#56 May 2015

WHATS SUP?
LEARN TO SKIMBOARD
RUNAWAY!
COASTEERING IN MUSANDAM
KAYAKING
AT SNOOPY ISLAND
Plenty of
PRODUCTS
TO CHECK OUT
Price
10.00 AED
10.00 QAR
1.00 OMR
Master class:
FREEDIVING WITH
UMBERTO PELIZZARI
THE GRAND FINALE

FOR DMX ROUND 8
Vol. 5, No. 5
May 2015
www.OutdoorUAE.com
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MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM
OutdoorUAE Team
Im writing this again from the slopes of

Mount Everest for the last time this year.
Things changed here within seconds and
the devastating earthquake put the summit
of Everest further away than ever. It was
evident after we learn about the scale of
the disaster that climbing the mountain was
not an option anymore. All thoughts went
directly to our friends the Sherpa and their
families. In the base camp on the north side
of the mountain we have been spared with
no fatalities but the situation on the other
side and in the whole of Nepal is much
worth. One thing is certain, even when I am
about to leave the country and be back in
the UAE soon, we will not forget about our
friends in Nepal.
May as well all know is a time in the UAE when
events and pretty much everything outdoors begin
to take the backseat. Its sort
of a hibernation period for us
adventurers, explorers and
pushers. But that is never an
excuse to get out and have
fun.
The beginning of the summer season is met with careful
Sean James
planning about when to go
Editor
out and try to beat the whopping 40-50 degrees that

the UAE is known for. A lot of people try to escape
its clutches by setting off during the evening or making a splash in some beach, or lake or hidden wadi
all for the single purpose to get wet.
Basking oneself in water has become a certain rite
of passage in some communities and in a way it can
also resonate with the outdoor community. A lot of
us have their firsts the first time on a SUP board,
the first sailing a boat, even the first time catching
fish just off the coast of one of the seven emirates.
Truth be told, the water that surrounds the emirates
form a singular rite of passage welcoming and beckoning at all those who wish to explore it.
The month of May features articles about watersports. Although the rest of the world thinks we live
in a flat desert with no mountains or water, residents
of the UAE are never far from the sea and the beach.
We even have surf here. As the weather gets hotter,
watersports are definitely the thing to do. Anything
from yoga on a SUP, swimming, kayaking, jet ski,
diving. This month we also have an article about
coasteering in Musandam. Not a new sport but definitely a new sport for the Middle East. Once youve
tried it you will be hooked. Check out the pictures.
For the month of May, we challenge you to set
off towards the blue and embrace the open sea as
welcoming as it is to you. The adventure never ends
when the mountains or desert become too much to
bear. Let the sea tell you its secrets as you take the
first steps into the water towards a horizon of exploration and learning.
[email protected]
Editor
For editorial content and press releases
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 5760322
[email protected]
Distributor
Tawzea, Abu Dhabi Media
Company
P.O. Box 40401,
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)

Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 9398915
[email protected]
Printed at
United Printing and Publishing
P.O.Box: 39955, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Published by
Outdoor UAE FZE
In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS
P.O. Box 215062
Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel. 04-447 2030
[email protected]
www.outdooruae.com
Cover photo by: Pete Maloney
2015 Outdoor UAE FZE

Vol. 5, No. 5, May 2015
www.OutdoorUAE.com
2015 Outdoor UAE FZE

Reg. at Creative City Fujairah
P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.
Get to us on Facebook!
Keith Perea
Editor
[email protected]
Eulogy van Dyk

Editor Qatar
[email protected]
Linda Turcerova
Sales and Marketing
[email protected]
Katherine Caedo Patangui

Administration
[email protected]
Jung Francisco
Designer and Photographer
[email protected]
EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Ian Ganderton
Kayaker, climber,
mountainbiker and snowboarder.
Enthusiastic jack of all trades,
master of none
John Basson
Moto/ATV and all round
adventure seeker
Marina Bruce
The Desert Diva and
off-road expert
Kit Belen
Our fishing pro
Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE
Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE
Nico de Corato
Diver and heli rescue swimmer
with Bergamo Scuba Angels
Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE
The information contained is for general use only.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been
obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in
this magazine is provided without a full guarantee of completeness, accuracy and chronology. In
no event will the publisher and/or any of our affiliates be held responsible for decisions made or
action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.
All contents are copyrighted and may not be
reproduced in any form without prior written
permission.
Daniel Birkhofer
Founder and General Manager
[email protected]
WHEN YOURE
DONE READING,
PLEASE RECYCLE!
Ivana Chiles
Health coach and outdoor enthusiast
Dan Wright
Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE
Cindy Stadelmann
Equestrian expert
Trace Rogers
SuperTri triathlon coach
OUTDOORUAE
CONTENTS
14 INLAND SEA TRAVERSE
14 SUP RACING
EVERY ISSUE
05 BEST SHOTS
06 EVENTS CALENDAR
38 LIFESTYLE
44 PRODUCTS
58 PEOPLE
71 DIRECTORY
EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS

22 COASTEERING
28 HOLD YOUR BREATH!
30 ECO-MINDED SURFER AND SUPER!
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
31 OF KISH AND BICYCLES
36 HONEY BADGER DIARIES
LIFESTYLE
20 FREEDIVING WORKSHOP
40 BEETLING ABOUT THE UAE!

42 HABITUALLY HEALTHY
OUR EXPERTS
51 KAYAKING AT SNOOPY ISLAND - IAN
54 SALTWATER ULTRALIGHT SPINNING - KIT
56 ADVENTURE RIDING AT ITS BEST - JOHN
TIPS + TRICKS
64 HIKING EXERCISES
68 MTB EXERCISES
32 TREE RIVER
OUTDOORUAE
70 SEA KAYAK SKILLS
BEST SHOTS
Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it
was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies of
the magazine and the Advance Off-road book: David Kirkland, Rodney Barrell and Rey Dennis Penuela. Well done!
To submit your entries, simply email us at [email protected] with the subject Best Shots.
David Kirkland
Clear direction in the Hatta Mountains.
Rodney Barrell
A day at the races.
Rey Dennis Penuela
One early morning at the foot of Jebel Hafeet Al Ain.
OUTDOORUAE
EVENTS CALENDAR
Stay up-to-date with the latest events
Outdoor & Activity First Aid Course
(FAA Level 2)
Al Gaffal Traditional
60ft Dhow Race 2015
May 15-16, Els Club, Dubai Sport City
May 23, 5:35 a.m., Burj Al Arab
Join OutdoorUAE and David Mawditt for our

fully accredited FAA Level 2 awarded first aid
course. The course will take place Friday 15th
May to Saturday 16th May 2015 from 9am to
4pm at the Else Golf Club in Dubai Sport City.
The fee includes all learning resources, 12
learning hours, certification from the awarding
organization in the UK all with free coffee and tea.
All aboard! The Al Gaffal Dhow Race is a

traditional sailing event made to honour
the pearl drivers who were integral to the
emirates development as a trading port
during the earlier days. Now on its 25th
anniversary, the race features around a
hundred traditional boats sailing from Sir
Bu Nair Island up to the Burj Al Arab. Family and friends can
witness these beautiful, polished dhows and their crisp sails on
specially chartered Dubai Ferries.
For bookings and more details email [email protected]

or call 04 4472030
For more information, visit www.dubaicalendar.ae.
GoYAS by Activelife
May 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6:00 p.m., Yas Marina Circuit

GoYAS by Activelife is an initiative for
women to participate in fun and healthy
activities every Wednesday of the summer
season in complete privacy. Ladies are encouraged to walk,
bike or run along the F1 circuit track of the Marina or take
part in group exercises such as Zumba and Yoga. All activities
are coached by international female trainers. Change the way
you perceive ladies night and get fit with GoYAS!
For more information, visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
Arabian Travel Market 2015

May 4-7, World Trade Centre
Held under the patronage of His Highness,

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of the
UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the ATM is the
most popular annual travel and tourism event in the region.
Designed to unlock the business potential within the Middle
East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals, this
prestigious event has been held annually at the Dubai World
Trade Centre for 19 years and counting. With over 2,500
exhibitors, and 15,000 meetings set at the 2014 event, ATM
is the regions premier travel trade forum and exhibition.
For more information, visit www.arabiantravelmarket.com.
Hamilton Aquatics
Abu Dhabi Long Course
May 8-9, Abu Dhabi
Get ready to make a splash this summer and

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

May 28, 1:00 a.m., Anywhere
Go start and finish anywhere around

the UAE and the world! This honour
based half or full Ironman challenge
comprises of a 2-4km swimming
course, a 90-180km bike ride and a
21-42km run anywhere around the
world. Start whenever you want, go
wherever you want and finish the
event with a sense of individual victory. The disciplines may be completed
in any order, but only three full days
are allocated for all participants to complete this unique event!
For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.
Labour Run 5K Run

So They Can Run
May 29, 6:00 a.m, TBC Moushina
Sonapur Dubai
This one-of-a-kind event will bring

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

for more upcoming events visit: www.outdooruae.com/event
NEWS + COMMUNITY
Be Sport
Bike Shop
A story in two wheels

Mr Aboubaker Assakaf
only had one thing in mind: to
share his passion for cycling. He
began this by running a bike rental
business way back in 2007 in the
emirate of Abu Dhabi. He saw a
place where people could enjoy
the breeze while they pedal their
way towards adventure. This is the
story of how he started Fun Ride
Sports. A few years on in 2012,
he wanted to take it a notch higher.
And with that, Be Sport was born.
Tracing its roots in Abu Dhabi, the familyoriented business, only has one goal; to
spread the cycling craze in the Middle East.
Their range of services is tailored around the
highest amount of convenience towards their
customers. Door to door delivery ensures
that customers need not worry about picking
up their bike from the store and the great
thing about this is that they do it for free.
The initial store in Abu Dhabi opened to
huge acclaim and soon enough, a store in
Dubai followed. The Dubai store, which is

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

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

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

Advanced Level title at the Dubai Dressage Championship at Emirates Equestrian Centre.
in the Advanced level with a 63.67% of the

total score. Diane Breeze riding her own Bellissimo Vita landed the Advanced Medium
class with 66.75%. League winner in dressage was Jazz Inaya Hamilton with Cloigen
Fair Tulip, while the runner-up was Amy
Kibby with Chloe Dazzler. For the jumping
category, Axelle Talma emerged the victor
with her mount Justicier De Laubel followed
by Isabelle Odenbach on Corfu.
Emirates Equestrian Centre General
Manager, Paul McAuley said: The EEC
prides itself on encouraging all standards
of rider from grass roots to advanced and
this can be seen in the varied events on our
calendar. We have been treated to some really great dressage performances as part of
the Dubai Dressage Championship and we
acknowledge all the commitment and hard
work of UAE-based riders in getting ready
for a high-profile event like this.
OUTDOORUAE
Summit Fever
Mount Everest
North East Ridge
Everest North
Words By: Sean James
May
This is Part Two following my
climb to the summit of the highest mountain in the world, Mount
Everest. Regular satellite phone
updates are also being broadcast
by The Travel Show on Dubai Eye
103.8.
Part One was written a month ago as I
was leaving Dubai. I started writing the first
part before the massive earthquake that
has affected us over the last few days at the
end of the month. The last part reflects the
devastation and problems that we are now
facing.
We have now been in Nepal just over 30
days. The team met in Kathmandu and has
travelled to the Langtang region of Nepal
to acclimatize. To prepare our bodies we
trekked and climbed Yala Peak, a peak of
just under 6000m.
This process is essential to allow the body
to slowly adjust to the changes in atmospheric pressure as the altitude increases.
The trek up Yala took us seven days and
journeyed through some amazing scenery.
We had intended to climb Naya Kanga but
the snow this season was even deeper and
we had to change plans. We took our time
and this was a new area for me. We then
returned briefly to Kathmandu to rest and
8
OUTDOORUAE
enjoy the amazing restaurants before travelling onward across the Himalayas and to
Tibet. We are climbing from the north side
and a jeep trip through this huge natural
barrier of mountains is necessary to get to
base camp.
Because of our trek and prior acclimatization, we drove straight to Everest Base
Camp at 5100m a journey of 300km but
very slow and twisting. It still took us nearly
four days as our baggage is held up at the
border. When I have been before on this
route to climb mountains like Cho Oyu, we
took nearly one week of stopping and resting in the Tibetan villages.
Base camps on the popular 8000m peaks
are huge, temporary villages. Each season,
climbers, Sherpas, cooks, and the media
move in en masse with a huge supply of
food and provisions. Small generators are
humming all night and the tents are very
luxurious. Spending nearly six weeks here,
we have a carpet, TV, gas heaters, generators and other comforts that people cant do
without.
After settling in we set out taking equipment and food to the higher camps.
Although the summit is less than 10km
away from basecamp it will still take many
more weeks to move up and into a position
from which to launch an attack on summit
day. Much of our time is spent checking the
equipment such as oxygen, tents, boots,
food, stoves etc. For something to fail at
this stage, even something as simple as wet
matches and not being able to light the
stove to melt water could mean the end.
It is wonderful being here. Over the past
20 years, the shine and glamour of expeditions and continually living a harsh life in
search of very personal goals has had its
ups and downs. However short the moment of standing on a summit is, it quickly
makes you forget the low moments. A life of
levelheadedness and mediocrity would be
unthinkable.
And then it happened. In less than a
minute, everything changed for us and
the people of Nepal - the worse climbing
disaster in history. The ground moved and
shook and rocks the size of cars fall from
the mountains above us. We all got out of
our tents and watched. We are safe as we
have just returned from higher up and Base
Camp is a wide flat area so large rocks will
probably stop rolling before they reach our
tents in the middle. There is not much snow
around us so avalanches are not a problem.
Within the next hour we saw the first
pictures of the devastation in Nepal. Buildings and roads all destroyed. What fragile
infrastructure there was in Nepal has gone.
We cant call for news there as the lines
are down. It is easier to communicate with
Dubai and the United Kingdom. Over the
next 48 hours I am called for interviews on
radio, TV and national press. It is a surreal
situation. We are lucky and immediately
people at home know we are safe. My blogs
are hit with requests for information about
Here is a list of the camps, heights and times

