#67 April 2016

Dark Skies Challenge 2016
DMX in photos
Champion tactics
at ADDC
MX Starter Tips
Plenty of
PRODUCTS
TO CHECK OUT
Price
10.00 AED
10.00 QAR
1.00 OMR
TAKING
FLIGHT WITH
BREITLINGS
NIGEL LAMB
Artificial Dive Sites:
A GUIDE
Vol. 6, No. 4
April 2016
www.OutdoorUAE.com
Sport In Life Distribution
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MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
APRIL 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM
OutdoorUAE Team
Engines and our Motorsport Addiction

The initial purpose of a vehicle any vehicle is to get people from point A
to point B. Simple as that. We as an entire human race have long since been
fascinated with the speed and efficiency by which we can reach certain
destinations. Some people however go the extra mile and get to point A and point
B in style. These are the weekend warriors, the raceday rockstars, the people we
follow on television or in todays society, the Internet.
There is an entire culture behind the world of motocross. There are websites, social streams,
videos, icons, tracks and as many Halls of Fame as anyone could count. This is not limited to motocross too, there is also our fascination with cars above all, motorboats, airplanes, ATVs basically
anything with an engine is fair game for us. We take these creations of fine engineering out for the
day and we push their limits, and in this process, we are making something lifeless machines, into
something more human because we push their boundaries we get them through patches, make
them fly through the air and more for the sake of satisfying our inner selves.
But the world of motorsports is not just an individual journey. Along the way youll be backed
by friends and family and of course the idols which made you want to follow along their footsteps.
There will be times when you or others will recommend a route for each
other to ride, or you can even go along community rides. This sense of unity
within the motoring community is such a strong bond that its not surprising
really to see that these same people are also buddies outside the track.
So for this month, prepare to read about stories from everyone behind the
wheel, be it proper drift cars, dirt bikes shredding some sand, 4x4s bashing
some dunes in the desert, stunt planes taking the skies or wild powerboats
Keith Perea
tearing through the waves. This issue is about our desire to go faster or
Junior Editor & Social Media further with the help of the greatest invention known to man the engine.
Daniel Birkhofer
Founder
daniel@outdooruae.com
Rachael Bruford
Travel Editor
rachael@outdooruae.com
Eulogy van Dyk

Editor Qatar
eulogy@outdooruae.com
Nela Macovei
Business Development Manager
nela@outdooruae.com
Margo Ciruelos
Sales and Marketing
margo@outdooruae.com
Ireneo Jung Francisco

Designer and Photographer
jung@outdooruae.com
Katherine Caedo Patangui

Administration
kathy@outdooruae.com
keith@outdooruae.com
Editor
For editorial content and press releases
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 5760322
editor@outdooruae.com
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Published by
Outdoor UAE FZE
In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS
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Dubai, U.A.E.
Cover photo by: Avinash John
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2016 Outdoor UAE FZE
Vol. 6, No. 4, April 2016
Get to us on Facebook!
2016 Outdoor UAE FZE

Reg. at Creative City Fujairah
P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.
EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS
Kit Belen
Our fishing pro
Nico de Corato
Diver and heli rescue swimmer
with Bergamo Scuba Angels
www.OutdoorUAE.com
Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE
Dan Wright
Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE
Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE
Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE
The information contained is for general use only.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been
obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in
this magazine is provided without a full guarantee of completeness, accuracy and chronology. In
no event will the publisher and/or any of our affiliates be held responsible for decisions made or
action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.
All contents are copyrighted and may not be
reproduced in any form without prior written
permission.
Ian Sebeldia
Circulation
Jake Lyle
Diving and Watersport Expert
Helle Bachofen Von Echt

Elite Women Cyclist
Marina Bruce
The Desert Diva and
off-road expert
WHEN YOURE
DONE READING,
PLEASE RECYCLE!
CONTENTS
10 F1H2O POWERBOAT GRAND PRIX OF DUBAI
20 RED BULL AIR RACE
32 CROKANGO
EVERY ISSUE
20 RED BULL AIR RACE

21 DRIFT ALLSTARS AT YAS MARINA
22 URBAN-ULTRA HAJAR 100
24 PARIS-SORBONNE SUP RACE
26 UAC4X4S 8TH ANNIVERSARY
06 EVENTS CALENDAR
08 BEST SHOTS
09 OFF-ROADERS CORNER: ALL (FX) FOURS ON THE SAND
40 PRODUCTS
63 DIRECTORY
EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS

EVENT + ACTIVITY REPORTS
10 F1H2O POWERBOAT GRAND PRIX OF DUBAI
12 ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE PREVIEW
14 EMIRATES PALACE SUP FESTIVAL
16 IN PICTURES: THE PENULTIMATE RACE OF DMX
19 EARTH HOUR IN DUBAI
OUTDOORUAE
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
28 ACROSS ARABIAN SEAS: ENCOUNTERS
WITH THE SUDANESE BEDOUIN
30 THE KILI QUARTET: ALTITUDE, AGONY AND AGE
32 CROKANGO, OR THE DEADLY KISS OF THE TIGERFISH
LIFESTYLE
34 OUTDOOR FLICKS: ON ANY SUNDAY, THE NEXT CHAPTER
35 HABITUALLY HEALTHY: CAVEMAN BABIES
36 NATURAL HISTORY: DOES SNOOPY SNORKEL?
43 COLUMBIA TITANIUM APPAREL COLLECTION
46 DARK SKIES CHALLENGE
58 WHAT IVE LEARNED FROM MOTOCROSS
TRIED + TESTED
PEOPLE
39 2XU 24/7 COMPRESSION SOCKS

41 DJI OSMO GIMBAL AND CAMERA
43 COLUMBIA TITANIUM APPAREL COLLECTION
45 SIC RECON 11.4 SUP/SURF BOARD
56 KRISTIAN GHEDINA SKIIER AND RACECAR DRIVER

57 NIGEL LAMB AEROBATIC PILOT
OUR EXPERTS
TIPS + TRICKS
OUR EXPERTS
46 DARK SKIES CHALLENGE - MARINA
48 AWESOME AQUARIUMS: THE LOST CHAMBERS - JAKE
50 MAX DID IT - NICO
52 WOMEN ON WHEELS: PREPARING
FOR LIFE WITH PROS HELLE
54 THE CURSE THAT RULES US ALL - KIT
58 WHAT IVE LEARNED FROM MOTOCROSS

60 MX FITNESS BY FITNESS FIRST
61 CROSS CHAINING DOS AND DONTS BY REVOLUTION CYCLES
62 FAILING THE TEST OF FAILING TO TEST?
OUTDOORUAE
EVENTS CALENDAR
STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS
APRIL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
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ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE 2016
The oldest and most prestigious international cross-country rally in the UAE.
When: April 1-7
Where: Empty Quarter, Liwa
Contact: www.abudhabdesertchallenge.com
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UAE JETSKI RACE
Intense, on-water action between an international line-up

of over 80 racers.
When: April 7
Where: Abu Dhabi Breakwater
Contact: www.adimsc.ae
APRIL
01
NORTH FACE ROCK RUN 2016
Grab your running gear for one of the biggest trail

runs in the Middle East!
08
DUBAI HOLDING SKYRUN
52 floors, 1,334 steps and 265 metres of charitable running

in the Emirates Towers offices.
When: April 8
Where: Emirates Towers
Contact: www.skyrun.ae
APRIL
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DUBAI DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIP
The exclusive, the elite and the best equestrians are

coming to Dubai for two days of Horse Ballet.
When: April 11-12
Where: Emirates Equestrian Centre
Contact: www.emiratesequestriancentre.com
OCEANIC TRIATHLON SERIES

Back by popular demand and with two
new distances!
When: April 15
Where: Oceanic Hotel Khorfakkan
Contact: www.premieronline.com
When: April 1
Where: Wadi Showka
Contact: www.facebook.com/northfaceme
APRIL
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APRIL
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G4G SNOW HIKE
Join Gulf for Good for an early morning hike at

Ski Dubai!
When: April 15
Where: Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates
Contact: www.gulf4good.org
08
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DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP 2016
The premier polo competition of the year bringing together the worlds best polo teams to battle out to win the title.
When: April 8-15
Where: Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club
Contact: www.dubaipologoldcup.com
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TRIATHLON FESTIVAL 2016
23
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ASHURST AQUATHLON SERIES RACE 3
Whether youre a runner, swimmer or sprinter, theres

bound to be something to be enjoyed at this event.
Now in its third year, this years event comes

with three distances for even more challenges.
When: April 9
Where: Jebel Ali Golf Resort
Contact: www.race-me-events.com
When: April 23
Where: Jebel Ali Golf Resort
Contact: www.race-me-events.com
APRIL
16
HAMILTON AQUATICS DOHA

DEVELOPMENT SERIES
The Development series is designed for young

swimmers to experience a competitive environment.
APRIL
21
16
DUBAI DESERT ROAD RUN 10K AND 3K

A friendly and safe run at the Sevens
on a worry-free weekend.
When: April 16
Where: The Sevens Village Area
Contact: www.premieronline.com
An action packed championship of the fastest

growing motorsport in the Middle East and the world!
When: April 21-22
Where: Qatar Racing Club
Contact: www.qrc.qa
When: April 16
Where: Hamad Aquatics Centre, Doha, Qatar
Contact: www.hamiltonaquatics.ae
APRIL
QATAR DRIFT CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL
30
SHARBATLY FRUIT AQUATHLON

The last race of the season and you last
chance to win a French Alps holiday!
When: April 30
Where: The Fairmont the Palm
Contact: www.supersportsdubai.com
BEST SHOTS
Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it
was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies
of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Ace Espiritu, Arjun Sasi and Bassel Ounah. Well done!
Ace Espiritu
Lying on a sea of clouds in Yanas Mountain RAK
Arjun Sasi
Eternity
OUTDOORUAE
Bassel Ounah
Kayaking at DXB Paddling
THE
OFF-ROADERS
corner
All (FX) Fours

on the Sand
Name: John Joseph
Nationality: Indian
Occupation: Group Projects and
Facilities Manager at Binhendi Enterprises
Ride: Ford F-150 FX4
Simple as it may be, Johns

Ford F-150 has seen adventures
of every kind and of course, hes
planning to add more bits and bobs
to it to make it a more dedicated
4x4. Hes also planning an upgrade
real soon. So while hes not with
the new ride yet (another epic
off-roader), we catch him with his
F-150.
Tell us a little background
story about the car...
I must say that I love trucks. I love that they

have a big bed and are the ideal vehicles if
you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, which I certainly do. I took this for a test drive and fell in
love with it even more, and couldnt resist.
After I sold my previous Cadillac CTS
which was my work car, I started to look for
a truck. As much as I would have loved to
drive some of the cars which I previously
owned such as Jeep Wrangler 95 YJ inline
6 and Ford Mustang GT, I couldnt find any
good one in the market. After a few months
of looking around, I found this F-150 for sale.
Low mileage, no modifications, spotless and
never been off-road exactly what I was looking for. It has never let me down since then.
Do you have something that

you would consider to be a
special feature of your car?
It is unstoppable. I take it off-road all the time

and it never puts a foot wrong. It has a 5.0-litre engine mated to an automatic transmission and it has plenty of power.
I have driven it in the dunes and on rocky

trails, and it tackles any terrain with ease. It
helps give me an awesome sense of adventure and then when I get on the highway it
drives as smooth as silk. Wadi and mountain
trails gives me more fun than desert drives
home through roads which only my truck

could manage. Shouldve seen the smile on
their parents faces.
I have always believed that the car you
drive reflects your personality and I would
say my truck speaks volumes about mine.
What were your other options

before you bought this car?
Any future modifications

that you are planning?
The Dodge RAM was a closer option and almost finalised on one. But then this came my
way and I couldnt resist buying it. The FX4
trims - interior trims (suede with red piping)
and exterior black stripes bowled me over.
How do you spend time with the car?

I take her out to explore places in every
chance that I get. I have been to places
where only competent 4x4s can only go.
Needless to say the truck has seen places,
many places. Other than that, I have also
pulled out a few cars out of some bad
pickles. Those vehicles are competent dune
bashers but the drivers probably had a bit of
bad luck.
But the best rescue was during last Marchs
rain. I helped get seven kids home after they
got stuck in school. School buses couldnt
get to the school because of the floods and
parents asked for help. I picked them up from
Jebel Ali school and dropped them back
I have never seen the need to add performance modifications to a car a good driver
will take a standard car much further than a
bad one will take one with extra horsepower
or a larger engine transplant.
It is super-smooth and hassle free, but of
course some driving skills are required. Its
a powerful truck and its suspension allows it
to tackle large bumps very smoothly, even at
high speeds. Basically, the F-150 makes you
feel in control and powerful, and this FX4
package is way more capable and formidable
than before. White and black indeed looks
good, but I also quite like these in red. I have
plans to modify it a little with a Roush
performance exhaust system as well as
off-road bumpers.
For the exterior, Id like side steps and bash
plates. I have foiled the bed door matte black
recently to get that mean dirty look.
What 4x4 do you dream of owning?

Roush Raptor is still in my bucket list for
2017. Maybe youll see me driving one?
Want your 4X4 to be the next feature?

Its all simple! Just send us an email
at editor@outdooruae.com with the
subject Off-Roaders Corner and you
and your car might just be the next one
on this page!
OUTDOORUAE
EVENT REPORT
Emirates Racing Team is Back!

Inside the Emirates Racing Team from the 2016 F1 Powerboat World Championship
Emirates Racing Team is back
for its second year running in the
Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship. After an exciting first race
that took place in Dubai on the 4th
of March, the championship will
now be moving over to Europe to
compete in Evian on 17th July.
The Emirates Racing Team has gained
some extra additions to the team this year.
Racing alongside accomplished Emirati
veteran Ahmed Al Hameli and up and
coming Swedish star Erik Stark is the Italian
driver, Ivan Brigada returning to the sport
after a five year absence. On his return to
the sport Ivan commented: Its great to be
back, this environment feels like home for
me. The first Grand Prix in Dubai, where
I finished in 7th position, I was still reintroducing myself to the boat and finding
my feet but it was a good result and I feel
strong coming into the championship.
Also joining the team is new Formula
4 driver Ali Bin Shaiban. Ali is well accustomed to the world of motorsports through
his career in jet ski and go kart racing. Ali
had a great result in his Formula 4 debut in
the Dubai race and will be a exceptional addition to the Emirates Racing Team family.
Ivan Brigada front
Erik Stark engaged
This strong line-up alongside team manager

and four-time World Champion, Scott Gillman makes for a powerful team this season.
Emirates Investment Corporation will be
sponsoring the Emirates Racing Team for
the second year running this year. On the
sponsorship this season Faisal Al Meenah,
Chairman of EMIC stated: We at EMIC
are happy to be supporting the team once
again in the 2016 season. Through our
endorsement we hope to raise awareness
of this remarkable sport and demonstrate
the passion and ambition that the Emirates
Racing Team values as highly as us here at
EMIC. We are proud to support the United
Arab Emirates through the team and show
the strength and talent of the UAE across
the globe.
Reflecting on the sponsorship and
upcoming season Ahmed Al Hameli said:
As I always say this team for me is like
family. Ive worked with Scott Gillman for
over 12 years and I am building a strong

bond with my team members Erik and
Ivan. I feel honoured by the sponsorships
this year and am extremely grateful EMIC
has decided to continue their support of
the team. Im confident we can make them
proud throughout the season and ultimately
bring home the trophies for them.
Scott Gillman added: I am thrilled at the
support given by our sponsors and mem-
bers of the Emirates Racing Team family. This

season I am feeling very positive about our team,
Ivan had a great race, coming back after such
a long gap. Erik was holding a strong position
among the top 6 throughout the entire race until
the last 7 laps when he had trouble with the prop
and had to pull out. Ahmed is itching to get back
into the boat for the rest of the season, his champion spirit and ability will make him come back
stronger than ever. Lastly, our Formula 4 driver,
Ali, is already showing so much strong potential
after just a few times in the boat, Im confident
he will be a fierce contender in future races. I feel
lucky to have these talented drivers on my team
and my sight is set on reaching for that top step
of the podium.
The F1 Powerboat World championship was inaugurated in 1981 and is organised by the Union
Internationale Motonautique (UIM) The sport has
been described as the most spectacular water
Ivan Brigada side
sport in the world and the ultimate adrenaline

rush. The power boats accelerate faster than most
state of the art F1 cars and can reach speeds of
160kph in four seconds. The Emirates
Racing Team will compete across the world this
season in their unmissable black and orange
powerboats in countries including France (17th
July), Portugal (31st July), China - Harbin (4th
September), China - Liuzhou (3rd October), Asia
(DATE TBC), and then returning to the UAE for
the exciting finale in Abu Dhabi (9th December)
and finally in Sharjah (16th December).
EVENT REPORT
Inside the Minds

of the Racers
Insights on the 26th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Photos Supplied By: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
The stage is set for a classic

battle for glory in the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge powered by
Nissan, with 166 competitors from
36 countries preparing to tackle
the 26th edition of the event.
Over the years, the Desert Challenge has
produced some intriguing contests on four
and two wheels, and the quality of the official entry list announced this month by the
Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE
promises another spectacular showpiece
from the 2nd to the 7th of April.
Russias Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin
Zhilstov are top racers in the 62-strong cars
category as they look for a third successive
victory in Abu Dhabi, where Yas Marina Circuit provides the Rally HQ and the finishing
point for the rally.
Their biggest challengers include Qatars two-times Dakar Rally winner Nasser
Al Attiyah, the host countrys experienced
World Rally Championship contender Sheikh
Khalid Al Qassimi, Saudi Arabias Yazeed Al
Rajhi and Finlands former WRC star Mikko
Hirvonen.
The UAEs 18-driver challenge also sees
eighth-seeded Yahya Al Helei maintaining

his remarkable 100% appearance in the
event, while his son Mansour defends the T2
production class title he won last year.
The top ten racers also include accomplished German lady driver Jutta Kleinschmidt who finished third overall in the
1996 Desert Challenge and went on to
become the first woman to win the Dakar
Rally five years later. She forms one of two
all-lady crews in the event with Swedish
co-driver Tina Thorner, the other being
Italians Valentina Casella and Giulia Maroni.
Interestingly, this introduction of women into

the races thus proves to show that the challenge does not look upon gender and that
the field of motocross and off-road is open
for everyone.
In the bikes category, Spains Marc Coma
has retired from competitive rallying following his eighth Desert Challenge victory
last year. This being the case the field is
wide open for the competitors in the bikes
category as they all vie for a title that is for
anyones taking. With this tension settling
between the riders, the event is guaranteed
Retiring ADDC defending champion Marc

Comas title is ripe for the taking for this season
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OUTDOORUAE
a new bikes champion, and this year will see

42 riders from 12 nations on the deserts to
compete for the title.
Despite the bikes crown being anybodys
title, there are still some riders that are seen
to be great bets to win the race. One such
person is the Dubai-based, British rider Sam
Sunderland, who was the runner-up to his
KTM teammate Coma last year. Meanwhile,
while all eyes are on Sunderland, people
are also betting on Chiles Pablo Quintanilla,
who is seeded second is also expected to
shine after his third place 12 months ago,
rounding up the predictions for the top
three seedings is this years Dakar Rally winner, Australian Toby Price.
With regards other seedings, Emirati
Mohammed Al Balooshi earned fourth place
in the seedings sequence, an improvement
from this placement of sixth place last year,
while Laia Sanz, a multiple Spanish and
European motorcycle trials champion who
is among four lady riders taking part, is
seeded sixth.
This years challenge also sees the welcome return of veteran Slovenian rider Miran
Stanovnik who missed the events 25th
edition last year because of a training injury,
ending an unbroken run of 19 appearances
since the rally was extended to include bikes
in 1995.
Commenting on the lineup for this years
event ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben
Sulayem had this to say: They are a very
powerful entry list by any standard and we
now look forward to another very competitive event . There are some new names this
year, but once again we see so many familiar
faces. Im very happy to see Yahya back

again, as he has been with us from the start
and is a great supporter of the event. Its
also nice to welcome back Miran, who is
part of the Desert challenge family.
Taking place under the patronage of H.H.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the
Rulers Representative in the Western region,
the 26th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is the
second round of the 2016 FIA World Cup
for Cross Country Rallies and the opening
round of this years FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.
Cars defending champion Vasilyev drives
one of seven prototype All4 Racing Minis as
he looks to become only the second driver
ever to complete a hat-trick of successive of
Desert Challenge cars victories after JeanLouis Schlesser in 2001.
Partnered by French navigator Matthieu
Baumel in an Overdrive Toyota Hilux, Al
Attiyah will be aiming to bury his disappointment from last year when he thought he had
added to his 2008 victory but was excluded
for a technical irregularity at the finish.
Also hoping for better fortunes this time
is Al Qassimi, who went out on the penultimate leg last year while holding fourth place
on his Desert Challenge debut. He returns
at the wheel of a Mini All4 Racing in partnership with Emirati co-driver Khalid Al Kendi.
Also driving Minis are fourth-placed Saudi
Vasiliyev aims to score another victory this year, being one

of the few drivers to score consecutive wins at the ADDC.
Al Rajhi, who is joined by German co-driver

Timo Gottschalk, and 2012 WRC runnerup Hirvonen, accompanied by Frenchman
Michel Perin.
Another lady driver aiming to make an
impact is Dr. Keiko Hamaguchi, a Japanese
surgeon who competes with Italian Umberto
Fiori in a Toyota FJ Cruiser.
The 2016 Desert Challenge gets under
way with a super special spectator stage at
Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Abu
Dhabi on April 2nd, before heading out into
the Rub Al Khali for five days of spectacular desert stages. The event finishes at Yas
Marina Circuit on the 7th of April.
EVENT REPORT
Words By: Jen Scully
On Saturday, March 12th,

stand-up paddlers from around the UAE
joined together for the third annual
Emirates Palace SUP Festival. Held on
the pristine beach of the iconic hotel, the
SUP Festival, organized by the Abu Dhabi
Stand Up Paddlers, is an all day paddle
festival with a variety of events to suit all
paddlers young and old, those with plenty
of experience and even complete newbies.
This is one of the greatest appeals of the
event, the ability to attract families, friends
and keen paddlers to join together and
share the love of the sport.
The morning started with raindrops, a sky
filled with clouds and a strong breeze that
was sweeping over the typically complete
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OUTDOORUAE
flat water in front of the Emirates Palace

