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Welcome to Sport & Fitness Middle East

he Middle East has fast become the epicentre of world sport – from the Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi to the WTA’s prestigious Sony Ericsson Championships in Qatar and golf’s Race to Dubai culminating in the Dubai World Championship, the focus on the region’s sporting activity has never been stronger. Sport & Fitness Middle East in association with Fitness First has been formulated to bring you the latest sporting news from around the region as well as exclusive features with the hottest names in world sport plus all the latest fitness, health and nutritional tips and advice. Whether you’re serious about getting in shape for a variety of sporting challenges or simply looking to improve your all-round health and fitness, we’re confident that Sport & Fitness Middle East will help you along the way. One of our other titles, Worldwide Golf, has long been the Middle East’s No.1 monthly golf magazine and we’ve been waiting for the right time and opportunity to launch Sport & Fitness Middle East. Over the past 11 years we’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the sports industry and we pride ourselves on bringing our readers pages that have been specifically tailored for them, rather than being syndicated from generic international publications. For a team of sports ‘nuts’ to be able to interview their sporting heroes in the making of those pages is something we’ve been champing at the bit to do for a while and the moment the publication got the green light the interview fight was on! So it should come as no surprise to see Maria Sharapova as the cover star of this launch issue – our Features Editor Richard Bevan was on the phone to her management company before our first production meeting was over! With Qatar being the stage for two wheels in the next couple of months it was fitting to interview road cycling sprint ace and winner of four stages of the 2008 Tour de France, Mark Cavendish, and defending Qatar MotoGP champion Casey Stoner. Both fast, both fun and both highly competitive! We will also preview and review some of the larger events in the region, which will be a tough job. But, hey, someone’s got to do it! Our detailed fitness and health section with the support of Fitness First and some of the world’s most recognised nutrition gurus will give you all the information you need to sculpt that physique you’ve always dreamed of, beat your 10k record or just lose those unwanted Christmas pounds. We hope you have as much fun in reading the magazine as we’ve had in creating it. Alex Gallemore Editor

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Because I don’t have time for ordinary After a 60-hour week, luxury’s a necessity. I want the best and I want it to feel great. So don’t give me a sales spiel. Don’t give me ordinary. Give me quality kit and let me get out there.

SHARAPOVA BITES BACK TENNIS sensation Maria Sharapova talks exclusively to Richard Bevan about her extraordinary journey to the top of the women’s game and her determination to get back there following a frustrating section of the 2008 season on the sidelines.

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Cover story 12

Maria Sharapova Exclusive Our exclusive chat with the Golden Girl of tennis, who talks about the sacrifices she made to get to the top and the injuries that derailed her last season.

Features 30

Team Columbia – Highroad Exclusive interview with billionaire Team Owner and his powerhouse sprinter Mark Cavendish.

Casey Stoner MotoGP ace on his chances of defending his title and making it three in a row in Qatar.

Charley Boorman The actor turned biker talks to us about his friendship with Ewan McGregor and his love of adventuring on two wheels.

Events & Previews 21

Dubai Marathon Haile Gebrselassie poured on the speed as the heavens opened in Dubai.

Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships Get ready for a feast of tennis as the stars of the men’s and women’s game descend upon Dubai.

Rugby World Cup Sevens With South Africa in red hot form, they’ll be the team to beat in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.

Qatar MotoGP Preview of one of the most exciting races of the MotoGP season. Rossi, Stoner and company will be battling it out under the lights once more.

Sport & Fitness Middle East Partners

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Nutrition Training Tips Equipment News / Calendar Events Event Previews Adventure Features

SQUATS This exercise’s main emphasis is on the quadriceps and the glutes, but it also involves the hamstrings, the calves, and the lower back. The squat is often called “the king of exercises” by those who believe it capable of inducing more and faster muscle growth than any other exercise.

Building Explosive Power EXPLOSIVE power is the combination of strength, speed, and agility, that allows for short concentrated bursts of maximum power. For an athlete, these bursts can make or break a game. Incorporating exercises that focus on harnessing the speed and power of fast twitch muscles can lead to dramatic increases in how fast, strong, and lean you are. With the proper training your explosive strength will improve your speed and even maximum strength. The following program is designed to improve your strength in key lifts, as your strength increases your potential power increases. Use this program for four weeks to kick start your strength levels and notice the difference on the field.

EQUIPMENT BAR-BELL The best way to increase power, introduce stability and perform perfect squats.

WORKOUT A SQUATS Week 1 - 5 sets of 8 rep

Week 2 - 5 sets of 7 reps

Week 3 - 5 sets of 6

Week 4 - 5 sets of 5

PUSH PRESS

3 sets 8 reps

5 sets of 8 reps

CHIN UPS

5 sets 8 reps

BACK LUNGE

3 sets 8 reps

the knees almost as if you are going to sit into a chair. When your legs reach a 45 degree angle hold for a second and begin to stand back into the starting position.

TECHNIQUE The correct positioning for a squat is to place your feet about shoulder width apart, or place them a little further apart for better leverage. When doing squats, your knees should never extend over your toes, or be too far back, and your back should be tight at a 45 degree angle. If your lower back starts to round, you’ll notice your hips starting to tuck forward underneath your body, that is as low as you go.

PERFORMANCE For optimised results you should be increasing your weight each week and reducing the number of repititions each week.

If your heals tend to come off the ground it is mostly due to faulty technique and lack of flexibility in the ankle. You can help correct this by placing two 10lbs plates under your heals before squatting, this will help you in your technique.

WORKOUT B INCLINE BENCH PRESS

IMPORTANT Make sure you stretch before every exercise and perform one warm up set with a light weight to prepare for the exercise ahead.

Face forward with your eyes focused directly in front of you, slowly lowering and bending at

FACTS: Better posture When you squat with proper technique your back, hips, core and legs are strengthened. This will help you with your posture and prevent lower back injuries. Increases leg strength and flexibility Leg strength and flexibility helps you not only at the gym but for everyday activities and sports. Knee Strength - By doing the squat with proper technique, especially lowering your hips below parallel, your knees will become stronger.

After each workout drop the reps by one but increase the weight used.

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FITNESS GUIDE 46

Build Explosive Power Rugby is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. With guys topping 200lbs and able to run the 100 meters under 11 seconds in their boots. In this issue the team at Fitness First has detailed some of the key exercises used by the rugby stars to help you develop your all round power. But are you ready for the hit?

Nutrition 52

All you need to know about protein Zeff Eisenberg, former bodybuilder and founder of Europe’s largest sport nutrition company explains the benefits of protein and how it should be used to achieve your sporting and physical ambitions.

Ultimate Shakes & Smoothies Try out some of our high protein shake recipes. Whether you want to trim off some extra pounds or you’re looking to bulk up, we’ve got some mouth watering ideas.

Natural Cholesterol Busters What is cholesterol and how can you prevent it from building up? We explain things and give you some natural food ideas to help keep things in check.

Regulars 8

Sports News A concise look at recent sporting events from around the globe.

Sports Calendar A look ahead at what’s happening each month on the international and local sports scene.

Gear Whether it’s clocking the miles in the gym or out on the road, do it in style. Check out the latest gear and equipment.

Street style After a long session in the gym it’s essential to look good while out and about.

Did you know? Michael Sanster, who played in the 1960s, had tennis’ fastest serve, once clocked at 154 mph.

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Date: February 1 - 6

UCI TOUR OF QATAR BELIGIUM’S Tom Boonen and his Quick Step team will be once again among the favourites when they arrive in the region for the UCI’s coveted Tour of Qatar. But they’re sure to be under pressure from 2008 UC1 Team of The Year, Team Columbia – Highroad, featuring the U.K’s Mark Cavendish, who led four stages of last year’s Tour de France. See page 30 for our exclusive interviews with Mark and Team Columbia – Highroad’s Team Owner and General Manager Bob Stapleton.

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NEWS

Gebrselassie, Fitness first and adidas team up to share running insights

Haile Gebrselassie and Gary Knill, Fitness First Middle East CEO pictured at Fitness First’s ‘Platinum’ club in Dubai Media City.

HAILE Gebrselassie, marathon world record holder, and the leading long distance runner in history spent time with Fitness First members and the winners of an exclusive adidas promotion during a ‘running insight workshop’ held at Fitness First’s ‘Platinum’ health club in Dubai Media City in late January. During an intimate discussion with fellow runners, Haile relaxed and talked at length about his preparations as the main competitor for this year’s Dubai Marathon. “One of the most important parts of training is not going for the long runs but it is the psychological side of the training,” said Gabrselassie. “Sometimes when you are lying in bed and your body is telling you to stay there and not to go and run in the rain you have to be strong and tell yourself to get up and to start, you just have to make the choice to start, then the running becomes easy.” Fitness First thanked Gabrselassie with a Dhs10,000 donation to his personal foundation that helps to fight poverty and protect children in Ethiopia. Gary Knill, Fitness First Middle East CEO said: “Fitness First is proud to host such a world class athlete, and offer a chance to our members and friends to interact with somebody who has dominated the world stage for so long. For us to work together with Haile on our ‘YES! we care’ campaign to help the children we have sponsored in Sierra Leone is a testament to Haile as a person as well as an athlete.” Gabrselassie’s response to the Fitness First facilities was: “Wow, this is a fantastic place with excellent training facilities.” Fitness First regularly hosts world class athletes at its clubs such as the worlds top rugby sevens players in November and Haile Gebrselassie just a few days before he attempted to break his 27th marathon world record. Fitness First has 14 clubs across the Middle East and is dedicated to helping the community reach for a healthier lifestyle at the same time as helping those less fortunate than ourselves. The ‘Yes! we care’ campaign is focused on helping the local community through working closely with and sponsoring local athletes and special needs children. Internationally Fitness First supports the ‘All as One’ Charity by adopting 14 children for five years, raising awareness and funds for them, and eventually building a school in Sierra Leone later this year. The Dubai Marathon is one such event where Fitness First is dedicating all proceeds to the children from ‘All as One’.

HISTORIC DAKAR TRIUMPH FOR DE VILLIERS

GINIEL de Villiers made history by becoming the first South African to win the Dakar Rally. The race to took part in Chile and Argentina this year and, having started the 15th and final stage with a two-minute lead, de Villiers eventually came in nineminutes ahead of team-mate Mark Miller. Robby Gordon, a star of America’s Nascar, finished third. De Villiers was driving for Volkswagen in a Touareg, meaning Mitsubushi were knocked off the top spot for the first time since 2001. “It’s just incredible,”said de Villiers. “I never felt this way... I was so nervous in the last kilometers. I kept looking at how many kilometers we still had to go. But I must say this is an incredible feeling. I am so thrilled for the whole team, for Volkswagen that supported us for five years before we could get to this victory.”

CASEY REIGNS IN ABU DHABI PAUL Casey won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship for the second time in his career despite some nervy putting over the closing holes. The recently married Englishman’s last European Tour title came at the same event two years ago and he took home the Falcon Trophy again after final round 70 left him one stroke clear of South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Germany’s Martin Kaymer on 21-under 267. “That was a bit of a nervous one,” said Casey, who moved up to 21st in the world rankings and into the top 10 in The Race to Dubai. “I started off great, but it was tricky coming in. The greens were exceptionally difficult to read and there were a couple of camera clicks, which put me off. It feels very satisfying to get my hands on the trophy again.”

KAKA TO STAY AT MILAN BRAZILIAN superstar Kaka sensationally turned down a reported bid of £107 million and wages of £500,000 per week to move to the English Premier League’s Manchester City in favour of staying with current club AC Milan of Italy’s Serie A. The Manchester Club, owned by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, were confident of securing the signature of the former FIFA World Player of the Year, but Kaka put an end to a week of speculation by declaring his intention to stay in Italy. The decision came after hundreds of Milan fans had gathered outside his apartment in the Italian capital chanting his name and urging him to stay. “I believe I have made the right choice,” said Kaka. “To have gone to Manchester City could have been a great project but in the past few days I have prayed a lot to understand what the right team would be and in the end I have decided to remain here. “I don’t want anything else, I just want to be well and be happy in the place where people love me. “From this story I have understood how people love me at Milan, the fans and my team-mates have helped me make this choice.” www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page9

February

February 24-25

Champions League 1st Knockout Stage

The dead wood has been jettisoned and this is when the Champions League really starts getting interesting. With all the big teams still in this year’s competition the knockout stages are sure to captivate millions of football fans around world as the sport’s biggest stars battle it out on the Road to Rome.