between key points on Everest North Side.
relatives and friends from people I dont

even know.
We then think of our friends climbing on
the South Side of Everest. Via social media
we are constantly in touch which is a good
thing. The death toll mounts. Still many
are missing. At present, 2000 people lie
dead in Nepal. It is now only 48 hours after
the first quake and we are still feeling the
aftershocks. Some are large and some small,
lasting for hours. New epicentres for quakes
are reported all over the region. We are
probably in the safest place but we have to
do something. Sitting here is pointless. Im
sure there will be no more climbing. Our
Sherpas are safe but their families are home-
The sign to Everest or Qomolanga
The Lalung La Pass at 5050m Views of Shishapangma
less in Kathmandu. Other relatives of theirs

are still unaccounted for and reports come
in finding some of them. It is a slow process.
This is a bigger disaster even than last year.
Again my thoughts are with those not
here, briefly. Sometimes it is harder for
them to watch and wait. Ive had a life of
travel, adventure and constant change. I
feel unstable and uncomfortable without
it. I remind myself Ive chosen to be here
and have a job to do. What else would I
rather be doing? In your life there are only
a few opportunities like this even for me.
For many around me in basecamp, this may
be there even fewer and we must make the
most of it.
Everest North Base Camp: 5182m

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

climb Everest at the Puja ceremony
If you are interested in climbing high

mountains and even Everest in 2016,
contact us at [email protected].
OUTDOORUAE
Surf Ski is a great water sport

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

returns back to JBR beach, in the choppy
deep sea just outside The Palm. This sporty
and adventurous experience is far more
exciting than you can imagine. You will
encounter different species of fauna like
fishes, dolphins and turtles, stretches of classic Dubai views, luxurious accommodations
and emblematic sites such as the Atlantis.
The trip usually lasts between 2.5 to 3 hours
which includes hydration breaks.
The specialist team at Adventure HQ can
provide you with all the necessary gear like
life jackets, leashes, paddles and top quality boats from world renowned brands like
Epic and Fenn. Rentals are also available at
Adventure HQ at the cost of 300 AED
for a full day rental. For further information
contact our adventure specialists on
+971 4 430 4419 or send an
email at [email protected].
All-new 2015
Most capable small SUV expands the brand lineup
Available in showrooms across

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

the outstanding driving dynamics and openair freedom customers expect from Jeep.
Best-in-class off-road capability

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

Trailhawk 4x4 model
For customers who demand the most off-road

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

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

15. - 16. May 2015 (next course 5.-6. June 2015)
9:00 am to 4:00pm
Els Golf Club, Dubai Sport City
1,100AED per person
For bookings and more details email [email protected] or call 04 4472030
Organised by:
in association with:
2nd Edition Advanced Off-Road Adventure Routes
expert technical advice chapters

21 off-road routes
5 new routes & 8 updated ones
price: 99.00 AED
incl. CD with GPX route files
for more details visit:
www.outdooruae.com
EVENT REPORT
Naish N1SCO UAE 2015 series

Words By: Daniel Birkhofer
Photos By: James Sullivan
I have been to many outdoor

events in the past years, actually
almost every weekend but I have
never entered into a competition.
There are two reasons why - I am
usually there to work and secondly I
dont feel prepared to compete.
OutdoorUAE was following and
supporting the N1SCO 2015 Stand Up
Paddle (SUP) race series which is organized
by Ocean Sports, the local distributor for
Naish. The great thing about this series is that
everyone who registers can compete and the
unique thing about it is that you dont even
need to own a SUP board. The registration
fee includes the use of a Naish inflatable
board which adds a lot of fairness to the competition, since everyone has to use the same
type of board. So even if you own a super fast
and light carbon fiber race board, it will not
give you any advantage for this competition.
The race is separated into different age and
gender groups to keep it fair and fun and it
runs on 1km, 3km or sprint distances.
The race atmosphere is anything else than
tense or competitive. It is more like a group
gathering of all kinds of people of different
age, gender, nationality and backgrounds
with one common connection the interest
and joy of paddle boarding. Even though it
14
OUTDOORUAE
was the last race of the season and the

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

compete against each other. Ready, set and
wait until they are all lined up properly, the
horn sounds and go! The leading group of
men was fast, very fast even against the
wind. The first turn showed also how in
experienced I was in competing in a race.
I have spent many hours paddling on the
waters in the region, in wind and choppy
conditions but I never had to make sharp
quick turns. While most of the experienced
paddlers showed off their skills in fast and
very close turns around the buoy, I did my
sight seeing turn of Yas Marina with a very
long and wide turn around the buoy, leaving
an opening the size of a highway for other
people to take me over. With six turns in the
race, I knew I had to paddle really hard to
stay on my position in the middle field. Three
turns and after half of the race, my body
temperature was already in the red level that
I was wishing so bad to dive into the water
or at least splash some water in my face, but
the field stretched out wide and I was close to
one competitor in front of me and had one in
my neck, so no way for a refreshment. I could
hold my position almost until the finish line
but the last turn was again slow and long, the
guy behind me caught up on me without me
noticing and taking me over by one board
length at the finish line. I was happy to make
my first race experience and finish the race
and being able to take a dive in the water
to cool down. Even though defeated by so
Naish N1SCO UAE Round 5 at Yas Marina
many other competitors and the winners being super

fast and far ahead of me, I didnt embarrass myself. For
not being trained or prepared, I managed to finish in the
mid field. So in this last race, I got my bench mark and
motivation to train for the next season to be back and
compete properly. I will certainly not reach the level of
the dominating paddlers but I am sure to move a few
positions in front especially if I train for sharp turns.
So it doesnt matter if you are trained or experienced,
the N1SCO race series is for everyone. So I hope to see
some new people going to the race series next year.
Also a big thank you to Leigh and Aey Pothecary, Martin
Young, James and Tye Sullivan, Jen and Nick Yates and
all other volunteers for organizing this amazing event
and putting in so many hours and hard work, so that all
participants can have a great time and enjoy SUP.
After this last race in Yas Marina, the prize
ceremony was held at the Marina Yacht Club and the
winners all received great prizes like brand new SUPs,
paddles, trophies and more. Following is a list of all the
winners and their respective categories.
RESULTS
Keiki 100m
1st Place - Levi Chard (THA)
2nd Place - Axseli Rantala (FIN)
3rd Place - Elias Rantala (FIN)
2014/15 SEASON RESULTS

AND OVERALL WINNERS
Keiki 100m
1st Place - Levi Chard (THA)
2nd Place - Axseli Rantala (FIN)
3rd Place - Elias Rantala (FIN)
Junior 100m
1st Place - Spencer Chapman (GBR)
2nd Place - Guy Welchman (GBR)
3rd Place - Ralph Hussami (CAN)
Junior 100m
Junior 1km
Junior 1km
Ladies 100m
1st Place - Tracey Orr (GBR)
2nd Place - Esther Farrant (GBR)
3rd Place - Anne Cortes (PHI)
Ladies 100m
1st Place - Tracey Orr (GBR)
2nd Place - Esther Farrant (GBR)
3rd Place - Alexandra Jonker (GBR)
Ladies 3km
1st Place - Esther Farrant (GBR)
2nd Place - Tracey Orr (GBR)
3rd Place - Anne Cortes (PHI)
Ladies 3km
1st Place - Esther Farrant (GBR)
2nd Place - Tracey Orr (GBR)
3rd Place - Olga Mamoudy (FRA)
Mens 100m
1st Place - Corey Oliver (AUS)
2nd Place - Brian Stephenson (USA)
3rd Place - Marcus Sutton (AUS)
Mens 100m
1st Place - Corey Oliver (AUS)
2nd Place - Brian Stephenson (USA)
3rd Place - Marcus Sutton (AUS)
Mens 3km
1st Place - Amer El Dandachli (LIB)
2nd Place - Marcus Sutton (AUS)
3rd Place - Brian Stephenson (USA)
Mens 3km
1st Place - Amer El Dandachli (LIB)
2nd Place - Marcus Sutton (AUS)
3rd Place - Brian Stephenson (USA)
PERFECTING THE
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Naish_Kiteboarding
NaishKiteboarding
EVENT REPORT
Inland Sea
Traverse
Qatars toughest mountain bike race

Words By: Eulogy van Dyk
The Inland Sea Traverse 2015,

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

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

Wicks-Hancock ; 2nd of the right: 1st Eulogy
Open Men Category Winners (far right: Kevin Hickey (Cycle Hub
van Dyk (Carbon Wheels Race Team); and next
Team) and next to him, 3rd Davy Muller (Carbon Wheels Race Team) to her 3rd Natalie van Loggerenberg
The start of the event near the Sealine
The advantage of having a fat bike going down sand dunes
Masters Men: 1st, Jock Hughson (Carbon

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

Photos By: Supplied and Abdel Elecho
Very hot conditions welcomed

all of the racers to the final round
of the DMX season on the 24th of
April. The day was set for great
racing in certain classes with
some of the championships for the
year still to be won or lost on the
steaming day.
Starting with the younger riders on the
Junior Track, the Juniors class championship was pretty set with Myles Sexson taking
the championship. Behind in points but in
a clear lead on the day was Mohammed
Bin Laden who won both motos by half a
lap over his rival competitors. Mohammed
made a late season charge from finishing
3rd at most races, moving into second and
then dominating the lead in the last few
rounds. Gian Luca had an outside chance
of finishing second for the year but despite
some hard charging and great maturity
shown by Myles, he was not able to clinch
enough points for the day.
A fearless Yurajsinh who was not afraid to
take on the biggest of jumps with the throttle pinned dominated the 65cc class all year.
This kid has a way of taking the breath out
of spectators with his pin it to win it riding
style. Yurajsinh and his team travelled to
each race day from India to compete, a very
exciting lifestyle for a youngster and equally
great for the DMX club. He will be spending
the summer months at the Millsaps Facility
18
OUTDOORUAE
in the United State and we expect big things

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

day when the hurt was at its highest which
allowed Dean to take the championship
ahead of the rookie in the class, Darren
Berry. The two guys charged hard this year
and showed that the MX2 season is due for
extra depth and speed when they step up.
The Clubman class was the largest for the
year with 24 riders gathering points over the
year. Clinton Wyngard won five of the eight
rounds but had to miss the final race due
to work commitments. Cel Bray had a great
day in the saddle to secure first position for
Round Eight. Masters class was the closest championship in points for the season
with the final round deciding who would
finish in the top three positions. There was
a big battle for second place with Shannon
OConnor getting the best of Janne Tuohino
in both motos. Mark Ackerman needed to
win both motos in order to win by a solitary
point over Shannon, fortunately for him he
was able to secure the prime spots in both
motos.
Liberty Kawasaki rider Ross Runnals had a
great season on his 250 this year whilst defending the MX2 title but unfortunately had
a horrendous crash in Round Seven leaving
him with multiple fractured bones forfeiting
the last three motos of the season. This left
the door open to Ryan Blair who has had an
excellent first season in Dubai to take the
title. Mohammad Jaffar raced well all year
round to finish in third.
MX1 was a Jake Shipton show this year;
he won every race he started, leaving everyone in the dust. It was exciting to see his
relaxed style, never looking flustered whilst
often being pressured in the early stages
of the races by Ross Runnals. Jake was on
a Factory Edition KTM for the final moto on
the day, he clearly loved this great looking
bike as he lay down some of the fastest laps
of the year.
Ladies were welcomed to join Round 8

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

Cadets (4-6yrs): 1st Liam Sexson, 2nd
Craig Theron, 3rd Hayley OConnor
Juniors (6-8yrs): 1st Myles Sexson, 2nd
Mohammed Bin Laden, 3rd Gian Luca
Holder
FAMILY CHAMPIONSHIP
Shannon, Hayley and Ashley OConnor won
the overall most points for a family unofficial competition.
Interviews with DMX Riders

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

you planning any international racing?
NK: I will be racing in both 85cc and 125 cc
classes again. Yes I will be competing
OUTDOORUAE
19
internationally, Im off to the United Kingdom to compete in the ADAC Series in

