOR 700R SE

RAPTOR 90

GRIZZLY 700 High-tech engine designed for aggressive trail riding. The 2016 Grizzly has an all-new, more powerful engine with optimized torque, power delivery and engine character. Peak power is up 6% compared to the previous Grizzly 700, and torque rises nearly ten percent.

GRIZZLY 350 The Grizzlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new styling features LED headlights with a handlebar-mounted halogen work light, an LED taillight, reshaped fenders, with three large storage compartments and new, larger-diameter front and rear racks with increased load

VIKING VI The new Viking VI is for those that need an ATV with toughness, practicality and the ability to seat an entire team. All of the key features that you love of the Viking are included in the new Viking VI such as, steel cargo bed, ROPS certified protection and electric power steering. Speed and torque sensitive EPS provides optimal assistance in 2WD, 4WD and locked differential for increased ride comfort. Not only does Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CVT provide excellent starting acceleration, the belts are legendary for their bulletproof reliability. Thanks in part to a new combustion chamber shape, revised compression ratio, new cam profile and forged piston, the Viking VI puts out the power you need to transport a team and haul a load. The backrest of the centre seats are tilted five degrees farther than the driver and outside passenger backrests, creating an off-set seating position that allows all on board to comfortably fit without rubbing shoulders. 20mm higher rear seat position than the front seat and donut type headrests for a more open field of vision for the rear passengers. Available as Viking VI (6-seater), Viking (3-seater) and Viking SE (3-seater) so bring your friends along and take a beautiful ride in the UAE deserts!

capacity. The three-position On-Command 4WD system lets you switch between 2WD, limited-slip 4WD and a fully locked differential 4WD all with the simple push of a button. Available in 350 and 700 CC.

VIKING

VIKING SE

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PRODUCTS X-Lite X-661 Spox N-Com Helmet

Klymit Pillow X Recon

Available at Al Yousuf Motors across the UAE

Available at Adventure HQ

Features: • Composite fibre outer shell • Three-size outer shell • Wind protector • Vision protection system sunscreen visor • Quick release visor • Scratch resistant ultra wide visor • Double action device: visor lock to prevent accidental opening or visor demisting (at low speeds or stops by a minimum visor opening) • Anti-fog Pin lock • Double D-ring retention system • BX4 plus communication system ready

The next generation of inflatable pillows has arrived with the Pillow X. It features an innovative self centring design, in a military friendly colour and with more durable fabrics, weighs 2.3 oz and packs up smaller than anything else out there. Your head will be oriented perfectly on the pillow and enhance sleepy time.

Oztrail Eco Swift Pitch 3

Liwa Oasis Picnic Wind Shield

1,460 AED

495 AED

Available at Adventure HQ Lightweight Eco Series 3 person pop-up tent with side awnings for extra weather protection. Sets up instantly - so compact and easy to carry. A spacious take anywhere instant pitch tent. Features: • Easy access through large D door with integrated mesh window. • Excellent ventilation via front door and rear window vent with protective flap. • Extended front and rear awning for extra weather protection. • Packs flat into a compact circular carry bag.

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130 AED

Features: • Ultra-light Pillow. • Packs to the size of a lighter. • Most comfortable inflatable pillow. • Self-centring X design to keep your head on the pillow. • Ideal resting place for your head, when ounces count.

520 AED (170 cm x 10 m) 450 AED (170 cm x 08 m) 375 AED (170 cm x 06 m) 350 AED (120 cm x 08 m)

Available at all Liwa Oasis Picnic branches Features: • Lightweight; folding • Comes with a bag • High quality • Washable • Steel coated poles

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Words By: Fiona Donald

I have recently started training for the Dubai Marathon so I needed to look into keeping hydrated on my long runs. I was a bit unsure about wearing a hydration belt, as my experience with them in the past always led to spending half my run furiously trying to secure my belt more firmly around my hips and trying (in vain) to stop the damn thing from bouncing! It was suggested that I try the Nathan Trail Mix as it claims to be: “The only

bounce-free, easy-access, fully-adjustable, two-bottle belt out there.” The Nathan Trail Mix has an external power stretch, mesh pocket and also a zippered pocket to keep your phone, keys, food etc. safe, so I was quite excited to get going on my first long run with all my essential bits and pieces handy. At first I didn’t think my HTC One phone was going to actually fit in the pocket which was a bit disappointing, but after a bit of fiddling and manoeuvring, I did manage to squeeze it in. Along with this I can also fit some nuts, dried fruits and gels to fuel me on my long runs. It would be better if the pocket was slightly bigger, as I’m not sure if Apple fans would be able to squeeze the latest iPhone 6S in the pocket, but all other models would most definitely fit. First run out, and I found the belt to be very comfortable, easy to adjust, and no bouncing! It is a really comfy belt to wear. The belt includes two 300ml water flasks which are super easy to remove and replace, and I have had no trouble getting them in and out. I did get a little chafing along my lower back the first time I used the belt, but as long as I kept my t-shirt tucked in I have not had this problem again. Perhaps a little smear of BodyGlide or Vaseline would not go amiss. All in all, I am really happy with the belt. My longest run so far has been 26km, and my little Trail Mix has managed to store all the things I need to keep me fuelled and hydrated as well as my phone so I can play some tunes along the way! Be it for marathon training or running during the hot summer months, I would definitely recommend (and have done so) the Nathan Trail Mix to those looking for a comfortable, bounce-free hydration belt.

Nathan Trail Mix Features 20oz /600 mL

• New mono-filament 20% stretch belt for a perfect, bounce-free ride. • External Power Stretch Mesh pocket and zippered pocket keep phone, keys, food and essentials safe. • Two Shock Cords with one-pull tension

“The belt includes 2x 300ml water flasks which are super easy to remove and replace” lock for jacket or gloves. • Perfect tension-moulded holsters keep bottles in place and easy to access. • Size: One size fits most, 26-44in/66-112cm • Storage Capacity: 1.6L / 100 cu in

Available at GO Sport, Adventure HQ, Saucony, Modell’s, Beyond Fitness and other sports stores.

OUTDOORUAE

Your One-Stop Shop for All Your Camping Needs Liwa Oasis Picnic is a one-stop shop that provides its customers all the camping, off-road, motorcycle, and safety products in one convenient location. At Liwa Oasis we thrive to give our customers a unique experience when it comes to their needs and enjoyment with the outdoors. Liwa Oasis Picnic has been established in 2010 and is a family-owned business currently with twelve employees all dedicated to the customer’s needs. Liwa Oasis Picnic consists of five branches with one located in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi and four others in Liwa, Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Our main showroom is in Jefn in front of the Liwa Industrial Area, with a 2400 sqm space that showcases all of our products. Another branch is in Downtown Mezeira, Liwa Adnoc Petrol Station and Moreeb Sand Dune that opens during the winter season at the heart of the Moreeb Sand Dune festival every year. Liwa Oasis Picnic sponsors many events such as the Al Wathba cycle race back in 2014. In the same year, Liwa Oasis Picnic added a licensed camping service for campers with a variety of comfortable selections for camping. In addition to providing customers with all the products they would need on their camping trips. We are always keen to improve our product selection every season. We pride ourselves in our customer

OUTDOORUAE

satisfaction and our staff is more than happy to provide and demonstrate all of our products to our customers. Every year Liwa Oasis Picnic participates in local festivals and international exhibitions as a mean to constantly improve our products and show our appreciation to our customer’s support as part of our success.

Liwa Oasis has participated in following:

• Al Ain Spring Festival 2011 • Al Dhafra Festival 2012/2013 • Al Gharbia Watersports Festival 2012-2013 • Liwa Date Festival 2012-2015 • Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013/2015 • President’s Falconry Cup Competition 2014 • IWA Outdoor Classics Exhibition (Germany) 2014 • Dubai Global Village 2014 • Liwa International Festival/Moreeb Dune 2010-2015 • Dubai Off-Road and Adventure Show 2015 Visit the Liwa Oasis Picnic in selected locations across Abu Dhabi and the Liwa desert. For more information call +971 50 812 0288 or visit www.liwaoasispicnic.com

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

The kayak, made in France, has been designed by fishermen for fishermen. The 2015 RTM edition surprises us by adding an electrical engine at the back. The ABACO 3.60 Torqueedo is the must have kayak for the fisherman that wants to go out further into the lake or ocean for that big catch. It is very light (only 7kg), fast and has a quiet engine that is easy to use thanks to its adjustable foot braces with rudder control and a waterproof battery. Its speed can go up to 10km/h. Battery is easy to plug and is manufactured in France while the engine in Germany. It can run for 40km without stopping the engine at average speed.

New Arrival!

Inflatable SUP: SUP’R 12’6

2,745 AED

The new SUP ‘R 12’6 is the fastest board in RWP inflatables. The best board to paddle faster while touring or racing. This board is fast, stable, hard, strong and easy (for a race board!). Very good for cardiovascular exercises! It has a single fin in the middle for a better glide on the water. The inflation valve is located on the nose of the board to make it easier to pack and for storing in the waterproof bag. Board also includes a bag, pump, fin and repair kit.

AHD Hydrofoil Board AFS-1 15,000 AED

The AFS-1 board is a great news for all the windsurfers in UAE as this “progressive” concept with its 112L volume allows rising quickly onto a plane in light wind conditions. When flying, there is very little pull from the rig into the arms. Concentration, anticipation and balance between both feet positions are the keys to exhilaration. Still, they can’t describe the rider’s feelings when he flies, well above water, close to three times faster than the wind, from seven knots of wind speed upwards. Years of testing and tweaking now allow us to present a board which will allow you to learn and live unique sensations! Sails are sold separately. All of these amazing products are only available at the SeaYou shop in Al Quoz 2 behind Times Square. For more information visit www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100

OUTDOORUAE

Synergy Riding Tights by Irideon T R&I E D

TESTED ODUC THIS PR

OV T IS APPR

TDOO ED BY OU

RUAE

These breeches are the ultimate in comfort

Words By: Georgina Frith, RVN

Horse riding in the UAE can sometimes mean spending long periods of time in the saddle in hot and humid weather conditions, so riding in comfortable clothing is extremely important. As an accomplished endurance rider, I always struggled to find the right kind of riding breeches, having to resort to wearing sports pants instead as they were the only pants that suited the extreme weather conditions. That was until Irideon asked me to try their new Synergy Riding Tights. They are, quite simply, amazing! Whether you are in the saddle or around the stables, Irideon products are created with state of the art materials and cutting edge design to deliver 46

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extraordinary style, performance and comfort. Not only do the Synergy Riding Tights look and feel great, but they are extremely durable and breathable thanks to their special moisture management properties which help to keep you dry at all times. Light with a sporty design, the tights are made from a technical compression fabric that increases blood flow circulation and helps to prevent muscle damage. The other huge benefit is the large pockets, which safely carry phones etc. Another fan of the Synergy Riding Tights is Jacky Freer from Equestri. “I first spotted the Synergy tights on a friend who was wearing them. My first impression before I had put them on was that these are gym pants and not riding pants. I was proven wrong! Working for an online tack shop, I try a lot of breeches on from a lot of different brands. I also ride two to three horses a day, so I know the importance of functional breeches. Unfortunately, what usually happens is that with functionality, often comfort is lacking or vice versa. From the moment I slipped into my first pair I realized how comfortable the breeches were. Riding in them is a dream. They are super comfortable and have the right amount of padding in the right places,” said Jacky. “I love the deep pockets, very handy for keeping my phone close, especially when out on a hack in case of emergencies. I wear mine all day long because unlike most breeches, these are pull-on so there are no uncomfortable fixtures. These breeches are the ultimate

in comfort for me. I would love to see a full seat version coming out soon,” she added. Synergy Riding Tights come in a wide range of colours and sizes and are available for men too! Experienced endurance rider Nabil Erian has been using Irideon tights for the past ten years for normal riding as well as long rides. “I am an avid endurance rider and was recently introduced to the newly developed Synergy tights by Georgina. I found them to be the perfect breeches for riding. The tights have the comfort of “skins” and the storage room of cargo trousers. Overall, they are the perfect addition to any rider’s wardrobe, men and women alike.”

Working for Bonjour Equestrian Supplies selling horse products and equipment around the stables means I wear my riding tights all day. I can honestly say that I love them! Synergy Riding Tights are available from Equestri online (www.equestri-online.com) and various UAE tack shops. They are priced at 380 AED and are distributed by Bonjour Equestrian Supplies. Watch out for new Synergy full seat riding tights in Spring 2016.

Craig Jones Professional wildlife photographer “I am a professional wildlife photographer, an experienced expedition and workshop leader, I run my own photo tours to many places throughout the United Kingdom and further afield around the world.