February 7-8

RBS Six Nations 1st round matches, 2nd round Feb 14-15, 3rd round Feb 27-28

It’s Six Nations time again. The first round matches kick off on February 7 and 8. On the seventh England take on Italy at Twickenham, while Ireland are up against France at Croke Park. The following day defending champions Wales will travel to Murrayfield to begin their defence against Scotland.

best of the rest Feb 12-21 & Feb 23-28 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships The hottest sporting tickets of the month for anyone who lives in the region are definitely the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. The queens of the women’s game including our cover star, Maria Sharapova, kick things off at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Feb 12 before Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Co. arrive for the men’s tournament on Feb 23. See pages 26-31 for our in-depth previews of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

Feb 1 Superbowl XXXXIII, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL, USA (American Football)

Feb 1 Final Day of the Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE (Golf)

Feb 8 Second One Day International (ODI) Pakistan v India, Lahore, India; Third ODI Feb 11, Rawalpindi; Fourth ODI Feb 14, Mulan; Fifth ODI, Karachi (Cricket)

Feb 6 Super League Season begins, UK (Rugby League)

Feb 9-15 European Badminton Championships, Liverpool, UK Feb 11 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Korea DPR v Saudi Arabia, Pyongyang, Korea (Football)

Feb 18-19 UEFA Cup round of 32 first leg ties (Football)

Feb 13-15 World Rally Championship, Norway Hamar, Norway. Feb 4-8 First Test West Indies v England, Jamaica; Second Test Feb 13-17, Antigua; Third Test Feb 26-March 2 (Cricket)

Feb 21 AVIVA Grand Prix, Birmingham, U.K (Athletics)

March

best of the rest March 29 Australian Grand Prix

The long winter break is over, the engines are revving and the smell of burning fuel and rubber is in the air. It can mean only one thing…the F1 Grand Prix season is underway! The 2009 season begins at Albert Park in Melbourne with England’s Lewis Hamilton looking to defend his World Drivers Championship title and Ferrari out to hold onto their Constructors title. With a number of enforced changes to the cars in place, including a return to slick tyres after 10 seasons on grooves, the 2009 campaign is set to be one of the most captivating yet.

March 1 Carling Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, UK (Football)

March 22 World Touring Car Championship, Mexico (Touring Cars)

March 4 IAAF World Tour event, Melbourne, Australia (Athletics)

March 25-29 Track World Championships, Proscow, Poland (Cycling)

March 6-8 Davis Cup Great Britain v Ukraine, Glasgow (Tennis)

March 27 Fourth ODI March 29, Barbados (Cricket)

March 6-10 Fourth Test West Indies v England, Trinidad (Cricket)

March 28 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Jordan (Athletics)

March 10-11 Champions League 1st Knockout Stage 2nd Leg Fixtures (Football) March 14 World Superbikes, Losail International Circuit, Qatar (Superbikes)

March 14-15 RBS Six Nations 4th round, 5th round matches March 21st.

March 5-7 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens Dubai is honoured to play host the biggest ever Rugby Sevens event with the Rugby World Cup Sevens bringing together 24 men’s international teams competing to take the title Fiji won in Hong Kong four years ago. This year will also

March 15 A1GP, Mexico City, Mexico be the first time that a women’s competition has run alongside the men’s, with 16 teams battling it out to be crowned inaugural Women’s World Champions. See our indepth preview on pages 24-27.

March 20 First One Day International (ODI); West Indies v England, Guyana; Second ODI, Guyana; Third ODI

March 28 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Korea DPR vs United Arab Emirates

March 28 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Iran vs Saudi Arabia March 28 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Uzbekistan vs Qatar March 28 Dubai World Cup, Nad Al Sheeba Racing Club, Dubai, UAE March 29 155th Boat Race, London (Rowing)

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Sharapova bites back Tennis sensation Maria Sharapova talks exclusively to Richard Bevan about her extraordinary journey to the top of the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game and her determination to get back there following a frustrating section of the 2008 season on the sidelines.

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Maria Sharapova serves it up during her thirdround match against Italy’s Karin Knapp at the 2008 French Open, the only Grand Slam she has yet to win. Below: The proudest moment of Maria’s career as she becomes the first Russian to win Wimbledon, in 2004, at just 17 years of age. She is also the second youngest female winner in the Open era. Bottom: Pictured with the Golden Falcon trophy and dignatories after beating Vera Zvonareva in the final of last year’s Qatar Open in Doha.

DUBAI tennis fans are in for a real treat in February when the hottest property in women’s sport returns to the fray. Her 2008 season ended in frustration when a persistent shoulder injury and subsequent surgery derailed her challenge for the top honours having bagged her third Grand Slam event at the Australian Open, before following up with wins at the Qatar Open and the Baush & Lomb Championships. But Maria Sharapova is finally back in action and she’s set her sights on returning to winning ways at The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

Maria Sharapova is one of the most marketable figures in the sporting world and has attracted multi-million dollar sponsorship deals from brands like Tag Heur and Sony Ericsson.

“I love to compete, that’s why I play tennis and when you take that competition away from me it’s very hard. This time off away from the court really was hard on me, but it also motivated me to work really hard in the gym.”

HE’S the most recognisable star in women’s sport. Her face alone is worth fortunes with multi-billion dollar companies like Sony Ericsson, Nike and Tag Heuer happily lining up to sign on the dotted line in return for a piece of her winning smile. But despite being blessed with those smouldering good looks and a natural rapport with the camera, Maria Sharapova knows that none of the perks would be possible without her bewitching ability with a tennis racquet. “I’ve been very lucky to work with some of the best companies in the world,” she says with a flash of that much sought-after smile. “These associations have allowed me to have some great experiences off the court and build lifelong relationships. But tennis is always my first priority and my management team works very close with my sponsors to make sure that nothing conflicts with my game.” At just 21-years-old the Russian Racquet Queen has already spent a significant amount of time at the top of the World Ranking and boasts three Grand Slams among her 19 WTA titles. But from the high of her scintillating straight sets victory over Ana Ivanovic to win last year’s Australian Open, and subsequent victories in Qatar and Amelia Island, she hit an all-time low. A torn rotator cuff in her shoulder

meant that she missed a huge chunk of the 2008 season, including an eagerly anticipated trip to Beijing for the Olympics. Hard work, surgery and more hard work has finally got her back doing what she does best and the inimitable sound of Sharapova grunting and yelling her way around the Dubai Tennis Stadium courts will be like music to the ears of her adoring fans when she lines up for the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. “My shoulder is doing great,” she says. “My team of doctors have done an amazing job to identify what was wrong and how to treat it. There’s nothing more frustrating when you’re an athlete than having your injury misdiagnosed. I’m really looking forward to getting back on Tour. I can’t wait to get back on court in Dubai.” Missing the Olympics and the U.S. Open was definitely the hardest thing I’ve had to go through during my professional career. It really hurt. I was really looking forward to the Olympic experience but hopefully I will get the chance in London. “I love to compete, that’s why I play tennis, and when you take that competition away from me it’s very hard. This time off away from the court really was hard on me, but it also motivated me to work really hard in the gym.” It’s been a long and frustrating road back to recovery for Maria, but if anyone is mentally 4 www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page15

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Maria Sharapova poses for photographers after winning her second Grand Slam at the 2006 US Open.

“What I saw in Maria was not just the way she played tennis, it was there in the way she moved and the way she would kick a ball or pick it up and throw it. You cannot teach that fluidity or that ease of movement. It was there even in the way she walked. You think , ‘Wow, this kid’s an athlete.” – Nine-times Wimbledon Champion Martina Navratilova. equipped to handle that journey, she is. Her road to the top was anything but smooth. It was fuelled by desire, sacrifice and an unshakable belief in an extraordinary talent. Maria’s parents, Yuri and Yelena, were forced to flee their hometown of Gomel, Belarus, in 1986 following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and she was born the following year in the cold, bleak Siberian industrial town of Nyagan. Yuri worked hard in the oilfields until he’d earned enough money to move his young family out of their one-bedroom flat they shared with Yelena’s parents, in search of a better life in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in 1989. It was here that Yuri met the father of Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who was to precede Maria as one of Russia’s finest tennis exports. Yevgeny’s father gave Yuri an old cutdown racquet for Maria and the four-year-old showed immediate natural ability on the court. Yuri was determined to nurture and

develop his daughter’s talent, spending hours practising with her in sub-zero temperatures and taking her to tennis clinics all around the country. Another significant encounter occurred at one such clinic held by the legendary Martina Navratilova who confirmed the six-year-old ‘Masha’s’ ability, having watched her effortlessly hold her own against much older kids. “You can train 10 kids the same and only one will be No.1,” recalled Navratilova. “What I saw in Maria was not just the way she played tennis, it was there in the way she moved and the way she would kick a ball or pick it up and throw it. You cannot teach that fluidity or that ease of movement. It was there even in the way she walked. You think, ‘Wow, this kid’s an athlete.’ “She was just a blonde-haired kid but when you see talent like that you can’t help but notice it,” said the nine-times Wimbledon Champion, who warned that Maria would struggle to reach her full potential without

professional coaching. So in 1994 Yuri made the painful decision to take his daughter at the tender age of six to the USA. The family’s lack of funds and visa constraints meant his wife, Yelena, had to stay in Russia to finish her studies. Yuri and Maria arrived in Miami, unable to speak English and with just the $700 that Yuri had borrowed from Yelena’s parents in their pockets. They headed straight for IMG’s renowned Nick Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, Florida. On arriving unannounced, Yuri’s plans suffered an enormous setback when the coaches at the Academy told him that despite her undoubted talent, Maria would have to wait two years until she was eight before she could join as a full-time student. Yuri took odd jobs to make ends meet, taking Masha to practice every day on the handlebars of his bicycle to save on transport costs until finally in March 1995, she was awarded an IMG scholarship. It was tough at 4 www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page17

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“I didn’t sleep in little cots for three years, eating oatmeal out of a packet while playing in the middle of nowhere for nothing.” first. Maria lived in dormitories with girls, many of whom were twice her age, and could see her father only on weekends. But she dug in, got on with it, and slowly but surely began to get her rewards on the court. “Coming to the U.S. with my father and being away from my mother for two years wasn’t easy, but I always felt ‘this is what I should be doing,’” says Maria. “My early days at Bollettieri were difficult off the court because I was so much younger than the girls in my dorm room. But on the court, I just loved being there and competing.” Years later the world famous coach Bolletieri still remembered the impression the young Sharapova made on him when he first met her. “It wasn’t immediately apparent that Maria was going to be a world-beater, but what she did have was tremendous dedication,” he said. “Her dad had brought her all the way from Siberia so there was a lot of pressure on her, but that never seemed to faze her. She’s got real determination. Maria would make a steel pole feel like a piece of spaghetti.” Yelena finally joined her husband and daughter in 1996 and Maria moved out of the dorms and into an apartment with her parents, giving her some much-needed stability. A few more years perfecting her craft followed before Maria announced her arrival on the world stage in 2000 at the age of 13 by winning the Eddie Herr Championships – a tournament for girls aged 16-and-under. From there her career rocketed. She turned professional in 2001 and played

her first WTA event the following year before winning two WTA titles in 2003. She opened her Grand Slam account the following year, beating two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court. Maira was the first Russian to win the event and at 17-years-old, the second youngest female winner in the Open era. The women’s game had a new sweetheart and her popularity has continued to grow as she continues to rack up the titles. In 2005 she became the first Russian to hit No.1 in the World Ranking and added to her Grand Slam tally with a straight sets triumph over Justine Henin at the 2006 U.S. Open and last season’s victory over Ivanovic for the Australian Open. But Maria has never forgotten the journey she took to reach the top and how her experiences helped shape the fierce competitor you see every time she steps out on the court. After a frustrating run of results in the majors in 2007, she told her fans through one of her regular website ‘doodles’: “I know it’s as tough for my fans to handle my losses as it for me. But let me point something out. I didn’t leave my mom at the age of six for nothing. I didn’t spend six hours a day practising in the Florida sun at the age of nine for nothing…I didn’t sleep in little cots for three years, eating oatmeal out of a packet while playing in the middle of nowhere for nothing. All this has helped me build character and there’s no better asset than being able to stand up for yourself.” While her early experiences at Bolletieri undoubtedly had a profound affect on the young

Maria, she has no regrets about missing out on a ‘normal’ childhood and is acutely aware of how much her parents had to give up to enable her to live her dream. “Both my parents made huge sacrifices to allow my talents to develop,” she says. “I just always loved to compete from an early age and I just loved being on court and developing my game. I never think ‘what if this or what if that.’ I’m just very grateful that my parents believed in my talents.” With her shoulder now healed Maria’s main concern is to get back on the winning trail, claim some more Grand Slam titles and regain her No.1 Ranking. The terrifying news for her rivals is that the precociously talented star believes the best is yet to come from Maria Sharapova. “I believe my best tennis is ahead of me,” she says. “I’m still only 21-years-old and I feel like my game is still improving. I don’t think about how much money I have or any of that stuff. I just love to compete and I love winning, particularly Grand Slams, so hopefully I’ll get the chance to win a few more of those!” If the last 21 years are anything to go by, something tells me that Maria will be collecting silverware for a good few years to come. She finished runner-up to Henin in her last appearance at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships in 2006. To win so early on her return to the game would be an astonishing accomplishment but if there’s one thing Maria Sharapova specialises in, it’s astonishing accomplishments. n

All smiles after beating Ana Ivanovic to win her third Grand Slam at last year’s Australian Open.