Beach. These conditions, if continued,
would have provided much needed protection and relief from the sun, but the wind
wouldve added an element of difficulty
to the race course. Thankfully the clouds
parted, the sun started to shine, and the
wind died all before the first race kicked
off at 10:30 a.m. It was a beautiful day for
a SUP Festival.
With 69 participants from 22 different
countries, as young as 5 and as old as 58,
the event brought together a wonderful international mix of ages to compete against
each other in three main event distances.
These included a 500m Sprint Beginner
Race for Kids, Juniors, Men and Women. A 2km Recreation Race for Juniors,
Men and Women and a 4km Distance
Race for Juniors, Men and Women.
This years race course proved to be the
most challenging to date, a 1km course
with six buoy turns and a 30m beach run in
between laps. The beach run has become a
signature part of the festival, in which
racers jump off their board each lap, proceed with a beach run around a chute
lined with flags and spectators cheering
them on, then sprint back to their board to
complete another lap. The 500m race completed two laps of shortened course, while
the 2km and 4km events saw racers do two
laps and four laps respectively. The feeling
of jumping off your board to run the chute
can be exhausting, however the cheers from
the crowd encouraging each other to Go,
Go, Go is an awesome feeling and makes
every paddler want to do their best. Getting
up close with the race course is the key to
participants and spectator interaction which

provides an added element of excitement
for the races.
This year, the 4km race saw veteran and
leading male UAE paddler, Amer Dandachi
take top honour with relative ease. A quick
start off the line, he gradually made space
between second placer, Nick Yates, another
seasoned veteran. Nick paddled hard to
keep second throughout the race with a
number of paddlers on his heels including,
teen and Naish Middle East sponsored
paddler, Guy Welchman. However, in the final lap it was Brian Stephenson who passed
F-One paddler, Jakub Szczensy and Guy
Welchman to secure the 3rd spot in the line
up.
The 4km womens race was won by Naish
Middle East rider Jen Scully, who also was
busy playing two hats as she has spearheaded the event over the past three years.
Passionate about SUP and bringing the
community together, this event allows her to
do just that and fit in racing too. Guy Welchman and Conrad Bay took first and second
in the junior category.
The 2km races saw tops spots taken by
Mostafa Al Hussaini and Esther Farrant,

both veteran paddlers, but making a return
to racing after a year hiatus. The surf style
race 122 and under were won by Sebastian
Lhomme and Verna Nizolla. Lucas Bay won
the junior 2km race.
Arnaud Perrisse and Jacinta Veitch racing
in the 500m sprint took home 1st place for
the Men and Women respectively. While
Celia Dulieu and Lewis Cochrane won the
sprint kids races.
With the main, more competitive, races
out of the way, there was plenty of more
fun on the way. The afternoon saw the team
relay and tandem races, which allowed for
everyone, young and old to race together
in some exciting team racing. The tandem
race had two people on one board racing
around a small course of three buoys about
75 metres in distance all together. One racer
stood and paddled, while the partner laid
on the board, using their hands to help paddle along and gain speed. This was a close
race, which saw carnage at the buoy as
people tried their best to hang on. Coming
in the lead crossing the finish line together
was Jules Chartier and Victoria Thieffen.
The highlight of the day was the Mega
SUP Team Relays. Using abnormally large
stand up paddle boards from Red Paddle
Co., these gigantic boards are used for team
paddling. In these relay, teams of six were
pitted against one another in a time trial.
They paddled in unison or at least tried to,
spot. This years winner included Nick Yates,

Jen Scully, Guy Welchman and Celia Dulieu.
Thank you to all of the participants, the
spectators and of course the sponsors for a
wonderful day at the 2016 Emirates Palace
SUP Festival.
around a buoy and back, running the chute

until they all crossed the line together. The
top two teams battled it out in the Team Relay final. Team Naish just nudged out Team
Red Paddle/F-One and claimed victory in
the Mega SUP team contest.
The event wrapped with the annual N1SCO
Naish One Design Race - a 100 metre sprint
knockout - with exciting heats battling it
out until the final. This is one event in which
you never know who the winner will be until
the final heat and the first paddler cross the
line. You have to have a quick start, an even
quicker turn at the buoy and be ready to
jump off the board and run or even jump and
fly through the finish line to secure the top
The event would not have been

possible without the support
from the following sponsors:
Emirates Palace, A2Z Events, OutdoorUAE,

Naish, Ocean Sports Middle East, Pro-Limit,
Crowne Plaza, F-One, Red Paddle Co.,
Starboard, SeaYou, Hydro Marine, Eywoa,
Wadi Adventure, Live Love SUP and Paris
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
Results
500m Sprint Men
500m Sprint Women
500m Sprint Girls
500m Sprint Boys
1. Arnaud Perrisse
2. Paolo Paolo
1. Jacinta Veitch
2. Severine
3. Ingrid Perrisse
1. Celia Dulieu
2. Nikka Vugrinec
3. Yenise Lefaut
1. Lewis Cochrane
2. Remy Lhomme
3. Sasha Perrisse
2k Rec. Men 126
2k Rec. Women 126
1. Mostafa Al Hussaini 1. Esther Farrant

2. Alexandra Ruta
2. Jules Chartier
3. Victoria Thieffin
3. Adrian Nizzola
2k Rec 122
& Under Men
2k Rec 122
& Under Women
1. Sebastian Lhomme 1. Verna Nizzola

2. Gaelle Dulieu
2. Stephen Gilbert
3. Kristy Gkarikou
3. Chris Cochrane
2k Junior
4k Distance Men
4k Distance Women
4k Distance Junior
1. Lucas Bay
2. Dominic Vurginec
3. Levi Chard
1. Amer Dandachi
2. Nick Yates
3. Brian Stephenson
1. Jen Scully
2. Christel
3. Marie Lalanne
1. Guy Welchman
2. Conrad Bay
Team Relay 1st
Tandem 1st
1. Levi Chard
3. Nick Yates 5. Guy Welchman
Victoria Thieffen and Jules Chartier
2. Hosam Ashcraft 4. Jen Scully 6. Brian Stephenson
N1SCO Naish Keiki N1SCO Naish Junior N1SCO Naish Women N1SCO Naish Men
1. Celia Dulieu
2. Yenise Lefaut
3. Laura Lhomme
1. Guy Welchman
2. Conrad Bay
3. Lucas Bay
1. Jen Scully
2. Marie Lalanne
3. Esther Farrant
1. Nick Yates
2. Jakub Sczcensy
3. Amer Dandachi
OUTDOORUAE
15
EVENT REPORT
In Pictures:
The Penultimate Race of DMX

Photos By: Avinash John
There are constant highlights to

an event. But the most exciting is
to see who will emerge the victor.
Motocross is a real action sport
- watching the competition take
turns and make attacks, the noise
of their dirt bikes and of course,
the loud cheering when a winner
is already found, they are clamored
for pushing their own personal
limits. That in itself is very
interesting.
At the start of the race are 20 riders
hopefuls if we may say who in a few minutes will be vying for the top spot in their
various motorcycles Yamahas, Kawasakis,
KTMs and others. The grid is filled with tension which immediately disappears as soon
as they are waved off to start. In a fraction
of a second, the silence filled course is
invaded by the shrill sound of motocross
bikes and the sand comes alive as tyres
make contact with them at every turn.
The same could be said about the first lap
which was full of attacks from all the racers
as a lot of them try to set the tone for the
rest of the day.
From where I was standing, some of the
audience as well as my friends were making
predictions as to who will take this stage
of the race. I decided to jump in on this
and check out who is the fan favourite
the selection is varied as a lot of them are
shooting for different people. But there
seems to be a common denominator in
OVERALL RESULTS
Location: Jebel Ali
Length: 1.2000 Km
MX1/MX2
Pos
Start No.
Competitor
Total Points
r1
r2
r3
411
Ross Runnalls
75
25
25
25
38
Daniel Hutchinson
75
25
25
25
Ryan Blair
66
22
22
22
111
Ben Menzies
66
22
22
22
11
Dale Jullien
60
20
20
20
43
Joshua Brodalka
54
18
18
18
141
Mitcheal Malpass
52
18
16
18
82
Sultan Al Balooshi
50
20
15
15
Dean Jullien
47
20
16
15
10
24
Abdullah Shatti
45
14
15
16
11
73
Darren Berry
43
15
14
14
12
Tycho Liejre
39
13
13
13
13
Mohammad Balooshi
38
18
20
14
23
Mohamed Jaffar
36
20
16
15
Mark Ackerman
16
Oliver Evelleigh
Masters 45+ | Veterans 35+ | Clubman 20+

Pos
Start No.
Total Points
r1
r2
895
Brent Gregson
Competitor
50
25
25
Mark Ackerman
47
22
25
15
Adam Ridgway
47
22
25
Mohammad Balooshi
47
25
22
27
Corado Meneghello
44
22
22
11
Janne Tuohino
40
20
20
Sean Holder
36
16
20
Paul Malpass
36
18
18
831
Enrico Barbaglia
36
20
16
10
21
John (Andrew) Watkinson
34
16
18
11
25
Duncan Crerar
34
18
16
12
222
L. Corby
30
15
15
13
150
Philip Van Der Walt
30
15
15
14
144
Alberto Secchi
28
14
14
15
897
Regen Laue
25
25
Total Points
r1
r2
Youth/85cc
Pos
Start No.
Competitor
174
Abdula Anwar
50
25
25
88
Alexander Mortada
50
25
25
74
Ceirion Bray
44
22
22
21
Jamie Horn
44
22
22
42
Frederick Barker
40
20
20
35
Kayan Patel
18
18
Ladies
Pos
Start No.
Total Points
r1
r2
64
Dana Miskulnig
Competitor
47
22
25
Katie Turie
47
25
22
86
Lacey Sexson
38
18
20
29
Chante Nolan
38
20
18
OUTDOORUAE
17
place they were all betting on the riders

who won the past championships such as
Jake Shipton or Ryan Blair. Nonetheless, I
for one always root for the underdogs to
challenge the champion bets so that we
here in the audience could be treated to
an amazing show of skill and expertise. For
this race, Im betting on Ross Runnals with
the Kawasaki Racing Team and it seems my
faith is not out of place as he is currently
leading the MX1 class.
Another rider Im also quite fascinated
with is Ahmed Alnuaimi from the 65cc class
who is also from the Kawasaki team. He
has shown a lot of improvement over the
past season and has entered this Marchs
penultimate race with a show of skill unlike
any other.
Seeing action taking all over the track,
it was a perfect opportunity for me to take
some great photos of the event in the manner of telling a story. You can check out my
shots along this article. You can also see
the current standings below to see whos
leading the various categories.
At the moment, motocross is no quite big
yet here in the UAE but this is countered by
the fact that it is one of the fastest growing motorsports in the Middle East. With
various bike companies battling for sales, it
allows fast riders to be sponsored but not
18
OUTDOORUAE
to the extent as you would in Europe where

a rider can live off racing. 90% of riders either have a job or are still in school. For this
sport to grow even further, sponsors need
to come and the DMX races have to be
more prevalent and made aware of, and I
think magazines such as OutdoorUAE does
this greatly. So heres to more awareness,
more races and more dirt bike bashing action in the final race for the 2015/16 season
of DMX on the 15th of April!
EVENT REPORT
Switch Off for a Bright Tomorrow
2016 Earth Hour Dubai

Words By: Keith Perena
Photos By: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
When you think about it,

most of the activities that we do
outdoors would not be possible
without a responsible and constant
eye on the environment.
That being said, it sounds just right when for
the span of 60 short minutes Dubai turned off
all its lights for the 2016 Earth Hour organised
by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
for the ninth consecutive year, in line with the
desire of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under
the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown
Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai
Executive Council for a greener Dubai.
A lot of outdoor enthusiasts always go by
an adage that goes leave nothing but footprints and I think that its one great initiative
that of course supports Earth Hour. So much
so that the event, taking place in Bay Avenue
Park in Business Bay had not only a couple of
cultural events free to experience and try out,
but it also has some various outdoor activities
to partake in such as wall climbing, ziplining
and even making your own natural milkshake
by use of a pedal-powered blender!
The activities around the park ensured that
there was fun to be had for everyone before
the hour when they had to turn off all their
lights. Queues from all over the location were
lengthy with people securing free gifts LED
powered caps for a fun evening while some
lighted organically made candles in hopes
of a better Earth in the future. Around the
vicinity, buildings; apartments and offices followed suit to the festivities.
When the time to come for everyone to
shut off their lights occurred, it was met at
first with a silence as well as enthusiasm

among the crowd. Shockingly, the LED caps
came to good use when all of a sudden,
the park came to another life with the use
of black light and all of sudden the participants caps came to have a fluorescent glow
on them. Of course that doesnt defeat the
purpose of the event as the act of turning on
unnecessary light saw a 222MWh reduction
in the consumption of electricity and as well
as a 96-tonne reduction of carbon dioxide
emissions effectively reducing the emirates
carbon footprint. Quite a big number for a
short span of time!
What was surprising was the participation
of nearby buildings as well including the Burj
Khalifa. For that evening, the tallest building
in the world fell dark in support of a cleaner
and brighter future for everyone. Amidst the
lights shutting off, a small walkathon around
the area took place and it saw a couple of
neon clad runners in varying colors walking
along the vicinity looking like some beacons
of the future. On the venue itself, some lightshows and intermission numbers took place
all with the help of LEDs.
Also present in the event were displays

from DEWA of the new solar panels that will
be used to a greener Dubai. This is in line
with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoums ideals for alternative energy, a
move that will put Dubai as one of the first
adopting massive use of green energy.
In relation to the outdoors, of course this
is great because now we can live in city that
is aware of its impact in the world and also
it supports our personal belief of leaving
nothing but footprints whilst we are in the
mountains or in the seas.
So think about it, we wouldnt have the
outdoors we enjoy in if we didnt do our
part to save the planet. And its only for 60
minutes of your time. Therefore, next time,
shut off the lights and turn on your mind for a
cleaner and brighter world that future generations could enjoy as much as we do now.
EVENT REPORT
Red Bull Air Race Season Opener
The first race of the 2016 Red

Bull Air Race World Championship
was even hotter than expected on
Saturday, as Nicolas Ivanoff from
France blazed through the pylons
to victory in a close competition at
Abu Dhabis famed Corniche.
Battling for the early lead in whats setting

up to be an especially fierce title battle
over the eight-race season, Ivanoffs time
of 00:58:550 was just enough to clinch the
top step of the podium ahead of Matthias
Dolderer of Germany in second place 00:58:660 and Francois Le Vot of France in
third - 01:02:281.
With the retirement of 2015 World
Champion Paul Bonhomme, the title is
anyones to seize, and the heat was on
at Abu Dhabis sizzling shoreline.
Unpredictable winds and a challenging

racetrack put the lineup of fourteen of the
worlds best pilots, including three former
World Champions and two charging
newcomers, to the test.
The challenges will continue across six
more countries before the points are tallied
to crown the 2016 World Champion of the
ultimate motorsport series in the sky
at the season finale in Las Vegas, USA this
October.
EVENT REPORT
Yas Marina Goes Sideways
The local royals of slide battle it out at Yas Marina

Photos Supplied By: Drift Allstars
Drift Allstars kicks off the 2016

GP season at the Yas Marina
Circuit, UAE. 10 international
drivers from across the globe will
touch down at the Yas Marina
circuit in the United Arab Emirates
on April 7-8th to do battle under
the lights against the best drivers
in the Middle East for the opening
round of honors of the 2016 Drift
Allstars GP Series.
This will be the first time the regions
drivers will do battle against some of the
biggest names of the sport. Combine this
with the current explosion of the sport
across the GCC region and this event promises to be a huge boost for the sport as it
evolves into the fastest growing and biggest
motorsport in the Middle East.
Yas Marina Circuit, famous for hosting
the final round of the Formula 1 series, V8
Supercars and International GT racing will
be specially adapted for what is shaping up

to be the biggest International drift event to
hit the region so far.
Niall Gunn added Kicking off at the Yas
Marina Circuit is a dream come true. The
Abu Dhabi Drift GP season opener is the
perfect fit for Drift Allstars as we kick off our
new international series which goes across
three continents this season. Hailed as the
ultimate drift circuit on the planet its going
to be one of the main highlights of the 2016
season, utilizing this world class facility and
combining live music and entertainment as
part of the show. We cannot wait to see a
star studded lineup of international drivers
battle the best drift drivers in the Middle
East.
Going against the international drivers
will be a host of the top professional drifters from the region who will be aiming to
continue their undefeated record against
international drivers.
Ahmed Alamri of the UAE will be fighting
for the national pride as the reigning Drift
UAE Champion. Ali Makhseed, rising Kuwaiti
superstar will be leading the charge from the
north of the region after early season wins.
Along with a man that some say is one of

the biggest stars of the season, Ahmad
Daham - he is one of the most successful
drivers from Jordan and will want to step
it up and take his chance to battle the big
names. Abudhadi Alqatani will be leading
the force from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Hometown heroes Sultan Al Qassimi
and Khalifa Al Nahyan will also be carrying
hometown honor as they both make their
2016 international debuts on the world
stage.
The action kicks off at 18:00 on both
Thursday 7th and Friday 8th of April.
An extensive retail village and entertainment area will be run on the Oasis of the
North stand. For the first time the SBH Auto
Collection will be on show with 20 different
car clubs coming together to showcase their
vehicles in the confines of the North stand.
Live music and entertainment will keep the
fans on the edge of their toes over the duration off the action packed two days.
With tickets starting at just 60 AED a
record breaking crowd can be expected in
attendance to see the battle ensue. Tickets
now available at www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
EVENT REPORT
Urban Ultra Hajar 100
Who said there aint mountain in UAE?
Words By: Aida Othman

Photos By: Urban Ultra
I hardly return for the same

course. But the Hajar 100 by
Urban Ultra in Ras Al Khaimah,
United Arab Emirates is different.
Could it be the surrounding rugged
landscape softened with wild
flowers, and patches of green
grass? Could it be the camaraderie
among participants and amazing
people behind it? Could it be because its the only single-stage trail
run in the country? Whatever it is,
I could not deny the wonderful
feeling of being back on this unique
land I call home.
Getting There
After a delicious homemade gourmet lunch

prepared by Margot (vegetable risotto with
goat cheese and pine nuts), I took a lift from
a good friend, Stephen Turner who was also
participating in the 50km race. The journey
was about an hour from Dubai to Marjan
Island. Occasional wild camels were sighted
along the journey.
Early Crack of Dawn 4th of March
I had an easy dinner (instant mashed potato

bought from Carrefour) and went to bed very
early. After a good night sleep of six hours
and breakfast (a banana and Pure Nutrition
Beetroot Endurance drink), I gathered for
race check-in at 3:00 a.m. in DoubleTree
Hilton, Marjan Island. Exchanging hugs and
22
OUTDOORUAE
friendly chats with runners from Dubai Trail

Running (DTR) filled in the time quickly. I
got the hey I know you from somewhere
moment several times related to the Urban
Ultra race video I was interviewed when I
finished the race last year. I chatted with few
runners as they asked what to expect on the
course.
After feeling confident with shoe choice, I
passed on my drop bags: one to be retrieved
later in Checkpoint Five and one for the finish
line. Race briefing was presented before runners being transported by bus to the starting
line which was about an hours journey.
Start Wadi Bih, UAE

Side near Jebel Jais
This year, Urban Ultra received a few International runners including notable runner from
Jordan, Salameh Alaqra a 2012 Marathon
des Sables winner. As we lined up to start, I
joked with Chad Lasater, asking if he will try
to chase Alaqra.
And just behind the front line-up was Clare
Mullenger, my favourite female ultra runner
as she stood representing the women. Enjoyed the course like you always do, I said.
I will stop at 50km if my injured foot could
not carry any longer.
NO, you do NOT have any injury, said
Lee Harris. So, thats it I dont anymore; bizarre what a positive affirmation could do to
the brain instantly. Benoit Rodriguez said he
had a better excuse than me as he recently
completed a tough desert race in Abu Dhabi
(and won the 100km Liwa Challenge).
I looked back to find other runners. I saw
Brendan Moloney as he was making huge
claps that provoked others to follow. At 6:00
a.m. sharp we embarked on the journey while
it was still dark, not like last year as I recalled;
this time, 100km runners accompanied the
50km runners.
Checkpoint 1
A rather flat first 7.5km as the sun was
about to rise, the cobbled sky was in red and
orange. No stop at Checkpoint (CP) 1. I carried on climbing the 1,000m Janas Mountain.
Checkpoint 2
I enjoyed the winding climb till the top; I was
glad to bump into Moustapha Mroueh (who
finished 100km last year) as we did our first
descent over rocky terrain. We then ran along
the edge of a stunning plateau.
When I reached CP2, there was Servatius
Palmans from Hopasports by the time mat. I
then rushed off to the wide open road without stopping at CP2.
Checkpoint 3
Going downhill put unpleasant impact to my
left foot injury. This was where the DTR gangs
caught me: Gerard Foulkes, James Constable, Simon Williams, Tamaz Lorinz, and then
Moustapha Mroueh (again). It was great to
see them just when I needed some friendly
familiar faces.
At this point, the heat was very strong on
me as we came down from Janas Mountain.
I finished off two bottles of 500ml electrolyte
and filled them in at Checkpoint 3. Grabbed

a few oranges and dashed off to climb the
second hill, Jebel Yibir.
Checkpoint 4
I enjoyed the steep climbing but the heat
took a toll on me. You have no excuse since
youve done last year, a voice came from a
bunch of guys I never met before this race as
they passed me. Not liking what they said, I
replied Why dont you go first, then you can
tell me all about it at the finishing line.
I slowed my pace down when reaching
the village at the top to save energy for the
boulders section. The boulders were the prettiest part very pleasant as the route was
shaded by shrubs and paved with different
shapes of rocks. There were thorny shrubs
that put a tiny hole in my compression pants.
Some parts require squeezing the body in
between the gap of rocks. At one part I got
to stop for a bit to talk myself out of climbing
up a huge rock by using upper body strength
and correct feet placing. Akira Shibayama,
a Japanese runner who I finished together
last year tried to help. Calm down, you are
not far, just need a little push and a few steps
away, said Simon Williams. His magic words
really work on me.
Over the boulders meant the 1,200m climb
of Jebel Yibir came to an end, I then reached
CP4 after a few more short hills on open track
road. There was no sight of oranges cut. Ive
finished all my water supplies since the last
CP (unusual for a camel runner like me), but
only refilled the two bottles as I planned to
refill the bladder on the next CP.
Checkpoint 5 and 50km Finish
I left CP4 with Helmuth Raukuttis, who gave
me a lift in the morning. The downhill run was
enjoyable because it was on tarmac, though
it tired my knees. A couple of cars came up
and down the hill exerting rubber fumes from
braking too often. I bumped into one runner
who was a bit injured but he seems strong in
spirit to finish at CP5.
I did not expect CP5 to be at a different
location than last year, so I ran down the hill
for a further 2km following Simon Williams.
Hearing the bell and cheering put a special
feeling. Seeing charming Kevin Bradford,
lovely Zuzana Laukova and smiling Shaikh
Mansoor I was simply happy to sit and chat
on a comfortable stool under canvas.
Within 15 minutes, other DTR members
finished their 50km race amazing effort by
Tamaz Lorinz and Moustapha Mroueh. After a
serving of very delicious homemade minestrone soup by the organisers, two cans of cold
Sprite and Red Bull, a change of sock and

shoes, top up electrolyte in 500ml bottles, fill
in bladder, iPod shuffle on, and head torch on
off I went as Simon Williams reminded me
to stop chatting. Just when I left CP5, I heard
a name Jeremy being called on so I thought
that must have been Jeremy Grigg from DTR
reaching the finish line. Bravo!
Checkpoint 6
Heading out for second part of race, I felt
good and my leg felt strong. When Simon
needed a bit of rest to get the food down
properly, I said to him to catch up ahead.
Thats what I did whole day didnt I, said
Simon. With this promise, I ran the entire
of 14km enjoying the last hour of sunlight
to only reach a very dim CP and for once
second, I thought this was a self-service
Checkpoint. Poor young volunteers who must
be really tired from the early morning had a
nap in the car. I woke him up so he can jot
down my bib number and suggested to him
to have a coffee.
Checkpoint 7
The next run of 11.5km was pleasant because
most of the trail route was parallel along the
big road, so it was lit up by road lights. I felt
a slight discomfort on my right heel, and I
tried to fix the socks a few times. I stopped
after realising a blister the size of two Tic Tacs
appeared on my heel. Oh, no biggie two
bandages to cover it will do the trick. Its just
that Im not a blister prone runner so this
was a first in any race.
CP7 is the next best CP (after CP 5 that is).
I was looked after by two young volunteers
(Ahmad and Yusuf). I felt a bit hungry, but
my tummy rejected the banana cut, so they
offered a vegetable shawarma, which I took
two bites of not much at all. This energized
me so I dashed out for the remaining half
marathon.
Checkpoint 8
A good 14km run towards CP8 and I made
the effort to enjoy the night run adorned
with bright stars. The music in my iPod shuffled from Britney Spears to Rocky movie
soundtrack as I ran in a rhythm following the
beat.
I didnt stop at CP8 except making sure
I got the right direction. Left on the road,
then turn right after the tyre, no goat farm
track, said a friendly volunteer when I told
that I got lost last year on the way to the finish line. While packing at CP8, I left it secretly
and wished other runners at the back to
come along too.
Finish: 100km in Adhan

As I ran along the main road, I bumped into
a group of Emiratis who was having a Friday
night walk. They pointed the direction to go
straight ahead which I very much appreciated.
Just when I thought I was going to finish
the race, the nausea kicked in and the chance
of throwing up was high. Then, out of nowhere Jojo Olivar appeared whom I last saw
on top of Jebel Yibir. He said he rested at
CP5 as he got a bit sick as he wanted to do
it under 19 hours. I tried to move a bit faster
but just couldnt be fast enough in the condition I was in. The final route came with some
rocks, some undulating terrain, and sand
towards the end not so straightforward.
We arrived at the finish line with a good
final sprint. I wanted to sit down right there
and then, but was told to get a check in the
ambulance. After 30 minutes, I lied down and
after some little puking, felt better. My heart
rate at 80bps - was normal though I felt it was
too high. The friendly ambulance staff told
me that apart from myself, they looked after
Sami Alsaidi, the 1st winner with his cramping
issue.
A few other runners arrived later including
DTRs Simon Williams. I bid farewell to the
organisers and we were then transported by
bus back to Marjan Island.
Performance
All in all, I was very grateful to have finished

the race without making the left foot injury
any worse: 5th Female and 18th overall. I certainly enjoyed the 2016 race more than 2015
even though not getting a PB (eight minutes
short from 2015 race). Plus, my legs could still
run further despite the nausea.
Do this again? Absolutely no explanation or justification required here. I felt happy
on the trail and had great fun. Except the
puking incidents though!
Till the next race,
#RunUltra, Live to thrive.