I have been a finalist in the Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition 2010,2015, finalist in the GDT European Wildlife photographer of the year and commended in BWPA. In 2013 I was selected by Nikon, Japan to become one of their “Eyes Of Nikon” photographers that celebrated their 80th year. My images are widely published throughout the world having graced the covers and pages of numerous premier publications. I’m a former serviceman, with expert field craft and tracking skills, who has always found peace within nature. Bringing all those skills together to produce images from nature by placing a frame around something I’ve seen. From an early age I spent so much time being at one with nature, close to and watching, hidden from view on the off chance I would see a certain animal. Learning to get close to wildlife without disturbing the life of the animal, almost forgetting the outside world and becoming

part of the animal I was getting close to or watching. By doing this I could understand the animal better, gaining many skills by observing their behaviours at the same time giving the subject complete respect which allowed me a private window into their perOrangutans Society, OIC – Orangutan Inforsonal and private lives. mation Centre, SOCP – Sumatran OranguThis skill is one of many I use within my tan Conservation Project, Barn Owl Trust, own wildlife photography today derived 21 Century Tiger and Birdlife. from those early encounters with nature. Reflecting my personal commitment to This “lose yourself to nature” approach enaprotecting these special animals and their bles me to get close enough to capture the environments in which I work. animal’s beauty and behaviour which both Craig wears the HAWK Z-400T. Renowned feature strongly in my style of photography, for its lightweight and stealth looks, it is the showing a wild animal within their natural perfect accompaniment for Craig. habitat being the foundation to my work today through the images I see then frame through my camera’s viewfinder My images represent an event that occurred in the wild something that I witnessed and recorded with my camera. My skill lies in interpreting and presenting this in a way that invokes beauty, mood and emotion with each moment captured. My photographs capture wild animals while showing them great respect and care in approaching the subject(s) this allows for better photography, where you can have a window into their lives and learn so much about nature. I am a trained climber/abseiling, trained in jungle, mountain and desert environments with key skills in survival. I use all these skills alongside my photography to capture images from the wild. The beauty of photographing wildlife is that it is always changing and evolving, encountering the unexpected. In this environment the photographer must learn to work with these changing environmental conditions and behaviours, and the result cannot always Available at be predicted. Instagram: @almekshah I support a number of Facebook: www.facebook.com/almekshah wonderful charities with my imagery – SOS- Sumatran Mobile:+971 55 9898954

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QATAR EXPLORER

Family Camping in Qatar Spots, Supplies & Safety

Words By: Eulogy van Dyk

Overnight camping in the desert is a great way for the whole family to escape the big city life, spend more time outdoors, unwind, relax and enjoy the starry sky and sandy beaches. And what better way to “set the kids free” than to let them run around, play in the water and create their own fun while you prepare the fire for the BBQ later. Camping season is now well under way and generally at its best between November and April. Depending on the size of your family and type of car you drive you might think that this experience is not possible for you to enjoy, but we have compiled a few pointers and tips which will help you to go out on your first camping trip in Qatar!

Fast Facts:

• There are no official camping sites with public facilities unless you book through one of the many tour operators that take you to one of their permanent tented camping sites which is also normally fully catered for. • There are basically two types of camping spots: Sedan-friendly and Off-road (4x4) required. • Most people typically only camp for one night although two nights are possible. • When camping in Qatar you need to take everything with you as very few places are anywhere near a shop, or even other people (but that is also the beauty of it!). • Fill up your tank with fuel before departing on your trip as well as before entering the desert, because you won’t find any fuel stations nearby either!

• Two are always better than one! When camping out in the desert try to go in a group. A seasoned camper that knows the GPS coordinates of good camping spots is always a good friend to have by your side. • When picking your camping spot, pay attention to tide lines so you don’t get caught halfway through the night with water around you. • Shallow water is normally more child friendly for them to splash around in. • Leave only footprints and nothing else… A recent article published on www.dohafamily.com found the following camping sites for families to enjoy. Some spots are more accessible than others and you will soon find that these are also more crowded, so do take that into consideration when planning your camping trip. If you are a “water-baby”,remember to take your kayak, stand-up paddleboard or kite surf along to the Fuwairit or Zekreet camping spots as these are known for these types of activities as well.

Sedan Camping Spots

• Wakrah Family Beach (25.131696, 51.616726) Fenced beach area for families, toilets and kids’ playground, shallow water, crowded on weekends. • Umm Bab Family Beach (25°01’45.6”N 50°48’21.1”E)

Fenced beach area for families, toilets and kids’ playground, shallow water, very private. • Dukhan Family Beach (25.426940, 50.757613) Park away from the beach, usually crowded on weekends. • Zekreet Village (25°29’24.8”N 50°50’31.2”E) Shallow water, flat beach, good for camping, empty with some cars passing near you. • Fuwairit North (26°02’11.9”N 51°22’09.4”E) Camp next to the turtle area, soft sand, good beach, usually crowded on weekends. • Ghariya (26°04’19.2”N 51°21’32.7”E) Soft sand, good beach, can become very crowded

Off-road Camping Spots

• Ras Al Burooq (25°38’38.4”N 50°50’53.9”E) Camp between cliffs, amazing scenery, very private, near Zekreet coast guard. • Fuwairit South (26.024485, 51.382527) Camp at the far right side of Fuwairit beach after the turtle spot, soft sand and possible mud, usually crowded on weekends. •Fuwairit Cliffs (26°02’25.4”N 51°22’03.3”E) Camp on the left side of the turtle spot, includes driving on cliffs and rocks, semi-private. • Sealine South (24°50’06.8”N 51°30’13.1”E) Good beach, good water, not many

campers, but a lot of cars will be passing by. • Southwest Inland Sea (24°34’44.2”N 51°20’06.9”E) Great beach and water.Its secluded location keeps it from getting crowded despite it being a well-known camping spot. • Southeast Inland Sea (24°34’40.0”N 51°21’50.7”E) Good beach, best swimming water in Qatar, overlooking Saudi mountains on the other side of the water less than one kilometre away. • North Inland Sea (24°39’04.8”N 51°25’43.9”E) Good beach, amazing water, possible jellyfish depending on the season, famous camping and fishing spot, usually empty.

What to Pack and What to Eat?

The more you camp, the more you learn which items are essential and what you can do without. Ensuring your tent is big

enough to fit your whole family is of course very important, so you might want to test it beforehand. If there are four of you, you can look at using a six-man tent to create more space. Sleeping bags, small pillows and an air mattress is basically all that you’ll need to fall asleep. Camping chairs, table, beach canopy, barbecue, charcoal briquettes and some cooking utensils are more or less what you will use during the day. Don’t forget your swimsuits, towels, some toilet paper, sunscreen, a first aid kit and torch or flashlight for the evenings. A fully stocked cooler with enough water and drinks for all will be crucial, but don’t forget to pack some meat for the barbeque (sausage, kebabs or a juicy piece of steak works well). A valuable tip is to pre-pack some snacks as well as prepare a pasta salad or similar at home for dinner. For breakfast you can bring along your favourite pastries or if you really feel like it you can boil a few eggs early in the morning! The trick is to keep it simple.

The Inland Sea area is possibly the busiest area during camping season so investing in reflectors to highlight your campsite for late-night drivers is advised. A mobile phone car charger or additional battery packs will also be handy when you are planning to stay for longer than a day. It is also wise to pack some extra non-perishables for the car like granola bars, crisps; anything that can last a few days without needing to be cooled should you get lost or stuck in the desert. Save the following numbers on your phone: Police, (999) and the Fazat Mawater rescue team (+974 7710-9999, +974 5581-6060, +974 3334-4622). These are the numbers to call in case of an emergency in the desert. So if you are still wondering what to do with your family this upcoming weekend, why not treat them to a camping experience in the Qatar desert or along the coastline. It is such a great way for everyone to kick off their shoes, sit back, relax and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle!

Safety Advice When Camping Out in the Desert

Always ensure your car is in good working condition before entering the desert. Deflate your tyres so you have better traction on the sand and if you do not have a pump to re-inflate your tyres, the shop just outside the entrance to Sealine Resort will inflate it again for you for a small fee.

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OUR EXPERTS

The Arabian Seas:

A Biodiversity Hotspot Words + Photos by: Jake Lyle

The waters in the Middle East are home to hundreds of species of both flora and fauna, making the area a diver’s paradise, as well as a biodiversity hotspot. The specific temperatures of the waters in the area year round, make the Middle East the perfect residence for everything from whale sharks to sting rays. The coral reefs that line the shores here in the Arabian Gulf, as well as the outskirts of Oman, are colourful and diverse. These corals rival the ones found in world-renowned diving locations, such as the Caribbean, or even The Great Barrier Reef, with their bright colours and distinctive shapes and features. Some of the greatest coral reefs in the area run along the Eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, across both the UAE and Oman, with some of the greatest treasures residing in the Gulf of Oman. These reefs curve along and around the Musandam and Fujairah region, and thanks to their isolation from the big cities, are pristine and largely untouched. As well, further South of the Gulf of Oman, in the waters surrounding Muscat, the coral reefs are just as pristine, and include a more vast array of offshore reefs, such as the protected Damaniyat Islands, which the waters surrounding it have often been called “an aquarium”. These aquarium-like waters in Muscat are not only home to lush coral reefs, but can also be home to much larger sea-dwelling species, who migrate to the region throughout the year- species like whale sharks. The coral reefs throughout these regions make for an incredible dive, and with good visibility, these dive sites can even out-compete those world-famous underwater havens. Not only do the reefs make for great diving and incredible landscape shots, but they also provide a home to the hundreds of species of fish and marine mammals that frequent the area. It is incredibly difficult to gauge the activity that’s occurring beneath the seas as

you surf, paddle or ride above the ocean’s surface, as it is so vast and so immense – particularly in the Arabian Seas. Throughout the Middle East, for decades, there have been reported sightings of a number of different marine species, from whale sharks in the Marina, to dolphins on the outskirts of the Palm. Sightings such as these however, are limited to what people can see from above the surface, or even on the shore. Imagine the perspective from underwater, where the chance of seeing such activity increases exponentially. The underwater environment in this region is lucky enough to receive visits from, as well as provide permanent residency to, marine species that people travel the globe in search for. It is difficult to do a dive in Fujairah or Oman without seeing a turtle, or an eel, or even a stingray. The biodiversity in the area is so extensive that these underwater sightings are nothing short of frequent. As well as bottom dwellers like stingrays and coral occupants like eels, much larger species frequent the area – eagle rays, dolphins, sharks and much more. It’s not uncommon for boat enthusiasts to come across a pod of dolphins, not far off the coast of Dubai, and equally not as common, is a group of divers experiencing a visit from the notorious gentle giant of the ocean – the whale shark. Avid divers may travel for years, across continents, in search for these elusive goliaths, whereas the residents of the UAE only have to travel a few hundred kilometres in the right season, to experience these titans. In Oman, between July and September, the plankton bloom can attract whale sharks, bringing them in

large numbers, and increasing the likelihood of a sighting. The biodiversity in the UAE’s and Middle Eastern waters is vast, and is a treat to any one who lives here or comes to visit. We are blessed with a wide array of marine animals and extensive coral landscapes, making for active underwater expanses. It’s often hard to understand the beauty of these marine ecosystems and even harder to spot those notorious, world-famous animals like whale sharks and turtles, without getting underwater and experiencing them. Luckily, in this area that we live in, the opportunity to do so is always within reach, with the high number of dive operators, both here in the UAE, as well as in the surrounding region. The biodiversity however is fragile, and is not only there for us to enjoy, but contributes to regulating the entire underwater ecosystem of the area, providing shelter and nutrients to marine species, some of which are fish that are incorporated into our diet. The importance of these reefs and the species that live within and around them should not be downplayed, so when the next opportunity presents itself, suit up, submerse yourself in the experience, allow yourself to appreciate and comprehend the underwater environment, and spread the word.