Maria Sharapova Date of Birth: April 19, 1987 Birthplace: Nyagan, Soviet Union Height: 6’ 2” WTA Tour titles: 22 Singles titles:

Grand Slam tournaments: 3 WTA Championships 1 Tier I tournaments 6 Tier II tournaments 3 Tier III tournaments 5 Tier IV tournaments 1 Titles by Surface: Hard Court 14 Grass 3 Clay 1 Carpet 1

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Haile Storms in Dubai TORRENTIAL rain in the final stages washed out Haile Gebrselassie’s world record attempt in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon last month. But the Ethiopian still took the $250,000 first prize, in 2.05.29, the eighth fastest in marathon history. He already has the top three times. In uncharacteristically cool temperatures of around 12C Gebrselassie and his pacemakers streaked through the half-marathon in a time of 61.45 – bang on schedule for a new world record. Approaching 30k, he was even faster but when the last of the pacemakers dropped out at 32k, with the rain beginning in earnest, the pace dropped dramatically. He still won by over two minutes from compatriot, Edae Chimsa, who collected $100,000. In third place was another Ethiopian, debutant Wendimu Tsige, who took home $50,000. “When we turned back, felt the wind and saw the rain clouds, I knew that the record was gone,” said Gebrselassie. “But this is better than my performance in Dubai last year, so I’m happy”. In the women’s race 2008 runner-up Bezunesh Bekele, made it an Ethiopian double, winning the $250,000 first prize in 2.24.02 from fellow Ethiopian Atsede Habtamu Besuye and Kenyan, Helena Kiprop. Edging the honours in the men’s 10km race was Eritrea’s Habtai Kifetsion who crossed the line in the same time as runner-up Moussie Weldemichael, with Othmane Chaibi of Morocco third. More than 10,000 runners took to the streets of Dubai for the world’s richest marathon, the 10km race and the 3km Fun Run. Had Gebrselassie broken his world record, he would have earned a million dollar bonus. As he said, philosophically: “Next time!”

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Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships

Courting Success in Dubai

ENNIS fever has taken hold in the UAE in a major fashion. Hot on the heels of Andy Murray’s captivating Qatar Open triumph, the region is once again preparing to welcome the stars of the ATP and WTA Tours for The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Last year’s Dubai tournaments showcased some of the most exciting tennis of the season as defending champions Roger Federer and Justine Henin both fell to early defeats, paving the way to glory for Andy Roddick and Elena Dementieva. With the top 10 women in the world and six of the top 10 men already confirmed, this year’s event promises to be every bit as exhilarating. “To have all the top 10 women and six of the top 10 men confirmed for The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships 2009 is a remarkable and unprecedented achievement,” says Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free. “The incredible line-up of players who have committed to play is an indication of what a popular and highly respected tournament we have here in Dubai.” Following the restructure of the men’s and women’s Tours The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships have become even more significant, being the only ATP 500 and WTA Premier 5 sanctioned tournaments in the Middle East region – and with a prize fund of US$4 million up for grabs, competition is expected to be more fierce than ever. “We thought nothing could top the flurry of activity, top level competition and excitement we saw during our first year of sponsorship in 2008,” says Ahmed Khan, Chief Executive of Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Banking – Emerging Markets. “But with the enhanced status of both tournaments and the grand plans Dubai Duty Free have for the event, we are confident that this year’s tournament will be even better.” 4

A bird’s eye view of the match between eventual champion Andy Roddick and Juan Carlos Ferrero during last year’s Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships at the wonderful Dubai Tennis Stadium.

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Below: Elena Dementieva lifts the distinctive trophy after beating Svetlana Kuznetsova to win last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

Right: Rafael Nadal of Spain hit the heights at the top of the Burj Dubai to put his signature on the tallest building in the world during the run-up to the 2008 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

left: Andy Roddick raises the magnificent dhow trophy after his victory over Feliciano Lopez in the final of the 2008 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

Also sure to pack the crowds in will be the Williams sisters, who between them boast an astounding 17 Grand Slam singles titles, seven Grand Slam doubles and two Olympic titles – 72 titles between them. Venus and Serena Williams

LADIES FIRST February 15-21, 2009 THE women’s event, starting the week before the men’s, promises to be the best so far. The field has been hugely expanded from 28 to 64 players and with the tournament commencing a day earlier than usual, spectators will be treated to an extra full day of tennis action. Defending champion Elena Dementieva is in stellar form as she looks to defend the title she won with a stunning come-from-behind three-set victory against Svetlana Kuznetsova last year. The World No.4 and Olympic champion kicked her season off with a win at the ASB Classic in Auckland and made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. One of the most eagerly anticipated attractions will undoubtedly be the return to action of our cover star Maria Sharapova. The Russian beauty has been a frustrated bystander since the latter part of the 2008 season when an injury to her shoulder forced her to stop playing. She had to make the painful decision to withdraw from her title defence at this year’s Australian Open due to the fact that she wasn’t quite match fit. But now with several more weeks of playing time under her belt she’s all fired up for her return to action in Dubai. The event may prove just too soon for Maria in terms of tournament-sharpness but the 21-year-old has been re-writing scripts her whole career. Having already proved her liking for the Dubai Tennis Championships by finishing runner-up to Justine Henin when she last played here in 2006, she’ll be looking to send out a strong message to her rivals this time around. Also sure to pack the crowds in will be the Williams sisters, who between them boast an astounding 17 Grand Slam singles titles, seven Grand Slam doubles and two Olympic titles. Serena reclaimed the World No. 1 spot with a spectacular straight sets victory over Dinara Safina (World No. 2) at the Australian Open and she will be a red hot favourite in Dubai. But despite owning a staggering 72 career titles between them, neither Venus

nor Serena has ever won the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Former World No.1 and current No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, runner-up at last year’s US Open and semi-finalist at the 2008 Australian and French Opens, will be looking to kick on from a wonderful 2008 season that saw her collect four titles to take top spot in the rankings. The Serbian has a good record in Dubai. She won an ITF title there in 2003, and was a losing finalist to Lindsay Davenport at the Dubai Tennis Championships in 2005 before reaching the semi-finals in 2007 and 2008. With the likes of Safina – another fourtime winner last year – and popular 2008 French Open winner Ana Ivanovic also having confirmed their places for Dubai, the stage is set for a tantalisingly intriguing contest.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN February 23-28, 2009 THE arrival in Dubai of no less than seven of the top 10 players from the ATP Tour is sure to once again whet the appetite of the region’s tennis fans. Big serving American Andy Roddick made his debut in the tournament last year and what a sensational debut it proved to be as he beat both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic en-route to a hard-fought victory over surprise package Feliciano Lopez in the final. Former World No.1 Roddick, winner of the 2003 US Open, is once again showing good form at just the right time for Dubai, having reached the final of the Qatar Open and the semifinals of the Australian Open. But Roddick will have his work cut out defending his title if Rafael Nadal has anything to do with it. The Spaniard claimed his sixth Grand Slam with a captivating five-set victory over Roger Federer at the Australian Open in what was a worthy follow-up to his thrilling victory over the Swiss at Wimbledon last year, which saw him claim the World No. 1 spot. Nadal was the winner in Dubai in 2006. Still just 22-years-old, the four-time consecutive French Open winner has set new benchmarks in what can be achieved in terms

of power and physical presence on a tennis court. Previously feared primarily on clay courts he has now proved himself a master of every surface and it will take a momentous performance to stop him winning a second Dubai Tennis Championships title. Federer is always among the favourites to win any tournament he enters – 13 Grand Slam titles does that for a player! He’s still hurting from losing his No.1 ranking to Nadal last year and then being made to play second fiddle again in Australia. He’ll be looking to answer any doubters with a typically powerful display in Dubai. Federer has proved himself the king of the tournament over the past seven years. He won it three times on the bounce from 2003-2005. Nadal ended his winning streak in 2006 before he claimed the title back the following year. With a record four titles in Dubai, it’s little wonder that Federer likes the emirate so much that he has made it his training base and second home. “I have an apartment because I like it here,” said Federer. “I spend about two or three months of the year here. When I want to practice I usually do it here because the practice facilities are great and so is the weather.” World No.4 Andy Murray got Middle East tennis fans’ tongues wagging following his demolition in straight sets of Roddick to lift the Golden Eagle Trophy in Qatar. Murray also claimed the title at an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi the previous week, beating both Federer and Nadal in the process – and Federer was dismissed by the Scotsman for the fifth time in seven meetings in the semi-finals in Qatar. Murray is in great form at the moment and he will prove tough to beat in Dubai. If he’s on his game, Serbian hotshot Djokovic can produce the goods to take the title. The 21-year-old World No.3 has proved he’s a match for anyone on his day. He beat Federer in the semi-finals of last year’s Australian Open before going on to triumph in four sets over Jo-Wilifried Tsonga to become the first Serb ever to win a Grand Slam. With such a mouth-watering array of talent on display, The 2009 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships are the hottest ticket in town. Our advice? Get yours quick! n

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Rugby World Cup Sevens Preview

Stars to turn out for Magnificent Sevens DUBAI’S new purpose-built stadium will provide the venue when the emirate welcomes the cream of the world’s rugby talent for the long-awaited Rugby World Cup Sevens from March 5-7. Following the runaway success of December’s Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens, The Sevens stadium will get its second taste of action when more than 120,000 people take their seats over three captivating days for biggest tournament in rugby sevens history. Four years on from Fiji’s success at the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong 24 men’s teams and, for the first time, 16 women’s teams will compete for the coveted Melrose Cup.

“We are confident that we are on course to deliver the best ever Rugby World Cup Sevens,” says Tournament Director Beth Coalter. “The new Sevens facility looks superb and will deliver world-class facilities for the teams and for the thousands of fans who will travel from all over the world to attend this special event to watch the best players in the game. “The tournament will be played on two rugby pitches with men’s and women’s matches played on both over the three days, ensuring that the teams get to experience the special atmosphere of the main pitch. The finals will all be played on the main pitch and I’m sure that both the men’s and women’s tournaments will deliver wonderfully competitive and exciting matches.”

The road to Dubai

Women to make history

THE qualification process was the largest in the event’s history with 87 men’s teams and 83 women’s teams from all six IRB regions competing since January 2008 for a place in the eagerly anticipated event. The road to Dubai has been easier for some than for others with defending champions Fiji along with all the quarter finalists from the Hong Kong tournament qualifying automatically. That meant New Zealand, England, South Africa, Australia, France, Scotland and Argentina were excused from the bruising qualifying events for the men’s competition. Host Nation, the Arabian Gulf, were also awarded an automatic spot and they will be joined by regional qualifiers Uruguay (South America), Portugal, Wales, Georgia, Ireland, Italy (Europe), Samoa, Tonga (Oceania), Japan, Hong Kong (Asia), USA, Canada (North America), Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tunisia (Africa). “The standard of competition across every qualifying tournament has been extremely high,” says Coalter. “Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 promises to be a spectacular event and the IRB looks forward to welcoming the global rugby community to Dubai in March.”

The 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens will be a landmark event in the history of the women’s game as it will mark the first time they take part in the competition alongside the men. Places in the event were hotly contested with some wonderful rugby on display in the regional qualifiers. The 16 teams who will line up in the historic event are: Brazil (South America), England, Netherlands, Russia, France, Spain, Italy (Europe), Australia, New Zealand (Oceania), South Africa, Uganda (Africa), Japan, Thailand, China (Asia), Canada and USA (North America). “Women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world as indicated by the fact that a total of 83 countries took place in qualifying tournaments in six different regions,” says Gary Chapman, President Group Services and Dnata for tournament sponsors Emirates. “We are honoured that Dubai now has this chance to showcase all that is best about the game and further promote the growth and development of the sport.” In addition to the introduction of female players, the tournament will also see female refererees officiating for the first time. Clare Daniels (England), Joyce Henry (Canada), Lee Wing Yi Gabriel (Hong Kong) and Dana

Teagarden (USA) are to be included within a selection that features a blend of experienced regulars from the IRB Sevens World Series circuit and some of the best up and coming match officials in world rugby. “This panel has a blend of leading international referees, those who have proven themselves on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit, excellent up and coming prospects and for the first time the top female referees,” says IRB Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien. “The four female referees appointed to the tournament will take charge of matches in the Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens competition, which runs alongside the men’s. It is a great opportunity for referees who have proven themselves on the Women’s international scene to showcase their talent on Rugby Sevens’ biggest global stage.”

The story so far... 2005: Fiji 29 New Zealand 19 Inspired by the awesome Waisale Serevi, a brilliant Fiji team edged past New Zealand to win 2005 Final at the Hong Kong Stadium. Victory made Fiji the only team to have claimed the Melrose Cup twice. Serevi returns as coach of the Fiji team this time around hoping to guide his country to an historic hat trick of triumphs. 4

The magnificent new purpose-built stadium, ‘The Sevens’, which will host the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

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Left: Fiji’s former captain and current coach Waisale Serevi and son Serevi Jr. hold aloft the Melrose Cup after defeating New Zealand to win the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong. Right: Kurt Baker of New Zealand is tackled by Alex Ndangana and Ryan Manyika of Zimbabwe during November’s Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens. Bottom left: Robert Ebersohn is the leading try scorer of the much-fancied South Africa team, undefeated so far in the 2008/2009 Sevens World Series. Bottom middle: Coach Gordon Tietjens (L) and captain DJ Forbes (R) pose with the Sevens World Series trophy as the New Zealand retain the title in 2007/2008.

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2001: New Zealand 31 Australia 12 New Zealand’s sole success in the tournament came in the 2001 event when they beat big rivals Australia in Argentina. It was the first time a major rugby event had ever been staged in South America. 1997: Fiji 24 South Africa 21 Fiji’s maiden triumph in the tournament came in 1997 when they ousted the Springboks in a thrilling Final, which is considered to be one of the all-time great Sevens matches. With Captain Fantastic

Waisale Serevi again in imperious form the team made good on their promise to return to their homeland with the title. 1993: England 21 Australia 17 England are the only team from the Northern Hemisphere to have lifted the Melrose Cup after they claimed the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens at Murrayfield in 1993. Captain Andrew Harriman, Lawrence Dallaglio and Tim Rodber were the try scorers while Nick Beal was flawless with the boot.