Slice of Torch Ginger
EVENT REPORT
Paris-Sorbonne
SUP Race 2016
Words By: Keith Perena

Photos By: Ihab Mokayed
Spanning two days and in two

timeframes day and night, the
second Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi
Stand-up Paddling Race saw an
improvement over last year.
Compared to last years single, 28km
long distance race, participants were faced
with three races: a 7km morning race in the
mangroves for the first leg, a technical night
race at the Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi for the
second leg and the final race was a challenging 33km relay race from the
Beach Rotana up to the Yas Marina. The
introduction of the new distances and races

proved to be a welcome and challenging
introduction to the event this year.
The participants ranged widely in terms
of skill and experience, everyone from
seasoned professionals to students of the
Sorbonne competing for fun was present.
The university had three teams to compete
in the race and generous sponsors such
as Naish and F-One also had their own
teams. The former, Naish brought their best
athletes along such as Jen Scully and Nick
Yates of Live Love SUP fame, as well as Guy
Welchman who has been an athlete with
Naish for quite some time.
Day 1 - The Mangrove Leg
Starting in the wee hours of the morning,

the Mangrove leg of the race was designed
to warm up all of the participants with a
brief yet challenging race. The race started
opposite the Anantara Mangrove Hotel
followed by the paddlers going along the
Corniche and eventually taking a turn into
the mangroves narrow passages
to complete the 7km distance.
The turn to the mangrove proved to be
challenging for the participants as they were

presented with a narrow area where a lot
of attacks took place. The first leg was won
by the Sorbonne 1 team with a healthy lead
of 198 points against second placer, Naish
with 169 and F-One with 131. The race was
followed by a sumptuous pizza snack close
to shore.
After the race, the organizers and the
participants stayed at the Beach Rotana
hotel which was provided by supporter,
Nirvana Travel.
Day 2 - The Rotana Night Ride
At around 6:00 in the evening, Alex the

head organiser of the event started to call
on the participants to gather around the
board where the layout of the race was
discussed. The night race is a first for the
event and I can see the look of alertness
among the participants. It was beginning
to become dark in this side of Abu Dhabi,
despite the course being surrounded by

the bright lights of the Beach Rotana hotel
and the adjacent Cleveland Clinic. After
orienting the teams, Alex then went down
the jetty and ran the course alone to show
the participants the direction of the race.
It was at this time when the wind started
coming in from the left and while this may
help some paddlers gain some speed in the
impending race, it may also prove to be a
hindrance to them as the finish line requires
them to paddle against the direction of the
wind. The jetty was packed with every single
team member, queuing up for their turn so
much that the jetty tipped slightly sideways!
Surprisingly, I saw some paddlers that are
quite new to the night course and one of
their members were teaching them how to
make their way around the course. Unlike

the fun and adrenaline packed race in the
mangroves, the night race seemed to be
filled with silence but this was changed
quickly as the first batch of paddlers made
their way along the course and everybody
on the jetty began cheering for their teams.
Intense paddling was exhibited by the top
two teams Naish and Sorbonne 1 as they
battled neck to neck during the heats of the
race. The night leg was one by Naish topping the overall results against Sorbonne 1.
Guy Welchman, one of the Naish paddlers
spoke about the course: Brilliant race, one
of the nicest sprints I have ever done night
time, beautiful scenery and overall great
competition.
Day 3 Rotana to Yas Marina
Arguably, the longest and most intense leg

of the race, at 33km, the Yas Marina leg was
the ultimate challenge for all teams and
paddlers. After a brief orientation at the
hotel beachfront, the teams were then led to
their respective team boats. The race was
a relay race wherein every single team member had to paddle a certain leg of the race.
The teams can select whoever they want to
paddle when.
As soon as the teams lay comfortable on
their boats, it was our turn to board the lead
boat that was tasked in overseeing the race.
At the helm is Alex who directed the team
boats and of course sent the first batch of
paddlers fiercely clawing at the water with
their paddles. It was very intense and a clear
lead was secured by the Sorbonne 1 team
with the Naish closely following. After the
third turn, going through Al Reem Island,
the distance was becoming more obvious
as everyone tried to make their way through
the narrow waterways of Reem Island and
out into the mangroves. It was at this point
when our boat made its way towards the
other end of the mangrove where the team
boats were waiting for the first set of relays.
Transfers were quickly made and the action
in the boats went two ways, one member
dived in and swam towards the SUP board
while the other member swam towards
the team boat to be hoisted up by their
respective support crew.
After the relays, the new set of paddlers
made their way towards Yas Marina through

a fairly accessible area of mangroves and
land banks which saw another change of
paddlers. By this time, the paddlers were
extremely far from each other as they made
their way towards the mangroves and
through private islands with one certain
island near Yas even having its own herd of
gazelles which our skipper and Alex pointed
out to us. Under clear skies and the wide
open seas, the leading pack was nearing Yas
Marina and of course the finish line.
In the silence of Yas Marina with only the
waving of the flags of the sponsors
village being the only sound, the Naish team
paddled their way to victory at the final leg,
winning two of the three legs of this years
Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi SUP Race. On
the Marina, after everyone has crossed the
finish line, a raffle ensued followed by the
awards ceremony. Rounding up the top
three were 1. Naish (904 pts.), 2. Sorbonne
1 (698 pts.) and 3. F-One (591 pts.) they all
received luxurious prizes
Final Results
courtesy of the events
Team
Points
various supporters. The
day was closed off with
Naish
904
a barbeque by the bay
Sorbonne 1 698
with all the participants
snapping photos as
F-One
591
they regale in their own
Frogs
545
individual victories for the
Sorbonne 2 235
event.
Congratulations
to everyone!
Sorbonne 3
60
Thales
nil
OUTDOORUAE
25
ACTIVITY REPORT
UAC4X4 is 8 Years Old!

Words + Photos By: Mahadi Ahmed
After successfully
celebrating its eighth year, the
UAC4X4 is one of the UAEs
homegrown 4x4 groups most
comprised of residents within the
region. Their mission is to provide
a safe entertainment environment.
They are a non-profit club that
has an emphasis on sharing good
experiences to those who join in on
their rides; they believe in the idea
of entertainment and experience
without limits.
The team was formed in 2009 and since
then, they have strived to cope with the
increasing number of cars owners and club
members, putting in mind that they have to
make continuous development and reach
the highest levels. In January 2010, the iFJ
Adventures Team was formed, and joined
the Emirates Motor Sport Federation (EMSF)
in the same month.
Due to their rapid growth, they had to be
a separate club devoted to all kinds of
four-wheel drive vehicles. This was as a
result of their long adventures under the
umbrella of iFJ Adventures Team, which was

at first confined to the owners of a Toyota FJ
Cruiser. The club then extended to include
all kinds of four-wheel drive vehicles and
adventures lovers within UAE and from that
day on, they became known as the UAE
Adventures Club (UAC4x4).
Currently, the UAC

includes four teams:
iFJ Team for the owners of a Toyota FJ

Cruiser
i-Off-Road Team for the owners
of four-wheel drive vehicles
i-Explore Team for tours and explorations
i-Dive for deep sea diving
Achievements
The team has managed to achieve a lot of

distinct success stories by the grace of Allah,
and the cooperation showed by the Club
members, including:
Organizing the biggest gathering of
Toyota vehicle owners, breaking a Guinness
World Records of most Toyotas gathered
which was made by Britain with 223 Toyota
vehicles, as we succeeded to gather 257
Toyota vehicles. That event was under
the umbrella of the UAE Awafi Festival
celebrations held in December 2011.
Celebrating the UAE National Day, several
marches were organized through the seven
emirates in November and December 2011.
Holding an off-road march in sand and
rough land from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu
Dhabi in November and December 2011.
Organizing the Emirates Rally tours in
cooperation with EMSF.
We are inspired by the words of His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum in his book titled My Vision:
We dont wait for an event until it
happens... We make it! Other that that, our
goals can be summarized in the following
main points:
Entertainment: creating amusing

atmosphere by organizing amazing and
interesting rides all the time all over the
year.
Explorations: Exploring, reaching and
discovering new areas inside and outside
the UAE.
Acquiring Skills: Desert driving is not
limited to a certain segment of the
community, which is the youth. Now, all
people can enjoy such interesting hobby
with us safely.
Training: Providing the required training
courses for the new drivers at sand and
off-road areas within an annual training plan.
Safety: Safety criterion were developed as
per the highest international standards with
regards to safe driving.
Do something new in your life, and dont
miss the chance to test your driving skills.
Check out more of their clubs
adventures at www.uac4x4.ae
FROM
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38,999
INDIANMOTORCYCLEGCC.COM
DISTRIBUTORS
QATAR
Protech Powered Sports Co
Street: Salwa Road PO Box: 91, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 44398030
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Sales
Email: info@protech.com.qa
OMAN
FairTrade Auto Services LLC
P.O. Box 2636, Ruwi, Muscat
Tel: +968 96778552
Fax: +96824701787
Contact person
Mr. R. K. Sunder
Email: sunder@ftgroupholding.com
DUBAI
Showroom No. 8, Al Ghandi Complex
Nad al Hamar Road, Ras al Khor
Tel: +971 4 2896100
Fax: +971 4 2894914
Email: sse@polarisuae.com
MUSSAFAH
M4, Sector 13, 10th Street
Tel: +971 2 5555144
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
Part 3: Encounters
with the Sudanese Bedouin
Words + Photos By: Will Pardoe
On our crazy passage through

the Gulf of Aden, we had fended off
a pirate attack, fled from a hail of
Yemeni bullets, battled Poseidon
and been confronted by helicopter
gunships and navy frigates. But
we had escaped from all that
madness, and now the treasures
of the Red Sea lay before us. The
reward would be a journey in time
back to medieval Arabia.
Having put four days of rough weather
between us and the Yemenis, we finally
reached the respite of southern Sudan. Exhausted and thoroughly beaten, we pulled
into a large bay at midnight. Bedouin camp
fires were the only flickering lights. The
anchor fell away into darkness, leaving us in
the quiet bliss of safe shelter and still waters.
Sunrise unveiled a landscape of soft golden dunes and tinted mountains. Bedouin
women were collecting clams in the shallows, and their rhythmic singing drifted out
to us on the breeze. Every now and then,
men on camels would ride around the bay,
laden for market. There is something majestic and timeless about the Arabs, and here
we found ourselves in their ancient land.
First Encounter
We lowered the dinghy and made our way

to shore, as a Bedu was striding past on his
camel. He disappeared behind the sands,
and by the time we had dragged the dinghy
over the shallows and I had reached the top
of a dune, I saw him far off along the opposite lake shore. I wanted to talk to that man!
So I set off running, staying conspicuous
along the top of the dunes so I wouldnt run

up on him. With the trigger-happy Yemenis
still fresh in my mind, I was aware that this
was a true Bedouin and I was a stranger in
his territory.
I ran nearly two kilometres catching up
with that energetic camel, and as I drew
close I kept a good distance to his side.
Finally he heard my call, but didnt stop, so I
kept a keen eye for a raised rifle or threatening gesture. I waved to him, and he raised
his hand in greeting. Good - so he wasnt
going to shoot me, and I could approach.

He steered his camel to a clear ground for
our meeting, then slid nimbly from its side
and stood waiting. It was a vision straight
from Lawrence of Arabia.
A salamu alaykum I said - peace be
upon you. And he returned with a more
flowery and religious reply.
His name is Salem; an older man, with
kind eyes and friendly wrinkles. I ask him
where hes going. The souk, he says,
gesturing to the far mountains. His camel
is laden with an empty oil drum, plastic
jerry cans and a bag with fabric scraps
and a football poking out the top. I figure
these are treasures of the sea, but my mind
wanders to this far-off souk in deep-south
Sudan. I want to follow him to this magical
market, where Bedouins arrive by camel to
bustle and barter for goats, fish, fragrant
spices, and old footballs to take home for
their sons.
He stands proudly by his camel as I take
a photo, and as we part, he smiles at me a
little bemused - I had run a long way just to
meet with him. He leads the camel on a little
way, then draws his head down and mounts
the hump. As the camel lurches to its feet,
raising the Bedu on its back, they become a
timeless Arabian image. It feels like seeing a
knight in medieval Britain. He turns, smiling,
holding his hand up high, and they stride off
along the shore, towards the souk.
Lobsters and Falcons
The following day we decided to try and

trade with the women for their fresh clams.
Something other than canned food for
dinner sounded appealing, and maybe we
could offer them a little variety in return. We
put some concentrated juice and canned
pineapple in the dinghy and headed for the
shallows.
As we neared, two men on camels rode
out from behind the dunes on their way
around the bay. Rather than intrude on the
women, we decided it best to speak with
the men first. They saw us approaching, so
they dismounted their camels and sat down
on the beach to wait.
Their names were Salem and Nafeh, and

after our introduction, I asked (in Arabic)
what the women were catching. Conch, they
said, but it would take a lot of work to extract a little meat. Instead, perhaps, were we
interested in trading for their flour? Well, we
had no need of flour, and having never seen
pineapple they had no interest in that either.
But they did want sugar, so we offered to go
and get them some from the boat.
By the time we returned, I was amazed
to see they had a fire going. Ah... Arabic
hospitality! The camels had been turned out
to graze, blankets laid down and Nafeh was
roasting coffee beans in the embers. Salem
invited us to sit, and we shared around the
curious pineapple while Nafeh continued
with his coffee ritual; pounding on the beans
with a tall mortar and pestle, pouring them
into the small kettle and returning it to the
embers.
We chatted until it was brewed, and Nafeh
poured out two shot-sized cups, half filled
already with sugar. Salem, being the elder,
offered them to us first. It was incredible
coffee strong, and fragrant, with hints
of wood smoke, far-off souks and camel
caravans!
I met Salem and Nafeh again a number of
times during our weather hold in Marsa Navarat. They caught us a mother lode of lobster for 100 AED, which we lapped up with
garlic butter. On our last meeting, when I
saw them waiting on shore preparing coffee,
they had with them a falcon. I bought the
two fish they had caught, but they insisted
that I take the falcon as a gift! They seemed
quite disappointed that I couldnt take it on
the boat; and so was I.
coral-brick merchant houses, which were

once ornate and balconied, but are now
slowly crumbling, or have already fallen into
ruin; the lower floors have become makeshift restaurants, bakeries, and goat pens.
Wooden coffee shacks host friendly faces
who sit together sharing the news, playing dominoes and smoking shisha. In the
wooden bazaars, men can still be seen carrying long-swords - but they also carry broad
smiles and big welcomes. It is a quiet town,
apart from the donkeys, and the Imam calls
from the minaret for Friday prayers.
Though time had stopped in Suakin, we
eventually had to move on. It had been
incredible to see this ancient life undiluted
by the modern world; it was the treasure
that we had fought pirates to discover. And
Sudan hadnt given up all her treasures yet...
...to be continued
Time and Tide
The winds finally calmed and we continued

on through the Middle Ages, navigating
between tight coral passages to reach
the ancient port of Suakin. As far back as
Ramesses III, this island town had been a
central hub for Red Sea merchants, trading
in slaves, ivory, gold, and gems. Thousandstrong camel caravans would set out from
Suakin with great fanfare, distributing
European and Asian imports into Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia). It faded from
greatness when the British built Port Sudan
as its replacement in 1906. Combined with
the last 20 years of international embargoes
on Sudan, Suakin has lingered as a relic of
times gone by.
Donkey-carts are the main form of
transport, hee-hawing through the dirt
streets. Dusty alleyways wind between the
OUTDOORUAE
29
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
The Kili Quartet

Act 1 - Altitude, Agony and Age
Words + Photos By: Ben Thompson
Ask anyone about Mt Kilimanjaro and a range of responses fly

in about celebrities that made it
- Cheryl Cole/Fernandez/whoever
next, Chris Moyles and Fearne Cotton to those that did not, including
Roman Abramovich and Martina
Navratilova. Of those that did make
it many (including Jessica Biel)
have stated that it is the hardest
thing they have done. It is quickly
clear that ascending the highest
mountain in Africa and the highest
freestanding mountain in the world
is going to be no walk in the park.
Kilimanjaro is climbed by a lot of people

every year and is on many peoples bucket
list but its still a huge mountain so as a
group we are increasingly concerned at
the enormity of the task ahead. Collective
wisdom is that its the speed of the ascent
on the heavily trodden five-day Marangu
route which often catches people out with
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) so therefore we decided to follow the slower and
less visited Lemosho route taking us five
days. Famous UAE explorer Adrian Hayes
remarked that Most guidelines recommend 500 metres max elevation per day;
on Kili you are twice that. I got the worst
AMS Ive ever suffered on a mountain.
Suddenly the full scale of our fund raising
walk up a mountain has just got a lot more
real. Lemosho, a relatively new route, is
preferred by reputable operators due to
its beauty, remoteness and success rate.
In short, it maximizes the chances that a
climber will have of reaching the summit,
and enjoying the overall experience.
For three geography nerds and Neil,
however, the temptation to go from the
equivalent of the Equator to the North Pole
Final destination- Uhuru
Ben Thompson
in terms of scenery diversity and climate is

too strong to resist so we have set about
raising money for the Upendo Childrens
home in Moshi whilst getting into peak
fitness. The team consists of four individuals; Sancho Barcia, a seventeen year old
student at Repton School Dubai. Michele
Longhi, a fellow student of Sanchos. Ben
Thompson, a Geography Teacher at Repton
School and finally Neil Davies.
Our chosen charity is The Upendo Childrens home and it is a non-profit orphanage located in Moshi, Tanzania for local
children. Some of them lost their mothers
during delivery, other newborns were left
behind in the hospital and others were
abandoned on the streets.
A group of caring nuns known as the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, along
with groups of volunteers, provide the
children from infancy onwards with food,
shelter and love, as well as basic education. Baby food is expensive in Tanzania,
thus making it impossible for many families
to take care of a baby whose mother has
died. Many local children born into poverty
do not receive any education because their
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Sancho Barcia
families are unable to pay for it, let alone pay for
their livelihood.
In our quest to help the Upendo Childrens
Home, two members of the team, Michele and
Sancho, will be volunteering for ten days in the
orphanage, teaching basic maths and English,
caring for babies and disabled children and assisting in local construction work. Spending 24
hours a day, seven days a week with the children
will give Sancho and Michele a real taste of what
BUFF and Flat is Boring are registered trademark property of Original Buff, S.A. (Spain)
Lemosho route
its like for the Sisters of the Precious Blood that

work there.
In order for this project to be possible, we rely
on your support, and the children rely on your
support. You can find more information about
this at the end of the article
Currently we have received a large
corporate donation from Hi-force Hydraulic
which together with smaller individual donations mean we have 25% of our intended 40,000
dirham target raised.
Our training for this expedition has already
begun as the Lemosho route is approximately 70
km/42 miles from gate to gate. It is designed for
physically fit people with some hiking experience. Sancho and Michele are keen runners and
cyclists with two triathlons behind them this
year, Neil is increasing his running distance this
week and Ben is following a plan designed by
Freeletics the aim being to increase our
VO2 max and follow in the footsteps of Jessica
Biel preferably, or as a last resort, those of Chris
Moyles.
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From Left Michele, Sancho, Ben and Neil
The Kili Quartet is composed of Geography

teacher Ben Thompson, students Sancho
Barcia and Michele Longhi and Neil
Davies on a quest to climb the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Their journey
sees them preparing for the fateful climb as
a group of friends for the cause of helping
children in Tanzania as well as teaching them
math and English. To support their cause visit
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/upendo-childrenshome-fund-raiser or follow the climb at
www.facebook.com/uchkiliclimb
Buff ME
Distributor of awesome outdoor brands
www.globalclimbing.com
info@globalclimbing.com +971 (0)4 882 9361
The First Trip

Words + Photos By: David Mailland
I managed to get some of

my line back when the aerial ballet
started again. I felt the fish
accelerate and to start out a
series of stunts as spectacular as
it was stressful. From the corner
of my eye I saw our guide twirling
across the boat to grab the net.
This magnificent duo stopped thirty seconds later - which seemed
like an eternity-when he managed
to catch the fish in mid-air. The
choreography was completed, a
short intermission would allow us
to try to recover the lure or rather
what was left.
The Guma Lagoon
Three days earlier, we landed in Maun,

Botswana, at a small airport devoid of any
architectural interest before joining the
Guma Lagoon where the lodge is located.
We came to Botswana, full of hope, to
discover the fishing of the Okavango Delta
at the end of the period of the famous
barbell run occurring every year in
September/October. As a bonus, we had
given to ourselves a secondary objective of
capturing as many new species as possible,
a classic challenge for the exotic fishermen.
The schedule was prepared by Guy, the
owner of the lodge: we would sleep the first
nights at the lodge, fishing the surrounding
areas before leaving for an expedition of
several days in the wild delta.
The first day generally allows us to analyze
the battlefield. From the base camp, about
forty minutes by boat was necessary to
join the main river. The access is protected
by a natural labyrinth of canals lined with
papyrus. An army of crocodiles whose
breastplates glisten in the morning sun

protects the few sandy beaches backed by
birds looking like egrets. During the trip we
met the other guards of the delta: hippos,
large cylindrical submarines diving to our
approach; majestic elephants crossing the
papyrus to drink. Regularly, a sharp cry, preceded by a papyrus slam, hinted the hurried
flight of a bird hidden in the lush vegetation.
Then the boat stopped, bringing us back
to the reason we were there. The guide has
drawn our attention to the presence of seagrass, nurseries for baitfish around which the
tigerfish were roaming: it is there that he
recommended us to cast our lures. The
bottom was smooth, sandy, cleaned by the
current. We were captivated by the beauty
of places, but in terms of fishing however
this first day did not remain engraved in
our memories. We had many attacks but
unfortunately we lost all our tigerfish.
In the evening at the camp a German
angler who had been looking for the tigerfish
for more than 40 years politely asked if he
could join us for dinner. Listening to our story
of the day, he willingly consented to provide
us some advice. For example he recommended us to sharpen the hooks in order
to optimize our chances: when the hook is
sharp, it must stand on a 45 inclined nail.
His second advice was about our rubber jigs.
When he saw them he turned pale. Then he
looked at us fixedly: It is essential to remove
the anti-grass brush jig here otherwise the
tigerfish, will spit out the bait. he said. We
immediately cut off the brushes of our
rubber jigs. These small details are worth
mentioning here since they significantly
improved our ratio of fish caught.
The following days were consecrated to

the search of runs. As if we were hunting instead of fishing. The birds provide valuable
clues as well as discussions with the rare,
other fishermen. While we were the only
human beings for miles around, there was
that memorable day in the sweltering heat,
when we discovered a foolish conglomerate
of catfish attacking a wide bay, within which
the baitfish were prisoners. We smelled the
case thanks to the birds: herons, cormorants, egrets had moved in large numbers
to participate in the feast. The furious tangle
of fish tails allowed us to imagine the total
chaos underwater. In the general confusion, we could see the biggest catfish crush
smaller ones against the border, forming a
narrow corridor, chasing the bulldogs, the
names of baitfish they coveted. Tigerfish
were watching from afar the operations as
if they were reluctant to ally with catfish,
on the lookout for bulldog survivors trying
to escape. The show was wired for sound:
we distinctly heard the snapping of reeds
through which rushed thousands and

thousands of hungry fish.
It was possible to catch tigerfish with almost each kind of lure in our box. At the end
of the day, sweating profusely but always
fresh in our mind through the excitement
that we had have, unreal scores had been
achieved, almost 100 attacks for each fisherman, 30 fish landed between 2 and 4kg.
Note that in the frenzy our surface
lures have aroused a great stir among
kingfishers. When we used this technique,
these birds sprang to evolve hovering above
the lure ready to seize it as prey that they
would then go eat on a branch or offer to
their partner. Fortunately, no accident was
regrettable on this trip.
We had great fun with a fishing technique
that we did not know at all. This is fishing
for bream. The results are steady. Applying
ourselves and listening to the directions of
the guide, we caught on average a fish per
hour per angler. It is also fun, in late afternoon, to look for shoals of breams: they love
to gather in water lilies and sea grass. These
relatively aggressive fish are then easy preys
when seen waving to the surface. During the
fight, the fish tries to go to the bottom and
resists violently but it rarely wins. The
average weight of tilapia is 1kg. 2kg are
beautiful subjects; the camp record is 2.7kg.
Guy likes to tell that it was established just
a few years ago by an English lady whom it
was the first day of fishing and the first cast.
...to be continued
OUTDOORUAE
33
LIFESTYLE
Outdoor Flicks
Film: On Any Sunday,

The Next Chapter (2014)
Director: Dana Brown
Starring: Robbie Maddison,
Marc Marquez, Travis Pastrana, Roland
Sands, Dani Pedrosa, Ashley Fiolek,
Kenny Roberts, Doug Henry
and James Stewart Jr.
The Culture of the Saddle

Words By: Keith Perea
Photos Supplied By: Red Bull Media House
Finishing the film only a

couple of days back, I cannot help
but notice how it sometimes has
to look like an infomercial. But then
again, its only mere minutes so
its doesnt really kill the appeal and
that can be left for some other discussion. The sequel to the successful On Any Sunday which was filmed
back in 1971 and starred by a
stellar cast which was led by none
other than the King of Cool himself
Steve McQueen. This is one of
the first departure points of the
sequel. It is led by a much wider
cast and everyone is leader as the
film dissects the inner workings of
the human fondness for motorized
bicycles.
The films first few minutes are nothing
short of amazing as it gives the audience a
360-degree view of the motorcycle culture. It
exhibited the likes of motocross, in freestyle,
MX and even sidecarcross which is very
popular in countries around the globe. Its
quite an educating experience to have since
the film feels deeply researched and really intends to show the scope of how much we use
motorcycles and the catch? This is only about
20 minutes into the film.