Germany Belgium and France, and hopefully
be able to qualify for the British National
Championship. I would like to thank KTM
UAE for all their support throughout the
season. A special thank you goes out to
Michael Winter for believing in me and his
continued support for next season.
SCOTT KEFFORD
(DMX CLUB CHAIRMAN)
OutdoorUAE: Scott, by all accounts you ran
one of the best seasons at DMX for many
years. What made the difference and what
can people look forward to at DMX for next
year?
SC: The success of the DMX 2014/15 can
be contributed to a couple of things. Firstly
our sponsors Fluor Construction for both the
financial and general all-round great advise.
Other major sponsors include KTM UAE,
SRG Motorsports, Organic Cafe, Sunblast,
Portable Shade UAE and Liberty Kawasaki.
The second is the committee this year.
Just one family cannot run a club of this size.
We have received great support from all
committee members. I would like to thank
the club members that helped with the race
preparation and on Race Day itself especially Billy and Lynette Gaugain, David and
Lacey Sexson.
Next season is going to be very different
with the introduction of the 3 race format
and hopefully, depending on cost, a night
race series over the summer months, we are
still negotiating with sponsors for that event.
We have the Ladies Class being introduced
next season; we run the ladies class on our
last race this season and received great support from both rides and fans alike. So we
are looking forward to a very exciting season
kicking off in September 2015. Lastly but
definitely not least the club could not exist
with out the direction and support from both
EMSF (Emirates Motor Sport Federation)
and ATC UAE (Automobile Touring Club
UAE). Their continued advice and leadership
is how we expect motorsport in the UAE to
continue to grow and expand.
RYAN BLAIR (MX2 CHAMPION)
OutdoorUAE: Well done on winning the
MX2 championship this year. You were a
pretty unknown entity at the beginning of
the season, tell us who Ryan Blair is.
RB: I am 25 yrs old and from Scotland, I

started racing when I was 15, competing in
the Scottish and British national championships. My best achievement was winning
the Scottish championship in 2007 and
representing Scotland in the Junior MX of
the Nationals. Winning the Bahrain championship in 2014 was cool for me too. I moved
out to Dubai as a project engineer and was
working in the new Abu Dhabi airport, however I got a great opportunity to become a
desert motorcycle tour guide for Just Gas
It and thats what Im doing now. I would
like to thank my sponsors Balooshi Racing
Academy, KTM UAE and Just Gas It.
OutdoorUAE: Talk us through the season
and your plans for next year.
RB: Im hoping to compete in the desert
championship next year along with DMX. I
also like doing the Qatar championships but
no real plan yet.
DEAN JULLIEN 125CC CHAMPION
OutdoorUAE: Hey Dean, You won the DMX
125cc class by 11 points by our calculations.
What were the highs and lows?
DJ: Overall the season was tough, the
highs of the championship was battling
with Darren for the first place, it was tough
and it ended up who was fitter on the bike,
the lows of the championship was when I
dislocated my shoulder on round seven from
a fall on the start.
The final round was very tough for me as my
shoulder was strapped up, I got 3rd overall
and managed to win the championship.
My plan for next season is to race in the
MX2 class, I need to do a lot of training and
riding to do well for next season.
JAKE SHIPTON (MX1 CHAMPION)
OutdoorUAE: Jake, the first season in the
UAE went very well with you taking the
championships for Baja and MX1, please
give us the rundown of the epic year.
JS: Yeah for sure the season went well for
me considering I had to adapt to racing in
sand and also the heat, Ive trained harder
than ever on and off the bike with physical training just to make sure Im ready for
all the races I enter. A high for me was for
sure the first round, not knowing anyone
and their speed and just coming off a major
injury back in Europe where I punctured my
lung, broken ribs, shoulder and a bad
concussion. I was still trying to get 100%

healthy and back to where I know I can be,
with this I came to the first round and just
threw what I had down and came away with
two solid wins with a big gap to second.
OutdoorUAE: What are your plans for summer and the next season?
JS: My plan for the summer is to head back
home to the UK and be mainly based in
Belgium and ride a lot in the sand but also
compete in the British championship, the
Dutch, French, ADAC and hopefully a couple more Grand Prixs.
I wouldnt be able to do any of this
without the support from KTM UAE, specifically Michael Winter and Benji Merlot, my
mechanic. A big shout out to my buddy Sam
Sunderland who brought me over to race
here and finally to my fiance, Chelsea, and
coming back in the next season with a bang!
finally the Kefford family have me helped a

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

you with some great results and saw very
fast lap times. What was the big change for
you coming into this season?
Jinan CD: From our point of view, we had
some setbacks this season and we dont
consider our performance up to the Liberty
Kawasaki standards. Unfortunately one of
our riders also got injured on the track and
thus couldnt complete the season. Lessons
have been learnt and we assure all of our
fans who have supported us throughout the
season that Kawasaki will be back again and
would even strive to break all the previous
lap time records.
We are heartily thankful to all of our fans
and Liberty who has always supported us in
every possible way.
DMX 2014/15 Championship MX1

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4
No.
731
3
18
50
10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014
Name
Jake Shipton
Dale Jullien
Ben Menzies
Jinan CD
Total Diff
350
0
282
68
269
81
250 100
Gap
0
68
13
19
MX1 Total MX1 Total

25
15
22
16
25
15
22
16
25
18
22
9
25
18
22
9
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
25
22
20
8
25
16
18
12
25
15
18
16
25
22
20
8
25
16
18
12
25
15
18
16
MX Total
25
x
18
12
25
x
18
12
1/9/2015
1/9/2015
1/30/2015
1/30/2015
3/13/2015
3/13/2015
4/10/2015
4/10/2015
4/24/2015 4/24/2015
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total MX Total
x
22
x
20
25
18
15
20
25
20
18
16
25
22
20
16
x
22
x
20
x
22
x
20
x
22
x
20
25
18
15
20
25
16
18
20
25
16
18
20
25
20
18
15
25
20
18
15
25
20
18
16
25
22
20
16
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
18
25
20
18
12
25
20
18
12
25
16
22
20
25
16
22
20
DMX 2014/15 Championship MX2

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4
No.
555
23
1
38
10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014
Name
Ryan Blair
Mohammed Jaffer
Ross Runnals
Keegan Barnard
Total Diff
357
0
307
50
303
54
235 122
Gap
0
50
4
68
MX2 Total MX2 Total

20
18
22
16
20
18
22
16
22
18
25
16
22
18
25
16
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
25
22
20
18
22
18
25
14
20
15
22
14
25
22
20
18
22
18
25
14
20
15
22
14
MX Total
20
18
25
15
20
18
25
15
1/9/2015
1/9/2015
1/30/2015
1/30/2015
3/13/2015
3/13/2015
4/10/2015
4/10/2015
4/24/2015 4/24/2015
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total
MX Total MX Total
25
22
20
18
20
16
22
18
25 25
22 22
DNS 0
x
x
25
22
x
16
22
20
25
16
22
20
25
16
25
22
20
18
20
16
22
18
20
18
22
16
20
18
22
16
22
18
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
20
25
x
22
20
25
x
25
22
x
16
25
22
x
18
25
22
x
18
DMX 2014/15 Championship 125cc

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4
No.
73
5
22
32
10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014
Name
Darren Berry
Dean Jullien
Nicholas Kefford
Tiaan Nolan
Total Diff
359
0
328
31
259 100
252 107
Gap
0
31
69
7
125CC Total 125CC Total 125 Total
22
25
20
16
22
25
20
16
22
25
20
18
22
25
20
18
22
25
20
16
22
25
20
16
125 Total
125 Total
22
25
DNS
20
22
25
20
18
22
25
0
20
22
25
20
18
1/9/2015
1/9/2015
125 Total
125 Total
125 Total
125 Total
20
25
22
18
22
25
20
16
22
20
25
18
22
25
20
x
20
25
22
18
22
25
20
16
22
20
25
18
1/30/2015
22
25
20
x
1/30/2015
3/13/2015
125 Total
125 Total
22
25
20
x
25
x
x
22
22
25
20
x
25
x
x
22
3/13/2015
4/10/2015
4/10/2015
4/24/2015 4/24/2015
125 Total
125 Total
125 Total
125 Total
25
x
x
22
25
x
x
22
22
25
DNS
18
22
25
0
18
22
18
25
16
22
18
25
16
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
18
125 Total
22
20
25
16
22
20
25
16

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4
No.
19
174
22
18
10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014
Name
Eugenio Barbaglia
Abdulla Alnuaimi
Nicholas Kefford
Jasim Alkubaisi
Total Diff
332
0
327
5
320
12
225 107
Gap
0
5
7
95
85CC Total 85CC Total

25
20
22
15
25
20
22
15
25
20
22
16
25
20
22
16
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
22
15
25
20
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
18
22
15
25
20
25
20
22
18
25
20
22
18
1/9/2015
1/9/2015
1/30/2015
1/30/2015
3/13/2015
3/13/2015
4/10/2015
4/10/2015
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
85 Total
25
20
22
16
16
22
25
13
25
20
22
13
22
20
25
13
25
20
22
15
22
20
25
13
25
20
22
15
25
20
22
x
25
20
22
x
x
25
x
18
25
20
22
16
16
22
25
13
25
20
22
13
22
20
25
13
25
20
22
15
22
20
25
13
25
20
22
15
25
20
22
x
25
20
22
x
4/24/2015 4/24/2015
x
25
x
18
85 Total
x
25
x
22
x
25
x
22

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4
No.
Name
Total Diff
11 Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukh 382
0
334
174 Ahmed Alnuaimi
48
287
99 Joseph Mortado
95
223 159
26 Ashley OConnor
10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014
Gap
0
48
47
64
65CC Total 65CC Total

20
22
16
13
20
22
16
13
25
18
14
13
25
18
14
13
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
25
20
15
11
25
20
16
12
25
16
22
14
25
20
15
11
25
20
16
12
25
16
22
14
1/9/2015
1/9/2015
1/30/2015
1/30/2015
3/13/2015
3/13/2015
4/10/2015
4/10/2015
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
65 Total
25
16
18
14
25
20
16
12
25
20
18
11
25
22
20
15
15
25
18
13
25
22
18
16
22
25
20
16
25
22
18
16
25
22
18
16
25
22
20
16
25
16
18
14
25
20
16
12
25
20
18
11
25
22
20
15
15
25
18
13
25
22
18
16
22
25
20
16
25
22
18
16
25
22
18
16
4/24/2015 4/24/2015
25
22
20
16
65 Total
25
22
20
15
25
22
20
15
DUBAI MOTOCROSS CLUB
ACTIVITY REPORT
Freediving workshop
with Umberto Pelizzari
Umberto Pelizzari, an Italian freediver, widely
considered among the best of all time. Of his
generation, he is the sole person to have
established world records in all the then
existing disciplines of freediving
Words By: Nico de Corato

Photos By: Nico de Corato and supplied
Im a scuba diver; Im in love with

underwater bubbles. I made this a
passion, if not a profession, as well
as a mission, joining the Bergamo
Scuba Angels, an organization involved in the in-water rescue activities during sport competitions. I
never (as matter of fact now I have
to say I have never) practiced
freediving in my life.
Then I had the chance to meet an Italian
freediver, widely considered among the best
of all time. He is the only to have
established world records in all existing
disciplines: Umberto Pelizzari.
An occasional meeting with friends of
friends, who told me about the incoming freediving workshop held by Umberto
Pelizzari together with one of his instructors,
Gerardo Canta prompted me to give it a
try. The location of the workshop - Jumeirah
22
OUTDOORUAE
Beach Hotel, Dubai, the city where Ive been

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

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

sensations I remember is when training in
the swimming pool with the ballast, I feel my
body lighter and lighter, up to feeling only
my mind in the water. I feel like a mere spot
in the deep blue, especially when Im out in
the open seas.
NDC: How did apnea and the world of
freediving evolve since you started?
UP: Apnea has evolved a lot. I remember
back in 98 when we were in the World Cup
team. The maximum depth was 60 metres
and I was the only one to have reached
that. There were a dozen athletes between
the 50 and 60 metre mark. Today, there are
over 150 athletes in a team competition
with depths starting at 50 metres without
no limits whatsoever. Today, there is more
knowledge about the physiology of the
body sleep apnea and the areas that need
to be trained in order to go deeper. When I
started racing, it was more on instinct rather
that empirical proof. I had to understand
what was going on in my body and I acted
accordingly without the now available information that are behind how the body works.
NDC: What is the most important skill of a
good freediver?
UP: To know yourself, and to listen to the
signals given by your body: when to turn
back, when to stop, when you cant do what
you did yesterday or when you can push
your limit a little step farther. Technically
speaking its also important to be able to
equalize easily, in a natural way.
NDC: Fins, wetsuit, mask. Freediving seems
to require no technology at all
UP: Freediving is a human activity, more
than a technological one. In the Formula
1 for example, you need to have a great
driver, but without a proper car, you cannot
achieve great results. With freediving you
have some small advantage in terms of the
practicality of the equipment (from a good
pair of monofins for example) but its the
athlete making the difference rather than the
equipment.
NDC: Freediving versus scuba diving?
UP: Ill take from one of my favourite quotations: A scuba diver immerges to look and
observe, a freediver looks and observes
himself. I know lots of people doing both,
but they are different. And in any case, a
freediver can easily get their scuba gear on
and scuba dive; but when its the other way
around, its not necessarily true.
NDC: Any suggestions to aspiring freedivers?
UP: Choose a good instructor; holding your
breath is an unnatural behaviour, so its
important to have someone teach you to
avoid some natural mistakes when performing apnea.
NDC: Umberto, one last question: How do
you feel after your first course in Dubai?
UP: I could feel an incredible enthusiasm,
will to learn. Ive met plenty of beginners
these days underestimating themselves,
who achieved good performances from the
first day. I can see in Dubai lots of things
that still need to be done, but also lots of
enthusiasm; the course for example was fully
booked in a few days and without the need
for promotion or marketing - a clear signal
of a promising territory.
After this two-day workshop, Im not sure
if Ill go on practicing freediving myself.
Most likely Ill go back making bubbles, or
maybe I will dedicate myself to some specialized fields that I have been keeping in
my mind for a long time (CCR/TEC courses).
But in the meantime Im keen to go some
scuba diving and see if I can take advantage
of the techniques that I learned: first of all,
Getting ready before the in water session
Static exercise
Static exercise with Umberto
to breathe in a better way and perform correct movements underwater to consume less
oxygen.
Apnea Academy is a school for training
and research for apnea diving, inextricably
linked to the name of its founder and current President, Umberto Pelizzari, former
deep freediving world record holder. For
more information about the Academy you
can contact Mr. Gerardo Canta (+971 50
532 4956) or ApneaAcademyUAE@outlook.
com.
Blogger, marathon runner and triathlete, diver and heli rescue swimmer with
Bergamo Scuba Angels. You can read my
blog www.dubayblog.com, contact me
on social networks or via email at
[email protected] for information
about this article or just to say hello.
OUTDOORUAE
23
ACTIVITY REPORT
Enjoy the summer in Musandam