Ones to watch Men South Africa South Africa have got off to a flyer this season, winning the opening event of the 2008/2009 Sevens World Series in Dubai after beating England 19-12 in the Final and then making it two on the bounce with a 12-7 victory over New Zealand on home soil. Coach Paul Treu has set a benchmark for Sevens teams around the world by installing a full-time national Sevens facility in Stellenbosch and the move has paid dividends with the creation of a team that displays a perfect balance of power, pace fitness and creativity. Look out for leading try scorer Robert Ebersohn, who will hope to fire the Springboks to glory as they bid to match their 15-a-side World Cup triumphs in 1995 and 2007. New Zealand New Zealand were almost unstoppable during the 2007/2008 Sevens World Series season, retaining the title they won in 2006/2007 after winning six of the eight tournaments and going on a 47-match unbeaten run spanning both seasons. With new coach Gordon Tiejens at the helm they have racked up eight victories from a possible nine so far in the 2008/2009 season. New Zealand feel they should have won the Melrose Cup more than once and they will be out to rectify that in Dubai.

Fiji Despite not winning any tournaments during the 2007/2008 Sevens World Series, Fiji seem to peak at just the right time for this tournament every four years. They were beaten by South Africa in the semi-finals of the first two events of the 2008/2009 season in Dubai and South Africa but with talisman Serevi in charge they’re sure to show renewed vigour during the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Women England Coached by former England captain Simon Amor, the England Women’s team are one of the favourites for victory in Dubai. They’ve gone unbeaten in tournaments in Amsterdam and Scotland and have twice beaten reigning World Champions New Zealand. Australia The Wallaroos Sevens are a young team but could well prove to be the surprise package of the women’s tournament. Made up of talent imported from the touch game, they will arrive at the tournament as the top seeds from Oceania having comfortably beaten New Zealand in their regional qualifier. n

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Lets get ready to rumble Sport&Fitness Middle East talks to Team Columbia Highroadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Owner and General Manager, Bob Stapleton, and star sprinter, Mark Cavendish, about the season ahead.

s the World welcomes the return of the legendary Lance Armstrong to the road circuit the various international cycling teams have been going about their business tuning their athletes for the gruelling season ahead. One of the most successful outfits, Team Columbia Highroad, are chomping at the bit to get their teeth stuck into the new campaign. American billionaire, Bob Stapleton, has put together a strong squad of riders and highly experienced support team. Last year Team Columbia Highroad cleaned up with 86 victories worldwide and six stage victories in the Tour de France. Four of those came from rising sprint star Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and with the Tour de France now containing two more flat stages Team Columbia Highroad will be leading the charge for the Green Jersey. As Team Columbia Highroad wrap up their winter training in Mallorca, an elite team of their male and female riders are heading to the Middle East for the Tour of Qatar where the long smooth roads will test the mettle of the biggest sprinters. A crucial guide to see which athletes have wintered well and set a bench-mark for the season ahead. All eyes will be on Cavendish who will be racing in Qatar for the first time. I managed to speak to Mark Cavendish and Bob Stapleton at their training HQ in Mallorca to find out what goes on behind the scenes and what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got up their sleeve for 2009.

Picture: tdwsport.com

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Mark Cavendish clinched four stages of the 2008 Tour de France. In 2009 two more flat stages have been added and Mark is one of the hot favourites to don the Green Jersey in Paris. Not bad for a guy thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been in a gym!

Picture: tdwsport.com

Billionaire Team Owner Bob Stapleton is never short of a bike, or anyone to ride with, when that rare opportunity arises to get on the open road.

Fill your boots guys: Riding more than 40,000km a year requires a vast amount of quality nutrition.

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Picture: tdwsport.com

“I hear the conditions are great for sprinters and the facilities are first class in Qatar. I’m not going there as part of a training exercise with the team. We’re going there to clean up!”

SFME: Mark, you had a great 2008 and those four Tour de France stages wins were remarkable. But did it take too much out of you? MARK: I was pretty much done-in and even though I pulled out of the Tour to try and put a bit back in the tank for the Olympics I was running on empty. It had been a fantastic year and when I get on the bike I just give it my all. I was a little down after China but I’ve had a great winter training session with the Team and feel fresh and stronger than ever. SFME: Obviously the Classics are the goals for any cyclist but what are your thoughts on the Tour of Qatar? MARK: I’ve never been to the Middle East before. I hear the conditions are great for sprinters and the facilities are first class in Qatar. I’m not going there as part of a training exercise with the team. We’re going there to clean up! With 200 metres to go I know I can beat anyone. We just need to make sure I get in the right position to attack. SFME: How important is the team and how do you work together? MARK: I might be a great sprinter but without the team things would be a great deal harder. We’ve got the best kit and advice on hand, not forgetting some of the best lead-out riders in the business. Andre Greipel has to be one of the top five sprinters in the world and to have him up front for you is just unbelievable. Bob and Rolf Aldag have put a great team together

and I’m just glad to be a part of it. SFME: How have you and the team trained in the winter period to improve your performance? MARK: I’m three kilos lighter than I was this time last year. I’m built for sprinting not climbing but if I’m to get the Green Jersey (for the best sprinter at the Tour de France) I’ve got to make it to Paris! We worked hard on this area and now I feel fitter than ever and a better all-round rider. SFME: How far do you ride in the course of the year and do you have to watch what you eat? MARK: I ride about 40,000km while some riders can be as high as 55,000km. We have a team of nutritionists who give me a calorific breakdown and dietary advice but I’ve pretty much got things sorted. I have a bowl of Kelloggs Special K for breakfast but then I tend to graze all day on the bike, using energy bars. After the rides, I have a special blended protein shake to aid recovery. I’m not one of those guys who weighs everything. Yes, I do watch what I eat but I believe little treats like chocolate helps keep you sane. SFME: Being a sprinter you must have to work hard in the gym? MARK: I’ve never been in a gym in my life! Since I was a kid I’ve always had great leg speed. I’ve found that I get stronger from 4 www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page33

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The Team certainly have all the gear and experts on hand. From hydration to the $20,000 carbon Scott bikes, each rider has the latest nutrition and hardware at their disposal.

Pictures: tdwsport.com

just riding. We do a lot of core work and stretching and with the use of the SRM power metres the guys can monitor what is going on. Weights might help the amateurs increase power but the pros tend to focus more on stretching and balancing the body, using plyometric exercises. SFME: Coming from the Isle of Man, home of the TT Races, do you also own a motorbike? MARK: I’ve got a couple of scooters but I’m currently having a chopper built back home in the Isle of Man. It will be awesome. It’s going to be white with a fat front end and modelled on the aero position I use when racing. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

The man behind the successful Team Columbia Highroad, Bob Stapleton, is a positive guy who knows what it takes to build world-beaters. He was one of the main figures behind the development and sale of the $35 Billion American communications giant VoiceStream Wireless, which went on to become T-Mobile USA. SFME: What are the challenges you face working with the younger riders?

BOB: The biggest thing is to hold them back a little. Slow them down and remind them that we don’t require results tomorrow but in the coming years we expect them to participate and push the team forward. SFME: The sport has been plagued with bad publicity over recent years. How do you make sure your riders don’t make the headlines for the wrong reasons? BOB: The one thing that is absolutely rigid is that there’s no supplementation that doesn’t come from the Team. Our athletes are not free to consume anything that doesn’t have the direct approval of the Team doctor. That’s one of the reasons why we have multiple nutrition partners. We want to make sure we’ve got whatever the athlete may need. Whatever formulation makes sense for them, our nutritional supplier will have a suitable product. We would hate a tainted substance produce an adverse result in an athlete. We go to great lengths to make sure they get safe and high quality supplements. One of our suppliers, First Endurance, uses an independent agency to test every lot of their substances to provide quality assurance. SFME: How are you looking forward to Qatar?: BOB: The Team will go to Qatar all fired up.

We’ve still got a little work to do to make sure the pieces fit together. There are a couple of new riders in the team this year and we’re just finding the best way to use them. It will be a great start to the season to see Mark, Tom Boonen and the other big sprinters square off. But we’re going there to win. In every major race we want to make sure we are super-competitive and play a real factor in the race. SFME: How many of the 80-strong Team Columbia will travel to Qatar? BOB: We will send eight or nine riders and there’s normally 1½ support staff per rider. That includes the Sport Director, mechanics, physios and dieticians, so roughly 20 to 25 of our Team will be in Qatar. SFME: Apart from the riders are the rest of the Team equally competitive in what they do? BOB: We look for better ways in doing things and developing our athletes. This means we use the best equipment and expertise in the business. Having a highly competitive Team throughout is one of the main reasons why we are so successful. The whole Team is young and full of energy and they are just a great bunch of individuals to be around. Three of the support managers are running marathons under 2.45 hours! n

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2008 MotoGP Championship Result Rossi Stoner Pedrosa Lorenzo Dovizioso Hayden Edwards Vermeullen Nakano Capirossi

373 280 249 190 174 155 144 128 126 118

MOTOGP Background MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 14 countries bringing together the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers. The motorcycles used for MotoGP are purposebuilt racing prototypes which are unavailable for purchase by the general public and cannot be legally ridden on public roads. MotoGP began a new era in 2002 when revised regulations allowed for the participation of bikes with four-stroke engines. For the 2007 season the adaptation of MotoGP bikes from 990cc engine capacity to 800cc resulted in an even more exciting spectacle, with higher corner speeds and even more competitive races The opening round of 2008, MotoGP became the first motorsports World Championship to host a night-time Grand Prix, with the Losail International Circuit’s state-of-the-art new floodlight system permitting a superb start to the season in Qatar

By: Alex Gallemore

Sharapova 2009 Qatar MotoGP bites back Preview

Casey Stoner will be looking to clinch his third Qatar MotoGP title in April but when the lights go green in Doha the grid will have a certain air of uncertainty. The global slowdown has put the brakes on team development and in the case of Kawasaki it’s a complete halt to the proceedings, although their ZX-RR bike might still find it’s way there via a privateer team. No doubt the bikes will be pretty much unchanged but this year for the first time Bridgestone will be the sole tyre provider. So with the bikes stomping out around 220 horses from 800cc and now shod by the same farrier it’s going to be one of the most exciting seasons ever.

EIGNING Champion Valentino Rossi is already well accustomed to the Bridgestone set up and last’s year’s epic battle with Casey Stoner at Santa Laguna showed he certainly knows his tyre’s limits. Everyone is expecting another close encounter from the first corner to flagfall. A nail-biter for all MotoGP fans in 2009 is virtually guaranteed. Last year the Ducati had the edge over the other teams on overall speed with Marco Melandri topping the speed charts with a max of 334.4km/h with Stoner second notching 330.km/h. That slight top end advantage might be all the difference once more as Stoner’s new stablemate and former Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden explains: “It’s going to be real interesting how the tyres work at night and the temperature along with the wind. I think it’s going to be cool. I’m really looking forward to it because I enjoyed riding at night. You really do need some ponies for that front straightaway at Losail because you come on to it quite slow, and you need to accelerate because it’s a long straightaway.” But there’s more to Qatar’s Losail track than just outright rev-busting speed as Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa showed. Lorenzo topped out at 323.4km/h, 10km/h slower than the Duc of Melandri, and Pedrosa edged him by only 1.4km/h. Melandri might have

won the drag race but he finished 11th which shows that those charging ponies need to be harnessed to run away from the field. These stats highlight the fact that keeping things smooth and flowing is the key to achieving great times. OK, a little more poke than the guy next to you helps, but holding the right lines, preserving your tyres and knowing the right time to throttle hard comes from long experience and outright skill. For me, the most revealing statistic has to

be the fastest lap sequence. This shows not just the time and km/h but, more importantly, consistency. Ironically, Pedrosa set the early pace last year, averaging 166.58 km/h on lap three before Rossi and Dovizioso took it up a notch to 167.4 and 167.6 respectively on lap four in a time of 1.55.5 seconds The same names went blow-for-blow until Stoner stoked things up on lap 12 when he started to put the hammer down. For those three consecutive laps he set the fastest times with the best of the day coming on lap 14 with a time of 1.55.153 and an average of 168.193km/h. I have no crystal ball but with the current economic climate I don’t see any of the teams pulling out any radical technological breakthroughs to give them the edge. Nor do I see any rider dramatically rocketing up the ranking, though it will be interesting to see how Hayden settles on his Ducati. 4

The reigning MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi is the man whom every other rider is aspiring to defeat in 2009.