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

OUR EXPERTS

A Relaxing Evening by the Campfire? Words by: Marina Bruce Photos by: Marina Bruce and Dominic Revel

In the UAE we are blessed with the most beautiful sand dunes and winter skies; with the summer months the weather is also perfect for late nights – or even overnighters – by the campfire. After a day in the desert there is nothing better than sitting around a campfire with your friends, but it may surprise you that the off-roader’s first aid kit is far more likely to be used around that campfire than on the drive! Let’s set the scene. A group of friends are BBQ-ing and when finished cooking, someone goes and empties the coals into the fire, leaving an extremely hot patch of sand. People are wandering around the area with bare feet, and someone walks over where the BBQ was sitting only a few minutes previously – the coals and the sand can reach 500 degrees C. This will clearly cause deep, serious burns and it is important to cool the wound quickly by immersing it into water and ice in somebody’s coolbox – a good reason to use wet ice in a coolbox. I alwayscarry Water-Jel Burn Dressings in my emergency pack as these are effective in cooling and protecting the burn site until we can get the casualty to the hospital. Meanwhile, the campsite has a nocturnal visitor, drawn by the heat of the campfire. Everyone is chatting until someone notices an almost imperceptible movement –the quick flurry which follows is people putting their boots back on! Scorpions can be found in both desert and rocky terrain but only venture out at night - they can be seen with a blacklight torch as they are fluorescent under UV light. Like most desert creatures

they avoid contact with humans and will only attack if threatened – but if someone is stung then medical attention should be sought promptly. If you didn’t put your shoes on after the burns incident and the scorpion visit, you might want to reach for them now; in the dark it is so easy to step on “beasties” by accident and they are likely to be quite unforgiving so it makes sense to protect your feet! Another creature you may spot during evening campfires is the camel spider, technically not a spider, but a solifugid (comes from the Latin word which means “flee from the sun”). These fearsome looking creatures can move extremely quickly, in fact faster than a man can walk, but they have had bad press in the past and many of the myths that surround them are just that, myths. They kill camels or have anaesthetising venom; in fact they don’t have any venom at all, although they can inflict a rather painful bite. If you should see one during the day, chances are it will follow you,although it only wants the benefit of the shade you are creating – still if you move, your shadow moves and it moves, giving the illusion it is chasing you! (Great fun for your friends to watch.) I always set up camp away from plants and trees as this is where most creatures hide during the hot daylight hours; to me, the extra early morning shade from the trees is not worth the risk of nocturnal visitors! When you strike camp in the morning, always unpeg your tent and drag it to a fresh area of sand. During the night it is quite common for beetles and scorpions to seek shelter under your tent and they won’t be too pleased when you remove their shade. I have heard of people being stung by scorpions when they kneel down to roll up their tent which is why it is a good idea to do this a little bit away from where it was pitched. And you might want to go and put on your shoes!

OUR EXPERTS

Why I DIY Words + Photos by: Kit Belen

Fishing is a very expensive sport. There is no denying that it is not something you pick up and commit to and save money on. There are a lot of people that stay within the budget range and catch big fish. However, the moment they hook something big and are not able to land it, it becomes a bit of a struggle to justify not spending for decent gear. Decent gear are investments that will last you a long time – this means that if you buy gear close to the top of the range, you wouldn’t need to change for a few years. This also puts you in the range of gear that are more than capable of catching some very serious fish – the main problem with this is that decent gear would more than likely set you back at least a couple of thousand dirhams. That is something you can’t change and is almost always beyond your control. The second most pocket damaging category on the list are lures – these should be considered consumables because lures get damaged and it is almost impossible to get them back to their pristine condition when you get a hit, bang it on the rocks while casting or retrieving, or stop the rust from creeping up after usage. However, there are ways to make them last longer or even better, to make it a bit cheaper for yourself. I have been making my own lures for years and for people that have fished with Carving tools such as the Kiridashi on the bottom and the traditional western carving knife are very useful in wood carving

After a bit of practice, I was able to carve out some decent looking lures

me know, most of the time I go fishing, its mostly mucking around with something new I’ve tied on the vise, or something I made from a mould, carved with a knife or turned from a lathe. For me, it’s mostly part of the process, after a day’s work, I get to do something fishing related and it clears my mind; as a bonus, it keeps me getting excited to try them out in the coming weekend – most of them are failures at first, but once you figure out a few things, they start to work and the whole process becomes addictive. I first got into lure fishing because I realized that the biggest expenditure I would have would be on lures – after spending for a rod and reel, it became apparent to me that my meagre allowance was not enough to buy me all the lures I wanted, this was back in high school. The Philippines’ only tackle shop was in Manila and even if you made it there, the place was not well stocked. So we had to wait for months for the bulk order our fishing group made to companies in the United States and that wasn’t really a guarantee that we would get the ones we wanted because there was no way for us to know if the items we want were always on stock when our orders were placed. Needless to say, lures are an angler’s version of a gold-digger’s jewellery. We can’t have just one and you can’t have just one colour – if it’s really effective, you have to have at least two backups. As for me, growing up around woodworking tools, it was a no-brainer – lures can be made using ma-

Almost always than not, I try to copy lures that I have found working very well, but are not sold here anymore, here’s a good example - lathe turned lure inspired by the Surface Cruiser

terials we already had in our backyard - the machines were there and the woodworking knowledge I needed was a question away, either from one of our workers, or if I wanted an explanation that was more in depth, a quick run to my old man filled the gaps. My first creations didn’t really go as planned, in fact, I don’t think I was able to fish it. I was so concerned of the durability of the lure that I used a wood that was too hard, it was supposed to be a to water lure, but because I used the wrong wood, it sank like it was made of lead. This is when I realized that there was more to it than just making it “look” right.

The Simple Stuff

The easiest lures to make are the ones made of lead – you just need three materials: a jig hook, a mould and lead – the method is also very straightforward: you melt the lead and heat the mould, put the hook in its slot and pour the lead into the mould. Wait a few seconds, then take the finished jig off the mould. You need to take the sprues off the jigs and clean the flashings if you have some and that’s that! If you want it to look more sophisticated, then you can paint them, but quite honestly, I have caught a lot on unpainted jig heads enough to not make me worry about painting them – they look nice painted though, so if that’s your thing then go ahead. Casting jigs or vertical jigs are a different story though – they don’t have dressings and although I believe their own action would be able to attract fish and get them

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

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

to bite, a painted lure, especially one with shiny foiling will give a lot more flash and adds a visual appeal to fish and anglers alike. The most important aspect of a coloured lure however is the fact that anglers have favourite colours and this is the colour that he will end up casting more. The main drawback is of course the limitations of the mould – you can’t easily deviate from it, and if you find yourself with a very effective lure you want to copy, you are out of luck. There are predominantly two mould companies and I have used moulds from both of them, however, I almost always buy moulds made by the Do It Mould Company.

Wood

Wood is a bit challenging to work with but with a little bit of patience, you can either turn or carve out some decent lures. The first rule of woodworking is always work with tools that are razor sharp, the duller the tools you use, the more dangerous it will be for you. I started using box cutters and cut myself so deep and found out the hard way why the tools need to be very sharp. These days, I use Japanese carving blades called Kiridashi and I have found that since you push them to shave the wood to be very safe (Instead of drawing them towards you as you would with a western carving knife). Balsa and Basswood are available in the UAE, albeit a bit expensive when first starting out because you waste a lot, you will soon be able to carve lures out easily. Balsa is the easier of the two to work with since it is softer. However, basswood makes lures that will take a bit more abuse. When making carved wooden lures, you should consider where you place your weight as this is probably the most challenging part of the whole thing and also, it dictates the action and castability of the

If you find yourself being a bit more adventurous, try carving out something like this

lure. There are a lot of resources available online and a lot of videos about lure making on Youtube.

Painting Lures

I come from a family of artists, yet of the three that our folks have brought to this world, I am the least skilled in the arts. So painting the lures to make them look pretty was something that eluded me for a while. I might not have the talent to carve and paint lures that would make them look good enough to sell, but I can make them at least decent enough for my friends and I to use. So I took the plunge and bought a small compressor and a few airbrush guns and started to practice. Within a few weeks, I was able to make them decent enough to tie on my line. I mainly use acrylics, which I buy, from craft shops; I got my compressor and airbrush in Dragon Mart and the rest of the tools you can buy from ACE.

Parting Cast

As with fly tying, making lures is all about

Painting old jigs and lures are a great way to save money, or recyle ones when you find you want a more effective color

creativity and although I may not be the most creative person, I am one of the resourceful. Lure making is more of a skill rather than something that you need talent for, there are several videos on Youtube that show different methods of creating them and there are even step by step guides. It can get frustrating when you can’t get things to work. You will need to seal your lures with epoxy to keep the paint from dissolving in the water – I have searched for the right epoxy for this, which I have found after some time. Go to a hardware store and look for the epoxy used for the protection of wooden floors. Lure making isn’t for everyone — time constraints, space and dealing with all the tools and junk that comes with it makes it prohibitive to a lot of people – still some people just can’t be bothered and opt to buy a lure and be happy with it, while some people like me, really like doing things of this sort and enjoy each and every step of the process. Good luck and email me some pictures of the stuff you made! Till next tide change,

Kit Our fishing pro who shares his experiences and expertise with OutdoorUAE through his regular column. thefishingkit@gmail.com Molds such as these from Do It Mold Company make it easy to make your own lures and jigs

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OUR EXPERTS

Women

n Wheels

Conquering Fears and Pushing Limits in Nice Words by: Helle Bachofen von Echt Photos by: Rikke Laursen

This October during our cycling trip to the Cote D’Azur in Southern France, I witnessed the entire spectrum of emotions coming to the surface within our group of female riders. Supervised by Captain Rikke Laursen, Team Charlie settled into the very friendly, convenient and family owned Hotel L’Etape in Villeneuve-Loubet, approximately

10km outside of Nice. It was perfect for bringing a group of women, who didn’t all know each other, together, creating a real sense of team spirit and social engagement.

the shoreline through Cap D’Antibes and Cannes. We settled for a beautiful lunch in Theole; helmets off, feet in the cool sand and laughter across the table made for a perfect laidback first day on the bike in Southern France.

The female-only cycling group, named Team Charlie, included riders of varied abilities and ages ranging between 30 to 64 years old. More than half of the riders had less than six months of road cycling experience and had never ventured out beyond the flat, familiar and cycling friendly roads surrounding Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark. Arriving in Nice, on the beautiful, tropical, sunny and warm coastline of the French Riviera, but also with the paradox mountains rising just behind the shoreline, sending shivers down the spine and making some think; and say out loud: “OMG what am I doing here, on my bike?”. During the next four days the cycling adventures unfolded and we witnessed an astonishing array of emotions from what turned out to be a group of incredibly brave women.

Already at breakfast, in the same space as the freshly brewed coffee, I sensed the nervousness. Some had hardly closed an eyelid. Waves of tension filled the room and we opened up for sharing concerns and frights in advance of the day ahead. On the agenda, Col De Madone D’Utelle at 1,174m did for some rise like an enormous terrifying pinnacle that could potentially lead to severe injury or death, at least in their nightmares. This was, I am sure, a very normal nervous illusion for the inexperienced rider. Equally I read signs of bravery; for even making it as far as travelling to Nice for unknown adventures, on bikes. The captain utilised her incredible people and coaching skills to reassure the nervous riders that they would be safe during their journey through an incredible physical and mental challenge and that the outcome when they reached the top would be indescribable. Trusting this appeared fundamental for each of the nervous riders. It was a 35km reasonably flat ride to the bottom of the “frightening” mountain. We stopped for coffee, fuelling and changing and organising clothing layers (the temperature cools while elevating). All sorts of last minute worries and questions appeared: Do I wear my arm warmers now? Do I take my gel now? What happens if I want to stop? What if I can’t make it to the top? Can I fall over the edge? The questions continued. Col De Madone D’Utelle is a 15.3km climb (with a small village after 9K) of just under

Day One – Coastal Ride

The October autumn Mediterranean temperatures of 23 degrees Celsius, coupled with blue skies, made perfect welcoming cycling conditions for Team Charlie. The warm sun softly touching the skin, the light breeze in the hair and the feeling of freedom on the bike in company of other likeminded women, placed a smile on every single rider in the group. Guided by ex-professional three-time Tour De France and two-time Vuelta a Espana rider Geoffroy Lequatre, eleven excited and slightly nervous but more so happy and fresh faced women pedalled gently along

Day Two - Col de La Madone Utelle

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admiration from others, this 64-year old woman, surprised us all when she with no complaints, mastered the climb in her running shoes! (This means there is only pushing power through the pedals and the quadriceps have to work harder while power is lost from the back of the legs; not as effective as riding with clip-in shoes). Another rider came off the bike to rest three times, but with encouragement from the captain and Geoffroy, our guide, and occasionally being assisted with a gentle push to ease the constant pressure on the leg muscles, this rider also triumphed the 9k goal in 1hr and 25 mins. With a road constantly going up and no visible signs of the top, the never ending hairpins and constant lactic acid filling those leg muscles, these women with only six months of cycling experience, some who had never ridden distances longer than 60K, had now not only conquered the majority of Col de Madone D’Utelle, but also crushed their fears and discovered a whole new level of physical and mental ability for themselves — outstanding. 6% average (max 8%) gradient. For most experienced bike riders, this classifies as quite a pleasant climbing experience. For some of these women, out of their comfort zones and into the unknown, they suddenly felt like the size of an ant in comparison to Col De Madone. At the foot, panic built and one rider broke down in tears from self doubt. Once again, Captain Rikke calmed the field with her empathetic and motivating tone of voice: “Do not worry. You will all be wrapped in love and pain, all the way to the top. You have to feel pain, because that is what it takes to reach your goal. But you can do it! And remember to enjoy the views. We are not in a hurry”. Five of the more experienced riders powered right to the top and took some well deserved moments to consume themselves with the feeling of accomplishment - the breathtaking views, the absolute sense of freedom as well cleansing of the mind and soul. There is something very unique about standing on the top of a mountain, conquered solely by one’s own physical and mental ability. The same was applicable for the six riders conquering the 9k climb to the village. The bravery, determination and desire to overcome fears and to complete this challenge was unreal, like nothing I have witnessed before. Sweat, tears, sighs, smiles, laughter, hugs – all riders made it to at least the 9k goal and they all shared the same feelings; an absolute sense of self pride and a gigantic and unique sporting and personal sense of accomplishment. One rider had still not become comfortable with “clipping in” cycling shoes and with a gobsmacking

Day Three and Four – Villa Franca/ Monaco/Eze/St. Paul/Vence

With the biggest day on the bike out of the way, we retired to more scenic and cultural rides. We visited a mix of charming, cultural, historical, friendly and peaceful places all set back from the French Rivera and all reachable by bike. Among those, we passed through Saint Paul de Vence - one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Rivera also well known for its modern and contemporary art galleries. We climbed to Gourdon on an isolated rock, in the past once a place of refuge and defence and which also offered magnificent panoramic views. We passed through Villa Franca, one of the deepest natural harbours of any port in the Mediterranean Sea, which is also known as the urban community of Nice Cote D’Azur. We were on a mission to explore, visit places, add value to our lives, witness beauty and to collectively enjoy each other’s company as well as support and build new friendships.