Many go to Musandam and stay

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

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

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

Jess Brown and Jo McDonough
Climbing and exploring
24
OUTDOORUAE
ready. You dont even have to be able to

swim although it helps. People are usually
amazed at what they can achieve and how
little skill they require. The hardest step is often the first so make an effort and you wont
be disappointed.
The beautiful port of Dibba
Where can you coasteer?
Coasteering can be done anywhere there

is a combination of cliffs and coastline. A
good day of coasteering will take place in
areas with bays, ledges, caves and features.
The east coast of Musandam using Dibba as
a starting point is ideal. The further up the
coast you go the more remote and isolated
it is. Alternatively you can use Khasab further
to the west as a base. Take a speed boat for
the day and stop wherever you spot. With
almost 1000kms of coastline in Musandam
you wont be short of something to do.
A secluded beach for lunch
knowledgeable guide, it is extreme rock

pooling and cliff jumping, an aquatic naturetrail, it can be swimming, bodysurfing waves,
exploring coastal caves or finding hidden passages. In general its about discovering life at
the bottom of the sea cliffs. If you cant climb
it, you simply jump off and swim around to an
easier section.
Of course any activity that takes place
in the sea, with tides and rocks will have a
dangerous element to it. A guide will teach
you the correct techniques, fit you with
appropriate equipment and impart
knowledge on the tides and local condi-
tions. They may also be able to point out

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

they will provide you with a buoyancy aid
and a helmet. A wetsuit is useful but can be
too hot in the summer. Expect a few scrapes
and bruises as you drift along and occasionally bump into submerged rocks. Old
running shoes and even gloves are ideal for
when you climb over barnacled rocks and
jump from the top of small cliffs.
It really is that simple. Grab yourself a wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet and youre
Guidelines
The Musandam area like all wilderness areas

is special, so make sure that you follow
some simple guidelines to help preserve it:
Respect people particularly the local community and other users.
Ensure that you have up to date information on venues that you are visiting. Dont
visit areas that are sensitive, restricted access or wildlife breeding colonies.
Go in a group that is appropriate to the
venue and be aware not to overcrowd sites.
If changing into or out of your coasteering
kit at the venue, be sure to brief your group
to maintain modesty at all times, and to use
appropriate toilet facilities
Show respect for other users of the coast
by keeping noise to a minimum when
coasteering along a tranquil stretch of the
coast. The tranquillity of the wilderness is
special.
Observe, but avoid disturbing wildlife be
prepared to change your route if necessary.
Protect the natural environment.
Leave the coast tidier than it was when
you arrived where possible, pick up litter
as you go, especially old fishing tackles
and plastics which can be a real hazard for
wildlife
Do not damage the rocks, or remove any
fossils from the coast.
Enjoy the outdoors and stay safe.
Contact us at www.outdoorarabia.com
for more information on our coasteering
and other adventure packages and get
more out of the region you live in.
OUTDOORUAE
25
ACTIVITY REPORT
tales
FROM THE
stables
The riders during the first day of the Pink Caravan Ride.
Sheikh Mohammad Al Thani leading the ride.
Words By: Cindy Stadelmann and Cosmo

Photos By: Supplied
Last month I concluded the

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

the launch of the Pink Caravan Ride 2015.
and rider team on a Ride Route. Further,

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

cancer amounts to an average of 200,000
AED. Thats a lot of money and the Charitys
mission is to help those in need. Long after
the Pink Caravan event was done, a dedicated team continued working on sorting out
the paperwork, processing referrals and supporting patients. Riding caps off to their good
and hard work.
Coming finally to the horses and their
involvement, the Ride Route is pursued by
horses and riders, and varies between 20
and 50km per day. Endurance, patience,
and courage are required. The long trek with
horse and rider with hours in the saddle represents these requirements. The first question
that may come to your mind may be How
does horse and rider come into play? The
answer is threefold: Battling breast cancer, as
any cancer, requires exactly that and so much
more; next, the Pink Caravan campaign has
consciously chosen to use horses as symbol because of horses loyalty and courage
when facing the biggest challenges. Horses
do anything for their owners, never hold a
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and
Community Development,upon arrival to the launch of the Pink Caravan Ride 2015.
grudge and can endure big pain without

showing it. Loyalty and courage are generally
deeply rooted within the Arab culture and
universally associated with compassion and
nobility; finally, who would not stand in awe at
a big group of riders tackling the roads of the
UAE wearing pink and be curious about their
mission?
For the Pink Caravan, each year around 100
riders are selected for this event undergoing a thorough proficiency test. For this, the
Furusiyya Equestrian Club in Al Khawaneej
supports the charity by providing horses
and conducting the screening of the riders.
Interested riders can apply around a month
before the event and even individuals from
abroad come especially to participate in this
event. There are many applicants to choose
from. Furusiyya Equestrian Club selects the
riders, who are then allocated to the different
days of the ride. Each day roughly 10 riders
and horses go on their way supported by a
huge brigade of supporters: police escorts,
ambulances, support vehicles, veterinarians
and horse-trailers. Safety goes first and no
mobiles, iPods or other distracting equipment
is allowed during the ride. It is just you and
your horse. How wonderful is it to see the
different corners of the UAE from the back
of the horse and have a chat with your fellow
riders. The group took a few breaks before it
reached its destination. If any of the horses
was found unfit throughout the ride, it was
loaded onto the trailer. On the way, neighboring stables of the destination cities take care
of the horses. Horses are swapped on a daily
basis and riders are brought back home and
replaced with new riders. There is a huge
amount of logistical work going on behind
the scenes.
This years event kicked off at the Sharjah
Equestrian and Racing Club with an amazing opening ceremony by His Highness,
Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi,
Pink Caravan Ride at Yas Waterworld
Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler

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

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

Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, and
his team with the most expensive burger in the world.
ACTIVITY REPORT
Why Skimboarding?
Words By: Sean Jahnig
Coming from South Africa where

we always had a good selection of waves,
bodyboarding was enough for me. Then I
moved to Dubai and discovered that with
limited waves, I needed to open my mind
and find other ways of keeping myself entertained. This led to surfing, skating the
Canopi Bowl at Tashkeel and cruising the
hills of Fujairah on my longboard. It also
led to skimboarding.
Of all the other sports that Id begun,
skimboarding was the toughest because
there wasnt (and still isnt) much support
for it locally. Neither in terms of professionals to learn from, nor stores that sell the
equipment. Nevertheless, I persevered and
progressed from a flatland woody board,
to the custom, carbon fibre wave-riding
boards that Im on now. Along the way Ive
met other passionate riders from around the
globe (including Westerners, Emiratis and

other Arabs) and together weve formed a
rad little community.
Skimboarding is, no doubt, a difficult
sport. But then again, so are skateboarding,
surfing and many other board sports that
it is associated with. The nice thing is that
theyre all linked in a way and practicing one
is ultimately, practicing the others.
Heres a quick graphic to give you an idea
of how we do it.
Some important facts about skimboarding,

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

Words By: Trace Rogers
After the tragic death of a triathlete

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

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

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

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

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OUTDOORUAE
Of course, the time that a freediver

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

venue. Most dive spots feature coral reefs,
combined with spectacular underwater rock
structures. There is a huge variety of tropical
marine life, including whale sharks, dolphins,
large gamefish, and hundreds of species of
tropical marine animals.
The regular freediving spots include Fahal
Island, which is four kilometres offshore of
Muscat; and the Daymaniyat Islands, which
are a collection of rocky desert islands surrounded by coral reefs, about a 30 minute
boat ride from the coastline. Both of these
are popular scuba diving spots as well.
There are also several other spectacular dive
spots in the area, including some interesting
shipwrecks.
Depending on a freedivers requirements,
depths range from knee-deep snorkelling
depth down to 10 metres, 20 metres, 30
metres and deeper. In spring and summer,
visibility ranges from decent (10 metres) up
to 20 metres and even much more on good
days. There is also often very little current,
and calm surface waters, which is a good
thing for freediving, as divers can concentrate on doing very relaxed breath-ups
before heading down into the blue.
For serious deep freediving, Oman has
plenty of depth that is relatively easy to access via a short boat ride. While Oman does
not present freedivers with the absolute
perfectly calm, clean freediving conditions
of places like Deans Blue in the Bahamas, or
the Blue Hole at Egypts coastal town of Dahab, or certain parts of the Mediterranean,
freedivers will have little hassle planning and
executing a series of deep and safe dives
during the spring and summer season.
There are also dozens of sheltered bays
and coves around Muscat itself where freedivers can train and develop their equalizing
skills, duck-diving, finning technique, and
various other depth adaption skills.
Of course, the Sultanate of Oman has
around 3 000km of spectacular coastline,
nearly all of which is absolute dream territory
for divers (freedivers and scuba divers), surfers, sea-kayakers and beachcombers.
Competitive Freediving in Oman
The competitive freediving spirit is also very

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

an experienced deep diver, the Sultanate
of Oman has some spectacular reefs and
islands to explore, and deep waters to descend into as well as a bunch of freedivers
who are very willing and qualified to be your
freedive buddy for the day. So bring your
fins, and a big breath of air!
Competitive Freediving: Terminology

Constant Weight: The athlete dives down a dive line as deep as possible, using bifins or
monofins for propulsion.
Constant Weight No Fins: The athlete dives down a dive line as deep as possible, using
only their arms and legs for propulsion.
Free Immersion: The athlete pulls themselves down a dive line as deep as possible,
using a hand-over-hand pulling technique.
Static Apnea: In a pool, the athlete holds their breath for as long as possible,
while floating on the surface of the water.
Dynamic With Fins: Using bifins or a monofin, the athlete swims as far as they can
underwater, in a competition swimming pool.
Dynamic No Fins: Using only their arms and legs for propulsion, the athlete swims as far
as they can underwater, in a competition swimming pool.
No Limits Freediving: The extreme, No-Limits form of freediving is currently practiced
by a handful of competitive freedivers around the world. No-Limits divers use a weighed
sled device to descend, via a dive line, to spectacular depths on a single breath of air
(the current world record is 214 metres!) after which they are lifted back up to the surface
via a pulley system, or air-filled balloon.
Freediving Safety
If not done correctly, and without qualified tuition, recreational and performance
orientated freediving can be a dangerous
leisure activity. Before any type of freediving breath hold activity in the water,
divers should seek qualified instruction
from an established freediving school.
Find Out More
For more information about freediving in

the Sultanate of Oman, readers can visit
www.facebook.com/FreedivingOman or
contact Yahya Al Hooti, an SSI Freediving
Instructor, on +968 998 10004.
OUTDOORUAE
31
ACTIVITY REPORT
Stand UP PADDLE XL
Words By: Tati Coco
It is always a pleasure to do
some paddle boarding with friends
and go for surfing or some exploration. But what about being all
together in the same Stand Up
Paddle board? Yes, that does exist a massive SUP board. This
weekend I had the opportunity to
try the XL board. It is exactly the
same board as a standard SUP
board but this one is really huge
and it can take up to 14 people for
one amazing ride!
It was just such a big fun, in the beginning; it looked challenging but immediately
everybody worked as a real team paddling and controlling the board against the
waters and waves. By chance, someone was
elected to be the team leader to manage
and give instructions otherwise it can be a
big mess.
I tried it for first time on the waves in the

west coast of Ireland. I dont remember the
last time I laughed so hard - it was excellent, brilliant and as Irish people say mighty
craic. I was shouting, screaming and laughing so hard because of the
excitement and adrenaline that was completely over the top. What a crazy new
sport. If it wasnt difficult enough to surf
alone on my own board, now we surf good
size waves on an XL board with a lot of crazy
and passionate SUP enthusiasts!
After a few attempt on the first waves, we
immediately discovered, after much experimentation how to take the wave we have at
hand: concentration, coordination and hard
work. A few seconds later we were smashed
by the wave and bodies flew, mates jumped,
as we loosely navigated the board to somewhere safer but we wanted more; we were
determined to ride this wave. So without
much objection, we got back on the board!
We all hopped back on the XL board,
daring to go through the waves as brave as
sailors. As we placed the board back into
the sea to set off, we got hit by the waves
countless times and it made us shake but we
managed to place the board perfectly. By
the time it was set, everybody knew exactly
what to do, it was time to ride this huge
board. We saw the good waves coming
closer to us and we started to paddle. Everyone was cheering Go! at the same time as
we all put over best surf skills on practice;
the surfers at the back was in charge of the
control of the direction.
Suddenly I felt the tail of the board starting to elevate and my face going down (I
was at the front holding the GoPro) and then
the next moment, we were on the wave - we
were surfing! We did it! Everybody turned
crazy and mad with laughter, walking up
and down, dancing and pushing at each
other. We surfed a long wave and everyone
was so happy. Hugs, smiles, laughter and
conversation sprouted from this incredible
experience.
They have some events that they
organize in flat water with different teams on
the XL boards; it is definitely very sociable
and friendly.
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
Of Kish and Bicycles