The meat of the film is
mostly about the various
industries that work inside the
world of motorcycling. Some
use it for sport, some use it for
charity and some even see it as
the lifeblood of their country.
The differences in the various
ways people use motorcycles
are amazing. As illustrated in
the film, every single discipline
is interconnected, for example flat track racing has been
honing future MotoGP riders
over the years and this has
even resulted in four MotoGP
world champions! The interviewees in the film also stress the same fact
and the audience can easily see this as they
are shown flat track racers taking in turns
at a hundred miles per hour

and then blazing through the
straights at 130. Other fields
include racing in the snow over
a lake that has frozen over the
winter and some outrageous
stunts such as jumping over valleys, the Arc de Triomphe and
mountains upon mountains.
I think the film is not just
about the many things we do
with a motorcycle. Its also
about the culture and the community that we have allowed to
grow within the field. The film
reiterates this sentiment as the
audience see riders just casually hanging out and talking to
each other be it in a normal riding day or an
actual professional race day. In the last parts
of the film, we see this coming to a close as
they enter a race track wherein nobody is
above the other. They are all equals and they
all share the same passion for taking their
motorcycles out for a ride - as the title says,
on any Sunday.
Habitually healthy
Caveman Babies
Words + Photos By: Chef Patrick Ikinofo
With the birth of my son

happening last month, so many
things ran through my mind. Now
I have another part of me to take
care of, to protect, to provide for in
all essence of life and to ensure the
healthy growth of my child.
For the first year of your babys life, the
benefits of a paleo diet should ideally come
through the mothers breast milk, Babies
grow so fast in the first stages of life that
a healthy eating mum with all the vital
nutrients is crucial for the growth of your
child. When babies are born, they dont
have a sense of taste and thus adapt to their
mothers eating habits from birth. Although
as time rolls on and your bundle of joy gets
bigger, the milk will no longer be substantial
for growth although it is still beneficial for
life and it is recommended to breastfeed for
as long as possible, in todays day and age
that makes it extremely difficult, trying to
juggle work, meetings, everyday household
chores, spending time with your spouse
etc. Most people dont even cook for
themselves let alone set aside a few hours
a day to breastfeed their child. Everything
has become a lot easier - it is all available
as takeout, even baby food. But dont be
fooled, most store-bought baby food
is usually extremely processed that contain starchy fillers, added sugar and high
amounts of sodium, after sometime of
feeding your baby with this sort of poison,
you find that your child may become hyper
active, restless or aggravated. And you

might think something is wrong with them,
but in fact there is something wrong with
their diet.
As a chef I have an advantage on how to
prepare food suitable for everyone but Ive
never really thought too deep in preparing
baby food, Ive done it before as I come
from a big family where that was a part of
life. But since I started working as a Paleo
chef, and knowing the benefits of this type
of lifestyle, I have started to think of suitable, healthy, organic foods that are balanced
and nutritious that I will feed my baby later
on down the track. Or maybe even your
baby if your time is scarce. Interested? Let

me know.
There are different types of foods that can
be pureed and given to your baby which are
balanced, healthy and tasty, instead of rice
and oats that dont have any health benefits
at all. Making homemade broths to puree
the vegetables or using breast milk to blend
up bananas and avocados is also a good tip
Ive read about, ensuring that the source of
your produce is reliable, organic and totally
natural. Thats the important part. No use
putting in all the hard work to cook and be
healthy then fall short on the most important
factor - the ingredients.
I dont see a point in adding a recipe as
baby food doesnt need much explanation
as long as your ingredients are fresh organic,
free range, grass-fed and 100% nasty free
thats what matters the most.
The Cycle Bistro

GPS location:
Latitude:
N 25 02.792
Longitude:
E 055 14.384
Phone:
04 425 6555
OUTDOORUAE
35
Natural History
LIFESTYLE
Does Snoopy Snorkel?
Words + Photos By: Dan Wright
Well the answer to that

question is actually not as far as
I know! However you can get a
glimpse of Snoopy in his classic
pose lying on his back with his belly
in the air if you visit the Dibba to
Kalba coastline.
The famous Snoopy Island is a great place
to take your family snorkeling and has everything from easy introductory areas to more
advanced places to explore. The island is
easily accessible from the free beach on
either side of the Sandy Beach Hotel but if
you want to combine your trip to see the
underwater world with a nice lunch, a few
mocktails and some beach relaxation then
the hotel is an ideal base camp for you and
your family for the day.
Depending on how high the tide is you
will see that there is a difference in how
deep the water between the shore and the
Dan using fins to tread water
Practice in the pool with small children to get used to the water
Safe basic kit is buoyancy aid mask and snorkel
island is but one really key part of swimming

here is that we want to encourage you NOT
to stand up. This is because the coral is very
delicate and any time you stand on it with
fins or water shoes you risk damaging the
tiny creatures that make the coral. In fact if
you snorkel over these beautiful corals you
will notice that there are tiny little plastic
markers with numbers on them attached
here and there. These are growth markers
and the people who study the coral
population of this coastline use them to
chart the annual growth of the corals.
Coral is a great environment for attracting
sea life because it is a living organism. If you
snorkel around these underwater gardens
you will see a multitude of brightly colored
fish, turtles, puffer fish, rays, moray eels,
sea cucumbers, sea urchins, starfish and the
occasional black tip reef shark which is quite
harmless to us as it preys on mollusks and
sea crustaceans. Somehow despite the fact
that black tips are harmless and despite the
fact that I often go looking for them to photograph, I cant help hearing that famous
Jaws music in the back of my head - de
duh de duh deduhdeduhdeduh DA!
So what do you need to get you snorkeling? Well its pretty simple really. A mask
and a snorkel is the least you need and you
Water shoes are an essential piece of safety kit
can add to this by getting; fins, rash vest,

diving knife, buoyancy aid, underwater camera (or GoPro) and a whole range of other
accessories all available from shops in the
UAE like; Sun and Sand Sports, GO Sport,
Adventure HQ, Decathlon and a whole
range of diving outfitters and suppliers.
You can also save yourself the cost of buying the kit if you are a beginner and you just
want to try snorkeling to see if you like it by
going to an outdoor activities company like
ADAPT Adventure in RAK where a school
group can spend half a day at Snoopy
Island learning how to snorkel safely and
then going on an exploration trip. Diving
Black tip reef shark
Strangely tree-like coral formations
companies also offer similar experiences like

Divers Down at Miramar Beach Resort and
also many Dhow trip companies offer these
groups sessions. Most of these companies
will give you a buoyancy aid to wear in the
water so if you arent so confident at swimming you can just relax and not worry about
it or if you catch a mouthful of sea water the
buoyancy aid will keep you safe and afloat
whilst you cough it all back up again!
When families or anyone goes snorkeling there are 10 key safety points
that they need to consider:
1. Stay in sight of the shore so you dont get

into too deep water and insight of the other
people in your group.
2. Make sure you know if there is a rip tide
or strong current in that area that can pull
your out to sea.
3. Drink lots of water (you can even tow a
water bottle with you) as your mouth gets
dry from using the snorkel tube to breathe
and the sea air will dehydrate you. Make
sure you have water on the beach waiting
for you when you get out.
4. Use waterproof suntan lotion especially
on the back of your neck and legs which are
exposed to the sun.
5. Make sure people know you are out there
and dont go alone.
6. You can tow a small body board or inflatable ring or small dingy to make sure you
have a place to rest and to store your suntan
lotion and water.
7. A rash vest (especially with sleeves) and
long shorts will protect you from small jellyfish and other stinging sea creatures which
can cause rashes on exposed skin.
8. Make sure you wear water shoes or
lightweight trainers or wetsuit boots or fins
so if you do have to stand up for any reason
then your feet are protected from poisonous
creatures such as the very well camouflaged
stone fish (named because it looks like a
stone!) or from sea urchin spines. Sea urchins
are everywhere and the segmented spines
Clip a water bottle to you to keep hydrated,
fill it three quarters so it floats
Look a sea cucumber
are very sharp and will snap off in your foot

but get embedded and fester and can make
walking very painful for a few weeks.
9. Carry a bottle of vinegar with your towel
on the beach so that if you do get a jelly fish
sting the acid vinegar can help ease the pain
of the sting.
10. DONT touch anything. There are lots of
poisonous things in the sea so if you cant
recognize whats safe and what isnt then just
assume that everything isnt safe!
Snorkeling is a great way to spend a couple of hours immersed in warm water (especially in the Middle East, perhaps not in the
UK!) floating around lazily watching fish and
the underwater zoo go by and once youve
paid for the basic kit its also FREE! Good
places to go are of course Snoopy Island but
you can also swim along beaches or follow
coastal defenses like Groyns out to sea and
back or swim along Corniche waterfronts. In
the Gulf side of the UAE there are several
locations where the local government has
sunk old boats and cars or shipping containers in shallow water to form manmade reefs
and these attract a multitude of fish and
Moray eel
Highly camouflaged cuttlefish
sea life. On the Fujairah side you have the

Indian Ocean which is famous for snorkeling
and diving and here you can often be lucky
enough to spot; dolphins, turtles, sharks and
the elusive but beautiful, gentle giant of the
sea - the whale shark.
Snorkeling is fun but you need to take
it seriously and understand that any
activity connected with the sea is inherently
dangerous. Follow safety signs you see on
the beaches and obey the instructions of
life guards and listen to the advice of other
people. Enjoy this easily accessible sport but
stay safe!
Using safety boat to rest
Dan Wright is a freelance Wilderness

Guide in the UAE and Asia. He has a
degree in Environmental Science. Dan
has been on several International wildlife
and exploration expeditions with UK
Radio stations and writes for a range of
publications in Asia and the Middle East.
His wife is the former Nepal National
Mountain Bike Champion, Nirjala
Tamrakar. They live in Dubai with their
son Percy and spend all their spare time
exploring the UAE!
OUTDOORUAE
37
PRODUCTS
A ROUND-UP OF QUALITY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UAE
Liquid Force Witness

Wakeboard
1,495 AED/QAR
Available at all GO Sport stores

If you want a board with unlimited potential to help you reach
higher levels, strap into a WITNESS and let the good times roll!
Excellent flow and feel to help you continue to progress. This
board naturally puts the rider into a comfortably centred, yet
tail heavy position.
Liquid Force Transit Binding

1,245 AED/QAR

The TRANSIT is an open toe binding that features high performance closed toe aspects designed to advance your skills.
The dual lace zones and the molded TPU backstay let the upper wrap comfortably and securely allowing you to push your
personal limits.
Summer Special:
2,315 AED/QAR when you purchase the Liquid Force

Witness Wakeboard and Transit Bindings together.
Liquid Force Index Binding
Liquid Force Trip Wakeboard
For beginners and intermediates the INDEX binding is a great

fit. The dual lace system creates a secure custom fit for everybody.
Beginner to advanced, the Trip covers the entire spectrum.

Smooth and forgiving for the novice yet fluid and aggressive
for the advanced, its the perfect board for most abilities.
995 AED/QAR
Summer Special:
1,915 AED/QAR when you purchase Liquid Force Trip

Wakeboard and Index Binding together
38
OUTDOORUAE
1,295 AED/QAR
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Words By: Anna Roberts and Ellen Roz
2XU (Two Times You)

24/7 socks are ideal for
those who sit for long periods
of time during travel or at
work, or even those standing
on their feet all day when
decreased circulation can
cause swelling and fatigue.
Graduated compression
improves circulation to
counteract this for fresher
feet and legs throughout the
day. Here, passenger and pilot
put them to the test.
As a New Zealander living in

Dubai, the majority of flying I tend to
do is long haul, which means sitting
in economy for 10-hours plus. Ive
become a pretty consolidated traveller,
but these 2XU 24/7 compression socks
have found a new place in my carry on.
In the past Id continually struggle to be
disciplined in flight - walk around and
stretch, but often no matter how hard I
tried to keep myself moving it wouldnt
help the feeling of tired, achy and puffy
feet. However, now I can walk off a
flight feeling light on my feet. The
socks fit easily in my on-board bag
and I do not have to worry about
changing my entire outfit
when I get on and off the
plane, said Anna Roberts.
Coolmax is incorporated
into the foot bed for moisture
management, so they dont make my feet
sweat at all and they feel great thanks to
the added cushioning on the heels and
balls of my feet she added.
First Officer Ellen Roz found the socks
restrictive and warm at first, but in the end
was won over by the obvious benefit of
reduced swelling. Im not used to
wearing high socks that feel tight so at
first I didnt feel comfortable in them, but
when I wore them again on a night flight
I noticed a difference. My feet werent so
swollen and usually they swell a lot when I
dont move much on a long flight. By the
fourth flight I was used to them. Ive tried
different compression socks before and
couldnt bear them for more than an hour,
but the 2XU 24/7 socks I could wear for the
whole duration of my flight. I give
them an 8/10. I really like them on night
flights, where I can see and feel a
noticeable difference in reduced swelling
and fatigue in my legs and feet.
So, whether you sit for long periods
or stand on your feet all day, 2XUs 24/7
compression socks will improve your blood
circulation, revitalising your lower limbs and
feet. Say hello to your perfect travelling
companion!
Product Features:
Coolmax yarns in footbed - wicks sweat

from the skin to the fabric exterior
Greater padding to heel and balls of feet
Seamless linked toe cage
2XU 24/7 Socks, 170 AED from GO Sport,

Adventure HQ and Beyond Fitness.
OUTDOORUAE
39
PRODUCTS
Jobe AERO Inflatable
SUP 12.6 Package
4,945 AED (before 5,495 AED)
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across the UAE

With limited width and hefty volume the 12.6 SUP breathes discovery to the core. This is the ultimate companion to smoothly
paddle great distances and explore every canal, river or
wherever it might take you next. Equipped with two slipknot
bungee systems youre set for the day and freely bring along
whatever you like. This SUP board includes an 8 inch single
fin.
1,600 AED
Available at Revolution Cycles Dubai and all leading bicycle

retail outlets within the UAE and GCC
The Ko Blade 2 is a more reassuring, more stable, lighter and
more powerful pedal. Its design completely integrates the
blade for better aerodynamics.
Specifications:
Length: 126
Width: 30
Thickness: 6
Board volume: 317L
Recommended Rider
Weight: Up to 120kg
Board weight: 9.3kg
Features:
Integrated carbon blade
spring design featuring an
aerodynamic profile as well
as quick and secure clip
in and clip out.
Aero profile.
Very large and wide
pedalling surface.
Permanent cleat stop contact.
New 13mm stack height.
Very light : 90g (248g the pair with cleat and hardware).
Three cleat release resistances: 12/16/20.
100% made in France.
Quick and secure cleat entry/release thanks to the blade.
Maximum power transfer thanks to the new pedalling surface
and stack height.
Great foot support thanks to permanent cleat-stop contact
whatever the pedalling angle.
BH Quartz
Lum-Tec B19 Bronze
Available only at Revolution Cycles Dubai
Available at Instagram: @almekshah

Facebook: www.facebook.com/almekshah
Mobile: +971 55 8008829
Package Includes:
SUP bag
Orange anodized
aluminum paddle
Double action air pump
8,850 AED
Why break the bank on a carbon, 10-speed bicycle, when you

can get all this and more with the BH Quartz.
BH carbon frames use finer composite materials and a greater
number of carbon layers that are moulded with a higher level
of compaction to deliver a level of sprinting, climbing,
and cornering stiffness that exceed that of their Pro-Tour
competition. Their precision moulding process enables
maximum strength-to-weight ratio while tuning every aspect
of the ride nothing short of brilliant
Features:
Full BH Carbon Frame
Comes in 10-speed Shimano
Tiagra or 11 Speed Shimano 105
Internal Cable Routing
Semi-Sloping
Geometry Rear Triangle
of only 406mm
27.2mm seat post
Shimano RS010
Wheelset
Michelin Dynamic Sport Tyres
Weight: 8.5kg
Shimano 105 Disc Brakes
40
Look Keo Blade 2 TI
OUTDOORUAE
3,800 AED
These watches are limited to only 250pcs worldwide and

include lifetime pressure testing, seal cleaning/lubrication and
timing adjustments. The Combat B series is purpose built to
take massive abuse with special balance and movement shock
protection and a curved lug profile that fits flush around the
contours of your wrist.
Features:
43mm width excluding crown
22mm lug width
13mm thick
Weight on leather strap 107gr/3.8 oz.
Solid CuSn8 bronze case
300 meters/990 ft. water resistance
LUM-TEC MDV Technology
Ultra precision tuned 28,800 BPH
Miyota 9015 Japan
automatic movement with hand
winding and hack feature
Calendar
Thick sapphire crystal
Double side clear anti-reflective coating
Threaded 316L Stainless steel caseback with sapphire
Screw-lock bronze crown with double diamond sealing system
Four straps included
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Hi-Tech for
Outdoor Lovers
Review of the new Osmo Gimbal and Camera
Words + Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer
Action cameras got incredibly

popular within the past years
and you can now find them
everywhere and from many brands.
We followed the development of
cameras and equipment with
excitement, since these tools
now allow us to get good, cinema
quality shots (to be frank its
getting closer but we are still not
there yet) for a fraction of the cost.
One issue I always had and many of you
will agree on is, to get smooth and steady
shots in the outdoor environment. I think
most of my action shots, I considered as
useless after recording since camera movements or vibrations are so extreme that it
was not even possible to stabilize them in
post production.
When I heard that gimbals - mounts with
electronic stabilizers to remove or reduce
unwanted camera movements - are available for actions cams, I got excited and
wanted to get my hands on one of these
devices. The choice fell on the new DJI
Osmo since it is a turnkey solution rather
than an additional equipment for the action
camera. So the whole Osmo Camera and
Gimbals is one set, with each individual
part optimized for each other. The only
thing you need is a smart phone which is
used as a screen, but since you run the

DJI Osmo app on it, I still consider it as a
turnkey solution.
I will not talk much about the technical features; you can look this up in detail
online. The camera is powered by Sonys
1/2.3-inch 12-megapixel sensor that can
record videos of up to 4K resolution
4,096 x 2,160 at 24fps or 3,840 x 2,160 at
30fps/24fps, with a maximum video bitrate
of 60mbps. If you want a smoother video,
you can go up to 60fps at either 1080p or
720p, or even do slow motion with 120fps
at 1080p. The camera with the gimbal
and handle is approximately half a kilo of
weight only. The Osmo comes with a carry
case, battery, charger, phone holder and
there are plenty of accessories already
available like a bike holder with a build in
shock absorber. The camera and gimbal
also fits DJI drones (check compatibility).
The battery last only for about an hour
so it is advisable to get one or more extra
batteries if you go outdoors.
Now the big question, you might have
and I had - does this magic toy really work?
I saw amazing footage online and was
not sure how well the camera will do
in a real outdoor test. First of all, it does
work and you can get amazing shots. It
is actually quite easy to get started and
when you power up the camera it gives you
a short run through the options. But the
camera is not that magical and can read
the mind of a director, what shots he might
want to have, so planning and the right
use of the camera is essential. Algorithms
decide, which movement should be equalized, so you will face some problems if you
go mountain biking in a very bumpy track
with many sharp turns - the camera will
have issues to determine where you want
to go, so it is a bit of a gamble if the result
is what you wanted or not but no matter
what you do, the camera is smoothening
out movements a lot. And to be honest and
not too harsh - how many times will you try
to attach a camera to a MTB while you ride
an off-road rodeo.
If you dont go hardcore, and plan to
have more straightforward movements e.g.
just follow someone walking on a track, you
will get amazing and steady shots. So if you
know about the limitation of the camera
you can make the most use of it to get
great shots.
Also the recoding quality is great so you
can use it in your post production workflow.
Soon you can check out some footage we
recorded on our website.
So the quick and straightforward judgment is the Osmo will be a permanent tool
we will be using. Since this is also the latest
development in the action cam industry I
think we will see more and even better
solutions soon.
2
6
To compare the Osmo to a normal action camera, we

mounted both on a fatbike. The action cam footage
was so shaky that it was of no use. The Osmo was
also the same, not all footage was good but there
were good, steady sequences.
Whats in the box:

1. Carry and back
2. Camera
3. Gimbal
4. Handle
5. Lens cover
6. Mobile phone holder
7. Battery
8. Charger (with cable)
The DJI Osmo Camera and Gimbal is

available in the UAE through RCCorner.ae
for 2,460 AED. For more information, give
them a call at 04 335 7899
OUTDOORUAE
41
PRODUCTS
Silverback Slade 5
2,299 AED/QAR
1,100 AED (with heart rate sensor)
Available exclusively at GO Sport
Available at Adventure HQ and Jumbo Electronics
The Slade mountain bike range is a cross country platform that is

designed to make the most of the 275 wheel size. This
platform is great for shorter riders and for those who like the
agility and stiffness of the in-between wheel size. The geometry
has been tailored to bring out the best aspects of 275, resulting
in a highly maneuverable, accurate and smooth ride.
This is the perfect bike for the beginner mountain biker.
The M400 is a powerful running

companion and daily motivator. 24/7
activity tracking records your every move,
pushing you towards new heights. With GPS
and the Back to start feature you can
explore new running paths without worries.
Technical Specifications:
Frame:
27.5 Trail, Butted 6061 Aluminium
Fork:
100mm Travel, Adjustable Spring Preload
Gear system:
Shimano 7 speed
Weight:
14.93kg
Features:
Advanced GPS: The M400s built-in GPS
keeps track of your pace, distance and
altitude.
Water Resistance: 30m
Activity Tracking: The M400 tracks your
steps, activity, sleep and calories 24/7, encouraging you to
stay active every day.
Heart Rate Training: One of the most effective training
methods. Take advantage of it by using a Polar H7 heart rate sensor.
Running Cadence from the Wrist: Keep an eye on your running
cadence to improve your running efficiency and avoid injuries.
Polar Flow: Plan, sync and share your training using the
exclusive Polar Flow online service and mobile application.
All data is easily viewable.
Smart Notifications: See notifications from your phone
directly on the screen of your M400.
Individual Targets: Set your own individual training targets
and follow your progress towards them using Polar Flow.
Newton Running Fate Neutral
Lum-Tec M53 Bronze
Available at Adventure HQ (Exclusive colourways)
Available at Instagram: @almekshah

Mobile: +971 55 8008829
650 AED
Perfect for: People who delight in the pure joy of running and
want a shoe that elevates their experience.
Likes: For every day training and racing, an all around go-to shoe.
Ride: Versatile and balanced the dynamic Newton P.O.P in a
more relaxed package.
Weight: 9.4oz
Platform: P.O.P 2
Heel-to-toe drop: 4.5mm
Features:
5-lug P.O.P 2 platform.
Action/Reaction
technology in the forefoot
and heel.
Biomechanical metatarsal
sensor plate.
Open ground surface
EVA in mid-stance.
Durable S.H.A.R.C
(Super High Abrasion Rubber
Compound) outsole
composite in forefoot.
Seamless engineered mesh upper.
360 degree reflectivity.
Heel lace lock.
42
The Polar M400 - GPS Running Watch
OUTDOORUAE
3,700 AED
With only 300 pieces in production, the limited M53 Bronze is

an epitome to both style and function with its elegant straps
and black face on a solid bronze crown.
Features:
44mm width excluding crown
24mm lug width
14.5mm thick
Weight on leather strap 150g/5.3 oz.
Solid CuSn8 bronze case and crown
Brushed finish
Sapphire crystal with double side
clear anti-reflective coating
Screw lock crown with double diamond
sealing system
Threaded stainless steel caseback
with sapphire window
300 meters/990 ft. water resistance
2 straps included
Brown leather strap. 24/22 size
Custom molded anti-static rubber strap. 24/22 size
Extra springbars included for fitting other straps
Precision tuned all Japan made Sii NH35J automatic
movement with hacking feature.
Limited numbered series of 300
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RUAE
Suit Up for your Next Hike

Enjoy hiking in the Middle East with lightweight equipment from Columbia
Words By: Daniel Birkhofer
Here at OutdoorUAE we get

asked many times what would be
the best equipment to go hiking in.
There is actually no uniform answer
to that question, since it depends
very much on the area where you
hike and even on your personal
preferences. There are a few guidelines you can follow and Columbia
is actually offering the full range of
equipment you might need to start
from scratch.
In the UAE, we mainly have to consider
factors like sun and heat rather than cold
temperatures and rain, so sun protection is
important. Apart from sun screen, it is always
recommended to wear a hat or a cap.
The Columbia Omni-Shade Titanium Ball
Cap is exactly this and is comfortable and
shades your face from the sun and keeps the
fresh air flowing through.
For the trousers, I generally wear heavy
cotton trousers for hiking but especially now
when temperatures rise, lightweight functional
clothing is a much better option to stay cool
and in style. The Titanium short is crafted
from 4-way comfort stretch fabric with built-in
Omni-Shield advanced repellency and
Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection.
For the top, the Mens Titan Ice shirt takes
my vote with its ultra light and cool layer that
is meant to go the distance. This innovative
mens polo tee from the Columbia Titanium
collection cuts weight and keeps you comfortable with Omni-Freeze Zero mesh inserts,
which uses airflow to amplify the shirts innovative cooling affects. A zip-open collar lets
you adjust your ventilation on the fly, bonded
seams deliver chafe-free comfort and wicking
technology pulls sweat away from your skin to
keep you comfortable.
Most importantly for any hike, long walk
or trail run - in Kalba or in Ras al Khaimahs
wadis and mountains, is the right choice of
your footwear. Usually I would always recommend wearing a shoe for hiking which has
ankle support, but since we are facing very
high temperatures in the UAE, I recommend
trail running shoes since their soles are made
for rough terrain but they are lightweight and
usually have better ventilation than heavy
hiking boots. The Ventrailia Razor trail shoe

is perfect for the UAE. It is a fully waterproof,
lightweight and flexible shoe with welded
textile and mesh uppers for maximum
breathability, cooling and comfort. The
Techlite lightweight midsole offers superior
cushioning and high-energy return.
Also more care should be taken while
choosing your backpack. First of all you
should decide on the size if you need a small
day pack or maybe something bigger for
long multi-day trips. 30-40L is a good size you
can use for almost everything, even for short
weekend breaks. A rain cover is always a good
extra that you might neglect while youre
here in the UAE but if you travel, you can use
it abroad or like me, I use it as protection if I
check in my backpack as luggage so that the
straps are not getting stuck or torn off on the
airports baggage belts.
The rugged Trail Elite daypack fulfils these
requirements and has an aluminium frame,
Techlite straps, is hydration bottle compatible
and has a whole set of features designed to

make the most out of any hike. The mesh on
the back ensures air ventilation which is great
in the UAE. You also have enough straps and
pockets to attach hiking poles, GPS or pack
extra water bottles.
There is a big choice at Columbia and other
stores for your hiking needs here and abroad.
But if you are not sure and need a starting
point, the aforementioned equipment is a very
good choice of high quality products suitable
for the conditions here and will only cost you
approximately 1,700 AED. The light weight
and great ventilation of all the products is one
of the main features to choose all or any of the
recommendations. Keep in mind that buying
a good set of gear is an investment for many
years and worth every dirham spent.
Get these quality equipment at any
Columbia store in Dubai (Ibn Battuta
Mall, The Dubai Mall, Mirdif City
Centre, Dubai Outlet Mall and Mall
of the Emirates) and Abu Dhabi
(Al Wahda Mall) for the following prices.
Titan Peak Short :
Mens Titan Ice :
Titanium Ball Cap :
Ventrailia Razor Outdry :
Trail Elite 35L :
259 AED
249 AED
89 AED
399 AED
719 AED
Lum-Tec Watches Arrive in the UAE

Photos By: Weigand Custom Watch
Our watches are designed with

feedback from watch collectors
around the world.
The quote above is displayed proudly on
the website of Lum-Tec. The watchmaker is
known for their elegantly made, luminous
watches. Some of which are tailor made to
the specifications of their owners. Each
Lum-Tec watch comes with hands and dials
that are imbedded with MDV technology
that is extremely visible in all light conditions
a perfect must-have for those that need
to always keep track of time.
The company also prides itself on not

breaking the bank despite adding a ton of
features that can be expected in any of their
models. These features include:
MDV Technology Extreme
luminous hands and dials.
316L surgical grade stainless steel
or tungsten carbide.
Thick top grade sapphire crystals.
Top grade anti-reflective crystal coatings.
Top grade straps or bracelets.
Titanium carbide PVD hard coatings on
some models.
Large case designs. 38mm-50mm sizes.
Exclusivity. All watches are numbered
limited editions.
100 meters/330 ft. minimum

water resistance.
Full feature heavy duty movements.
Lifetime timing adjustments
on mechanical models.
Lifetime battery replacement
on quartz models.
One year limited warranty.
Highest grade packaging
and display box set.
Design, assembling, testing, adjusting and
quality control in USA.
This level of bespoke luxury and
functionality is now available in the UAE
through Al Mekshah. You can check their
contact details below this page.
Available at
Instagram: @almekshah
Mobile: +971 55 8008829
44
OUTDOORUAE
T R&I E D
TESTED
ODUC
THIS PR
OV
T IS APPR
TDOO
ED BY OU
RUAE
SIC Recon 11.4 SUP - the perfect companion

Words By: Blake Stemm
Photos By: OutdoorUAE
In a country where versatility is

of the utmost importance, the SIC
Recon 11.4 for me is the perfect
companion. It is an all-round fitness/surf/touring/SUP board, which
can be used in any type of water.
When it comes to stand up
paddleboarding or surfing, I would
like a board that can do both. With
the Recon, I am able to do just
that. It has the width to assist with
balance but not too much that it
ruins the manoeuvrability needed to
surf.
The shape of the board is built that when
it comes to surfing you have full movement
back and forward on the board. It is also
wide enough that you can stand up paddle on it on flat water for a beginner and
on open water for a more intermediate/
advance approach. This isnt a board that
I would recommend to someone who has
never done SUP before, due to it being
slightly thinner than a normal board. It is
however good for a surfing beginner as
it has a little more stability than a Malibu.
Furthermore it is also more suited to a surfer
who prefers to longboard.
For stand up paddleboarding, you want
a board that has some stability, moves and
handles relatively well in the water and is
also fairly light. The Recon is light and easy
to carry. Here in Dubai, a board like this is
perfect as it handles very nicely on calm

waters like the ones near Riva Beach Club
and Ignite Surface. It is just inside the Palm
and the water is flat very comfortable to
go for a gentle tour around the fronds or
handles nicely should you want to go for a
fitness, high intensity paddle.
Out in the more open waters like Kite
Beach, on a good day when there are no
waves, the board handles smoothly. However, should the water be choppy and rough,
the board becomes a little more challenging
for its pilot. This is due to the width of the
board, when it comes to standing on it
and paddling during a small to medium
swell it proves to become much more of a
challenge.
The padded non slip top makes it easy
and comfortable to stand on for long
periods of time, making it a great touring
board. The width of the board is like that of
a surfboard meaning it glides through the
water much more swiftly and is easier for the
pilot to paddle. I personally like this type of
board as I can take it for a surf or surf paddle
and at the same time I can convert to stand
up paddle boarding. For someone who
loves the water like me and spends a lot of
time each week on the beach, this board is
great. The only challenge I have with this
board is the transportation of it due to the

length of the board which is the downside of
every rigid board.
The board: The SIC Recon 11.4 is from
the SIC brand, newly launched in the UAE
and is exclusively available at GO Sport
stores across the region for 4,725 AED.
About the author: Blake is an SUP enthusiast and Instructor at Ignite Surface.
He is the Group Marketing Manager for
Ignite Group and along with being a
PT and Group Fitness Instructor. Loving
water so much instructing SUP was the
next logical add on to his career.
OUR EXPERTS
Dark Skies Challenge 2016

Words by: Marina Bruce
Photos by: Participating teams
February 19th and 20th saw

the annual Dark Skies Challenge
take place in the Liwa area. Teams
started arriving at Arada late afternoon on Thursday 18th, ready for
an early start to driving on Friday
morning. Another nights camping
was required on the Friday, before
exiting the desert near Ghayathi on
Saturday at lunchtime.
Concept
I have always had a passion for long-distance

drives trips which involve
spraying sand around for three hours. Covering 20kms or less is just not my thing at all,
although I know many off-roaders just love
them. A couple of years ago I dreamt up the
Dark Skies Challenge to allow me to share my
overlanding passion with my friends at Oasis
Offroad; the inaugural event in 2014 was
so successful it was opened up to external
entries in 2015.
Many UAE off-road clubs host challenge
trips, each is unique in its own way but I believe this is the only team-based long distance
challenge for amateur drivers. One team
leader joked that I have more rules than the
1st Place Nature by Desert Hawks - nature
1st place action shot by Qatar Bowl Busters
1st place Desert Life by Desert Safari - Desert Life
FIA (Federation Internationale Automobile),

but this is necessary to keep all cars safe in
three years we have had over 150 cars participate and with the exception of one recovery
point which broke and caused damage, we
have not had one single car requiring a police
report; not bad for approximately 25,000kms
driven purely on sand!
One of the great things about driving on
road in the UAE is that most main roads are
lit, however that means it is really difficult to
find a truly dark sky, free from light pollution.
In the Western Desert, you find yourself so far
from civilization that the night sky is inky black
and dotted with thousands of stars, hence
The Dark Skies Challenge!
The Route
Considerable thought was given to the

course; firstly, it had to be in a very remote
area where drivers could reach at least
100kms from the road, yet have an easy
exit from the campsite in case of medical or
vehicle emergency; the location also had to
be far away from settlements so there would
be no light pollution; the track itself had to be
varied. 100kms+ of full on, technical dunes
would be exhausting for all but the most experienced of drivers and I wanted to open the
event up to intermediate drivers so they too
could get a taste of desert overlanding.
I found the perfect place in the west and
northwest of Arada; the first 10kms of the
course goes over large, tightly packed dunes,
followed by 40kms or so of large dunes with
valleys in between. The next part of the route

offers some respite as you cross dune lines
which are orientated north-south instead of
the usual east-west of Liwa, these are interspersed with wide plains. The final 20kms are
through soft, white, technical dunes, designed
to test both the driving skill and the mental
strength of the participants!
As if that were not enough, to gain some
bonus KMs, the teams had to find buried
treasure at a waypoint close to the straight
line. I am always amazed how excited everyone is about finding their treasure, even
though every expense is spared! The true
prize in each box is a get out of stuck free
card, some of which were played on the last
technical section!
The route always takes in one or two date
plantations and in 2016 it was Al Shlahh Farm;
teams had to locate a sign which said you
were at the farm, except I neglected to tell
them the sign was in Arabic. A few teams
cottoned on and submitted some great team
pictures!
The Teams
The DSC has a very good safety record and I

attribute this to the high quality of the drivers
and the rules put in place to ensure that we
never wave four rookies off into the vastness
of the Maghrib (western desert)! Each team
is headed up by a driver who leads trips for
their own club, or if they do not belong to a
club, someone who can convince me they can
take care of a convoy! The rest of the team is
1st place low sun by Desert Safari - Sunset
1st place Stuck by Desert Hawks - Stuck
1st place Photoshopped by Knightriders Team-2. 7
1st place Teamwork by Desert Safari
3rd place Teamwork by Qatar Bowl Busters
Team Work by the falcons
made up of one intermediate driver, plus one

advanced; the fourth member of the team can
be either leader/intermediate/advanced.
2016 saw participation from five teams from
Oasis Offroad (Desert Safari, Oasis Scorpios,
Sand Drifters, the Xtrapajeeps and Wahat
Ahzawiwi), Desert Hawks, Desert Raiders,
Dubai Offroaders, two teams from UAEoffroaders (Highjacked Again and The Falcons),
Jeepers (Jeepers Bigfoot), 2 teams from
Knightriders (1 and 2), one team from Qatar
(The Bowl Busters) and one private team
(Snappys Sand Surfers).
Each team had to be self-sufficient for the
duration of the event, having to carry all their
camping gear, extra petrol, firewood and food
our Friday evening camp was going to be as
far away from it all as you can in the UAE!
Thursday Evening
Our first arrivals were the ones who had to

travel the furthest around 4:00 p.m. we
welcomed a forward party of two cars from
the Qatar Bowl Busters and soon after many
others started to arrive. Each team was
encouraged to go along the gatch a little and
find their own private campsite with instructions to return to control to pick up their food
(mixed grill) from the event control at around
7:30 p.m.
The last team to make it to the campsite
was the Falcons who had driven all the way
from Dubai after work, hence their late arrival,
and once they were settled for the night it
was time for me to turn in and hope for good
weather the next morning
Friday Morning
After the sandstorm which exfoliated everyone back in DSC 2015 (See OutdoorUAE
April 2015 Riders on The Storm) I submitted
a special request for good weather and whilst
Stuck by Desert Raiders
we were all grateful not to have a sandstorm,

instead we had to deal with thick fog on
Friday morning!
For safety reasons the start was delayed
until there was 500 metres visibility which
meant that wheels did not start turning until
10:00 a.m., three hours later than planned.
Once the teams were off I headed to the end
point via the road and desert tracks, seriously
wondering if anyone would make it before
nightfall one of the many safety rules in
place is that there is to be no night driving,
unless a team is accompanied by the sweep
team but amazingly, from around 4:30 p.m.
onwards, teams started arriving! In fact 14
teams plus one sweep made it through in
time, unfortunately the Highjacked Again
team had a vehicle issue and with guidance
and a little help from Sweep Two they were
heading for the road via a sandtrack. Sweep
Two almost made it to the campsite but tiredness was setting in and with their job done
for the day they opted to remote camp a few
kilometres from the rest of us.
Friday Evening
In an effort to bring everyone together in the

evening, albeit for a short time, we held a quiz
with a UAE/driving/sky theme and the teams
all got into the spirit of things. One of our
sponsors, the fantastic Southern Sun Hotel
in Abu Dhabi provided us with a voucher as
a prize for the quiz and Oasis Scorpios won
it with an impressive score. I was amused at
answers to one question how many speeding tickets has The Desert Diva received in 30
years of driving someone guessed 57! (The
answer was one, caught in Liwa last year.)
Saturday Morning
After a relatively leisurely breakfast everyone

was gone from our camp by 10am and I
joined the rear sweep to get some proper desert driving in. The final 50kms should have
been slightly easier than the previous day as
there was a very easy route just to the west of
the straight line; the last teams opted to go to
the east and there was nothing else to do but

follow their line, going against the run of the
dunes which was rather fun!
The team with the shortest recorded track
was the Desert Raiders, in second place
Jeepers Bigfoot and in third place the Oasis
Scorpios well done to you all.
There are no prizes for the fastest distance
or indeed the shortest, instead all participants
have the chance to compete for prizes in our
photo competitions; the winning photos,
along with a few of my favourites are printed
here. We had great support from OutdoorUAE magazine who donated copies of
Mike Notts guidebook along with a paracord
bracelet for those who came second in the
competitions. Our other sponsors for the
competitions were Alcatel OneTouch GoPlay
who gave us a smartphone to use for the
event and extra ones to give out as first prize
in the photo competition and also Coleman
who donated cool boxes for those placed
third. Our event t-shirts were kindly donated
by Eastern Motors Jeep from Al Ain a huge
thank you to all our sponsors.
The whole event would not have been
possible without the hard work and dedication of our sweep teams; four winch-owning
friends (Ian, Shaun, Alan, Katy and Chris)
who are involved in the ADDC and/or Baja
events - formed the backbone of the two
sweep teams who were supplemented by two
marshals from Oasis Offroad (Nic and Karen
and Manhar and Melissa). An Emirati friend
came along with three more cars to assist
which meant we had more than enough cover
to cope with any situations.
I would like to thank everyone involved in
the event; the teams - from those who came
back for the second and in some cases third
year to ones who entered for the first time;
to our sponsors for providing fantastic prizes;
and to the sweep teams and others who
supported me; thank you all so very much
planning the 2017 event already!
Desert Safari - Stuck
Action by Oasis Scorpio

Nature by Xtrapajeeps
OUTDOORUAE
47
OUR EXPERTS
Awesome Aquariums:
The Lost Chambers

Words + Photos by: Jake Lyle
When it comes to Scuba Diving,

guaranteed sightings arent a common occurrence, and divers can
go years in search of a certain sea
dwelling species, often with little
success, but in artificial dive sites
like the Lost Chambers Aquarium in
Atlantis The Palm, theres no need
for long and gruelling pursuits, or
extended periods of tiresome waiting, as youre instantly submerged
in an underwater world built up with
animals from thousands of different
marine ecosystems from across
the globe.
The population density within the tank is
mind blowing; it resembles some sort of artistic depiction of the perfect marine habitat,
with thousands of busy fish, stingrays and
sharks, going about their day. These artificial
dive sites offer divers something that other
dive sites fail to provide, and thats the guarantee of a thrilling dive, surrounded by the
same amount of animals it would take a diver
100 dives or more to spot in the open ocean.
Although the habitat and surroundings may
be man-made, the animals and their movements are perfectly natural.
With a tank filled with 11.5 million litres
of water, The Lost Chambers Aquarium can
proudly call itself the biggest aquarium in
the Middle East. Whats more, 85% of the
animals within the aquarium are sourced

locally, showing the rich level of biodiversity that lies under the oceans in our very
backyard, and most of what you can see in
the tank you can see it here in the waters of
Middle East, making a good argument to go
diving here in the UAE! That includes most of
the sharks as well, the majority of which were
picked up from Fujairah and Oman. Not all
of the animals were sourced locally however,
and the biodiversity within the tank can also
be attributed to the international guests from
the far-reaching corners of the Earth like
some of the sharks, who have come all the
way from Hawaii. The population within the
tank its truly global and incredibly diverse.
As the volume of inhabitants within the tank
is so large, as is the food required to feed
them one feeding for the animals includes
a total of 450 kilograms of food. To put that
into perspective, the average person eats
only 2 kilograms of food in a whole day! Also
on the menu quite regularly is garlic, which is
mixed into the feedings on a set number of
days. The garlic has the ability to kill parasites
and prevent fish disease, making it an invaluable asset to the aquarium, as it keeps the
environment clean and the fish healthy.