Mission Accomplished

With 350km in the legs over four days in Nice, these amazingly brave women found themselves riding through thick traffic, climbing a mountain and descending from the mountain; however, they accomplished so much more. These are some of the words they articulated and shared with each other: nervousness, panic, belief in oneself, protection, friendships, care, happiness, pride, empathy, support, personal development, moving beyond personal limitations, space for everybody and joy for others. We all shared smiles, laughter and even tears.

And with that we now all share memorable experiences too. I waved goodbye to this group of amazingly proud women, who all left Nice with a feeling of personal, emotional and physical accomplishment – and even a desire for more. They had been afraid. They had been excited. They felt alive!

Moving Beyond the Edge of Comfort

Within the space of what you don’t know lies a field of possibility. And it’s okay to feel vulnerable when you move into that space. Keep coming back to this edge, as often as you can. At first the fear will be overwhelming, but as you keep visiting your edge, you’ll become more aware of it. And with more awareness comes understanding - and then comfort. And when you are comfortable, you’ll be ready to move beyond again. What was once your extreme limit will become your new comfort zone. In the space of the unknown is where the magic happens. It is where you will grow yourself and live your life to the fullest. “Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” - Michael Jordan Helle Bachofen von Echt is a Dubai-based sponsored Elite Road Cyclist competing in both local and international events. When she is not training, she is helping others achieve their health and fitness goals by running her own personal training services as well as giving indoor cycling classes. Helle loves travelling with her bike and you can follow her adventures and racing on Instagram @thegirlwhocyclesinthedesert.

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OUR EXPERTS

A Different Kind of “Stopover” Words + Photos by: John Basson

So, your South African friend is coming to visit you in the UAE! How can you want to make the short, three-day visit unforgettable? Well, you can rent a limo, collect him from the airport and show him the “magic” of this wonder city they call Dubai - the largest malls, tallest buildings and the miracles of what “man” can and has achieved… That is of course only if you are remotely interested in those kind of attractions. If however you are not mesmerized by city life, and one of the people responsible for making you fall in love with dirt bikes and

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quads, is your visitor, then your three day planning could also look like this: Philip was on his way to Europe for business and called me regarding the possibility of a three-day stopover. (I had to contain my excitement.) Philip, a very skilled quad rider, had only one previous visit, six years ago, and that was spent doing a 1600km off-road ride in Oman. It was epic, but we had a bit more time back then. This visit was only three days and thus I had to compact my planning. So, how do you “make” time if you need more? Easy, you eliminate travel time by substituting it for adventure. Confused? Let me explain: I live in Al Ain and could not think of a better way to do the 130km “shuttle”, from the airport than on a quad bike! I loaded the quads, took John-John out of school for the day and collected Philip at Dubai International Airport with my pick-up, trailer and three quads! We then drove to where the 611 highway ended, and started the ride from there. I am sure that there are not many adventure seekers that have landed in

Dubai and then had to do a 130km desert crossing, on a quad bike, to arrive at their destination. It was an amazing ride and we saw a lot of gazelle, foxes and a rabbit, not to mention the camels. The route was selected using Google Earth and of course not without surprises. Twice we encountered fences that were not visible on Google and these caused rather large detours. During my

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planning I incorporated two fuel stops where Sosan, my driver friend, met us at crossings where we crossed under the main roads. I was sure that one would have been enough, but just in case,I added an additional stop. Sosan was a star and at each point assisted us with refuelling, getting the cold drinks and he also played photographer for us. He also arranged lunch that was brought to Al Hayar where we took a 30min lunch break in the shade.Thank you my friend, without you this ride would not have been possible! Philip took about an hour or so to get the hang of the dune crossings and about 30km into the ride I upped the pace to a “good” and steady pace. I did not take much notice of how much fuel the quads were consuming, as I knew they were capable of doing 70-80km at the pace we were going. After our lunch stop we had a 60km section left to Al Ain, and I told Sosan that he could take the pickup home as we would no longer need him to be on standby. By this time Philip was very comfortable on the 525, playing a lot with the power/throttle as he was enjoying the “grunt” of the KTM’s engine. More than 15km from reaching home, his quad started stalling on the dunes as he was running low. Thankfully,the KTMs have a reserve selection for petrol and I changed the route to exit the dunes and follow the dirt roads. I also told Philip to be very easy with the gas. Without that we would certainly not have made it without him running out of fuel. We all made it safely home and surely the best ever drive I have had from any airport anywhere in the world! That evening it was braai (BBQ) time and just relaxing around the fire, catching up with what was happening here and back home. By 7:00 a.m. the next morning, with the personal watercraft hooked, we were off to Abu Dhabi for more

action. The personal watercraft is new to my inventory of “toys” and definitely the most popular one with the rest of the family. Everybody loves it and now, for the first time, my wife is actually hooked on something with an engine! The weather this time of the year, as you all know, can only be described as “awesome”, and we were riding, wakeboarding and having fun till late Friday afternoon. It did not take much to get the two of us to fall asleep early Friday evening as my body reminded me that I am 44 and not 24! On Saturday morning Philip assisted me in cleaning and servicing the three quads. By midday, we decided to go out for a light lunch and then to the Al Ain Raceway for some go-kart action. This time John-John had to take the pavilion seat and was on camera duty whilst Jihan joined us on the track. I booked a back to back session and we were the only carts on the track. I know Philip is still blaming his cart for the fact that he was lapped (almost twice) by myself, but I am not falling for that. After all, I also tried this excuse in the past, but the other riders laughed at me. As I leave home before 5:00 a.m. I had to again make it an early night. That Sunday, Philip continued his “work” trip to Europe after what can only be described as an unforgettable stopover in the UAE. Some might say that taking John-John out of school for a quad ride is not wise. I know school is important, but LIVING LIFE is “importanter”! Live Life and Go for Gold! Regards,

PEOPLE

Aimee Wright Age: 27 Nationality: British Occupation: GEMS Wellington International School – Year 5 Primary School Teacher

Growing up, Aimee has always had a penchant for bicycles - it just runs in her blood. We sit down with her and ask a few questions. How did you start cycling? Has it always been around?

Growing up I have always supported my parents at various triathlon, Ironman or cycling events, so it has always been a massive part of my life. When I was 12 my family and I moved to Holland. Out there cycling is a way of life; every town has its own cycling club house and race track. So I found myself joining the local cycling club and partaking in their activities When I was 13 I gained my first race license and raced against other girls at the local races around the villages. Whilst living back in the United Kingdom I raced for my University team, and after this I was invited to ride for a women’s cycling team and took part in the national road series plus various other events.

Would you consider yourself as a hobbyist or a professional?

Although when I was younger I did dream of becoming a professional cyclist - I was always in awe watching the grand tours on TV - I always believed it was impossible to get to that level of riding, especially for women. Currently I ride for and manage the Cycle Hub bike shop team, which is a local amateur team who compete in various events around Dubai. Cycling is a passion for me; I love riding, racing and watching cycling!

Where do you usually go for a ride?

In Dubai there is somewhere to train every

day which is fantastic. I usually do a couple of group rides in the week around Nad Al Sheba or Al Qudra cycle path. Now the weather has cooled down, I love riding the hills around the different routes up in Hatta. I sometimes travel to the bigger climbs such as Jebel Jais or Jebel Hafeet for some proper mountain training. In the summers I usually ride back in the Pyrenees, Alps or try to go on a training camp abroad.

Do you also have other outdoor activities?

I grew up horse riding, then used to always race and train for triathlon. I loved trail running back in the UK and competed in various half marathon trail runs. I like different challenges or adventures. I used to work as an outdoor instructor so I love anything such as skiing, kayaking and rock climbing.

What difference do you think does a woman make in the cycling community?

Cycling out here in Dubai is very inclusive to everyone, so women ride just as hard as the men. Although when it comes to the races, there are not always the same opportunities as the men. Cycling should be an equal sport, so we should have the same events as men. This year is the first year women have had their own race league, so the enthusiasm and excitement within the community is booming. The amount of female teams which have been brought together is amazing.

How do you feel when you’re on the saddle?

I love spending hours on my own out on the bike. Every summer I spend weeks riding around the mountains on my own just taking in the views and stopping at local cafes. I love the feeling of pushing through pain barriers and the power you feel in your legs. The feeling of all that pain climbing up a mountain to forget it all when flying back down at 80+km/h is just amazing. The most satisfying feeling is to challenge yourself, push yourself through the pain

and complete an epic ride. The best days on the saddle for me are the 5-6 hour rides where I have pushed to the brink and know I have deserved my dinner.

Have you been to any events? Tell us about your favourite one.

An event I have always been proud of completing was the coast to coast, where we started on the Atlantic coast in France and cycled all the way across the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean coast in a week. This meant cycling over famous cols such as the Tourmalet and even the highest paved climb in Andorra. A recent event was the UWCT World Championships in Denmark, which is a 165km road race against different nationalities, over an undulating course. This was a fantastic experience as the Dubai community really stuck together throughout this event and I even had my brother come to support, so I had an amazing time.

What are your plans for this season?

This season I would like to continue enjoying my training and to do well within the local races with my new teammates. Then my focus will be to train ready for the summer races back in the UK and France, as I usually go back to race for my UK team High Wycombe.

Lastly, if there is one cycling challenge you’d like to finally take on, what would it be?

It has always been a dream to complete the whole official Tour de France route. Ever since I have been little I have spent the summers glued to the TV watching the tour. I have been lucky enough to camp out on the mountain stages, partying and cheering on the riders. I have always ridden many stages of the tour, but to have the chance to push myself to the limits and see if I am capable of completing this gruelling, threeweek challenge would be my dream which I hope to achieve one day.

PEOPLE

Hanady Alhashmi Nationality: Emirati Occupation: Marketing Specialist & Outdoor Adventure Instructor at Absolute Adventure

Being one of the first female outdoor professionals in the region is a tough task, but for Hanady Alhashmi, it all pays off. A climber by heart, this lively Emirati is out to prove that women too, can have their fair share of adventure in the UAE and Oman. Hello! How long have you been involved with the outdoors?

Hi! I have loved the outdoors since I was a child, especially camping and the beach, but I have been formally involved with outdoor activities for about two years now. I went village trekking in Oman. Ever since I have wanted to explore new places and try new things like off-roading, canyoning in Snake Gorge in Oman and summiting mountains. I definitely have a thirst for adventure now.

What sort of outdoor activities are you involved in?

I am involved in a large range of activities, from mountaineering to tour guiding. However, my main passion is hiking and trekking, I have also recently started to enjoy mountain biking and rock climbing.

Being one of the first female outdoor professionals in the region, what would be your first task?

My first task as one of the first female outdoor professionals would be to encourage others, especially women, to come outdoors and try out new adventures. The UAE and Oman are so close, and many people aren’t aware of what great activities are available in the region. I would like to provide support and information about the outdoors in this area.

Why do you believe that more women need to get involved in outdoor adventure?

I believe that the outdoors can teach you many things. It can help develop certain real-world skills like organisation, safety and risk assessment, including soft skills like leadership, group management, social interactions, responsibility, as well as increase confidence levels. It definitely helps to build friendships with likeminded people as well. Currently the adventure industry here has more men involved than women and I would love to see the numbers even out.

What are some of the difficulties that they face?

Some women, for cultural or even personal reasons, would prefer to have capable female instructors and guides that they can rely on and who have sufficient training and knowledge on the outdoors. This is a challenge at the moment, as instructors here are male; I hope to help open that door to women.

We read that you summited mountains, which was your favourite?