Words + Photos By: Keith Perea
Hearing the mention of Kish Island does not exactly give a positive
note. The Iranian vacation island
is famous in the expat community
as a place to go for the occasional
visa run.
This may not be true for everyone of
course. Touted as a resort island, the island
of Kish is proudly known as the Pearl of the
Persian Gulf. But I will not be giving out a
history lesson.
I started out as an expat that needed
to go to Kish for the visa run. A lot of my
friends and colleagues here in Dubai dissuaded me from going there as they narrated harrowing stories of how life is in Kish.
The stories ranged from the use of dangerous substances to the much larger problem
of desperation especially among those
who want to secure an entry permit back
to Dubai by any means necessary. I admit
that it got me pretty scared as I booked and
boarded my flight to that island but with no
The road to freedom
choice left and the option to explore uncharted territories, I faced that fear hoping
to debunk whatever sob stories I heard from
Dubai - time to leave prejudices behind.
Skipping the entire landing and staying
in the hotel part. The island is suffice to say,
a huge anathema to what everyone has
told me about it. No, its not a ragtag place
where its dangerous to go out; no there
are no bad persons and no, its not a place
where people bore themselves to death. Its
in fact a tranquil island surrounded by the
ocean breeze where the silence is a home
away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
With two days in my hands, it was time to
go up and about. Most of the people I met
in Kish had all manners of aversion to let the
time pass. There were the crossword solvers,
the chess players, the movie watchers. Im
not about to fall into that same spiral and
mope in my hotel room. The hotel was near
Along the route are places of elegant the coast line and the afternoon wind beckons I went out to the beach.
decay. Such as this building
A short walk towards the coast and the
breeze from the waters immediately took me
in. There was even a rock platform where
one could stand and let the waves crash
trying to reach you. The sea was of a blue
that sounded of lyres as it pressed to and fro
along the shore. I walked onward.
An interesting thing to take note of in Kish
is that the prices are very reasonable. A five
or ten dirham bill goes a long way in this
island. And I was about to discover that as
I saw a bike rental kiosk that lent customers
their bikes for an hour.
Bikes are a great way to circumnavigate
the island within the span of a day and I say
this because you only get to pay 5 AED or
so and they dont mind if you go past the
one hour mark. The path stretches around
the island and has its fair share or swirls and
uphills something similar to the likes of Jebel Hafeet and there are a lot of interesting
sights along the path. Abandoned buildings
sit along the coast, some of which are open
It only takes 5 AED to have so much fun
Inside one of the coastal buildings in Kish
for exploration. There are sand tracks where

you can take your bike on the road less
travelled, plus the path is filled with other
riders. I also had the opportunity to see
some locals enjoying the traditional way of
life people who have not yet been subject
to the surge of consumerism and glitz that
the city proper exuded. As they lighted their
campfire and prepared to cook dinner, I
knew in myself that the notorious island that
my friends and family in Dubai told me was
gone.
It was about 7:00 p.m. when I got back to
the rental kiosk three hours after I rented
the bike and cruised my way to disprove
whatever fears I had when I came to Kish. Its
not a bad place after all. In fact, I can truly
say that if you want a quiet ride to muse
about life, or listen to the voice of the ocean
serenading you to calm, there is no better
place than Kish Island. Contrary to majority
of expats that bore themselves there waiting for their visas, a lot can be done only if
they would drop whatever they have in their
hands and head outdoors to debunk the
nightmares that surround this majestic and
serene island.
OUTDOORUAE
33
TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
Tree River:
Words By: Rasmus Ovesen
Photos By: Rasmus Ovesen, Klaus Boberg Pedersen and Craig Blackie
Tree River in the western corner of Canadas Nunavut province is

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

the pain was so unbearable that I gasped for
breath.
Klaus, who still hasnt the faintest idea
about what is going on, looked at me with
amazement from the waters edge. He saw
me toppling bewildered about in circles
like a headless chicken, and he hears the
screechy noises of torment that my trembling
fistula voice produces. He also sees how I
desperately try to support my left arm with
the right, and suddenly he too realizes what
has happened.
Gloomy thoughts stormed deafeningly
through my head as I staggered across the
distorted boulders along the riverbank. The
situation was grave! Were at Tree River, in
the middle of nowhere right on the border
of the bitterly cold Arctic Ocean, several
hundred kilometres from the nearest hospital
and totally cut off from the outside world.
Granted, there is a hydroplane coming in

tomorrow, but the remainder of our northwestern Canada trip is in imminent danger.
The ill fate of an old friend lingers hauntingly on the edge of my consciousness He
suddenly found himself in need of surgery
when his shoulder was dislocated and all
the muscle tissue cramped and locked the
shoulder unwaveringly in place. It all ended
in a painful operation that had serious consequences on his mobility.
Oh my God, why is this happening?
MY THOUGHTS were chaotic, shapeless and
incoherent, but in a brief moment of clarity I
managed to place myself over a big boulder,
so that my shoulder and arm are supported
and all the muscles can relax a little. The
relief granted my tormented mind a painless
window, where my thoughts were allowed
some resonance, and suddenly I found myself
carefully coaxing, twisting and lifting my arm
and shoulder. Something seemed to fall into
place, and as I got up, my arm came down
alongside my upper body. My shoulder and
arm were back in position, and even though
the pain hasnt subsided, it has yielded to
such a degree that I can walk towards Klaus
and pick up where I left. A few moments
later, I lifted a staggering eight-kilo arctic char
momentarily out of the water, while Klaus
blinking camera lens scrutinises its olivegreen and turquoise flanks, its innumerable
orange dots, the charcoal-grey marbling of
the gills and the elegant white tinge of the
fins.
FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS, we have
stayed at Plummers Lodge and fished Great
Bear Lake a massive freshwater reservoir in
the Northwest Territories surrounded by an
immensity of fir forests, swamps and barren
plains. On the lake we have experienced
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OUTDOORUAE
some spectacularly good fly fishing for fierce

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

knowingly to each other, when someone
talks about swinging streamers in Presidential
Pool, rising to the challenges of Second Falls
whirling eddies, and spey-casting in Amsterdams deep runs. They all seem to lack words
to describe exactly what it is about the river
that makes it so special, but their accounts
were saturated with an incisive yearning and
nostalgia.
We obviously had a hard time understanding all the hype, but when we heard that it
was possible to charter a small hydroplane
and fly out the river, it obviously didnt take
us long before were packed and ready to go.
AS THE HYDROPLANE touched down
on Tree Rivers lightly milk-coloured glacial
water, we still had no idea about what awaits
us. Here, downstream from the provisional
Tree River Lodge, where well be sleeping
over, the river wasnt something out of the
ordinary. It meanders drowsily downstream
towards the Arctic Ocean set down in a
harsh and barren terrain, and it might as well
have been any random river in Greenland or
Northern Norway.
It wasnt until we have unloaded all our
equipment and supplies at the lodge, pieced
our fly rods together and hiked upstream
that the river really started to work its subtle
magic on us. Up here, the river has an altogether different character and temperament.
Radically different even! It is WILD! Up here
the calm waters of the lower river was superseded by frothing white water that gushed
purposefully downstream prompted by
dramatic increases in terrain gradients. Here,
the river was a roaring and intimidating force
of nature. Riffles, eddies, and waterfalls were
succeeded by maelstrom-like back waters,

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

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

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

river in the northwestern corner of the
Canadian state, Nunavut. The river
pours into Coronation Gulf, which is a
part of the frigid Arctic Ocean to the
high north. The lower stretches of the
river are fairly chaotic with gushing
white water, whirling pools, waterfalls
and long riffles.
10 kilometres from the ocean there
is a natural barrier for the arctic chars
spawning run, which occurs over the
course of the summer from the middle
of June through September. The barrier
is a plummeting and several metrehigh waterfall that is impossible for the
fish to climb. Downstream, the river
gets packed to the bursting point with
fully-grown arctic char, which become
increasingly coloured up as the season
progresses.
Tree River Lodge provides access to
the upper four kilometres of the lower
river stretches. From the lodge itself
you hike upstream from one pool to
the next, or you fish from a boat or
spey cast in some of the bigger and
more slow-flowing pools close to - and
below the lodge. The fishery is administered by Plummerss Arctic Lodges in
cooperation with the local Indian tribe.
The season is short and hectic just
like the arctic summer, and it runs from
the beginning of July through August.
However, because of the midnight sun,
you can fish 24 hours a day. Additional
information can be found here: http://
www.plummerslodges.com/lodges/
tree-river
THE ARCTIC CHAR in Tree River are the worlds largest, and the majority of all existing
world records stem from this river. This, for instance, is the case with two notable line
records, the fly fishing record, and last but not least the biggest arctic char ever landed
on a rod and reel: a giant of 14.77kgs.
Presumably, there are several good explanations as to why the Tree River arctic char
grow to such incredible sizes. They have ample amounts of prey fish to feed on in the Arctic Ocean and in the estuary of the river, plus theres an extreme form of natural selection
in play when it comes to the spawning. In effect, only the biggest and most powerful fish
are capable of climbing the many waterfalls and torrential currents. A more weighty argument, however, is probably that the Tree River arctic char are of mixed blood. There are
lake char in the river too, and throughout the ages hybridization must have occurred.
New investigations have proven that the Tree River arctic char have traces of lake char
DNA in their genetic codes, and genes from lake char a species that grows to 35-40
kilos, might explain how the Tree River arctic char get to be so enormous compared to
other strains.
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OUTDOORUAE
Getting out on the water

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

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

drive boats. That is, the power unit or drive
is located at the back of the boat. Given that
this is exactly where you want to be surfing

these boats pose a significant limitation.
Wakeboats have an inboard engine and
a propeller mounted approximately one
meter back under the stern. This means
users can surf straight off the back of the
boat and climb in and out of the water in
safety. Wakeboats also have bespoke surf
systems that help create a mammoth wave
behind the boat. This wave is enhanced by
taking on significant ballast in the form of
water pumped into storage tanks fore and
aft. Jake commented that ...without ballast
tanks and a high capacity power unit you
simply cant generate a wave worth surfing.
Wakeboating options
Getting yourself on the water can be as easy

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

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

your house. With training also provided for
those owning their first craft all of the time,
consuming and / or daunting aspects of getting on the water can be handled by others.
Membership
(the alternative to ownership)
One new and exciting alternative to ownership are boat membership schemes. These
schemes give the member significant hours
on the water without the responsibilities
of ownership (e.g. maintenance, berthing,
insurance etc.). Jake commented that...this
solution fits many of our customers needs
perfectly. For example a pilot with free time
during the week wanted to buy 50 hours a
month of off peak time on the water. With a
busy schedule and young family, this solution was perfect as all he needed to do was
book online and then turn up and ride. Even
the wash down and berthing was taken care
of by our team.
Next Steps
Whichever solution suits you, one thing is

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

Episode 13:
East of the Delta
Destination: Chobe River and the Savuti
Marsh, Botswana
Diaries
Words + Photos By: James and Mira Raley
We arrived at the Botswana

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

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

the following day and headed southwest
for the Savuti Marshes. After a brief 70km
on tarmac, the main road to Savuti turned
into deep sand. Clearly not a challenge for
the Honey Badger, but self-drivers should
be aware that Botswanas parks are only for
4x4s and proper ones at that. We recently
stopped to help a 4x4 Kia which had boldly
driven past the sign saying 4x4s only
outside a National Park and had got stuck in
the sand less than 50m past the entrance.
Savuti was very different to Chobe. The
northern entrance was dry with a lot of
trees, which is not great for game viewing.
The journey south reveals sporadic marshes
linked by small, seasonal rivers before opening up into grass and marshland, which is
fantastic for game. Unfortunately for
Botswana, the 2014/15 rainy season has

been extremely poor. Due to diamond
mines and tourism, Botswana is one of the
wealthier African countries that we have
visited, but subsistent farming is still necessary for a proportion of the population and
many of them are suffering now. In fact, rain
is so important here that they named their
currency after it: Pula.
For us, after our multiple unwilling adventures in the mud, the drier ground was
welcomed and allowed us to explore much
further than would normally be possible at
this time of year. We parted with our $100
for the camping in Savuti and got up early
the next day to look for Honey Badgers
(real ones). Despite finding Honey Badger
and Wild Dog spoors, we saw neither in the
flesh. However, we had some exciting river
crossings and watched a buffalo give birth,
an experience which was equally fascinating and disgusting, before we arrived at the
central marshland in the park.
We had been advised to avoid the marsh,
but we were feeling confident and decided
to go through the centre to look for the
elephant-hunting lions which can be found
there. We did not see any lions, or other
cats, but the drive was fun and despite a few
muddy moments and a few thousand grass
seeds in the radiator, we made it through
without getting stuck.
With one more night before James
parents arrived for a 10-day luxury safari, we

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

is fundraising and volunteer work and
they are currently teaching nursery school
children in Zanzibar. If you are interested
in helping them to achieve their target
and make a difference to African communities and wildlife, please spread the
word or donate using the following links:
To donate: www.gofundme.com/
thehoneybadgerdiaries
If you would like to follow their journey
through Africa and see more photos,
recordings and videos:
Website: www.thehoneybadgerdiaries.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
pages/Honey-Badger-Diaries
Instagram: @thehoneybadgerdiaries
OUTDOORUAE
39
LIFESTYLE
Health
Words By: Ivana Chiles
Powerhouse
Upgrade your next outdoor activity or gym

workout with the best possible clothing.
Pros and cons of different types of outdoor wear
Picnic during kayaking trip around

Musandam (merino top on, of course)
While we pay attention to forms

of exercise and food we fuel on,
one barely ever considers the right
clothing and its possible effect not
only on your performance, but also
health.
In this months issue, I will share some
opinions on different materials your clothes
are made out of, what effect it has on your
skin and possibly overall health. I will also
give you some tips for rather unusual, yet
natural ways to treat your dirty laundry to
keep it bacteria and odour free, in a gentle
way.
Ivana during yoga hike wearing organic cotton top
Imagine this scenario:
You showered with soap and water this

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

physical activities can become
such an unpleasant experience
and why some of us expel more
pungent odours than others?
First of all lets clarify the simple biological

function of sweating: We all sweat. Sweating helps your body eliminate toxins, which
supports proper immune function and helps
prevent diseases related to toxic overload.
Through sweating, your body regulates the
Merino wool top
Merino socks
temperature preventing it from overheating.