The conditions in an artificial dive site such
as this are unlike anything you could encounter in the wild. This particular tank is able to
say something that virtually no other natural
dive location in the world is able to say,
something that divers search for and hope to
see all their lives, and thats 100% visibility.
Too often, dives can be made difficult, or
even ruined, due to poor visibility, hindering
your ability to appreciate the natural wonders around you, or causing you to miss the
interesting creatures that swim by you. This
problem however does not exist in artificial
dive sites like The Lost Chambers. Everything and anything is visible. Floating on one
side of the aquarium and looking toward
the other, youre even able to see the back
wall (as long as dense population of colourful fish dont block your view). As well, the
aquarium is only 10 metres deep; this allows
you to have a long and enjoyable dive, as the
shallower the dive, the longer you can spend
down on the sea floor. This maximises the
fun and enhances the experience. Similarly,
the current is gentle and its controlled by
the aquarists who run the Lost Chambers, in
order to simulate a natural environment for

the inhabitants, making the dive comfortable
and non-exhausting. Lastly, the temperature
is a chilled 25oc, a comfortable and pleasant
temperature, suitable for either a short or
long wetsuit, with no special requirements.
The conditions are virtually perfect, and will
alone, ensure an incredible dive.
Fortunately the conditions of the tank
arent the only features that make diving in
this aquarium a great experience, but the
range of underwater species and wildlife that
call this body of water their home are the
true attractions. Colourful and tropical fish
like the yellow bar angelfish, golden trevally,
napoleon wrasse, oriental sweetlips and the
yellow butterfly fish make up a large portion
of the huge schools of fish that travel around
the tank and swarm the windows, creating
underwater displays that you cant help but
not take a picture of. And I assure you; their
appearances are just as interesting as their
names. Getting larger, the aquarium is also
home to a number of stingrays, like the eagle
ray, the cownose ray, and the honeycomb ray,
who frequent both the aquarium floor and
the water at mid-depth. Even larger, the shark
species that inhabit the tank include grey reef
sharks, zebra sharks, bowmouth sharks and
giant guitar sharks. Putting all these different
species together, plus a great deal more, it
makes for a diverse and vibrant ecosystem.
The scuba diving itself, in the aquarium is
an unforgettable experience. Before the dive,
whilst standing above the aquarium, on the
edge of the steps into the water, I watched
the surface, and it was vastly different to the
surface of most oceans. Just under the top
layer of the water, there was already a high
level of activity, with small, colourful creatures
darting back and forth, splashing water into
the air. Larger creatures were scanning the
top layer as well, with their fins jutting out
and slicing through the surface as they patrolled the top of the tank. Moving down the
steps, getting ready to dive down, there was
just one problem. Resting on the first step in
the water was a massive, pregnant stingray.
Although there is very little danger with these
creatures, as the aquarists clip their barbs
(the stinger tails), like we cut our fingernails,
so there is no possibility of a sting, but to
ensure the safety of the animal, the dive
guide ushered her away. When the path was
clear, we entered the water. The clarity of the
water was the first thing that blew me away;
being able to see everything in front of me
for tens of metres, it was wonderful. Then
the residents in the tank began to investigate
our presence in their home, first the small
fish, which would confidently swim incredibly

close to us - some out of sheer curiosity, and
others purely due to the interest in my shiny
silver camera. Swimming further into the tank,
making an effort to dodge the stingrays and
avoid the large schools of fish, we began to
reach the height of the activity. The centre
of the aquarium had the highest density of
sea life. Cownose rays, in groups of at least
five, would circle the centre of the tank, bold
eagle rays would cut through the middle,
and the huge, dense schools of colourful fish
would congregate in the centre, occasionally
parting ways when something larger wanted
to swim through. The largest animals in the
aquarium, the grey reef sharks, patrolled
the outskirts of the tank. They were shy, so
it was difficult to get close to them, as they
were careful to avoid us. Occasionally they
would swim along the glass and wed meet
at an angle, allowing us to gauge their sheer
size in comparison to us. Its rare in the wild
to experience a congregation of so many
sharks, so it was certainly a treat to experience it here. Specifically, two of the female
grey reefs were pregnant, exaggerating their
size even further, making for an even more
thrilling experience. As we spent longer in
the tank, the sharks would get more used to
our presence, and every now and again they
would build up the courage to approach us.
One of the sharks would decide they were
going to investigate us, and it would swim
from one end of the tank all the way to us,
the groups of fish on its route would part
ways and the shark would advance. It would
slow on approach, getting a good look and a
thorough examination, changing direction at
the last second.
Contrastingly, there were a number of
animals that were much more friendly and
willing to interact with the strangers in their
home. Animals like the eagle rays and the zebra sharks would swim extraordinarily close,
and inspect you, in the hopes that you would
have food. It was a fascinating site to see, as
the aquarists hand fed these animals, they
would begin to swarm around the feeder,
putting on a marvellous display. Excited
stingrays would carry their enthusiasm onto
you, coming close and flapping their wings
around you, almost wrapping you up as
they kindly asked for food. The atmosphere

in tanks such as these is vastly different to
anything Ive experienced in the open ocean,
and the frequency of animal encounters is
exponentially greater than a natural dive site.
Its incredibly hard to beat the feeling you
get when youre in the open ocean, searching
for something, hoping for something, and actually seeing it. It makes you feel privileged,
and lucky, that this opportunity came about
just for you. Its thrilling and exciting, when
the encounters you might have on a dive
are unknown and undetermined and that
there is a chance of anything. But diving in an
aquarium like The Lost Chambers, gives you
a feeling not too far off that. Although youre
told what youre going to see, it takes nothing away from the experience, it is still just as
thrilling and exciting, and it offers you a frequency of encounters that is virtually unheard
of in the open ocean. There is no space in the
tank that is empty, the whole area is active
and vibrant, and the only problem you might
have, is soreness in your neck, from constantly turning around to take everything in.
Diving in an aquarium is a unique experience,
an experience that allows you to fit all of the
best aspects of diving into a single dive, and
The Lost Chambers Aquarium in Atlantis The
Palm does it perfectly.
OUTDOORUAE
49
OUR EXPERTS
340 Kilometres Nonstop across

the Tropic of Cancer
Words by: Nico de Corato
Photos by: Mauro Grigollo
UAE resident Max Calderan set

off on a 340km trek across the
desert along the line of the Tropic of
Cancer. The route, which is located
in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and
starts from the UAE border with
Saudi Arabia up and ends up at the
Omani border provided Max with the
most arduous challenge he has ever
faced.
Being an experienced endurance runner and having completed several desert
crossing and extreme running challenges,
including running non-stop runs for 90 hours
over 437km in Oman, he was challenged
yet prepared to this run along the Tropic of
Cancer. Other than these achievements, he is
also the first man to cover 200km in 48 hours
across Oman in 2007, where temperatures
hit a record high of 56 degrees; also during
the 2012 Ramadan, he ran 250km across the
Sinai Peninsula in Egypt while fasting. Topping this all off is his 75 hour, 360km expedition across Saudi Arabia where temperatures
peaked at a record high of 58 degrees.
Max just left one of the check points
Max wearing his guthra
This expedition, the Tropic of Cancer run

started over the UAE border in Liwa and
brought him across the desert to Oman. It
was supposed to finish on the 21st of March,
but due to some difficulties with the terrain,
the run took more than expected.
Preparing for the Run
During this time, Max talked about his belief

when it comes to preparation, he also shared
with us his habits and conditioning to get
ready for this challenging run. When you
prepare for this kind of crossing challenge,
you need to get trained in three main areas:
sleep deprivation, water deprivation and
food deprivation. Max adds that it is something he believes is critical if any athlete is to
try this sort of activity.
Talking about his habits, he adds: I normally have three to four hours sleep. During
my previous explorations, I slept five-seven
minutes every three/four hours. In Oman
two years ago, I went without sleep for 100
hours, just small naps. Its very useful if youre
stressed.
I had chance to be part of the team which
followed Max during this challenge as a
videographer and media partner. During the
50
OUTDOORUAE
Max on his route
challenge, I was with five other people in

the support team: Mauro, the photographer;
Albert; Ian; Steve and Kevin, each of them
driving a 4x4 laden with medical supplies and
nourishment while following Max along the
route.
We set up headquarters in Liwa at the Tilal
Hotel, where we arrived the day before the
start, on the 17th. After a light dinner, there
was a technical briefing for last-minute details
just to make sure everything falls into place.
In the early morning of 18th we left from the
HQ towards the starting point - at the border
between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. It took
a couple of hours; with first hour comprised
of on road driving and the remaining 40-50
minutes was dedicated to going into the
sand to reach the starting line.
Max Begins
At around 8:30 a.m. Max touched the net

that indicates the borderline and proceeded
with his challenge . The first few kilometres
Following Max's footsteps
Checkpoint. Max has a small rest and food to recover
The net represents the border between KSA and UAE
were used for a final setup, with frequent

stops and checks of the gear to make sure
they remain intact. In these first few kilometres we are close by him, then we moved
to the first scheduled checkpoint and while
waiting for Max. A few minutes later, a heavy
wind started to blow not a proper sand
storm but sufficient enough for us not to see
anything without goggles or sunglasses.
After meeting Max and checking everything is fine, we started driving to the next
checkpoint and we soon realize that the sand
in this area is very tricky. After the heavy wind
that came, it became quite difficult for us to
locate compact sand and inside the cars the
concern to get stuck became prevalent. The
fear became a reality as our support cars got
stuck a couple of times and one of the cars
even hit a dune. In the midst of trouble, we
were assisted by experienced off-road driver
Marina Bruce, who to my surprise also writes
for OutdoorUAE! Thanks to her help, the
Tricky sands. Cars go on getting stuck in the sands
vehicle re-joined the team during the

evening.
With the hard part already over, we began
to think about Max and how he is currently
faring. In the beginning, I was assuming that
there would be lots of spare time while waiting for Max at the checkpoints; instead, it
sometimes took hours to cover a few kilometres and Max faced the same issue.
During the evening we were forced to stop
and camp overnight because it's not safe to
move on this kind of terrain by car without
sunlight. On the other hand, Max continued
to proceed with his running. It began to hit
me that assisting this kind of challenge meant
solving several kinds of issues: punctures;
broken or damaged car; to be sure to be in
time for checkpoints or not to lose the track,
to be sure where Max is or could be... But
once there, the team also had chance to relax
a little bit, have a nap, set up something, eat
some food, or just to chat. Things started
changing when the expected time of arrival
got closer. Everybody is looking around to
check any sign. Then we saw him approaching - in the beginning he was just a small
spot. Then we realized that it's not a gazelle
or a bunch... Max is coming!
When he approached the checkpoint,
everything changed. Nobody is talking,
eating, drinking or smoking. We were all just
waiting to hear his needs and to give him
the appropriate support. The focus is on
Max every second of the challenge in the
checkpoints and also in between them. In
those moments, the atmosphere surrounding
the temporary camp is like something of a
ritual. Then he runs on - we look at him disappearing into the distance in the same way as
he appeared.
It was now time to catch up, we were
careful not to interfere with him or to kick up
sands on him. This balanced with our concern
for dunes and other interferences. After the
last checkpoint of the day, convoy stopped
for the night, while Max went on and covered
several kilometres ahead of us. For us it
Talking to Max few meters after a check point
meant an early morning start as we needed

to detect and follow his track, until we see
him and then we can reach the first available
checkpoint after that.
Max Finishes
After one checkpoint and another, we continued to drive along the Tropic of Cancer.
Initially we were supposed to take four days,
but two more days were needed to cover
the whole path. The last two days were even
worse for Max, because of the overnight rain
storms in the area.
We waited for Max at Al Qua where the
finish line was. The terrain for the final leg
was very flat and all around us were several
camel farms all situated around the small village. The final wait for Max was the toughest
one we were tired, worried, exhausted and
soon enough, the minutes became hours as
we waited for him to arrive.
Then... we see him!
He's almost running! I know adrenaline
keeps you on in last kilometres, especially
after a long challenge like this one. In the
finish line Max smiles and has a word with
everyone, as usual. We seem to be more
tired than him. I knew about Max's challenge
and I already wrote about them; but to see
him in action was unbelievable. To achieve
a challenge like this is not just a question of
physical or mental training only you need
to have a big heart, and you have got it, Son
of the Desert...
But no, time to celebrate and rest. You
deserve it.
Overnight camping. During the night Max run on while 4x4s have to stop
OUR EXPERTS
Women
n Wheels
Preparing for Life

with the Pros
Words by: Helle Bachofen von Echt
Photos by: Usman Oluwaseyi,
Annette McCusker
and Pete Photographie
When I received the call in November, my heart skipped a beat. I have

wondered many times what life is like as
a professional cyclist. How much higher
is their level over what we do in the UAE?
How strong are these female riders? Is
life really just train, eat, sleep, travel,
race and repeat?
The call came from Gerard Penarroya,
Director of the Canadian female pro team
SAS-Macogep-Acquisio. I froze I didnt
know whether to feel excited, intimidated,
scared, proud or just really happy. I had just
received an invitation to join a pro team as a
guest rider for eight stage races in California.
At the time of the call, I had just
recovered from an exhausting and tough
season of racing. The harder I had tried,
the more I had trained, the more bad luck I
seemed to have had with crashes and mechanical breakdowns dominating my racing
leading to many personal disappointments.
Eventually after finishing the season with
a final poor performance at the UAE NAS
Sports Tournament, I continued my training
throughout the hot Dubai summer months in
preparation for the UCI Gran Fondo World
Championships in Denmark in September.
Every day during my preparations I felt
powerless, I lost the enjoyment of cycling

and I lost my motivation. After the World
Championships I had no option but to let
go. I took my bike out only for some irregular
group rides and unstructured solo sessions.
I didnt look at the numbers on my device. I
didnt put any pressure on myself at all. As I
made a trip to France at the end of October
with a group of entry level riders, with the
purpose of riding for enjoyment, for the first
time I looked back at the numbers on a climb
outside Nice, and to my great surprise and
relief, I discovered a new 20mins max power
threshold. My strength had returned.
On the phone, despite my fears and
doubts I accepted without hesitation the
opportunity was just too good to refuse.
I met Gerard one year ago at the Dubai
Tour 2015 and unbeknownst to me, Gerard
had been following my cycling journey from

afar ever since. There was only one condition
attached to the invitation; I was required to
undergo a variety of power tests to determine if my strength levels matched that of
the field in which I would be competing.
The team coach to SAS-Macogep-Acquisio,
David Dulude, prescribed me a number of
fitness tests, setting out the threshold levels
I needed to pass. The tests consisted of a 30
seconds max, 5mins max and 30mins max
power test. I completed these on my road
bike using a power meter which measured
my watt output. I felt the pressure, as I was
not sure I could reach the power thresholds
that were required. I made a couple of attempts and on the days where both wind
conditions and my own strength harmonized,
to my great relief, I met all the requirements.
Now the real work could begin; that meant
four months of intensive and focused training
with the goal of improving both my power
and fitness, but with specific focus on my
anaerobic capacity (maximal work performed
during maximum-intensity short-term efforts)
Work, Training and Racing
With a clear time line and goal, Coach David

Dulude was immediately put in charge of my
training program; and his training methods
of low volume/high intensity has proven to
work well for me as I have felt strong going
into every training session. This style of training also ties in well around other commitments in life as it is less time consuming. In
my case however as the majority of my work
is private fitness coaching and instructing

indoor cycling classes at Flywheel Sports, the
challenge has been to create and manage a
schedule of all physical work. We have had
to work my road bike specific training around
my flywheel sessions, resulting in just four
weekly outdoor sessions. In addition, we
have also had to monitor the training/recovery balance well to avoid over training.
With a busier local UAE racing schedule
this season, there has been opportunities to
practise racing skills. I have also travelled to
Qatar on a few occasions to race in an unfamiliar terrain and field. And then of course,
joining some selected elite male training
groups is good race training. And lastly, I
have been fortunate to join the Al Marakeb
Pro Continental male team for a couple of
training sessions.
Now, four months later and in very close
proximity to the races, my improvements in
anaerobic capacity have increased 16-19%.
This is measured in power output during
training, racing and tests and the results have
been obvious as I have featured regularly
on the top of the podium in the last three
months. In addition to my cycling training,
Coach David also prescribed regular and
specific leg weight training in the gym.
The SASMacogep-Acquisio
Female Professional Team
The professional team I will be joining is

based in Quebec, Canada. The team was
established in 2006 and consists of nine
female riders. The team competes mainly
in North America and Europe. The team has
previously participated in the UCI Gatineau
Race (Canada), Tour of Bretagnia (France)
and a variety of races in Belgium. The teams
mission is to promote womens cycling at
the highest level with a commitment to offer

young, talented Canadian female cyclists
the opportunity to compete in Canadian
continental and International elite arenas. It
is the first professional cycling team based
in Quebec. Director Gerard Penarroya has
been following the growth of female cycling
the UAE and has aspirations to build a female
competitive team in this region.
Racing Pro Category
I guess there is no better way to find out

what the level of the female pro riders are,
than to get into the field and feel and witness
it for myself. Equally, it is an opportunity to
measure the level of a UAE amateur elite
female rider against the pro riders. How does
our level compare to USA 1, 2, 3 and Pro
Cat? I will find out during these challenging
races happening 1st 10th April in terrains
we are not familiar with in the UAE.
The first challenges will happen in San Dimas; three stage races consisting of an uphill
individual time trial, a classic road race and a
criterium with sharp corners.
The next challenges I will face whilst being
a guest for the team, will be participating in
The Redlands Bicycle Classic. This is the longest continuous running invitational, professional stage race in American bike racing.
The race consists of five stages in and around
the Redland area and has existed since 1985.
This event, featuring 350 elite racers, has
hosted future stars of the Olympics, Tour
de France, and World Championships. The
Redlands Bicycle Classic's long heritage of
attracting future stars has earned its position
in history. It is truly a race "Where Legends
Are Born!"
Credit to the UAE Cycling Community

I am a 37 year old amateur rider, training
and competing mainly locally. However as
we see cycling booming in the UAE; with our
dedicated cycling tracks, specialised cycling
stores, increasing race calendars, opening

of indoor cycling facilities, establishments of
local male professional teams and the UAE
hosting professional tours, the foundations to
build a higher level of competitive cycling for
both males and females, are already in place.
Using all these benefits as well as benefiting from the support of the UAE cycling
community and of course a high dose of selfdiscipline and dedication to the sport and my
training, I feel in the best shape of my life.
You can follow my journey of PRO racing
in California 1st-10th April live on Snapchat
@hellebve or Instagram @thegirlwhocyclesinthedesert.
Tips on How to Improve your Cycling:

1. Set a goal with a time line - and have a
real purpose and desire to reach it. What
does reaching that goal really mean to you?
2. Get a power metre on your bike
3. Hire a coach to help you plan your
sessions. Ride with structure and purpose.
4. Make a weekly plan and decide which
days and times you will ride then stick to it
99% of the time.
5. Keep track of your progress by doing
regular power tests. Every small progress
boosts your confidence.
6. Listen to your body. Learn to know if your
body is giving you signs of fatigue.
7. Clean up your diet and make sure to eat
enough carbohydrates to fuel for training.
Always fuel before intense or long training
sessions.
8. Learn from riders with more experiences.
Grab any knowledge you can from the best.
9. Surround yourself with like-minded
people who understand and encourages
you in the process.
10. And remember to have FUN!
Helle Bachofen von Echt is a
Dubai-based sponsored Elite Road
Cyclist competing in both local and
international events. When she is not
training, she is helping others achieve
their health and fitness goals by running her own personal training services
as well as giving indoor cycling classes.
Helle loves travelling with her bike
and you can follow her adventures and
racing on Instagram
@thegirlwhocyclesinthedesert.
OUTDOORUAE
53
OUR EXPERTS
The Curse That Rules Us All

Words + Photos by: Kit Belen
When you watch a very

experienced angler closely, you
will see the choice of lures they
stick with. They only carry a few
small boxes in a bag filled with
lures that they know will produce
for them in a set of conditions
they might encounter.
Not all of the anglers you encounter are

like that, a lot of us are guilty of taking more
than what we need for a days worth of fishing - however, this seems to be something
common with the ones that know what
theyre doing they dont take a lot of lures
with them on their fishing trips. Even the
fishing guides themselves will only have a
handful of lures they use day in and day out
they might have a lot of them, but they
stick with only a small variety of lures. For
example, you will see about five lures they
stick with, but they might have about half a
dozen of these lures and they only have
about three or so colors of these lures, not
the full range. Mind you, these are professionals that earn a living from fishing.
There are exceptions to the rule, as we
see with the case of bass angler that have to
prepare and adapt to the tiniest of changes,
and the fact that you need to stay on top of
the competition, there is a need for them to
have everything they can comfortably carry
on their boat (which is mostly almost a tackle
sop worth of lures and rods). However, there
is really no need to take a whole tackleshop
with you for a weekends worth of fishing. Although Im pretty sure that many of us tend
to overlook the fact that we take too much
gear with us when we fish. Think about this:
do you ever recall a day when you needed
to throw everything you had to catch a fish?
Needless to say, we have to accept the
fact that we must carry all that we can to
give us a better chance of catching fish and
with that, we need a storage system that fits
our needs.
Dealing with the Clutter
To organize things, you will need a few
54
OUTDOORUAE
boxes. There are a lot out there and after

looking for a brand that suits me, I settled
for the Flambeau Tuff Tainer with Zerust.
These containers are waterproof and rust
proof so I dont have to worry about my
hooks rusting out. I have been using these
boxes for quite a while now and I keep adding more because they make a lot of sense
to me as for the Zerust, I still make sure to
dry out the lures before putting them back
in the box, but so far, I have had lures on
there that have been rust free for more than
a year of exposure in saltwater.
I have been doing a lot of shore fishing lately and have been using what the
Japanese call a floating fishing vest its
quite a departure from the traditional fishing
vest as these vests are more like tactical
fishing vests - they are life vests with big
pockets on them and a few accessory holders in the sides, mine has a lip grip holder
as well as a holster for my pliers. Everything
I need is basically just a pocket away and
are always easy to access. These Flambeau
boxes fit perfectly in the main pockets and
as a bonus, I can fit two long slim ones (Tuff
Tainer 3000 size) inside the main pockets.
Two of the 4000 or one 5000 series fits the
back of the vest. In total, I can carry up to
four small boxes (3000 size) and two 4000s,
this equates to almost the convenience of
a small tackle shop If I choose to go that
way.
I mostly go with a small box filled with
different weights and makes of metal jigs,
a box to hold split rings, snaps, extra treble
hooks, single hooks, assist hooks and all other small hardware, one box of plugs and one
box of soft plastics. If I am walking a long
stretch of beach, I carry a few spares in two
I ended up with a very flexible modular

system centered on the fishing vest. All the
boxes are loaded in the car and I take only
what I need (or think I need) for the fishing
ahead.
Till next high tide,
Kit
Our fishing pro who shares

his experiences and
expertise with OutdoorUAE
through his regular column.
thefishingkit@gmail.com
NaishKites
Photos: F. Berthuot
bigger boxes stored in the back of the vest.

It might sound a lot of things to carry, but
when the boxes are in the vest pockets, you
dont even think of them anymore. Although
it takes some juggling, you eventually settle
to a set of lures that you are very comfortable with and a handful that produce well
for you.
I change lures a lot to find what works in
a particular area and carrying as much as I
could has continually proven to be a formula
that works at least for me. A very good
example was when a friend invited a few of
us over to fish in his backyard in the Palm
Jumierah one afternoon. I was happily casting a small jig for queenfish and spangled
emperors when I noticed there was a boil
not too far from where I was standing, I ran
over to the boil and started casting my jig, I
didnt know what they were as they were a
bit of a distance away from shore, I kept on
casting and was not getting bit. If I didnt
have good selection of lures on me, I would
have been forced to run back to my tackle
box and take some lures, run back to the
boil and cast again, losing the window for a
hook up within the timespan. Of all the lures
that would interest them, one finally took a
pink bucktail jig I had in one of the boxes.
How I avoid carrying everything in the vest
is an investment of a few of those boxes,
I dont need to label them because I can
clearly see what I have inside them. I basically fill the boxes according to what type of
fishing I would be doing in the weekend and
replace the boxes in the vest accordingly
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PEOPLE
Kristian Ghedina
Age: 46
Nationality: Italian
Occupation: Ski school trainer and
owner. Former ski and car racer
Words By: Nico de Corato
Photos Supplied By: Kristian Ghedina
Kristian
Ghedina is a
former World Cup
alpine ski racer
from Italy and auto
racer. With his
thirteen victories
he's the most
awarded Italian downhill specialist
in World Cup history.
One night in Cortina, Italy, I was looking
for a restaurant I've been one year before
with a friend of mine, but I could not even
remember the name. So I go back to the
hotel where I was staying and I ask for a tip
from the hotel owner. Elisabetta suggests
that I go to Ristorante Al Passetto, owned by
Giorgio Ghedina. It's historical place in the
city, with lots of mementos and antiques by
Kristian Ghedina - the famous ski racer; and
also the owner - Kristian's uncle is a former
bobsled champion. "It's a restaurant having
something to tell." She says. Giorgio himself
is very kind and you can have a little chat
with him.
Unbelievable coincidence when I entered... I discovered that it was the place
I was looking for! I ask for a table, I order
some food and then I look for the owner. I
started talking with Giorgio, introduce myself, tell him about my idea of writing some
articles about
Cortina, including
one day, an opportunity
of getting in touch with
Kristian for an interview. And
he says "He's in the other room,
should I call him?"
Another surprise for me. So at
the end we had dinner together and
with the occasion, we had a nice talk.
Kristian, tell us something about
yourself. Ski racer and auto racer...
Since I was a child, I always loved
engines and I would have liked to become
a professional driver. Downhill and auto
racing: they look as two similar universes;
having in common speed, pure competition, overcoming of physical limits. But,
living in Cortina, we can say I started skiing
before learning how to walk... And going on
practicing, I approached the world of skiing
competitions soon enough.
my eyes all the changes after so many years.

I've been to SkiDubai as well. Of course I
cannot compare it with the routes I'm used
to; at the SkiDubai I'm not even able to
reach full speed, but it was very funny and
we enjoyed a lot.
What are you doing now?
What if Kristian was born in Dubai?
I'm managing a new project called M'Over,

together with some other colleagues of the
Italian national team and many other professionals; it is not only a ski or mountaineering
school but something welcoming all tourists
and mountain lovers, a real club bringing
together people with the same passions.
In the latter stage of your career you twice
thrilled all your fans at Kitzbuhel in Austria
by doing flying splits on the legendary
Streif's last breakneck jump. You are the only
skier ever to perform a spread eagle on the
famous course!
[Laughs] Well, it was just a bet! The day
before, during the inspection, my cousin
Francesco (also a ski racer) did the split. As
he completed the course we met and he
told me "I bet a pizza you are not brave
enough to do the same". Well I did it!
During the race, at 140 km/h and I finished
in sixth position. So I won my pizza!
Have you ever been in Dubai?