Summiting mountains is always difficult and long. People say it is about the journey and not about the destination. I would say my

favourite has to be Mt Kilimanjaro, as it was my first one, and so it holds a special place in my heart.

Any plans on what to tackle next?

I am planning on taking some mountaineering classes and I plan to tackle Mt Elbrus and Mont Blanc in 2016. Inshallah!

Lastly, how would you describe your ideal adventure?

My ideal adventure would be anywhere with a great group of friends where everyone has fun and all goes well. Adventure doesn’t just have to be about big trips, sometimes a weekend of trekking local areas with friends is the ideal, and it’s good to have variety.

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LOCATIONS

Surfers Paradise Words By: Laura Brown

This is a story I’ve asked myself, many a time, if I should write. It’s about a surfer’s sanctuary nestled within the Mentawai archipelago. A place where a playground of waves are groomed to perfection, a place where slow rolling Bomboras bring mile-long smiles to beginners and where deep-pitted barrels send diehards to ponder life in the “green” room. A dream surfing destination where the quest for the perfect wave is found and time and time… and time again… conquered. I discovered this place a couple of years ago whilst researching the world’s best surf resorts. As you can imagine, many places try to claim this title. In fact I would be very interested to see what Google Adwords charge for such keywords. A hefty sum I am sure.

But as an avid surfer you learn pretty quickly just how skilled these marketers are at describing their “world class” locations. I am sure rose-tinted glasses must also be a popular Google keyword. They conveniently forget to mention the roaring winds hailing in from the sea, the army of kamikaze board riders absent of any surf etiquette, the banks, or should I say lack of banks, the off-chance once a year swell that makes the particular surf spot of interest, iconic. Ah yes, I’ve certainly experienced my fair share of being tricked into thinking my colossal journey of catching planes, trains, ferries, horses, tuktuk’s, (you name it I’ve “caught” it) will, in turn, reward me with the perfect wave. But alas it never did. But then I discovered this enchanting land located in the Playgrounds area of the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia — a place where those who come here feel spellbound by its beauty. A place where the palm trees meet the sea, where red raw sunsets grace everyday of your stay, where sun-kissed surfers and beach lovers alike spend their days marinating in a state of bliss; migrating from frolicking in the 20+ world-class,

turquoise waves, to taking afternoon slumbers on the verandas of their luxury, handcrafted umas (traditional Mentawai accommodations). A place of friendly people, happy people, people that make you think… am I dreaming? Who’d believe in such a place? A surfer’s heaven, boasting and living up to its title as the world’s premier luxury surf resort. The discovery of this elusive land was rather serendipitous. Twenty years ago Taylor Steele’s epic surf videos “Focus,” “Momentum,” “The Show,” and others introduced the world to a new generation of surfers led by a young Kelly Slater. Two decades later, Taylor, who has since moved on to bigger and more lucrative filming gigs, was able to gather all the stars of those early videos – Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Taylor Knox, Benji Weatherly, Kalani Robb, Rizal Tanjung, and of course Kelly – and have a Momentum reunion. The place? Kandui Villas, Mentawai, Indonesia. Despite being someone who definitely needs to see things to believe them… after watching the promo trailers of the Momentum reunion I was already hooked. I knew I needed to visit and discover firsthand whether this place, where the pro surfers play, did in fact live up to its debut on screen. And so I ventured. Admittedly, the journey was rather seamless: plane, plane, and speedboat. Really? Is that all it takes to get to some of the world’s premier waves? Now before I continue I should get a few things straight. Whilst I was on the hunt to discover the world’s best waves, I am by no means the world’s best surfer, far away from it in fact. Rather, I am one of those people who know a lot about the theory of the technique, the optimal weather and wave conditions, and I have surfed for many years. But, the honest truth is that I am more like the women in the Beach Boys music clips: long board, party wave style. Not quite mastering the tandem surf acrobatics, but you get the picture. Call me the

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foodie who is not a chef if you will. Why am I telling you about my surfing ability? Well, the truth of the matter is that whilst we all like to believe we can charge those startling fast, hollow, perfect tubes; Pipeline, Teahupo’o, Grajagan, Cloudbreak style, it is only a select few; i.e. the pros, or simply the “crazy” ones who can. All the rest of us mere mortals should simply be happy to watch in awe from the shore and enjoy Mother Nature’s show and those who know how to “tango” with her. But that’s my point. A perfect wave does not have to be a barrelling monster, a towering wall of water ready to drag you into the dark abyss. Rather, it can be a 3-4ft high, beautifully groomed wave, mechanical in its delivery. One that gives you rides of upwards of 30 seconds and one in which you can put both hands in the air, as a salute to the ecstasy you are feeling. And so, with that in mind, what I discovered about this mesmerising place, the Kandui Villas, is that it not only offers surfers access to some of the world’s best waves, but it offers waves for all levels. Add to this the resident yoga instructor, surf guides, a personal chef preparing delicious farm-to-table meals, surf photographers to capture that epic ride, a masseuse, plus a host of other activities: SUP, kayaking, snorkelling, bocce, beach volleyball, billiards and pingpong to name a few. Eco at heart, this is the place to bring family and friends who have a passion for the beach/ surf lifestyle. So, yes, after the hard yards of finally discovering Kandui Villas I did have to question myself on whether I should be telling the world about its existence. After all, you should never kiss and tell. However, some secrets are just too good to keep.

NEED TO KNOW: When To Go:

High Season: April to September

Did You Know:

Kandui Villas is home to two of the best barrelling waves in the world, a perfect right on the opposite side of the island and directly in front of the resort, the incredible Kandui Left. Kandui Villas is located in the

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“Playgrounds” area of the Mentawai - surfers have access to over 20+ different and unique waves. 12 are located on the island, with the others only a 30 minute speedboat ride away.

Getting There:

Fly direct to Jakarta with Etihad or Emirates airlines. Then take a domestic flight to Padang, Sumatra, where you can take the speedboat to Kandui Villas.

LOCATIONS

Essential Tips

for A camping newbie Words By: Vanda Turcerova

Nobody is born a camper. A responsible camper gains knowledge through experience and observation. Here is a quick overview of what to expect and how to be ready for camping beginners.

Beach Style

Inland Style

Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Jebel Ali and Oman

Ras Al Khaimah, Oman and Dubai (off Al Qudra)

Where

In Brief

Plus

Minus

Essentials

Awesome Extras

Enjoy: water and underwater sports, beach bunny activities (volleyball, Frisbee, shell searching)

Enjoy: Flora and fauna around you, trekking and exploring your camp area.

Beach style camping is the best therapy for city beach bunnies as well as a necessity of watersports lovers. Nothing better than waking up at the break of dawn, throwing a couple of logs into the fire, and heading out to catch a wave or paddle out before you even brush your teeth! Easy peasy for kids or larger groups. Spots are generally well accessible but consider at least one off-road vehicle within your posse to bail you out of trouble – also saves you trips when offloading gear. Of course, you get to enjoy the beauty of safe water without sharks and dangerous currents that are mainly prevalent in open oceans and seas. What you see is what you get —sand, saltwater, reef for snorkelling if you know where to camp. Make sure you know exactly where you are going and pack enough (fill is as desired) to keep you going not only around the campfire in the night, but next day on the water. Oh, and yes, the sand get everywhere. Tents, sleeping bag, tent rain cover, mattress, mat for around the fire, fire-starter kit and firewood (you will not find it on the beach be prepared, cooking kit with reusable utensils, head torch, camera, bin bags, first aid kit, Sun protection

Pack in: Hammock, Surf/paddle/snorkel equipment, music instrument

Inland camping involves mainly desert, sand, rocks and off-road awesomeness. Do not expect easy entry and be prepared to be flexible with your time, especially if you are queuing up at border posts on Thursday afternoons. The reward, however, of waking up in a wadi or at a climbing crag is worth all last night’s drama. Gorgeous views of pristine landscapes especially if camping remotely in dunes or wadis. Every inland spot has specific flora and fauna to admire and observe in its natural habitat. Enjoy dramatic temperature changes – as soon as the desert goes dark, heat is gone and temperatures can drop as low as a couple of degrees above 0 in winter. Camping and day trips or trekking outings will not be kind to your feet. Make sure you have feet relief and skin recovery options on hand. Also, you are in nature, and there is the danger of being bitten by snakes, scorpions and other creatures. Be aware of imminent dangers in areas you are visiting. Tents, sleeping bag, tent rain cover, mattress, matt for around the fire, fire-starter kit and firewood (be ready not to find anything around), cooking kit with reusable utensils, head torch, camera, bin bag, first aid kit, anti-mosquito spray and post bite relief remedy, Sun protection Pack in: Shower system, binoculars, specific equipment for your extra-camping activities (sandboards, trekking equipment, etc.)

Wherever you decide to go, be responsible for your area and leave it in the best condition you can after your departure. Remove your rubbish and tidy up your camping ground and fireplace. Do not leave anything behind for animals to choke on. Above all, Have a great time out there and let others know of your adventures; pass on the knowledge and keep enjoying the outdoors. 62

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LOCATIONS

Review:

Anantara Desert Islands Resort, Sir Bani Yas Island

Words + Photos By: Rachael Bruford

royal retreat before establishing it as a wildlife reserve in 1977. Thanks to this initiative and I’m one of those people who love the work that is still carried out to this day, animals such as oryx, gazelle, and even githe outdoors and the plethora of raffes and cheetahs call the island home. activities that they provide, yet I’m The island also lends itself nicely to outalso becoming a bit of a wimp these door activities, with mangroves that ask to be days and although I do enjoy kayaked through and exciting salt domes and limestone mountains that beg to be explored camping, I also like the occasional by bike. For the more sedate, there are hotel break that allows me to wildlife drives and much easier biking routes shower and sleep in a comfortable around the outskirts of the island. With the tantalising combination of exciting bed when I’m not sliding down dunes AND a good night’s sleep and hot or exploring mountain ranges. I was activities shower in mind, we set off on the long jourtherefore looking forward to my stay ney via the E11 from Dubai. It was certainly an interesting drive once we had passed at Anantara’s Desert Island Resort, the familiar route to Abu Dhabi and entered at Sir Bani Yas Island, some nine unchartered territory. The road, which kilometres off the coast of the UAE. into is under construction and will be a proper highway once completed, was pretty scary The largest natural island in the UAE with only two lanes; the slow lane seemingly (although the resorts are built on reclaimed reserved for lorries and trucks whilst tailgaters land, partly in an attempt to protect the attempted to overtake us despite the fact delicate natural coastline from the elements), that there was no room in which to do so. We Sir Bani Yas was named after the Bedouin did however get a glimpse of the new railway tribe who once occupied the Emirate of line and the numerous oil refineries as we Abu Dhabi. When Sheikh Zayed became the made our way to Jebel Dhanna, where we president of the UAE in 1971, he used it as a were to board the ferry for a short 20 minute Cheetah on Sir Bani Yas Island ride to the island itself. The stress of the journey washed away as soon as we entered the ferry terminal at Jebel Dhanna, and we were conveniently able to check into the hotel from there, rather than waiting until we arrived on the island. Refreshments and cold towels were provided, and we relaxed before boarding the ferry at 4:00 p.m. Before much longer, we were on the island being transported to our accommodation at Desert Islands. Anantara are the only hotel chain on the island, and provide three different resorts. As well as Desert Islands, which is good for families, there are also beach villas at Al Yamm and a nature lover’s paradise at Al Sahel villas. We were greeted by friendly staff and a delicious juice before being shown our room. The room itself was clean and spacious, with plenty of tea and coffee facilities, Gazelle Arabian Oryx on the desert drive and of course the all-important free WiFi. We 64

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were slightly disappointed with our balcony, which offered sea views when standing but unfortunately felt very “closed in” when sitting down. After dinner, we returned to our room to get a good night’s sleep – the bed was incredibly comfortable – ready for a hectic day of activities ahead.

Day One Wadi Walk

We awoke to a rainy day, which actually made for perfect wadi walk conditions despite the threat of a storm. The dark clouds in the sky added an atmospheric feel and the different colours of the rocks in the wadi appeared brighter after rain the previous evening. Our guide, Laura, was very enthusiastic and Slate in the wadi

Exploring the wadi

Learning about geology on the wadi walk

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wildlife drive, again with Laura as our guide. The drive was comfortable and offered many photo opportunities, as well as a chance to learn more about the animals on the island and the conservation work that is carried out there. We saw three different types of oryx, including of course the familiar Arabian Oryx, and hundreds of gazelles. Perhaps the most impressive sight was that of two cheetahs who had recently had a feed, and were no doubt feeling lazy and full, reclining on a sand bank just a couple of metres away from our car. We also saw giraffes with their young and countless other animals. As the sun set, it was hard to believe that we were still in the UAE, as there was a very “African” feel to the landscape.