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

Synthetic tops
Say no to cheap synthetic tops!
40
OUTDOORUAE
Bamboo fibre top
I keep sadly looking at the piles of cheap

t-shirts my husband brings home with each
race, wondering, what to do with them. I
sort of even feel guilty giving them to charity
knowing they will do no good to anyone.
Here are the reasons why:
Although popular for their light weight and

quick drying properties, synthetic polyester
wear give off more stink than others, because of the odour-causing bacteria called
micrococcus that loves hanging on their fibres, chomping on the long-chain fatty acids
in our sweat and turning them into shorter,
smellier molecules. And there are many
more kinds of bacteria. In order to target
bacteria growth, the manufacturers are now
using nanosilver in sports textiles.
While we happily use diluted nanosilver
in our house to treat anything from sore
throats, healing cuts and detoxifying, one
should be careful when concentrated nanoparticles are part of your clothing. Nanosilver is composed of particles of silver so tiny
(smaller than a virus) that they kill bacteria
on contact. However they can be easily
inhaled and absorbed through your skin
during wear. Research shows that nanosilver
does not simply stay in clothes, instead it
leaches out of the clothes during washing (first 5 washes will deprive your clothes
Merino wool tops are perfect even for golf! (in Mauritius)
treated with nanosilver for up to 35% of it).

Another antimicrobial added to fabrics is
triclosan. Animal studies raised concerns
about its ability to affect fertility, cause
cancer and resistance to antibiotics. The list
goes on: stain-proof compounds, UV resistance causing compounds etc.
If you want to avoid all these effects, steer
clear of all treated fabrics.
Cotton
Cotton is certainly a good choice, but only

if organic. Natural cotton clothing helps
reduce odours, but as you will agree, cotton
is not the fastest drying material. While I
love using organic cotton clothing for yoga
or home, I have other preferences when it
comes to exercise. Why use organic cotton?
Cotton covers over 2.5% of worlds cultivated land yet uses 16% of the worlds insecticides, more than any other single major
crop. Those inevitably travel up the food
chain and accumulate in our body.
My recommendations:
Shop ethically and consciously
and choose one of the following
fabrics next time you shop!
Merino wool
Merino is popularly known as high-end,

performance athletic wear for any kind of
outdoor activity. There are many factors
contributing to merinos high popularity. I
have been wearing merino outfits for runs
and hikes for over 10 years and have always
Merino wool tops keep you incredibly
warm in cold climate. Me hiking in my
native Czech Republic in autumn.
been appreciating its excellence in regulating body temperature. The wool provides
some warmth but cools you down when it
is hot outside. While absorbing the sweat,
unlike cotton, merino wool retains warmth.
It dries out fairly quickly and the presence of
lanolin makes it antibacterial. Merino clothes
are soft and very pleasant to wear and
should definitely be on your next outdoor
wear shopping list!
Bamboo wear
Bamboo is an excellent natural fibre with a

silky texture that quickly absorbs moisture.
It is naturally anti-microbial, hypoallergenic
and grows without using pesticides or chemicals. Bamboo benefits the environment by
buzzing greenhouse gases storing four times
more CO2 compared to other similar trees.
Bamboo is anti-static and UV protective, cutting out 98% of harmful UV rays. It
is 100% natural and sustainable and is the
fastest growing plant in the world. For us,
gardeners, bamboo fibre is 100% biodegradable, unusable garments can be thrown
in the compost bin!
Although not particularly cheap, merino or
bamboo clothes can become rather expensive. However looking at all advantages
and positive impact on my health, I choose
to buy 4-5 pieces of merino and bamboo
outfits which I regularly rotate. They last for
about 3 years in average. My satisfaction
surely beats any negative comments and
I will always recommend them to anyone
looking to upgrade their training on a totally
undiscovered and unknown level. There are
many good brands out there, some available
from major UAE retailers. If you do struggle
finding the one you like, internet shopping
always helps! And remember to opt for
lighter colours rather than dark ones which
will attract the sun.
Bamboo fibre top while hiking in Musandam
work out and let them dry. The sun kills the
bacteria, freshens clothes up and removes
odours.
Detox your wardrobe by using your home
made laundry detergent or opt for the nontoxic ones in supermarkets.
You can wash the clothes using preferably
one of the natural laundry detergents adding a couple of tablespoons of white natural
vinegar (the one made from grains) and
about 10 drops of tea tree oil (known for its
magnificent antibacterial, antiseptic and anti
fungal properties) to the last rinse.
I also strongly recommend you dry your
clothes in the sun for the same above mentioned reasons.
Here is my tip for all natural and super
easy laundry detergent that I have been using for several months and loving it!
You will need:
2 natural soap bars
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup aluminium free baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/4 cup sea salt
Grate soap bars on a fine grater and mix
with the rest of ingredients. Store in an
airtight container and use about 1/4 cup for
each laundry load.
You can create a small silica filled bag and
keep it inside the container with your laundry detergent to keep the moisture away.
Works really well!
What to do with your

sweaty clothes?
One of my friends asked me the other day,

what to do with her husbands gym clothes.
While he was convinced that soaking his
stinky gym attire in a bucket filled with water
will help, the truth is, that the bacteria will
spread even faster. My best advice is to
expose your clothes to the sun after your
Merino wool
tops are perfect
for any activitity,
even kayaking.
Home made all natural washing powder
You can find some more tips and links

on my website www.ivanahph.com or
follow me on my Health Powerhouse
Facebook page for some more
gardening tips, delicious recipes and
natural cosmetics.
Ivana Chiles has been living in the

UAE for almost 15 years. Her passions
are nutrition, healthy cooking and
gardening. Ivana is a certified health
coach, member of American Association
of Drugless Practitioners and also a keen
outdoor enthusiast.
Siesta in Jebel Akhtar mountains in Oman
OUTDOORUAE
41
LIFESTYLE
Words By: Dan Wright

Photos By: Ajmal Hassan and Dan Wright
It has to be said that I love

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

42
OUTDOORUAE
Giant Longhorn Beetle
my hikes and photographed them. Below

is a picture of a Rhinoceros Beetle I saw in
the Hajar Mountains (they are harmful to
crops and date palms) and I have used it as
part of a diagram to explain the life cycle of
beetles:
Life cycle of a Beetle
Scientists use collections of beetles to

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

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

is a type of Darkling Beetle
Red Palm Weevill
But other species of beetle are essential to

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

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

borers the adults feed on sap and nectar of
plants which is why you will often see them
flying around scented flowers making a lot
of noise as they look for dinner and a date
not a bad lifestyle!
Jewel Beetle, Julodis euphratica
In the UAE one of the most famous book series on beetles and in fact all things Creepy
Crawly are the five volumes of Arthropods
of the UAE By Tony Van Harten which are
available in the bigger bookshops here and
will give you a great insight into almost
everything you can find in the Emirates and
beyond into the Arabian peninsula. These
books may take up a lot of shelf space but
they are by far the most detailed insight into
the insects around us that you can buy.
Arthropods of the UAE book cover.
If your budget or shelf space (!) wont stretch

quite that far then you can go for a more
general book like Insects by George C.
McGavin who is not only a former entomology curator at the Oxford University
Museum of Natural History but has also
hosted numerous TV shows in which he literally crawls around inside old logs and tree
trunks in remote jungles in search of really
big insects which then crawl all over him! A
bit like, Man Versus Wild but with really
big wild insects!
These books explain to you how to

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

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

freelance Wilderness Guide in the UAE
and Asia, prior to that he worked for an
Emirati Citizenship program. He has a
degree in Environmental Science. Dan
has been on several International wildlife and exploration expeditions with UK
Radio stations and writes for a range
of publications in Asia and the Middle
East. His wife is the former Nepal National Mountain Bike Champion, Nirjala
Tamrakar (See OutdoorUAE, issue44,
page 8). They live in Fujairah with their
son Percy and spend all their spare time
exploring the UAE!
OUTDOORUAE
43
Habitually healthy
Madras infused Kerala Prawn
Curry with Cauliflower Rice
Words + Recipe By: Chef Christopher Zerbe
Summer is heating up quick,

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

and the spicy chilli powder are all complimentary to each other in this wonderful dish.
Many years ago, I spent a short week in
a little village in Kerala near this amazing
shore break near Varkala Town by the cliffs.
The place was super rustic, very simple and
yet warm and friendly with locals and of
course their love for seafood and spices! Ive
always wanted to go back over the years
to see the change but I can imagine that
its still not overrun by surfers and crowds.
But, from time to time I am reminded of
the splendid week there - cut off from the
workaday world of cell phones and email,
by the smell of the curry that I make and
the silky, spicy notes of the fresh ingredients
that go into it! So if you are ever looking to
just get away from everything and have a
week to spare or more, go check out that
little spot and see if you can walk away with
an incredible memory of surf, tastes and of
course a nice tan!
During the months of May and June, the
F4 winds typically blow from the southwest
and northwest and bring a nice SW 4-5ft
swell with it. Water temperatures lean towards 28 degrees but with the nice breeze,
feel quite comfortable, as the Arabian Sea is
teasing the Indian Ocean there on the west
coast of India. However always remember
that the beginning of June is also known
as the Monsoon Onset season there so
pay close attention to your flights and the
weather! If you cannot find the time to travel
to this haven of surf and seafood, try my
recipe here for my version of the traditional
Kerala Prawn Curry, its designed to be a
bit milder for the majority of folks but just
throw some more chilli in there to spice it up
proper! A little sweat is good for the soul!
Ingredients
Amount
Notes
Cauliflower Rice
120
Prawns
160
Green Ship Curry powder
tbsp
Chilli Powder
tbsp
Chopped Tomatoes
50
Chopped Garlic
1/2
clove
Chopped Ginger
1/2
inch pc
Chopped Red Onion
30
Turmeric Powder
tbsp
Coconut Milk
1/4
can
Chopped Coriander
sprigs
Coconut Oil
tbsp
Black Mustard Seeds
tsp
1. First, heat your large fry pan and add the

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

GPS location:
Latitude:
N 25 02.792
Longitude:
E 055 14.384
Phone:
04 425 6555
WATER WOLF CAMERA

TESTED 1.0 UW BY SAVAGE GEAR
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Words By: Antonio Varcasia and Dario Alicicco
The last five years has been

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

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

hydrodynamic. It can also be used for trolling and also for vertical techniques including
those dedicated to cephalopods. The Water
Wolf presents the advantage of being able
to float and is extremely hydrodynamic,
plus it can also be used in fishing without
additional mounts. In short, a combination
of technology addressed to all fishing enthusiasts who want to know and document
everything that happens underwater and
behind their bait!
For more information, visit
www.waterwolfhd.com
OUTDOORUAE
45
PRODUCTS
A ROUND-UP OF QUALITY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UAE
California Seakiss
Reversible Bottom Surf Bikini
Ocean Glasses Bamboo and

Skatewood Polarized Sunglasses
290 AED
325 - 365 AED inclusive of soft case
Seakiss surf protection tassle beads
Available at all Adventure HQ stores
60 AED
Available at www.seakiss.me
The California Surf Bikini is inspired by
the palm tree filled sunshine state with
style influence from Huntington Beach
& Malibu. It offers practical support
with a crossover design at back to
take the tension off the neck, built in
non-removable padding, bottoms
that reverse to gorgeous mint for
a mix and match look, drawstrings
on bottom for secure fit with an
on trend palm tree print in quality materials.
and neoprene retaining strap
Ocean Glasses skatewood and bamboo sunglasses are handmade, high-quality, performance products that respect the
environment and have a great natural style. The best ecofriendly sustainable bamboo and Canadian maple skatewoods
have been selected to manufacture them from. The lenses are
polarised (vital for water or snow based activities) with UV400
protection (UVA/UVB). The frames are lightweight and strong
with flexible stainless steel hinges to suit the face. Coated with
a water/sweat protective layer you can get them wet and they
float on water! (bamboo models).
Seakiss Swimwear is designed