Did you ever try the feeling
of skiing in the desert?
Yes, I've been there in 2007. I loved that trip

and I'd like to come back soon to see with
I'd become a sandboarding champion

[laughs]. Also, since motor sports are very
popular in the UAE, I would probably
dedicate myself to my other passion car
racing, which accompanied me in the
second part of my sporting career.
Aside from his 13 World Cup wins - 12 in

downhill and one in SuperG - Ghedina
holds the record for World Cup downhills
completed (169) and became the oldest
podium placer in 2005, since then, Didi
Cuche got the record. Ghedina also held
the record of four wins on Val Gardena's
famous Saslong Run an achievement
he shared with Austrian legend Franz
Klammer, before Didi Cuche got this
record too.
PEOPLE
Nigel Lamb
Age: 59
Nationality: British
Occupation: Breitling Race

Team pilot
Participating in the
Red Bull Air Race which saw its
sizzling season opener in Abu Dhabi
is Nigel Lam, a 59-year old race
pilot with the Breitling Race Team.
Despite being at the age he is now,
he doesnt let that get in the way of
him earning his wings and taking on
the skies.
To whom (or what) would you
attribute your passion of flight?
I would attribute my passion for flight to the

idea of freedom. I grew up on the Highlands
of Eastern Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia)
and was transfixed by the eagles making
flying look so effortless. There is nothing
quite like being able to unshackle yourself
from the earth and have the freedom of
three dimensions to play with.
What were some of the

challenges that you faced on your
way to earn your wings?
The first challenge I faced was my age, as

I applied to the air force at the age of 11
and surprisingly I was politely told to go and
grow up a little! With aviation you always
have a few obstacles to overcome living
in England, the weather always plays a factor and you have to pitch your wits against
Mother Nature.
You have to be determined and self
motivated, and the hardest challenge in the
Red Bull Air Race is to keep fully focused on
the task in hand. Strategy is also essential, it
is an art to look at all the options in front of
you and choose/develop the right strategy
that fits with you and your team then execute that strategy for optimum results.
And finally sometimes admitting youre
How intense are the demands

of air racing to you?
Physically and mentally?
wrong is the hardest challenge, but you
have to trust those around you, and sometimes be prepared to adapt and overcome
whichever varying factors or unforeseen
events that come your way.
We read that you used to be in the

Rhodesian Air Force, what lessons
did being in Air Force taught you?
Being in the air force, taught me a lot from

a relatively young age, you learn a structure
and a discipline and humility that is hard to
replicate in other professions. Friendships,
communication and teamwork is also a
fundamental to be able to adapt and deal
with lots of different personalities and to be
able to recognise individuals strengths and
develop those unique elements.
But, what I guess I am most grateful for is
learning to fly jets, helicopters and aerobatics which is what I found the most satisfying. The range and experience allowed me
to fine tune in later years the passion for
flight I had since I was a child.
You have to have a very strong body-core

and neck muscles to withstand the high G
forces and stress from the 420/second roll
rate. You need to have good techniques and
exercises for looking after your back and
your neck. We specifically train these muscle
groups to deal withthe pressure. Using the
fitness techniques above to keep physically
fit as well.
You have to be aware and be able to
handle the mental demands, having a strong
strategy is paramount. You really need to
free up a lot of brain space to be focused in
the track to do all the minute adjustments
and be able to fly an invisible 3D racing
line. I have a track analysis system so we
can identify where I am losing time or not
precisely on the line but to be able to execute those slight and exact instructions and
changes requires a lot of mental application.
Somehow you have to find a balance
between being too relaxed and too hyped
up. You need to be feeling sharp but
not under so much pressure that you do not
fly in a natural precise and smooth manner. Its very important that when you start
the engine you are looking forward to the
race and that youre mentally and physically
prepared. You need to be in a frame of mind
where you can get the best out of yourself
and the machine and feel that you are absolutely on top of your game. Youre focused,
know exactly the line you want to take and
youre not thinking about anything else.
The best aircraft you

have flown so far?
For handling it for sure is the race plane the MXS because it is just the most fantastic
airplane for handling and maneuverability.
For nostalgia, my favorite aircraft to fly is the
Spitfire.
What is best thing

about being a pilot?
Back to freedom of the 3-dimensions

but being a pilot doing this type of flying is
the ultimate. Being able to strap a pair of
wings on your back and fly these machines,
low level through a race track and pitch
against guys from around the world - with
my team and the strong support from
Breitling and sharing it with my friends and
family - I am a very lucky pilot.
OUTDOORUAE
57
TIPS & TRICKS
Words By: Josafat Pitoy Cariquitan

Photos By: Avinash John
Motocross is a dangerous
sports yet full of excitement, thrill,
fun, and adrenaline rush. I started
riding a bike a long time ago. As a
child, I used to ride on my fathers
Yamaha Enduro DT which was my
first real exposure to what some
may consider to be motocross. In
the times I was using that bike, I
learned how to find a spot on some
elevated locations or big rocks
to descend down from using the
bike. I loved the feeling of taking
the bike off-road and that being
said, Im usually in the countryside
where rough terrain, mountains
and remote villages are king; where
dirt and mud become the ultimate
playground for me and my bike.
As an enthusiast and a beginner, Ive
learned quite a lot from riding my own dirt
bike here in the UAE. Motocross teaches
various values to each rider involved and I
myself have learned a lot by being on the
saddle of my own bike. Heres what Ive
learned from the couple of years that I have
been riding.
1. Firm Decision Always have a firm decision when entering this kind of sports and
58
OUTDOORUAE
adventure ride. Motocross takes a lot of time

and effort to learn thus, you should have the
guts to do it.
2. Determination You should have the
determination to ride, to tackle different
kinds of off-road terrain, to fall down and
stumble but ride again. Challenge yourself!
If others can do it, why cant you? You can
do it as well.
3. Being Physically Fit You must be physically fit to handle road stress. You must have
the strength to be able to take control of a

250lbs machine. Be ready for the tough and
exhausting rides and jumps that will surely
put some strain on your body. Other than
that, be ready for worse case scenarios such
as bike falls. Always think, Are you physically fit to ride today?
4. Mental Fitness Other than being physically fit, you must also be mentally fit for the
harsh terrains and road conditions to come.
A present mind is always needed to maneuver and make quick responses during a ride.
Learn to control your adrenaline rush and

conquer your fear.
5. Protect yourself with gear Everything
from a helmet to a pair of boots. as this is
an extreme sport, it is as dangerous as it
sounds fun. It is extremely critical for any
rider to invest on safety and protective
gears (with approved safety standards), such
as helmets, goggles, knee& elbow pads,
chest and back protectors, neck support
and braces, kidney belts, riding boots and
socks, riding jersey and pants, riding gloves,
performance base layers, etc. It can minimise and prevent injuries and also allows the
rider to continue to ride efficiently and enjoy
more.
6. Discipline and Respect Know your limitations. Do not do extremes if youre not yet
skilled to do so, and wait until youre good
at it. Respect fellow riders, respect the trail
and respect nature itself.
7. Skill and Practice Nobody was good
on their first rides. Difficulties will be
experienced but practice makes perfect.

And for the rider to be one with his bike,
know your weaknesses on the tracks and
correct it. Know your bikes capabilities and
bond with it. Learn from mistakes , always
develop your riding skills and techniques.
Ask your fellow riders for additional advice.
8. Watch the Pros Watch and learn from
the professionals. Apply what you have
learned from them to your own riding techniques. Be inspired buy your idols.
9. Pre and Post Ride Maintenance It is
essential for your bikes condition to be
checked before and after the ride. Nobody
wants to be stranded in the middle of a desert and it can ruin your fun ride. Know the
basics of maintenance - coolant, engine oil,
fuel, brakes, spark plug, air filter, carburettor,
loose bolts and nuts etc.
10. Rest and Enjoy Plan and get ready
for your next ride, be prepared. Enjoy the
outdoor life, enjoy your ride, and feel the
thrill. Have fun!
Motocross
Words By: Nicky Holland
Photos By: Keith Perea
There is nothing quite like an

adrenaline rush. Put a person on a bike
with the acceleration in their own hands,
add in some hills and jumps, followed by
competitors to race against then you
have a big adrenaline rush.
Just like all sports, you need to have a
basic level of fitness; that level of fitness requires strength (physical and mental) endurance (to avoid muscle fatigue) flexibility and
coordination. For each sport, your training
needs to be specific to your activity, in order
for you to optimise performance.
Riding a bike requires good upper body
strength, core strength and balance. Here
are some exercises that can improve that.
4) Rowing Intervals
3) Straight Leg Hold, on the BOSU
1) Pull Ups
This predominantly works the back, along

with the biceps and forearms. Muscle fatigue can kick in when you are in the riding
position so your forearms and grip needs to
be strong.
Place both hands around the bar. Narrow grip is easier and is the best position to
take for beginners, whereas wide grip is a
lot harder and for the more advanced. Let
your body hang and try to pull yourself up
until your chin is in line with your hands then
lower to the hang position. This counts as
one rep. Aim to complete 3 sets of 10 reps.
The stronger your core, the better balance

you will have. Your balance is really tested
when you are riding at fast speeds, going
over jumps and flying round bends.
For this exercise, turn the BOSU upside
down. Here you need to sit on the BOSU,
with your legs out straight. The aim is to
balance and hold your feet off the floor. You
should feel this working your stomach muscles and you may start to shake. If you need
a harder option, try to sit with your legs bent
contracting the abs to keep your feet off
the floor. Your hands should be kept by your
head the whole time. Complete 3-5 sets for
30-60 seconds.
Cardiovascular fitness is also important. This

will ensure the muscles get oxygen, which
will reduce lactic acid build up and will also
help the body stay mentally focused.
Interval training on the rower, involves
periods of work at high intensity, followed
by periods of rest at low intensity.
Sit on the rowing machine and set the
programme to 30:30. This means 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest. Put your feet
in the footplates and strap up tightly. Then
pick up the bar and push your heels away
to straighten the legs as you pull the bar
into your chest at the same time. Then bend
your legs back to the start position. The key
to this type of training is the intensity so
you need to make sure you are going as
fast as you can on the 30 seconds work. You
then have 30 seconds rest after. Try to complete this 8-10 times, aiming for 100-130m
distance within the 30 seconds.
I hope that from reading these tips, it has
given you an insight into the different exercises you can do to condition your body for
motocross. Now on your bike!
2) Barbell Shoulder Raise
The shoulders play a part in keeping the

arms straight, which helps the rest of the
body remain in the riding position.
Pick up a barbell, overhand grip. Stand
with your feet hip distance apart, with your
arms straight. Lift the bar from the thighs,
up to shoulder height. As you do this, brace
your core and keep your back straight. Try
to lift the bar in a controlled movement
and complete 3 sets of 10 reps. The barbell
should be between 5-15kg.
60
OUTDOORUAE
Nicky Holland
Fitness Manager
Fitness First Beach Park Plaza
Brought to you by:
The Dos and Donts

The following pictures give a better
indication of the havoc cross chaining can
cause:
Words By: Stewart Howison
One of our most common

complaints and comebacks in
the workshop is the common and
dreaded cross chain. This is a
simple and innocent mistake most
new cyclists make and assume its
poor gear setup by the store.
So here it is in a nutshell.
Cross chaining is when your chain runs at

extreme angles from the chain ring to the
cassette which causes that grinding noise
that everyone hates. Not only is it noisy
but it causes excessive component wear.
Cross chaining used to be a big industry
no-no, however has become more and more
expected. This however does not make it
mechanically ideal.
Why not Cross Chain?
Cross Chaining causes additional stress

on the drivetrain components causing
additional wear on the chain rings as well
as on the chain and cassette gears resulting
in power loss (power going to wearing out
your parts instead of propelling you forward)
Chain length must be longer to
accommodate complete cross chaining
(small to small and big to big).
The extra chain slapping around (in the
small to small) cross chain condition can
cause skips or other problems, because
many derailleurs won't provide the full range
of motion required.
Some bikes experience this worse than
others, depending on what the specified
chain line is but most will rub and grind on
the chain rings and front derailleur as shown
below, where this is a good indication of the
cross chaining most bikes experience.
The Big/Big Combo A Bad Idea!

This one shows how stretched the rear
derailleur is when riding in the big/big
combo: (Big chain ring and big rear cog.)
In general, is advisable to make use of the

smaller 3/4 of the cassette with the big ring,
and the larger 3/4 of the cassette with the
small ring.
Obviously, in order to get to the easy
ratios, this requires shifting both the front
and back derailleurs at the same time. That's
not hard when you try it a few times, but
we've found it's not the natural tendency
for most people until they are introduced
to the idea. After trying it a few times, it
becomes so easy and natural. To get into
this ideal ratio, you back off the power for a
split second, make both shifts, and back on
the power without missing a beat. Incidentally, the shifts tend to be easier and quicker
when there is a dynamic change in the
chain like both derailleurs moving at the
same time. This is a far better approach than
cross chaining, and definitely a better option
than abusing the drivetrain. After all, you're
putting out the power make it go to the
ground rather than to wearing out parts.
Straight Chain vs Cross Chaining
VS
The above pictures are taken at a very

similar angle, yet the bike on the right looks
askew. Thats because it is cross chaining.
The photo on the left however, shows the
bike with a very straight chain line. In other
words, the chain is parallel to the bike, so it
looks (and rides) like normal.
The Little/Little Combo Another Bad Idea!

And this shows the rear derailleur doubled-back
on itself because there is too much slack in the
chain, caused by riding in the little/little combo:
(Small chain ring and smallest rear cog.)
The Moral of the Story:

Do Not Cross Chain!
Trimming your Gears
If you really have to cross chain there is

a trick to reduce the noise of the chain
grinding your front derailleur.
This is referred to as the trim in bike shop
but also as the half click. When cross
chaining simply click your left STI (only road
shifters) half a shift up. You will feel a light
click and the derailleur will move over a few
millimetres to allow the chain room to move
by without contact.
Fore more info, please call or email:

+971 4 3697441 | Info@rcdxb.com
OUTDOORUAE
61
Fitness from Africa
Failing the Test

or Failing to Test?
Words + Photos By: Marcel Viljoen
Most people see fitness tests

as scary, invasive and even a
waste of time. In reality it is an
extremely valuable process where
your strengths and areas for
improvement can be identified.
And the emphasis is on PROCESS as
it should be an ongoing regime of determining where you are to start off with, identifying
all possible factors that would benefit your
performance or goals, and then addressing
them systematically. The exciting news is that
there are multiple areas to be tested, which is
code for multiple opportunities for improvement!
It might be disheartening to find out that
you scored poorly in a dozen different areas.
But, just think how your performance would
improve if you were to start addressing even
a quarter of those areas! And it doesnt mean
you would have to focus on all areas simultaneously. The beauty of conditioning your
body is that as you get the foundations in
place, suddenly a lot of other areas will start
falling into place as well.
Please note that fitness testing is not the
reserved privilege of elite athletes. We can all
benefit from carefully crafted testing regimes
to get to that next race or match, to gain the
muscle you want for your sport, or just to
establish that training routine that you have
been procrastinating about!
Areas that would be

revealing through assessment
include the following:
Physical fitness evaluation (body composition; range of motion and flexibility of

joints; stability of joints, general and specific strength; speed; agility; reaction time;
coordination; stamina; endurance; anaerobic
threshold; heart rate training profile; etc.)
Technical analysis (Are your movements secure, safe and functional to the activity/sport
you have chosen? Do you have the correct
equipment or footwear for your body type
and biomechanics?)
Tactical analysis (Do you compete with

sound strategies or game plans? Do you
know when and where things normally
go wrong and what needs to be done to
improve? Have you seen video footage of
yourself in competition or during an event?)
Psychological evaluation (Are you focussed
during preparation and on competition days?
How well do you handle the pressure when
its game time? How confident are you of
achieving your goals?)
Health evaluation (General health including
blood pressure, lung function, cardio stress
test, neurological function, joint functionality,
etc.)
Nutritional evaluation (Do you have any nutritional deficiencies? Are you eating enough?
Are you eating the correct foods for your
sporting requirements? Do you know what to
eat or drink during and after competitions?
Should you be taking any supplements?)
As you may well imagine these tests could
be time consuming and have imminent financial implications. So you need to establish
when and which evaluations you need to
start with, but either way, you need to start
somewhere!
When it comes to our online coaching
and training clients, it makes perfect sense
to have some set protocols in place that will
allow for building a profile of each person to
ensure there are no risk factors, health issues
or other concerns that will prevent us from
preparing an effective, challenging but safe
routine. By including some physical tests, we
are also assured of knowing current levels of
fitness, competence and knowing what type
of program would work best for a specific
individual. Self-testing normally creates some
varied responses from clients. Some will go
out and do the tests on the same day.
Others will gather their determination by
building up to an identified self-evaluation
day a week or so down the line!
The nature of these tests may vary from

a 12-minute Cooper Test, to an all-out hill
session to determine maximum heart rate.
The Cooper Test is very useful to determine
current aerobic competence as all you are
required to do is see how far you can walk,
run, crawl or sprint during 12 minutes!
A more general test would be in the form of
a fitness gauntlet. Some top sports teams use
these to set baseline tests for players at the
beginning of the season, not only to monitor
improvement, but also to determine whether
a player is fit for return to the game after an
injury layoff. The advantage of a fitness gauntlet is that one can streamline it according
to a sport or to individual requirements. An
example would be a 30m sprint, 20 sit-ups,
30m tire pull, 10 push ups, agility run with
ball pick-ups, ten 10kg medicine ball slams,
finishing up with 3 x 30m shuttle runs. The
functionality of an all-round circuit like this will
give the trainer and client an overall perspective of general fitness, but without over-taxing
any specific area in general.
It could be most motivating to have some
basic tests reserved for more regular testing,
for example body measurements, waking
heart rate, blood pressure, or a 3km tempo
run. There are a number of apps available
nowadays to help with capturing and storing
personal data, training info and can even be
done on social network level in the form of
challenges and other interactive options.
Revealing personal information for some is
just that though very personal. So its important to determine exactly how much you are
prepared to share with the world, but with the
confidence in your trainer or coach you could
be well assured of discretion and keeping the
focus where it should be.
For every season there is opportunity, irrespective of where you live! If you dont already
have some firm goals in place, start dreaming
about where you want to be. Start dreaming
of how you will feel once you achieve that
goal! Start planning now how you will test to
see where you are right now and who will be
privileged to join you on that journey!
Marcel Viljoen is an online fitness coach

and a 2h39min marathon runner.
You can get in touch with him
at marcel@fitnessfromafrica.co.za
UAE DIRECTORY
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,

Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
+971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai:
+971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi:
+971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae
Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42839392, www.decathlon.com
Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595;
Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat
Al Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240,
www.go-sport.com
InterSport, Dubai Times Square Centre:
+971 43418214 and Dubai Festival City:
+971 42066581, www.intersport.ae
Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street,
Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE,
+971 26262332, www.peiniger.org
Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping
centres, +971 43599905,
http://en-ae.sssports.com
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Alpha Tours, Off #512, 5th Flr., Al Qwais

Bldg., Al Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai,
+971 42949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com
Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers,
Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566,
www.dadabhaitravel.ae
Desert Rangers, P.O. Box 33501, Dubai
UAE, +971 44569944 or 507035111
www.desertrangers.com
Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr.,
Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.arabiantours.com
Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta
Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai
+971 44329392 or 44329393,
www.dreamdays.ae
Dream Explorer LLC, JLT, Dubai,
P.O. Box 214576, +971 44563390
www.dreamexplorerdubai.com
Dubai Relax Travel, National Towers:
Churchill Tower Suite #614, Business Bay,
Dubai, +971 44221776,
www.dubairelaxtours.com
Element Fitness, Dubai, +971 44227352,
www.element-fitness.net
Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai,
+971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae
Gulf for Good, Dubai, +971 43680222,
www.gulf4good.org
Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre,
+971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com
MMI Travel LLC, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata
Travel Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 4 4045999,
www.theemiratesgroup.com
Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi,
+971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628832
or 4 2686826, www.opdubai.com
Rahhalah, Dubai, +971 44472166,
SWISS EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS NUTRITION
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Recovery Drinks Energy Gels
Protein Smoothies
Electrolyte & Isotonic Drinks

Nutrition & Cereal Bars
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY :
info@hercules-health-fitness.com
www.rahhalah.com
Wild Guanabana, Dubai, +971 44422946,
www.wildguanabana.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking,
& Adventure Club, +971 5 04920860,
mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com
Air
Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai,

+971 42854949, www.ballooning.ae
Dubai Paragliders, +971 552120155 or
552250193, www.microaviation.org
Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah,
+971 72446416 or 555531318,
www.jac-uae.net
Seawings, Dubai,+971 48070708,
www.seawings.ae
Skydive Dubai, Dubai, +971 43778888,
www.skydivedubai.ae
Boating & Sailing
Manufacturer
Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam,
+971 72682333 or 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443,
www.alshaalimarine.com
Al Yousuf Industrial, LLC,
+971 4 3474111, www.aym.ae,
yamboats@alyousuf.com
Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1, office
#3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com
Gulf Craft, Ajman, +971 67406060,
www.gulfcraftinc.com
Distributors and Dealers
Art Marine LLC, Al Quoz Industrial Area,
Sheikh Zayed Road, 3rd Interchange
+971 43388955, www.artmarine.ae or
www.artmarinechandlery.com
Azure Marine Dubai, +971 4 3706886,
www.azuremarine.net
Luxury Sea Boats, Dubai, +971 4 3284629,
www.luxuryseaboats.com
Macky Marine LLC, Dubai,
+971 505518317, www.mackymarine.com
Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 553419494
or 503419494, www.nautilusyachts.com
The Boat House, Al Quoz, Dubai,
+971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
UAEBoats4Sale, Dubai Marina,
+971 508446952 or 525682129,
www.uaeboats4sale.com
Western Marine, Marina Yacht Club, Dubai,
+971 43039744
Equipment
Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Deira, Dubai,
+971 42263220
Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
www.masaoodmarine.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,

+971 43808616 or 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Extreme Marine, Dubai Marina Branch,
+971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com
Japan Marine / D1 Marine,
WS # 110, Dubai Maritime City,
+971 4 4426395 or 55 1666035,
www.japanmarine.co
Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Al Quoz,
Dubai, +971 43391512,
Repairs and Maintenance
Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 43992995,
www.extrememarine-me.com
Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1,
Al Quoz, +971 43391512,
SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park,
Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 501405058,
www.snsmarine.ae
The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
Cruise Operators
Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26665491
Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba,
Musandam, +968 26836550 or 65441232
Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite
the British Embassy, +971 48145553
Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina,
+971 4368 2480, www.bristol-middleeast.com
Captain Tonys, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu
Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae
Delma Industrial Supply and Marine
Services, Al Bateen Jetty, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26668153, www.delmamarine.net
Eden Yachting, Dubai Marina,
+971 504586171, www.edenyachting.com
Emirates Yachting, Dubai, +971 42826683
El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406,
www.elmundodubai.com
Four Star Travels and Tourism, Dubai,
+971 56 1012599, www.4startravels.com
4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina
Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi,
+971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 48706668, www.happydaysdubai.com
JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225,
Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43437734, www.jpsyachts.com
Khasab Divers, Oman, +971 567255889,
khasab.diver2@gmail.com
Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours,
P.O. Box 411, Khasab, Musandam,
+968 93350703, info@tourkhasab.com
LY Catamaran, Dubai, www.lycatamaran.com
Marine Concept, Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company - P.O. Box
73373, C/O Ali & Sons Real Estate LLC,
Plot No. 29, Abu Dhabi Al Ain Rd, Um Al
Nar, Abu Dhabi, UAE - +971 25581889
www.noukhada.ae
RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton
Marina, +971 557934525 or 507682345
Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats
Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011
Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
+968 26836551, www.sheesabeach.com
Smoke Dragon of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi
International Marine & Sports Club,
+971 507011958 or 504546617
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk
opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel
Marina, 800892, www.theyellowboats.com
Marinas
Abu Dhabi International Marine
Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater,
+971 26815566, www.adimsc.com
Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi,
Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam
+971 72682333 or 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al
Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760 or 42959477,
www.cruiseindubai.com
Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai,
+971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com
Dubai International Marine Sports Club,
Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae
Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai,
+971 43627900,
www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com
Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina,
Dubai, +971 43455545
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai,
+971 43941669, www.dosc.ae
Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26907725
Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com
Fujairah International Marine Club,
Fujairah, +971 92221166, www.fimc.ae
Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina,
Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com
Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina,
Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555
www.jebelali-international.com
Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar,
+974 55843282,
www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com
Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24737286 (ext 215),
www.marinaoman.net
Pavilion Marina, Dubai,
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800
The PearlQatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar,
+974 4965801, www.ronauticame.com
Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club,
Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644,
www.uaqmarineclub.com
Dragon Boat Groups
Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating,
Dubai, +971 508795645,
www.facebook.com/DubaiDawnPatrol
Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175,
www.dubai-diggers.com
UAE Dragon Boat Association,
+971 507634008,
www.dubaidragonboat.com
Camping & Hiking
Equipment
Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255,
www.blingmytruck.com
Gulf Camping, Dubai, UAE, +971 551222252
or 502550666, www.gulfcamping.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall,
Abu Dhabi,+971 24437802
Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink,
The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801
Urban Peak, PO Box 9587, Office 502E,
Ibn Battuta Gate Offices, Dubai,
+971 44548805, www.urbanpeak.com
Tour Operators
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463,
www.adventure.ae
SPE
CIAL
OFF
ER
Dubai - Tel: 04-3809647