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I have been known to be wrong on more than one occasion but I see the podium places in Qatar being taken up by Rossi, Stoner and Pedrosa for the simple reason that they know how to keep it smooth round Losail. I spoke to the President of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Association and General Manager of the Qatar International Race Circuit, Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah, and asked him for his prediction. Coming from one of the greatest rallying families in the Middle East and being a good friend to most of the riders and team owners there can’t be anyone better to ask. “In Qatar we’ve nicknamed Casey Stoner the Nightmare. He’s become very

accustomed to racing under our lights and he’s continually proved to be a headache for the other riders on the grid,” he said. “I can see him taking the title again but the hugely talented Valentino Rossi will be trying to prove me wrong and Jorge Lorenzo will surely be waiting to make his move for the front.” Qatar was the first MotoGP event to be staged at night and it was a brave move not just for the riders and teams but for Qatar itself. “You could say it was a calculated risk,” he continued, “but it has been a huge success for the teams and spectators. The lower evening temperatures mean the riders don’t sweat as much and the cooler

“In Qatar we’ve nicknamed Casey Stoner the Nightmare. He’s become very accustomed to racing under our lights and he’s continually proved to be a headache for the other riders on the grid.” – President of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Association and General Manager of the Qatar International Race Circuit, Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah

air improves the engines’ performance and operating temperatures. In 2007 we had 5,000 spectators and last year the numbers more than doubled to 11,000. “The main challenge has been from an operations and organisational point of view. We’ve worked hard to give the riders and spectators an unbelievable experience. People are able to finish work, go home and come to the circuit with their families. They can enjoy the off-track facilities such as karting and watch the 125 and 250 bike races before the main event. There is always something exciting happening on and off the circuit and we expect the numbers to continue to grow.” Having won numerous rally events himself I asked Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah how that has helped develop the circuit and enabled him to work so effectively with the teams and riders. “I love the thrill of racing and having experienced the various challenges myself while racing I understand what the competitors seek,” he said. “I see the riders and teams as friends, as if I were racing with them, and this has helped form an excellent working relationship.” The Attiyah family is synonymous with four-wheel success, but I wondered if a

Valentino Rossi

Casey Stoner

Danni Pedrosa

Born: 16th February, 1979 Height: 182cm Weight: 67Kg Grand Prix victories: 71

Born: 16th October, 1985 Height: 171cm Weight: 58Kg Grand Prix victories: 16

Born: 29th September, 1985 Height: 160cm Weight: 51Kg Grand Prix victories: 6

Rossi’s natural skill, charisma and flair has already made him a huge fan favourite, and he is already one of the sport’s true greats.

He made the transition from a spectacular ‘raw’ rookie to a mature World Champion in 2007 and pushed hard in his attempt to retain the crown the following season.

Runner-up in the 2007 MotoGP World Championship and third in last year´s standings, Dani Pedrosa continues his quest for the title with Repsol Honda.

family member would ever switch to two wheels. “Before we built the circuit I went on the back of two-seater Ducati and it was scary how fast they are,” he smiled. “The sheer power they produce is astonishing. It gave me vital information when we were setting up the circuit but I’ve never been on a single seater. It would be good to have a local rider racing at the MotoGP, and, who knows, with the number of circuits in the region that might not be such an outlandish claim.” With Abu Dhabi and Bahrain staging Formula 1 events in 2009 I asked if the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Association would pursue a similar direction. “We’ve started working with the FIA on a number of key areas,” Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah confirmed. “We’ve put certain circuit modifications out for tender. We will leave the track alone but roads, pit lanes and grandstands are the areas we need to develop for such an event. We can put the procedures in place but, understandably, the decision is down to the Royal family.” With the MotoGP and Superbikes firmly established as major events on the FIM race calendar, who knows what will be round the next bend? But whatever it turns out to be you know it will be big. n

“I am really looking forward to the opening race of the year, I can’t wait for the season to begin. It’s been a good winter but now I am ready to start racing. Last year the first night race in Qatar was great fun, it’s something different and I think it’s a good way to start the season. I didn’t win the opening race last year but this time I am aiming to do just that. We have one test in Qatar before so I am looking forward to seeing how the new bike performs at the track.” – Valentino Rossi

Jorge Lorenzo

Andrea Dovizioso

Born: 4th May, 1987 Height: 170cm Weight: 55Kg

Born:23rd March, 1986 Height: 164cm Weight: 56Kg MotoGP victories:1

The 2008 Rookie of the Year, he made an immediate impact with a stunning first five races. The Fiat Yamaha rider took pole for his first ever premier class race – becoming the first man to do so since Max Biagg.

A successful rookie season in 2008 was enough to convince Repsol Honda of his talents, and the Italian is the factory team’s new addition for the 2009 campaign.

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Exclusive Casey Stoner Q&A

SFME: What attracted you to motorbikes in the first place and where did that hunger to race and, more importantly, that drive to win come from at such an early age? Casey: It’s just something I grew up with. When I was younger, I really enjoyed riding motorbikes and I guess I had a passion for it. The passion never went away and as I grew older I enjoyed my motorcycle racing a lot more and my competitiveness increased and I just want to continue with it for now!   SFME: Moving to the U.K. to pursue your racing dream with your family must have brought additional pressures but what was the most important thing you learnt on and off the track during that period?  Casey: It has not been easy of course. My family had to sell everything, our house and land in Australia, to go to England and start road racing. But some of our closest friends are from the U.K. and we’ve met some really good people. We’ve also met some people that have really tried to stamp us into the ground… so it’s been a little bit difficult, but you know, we owe it to the U.K. for getting us to where we are.   SFME: Having moved up the various ranks to MotoGP would you say that Ducati’s V Twin suits your riding style more than a traditional in line four engine? Casey: I’ve been fast on a lot of different bikes, and I think the difference with Ducati is that the company itself has worked with me and they have been able to find solutions

CASEY Stoner started racing at the tender age of four, an age when most kids would be proud to be taking their training wheels off. It was apparent that his talent was something special as he won countless dirt bike races against much older riders at home in Australia. The legal age to enter road races in Australia is 16 but Casey and his parents knew he was ready to move up, even though he was just 14. The family wasted no time and moved 4,500 miles to the U.K. where the legal age for racing was 14. Despite the upheaval Casey was quick to settle in to winning ways, establishing himself in the 125cc class. For five seasons he interchanged between the 125cc an 250cc classes before he joined the MotoGP ranks with Honda in 2006, finishing the season in eighth position. The following year he got a ride with Ducati and an unbelievable partnership was formed. He won 10 races, including the inaugural Qatar MotoGP, and was crowned 2007 MotoGP Champion. Last year he did the double in Qatar where the GP was held in the evening under floodlights for the first time. He finished runner-up in the Championship to Valentino Rossi, a result he’s looking to put right in 2009. Another win at Qatar’s Losail International Race Circuit will lay down the gauntlet and show the world he wants his crown back.

to suit my riding style but at the same time I adapt my riding style to any bike I ride. But I’m very happy with the Ducati factory in the way they work and in the passion they have for racing. SFME: How are you involved in the development and testing with Ducati? Casey: Many people have a misconception of development and testing of Ducatis and bikes in general. Many people think you need big experience to test these bikes but basically every race we do, every bit of information we give, during the whole season, all goes back towards the development. We don’t actually develop bikes, we give all the information we can about the bike and what we would like

it to do and then the team goes back to the factory and tries to solve the problems. SFME: The physical stress the body takes as a MotoGP rider is staggering and your body has to be as tuned as the bike. But what training do you do to stay in shape? Casey: Basically I do a lot of cycling, you know we really need the cardiovascular for these long races. It’s not just the race but the whole weekend takes a lot out of you. When you get to the race you are already tired so you need to make sure that you have good stamina for the whole weekend. We also work a lot with the core and of course

Under the lights at last year’s Qatar MotoGP, Casey Stoner sends sparks flying at the front of the pack.

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the upper body to try to get the strength but I don’t like building up my size too much because too much size means extra weight to move around the bike. I believe if you are strong in your own body weight then you are strong enough to ride a MotoGP bike. SFME: As you say, you can’t afford to carry any additional weight on the bike. For this reason how important is good nutrition or are you blessed with a turbo charged metabolism? Casey: There is no nutritional line we have to stick to because travelling all the time means you can’t stick to it anyway so we just try to eat the best food we can, looking for the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins and so on. We try to stay in shape as best as we can and when we have a small break we try build up our fitness again to last for the rest of the season. Before a race I usually eat carbohydrates. SFME: How and what do you do to hydrate while racing? How much fluid would you use per race? Casey: During the race we normally don’t take anything on board. It would be nice if we had a better system as sometimes the hydration systems we use are not so good. During the weekend we just drink a lot of water, some electrolyte drinks if it’s a really hot race but it’s mainly just keeping your fluids up so during the race when you lose so much

you can still stay focused and not get too dehydrated.

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SFME:You’ve got some great fans in the Middle East who will never forget your epic victory over Valentino Rossi in 2007 – you then went on to dazzle them under the lights a year later. How does it differ to race at night in the cold desert air? Casey: I remember very well my first impression … it was like playing on the video game ‘Need for Speed’! They’ve done a great job with the lights but of course racing at night is definitely a lot different to what we are used to. It’s not better or worse, just different. The most interesting thing is that with lower visibility, at least with regard to the imperfections on the track, you have to have more confidence than your instinct tells you to have.   SFME: What do you enjoy most about racing in the Middle East and Qatar? Casey: I love racing in the Middle East but unfortunately we mainly spend our time in the paddock and don’t have the chance to meet too many people outside! We don’t have time to walk around a lot but people in general are very polite and everything is well organised and works well. The track itself is quite flat, there is not enough camber in the corners but at the same time racing there – especially by night – is very exciting. n

Casey was reunited with the trophy in Qatar last year and he’s keen to shine under the lights once more.

Casey and new team-mate Nicky Haden pictured with their carbon-framed 2009 Ducati Desmosedici GP9

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2009 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Martin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain International Circuit

ON April 24,25,26 the Kingdom of Bahrain looks set to host the sixth Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit for the third round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. As preparations are already underway for the sixth hosting of the hugely popular international sporting and social event, this year’s event looks set to be bigger, better and more glamorous than previous races and will see high levels of family entertainment, on and off track, than ever before. The Bahrain International Circuit first hosted the Middle East’s biggest sporting and social occasion in 2004, just two weeks after its inauguration on 17 March 2004. This year’s Grand Prix will mark the sixth time that the FIA Formula 1 World Championship has been staged in the region and underlines the important position the Kingdom of Bahrain now holds in world motorsport. “Plans and preparations are well underway for the 2009 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. With just 100 days to go until our sixth hosting of Formula 1 the excitement is beginning to build and both private individuals and the business community are starting to purchase tickets,” said Martin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain International Circuit. “Last year’s race was a sell-out and we are looking forward to seeing the venue full again in April. There is always a lot to do in arranging such a spectacular event but we are well on top of it and receiving a great deal of support from the whole community. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of world motorsport and so many people in Bahrain and throughout the region have the Grand Prix weekend marked in their diaries months ahead of the event.” This year’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be the fourth round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with races in Australia, Malaysia and China ahead of the April 26th race day.

For more information on weekend tickets, corporate lounges or reservations contact the BIC hotline on +973 17450000 or visit www.bahraingp.com

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Workout A Squats Week 1 - 5 sets of 8 rep

Week 2 - 5 sets of 7 reps

Week 3 - 5 sets of 6

Week 4 - 5 sets of 5

Push Press

3 sets 8 reps

Workout B Incline bench press

5 sets of 8 reps

Chin ups

5 sets 8 reps

Back Lunge

3 sets 8 reps

After each workout drop the reps by one but increase the weight used.

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EQUIPMENT bar-bell The best way to increase power, introduce stability and perform perfect squats.

IMPORTANT Make sure you stretch before every exercise and perform one warm up set with a light weight to prepare for the exercise ahead.

the knees almost as if you are going to sit into a chair. When your legs reach a 45 degree angle hold for a second and begin to stand back into the starting position.

PERFORMANCE For optimised results you should be increasing your weight each week and reducing the number of repititions each week.

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BACK LUNGE Used to strengthen the quadriceps muscles, gluteal muscles and the muscles comprising the â&#x20AC;&#x153;hamstringsâ&#x20AC;?, the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus, and the biceps femoris. A long lunge emphasizes the glutes whereas a short lunge emphasizes the quadriceps.

EQUIPMENT Dumbbells Swap your machines and barbells and improve stability and strength using dumbbells.

TECHNIQUE Hold a dumbbell in each hand and pull your shoulders back. Lift your chest up and look straight ahead.Take your left leg back. Your front foot should be far enough in front of you so that when you bend your right knee, your thigh and lower leg form a right angle. Slowly bend your knees, lowering your hips so your rear knee just clears the floor. Pause briefly in this position, then drive your hips and body forward back to the start position. Complete a full set, then switch legs and repeat. Make sure your knee does NOT travel past your toes in the down position! This exercise can also be done using a barbell resting on your shoulders, just like when performing a squat. Make sure your front heel stays on the ground.

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PERFORMANCE Perform 3 sets of 8 reptitions. FACTS Better posture - When you lunge with proper technique your back, hips, core and legs are strengthened. This will help you with your posture and prevent lower back injuries. Increases leg strength and flexibility - Leg strength and flexibility helps you not only at the gym but for everyday activities and sports. Knee Strength - By doing the lunge with proper technique, especially lowering your hips below parallel, your knees will become stronger.

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

straight up over your chest until your elbows are locked, or close to it. The dumbbells should touch slightly so you are squeezing your chest in the middle.

INCLINE BENCH This develops the mass and strength of the upper and middle regions of the chest as well as the front deltoids. The incline angle of this press hits the upper pecs really hard.