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

Running Distance IV Speed Trainer
650 AED
Available at all stores of Adventure HQ

Introducing the P.O.P.1+ with 30% more pep in your step
This update to our
neutral Speed Trainer
offers a lightweight
performance feel on
the P.O.P 1+ platform.
Now with a new
forefoot Flex Zone that
offers a custom fit and
greater forefoot splay.
Runners who have
evolved their gait to a
more midfoot and
forefoot focus will feel
like they have hit the
sweet spot jackpot with
the Distance IV. Efficient runners will enjoy
this pair as a regular
training shoe and as a
racing shoe. The Distance IV is a great choice for runners seeking a
shoe for short or mid-distance racing and weekly speed workouts.
46
OUTDOORUAE
Jobe OMNIA Board (4 sports in 1)

Price: 2995 AED | Now: 2395 AED
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors Across UAE

Not enough storage in your
boat to fit all your gear or
tired to drag those hefty skis
in and out every single day?
The Omnia is your all-in-one
solution! Ready to be used as
a kneeboard, ski, wakeskate/
board AND wakesurfer, this
lightweight board adds a
whole new dimension to
multi-functionality. Compression molded out of PU foam
and fiberglass, this family
focused board can be used
with great variety. Suited for
all skill levels.
4 sports in 1 board:
Lay
Stand
Kneel
Surf
T R&I E D
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The Wanderer Presents:
Words By: Keith Perea

Photos By: Jung Francisco
In 1961, Dion DiMucci recorded the song The Wanderer where

he states that he roams around,
around, around. I evoked that line
because thats how I feel about
walking its about roaming around
and taking the roads obviously
slower than inside a car or in the
Metro. To expound on it, Im a firm
believer that we get to see things
amazing things that we normally
wouldnt see while were using certain modes of transportation. Walking is, so to say the purest form of
exploration and all other types of
adventure stem from it.
When it comes to walking, shoes are highly

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

call as Bubble Camo. As I interchangeably
wore them (saying that both looks good is a
vast understatement), it immediately immersed me into the vast open sea, that frothy
expanse ripe for the taking of any explorer.
While these shoes are made for the sea and
the shore and would easily fit in at a beach or
boat party, they also lend their style perfectly
well with formal events, in the mall, even during the weekdays in the office! Theyre highly
casual, but I commend the Mocklite Driver IIs
for adding some panache to what I was wearing as it delicately struck the fine line between
casual and formal to create a shoe that is both
comfortable yet elegant all at the same time.
Technically speaking, both pairs share one
common characteristic Comfort. The soles
have an easy ride to them plus the construction of the soles makes sure that they dont
get scraped off a sad yet normal trait among
other driving shoes. Its extremely light and
if you wear them for the first time and feel
like theyre gone, dont worry its part of the
magic of Mocks, to feel easy and focus on the
more important things such as exploring an
entire world out there rather than complaining in fuss because your feet hurt. Another
amazing thing that I have to mention is that
the Mocklite Classic IIs cool your feet down so
that it doesnt smell. I was in Downtown Dubai
this morning and despite the first waves of
summer coming in, my feet didnt even break
a single tear of sweat with my pairs superior
cooling system. Given the chance Id even
consider it to be wizardry because its just so
amazing.
From Downtown, I ended up in what I consider to be the bohemian capital of Dubai and
what I consider to be my home away from
home Deira. The Creek is simply astounding
and my pair werent ones to shy up about it
as we walked beside the Creek, occasionally hopping onto yachts (with permission
from the owners of course); Going to and fro
into abras from Bur Dubai to Deira because
if I may say, the sea is the natural home of
these pairs. And to have them so close to the
waters of the Creek makes them feel more...
alive.
As I step on the jetty and take my leave
while the sun sets in the horizon. A photo
must be taken. As an artist with a strange
sense in fashion (thank you Wes Anderson!), I
cant help but sit along the rails of the Creek,
as I gaze upon the sun and raise my feet up to
unwind and ponder upon the larger scheme
of life. Oh, but Im taking the topic too far
and being too artsy. What I mean to say is,
Im very lucky that I wore these pairs with me
today as I set off from my house towards both
ends of the town. I have made a lot of walks
in my 22 years of existence in life and this one
with the Mocks easily falls into my long list of
memorable adventures.
Mocks are easily available in the UAE
for men, women and kids at Namshi,
Athletes Co, TAF and Stadium.
PRODUCTS
2015 Moomba Outback V
230,000 AED
Available at Brodie Boats 2GDA Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi

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

3,500 AED
Available at Brodie Boats 2GDA Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi

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

800 AED

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

+ Sky Controller
4,300 AED

Heavyweight technology combined with a featherweight design.
14 megapixel Full HD 1080p fisheye Camera and outstanding 3-axes image stabilization. Records videos and pictures in a
180 field with remarkable image quality. Built-in GPS for automatic return home and high altitude flight control. Piloted with
Freeflight 3, an ultra-intuitive free application
available on iOS, Android and Windows 8.1.
48
OUTDOORUAE
HD Video Resolution
(720P/30fps)
120 Wide Angle Lens
2.0 LCD Touch panel for
easy and convenient use
Up to 5 Megapixels image resolution
Waterproof housing for recording underwater up to 12M
X4 digital zoom
Up to 100 minutes of battery life
Automatic car recording just put your camera on the cars
dashboard and it will automatically record the road ahead!
Ultra compact size and light weight
Available at
Instagram: @almekshah
Facebook: www.facebook.com/almekshah
Mobile:+971 55 4005441
MX10-201
THE MX10 MILITARY HERITAGE, TIMELESS DESIGN

Tested By: Fergus Beeley
The MX10 is a Nite classic. Built

with the highest quality materials
including aviation grade stainless
steel, thick sapphire crystal as
well as a Swiss Ronda movement,
the MX10 is ready for any adventure. So what happens when you
wear your MX10 during one of the
United Kingdoms toughest
endurance events?
We asked MX10 owner Fergus Beeley to test

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

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

covered in mud or dirt
Yes. Descending from the summit of Corn Du,
on the last and final stage of the race, I fell to
the ground. I was exhausted and tired and lost
my footing. Stumbling to the ground at speed
my arms and legs hit the rocks. The added
weight of the Bergen rucksack put even more
pressure on my body for the fall. I gathered
myself together, got up and continued running, but not before checking that my MX10
was still on my wrist and working well. It was.
Did you do any climbing or similar activities
No, not during this event although I enjoyed
riding the Cresta Run in St Moritz and kept my
own toboggan out there.
Were you able to easily read the time
Yes, I was able to easily read the time. During training there were afternoons when the
afternoon light was closing quickly. I was able
to continue reading the time confidently.
Was the watch comfortable
Yes, the watch was very comfortable to wear.
Did you need to use the gtls illumination
No
Did you damage your watch in any way
Yes, I would say that the pin securing the strap
to the watch was the only weakness. I lost my
watch on a training session and with hindsight
(for various reasons) think that though it was
still entirely my own fault, the watch could
have come off because the pin was forced
out either by my glove being removed or the
rucksack sliding down my arm to be removed.
Was the glass scratched or broken
No
Was the watch suitable for the activity
Yes, very much so.
What was the most extreme thing
that you and your watch had
to endure during the event
The fall, as described earlier.
RATING
COMFORT
10/10
DURABILITY
8/10 (it would have gained

10/10 if I had not got a concern
about the strength of the pin!)
RELIABILITY
10/10
ILLUMINATION
10/10
APPEARANCE
10/10
DESIRABILITY
10/10
PRODUCTS
Silver Ridge Long Sleeve Shirt
Zero Rules Short Sleeve Shirt
Available at COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR: Mall of the Emirates;

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

Dubai Mall, Mirdiff City Centre; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi;
Bahrain City Centre; Granada Centre, Riyadh, KSA; Doha city
Centre, Qatar; Red Sea Mall, Jeddah KSA
Whats this long-sleeve shirt have that others do not? Its got
fold-out cuffs and a collar that offer even more protection from
the sun. Its performance sportswear masquerading as a buttonup, long-sleeved, collared shirt. Shhhhh.
A super-cooling tech tee with stretch and sun protection, this

soft and lightweight mens shirt sports our industry-leading
cooling technology, which reacts with your sweat to lower the
materials temperature and keep you cool during dynamic
aerobic activity in the heat.
Boost Tube
Jobe Bamboo SUP
195 AED
975 AED/QAR
106 OMR
Available at GO Sport stores at Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and

Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in the UAE; Villaggio Mall and City Centre
Doha in Qatar; and Muscat Grand Mall in Oman
The Boost Tube is perfect for lake cruisers and adrenaline junkies alike. The Boost tube employs HO Sports all new tapered
cronut design. This croissant + donut inspired shape allows
for better vision and back support while riding seated or laying
down. Get wild with multi-directional towing options for added
fun. 4 no-show nylon webbing covered foam handles on this
tube make it easy to hold on, whether you are lying on the tube,
or sitting with your feet up! Enjoy the ride! This durably built
nylon covered tube has a PVC bladder, dual HO quick-connect
tow attachments points and Boston Valves for quick and easy
inflation/deflation. Tube is 54 (137.16cm) in diameter inflated,
requires a 2K (907.2kg) tow rope, has a 170lbs (77.10kg) maximum weight capacity.
50
OUTDOORUAE
110 AED
SUP in style
Price: 4,995 AED | Now: 3,995 AED
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors Across UAE
SUP in style
This all-around SUP stands 10.6
ft tall and comes in at 32 by 5
wide. Its made from ultra durable,
yet lightweight EPS foam, so its
substantial girth doesnt translate
to its weight at all. The bottom
shape, outline and rocker line of
this SUP makes it very versatile.
You can catch your first waves or
have a smooth ride on flat water.
Its featherweight status is also
because of its bamboo layered
construction. Perfect for any
beginner and enough challenge
for an advanced rider... Totally
righteous.
PARAKITO, natural mosquito

solution, for anyone at any time
Thanks to special essential oils
blends, all the products patented
formulas make PARAKITO an
efficient solution to get naturally
protected from mosquitoes. These
essential oils intergrated in pellets
or as a gel in the roll-on, act as a
natural repellent and make body
smell hard to be detected by the
biting insects.
The pellet protects all family members in
any situation
The PARAKITO pellet is integrated with
a blend of seven essential oils extracted
from plants, carefully selected all over the
world. Inserted in a band or a clip, (each
accessory is sold with two pellets) it naturally
protects you from mosquitoes for 15 days.
This solution and its patented technology
allows a constant diffusion of the formula
throughout 15 days, fits any activity and
can be worn by all family members. Theres
nothing simpler or easier.
As the formula is chemical-free and the
pellet doesnt come in contact with the skin,
its suitable for everybody, including pregnant women, young children or individuals
susceptible to skin allergies and irritations.
The pellet is even waterproof so no need
to take off the band when you go swimming, canyoning, canoeing or practicing any
watersport!
The bands are adjustable and can be worn
directly on your wrist or ankle. Clips can
be attached to a belt, bag or even stroller.
All the accessories have been created in
a range of colors and designs that makes
them all unique and the perfect match to
your outfit!
PARAKITO didnt forget the younger
ones and their tiny wrists and ankles. They
now have their own bands! With three designs inspired from the sea world, they are
shorter, especially adapted to children ages
3-7 and come with an identification label on
which parents can write their phone number
in case of emergency.
The roll-on gel has got you covered in
infested areas!
The PARAKITO mosquito protection gel
has been formulated for infested areas. It is
delivered in a roll-on, enabling fast and precise application, without spreading! It also
gives you the possibility to adjust the lines in
number and length according to infestation
level and your sensitivity.
Its efficacy was tested up to five hours in a
laboratory against the Tiger Mosquito
(Aedes albopictus). Dermatologically tested
as well, the PARAKITO mosquito
protection gel is your best ally in infested

areas.
All PARAKITO products are easy and
risk-free to use but their efficacy has also
been proved by tests in different laboratories or in natural environment in different
climates and conditions in USA, Europe,
Africa and Australia.
Effective, economical, easy to use, natural,
universal, innovative THE solution to be
protected from mosquitoes!
The PARAKITO brand is distributed
in more than 30 countries in the world
in Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and
Central America. Number one natural mosquito protection in France and
Spain, the refillable bands and clips of
PARAKITO have been a great success since 2008, thanks to a very specific
equation: natural ingredients, a patented
technology, original designs and all that
in a product that is very easy to use.
n e20w
15!
for
Fishing Kayak: ABACO 3.60 TORQUEEDO (with electrical engine)

13,500 AED
Available at SeaYou in Al Quoz Two behind Times Square. Visit www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 for more information.
This kayak made in France has been designed by fishermen and official fishing guides. For 2015, RTM surprises us by adding an electrical engine at the back. The ABACO 3.60 Torqueedo is the must-have kayak for the fisher that wants to go farther in total security. Light,
fast and silent, the engine is easy to use thanks to its adjustable footbraces with rudder control. Light (only 7kg), fast and silent, the
engine is easy to use thanks to its adjustable footbraces with rudder control and its waterproof battery, it can speed up to 10km/h.
AHD Hydrofoil AFS-1
Inflatable SUP: SUPR 10 RWP
Available at SeaYou shop in Al Quoz Two behind Times Square.