Day Two Time for a spot of archery

certainly knew her stuff, explaining the reasons for the different colours and describing how the wadi and its layers were formed. Hyenas used to live in the wadi, and evidence of their existence was seen in what used to be their dens – bones of their prey enjoyed long ago, some of which were still recognisable skeletons. We thoroughly enjoyed our walk and finding out more about how the island was formed.

Mountain Biking

Located close to the entrance of the wadi, our next activity was archery. After a quick recap of how to use the equipment, we started off with the targets that were closest, and therefore easiest to score on. There were three “levels” — each one getting progressively harder as the targets moved further away. By this time, the wind was increasing which made hitting the bull’s eye (and indeed the board) more and more difficult!

The weather was beginning to improve on our second and final day on the island, and thankfully it was not too windy to go mountain biking. Our guide, Rafik, was full of energy and enthusiasm as he kitted us out with our bikes, which were in great condition, and gave us water for the trip. We were told that the ride would be about 15-18km, depending on the conditions, and that we would have a pretty impressive view of the island from the mountains in the middle. We soon entered the park and found ourselves on a gravely, sandy track that was easy to ride on. Gazelles and oryx stared at us with curiosity as we made our way past them and began slowly climbing. The cool morning air and the endorphins from cycling had us all in a good mood, and we even managed to conquer a steep hill without getting off to walk! The view at the top was well worth the effort, and after exploring some more we had the fun task of going back down. By far, this was the most enjoyable activity of the trip!

Land Sailing

Kayaking

Archery

Unfortunately, this was cancelled due to the high winds that developed in the afternoon, much to my husband’s disappointment.

Wildlife Drive

We had originally intended to explore the island on horseback, taking in the wildlife as the sun set. However, we were informed that horse riding was run by a third party company, and came with a cost of 500 AED each. With this in mind, we opted instead for a

Wildlife drive

After breakfast, we checked out of our room, and the hotel very kindly arranged for our bags to be dropped at the jetty so that we could enjoy some kayaking through the mangroves before leaving the island. Having both kayaked before, we were really excited about getting on the water again. Both single Mountain biking on Sir Bani Yas Island

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A relaxing kayak was a great way to end our stay

and double kayaks were available, and we opted for the singles so that we could go to different paces. After putting on the safety equipment, we paddled for about 15 minutes through very shallow water before entering the mangroves. The stillness of the water and the overall environment allowed us to feel fully relaxed as we kayaked along slowly, taking in the nature that surrounded us. Although we did not see many fish, we did see several flamingos up close, their bright pink wings forming a contrast to the grey sky as they took flight when we got closer. We also saw ospreys nesting on our way back to the shore. After a short ride in the minibus, we were conveniently dropped off at the jetty, in time to get the 1pm ferry back to the mainland before driving back to Dubai.

The Verdict

The activities at Anantara’s resort on Sir Bani Yas Island would be ideal for families who want to encourage their children to get involved in the outdoors. The kayaking and mountain biking in particular would be a safe yet exciting introduction that the whole family could enjoy together. Those interested in geology would be fascinated to learn about the formation of the island, and of course nature lovers will be in their element. The resort at Anantara is a great place to relax and unwind whilst having the option to be more active if you feel like it. Whilst the activities on offer may not be adrenaline-fuelled enough for some, they are certainly great for families and couples who want something more than a beach staycation.

Words By: Guida Verschut Photos By: Pete Maloney

Now that the weather has cooled off, you may be planning to buy a new tent and go camping in the desert or the mountains of the Arabian Peninsula. Choosing the right tent means finding the right balance between space, weight and price. Here are some guidance and factors to consider before putting your money down on the counter. This article is limited to the smaller “man portable” tents that you may consider carrying and does not look at the larger family tents that do require a vehicle to move from your residence to the great outdoors.

There are a few downsides to this kind of tent though.They take up a lot of space, and folding them back the wrong way will result in a snapped tent pole. Strong wind also “dents” the tent as the construction cannot stand up against hard wind. You will generally get what you pay for and this is reflected in the number of pop tent carcasses that litter popular camping spots after their owners realise their durability and longevity limitations.

How Do You Travel?

If you are going to be carrying your tent in a backpack; pack size and weight become really important. Manufacturers often have a special range of travel tents – check this out before you start comparing specifications. To reduce weight, backpacking tents use space-efficient designs with steep sloped walls rising to the tent crown. While the

What is Your Budget?

Pop up tents are the best option if you have a small budget and have relatively low expectations from your tent. Remember that they were originally designed to meet the European summer “festival” market. They set up in a few seconds, and come in “single wall” and “double wall” constructions. A single wall is cheaper but encourages condensation (think waking up to a wet inside of the tent) - whereas condensation with a double wall tends to be a lot less (read: not so soggy mornings). 66

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weight savings are welcome, sloping walls reduce sit-up space and can make a tent’s interior feel cramped. Ultralight tents achieve their low weight primarily through the use of lightweight fabrics. To compensate for fabric savings, silicone or polyurethane (PU) are frequently used to improve the fabric’s waterproof qualities and strength. PU is a fractionally better waterproofing agent, while silicon improves the tear strength of lightweight fabrics. Make sure you check the floor space of the inner tent and that you are not compromising on length. The downside of silicon treated lightweight tents is that silicon is sensitive to heat. Store your fabric treated tent ventilated and out of the package - otherwise you could find your tent fabric getting sticky. Sticky tent fabrics are a sign of the silicon degrading, meaning that the tent fabric might not be as impermeable to water as before. Our experience with high end ultralight tents is that the degradation they experience locally makes them unsuitable for extended local use. As a rule of thumb, heavier tents tend to be stronger and will have a longer lifespan.

How Many People Will the Tent Fit?

No industry standard exists that defines per-person tent dimensions. So it’s possible, even likely, that brand X’s interpretation of a two-person tent may vary noticeably from brand Z’s. The only way to understand a tent’s characteristics is to study the dimensions and the living space it provides. Remember that if you are going to be living in the tent for an extended period, you will have different requirements to a tent that is just for sleeping in.

What is the Expected Weather?

If you want to camp locally or in a hot climate then look out for ventilation - two opposite doors will make the tent so much cooler. Look at the shape and orientation of your tent. If you’re camping with your

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partner or family, multiple doors help you avoid climbing over each other for a midnight bathroom break. A synthetic tent with little ventilation, will not only give you condensation problems in damp conditions – but will also get oppressively hot in summer – in fact too hot to sleep in. If pack space is not a problem then it would be more comfortable to take a slightly bigger tent as manufacturers base their floor space on narrow floor mats. Consider how high the floor and unventilated fabric is wrapped up the sides of the tent and how much ventilation mesh is provided in the inner tent. Whilst an outer tent will reduce the amount of sand that can potentially enter the inner tent; it is the unventilated inner tent material that will stop the sand from entering your sleeping bag. However, unventilated material stops any breeze with the potential of turning your tent into a sauna, albeit sand-free. A compromise is therefore required for optimised performance in this region with a relatively high unventilated skirt around the bottom of the inner tent and the rest of the inner made of ventilated material. Tents are designed to be erected either flysheet (outer) first, or inner first. Inner pitching first tents are ones where the poles support the inner tent without the flysheet. With this option, during warm weather, you can have improved ventilation over a tent that is outer pitching first; you can use the flysheet to cover half the tent in case too much wind and sand are coming in. Outer first tents are favoured in wet conditions on the grounds that the outer will keep the inner tent dry when it is being installed. Consider that a tent used in harsh weather conditions obviously needs the ability to stand up to driving wind and rain or snow.

Do you Understand Tent Fabrics and Coatings?

Flysheet fabrics come with a waterproof coating (commonly polyurethane) applied to their interiors. Tent manufacturers sometimes apply a coating to the exterior of a rainfly or occasionally coat both sides. Ultralight tents use low-denier fabrics in floors and flysheets to reduce weight. Silicon elastomer coated nylons are used

on many higher quality tents. According to Scotland Outdoors: “These are very water repellent, elastic and stable in all UV and temperature conditions, and are stronger, lighter and more robust than PU coated fabrics. The main drawback of silicon-coated nylon fabric is cost. Silicon is far pricier than PU and it takes longer to coat the fabric.” In comparison however, PU coatings can be susceptible to hydrolysis (chemical breakup) due to the weather and sun. This renders them non-waterproof over time, and so one of the arguments for buying a tent which is “more waterproof” is that it effectively remains waterproof for longer.

Do you Want a “Footprint”?

This is a custom-fitted ground cloth (usually sold separately) that goes under your tent floor. Tent floors can be tough - but rocks, twigs and dirt eventually take a toll. A footprint costs far less to replace than a tent. For family tents that get a lot of in/out foot traffic, this is especially useful. Also, footprints are sized to fit your tent shape exactly, so they won’t catch water like a generic ground cloth that sticks out beyond the floor edges. Water caught that way flows underneath your tent and can seep through the floor fabric.

Tent Poles

Most cheaper tents come with fibreglass

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tent poles. These poles are lightweight, flexible but can split/snap when put under too much pressure. Most backpacking tents seem to use aluminium poles due to their high strength-to-weight and durability. Aluminium is lighter and more durable than fibreglass. Tents with steel poles often come with a slightly higher cost, and will weigh more. These poles are generally used on large family tents to add extra stability and strength. Carbon fibre poles are the strongest but they are extremely expensive.

Have you Planned Storage?

Never store a tent tightly packed or damp; the resulting mildew could ruin it. When not used for a long time, it’s best to store a tent loosely, outside of its stuff sack.

The ideal Arabian Peninsula tent.

If there was to be perfect tent for the Arabian Peninsula that is suitable for year round use in the mountains and the desert it will probably have: • Inner first erecting • Aluminium poles • An inner tent with non-ventilating fabric going about a third of the way up the walls. The upper two thirds of the inner will be ventilating fabric • Doors at each end • A flysheet made of a robust UV resistant material such as polyester

Here are a List of Some Useful Accessories to Pick Up Along with your Tent:

• Long stake for use in sand deserts as normal tent pegs will not hold your tent down. • Hammer, you will need a hammer to drive pegs into rocky ground or hard packed gravel. • Rock pegs: Almost a must when camping out in rocky, barren terrain. These come with pointed, nail like extremities that can be hammered between rocks. Make sure you carry a rock peg hook or extractor to pull them out later! • Utility cord: Because you never know when you will need extra tying down. • Ground sheet or piece of tough plastic/tarpaulin.

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TIPS & TRICKS

Going Through a Phase Words By: Marcél Viljoen

It was December 2011 and Samuel was a worried man. He had lost his job, he had a son far away in a little rural town outside Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, and even his running career was not going as planned. As a strong runner he had featured well in some local races, including some podium finishes in marathon events. Boasting a personal best of 2h and 28min for a standard marathon, which is not too impressive in international terms, but in the thin air and over the hilly routes many of the Johannesburg events have, it’s often good enough to place well. His big dream though is to make it to the top echelons of ultra-distance events. Everyone knows that in South Africa, the real prestige lies in these very popular events. The Comrades Marathon in particular, which is a tough 90km route and the oldest and biggest ultra-marathon in the world, could reward the winning man with unimaginable prizes. The problem with young Samuel’s career was that he raced way too often and in doing so continually sacrificed his chances on the big race day of the Comrades Marathon. When he came knocking on my door for help that year, I was impressed by his quirky personality and his desire to further his his running career. Looking at his regular training and racing results from previous years, it was easy to see that he was racing too much, and together we picked some races for him that eliminated the risk of “too-much-too-soon”, experienced by so many elite as well as recreational runners. By focusing on fewer races not only was he able to race at a higher intensity with less pressure, more importantly, he recovered much better between long races. Apart from introducing some structured track training to his program, not much else was changed and his Phase

Objectives

Details

Adaptation (2-4 weeks)

Anatomical adaptation; mobility; flexibility; strength; general cardiovascular conditioning.

Getting some movement into the joints and just kick-starting the heart and lungs for what lies ahead.

Base phase (4-8 weeks)

Building cardiovascular fitness; enhanced bio motor abilities; management of fatigue; psychological adaptation to the training load.

A lot of slow and easy runs, focusing on good form and consistency but with low volume and intensity, but slowly increasing. This is an important time to start some strength training as well to safeguard against injuries and also to enhance performance.

Transition (4-8 weeks)

Upping the ante a bit in terms of training intensity – start training at higher heart rates Increase in energy system development including also leg speed, anaerobic training, and stretching the duration of the training sessions. strength increase, and increase in aerobic power. Increase in aerobic volume and aerobic power, increased anaerobic and threshold zones, strength maintenance, mental preparation, general training volume maintenance through appropriate rest phases, massage, stretch sessions, ice baths, etc.

Gearing towards the demands of the goal event in terms of race distance, race intensity, race profile and terrain as well as psychological demands. Training should be hard (a marathon is not child’s play!) and focus is on long runs, tempo/threshold training, strength maintenance, time trials and some short distance races to test fitness levels.