PERFORMANCE Aim to perform 5 sets of 8 repitions. TECHNIQUE Set the incline bench at about a 45 degree angle. Sit on the bench with your feet flat on the floor a little more than shoulder width apart. Pick up a dumbbell in each hand and place them on your thighs. Position your back firmly against the bench. Then, one at a time, raise them up to your shoulder level while you press your back and shoulders firmly against the bench. Press the weights up to a point over your upper chest, with your palms facing forward. Lower the dumbbells slowly bending your elbows out and make slight contact with your upper chest just below your shoulders. Inhale as you lower the weights and exhale as you lift. Drive the weight

FACTS This exercise is good in developing and refining the upper chest, front and side of the shoulders, sides of the chest and the triceps. These muscles are crucial in all upward and forward-reaching pushing and throwing actions. Instead of keeping the bench fixed at one angle, try lowering it one notch from the highest angled position for your first set, then continue lowering the angle one notch after each set. This will work more of the chest muscles each time.

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CHIN-UPS Performing the chin-up correctly can be tricky because of the natural tendency to do most of the work with the biceps rather than the lats. Initiating the pull with the shoulder blades helps avoid this problem. The exercise is most effective when the body is lowered down to a full extension.

EQUIPMENT CHIN-UP BAR Use correctly to develop the back muscles, particularly to develop that V-shape that most people desire. Pull ups are also great for developing biceps and forearms. You can also do a variety of abdominal exercises including leg raises and oblique curls using the pull-up bar..

TECHNIQUE Using just a bar and your bodyweight is much more effective in toning other muscle groups at the same time. Grab a chin-up bar with your hands with your hands slighly wider than shoulder width apart. Hang with your arms straight and your elbows unlocked. Pull yourself up until your chin is just above your hands keeping your legs still and straight at all time. Pause slightly then lower to the starting position and repeat.

FACTS If you struggle doing a chin-up, you can build up your strength to work towards using the chin-up bar by using the lat pull-down machine as this is the same movement as a chin-up. You may also find that there is a chin-up bar which has an assisted weight machine which are also handy for beginners. Chin-ups build width and thickness to your back, as well as promote growth of the biceps, triceps, lats, shoulders and back muscles. This a good strength building exercise.

PERFORMANCE Aim to perform 5 sets of 8 repitions.

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STANDING PUSH PRESS The press standing demands that your torso muscles (abs, lower back, obliques, spinal stabilizers, and transversus abdominis) work harder in order to help stabilize your body.

EQUIPMENT bar-bell Increase power and introduce stability when using a bar bell performing the standing over head press.

TECHNIQUE The basic standing shoulder press movement, which means that at the bottom you give the bar a little push with your legs to get it going. This makes it a more dynamic movement and you can use more weight than you would for a regular shoulder press, if you want. It’s a great sports-specific movement for athletes. Stand with a bar-bell resting across the top of your chest and hold it with your hands more than shoulder-width apart, palms forward. Keeping your back straight and feet flat shoulder width apart, squat down about on quarter of the way, quickly reverse the movement and explode upwards, pushing through your heels and using that upwards force to start the bar’s ascent. After arms are fully extended, pause then lower the bar under control to the starting position before squatting down again. This movement should be smooth, so it’ll take a little practice to get the timing right. Don’t squat then press; aim to make it a coordinated motion that takes advantage of the boost provided by the lower body. Keep your chin out of the way, do not arch your back out and maintain good posture. PERFORMANCE Aim to perform 5 sets of 8 repitions. FACTS The press is primarily intended for the development of the shoulders, but because the lift is performed standing, it also develops the arms, the abdominals, the obliques, the costal muscles, and the back, which all act as stabilizers.

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All you Need to Know About Protein Sport&Fitness speak to Zef Eisenberg, sports nutrition guru - on the truth about PROTEIN. When it comes to protein – few people know the facts better than Zef Eisenberg, prolific author of books including ‘Protein:The Facts’, and founder of sports nutrition company, Maximuscle. As a pioneer of whey protein – We asked Zef to give us the real scoop on protein...

size-up, shape-up and boost sports endurance

SFME: Zef, people consider you as one of the world’s leading experts on protein. How did you enter the industry and gain your knowledge? Zef: Before becoming an entrepreneur, my passion was bodybuilding, and that means I’d tried ‘mixing’ and tasting the powdered milk protein supplements available in the 1990’s. Not only were these supplements horrible – they were a waste of money! To cut a long story short, after hours of research, I discovered that scientists studying whey protein (at that time a waste product from cheese production) had found incredible effects on muscle recovery, growth and immunity. I went directly to Europe’s biggest protein houses and asked them to produce pure, un-denatured whey protein. The result was revolutionary – a protein that tasted great, boosted muscle growth and didn’t give me wind! SFME: You’ve been instrumental in fighting for consumer choice and quality when it comes to sports nutrition. How safe are your supplements? Zef: The industry has faced two serious fights – controversy over supplement contaminated with illegal substances, and EU legislation, that threatened to make natural products like creatine illegal! I’ve worked passionately against these issues; I launched the first independent ISO17025 certified test for sports nutrition products, offering elite athletes 100% safety. Since then, I’ve been involved in compiling the reports necessary to protect the future of supplements, including the dossier that has ensured creatine remains legal to buy in Europe. I’m also a board member of ESSNA (European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance). All in all – it’s great news for reputable companies in the industry, and the consumer. SFME: You’re an advocate of a high protein diet - whether your goal is power, strength, endurance, muscle growth or fat loss. Tell us why? Zef: Muscle tissue is over 80% amino acids, so if you want to support muscle recovery, maintain lean tissue or promote growth – you’d better make sure you’re consuming sufficient protein. However, your body is in a constant

state of protein breakdown and re-synthesis – and this can be seriously bad news. Your body doesn’t care about looking good, and it’s perfectly designed to literally feed off the intra-muscular amino acid pool to fuel your immune system and regenerate cells. If you train intensely – you risk slipping into a catabolic state and burning away muscle tissue. The good news - consuming sufficient protein creates a positive nitrogen balance, increases protein synthesis and puts you in the ideal anabolic environment, in addition to boosting immunity and well-being. SFME: What simple advice can you give people on using protein to size-up, shape-up and boost sports endurance? Zef: Scientists agree that active individuals need around 2g of protein per day, for every kilogram of body mass, to promote a positive nitrogen balance: Size-up – increasing protein intake and calories promotes protein synthesis; insufficient intake will make muscle growth virtually impossible and impair recovery. Shape-up – calorie restriction reduces protein synthesis; boosting protein intake off-sets this problem, supporting lean muscle and metabolic rate. Whole proteins are excellent for promoting satiety and have a thermogenic effect. Endurance athletes – without adequate protein, the catabolic effects of endurance exercise lead to a loss of muscle tissue, strength, speed, power, impaired immunity and poor recovery.

Protein BV Ratings Whey 104+ Egg 100 Cow’s Milk 91 Casein 80 Beef 80 Soy 74 Kidney Beans 49

SFME: Do proteins differ in their impact on muscle growth, sports performance and health? Zef: The biological value (B.V.) of protein (the ability of the body to make use of the protein you consume) is extremely important. For example, beef and egg are good sources of complete proteins, while protein from kidney beans is inefficient when it comes to supporting muscle growth. Whey protein is the most potent form of protein available. Always aim to eat a serving of complete, high BV protein every 2-3 hours.

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Protein. It’s like going to the gym twice as often. Being toned. Getting in shape. Losing weight. Goals that drive you to the gym and make you work hard when you’re there. But much of that sweat and effort will go to waste if you don’t feed your body with the nutrients it needs to get toned, fit and in shape. Trust nature to have the perfect answer. Protein. The finest nutrient for naturally toning and repairing our muscles. This is where Promax Diet comes in. It’s packed with 37g whey protein, for developing your muscle tone and making your hard work in the gym more effective. Best of all whey protein makes you feel fuller for longer, helping to avoid those cravings that ruin your diet. A couple of servings a day as a shake or in a fruit smoothie will make a noticeable difference to your gym programme.

Available from

www.maximuscle.ae

Nutrition Training Tips Equipment Style News / Calendar Events Adventure Features foods high in protein Foods of animal origin have the most protein. They are meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk-based foods. Beans and legumes have a significant amount of protein. Think of dried beans (black beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, etc.), soybeans and soybean products (tofu, tempeh and TVP) and lentils, split peas and whole dried peas. Starches and vegetables have a small amount of protein, but it adds up over the course of a day.

SFME: How important are ‘Protein Absorption rates’ when it comes to building a better body or enhancing sports performance? Zef: Feeding your body with the right proteins can be very anabolic, leading to significantly better gains in strength and muscle growth. Most importantly, after exercise – a rapid assimilation of amino acids is critical – triggering the potential for muscle growth and recovery. Unfortunately, most proteins are unable to elicit the ‘Hyperaminoacidemia’ necessary to overload the blood stream with amino acids. This counts out solid foods such as beef and chicken – in addition to soy and casein protein. The only protein capable of rapid hyperaminoacidemia is whey – preferably a whey blend containing whey isolate, hydrolysed whey protein and glutamine. SFME: So – after exercise, protein is the

key to recovering and boosting muscle development? Zef: Yes, protein is a critical nutrient whether you’re aiming for fat loss, sports recovery or muscle growth. However, after training, whey protein combined with carbohydrates is even more effective due to the secretion of insulin, shunting amino acids and glucose rapidly towards muscle tissue, stimulating recovery and protein synthesis. The latest research supports the consumption of a whey/carb blend before training too – this is very anabolic. SFME: What about ‘time-released’ protein supplements and soy – are these as effective as whey protein? Zef: The rising price and demand for whey in the last few years, means many brands have looked look for cheaper alternatives – and that’s why they turned to the dated concept of casein and soy. Of course,

‘micellar protein’ has been well marketed as a timed-release protein, due to its slow rate of digestion. However, you can make a time-released shake with a higher BV, by simply consuming some whey with milk or peanut butter! SFME: Are protein supplements essential? Zef: While the protein needed for sports performance and physique goals can certainly be obtained from whole foods – whey protein is unique. In addition to the protein’s high BV and uniquely fast rate of amino acid digestion, it’s also full of unique amino acid concentrations that aid anabolism, immunity and free-radical protection (such as glutamine, l-leucine and branch chain amino acids). Big companies also have the ability to create highly innovative whey protein blends with higher than normal levels of key amino acids.

Protein helps the muscle recover from, and adapt to, training. Training, especially resistance training and endurance training, has the potential to rapidly break down muscle protein. Protein synthesis post-workout is important to repair and synthesize new muscle cells. There is evidence to show us that taking protein and carbohydrate within the recovery window after exercise is beneficial to those athletes who have invoked much cellular damage (e.g. resistance training, endurance training).

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For those that want size and aren’t watching the waistline!

The Mr.T

• 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder • 3 egg whites • 1/2 Snickers • 1 banana • 2 cups of soya milk • 4 ice cubes

The Sweet Treat

• 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder • 1 tsp of peanut butter or almond butter • 1 tsp honey • 1 tsp of coacoa powder • 1 banana • 1 cup of non-fat soymilk • 4 ice cubes

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Make your own Super Shake It’s important to get the proper amount of protein in your body to promote and maintain good health. Therefore make a tasty protein shake for breakfast or a midday snack. Here are some of the best shakes you’ll ever have. Choose what best suits your taste or goal.

PROTEIN BANANA AND GOJI BERRIES SHAKE Makes 1 shake:

Per serving: 357 calories, 32g protein, 52g carbs, 2g fat Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Serve immediately. 1 scoop natural protein power 180ml orange juice 180ml banana juice 5/6 ice cubes 1 banana cut into chunks A pinch of nutmeg A handful of dried goji berries

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

(High protein - Serves 1) Makes a great breakfast or snack. Add thicker yoghurt if you require more of a pudding. Put all ingredients in a blender and whisk together. 125g of flavoured yoghurt 100-200ml of water (depending on how thick you want it) 100g of frozen berries 1 medium sized banana (118g) 1 scoop of natural protein power 2/3 cubes of ice (not needed if using frozen fruit)

ORANGANA SMOOTHIE (High protein - Serves 1)

Per serving (water) 238kcal, 24g protein, 31g carbs, 2g fat, 4g fibre. Per Serving (semi skimmed milk): 354kcal, 32gpro, 43g carbs, 6g fat, 4g fibre. 1 banana 1 scoop Maximuscle Promax orange (www.maximuscle.com) 250ml water or skim milk 3-4 ice cubes 2 strawberries (if available) Method Blend in a quick stop start fashion to let the ice-cubes sink to the bottom and get easily crushed, otherwise you will get a very frothy shake. Serve in a big pint glass (with a cocktail umbrella and sliced fruit if it’s a nice hot weekend) www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page57

Meet the Natural Cholesterol Busters CHOLESTEROL is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It’s an important part of a healthy body because it’s used to form cell membranes and some hormones as well as being needed for other functions. But a high level of cholesterol in the blood — hypercholesterolemia — is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Cholesterol and other fats can’t dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are several kinds, but the ones to focus on are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Typically the body makes all the cholesterol it needs, so people don’t need to consume it. Saturated fatty acids are the main culprit in raising blood cholesterol, which increases your risk of heart disease. Trans fats also raise blood cholesterol. But dietary cholesterol also plays a part. The average man consumes on average about 337 milligrams of cholesterol a day; the average woman, 217 milligrams. Some of the excess dietary cholesterol is removed from the body through the liver. Still, the American Heart Association recommends that men should limit their average daily cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams. If you have heart disease, limit your daily intake to less than 200 milligrams. Everyone should remember that by keeping their dietary intake of saturated and trans fats low, they can significantly lower their dietary cholesterol intake. Foods high in saturated fat generally contain substantial amounts of dietary cholesterol.