Abu Dhabi (Musaffah) - Tel: 02-5588890
Sharjah - Tel: 06-5388666 | Ajman - Tel: 06-7410004
R.A.K - Tel: 07-2351592 | Fujairah - Tel: 09-2221188
www.aym.ae
OUTDOORUAE
63

Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959428,
www.arabiatours.com
Libra Travel & Tourism LLC,
+971 43397700,
www.facebook.com/LibraTravelDubai
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,
+971 506595536, www.mountainhighme.com
Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba,
Caving
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,

+971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com
Climbing
Equipment
Adventure HQ, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai Times Square Center, toll free:
800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Street 13A
1, Al Safa 1, Dubai, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi
+971 24437802, www.jack-wolfskin.com
Services
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square
Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free:
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 28137444, www.alshaheenme.com
Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World
Trade Centre, +971 43065061,
www.climbingdubai.com
E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 43697817,
www.esportsuae.com
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
Information
UAE Climbing, +971 506456491,
www.uaeclimbing.com
Mountain Biking & Cycling
Equipment/Dealers
Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H,
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE,
+971 526221888
Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg.,
Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415,
Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif
Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor,
C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24455838, www.funridesports.com
Micahs Bike Shop, Warehouse No.4
6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228
Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates,
Dubai Mall, Dubai,
+971 43413056 or 43308023
Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1,
+971 43255705, www.probike.ae
Rage Shop, MOE +971 43413388; Al
Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi +971 24437617,
Dubai Mall +971 44341549,
www.rage-shop.com
Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex
Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441,
www.rcdxb.com
Ride Bike Shop, Festival City,
+971 43395602
www.ridebikeshop.com
Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, + 971 43388644 or 43391333
Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525,
www.tamreensports.com
The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai,
+971 505528872 or 44256555,
www.thecyclehub.com
Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam,
Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377,
64
OUTDOORUAE
www.trekbikes.ae
Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 45081202 or
556096757, www.trikkeme.net
Wolfis Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae
Operator
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae,
info@adventure.ae
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Tri Club,
www.abudhabitriclub.com
Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome
www.cyclechallenge.ae
Dubai Roadsters, +971 43394453,
www.dubairoadsters.com
Diving
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai,
+971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Blue Waters Marine, +971 43808616,
Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com
Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com
Premiers for Equipment, Sheikh Zayed
1st. Road, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665226,
www.premiers-uae.com
Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road,
Dubai, +97143414940, info@scubadubai.com
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Diving Centres
Al Boom Diving (equipment),
Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993,
www.alboomdiving.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam,
+971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae
Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St.
across from main bus terminal,
+971 26437377, info@divemahara.com,
www.divemahara.com
Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al
Khaimah, +971 72226628 or 502428128
www.arabiandiver.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Coastal Technical Divers,
glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com,
www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com
Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City,
Dubai, +971 44308246,
www.diveindubai.com
Desert Islands, Sir Bani Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015454,
www.divemahara.com
Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah
Hotel Resort & Spa, +971 92370299,
www.diversdown-uae.com
Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi,
near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444,
www.edc-ad.ae
Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman,
+968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Zighy Bay, Oman,
Musandam, +968 26735555,
www.extradivers.info
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Fujairah, +971 506130486
contactus@freedivinguae.com,
www.freedivinguae.com
Freestyle Divers, Al Wasl & Dibba, Royal
Beach Hotel, Dubai, +971 43944275,
www.freestyledivers.com
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah
Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Moonlight Dive Center,
Madinat Qaboos, Oman, +968 99317700,
www.moonlightdive.com
Neptune Diving, +971 504347902,
www.neptunedivingcentre.com
Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment),
Dubai, +971 44068828
Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488,
www.scubaoman.com
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922,
www.scubauae.com
7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan,
+971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah,
+971 506683430, www.bsac406.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Clubs
Atlantis Underwater Photography Club,
Dubai, +971 44263000
Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai,
www.desertsportsdivingclub.net
Emirates Diving Association, Diving
Village, Al Shindagha, Dubai,
+971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com
Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC),
Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421,
www.facebook.com/FSDCuae
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com,
www.freedivinguae.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah,
+971 507840830, www.bsac406.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Rd, +971 43390000, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43808616 or 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798
or 44538386,
contactus@challengingadventure.com
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre,
+971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com
Operators
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae
Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah
Beach Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993
Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al
Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72432274,
www.alhamramarina.com
Al Mahara Dive Center,
Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125,
www.divemahara.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road,
Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760 or 42959477,
www.cruiseindubai.com
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing
(Al Wasl Passenger Yachts
and Boats Rental LLC),
Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai,
+971 42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971
506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah
International Marine Club, +971 503366224
Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi, +971 26594144
Captain Tonys, Yas Marina, Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175,
www.captaintonys.ae
Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai,
+971 507050433 or 506947764,
www.seaworlddsf.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 558961276 or 503960202,
www.happydaysdubai.com
Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi
Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26811900
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company,
Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26503600, www.noukhada.ae
Ocean Active, +971 504592259,
www.oceanactive.com
Soolyman Sport Fishing, Umm Suquiem,
Fishing Port No. 2, Jumeirah Beach, +971
508866227, 508866228 or 503402379,
www.soolymansportfishing.com
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com
Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking
Club, mohamed.almahrouky@gmail.com
Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers
Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai,
+971 554986280, www.dskc.hu
General Sports Equipment

Distributors
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square

Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free:

Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai
+971 43467751, www.800sport.ae
Flip Flop Arabia, flipme@flipfloparabia.
com, www.flipfloparabia.com
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai
Highbury Trading, Dubai,
www.highburytrading.ae
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24437802
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG
Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43951113
Portable Shade UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai,
UAE, +971 508897125,
www.portable-shade.net
Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar
Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42896001 or 42896002,
info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae
Tresspass, The Dubai Mall
2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801
Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial

Area, +971 42852200
Motorcycling
Horse Riding
Equipment
Al Asifa Horse Equestrian
& Requisites Trading, Al Khawaneej 1,
Dubai, +971 554733110, www.asifa.ae
Black Horse LLC, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26428338, www.blackhorseuae.com
Bonjour Equestrian Supplies,
Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai,
UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002,
info@bonjourequestrian.com,
www.bonjourequestrian.com
Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies,
16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi,
+917 22222433, www.cavalosuae.com
Emirta Horse Requirement Centre,
Sheik Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43437475,
www.emirtahorse.com
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif,
Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street,
Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +971 42988408,
www.alahliclub.info
Al Forsan International Sports Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai
International Endurance City, Dubai,
+971 505995866,
info@aljiyad.com, www.aljiyad.com
Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian
Centre, Dubai, +971 44274055,
equestrian.centre@alsahra.com
Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai,
+971 503099770 or 501978888
Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir
Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai,
+971 43238010, www.dubaipoloclub.com
Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai,
+971 508879847,
www.dubaipoloacademy.com
Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
Arabian Ranches, +971 43618111,
www.poloclubdubai.com
Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai,
+971 505587656,
www.emiratesequestriancentre.com
Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Golden Stables Equestrian Club,
Al Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri)
+971 555528182,
Hoofbeatz, located just inside the Dubai
Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
+971 569424551, www.hoofbeatz.com
Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club,
Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai,
+971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com
Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506229004,
www.rahalranch.com
Riding for the Disabled, Dubai,
lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae,
Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club,
Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road,
+971 65311188, www.serc.ae
Racecourses
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif,
Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu

Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road)
beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai,
+971 43474914
Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse,
Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 43270000, www.meydan.ae
Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road,
Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae
Jet Ski
Dealers
Al Masaood Marine, Dubai,

Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Japan Marine General Trading,
Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai,
+971 44426395, uday@japanmarine.jp,
www.japanmarine.co
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 42822114,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Motocross & ATVs
Dealers
Al Badayer Rental (Rental),
Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 507842020,
www.albadayerrental.com
Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor,
+971 43200009, www.alshaalimoto.com
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Golden Desert Motorcycles
Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai,
UAE, +971 561379323, www.JustGasIt.net
KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42,
+971 4323151, www.ktm.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 42822114,
Motoventure, Hobbies Club, Al Awir,
Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 555437392,
www.motoventure.net
mxDubai, Al Ain Road Dubai, +971 55
2090832, www.mxdubai.com
Polaris UAE (atvs), Ras Al Khor, Nad al
Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai,
+971 42896100, M4, Sector 13,
10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26441478, www.polarisuae.com
Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai,
+971 551532550,
www.goldendesert-dubai.com
Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1
Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai,
+971 48321050
Equipment
Dubai, +971 42959429,
Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental),
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43395608,
Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area
3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com

Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Ducati, Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24918593, www.ducati.ae
Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com
Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667,
hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae,
www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange4, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 42822144,
Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex,
Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor,
+971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com
Tristar Motorcycles, +971 43330659,
Workshops and Services
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Dubai Autodrome, Dubai,
+971 43678700,www.dubaiautodrome.com
Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain,
+971 67681166
2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi,
www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Off-Road
Dealers
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 or 505548255,
info@blingmytruck.com,
4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai,
+971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com
Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789,
www.libertyautos.com
Repairs and Services
AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE,
+971 4 2858989, www.aaadubai.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2,
Dubai, UAE, +971 43469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43392449, www.offroad-zone.com
Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939
www.salukimotorsport.com
Equipment
Advanced Expedition Vehicles,
Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152,
www.aev.ae
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 or 505548255,
Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial,
Abu Dhabi, +971 569796524 or 506472447,
www.heartlanduae.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2,
Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta
Road, Dubai, +971 48321050,
Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times
Square Center, Dubai, +971 42898060,
www.yellowhat.ae
Tour Operators
Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi,
+971 43034888,
www.arabian-adventures.com
Dubai, +971 42959429,
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai,
+971 4 2628832 or 4 2686826,
www.opdubai.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club,
www.ad4x4.com
ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club,
+971 507665522, www.almost4x4.com
Dubai Offroaders, www.dubaioffroaders.com
JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club,
suffian.omar@yahoo.com,
www.jk-funclub.com
ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com
Running
Clubs
ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org
Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi,
www.abudhabitriclub.org
Abu Dhabi Striders,
admin@abudhabistriders.com,
www.abudhabistriders.com
Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi,
+971 504188978,
alainroadrunners@yahoo.co.uk
Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info
Dubai Creek Striders
www.dubaicreekstriders.org
Stand up Paddling, Kite &

Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach,
Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3
+971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae
Picnico, Al Fairdooni Building, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Near Sharaf DG Metro Station
and Mall of Emirates, +971 43951113
Surf Dubai, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,
+971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com
Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1,
Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3,
Dubai, +971 564716180,
www.surfshoparabia.com
Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997,
www.surfschoolarabia.com
UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383,
www.ad-kitesurfing.net
Distributors
Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store,
International City, Dubai,
+971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
Operators
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Dubai Kite Surf School, Umm Suqeim
Beach, Dubai, +971 504965107,
www.dubaikitesurfschool.com
Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah
and Abu Dhabi, +971 508703427,
www.ducomaritime.com
Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim,
Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com
Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440,
www.kitesurf.ae
Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi,
+971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim
Dubai, +971 507689226,
www.shamalkitesurfing.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach
and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East),
Interchange 3, Dubai,
+971 43791998,
www.surfschooluae.com
Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and
Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771,
www.watercooleddubai.com
Water Cooled, Watercooled Sports Services
LLC, Hilton Beach Club,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26395997,
www.watercooleduae.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle,
www.abudhabisup.com
UAE SUP AND SURF ASSOCIATION,
www.facebook.com/UAE-Sup-and-SurfAssociation-358311720952873/
Water Parks
Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm

Jumeirah, +971 44260000, www.
atlantisthepalm.com
Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain,
Emirates Road, +971 67681888,
www.dreamlanduae.com
Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain,
+971 37818422, www.wadiadventure.ae
Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai,
+971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com
Other leisure activities
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi,

+ 971 25588990, www.adgolfclub.com
OUTDOORUAE
65
Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah,

+971 67431122 or 44370505,
www.tamimistables.com
Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 556101841, www.blokartme.com
Childrens City, Creek Park Gate No.1,
Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae
Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai,
+971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.com
Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park
Gate No. 1, +971 43369773,
www.dubaidolphinarium.ae
iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,

+971 42316292, www.iflyme.com
Sadiyaat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat
Island, +971 25578000,
www.sbgolfclub.ae
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club,
Sharjah, +971 65487777,
www.golfandshootingshj.com
SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of the Emirates,
+971 44094000, www.skidxb.com
Spacewalk Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26577777
Health, Safety & Training
+971 553724670,
www.bespoke-wellness.com
Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen
Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404,
www.originalfitnessco.com
Orthosports, 5B Street, Jumeira Beach road,
Dubai, 800 ORTHO (67846),
www.orthosp.com
The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49,
Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai,
+971 44370570,
www.physiocentre.ae
OMAN DIRECTORY
Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550,

www.almarsamusandam.com
Al Sawadi Beach Resort, P.O. Box: 747,
Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545,
www.alsawadibeach.info
Diving UAE & Oman,
www.dive-uae-oman.com
Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar
Al Rhowda, P.O. Box: 940, Muscat, Oman,
+968 97899094, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box: 498,
PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman,
+968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com
Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346,
www.global-scuba.com
Khasab Divers, Oman, +968 99883345,
www.khasabdiver.com
Omanta Scuba Diving Academy,

Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area,
Muscat, Oman, +968 99777045,
www.omantascuba.com
Oxygen Diving and Adventures,
P.O. Box: 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat,
Oman, +968 92537494 or 9723 2661,
www.o2diveoman.com
Seaoman, P.O. Box: 2394, RUWI PC 112,
Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com
Sub Aqua Dive Center, Hilton Salalah
Resort, P.O. Box: 699, Salalah 211, Oman,
+968 23211234,
www.subaqua-divecenter.com
P.O. Box: 117, Postal Code 421,

Bediyah, Ghabbi, Oman,
+968 99310108,
www.safaridesert.com
Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65,

Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman,
+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Nomad Ocean Adventures,
+968 26836069, Dibba, Oman; Fujairah,
+971 92449444, www.discovernomad.com
Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24284240, www.omandivecenter.com
Oman Dive Center Resort, PO Box: 199,
Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman,
+968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info
Stand Up Paddeling, Kite

& Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment, Operators
Kiteboarding Oman, Sawadi Beach,
P.O. Box: 133, PC 118, Muscat,
Oman, +968 96323524,
www.kiteboarding-oman.com
Omans Kite Center, +968 94006007,
www.kitesurfing-lessons.com
Equipment
AzZaha Tours, +968 99013424,
www.azzahatours.com
Water World Marine Oman,
P.O.Box:76,Muscat,113,Sultanate
ofOman, +96824737438,
www.waterworldoman.com
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Bike and Hike Oman, P.O. Box 833, Ruwi,

Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873,
www.bikeandhikeoman.com
Dolphin Qasab Tours, PO Box: 123, P.C.
811, Khasab City, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26730813,
www.dolphinkhasabtours.com
Go Dive Oman, Capital Area Yacht Club
(CAYC), Sidab Muscat, +968 97899094,
www.godiveoman.com
Khour Shem Tourism, Oman,
+968 91713449, www.khourshemtours.com
Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code
100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240,
www.nomadtours.com
Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917,
NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441,
http://omantrekkingguides.tumblr.com
Diving
Equipment
Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba,
QATAR DIRECTORY
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Al Mulla Travels, P.O. Box: 4147, Doha,

Qatar, +974 44413488,
almullatrvls@qatar.net.qa
Alpha Tours, P.O. Box: 13530, Doha, Qatar,
+974 4837815, info@alphatoursqatar.com
Al QAYED Travel & Tours, PO Box: 158,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244,
www.alqayedtravel.com
Arabian Adventures, PO Box: 4476, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44361461,
www.arabianadventureqatar.net
Black Pearls Tourism Services,
P.O. Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar
East Marine, West Bay, Doha, Qatar,
+974 55200078
E2E Qatar Travel and Tours,
PO Box: 23563, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44516688 or 444515995,
www.e2eqatar.com
Falcon Travels, PO Box: 22031, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44354777,
www.falcontravelqatar.com
Gulf Adventures, 29, P.O. Box: 18180 Qatar,
+974 4315555, www.gulf-adventures.com
Net Tours Qatar, P.O. Box: 23080, Doha,
Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa
Regency Travel & Tours, +974 44344444,
www.regencyholidays.com
Qatar Adventure, P.O. Box: 13915,
Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561,
www.qataradventure.com
Qatar Inbound Tours, P.O. Box: 21153,
+974 77451196,
www.inboundtoursqatar.com
Qatar International Tours, P.O. Box: 55733
Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141,
www.qittour.com
Qatar Ventures, Doha, Qatar,
+974 55776679, www.qatar-ventures.com
Clubs
Cycling, Running & Triathlon

Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach
+974 44439840 or 55649995
Qatar Chain Reaction,
www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com
OUTDOORUAE
Camping & Hiking

Tour Operators
Safari Desert Camp,
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Al Shaqab, P.O. Box: 90055, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com
Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Racing
and Equestrian Club, P.O. Box: 7559, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44935183, www.qrec.gov.qa
+974 44435626
Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua
Club, PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar,
+974 50483794,
www.dohasubaquaclub.com
Extreme Adventure, P.O. Box: 33002, Shop
3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha,
Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall,
Qatar: +974 44517574,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Pearl Divers, P.O. Box: 2489, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44449553,
Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud
Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2,
P.O. Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com
Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud
Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2,
P.O. Box: 11538, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com
Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura
Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com
Q Dive, Souq Al Najada cnr of Grand
Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Str.; Al-Odeid
Aisle numbers 129-132, +974 55319507,
www.qdive.net
World Marine Centre, PO Box: 6944,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989,
www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com
Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near
Old Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44313331,
www.qatardivers.com
Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center
West Bay, P.O. Box: 16657, Doha,
+974 553199507, www.qatarmarine.net
Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura
Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277 or 44422234,
www.qatarscubacenter.com
Qdive Marine Center, P.O. Box: 16657,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44375065, www.qdive.net
World Marine Centre, Old Salata Street,
near the Qatar National Museum, Doha,
Qatar, +974 55508177
Diving
Fishing & Kayaking
Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207

or 77776634, www.facebook.com/
QatarSandstormers
Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/
groups/587539064642288/
Doha Bay Running Club,
www.dohabayrunningclub.com
TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,

Qatar: +974 44822194; Villagio Mall,
Qatar: +974 44569143; Ezdan Mall, Qatar:
+974 44922827, The Pearl(Parcel 9) +974
40027513, Souq Jabor +974 44430322.
Office: +974 44417935,
www.galaxysportqatar.com
GO Sport Qatar, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
+974 44631644; Villaggio Mall,
+974 44157463,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Sun & Sand Sports Qatar, City Centre Mall,
+974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall,
+974 44510179; Mustafawi Exhibition,
+974 44935183,
en-ae.sssports.com
Boating & Sailing
Equipment
Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach
+974 55503484
www.regattasailingacademy.com
Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum
Road, P.O. Box: 9145 Doha, Qatar,
+974 44410109,
www.speedmarinegroup.com
Horse Riding
Equipment/Centres
Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street
(near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar,
Add your free listing to the

66
Safety Lessons
Marine Concept Yacht Charter
& Sea School, Rania Business Centre,
Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Safety & Leisure Training Middle East,
Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1,
Dubai, +971 48879958, www.sltme.com
Sport and Health Centres
Bespoke Wellness, Dubai,
Equipment
Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting
Equipment, Souq Waqif, next
Caving
Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre,

Oman, +968 24543002,
www.holiday-in-oman.com
Oman World Tourism, Oman,
+968 24565288,
www.omanworldtourism.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Boating & Sailing
Manufacturer
Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11,
Post Code 118, Muscat, Oman,
+968 99877243,
www.sapphire-marine.com
to the Falcon Souq, +974 70057489
Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment,
P.O. Box: 6449,Old Salata, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44444238, almamzoore@qatar.net.qa
Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4
Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha,
+974 44877884,
www.extreme.qa
Fish World, P.O. Box: 1975, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44340754
State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif,
next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234,
www.stateofqatar.com
Operators
Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895,
www.paddleqatar.com
Motocross & ATVs

Dealers
Qatar Adventures, Barwa Village,

Building # 9 Shop # 11, Doha, Qatar,
+974 77700074
Stand Up Paddeling, Kite

& Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment, Operators
Fly-N-Ride, Ras abu Aboud, Doha,
+974 33117089,
Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha,
+974 33155628, www.flokiteschool.com
Kitesurfing Qatar, +97430179108,
www.kitesurfingqatar.com
QSUP, Qanat Quartier, Costa Malaz,
The Pearl-Qc, Doha, Qatar, +974 66602830,
www.qsup.me
Cycling (Road & Off Road)
Bike Servicing, Equipment

Carbon Wheels Bike Shop, Al Maha Center
10, Salwa Road, Doha, +974 44419048,
www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR
Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq,
Shop C.06, +974 6600 9116,
www.flashbikeshop.com
Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
+974 44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456
9143; Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827,
www.galaxysportqatar.com
Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44151687
ONLINE DIRECTORY
Thrilling adventures
Thrilling
adventureswith
withmagical
magicalviews
views
Glide through the clear blue sky as you enjoy panoramic views of historic lands.
Glide through the clear blue sky as you enjoy panoramic views of historic lands.
Visit Mleiha, a nominated UNESCO World Heritage Site and
Visit Mleiha,
a nominated
UNESCO
Site and
one of the largest
excavated
archaeological
sites World
in the Heritage
U.A.E. Marvel
at
rd
one
of
the
largest
excavated
archaeological
sites
in
the
U.A.E.
Marvel
relics and ruins dating back to the 3 century CE, with guided tours that startat
guided
that
start
relicsthe
andMleiha
ruins dating
back to the
3rd century
from
Archaeological
Centre
and takeCE,
youwith
around
thetours
area to
other
from
the
Mleiha
Archaeological
Centre
and
take
you
around
the
area
to
other
fascinating historical locations. Complete your trip at the caf which includes
fascinating historical
locations.
Complete your
at the
caf which
includes
a library, and
enjoy panoramic
viewstrip
of the
stunning
landscapes.
a library, and enjoy panoramic views of the stunning landscapes.
Operating hours: Saturday Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Operating hours: Saturday
Wednesday:
9:00a.m.
a.m.toto9:00
7:00p.m.
p.m.
Thursday
Friday: 9:00
Thursday Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
For more information and reservations, please contact +971 6 556 0777 or visit discovermleiha.ae
For more information and reservations, please contact +971 6 556 0777 or visit discovermleiha.ae

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