Race phase (1-4 weeks)

Taper and peaking for the target race(s) through reduction in volume but maintenance of intensity. Could be a few days to 2-3 weeks of tapering.

Allowing for the body to recover optimally from the high loads of training and to peak at the right time physically, physiologically and mentally!

Restoration (1-4 weeks)

Recovery from the race/season through active endeavours including rest days (not complete rest!), massage, easy running, cross training, stretching, etc.

Allowing for repair and restoration physically and emotionally in order to be ready for the next phase of conditioning. It’s equally important to arrive well rested but not compromising the levels of conditioning achieved through losing fitness by resting too much and regressing as the new macro cycle approaches.

Specific phase (4-8 weeks)

race times stayed around 2h and 28-2h and 30 for the marathon, but the biggest improvements came during his ultra events. Six weeks before the Comrades Marathon he ran a tempo 50km event and despite not racing it per se, he narrowly missed out on a top 10 finish in just under three hours. Not bad for a 50km training run! The major test came the first Sunday in June that year, when he lined up for the Comrades Marathon much fresher than ever before. The event that year was using the popular “Down” route which was a bone-crushing affair over some of the hilliest terrain in the province of KwaZulu Natal. Samuel’s patience and commitment was rewarded with a 6h and 04min finishing time. Not only did he finish in the top forty, in a field of 18,000 athletes, but he was rewarded with a personal best by nearly 30 minutes! With the cooler conditions this time of year for many runners in Dubai, the popular trend is to dust off those running shoes and to start preparing for a winter or spring marathon event. Most runners seek the refuge of indoor training facilities during the worst of summer, and some unabashedly just take time off! The risk of getting back to training though is getting into that too-much-toosoon mode. It’s tempting to hit the roads on these crisp clear mornings before the foundation has been set. Like Samuel you would do well to train smarter and not necessarily harder. This takes proper planning and should be the starting point at the outset and not cranking up the mileage. December is thus an awesome time to do some goal setting for a new year and it’s quite prudent for this to go hand in hand with some stock taking of your current situation. The term “periodisation” was popularised by Joe Friel, and since the 1970’s many elite athletes have been using this advanced planning technique to set the stage

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for micro and macro cycles of their training plan. Many Olympic track athletes and their coaches used to plan in four year cycles to use secondary races for shaping their training in order to peak primarily at the Olympic Games. Nowadays there are lucrative meetings every year although the big one is still that Olympic or World Champs medal! The concept of periodisation is a sensible way to make your training and preparation more fun and certainly more effective. The excitement of picking a new or familiar event, as your main focus for the year, gets the creative juices flowing and helps to establish some balance for the year. Getting ready for a marathon involves more than going online and signing up for a race. Sure it shows commitment and intent, but we are not even moving towards the starting blocks of the training plan yet! The typical phases of getting ready for a marathon involve an adaptation phase, base phase, transition, specific phase, race phase and restoration phase. Next month is the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. It’s local, sea-level and one of the fastest routes around. However, if you haven’t been doing the groundwork during the past few months, it’s unlikely that you will perform at your peak. As can be seen in the table below, depending on your levels of pre-training, it may take a good three to four months to get ready for an awesome marathon. So if you have been doing the hard work, then only a few more weeks of big

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miles will be left right now, and perhaps two or three more long runs. If you are like many others who have just hauled out the training shoes a few weeks ago, then another big goal might be a more clever choice. It could still be a good idea to do the Dubai Marathon next month as a solid long training run, but it would be best to select another big event in the coming months. It’s important to remember that a marathon and its preparation is a journey and an experience in itself. There is the planning; the early mornings; the healthy meals; sharing special times with other runners during and after training runs; sweating and suffering together as things go well and not so well; shorter races to test the progression; the care not to get sick; the mental prep to ensure your butterflies are behaving in the weeks just before the race; finding and sticking to the correct shoes; testing and using the correct race day energy products; and finally the preparation for your trip and ensuring nothing of importance gets left behind. The journey to the start line could be as big and daunting as the race itself. But getting started as the shot is fired is the culmination of the hard work and just the cherry on top! So start getting those creative juices flowing, ensure you pick the right race for the right reason, rope in some training partners to share the journey if not the big day in itself, gird up your mind to commit to the process and get ready to make some memories in the year that lies ahead!

Marcel Viljoen is a 2h and 39min marathon runner and online running coach. You can get in touch with him at marcel@fitnessfromafrica.co.za

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Camping Fitness Words By: Nicky Holland Photos By: Jung Francisco

Making the most of the weather here in the UAE is a must during the so called “winter months”. As is gets cooler, it makes exercising outside more bearable. This article will give you exercises which can prepare you physically and condition the body for when you go camping. Carrying heavy loads requires a basic level of strength and muscular endurance, which can be improved by following these exercises.

1) Box Step Ups - with a Core Bag or Barbell

This is great for building cardiovascular fitness and individual leg strength. Stand behind the box with your feet shoulder width apart. Imagine you are walking up a giant staircase by stepping one leg onto the top of the box followed by the other. Push your weight through your front heel and control your balance. When on top of the box, step backwards one leg at a time and repeat this movement continuously. The more intense option is to use a core bag or barbell as resistance. This rests on the meaty part of the back, across the shoulders. Do this in sets of 3-5 for 30-45 seconds or 10-20 reps.

4) Clean and Press - with Core Bag or Barbell

3) Core Mountain Climbers - on the ground or using a TRX

Place both hands directly under shoulders with arms straight. Lift your knees off the ground holding your body in a straight arm plank position. It’s really important to keep your bum down and back straight; brace your abdominals tight. If using a TRX, place both feet into the straps. Working your core, bring both knees together towards the elbows whilst contracting abdominals. For best results, perform this exercise as quick as you can. You will feel it in the stomach and it will burn lots of calories whilst tightening and toning your waistline. 3-5 sets for 30-45 seconds of 10-20 reps.

Stand with feet shoulder width apart and hold the bar overhand grip at waist height. With a slight bend in the knee, explosively pull the bar up, keeping it close to your body. As it gets to chest height, quickly bend the knees and drop under to catch the bar. From here, drive the bar into an overhead shoulder press then bring the bar back down to shoulder height with a slight bend in the knees and return to a standing position as the bar comes back to waist height. The key to this move is to be explosive and to bend the knees and keep the bar in close. This will work your back and shoulders. Do this in 3-5 sets for 20-30 seconds or 5-10 reps with a 10-20kg barbell. For all these exercises, technique is key. Focus on keeping the movement controlled and feel the muscles working in each repetition, by doing this you will “switch on” your muscle fibres through muscle activation. Try to complete these exercises two or three times a week and look to add progression as the exercises get easier by a) increasing the amount of reps and sets b) increasing the resistance and c) decreasing the rest period and recovery between each one.

Here’s to a fitter and stronger you. Have a great time camping

2) Incline Treadmill Power Walk - with Dumbbells

Walking on the treadmill is option one. Option two is setting the gradient to an incline which makes it more challenging. There is also option three which involves holding a dumbbell in each hand for added resistance. Simply walk on the treadmill at a steady pace. You will find that your heart rate will increase and you may get out of breath. This is a good exercise that works the legs, particularly the calves and is a great calorie burner. Do this for 10-15mins at 5-10% gradient with 5kg dumbbells.

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Nicky Holland Fitness Manager Fitness First Beach Park Plaza

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DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

UAE DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, +971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai: +971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42839392 Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595; Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240 InterSport, Dubai Times Square Centre: +971 43418214 and Dubai Festival City: +971 42066581, www.intersport.ae Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street, Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 26262332, www.peiniger.org Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping centres, +971 43504444, www.sunandsandsports.com

Adventure tours and desert safaris

Alpha Tours, Off #512, 5th Flr., Al Qwais Bldg., Al Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai, +971 42949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers, Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566, www.dadabhaitravel.ae Desert Rangers, P.O. Box 33501, Dubai UAE, +971 4 4569944 or 50 7035111 www.desertrangers.com Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr., Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., +971 4 4329392 or 4 4329393, www.dreamdays.ae Dream Explorer LLC, Shop no # 9, Plot # 312-504, Al Musalla Building , Mina Bazar, Bur Dubai, +971 43544481, www.dreamexplorerdubai.com Dubai Relax Travel, National Towers: Churchill Tower Suite #614, Business Bay, Dubai, +971 44221776, www.dubairelaxtours.com Element Fitness, Dubai, +971 44227352, www.element-fitness.net Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai, +971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae Gulf for Good, Dubai, +971 43680222, www.gulf4good.org Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre +971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com MMI Travel LLC, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata Travel Centre, Shk Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 4 4045999, www.theemiratesgroup.com Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, +971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889, www.opdubai.com Rahhalah, Dubai, +971 44472166, www.rahhalah.com Wild Guanabana, Dubai, +971 44422946, www.wildguanabana.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, & Adventure Club, +971504920860, mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com

Air

Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai, +971 42854949, www.ballooning.ae Dubai Paragliders, www.microaviation.org, +971 552120155 or +971 552250193 Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72446416 or +971 555531318, www.jac-uae.net Seawings, Dubai, www.seawings.ae Sky Dive Dubai, Dubai, +971 501533222, www.skydivedubai.ae

Boating & Sailing

Manufacturer Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam, +971 72682333/+971 504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443, www.alshaalimarine.com Alyousuf Industrial, LLC, +971 43474111, www.aym.ae, yamboats@alyousuf.com Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1 office # 3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE,

+971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com Gulf Craft, Ajman, +971 67406060, www.gulfcraftinc.com Distributors and Dealers Art Marine LLC, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Sheikh Zayed Road, 3rd Interchange +971 43388955, www.artmarine.ae / www.artmarinechandley.com Azure Marine Dubai, +971 4 3706886, www.azuremarine.net Luxury Sea Boats, Dubai, +971 4 3284629, www.luxuryseaboats.com Macky Marine LLC, Dubai, +971 505518317, www.mackymarine.com Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 553419494 or 50 3419494, www.nautilusyachts.com The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae UAE Boats 4 Sale, Dubai Marina, +971 44471501, www.uaeboats4sale.com Western Marine, Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 43039744 Equipment Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Deira, Dubai, +971 42263220 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 / +971 553899995, info@bluewatersmarine.com, www.bluewatersmarine.com Extreme Marine, Dubai, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Japan Marine / D1 Marine, WS # 110, Dubai Maritime City, +971 4 4426395 or 55 1666035, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, www.rinehemiratesme.com Repairs and Maintenance Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1, Al Quoz, +971 43391512, info@rinehemiratesme.com, www.rinehemirates.com SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 501405058, info@snsmarine.ae, www.snsmarine.ae The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae Cruise Operators Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665491, www.marinaalbateenresort.com Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba, Musandam, +968 26836550, +971 65441232 Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite the British Embassy, +971 43994994 Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina, +971 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 504586171, www.edenyachting.com Emirates Yachting, Dubai, +971 42826683 El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406, www.elmundodubai.com Four Star Travel and Tourism, Dubai, +971 42737779, www.fourstartravels.net 4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971 558961276, +971 503960202, www.happydaysdubai.com JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225, Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43437734, www.jpsyachts.com Khasab Divers, Oman, +971 567255889, khasab.diver2@gmail.com Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours, PO Box 411, Khasab, Musandam, +968 93350703, info@tourkhasab.com Khour Shem Tourism, Oman, +968 26731919, www.khourshemtours.com LY Catamaran, Dubai, +971 505869746, +971 566506683, www.lycatamaran.com Marine Concept, Dubai, +971 559603030,

Pavilion Marina, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800 The Pearl–Qatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar, +974 4965801, www.ronauticame.com Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club, Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644, www.uaqmarineclub.com Dragon Boat Groups Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating, Dubai, +971 508795645 (Michael), www.dubaidawnpatrol.org Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175 (Nick Hando), www.dubai-diggers.com UAE Dragon Boat Association, +971 507634008, www.dubaidragonboat.com

Camping & Hiking

www.marine-charter-concept.com Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600, www.noukhada.ae RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton Marina, +971 504912696, +971 72066410 Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011 Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Smoke Dragon Of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi International Marine & Sports Club, +971 507011958 / +971 504546617 Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +971 42573084 The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111, www.the-club.com The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk – opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel Marina, +8008044, www.theyellowboats.com Marinas Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater, +971 26815566, www.adimsc.com Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300 Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam +971 72682333 or 504873185, www.aljeerport.ae Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman, +968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +971 42394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai, +971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com Dubai International Marine Sports Club, Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai, +971 43627900, www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina, Dubai, +971 43455545 Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai, +971 43941669, www.dosc.ae Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi, +971 43388955 Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar, +974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com Fujairah International Marine Club, Fujairah, +971 92221166, www.fimc.ae Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina, Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555/5029, www.jebelali-international.com Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar, +974 55843282, www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman, +968 24737286 (ext 215), www.marinaoman.net