Did you know that a single mega burger could contain up to 160mg of cholesterol!

Nutrition Training Tips Equipment Style News / Calendar Events Adventure Features AVOCADO: Healthy Fats, Lower Cholesterol Avocados are a great source of healthy monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that may actually help to raise levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol) while lowering levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol). These green beauties are also packed with beta-sitosterol which reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food. So the combination of beta-sitosterol and monounsaturated fat makes the avocado a perfect cholesterol buster. Avocados are high in calories so watch the quantities. Great to mix with salads. HOW MUCH? The American Heart Association recommends that you get up to 15 percent of your daily calories from monounsaturated fats like those contained in avocados, but some heart experts recommend an even greater percentage. (In an 1,800-calorie diet, 15 percent translates into 30g per day.) An average avocado has about 280 calories and 2g fat.

SALMON Research has proved certain types of fat actually protect against high cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids—found in salmon and other cold-water fish—help lower LDL cholesterol, raise the good HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides. Salmon is an excellent source of protein because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids called EPA and DHA that are good for your heart while low in cholesterol and saturated fat. To get the most omega-3s, choose salmon, white albacore tuna canned in water, rainbow trout, anchovies, herring, sardines, and mackerel. HOW MUCH? The American Heart Association now recommends eating at least two servings of fish every week, preferably fatty fish, which are by far the richest sources of fish-oil omega-3s.

TEA Tea, whether it’s iced or hot, delivers a surge of antioxidant compounds. Studies prove that tea helps to keep blood vessels relaxed and prevents blood clots. Flavonoids, the major antioxidants in tea, have been shown to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that leads to plaque formation on artery walls. These powerful antioxidants may even reduce cholesterol and even lower blood pressure. Although convenience iced teas still have high antioxidant levels, most homemade iced tea (both hot-brewed and fridge teas) have even more antioxidants. So, if you want the very max, make your own.

GARLIC For thousands of years, garlic has been used in nearly every culture across the world. Ancient Egyptians ate garlic for stamina; in modern times, garlic has been found to lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots, reduce blood pressure, and protect against infections. Now research has found that it helps stop artery-clogging plaque at its earliest stage (called nanoplaque). How? Garlic keeps individual cholesterol particles from sticking to artery walls. HOW MUCH? To reap its benefits, go for two to four fresh cloves a day.

HOW MUCH? A cup of hot tea actually contains more antioxidants than a serving of any fruit or vegetable. Both green and black teas have high antioxidant levels. Enjoy at least one cup of tea every day.

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Flagship ASICS store at The Dubai Mall: - 04-3398251 Emirates Sports Store at Wafi Mall: - 04-3242208.

MIXED NUTS A moderate-fat diet that’s rich in the healthy monounsaturated fats found in nuts may actually be twice as good for your heart as a low-fat diet. Nuts also have vitamin E, magnesium, copper, and phytochemicals that have been linked to heart health. Walnuts are also rich in omega-3s. People who eat nuts regularly have less heart disease and other illnesses than people who don’t. The heart-healthy monounsaturated fats they contain are also better for your joints than the polyunsaturated fats found in corn and safflower oils. But the key to nuts is moderation as they are high in calories. The best way to watch those calories is sprinkle two tablespoons a day on cereal, veggies, salads, or yogurt. Or add them to your diet by sprinkling chopped nuts on stir-fries. A mix with your favourite nuts, seeds and dried fruit is a great exercise snack.

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HOW MUCH? Aim for two tablespoons of chopped nuts five times a week, or a small handful as a snack three-four times a week.

SOY: A SMART ALTERNATIVE Reducing saturated fat is the single most important dietary change you can make to cut blood cholesterol. Used as a replacement for meat and cheese, soy foods help your heart by slashing the amount of saturated fat that you eat. The liver uses saturated fat to make cholesterol, so eating foods with too much saturated fat can increase cholesterol levels, especially low-density lipoproteins (LDL)— the bad cholesterol. Beyond replacing saturated fat, research suggests that compounds in soy foods called isoflavones may also work to reduce LDL cholesterol. How to use soy The basics include tofu, soy nuts, soy flour, and enriched soymilk. Great-tasting, protein-rich meat alternatives include soy sausage, and breaded cutlets and nuggets that taste like chicken. You’ll find many soy products in the produce section of the supermarket. What about soy supplements? Research shows that isoflavone supplements alone don’t work. To lower cholesterol, you need the whole soybean with its unique protein, phytates, and isoflavones, which may all act together. How much? The FDA recommends getting at least 25 grams of soy protein each day. Consuming 25 grams of soy protein daily lowers high cholesterol.

DARK CHOCOLATE Yep. Chocolate is good for you! Choose the dark or bittersweet kind. Compared to milk chocolate, it has more than three times as many antioxidants. These flavonoid antioxidants work to keep blood platelets from sticking together and may even help keep your arteries unclogged. Milk chocolate is good but the white variety has no flavonoids at all. Flavonoid Levels The levels of flavonoids in chocolate vary, depending on where it is grown and handled and how it is processed. How much? Research shows that about an ounce of chocolate a day increases good cholesterol and prevents bad cholesterol from oxidizing.

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David Beckham At 33, the former England captain is still on top of his game and he’s proving there’s plenty of miles left in the tank. Sport&Fitness Middle East try to find out any secret training tips. SFME: What’s been the secret of your ability to maintain the fitness levels required to perform at the top level for so many years? DB: I’ve always been blessed with a good amount of natural fitness but I also work very hard to maintain that, doing a lot of work on the training pitch and in the gym. I also try to look after myself and eat the right things – I’m not much of a drinker so that helps. To maintain fitness throughout life, whether you are an athlete or not, you need to consider a balanced diet. I think that wherever I’ve played, the one thing fans can always expect from me is that I give 110% on the football field. I’m a good passer, quite a good free-kick taker and good at corners etc but I think the key thing is my work rate. SFME: Was AC Milan’s legendary fitness regime a contributing factor for you wanting to go there on loan in order to get your fitness to a high level for possible England selection and for the new MLS season? DB: I think that without a doubt I wanted to go somewhere where the fitness is top class. I’ve always known that’s the way it is at AC Milan so I wanted to put myself in the position where I wasn’t only playing for one of the top teams in the world, I was going to be at the top fitness level as well. It’s definitely the right club to choose from that side of things. SFME: How long do you think that you can keep on playing for? DB:I hope I could play at 40. I love the game so when I stop loving the game is when I’ll decide when I’ll stop playing. I’m still in love with it so it won’t be yet. SFME: What’s your favourite goal you’ve scored during your career? DB: I’ve been lucky enough in my career to score quite a few important goals and big goals. I’m not going to pick one favourite – I’m going to pick a few. The penalty against Argentina, that won us the game in the end, meant a lot to me as it wiped away a lot of tough memories. The goal for England against Greece that put us through to the World Cup finals was very emotional. And the one from the halfway line – I think it was 51 yards, maybe a little bit less – was a goal I tried so many times as a young kid, but to do it at the full level was incredible.

Equipment

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Technogym Kinesis Personal Kinesis Personal is the ultimate in designer furnishing for home fitness or wellness spaces. It returns you to the origins of human movement, freeing you to re-discover the four fundamental physical abilities: endurance, balance, strength and flexibility. Kinesis provides a unique workout that restores the right balance between mind and body, thereby helping to improve your quality of life. The revolutionary feature is the patented â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fullgravityâ&#x20AC;? design, inspired by nature and science to allow unrestricted, enjoyable movement and to attract more and more people to Wellness. www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page63

Cycling

Scott Addict Scott’s IMP technology results in the lightest road frame in the world at 790gms. The Addict became the benchmark in the market, and is known as THE bike in the Pro tour peleton. Leonardo Piepoli’s bike weighs just 5.9Kgs (13lbs), which is by far the lightest bike among the race bikes utilized in the pro races. New for 2009 all of the bikes get a new look, with more aggressive, fresh colours, and spectacular graphics. But if you are a cycling carbon weight weenie expect to part with more than $10,000 for the range topping Addict Ltd!

Garmin Edge 705 for the serious cyclist Trainer. Navigator. Edge 705 pushes you to do your best, then shows you the way back. This GPS-enabled cycle computer knows no limits. Get heart rate, cadence, turn-by-turn directions, power data (from ANT+™-enabled third-party power meters) — the works. Even share your data with other Edge 705 buddies after your ride. All wireless with a color display, this is no ordinary cycle computer. Hardly surprising it’s used by many of the leading pros!

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Running Adidas zero in on their Dubai Marathon succes Worn by no other than the 2009 Dubai Marathon Champion Haile Gebrselassiead adidas has certainly got off to a flyer with their high speed Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adiZero Adios running shoe. The latest bright yellow and black range has been a huge success with the adizero S/L tee and matching shorts appealing to both road racers and everyday runners.

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Rehab HoMedics Shiatsu Plus Massager with Heat Enjoy a massage in the comfort of your own home with the HoMedics Shiatsu massaging cushion. Now incorporating a soothing heat setting to ease stiffness and tension, it features a state-of-the-art moving dual massage mechanism, to give a deep-kneading Shiatsu massage. Its rolling massage travels up and down the back, and there’s a special Spot Shiatsu massage, which hits that uncomfortable ache spot-on. With six programmes for the full, lower or upper back; a choice of three vibration speeds, plus an adjustable width setting for your rolling massage. And with the programmable touch pad control you can customise your own massage. Bliss!

MBT MBT stands for “Masai Barefoot Technology,” and the shoes are designed to simulate walking in sand. It’s a multilayered, curved sole that accomplishes this by creating a natural but uneven walking surface. This technology is meant to make the core strengthening muscles more active, creating better posture and increasing shock absorbtion for all of the joints. It also makes wearing the shoes quite a unique experience, and a bit of a workout. Masai Barefoot Technology is used as a sports training and rehab device: many professional athletes rely on MBTs for recuperation, prevention and accelerated healing of injuries and in endurance and coordination training.

Adrenaline

N®PORTABLE) SOFTWARE INLAY - STANDARD (VERSION 1.5)

98mm

14mm

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RST PRO SERIES 1 SBK08®

Features: 1.1-1.3 mm premium grade Brazilian cowhide - Maurex C.E. approved armour to shoulders, elbows and knees - Dupont ‘Kevlar’stretch panels used throughout - RST racing compound knee sliders - Perforated panels and Airtex lining for hot weather comfort www.rst-moto.com

software is licensed for play on authorised PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) systems only. transfer of the product or its underlying copyright and trademark works is prohibited. or full usage rights. Library programs ©1997-[year] Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. mputer Entertainment Europe (SCEE). RESALE AND RENTAL ARE PROHIBITED UNLESS CEE. Licensed for sale only in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.

” and “UMD” are trademarks Computer Entertainment Inc. pyright holder]. Published by loper]. [Additional legal lines rights reserved.

If Play Station’s SBK08 has got you thirsty for real two wheeled action your first buy has to be some top end race leathers. Check out the RST’s Pro Series 1 range, ridden by the likes of World Superbike star Andrew Pitt.

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If you are a Superbike fan and can’t wait for the season to get underway in Qatar, refresh yourself with Losail and the other international circuits with Play Station’s SBK08. Get your knee down from the sofa!

October 2007

Win a pair of

PUMA 1000 v2’s The 1000 V2 boot was developed with the help of Grand Prix riders and is a pro-level boot suited for any kind of road-racing activity due to its improved safety components. Intelligent Safety: The Ghost Doctor Protection device has been designed after the medically defined “angles of no return”, beyond which you would suffer from serious ankle injury. It limits the movement range in all four directions and becomes active when the ankle reaches a dangerous angle, making it an intelligent protection device that’s there only when you need it most. Question: Which Ducati rider won last year’s Qatar MotoGP and which country is he from? (Pages 34-41 might help!) Answers: Email you answers together with you name, address and boot size to: win@sportnfitnessme.com www.sportnfitnessme.com l Page67

STREET STYLE

TOP: ADIDAS ORIGINALS D SN ZIPPED HOODY SHOES: ADIDAS ORIGINALS SUPERSTAR II LEA

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SLEEK TOP: ADIDAS ORIGINALS D TREFOIL TANK SLEEK PANTS: ADIDAS ORIGINALS L SATIN SHORTS SLEEK

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SLEEK TOP: ADIDAS ORIGINALS L TREFOIL SLEEK TANK TOP JEANS: ADIDAS ORIGINALS ADI-MINZY

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Recharge and well-being are invited. Rejuvenate yourself at one of our four themed Armonia Spa treatment rooms, each perfectly designed to help you unwind, offering a wide variety of facial and body treatments as well as self tanning massages which can be enjoyed outdoor in the spa’s Balinese huts. To pamper you even more, steam and sauna facilities and other refreshments are also provided to make sure you leave Armonia feeling totally revived. Because you don’t just stay here. You belong. For more information visit us at www.sheraton.com/jumeirahbeach or call +971 4 399 55 33 Member of

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Spa For centuries spas have been used to aid the recovery of physical and mental fatigue. Through a wide variety of proven techniques and the blend of essential minerals the increased blood flow to damaged or sire tissues stimulates the recovery process by allowing oxygen and key nutrients to the body. Soaking in a hot spa has shown to carry away the lactic acid that is built up in muscles during exercise and remove the stiffness after heavy physical activity.