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

Caving

Mountain High Middle East, Dubai, +971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +968 24543002, www.holiday-in-oman.com Oman World Tourism, Oman, +968 99431333, www.omanworldtourism.com

Climbing

Equipment Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com

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

Diving

Jack Wolfskin Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi +971 24437802 Services Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, +971 43065061, www.climbingdubai.com E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 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, products@allbikers.net Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415, www.cyclesportsuae.com Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor, C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455838, www.funridesports.com Micah’s Bike Shop, Warehouse no.4 6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228 Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Dubai, +971 43413056 / +971 43308023 Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1, +971 43255705, www.probike.ae Rage Shop, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Al Wahda Mall, +971 43369007, www.rage-shop.com Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441, www.rcdxb.com Ride Bike Shop, Dubai Mall, Festival City, Mirdif City Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43750231, www.ridebikeshop.com Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, + 971 43388644 Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525, www.tamreensports.com The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai, +971 505528872, www.thecyclehub.com Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377, www.trekbikes.ae Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 45081202, +971 556096757, www.trikkeme.net Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, +971 506259165, www.adventure.ae, info@adventure.ae Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com

OUTDOORUAE

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, Dubai www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Blue Waters Marine, +971 42232189, Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi, +971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi, Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +971 26665226, www.premiers-uae.com Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai, +97143414940, info@scubadubai.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Diving Centres Al Boom Diving (equipment), Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993, www.alboomdiving.com Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam, +971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St across from main bus terminal, +971 26437377, info@divemahara.com, www.divemahara.com Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72226628, +971 502428128 www.arabiandiver.com Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Coastal Technical Divers, glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com, www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City, Dubai, +971 44308246, www.diveindubai. com Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015400, www.divemahara.com Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, +971 92370299, www.diversdown-uae.com Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi, near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444, www.edc-ad.ae Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam, +968 26735555, www.extradivers.info Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com, www.freedivinguae.com Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba, Royal Beach Hotel, +971 43944275, www.freestyledivers.com Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah, +971 92449888, www.rotana.com Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation Club, Oman, +968 99317518, www.global-scuba.com Khasab Divers, Oman, www.khasabdiver.com Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000, www.lemeridien-alaqah.com Moonlight Dive Center, Madinat Qaboos, Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman, +971 503289642, www.holiday-in-oman.com Neptune Diving, +971 504347902, www.neptunedivingcentre.com Nomad Ocean Adventures, www.discovernomad.com, +971 508853238, Dibba, Oman Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman, +968 24284240, www.omadivecenter.com Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai, +971 44068828 Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488, www.scubaoman.com Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922, www.scubauae.com 7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan, +971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971 50784 0830, www.bsac406.com Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 / +971 553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798, contactus@challengingadventure.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com Operators Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900, www.adventure.ae Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993 Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72434540, www.alhamramarina.com Al Mahara Dive Center, Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125, www.divemahara.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +974 4 2394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi, +971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com Al Wasl Charter & Fishing (Al Wasl Passenger Yachts and Boats Rental LLC),

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

General Sports Equipment Distributors

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha 800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai +971 43467751, www.800sport.ae Flip Flop Arabia, flipme@flipfloparabia.com, www.flipfloparabia.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Goal Zero, +971 509128353, www.goalzero.ae Highbury Trading, Dubai, UAE, www.highburytrading.ae Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai, +971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi, +971 44437802 Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com PORTABLE SHADE UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.portable-shade.net

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Sakeen General Trading, +971 47094224, www.sakeen.ae Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002, info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae Tresspass, The Dubai Mall 2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801

Horse Riding

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

www.rahalranch.com Riding for the Disabled, Dubai, lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae, Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road, +971 65311188, www.serc.ae Racecourses Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +971 25629050, www.grpc.ae Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road) beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, +971 43474914 Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 43270000, www.meydan.ae Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae

Jet Ski Dealers

Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai, +971 559299111 / +971 42828255, uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com

Motocross & ATV’s

Dealers Al Badayer Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 507842020, www.albadayerrental.com Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor, +971 43200009, sales@alshaalimoto.com. www.alshaalimoto.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Golden Desert Motorcycles Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 551532550, www.goldendesert-dubai.com Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai, UAE, +971 509192394, www.JustGasIt.net KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +971 4323151, www.ktm.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE (atv’s), Ras Al Khor, Nad al Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai, +971 42896100, M4, Sector 13, 10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 25555144, www.polarisuae.com Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai, +971 48321050, www. wildx.ae Equipment Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental), Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43470270, www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com 2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai, +971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial Area, +971 42852200, www. wildx.ae Workshops and Services Moto-X and Quad, PO Box 476214, Dubai, UAE, +971 50 6169727, www.gasgasmotos.me

Motorcycling

Distributors and Dealers Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, www.aym.ae/yamaha Ducati, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +971 25535771, info2@ducati.ae, www.ducati.ae Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667, hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae, www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange4, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 42822144, www.libertykawasaki.com Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex, Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor, +971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com Tristar Motorcycles, +971 43330659, www.tristaruae.com Workshops and Services Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +971 43678700 www.dubaiautodrome.com Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain, +971 67681717 2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai, +971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Off-Road

Dealers Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 / +971 505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com 4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai, +971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789, www.libertyautos.com Repairs and Services AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 285 8989, www.aaadubai.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.com Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz, +971 43392449, www.offroad-zone.com Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939 www.salukimotorsport.com Equipment Advanced Expedition Vehicles, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152, www.aev.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 / +971 505548255, info@blingmytruck.com, www.blingmytruck.com Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 567231967, www.heartlanduae.com Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744, www.icon-auto.com Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.com Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 48321050, www.wildx.ae Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times Square Center, Dubai, +971 42898060, www.yellowhat.ae Tour Operators Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43034888, www.arabian-adventures.com Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza – 503, Dubai, +971 42959429, www.arabiantours.com Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 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

+971 43791998, www.surfshoparabia.com Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997, www.surfschoolarabia.com UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383, www.ad-kitesurfing.net Distributors Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store, International City, Dubai, +971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735, www.kitesurfsup.com Operators Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Kite Surf School, Dubai, Umm Suqeim Beach, +971 504965107, www.dubaikitesurfschool.com Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi, +971 508703427, www.ducomaritime.com Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440, www.kitesurf.ae Kite4fun.net, Abu Dhabi, +971 508133134, www.kite4fun.net Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi, +971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim Dubai, +971 507689226, astrid@shamalkitesurfing. com, www.shmalkitesurfing.com Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005, www.watersportsdubai.com

Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Ikönic Brands, Suite 509 Düsseldorf Business Point Al Barsha Dubai, UAE +971 506874178, info@ikonicbrands.com Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3 +971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae Pearl Water Crafts, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, +971 553749398, www.pearl-watercrafts.com Picnico, Jumeirah Beach Road Opposite Sunset Mall, Dubai, +971 43941653 Surf Dubai, Dubai, Umm Suqeim, +971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,

OUTDOORUAE

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,+971 556010997, www.surfschooluae.com Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771, www.watercooleddubai.com Water Cooled, Watercooled Sports Services LLC, Hilton Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 26395997, www.watercooleduae.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle, www.abudhabisup.com UAE SUP www.uaesup.com

Water Parks

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

NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441, www.omantrekkingguides.com

Diving

OMAN DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873, www.bikeandhikeoman.com Dolphin Qasab Tours, PO Box: 123, P.C. 811, Khasab City, Musandam, Oman, +968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com Go Dive Oman, Capital Area Yacht Club (CAYC), Sidab Muscat, +968 99289200, www.godiveoman.com Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code 100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240, www.nomadtours.com Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917,

QATAR DIRECTORY Adventure tours and desert safaris

Al Mulla Travels, PO Box: 4147, Doha, Qatar, +974 44413488, almullatrvls@qatar.net.qa Alpha Tours, PO Box: 13530, Doha, Qatar, +974 4837815, info@alphatoursqatar.com Al QAYED Travel & Tours, PO Box: 158, Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244, www.alqayedtravel.com Arabian Adventures, PO Box: 4476, Doha, Qatar, +974 44361461, www.arabianadventureqatar.net Black Pearls Tourism Services, PO Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar East Marine, West Bay, Doha, Qatar, +974 55200078 E2E Qatar Travel and Tours, PO Box: 23563, Doha, Qatar, +974 44502521, www.e2eqatar.com Falcon Travels, PO Box: 22031, Doha, Qatar, +974 44354777, www.falcontravelqatar.com Gulf Adventures, 29, PO Box: 18180 Qatar, +974 44221888, www.gulf-adventures.com Net Tours Qatar, PO Box: 23080, Doha, Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa Regency Travel & Tours, +974 4434 4503/4718, www.regencyholidays.com Qatar Adventure, PO Box: 13915, Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561, www.qataradventure.com Qatar Desert Gate, Doha, PO Box: 18496 Ad Dawha, Qatar, +974 55594016, www.qatardesertgate.com Qatar Inbound Tours, PO Box: 21153, +974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com Qatar International Tours, PO Box: 55733 Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141, www.qittour.com Qatar Ventures, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679, www.qatar-ventures.com

Qatar Chain Reaction, www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207 / +974 77776634, www.facebook.com/ QatarSandstormers Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/ groups/587539064642288/ Doha Bay Running Club, www.dohabayrunningclub.com TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com

General Sports Equipment Megastores

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

Boating & Sailing

Equipment Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach +974 55503484 www.regattasailingacademy.com Distributors and Dealers Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum Road, PO Box: 9145 Doha, Qatar, +974 44410109, www.speedmarinegroup.com

Horse Riding

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

Diving

Clubs

Cycling, Running & Triathlon Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach +974 44439840/+974 55649995 www.qmsf.com

Equipment Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba, Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550, www.almarsamusandam.com Al Sawadi Beach Resort, PO Box: 747, Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545, www.alsawadibeach.info Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.com Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar Al Rhowda, PO Box: 940, Muscat, Oman, +968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box: 498, PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman, +968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346, www.global-scuba.com Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65, Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman, +968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com

OUTDOORUAE

Equipment/Centres Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street (near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar, +974 44435626 Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club,

DECEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai, +971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com

Other leisure activities

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, + 971 25588990, www.adgolfclub.com Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah, +971 67431122 / +971 44370505, www.tamimistables.com Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 556101841, www.blokartme.com Children’s City, Creek Park Gate No.1, Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai, +971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate No. 1, +971 43369773, www.dubaidolphinarium.ae iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42316292, www.iflyme.com Sadiyaat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, +971 25578000, www.sbgolfclub.ae Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah, +971 43999005, www.golfandshootingshj.com SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of The Emirates,

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

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

+971 44094000, www.skidxb.com Spacewalk Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, +971 24463653, www.spacewalk.ae

Health, Safety & Training

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

Camping & Hiking

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

Fishing & Kayaking

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

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

Boating & Sailing

PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar, +974 66304061, www.dohasubaquaclub.com Extreme Adventure, PO Box: 33002, Shop 3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha, Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall, Qatar: +974 44517574, www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar Pearl Divers, PO Box: 2489, Doha, Qatar, +974 44449553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, PO Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar, +974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com Q Dive, Souq Al Najada cnr of Grand Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Str.; Al-Odeid Aisle numbers 129-132, +974 55319507, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, PO Box: 6944, Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989, www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com Pearl Divers, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, Doha, Qatar, +974 4444 9553, www.pearl-divers.org Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2, PO Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar, +974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 44313331, www.qatardivers.com Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center West Bay, PO Box: 16657, Doha, +974 553199507, www.qatarmarine.net Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar, +974 66662277 / +974 44422234, www.qatarscubacenter.com Qdive Marine Center, PO Box: 16657, Doha, Qatar, +974 44375065, www.qdive.net World Marine Centre, Old Salata Street, near the Qatar National Museum, Doha, Qatar, +974 55508177

+974 66724828 Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment, PO Box: 6449,Old Salata, Doha, Qatar, +974 44444238, almamzoore@qatar.net.qa Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4 Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa Fish World, PO Box: 1975, Doha, Qatar, +974 44340754 State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234, www.stateofqatar.com Operators Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895, www.paddleqatar.com Entalek, +974 3023 3207, www.entalek.org

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq,

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

Motocross & ATV’s Dealers

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

Stand Up Paddeling, Kite & Surfing, Wakeboarding

Equipment, Operators Fly-N-Ride, Ras abu Aboud, Doha, +974 33117089, www.fly-n-ride.com Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha, +974 55041039, www.flokiteschool.com Kitesurfing Qatar, +97430179108, www.kitesurfingqatar.com QSUP, Qanat Quartier, Costa Malaz, The Pearl-Qc, Doha, Qatar, +974 66602830, www.qsup.me

Cycling (Road & Off Road)

Bike Servicing, Equipment Carbon Wheels Bike Shop, Al Maha Center 10, Salwa Road, Doha, +974 44419048, www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq, Shop C.06, +974 6600 9116, www.flashbikeshop.com Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha, +974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, +974 44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456 9143; Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827, www.galaxysportqatar.com; Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha, +974 40165155 / 40165156

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