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Spa

The Armonia Spa, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers THE Armonia Spa of the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers has four themed treatment rooms to help you unwind. Even the names sound relaxing! The Aquamarine and Waves rooms are massage rooms, the Oceanic room offers facials and the Pacific room and the jungle themed room for hot stone therapies. The spa offers a variety of facial and body treatments including, reflexology, marine scrubs, wraps, exfoliations, Swedish massages, hot stone massages, Ayurvedic and self-tanning massages which can be enjoyed outdoors in the spaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Balinese huts. To ensure that guests feel pampered, the spa offers steam and sauna facilities before the treatment and provides tea, fresh juices and fruits before and after treatments.

The Sheraton Jumeirah Health & Beach club For the more health conscious guests, the Health & Beach Club offers a fully equipped gym that now boasts of top of the line fitness equipment, including 13 new strength training machines and 13 sets of free weights (2 kg to 26 kg), two recumbent bicycles, two upright bicycles, three treadmills, two cross trainers, one stepper, two rowing machines and free weights. For the sports fan, there is a gamut of sporting activities to help stay in shape. Hit the squash court, play beach volleyball and mini football, or simply enjoy a brisk morning walk on the beach. In addition there are a variety of water sports on offer. Swimming and aqua gym classes available with prior booking request.

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Dragonfly at Fitness First IF you want pure relaxation ‘Oriental style’ Dragonfly treatments are for you. Available to Fitness First members and non-members, this wonderful array of treatments for men and women ranges from Deep Tissue Aroma Oil massage and Japanese Shiatsu to a choice of 16 Sothy’s Facials to suit any skin type. There is also a Nailspa offering manicure, pedicure and nail extensions as well as waxing services.

One treatment that is really popular with Fitness First members is the Post Workout Massage. This dry massage concentrates on two body parts of your choice for a total of 30 minutes and is priced at only AED 149. Another favourite is the two-hour Contour Control Programme. This consists of a one hour Appetite Suppressing Foot Reflexology concentrating on the digestive system followed by an hour of Lymphatic Drainage to aid sluggish circulation, toxin build up and cellulite, this is done on the two chosen areas of the body, most commonly being the quads and glutes or upper arms and stomach. There are also a range of Dragonfly products for retail such as Dragonfly branded essential oils for bath, body or burner as well as soothing hot and cold compresses, so you can continue to feel the benefits even after leaving the spa. To see a list of Dragonfly services or to find out about their monthly promotions log onto www.dragonfly.ae you can book online through the website or by emailing relax@dragonfly.ae or call (0971 4) 3511120.

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Charley Boorman poses for photographers in front of his trusty BMW R1200GS after completing The Long Way Down from John oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Groats to Cape Town with Ewan McGregor.

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Charley Boorman – Life Off The Beaten Track

The certified bike nut who turned his back on his acting career and went the ‘Long Way Down’ with ‘Obi Wan Kenobi,’ talks about surviving the world’s toughest trails and eating testicle stew. by Richard Bevan CHARLEY Boorman has the kind of job that makes the rest of us positively green with envy. He goes on real life adventures. Not only does he get to go off exploring far-off lands, plotting ever-more fantastic journeys with his movie star friend Ewan McGregor and having the kind of experiences that stay with you for a lifetime, he does it on a variety of big, powerful motorbikes and other assorted boys toys. And he gets paid for it!

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THE BEST OF FRIENDS: Ewan and Charley share a joke during the filming of ‘Long Way Down.’

“There were deserts and rivers and tons of camping...all that kind of stuff. It was also in Mongolia that I was treated to a bowl of testicle stew, which was an experience to put it mildly!” – Charley Boorman

t’s the kind of exotic, intrepid lifestyle that most young boys spend hours daydreaming about. I know I did and Charley Boorman is no different. But, crucially, he’s managed to turn it into a reality. A former child actor and son of renowned British film director John Boorman, Charley has all the credentials to make him one of those intensely annoying, over-privileged ‘spoilt brat’ types. Yet as I quickly find out, nothing could be further from the truth. “I’m so sorry for messing you about today,” he says before going on to spend five minutes profusely apologising for having to make a minor alteration to our interview time due to the completely understandable circumstance of his mum being ill in hospital. “I just didn’t want you to think that I’m one of these pretentious ‘actor’ types who muck people around because they think they’re ‘far too important!’” Charley is also acutely aware of how fortunate he is to be in a position where he gets paid to go on the kind of adventures we mere mortals can only dream of. Along with fellow actor Ewan McGregor, of Train Spotting and Obi Wan Kenobi of Star Wars fame, the Englishman travelled by motorbike from London to New York to make the hit television series ‘Long Way Round,’ and then from John o’Groats in Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa, for the follow-up, ‘Long Way Down.’ He

also completed five stages of the Dakar Rally in The Race to Dakar before disaster struck (but we’ll come to that later), and travelled by all manner of weird and wonderful forms of transportation to get from his home-town in Wicklow, Ireland, to Sydney, Australia, for ‘By Any Means.’ He’s living the dream – and he knows it. “I think I just got very, very lucky,” he smiles. “It’s been fantastic fun and the last five years has just been amazing. Completely life changing.” Charley didn’t exactly have what you’d call a ‘conventional’ childhood. His father was a wellknown and highly-respected director whose film credits include Point Blank, Deliverance and Excalibur. The youngster got his first taste of acting with small parts in Deliverance and Excalibur and developed a taste for travel and adventure accompanying dad on his many sojourns around the globe. “I suppose if you’re in the film industry and acting and stuff, you travel a lot,” he says. “My father was a great traveller and as children, we used to travel with him and go to all sorts of different places. If he was making a film in the South Pacific, we’d go with him, we also went to South Carolina, all over America and all these different places.” By his own admission, Charley’s own acting career never quite managed to hit the heights but it was responsible for him first crossing

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Left: Charley and Ewan attend the unveiling of BMW’s new F650 GS Dakar race bike ahead of Charley’s ill-fated participation in the 2006 race. Below: The champagne moment as Charley and Ewan complete their 20,000 mile journey for ‘Long Way Round’ at Battery Park, New York City, 2004.

paths with Ewan, by then very much a rising star in the UK, on the set of the 1997 film, ‘The Serpent’s Kiss.’ It was the coming together of two certified bike nuts and their love of twowheeled machines that forged a friendship that was to eventually lead them on an epic journey from England’s capital city to America’s Big Apple literally the ‘Long Way Round’ via Europe, Russia and Asia in what was to become a captivating hit television series. “I think one of the first conversations Ewan and I ever had was about motorbikes,” recalls Charley. “We hit it off straight away and were always dossing about on bikes together. Then we went on bike teams together and did all sorts of different stuff, until eventually we came up with this idea for ‘Long Way Round.’ “It just started with us wanting to ride our bikes down to Spain to meet our families and then somehow we ended up going to New York, round the top of the world. I’m still not quite sure how that happened! “We were talking about it and talking about it and the idea just kept getting bigger and bigger. Then, like all of us do, we just got a point where we said ‘you know what, instead of talking about it all the time, let’s just go and do it.’ And that’s kind of what happened. “We were originally going to do it on our own and then it became clear that I just didn’t have the money to take that amount of time off! I had two kids, a wife and all that kind of

stuff. My acting career was heading south rapidly and someone mentioned something about doing a book about the trip. So we thought ‘if we’re going to do a book, let’s do a TV series.’ “We found a producer, Ross Malkin, to help us make it because it was important that we had a big involvement rather than just getting someone else to do it – and Ross was the perfect choice. Then there were months and months of preparation, as there always is for these projects. The actual travelling part is the shortest part, but definitely the most fun.” The trip led them through some of the most testing terrain in the world as they traversed countries like Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Alaska, meeting new people, experiencing foreign customs, and trying some pretty bizarre food as they went along their way. “We spent 120 days riding on pretty terrible roads. Let me tell you, riding through Mongolia isn’t easy and it’s always more difficult than it looks on television. “It’s the same size as Europe but with only 400 miles of tarmac and that’s it! There’s probably more than 400 miles of tarmac in a single district of London and that’s all they had in the entire country! But it was great fun. “Mongolia really struck both Ewan and I. We were both very taken with that experience. It’s an incredibly beautiful country with really, really nice and interesting people. It was also

extremely tough so it kind of ticked all the boxes that we were looking for. There were deserts and rivers and tons of camping. It was also in Mongolia that I was treated to a bowl of testicle stew, which was an experience to put it mildly!” Filmed in 2004, ‘Long Way Round’ proved such a hit that the pair were asked to make a follow up. They’d discussed the idea of another trip from Scotland’s northern-most tip, John o’Groats, right down through the UK, Europe and Africa to Cape Town. Three years later, ‘Long Way Down’ was born. It was another captivating series, which raised more than £300,000 for UNICEF. It saw the two friends paired together at close quarters for a huge amount of time, forced to live in conditions that were far removed than those you would associate with people of privileged status, as they travelled through a variety of far flung outposts. But Charley insists that it’s often the tough experiences on such journeys that make them so memorable and satisfying. “I love that feeling of pushing yourself almost to the limit and finally getting somewhere. All the things that go wrong at the time you just hate and you think, ‘what am I doing here.’ But then not so long afterwards you start to laugh about them and they become part of the good memories. “I loved riding down through Ethiopia on that

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Below: A big hug from wife Olly and daughter, Doone, after completing ‘The Long Way Round.’

show. It was very rural and like stepping back 300 years. It was again really tough but very rewarding, which is great. That’s what you’re looking for when you do those kind of trips – a bit of adventure. “What also makes it very different is that Ewan and I wanted to be there. We weren’t sort of ‘hired guns.’ So if you didn’t like a particular day, you had no-one else to blame but yourself. People would say, ‘Well you chose to do this.’ And you’d think ‘damn…I did!’ “All the trips I’ve done I’ve loved every day of them, even the bad days. Ewan and I had to spend a lot of time together and even though we’re very close, of course you have your bad days. But the thing is, because you’re on a bike, for most of the day you’re on your own and it’s amazing how differently you see the road on a journey – so we actually had a surprising amount to talk about every night. I’d say ‘did you see that beautiful waterfall as we came around that corner?’ and he’d say, ‘no I didn’t but did you see that old lady as we went through that town?’ “I’m sure if we’d sat in a jeep together for that amount of time we’d probably kill ourselves or each other but it’s different on a bike.” Sandwiched between the two ‘Long Way’ trips, Charley fulfilled another lifelong dream by taking part in the Dakar Rally as part of another documentary series called ‘The Race to Dakar.’ It was an experience he describes as the toughest of his life. Having already broken his collarbone during a training exercise riding bikes on sand dunes in Dubai, he then had to pull out of the race itself after Stage 5 when he fell off his bike and

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broke both his hands. “There were three us in the team and the idea was that the other two riders would be my ‘water carriers’ so if something on my bike was to break I was supposed to use theirs to fix it. But I ended up being the first one out,” he laughs. “It’s definitely the toughest thing I’ve done. “It’s harder on a motorbike because you don’t have a roll cage and in cars and trucks you have a co-driver who’s doing the navigating – you’re just doing the driving. But on a bike you’re on your own and you’ve got to do everything yourself. “I broke my hands after a nasty fall. In some ways I was lucky as I was actually able to ride on to complete the stage. I could just about hold on. It happened when I still had something like 440 kilometres to go to get to the end of the day to see the doctor. It was painful but I could sort of ride and I was thinking, ‘Well at least it’s not like two snapped arms and maybe I’ve just strained them or something.’ “I’ll never forget riding along after the crash in severe pain and by this stage I was gagging for some water due to the shock. I had one of those tubes that you hook over your shoulder for drinking from. I couldn’t hook it on and couldn’t figure out why until I looked down and saw that my thumb was pointing the other way. And that was the hand that I thought was OK. That’s when I thought, ‘This is really, REALLY, bad!’ “I remember going to this French doctor. I said, ‘Listen I’ll be all right, just give me an injection for the pain.’ He looked at me and started laughing. “He said, (cue bad French accent) ‘Charley, you’ve broken both your hands, I’m not sure

if you’re going to be able to wipe your own derriere!” The Dakar Rally is universally considered to be one of the most gruelling races in the world and according to Charley, it takes a certain type of training to prepare for it. “Dakar was a year and a half of training,” he says. “I was a good off-road rider but I certainly wasn’t an enduro rider capable of doing a really long event like that. It’s a very different type of fitness. I had to get bike fit. You can go to the gym as much as you like and then you get on the bike and half a day later of hard riding, you can barely walk. So it was all about training on the bike for as much time as possible.” His latest series, ‘By Any Means,’ saw Charley travel from Wicklow to Sydney using any means of appropriate local transportation. The journey saw him utilise a rowing boat, taxi, snowmobile and even a wakeboard, but his favourite was the Tuk Tuk he rode through Varanasi in India. “That was just nuts,” he says. “The drivers are just crazy, crazy people. Getting to drive it myself was also a lot of fun!” ‘By Any Means’ again saw Charley ‘flying solo’ without Ewan but there are plans for the pair to work together again in the near future. “He’s got this huge, huge film career so he doesn’t have as much time as me. And also I’ve been trying to create something for myself so I can keep doing these trips! We’re hopefully doing another ‘By Any Means’ this year and then Ewan and I have talked about doing ‘Long Way Up’ through South America and North America, so hopefully we’ll do that soon.” Whatever he does next, it seems clear that Charley Boorman’s life will continue to be just one big adventure. n