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

Square. Visit www.seayou.ae or call 04 420 6100 for more
information
15,000 AED
The AFS-1 board is a great news for all the windsurfers in UAE
as this progressive concept with its 112L volume allows rising
quickly onto a plane in light wind conditions.
When flying, there is very little pull from the rig into the arms.
Concentration, anticipation and balance between both feet
positions are the keys to exhilaration.
52
OUTDOORUAE
2,745 AED
This inflatable SUP boards are designed by Chris, a French

surfer and sea lover whose company is set up in the south
of France. We love the design and especially the price!
It includes a bag, pump and fixing kit. A large range is
available in hard board or inflatable. Race boards are also
available.
OUR EXPERTS
LOCATION MINI GUIDE:
Kayaking at Snoopy Island

Words By: Ian Ganderton
Snoopy Island is a perfect

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

using a leash.
If the island area and its beaches are too
busy for your taste (quite likely on weekend
afternoons) head to the stonier beach to
the south and instead explore the rocky bay
formed by the little premonitory and maybe
go on a two kilometre mini expedition to the

island and back.
Start / Finish
Snoopy Island 25 29.536N56 21.840E

Sandy Beach Vehicle Access 25
29.770N56 21.652E
Beware of the soft sand here; even 4x4s can
easily get stuck.
Considerations
Look at a map and you will see that the East

Coast is exposed to a huge body of water
when compared to the Arabian Gulf on our
West. This leaves the potential for weather
and sea conditions to be very different. Be
particularly careful of potential surf conditions.
Bear in mind that the wind always picks up
as the day goes on (heat generated weather
conditions) so I always recommend an early
start as paddling on calm water is quite
special. Be extremely cautious when winds
are offshore.
Wear a PFD. Respect other water craft.
Paddle within your abilities and experience.
Paddling in small groups is the safest. Tell
someone where you are going and let them
know when you are back.
OUTDOORUAE
53
QATAR EXPLORER
A great way to spend time outdoor & keep active!

Words By: Eulogy van Dyk
Photos By: QSUP
The summer heat is slowly

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

have your bread buttered on both sides
this summer!
We recently spent some time with the
QSUP community here in Doha, which is
Qatars first SUP school since 2012, to find
out more about the sport and the different
activities they offer. If you thought you can
only stand up and paddle on a SUP board,
think twice theres much more to it than
that.
Why to SUP in Qatar?
Whether you are serious about competing

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

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

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

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

in most of the Middle East countries, is
during the winter season from November
to February. You will then also be able to
experience and see the flamingos at their
migrating spot! However there is still plenty
of time from March to June to get out in
QSUP kids workshop
the water and stay active. It always boils

down to how you dress (for protection from
the sun), the time of day you go out and
ensuring you have enough water with you.
Plan accordingly and you will be able to go
out almost all year round. Generally during
July and August the activities becomes a
bit less.
As with most watersports it is important
to check the weather forecast when planning to go out for a paddle because you really dont want Qatars special shamal winds
(north wind) to surprise you along the way!
In the words of Melinda Behumi, founder
and owner of QSUP, I believe SUP is a
sport that helps you get fit and stay fit by
becoming a stronger paddler and definitely
it contributes to living a healthy & balanced
lifestyle! It is also very important for us to
learn about water safety and ocean conservation while we explore and connect with
the fantastic nature all around the world we
live in.
SUP is a non-intrusive sport where you
can see things up close and personal that
you will not be able to see from a boat or
personal water craft and it is also ecofriendly!
Qatar is not just a desert, it actually has
amazing sea and marine life to explore
which you wont expect to find here! There
are beautiful mangrove areas with many
bird species during the winter seasons.
Come see it and appreciate it!
For more information about SUP in Qatar
visit www.qsup.me
OUTDOORUAE
55
OUR EXPERTS
Adventure Riding
at Its Best
Words By: John Basson
With the recce ride completed,

it was time to take the big bikes
out for some adventure riding. Even
though the route was now known to
me, the difference in the handling
and riding style of an off-road bike
- like the one I used for the recce
ride versus my 800GS is such that
it would almost be like riding a new/
unknown route. Humps and bumps
that seemed insignificant on the
Honda, might just catch you off
guard on the GS!
We were initially eight riders that confirmed
for the ride, but with a very active implementation of Murphys Law only four crossed the
border into Oman. Ewert on his 650 Dakar,
Edwin and Dominic both on KTM 990s and
me on my 800GS crossed the Hafeet border
crossing at about 7:00 a.m. As we had lost
some time at the border with one of the riders, who had to return due to bike problems,
we only started the off-road section at Dank.
The off-road section from Dank to Ibri is easy
to navigate as you just follow the power lines
that run all the way to Ibri. However beware
of getting too comfortable on the straights
as regular erosion ruts, that cross the road,
catches you off-guard and the adventure
bikes dont stop on a dime if youre are doing
100km/h on a gravel road!
Once we reached Ibri, it was time for coffee, snacks and refuelling before we tackled
the 130km off-road stretch to Nathi. As I

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

Ibri, then Al Ain.
With lunch behind us it was time to attempt
the road back home. I say attempt because
by the time lunch was over the wind was
probably 50kmh or more. We have all been
riding for more than twenty years, but no
one has ever ridden in conditions like that. I
attempted to capture the wind and sand on
camera, but trust me; the photos dont do
justice to the conditions. The wind was perpendicular to the road for the whole section
till we reached Ibri. From the leaning against
the wind and trying to keep the bikes, and
our heads, straight I had a spasm in my neck
by the time we reached Ibri. Luckily from Ibri
to Al Ain the wind was almost on the nose
and a lot more pleasant (if pleasant is the right
word) than the first section.
The day ended at around 1700h for Ewert
and myself with almost 600km of riding.
Dominic and Edwin however still had 150km
to go to Abu Dhabi. Just to crown their
journey they ended up in a cloud break only
five minutes before reaching home. They thus
ended their day with 932km of riding, and
totally drenched! That is why they are called
Adventure Bikes, and we love riding them!!!
Remember that we only have two or three
more weeks of fair weather then these big
bikes go into storage so go out there and ride
them!
Ride Safe and Go for Gold
Regards,
JB
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OUR EXPERTS
Saltwater
ultralight
spinning
Words By: Kit Belen
In recent years, technology has grown

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

anglers preference and pocket depth. For
anglers, such as myself, that is very budget
conscious; there are rods from Abu Garcia
and Berkley that fit the bill well. My choice
is almost always a rod with a rating of
8-17lb. (4-10kg) with a minimum length of
7 feet (213cm) if I can get a longer one, I
would. The perfect length for me would be
around 9-10 feet (274-304cm). Although
you will find rods of this length, they are
almost always Japanese Domestic Market
models (JDM) and are mostly expensive. If
you can afford these rods, I highly recommend them because they will take off a
lot of limitations (such as casting distance,
better backbone power, sensitivity, etc). Of
the few rods I use, my favourite is a 9-foot
(274cm) Majorcraft Solpara Seabass series
rod, about 500AED in Barracuda Dubai.
Of course there are times when a shorter
58
OUTDOORUAE
Short rods are good when you dont need to cast far for fish
Shallow water and decent fish - tough
sitution for big lures and heavy line
Nice fish like this one will happily eat a small soft plastic
rod is best and that is when Im fishing in a

place where I dont really need to cast that
far to get to fish or when Im on a kayak or
boat, in which case a more traditional (short)
ultralight rod is used.
Reels
Spinning reels were initially invented because there was a need to cast small and
light lures - I believe, we are in the Golden
Age of Spinning reels right now.
People skip all the headaches and use
spinning reels for this purpose, most are
priced reasonably and are very easy to use
- for this type of fishing, you are looking at
reels within the 1000 to 3500 sizes.
Daiwa Aird 2500SH - a very affordable

reel loaded with top end features
(Shimano and Penn sizing) with 2500 and

3000 being the norm.
Depending on which size of line you want
to use, these reels typically hold about 300
meters of braided line (or PE line if you
want to go the Japanese sizing system).
You dont have to go overboard - you
want a reel that would be able to take the
punishment of table sized fish - realistically,
nothing over 5kgs. Spending on an expensive reel is a matter of choice. I use a Daiwa
Aird 2500SH, it has 9 ball bearings, a light
composite body and a large capacity extra
spool - All those features for under 300AED
(and if you dont mind the funky colour
scheme!)
Linebraid is the line choice of the modern era in most situations. It gives you a
thinner diameter line that enables you to
cast small, light lures farther than you would
with monofilament. Braid is also three times
stronger than its equivalent mono diameter. Which means braid that has a breaking strain of 10lb (5kg) would be the same
diameter as 3lb (1.5kg) mono. Braid also
over tests, 10lb (5kg) braid would beak at
about 15-16lbs (7.5-8kg). Braid has very little stretch, which helps keep you in contact
with your lure even if you are dealing with
long casts. Paired with a very sensitive rod,
you could almost feel the fish breathe on
your lure before it strikes! Braid makes your
diving lures dive deeper because it has less

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

in on or close to the bottom. Their tails
move on their own and just as long as its
moving fish will bite. There are some brands
with scents in them (like the Berkley Gulp!
baits) that have fish attracting enzymes,
even if you dont move these things, they
can catch fish - It is that easy! Jig heads of
3-5 grams with plastic bodies will catch fish
in almost any fishing condition/situation.
When distance is a factor, small metal jigs are the ticket
Leaders
Nylon is in most cases good enough.

Although a lot of people use fluorocarbon
leaders nowadays, I dont really use a lot of
it unless I am fishing for tuna. As fishing is
mostly personal preference, if you feel that
your chances are higher if you use fluorocarbon, go ahead and use it, it will most likely
make you fish with more confidence and will
have your lure in the water more as a result
and if the lure is in the water, you are always
in for chance at a fish.
LuresIn my opinion, you spend most of
your money on lures in the long run, than
you do with your rod and reel. I label lures
consumables. You cant have just one,
you cant use them forever, you lose them
even if you take good care of them, one
way or another, they get banged up and will
eventually need to be replacedand you
need more than one colour for a specific
one, two or more if the lure is that good.
There are a ton of lures in the market
available to confuse the angler, you could
easily get lost with the choices even in the
smallest of tackle shops. To make the choice
easier lets break them down to the 3 types I
use most often:
Small jigheads for the soft plastics
Small swimming Jigs - these are chunks of

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

few plugs with me, just in case the need arises
A selection of soft plastics that covers a lot of conditions
Soft plastics - These are made of gummy

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

made of plastic or wood with lips and
armed with treble hooks. Again, very easy
to use; cast out and reel in. These lures are
great, but I dont really like using them that
much because of the treble hooks and they
take up a lot of space. If I do use them, I
like the small stick baits and poppers - when
fishing for fish like Gold Spot Trevally or
Golden Trivially, the explosion they create
when chasing after these top water lures are

more than enough to get you addicted to
them.
You might have noticed that I didnt
mention anything about lure colours, this is
because I believe that any coloured lure will
catch fish because of movement rather than
anything else. Fish feel whats around them
by feeling vibrations in the water with their
lateral line, and only switch to visuals when
they are very close by. In muddy water, they
dont even see your lures! In my opinion,
colour selection is a personal preference
and that the more you like the colour, the
more you fish with it. If by chance you are
standing in front of a row of lures and are
confused of what to buy, or what to stock
up on, get the ones that look natural, or
ones that attract you the most. I like using
whites, pinks in clear water and dark colours
like black and brown in stained or muddy
water.
This type of fishing is not for everyone;
the expense alone on mid end gear will set
you back about 1000AED. But the fun and
challenge it gives you is something you
dont outgrow till you get old and grey. It
is very applicable in the UAE and when do
you go with this type of fishing, you end
up packing a little less because everything
is scaled down. Add a small bag to hold a
small box of lures and leaders and you set
yourself up as a very mobile and flexible
fishing unit. Smaller lures and lighter gear
doesnt really mean smaller fish - Elephants
eat peanuts as they say. Think about it this
way - instead of feeding the fish a meal, you
are feeding them snacks, and we all know
you eat more snacks than you do with full
meals.
Till next tide change,
Kit
Our fishing pro who shares
his experiences and erpertise with OutdoorUAE
through his regular column.
[email protected]
OUTDOORUAE
59
PEOPLE
Ali Mohammed
Yousuf Al Lanjawi
Occupation: Senior Supervisor, DEWA
Nationality: Emirati
Age: 34
Words By: Keith Perea
Photos By: Supplied
Amidst the heat of summer

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

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

handle the WaveRunner so that it is in the
same speed as the waves. Waves are more
of handling than of speed, so to prepare for
both situations we train in both calm waters
and in wavy waters.
Is the UAE a great place to go jet skiing?
The UAE is a perfect place to go jet skiing.
The jet skiing community is highly active with
six races during the season. The standards
are also very much up to par with international standards; its like a world-class racing
experience here in the UAE, plus there are a
lot of champions inside the country.
What do you love most about the sport?
I love the adrenaline, the exhilarating feeling
and the speed. The craziness [laughs] I can
take it out in the water, not on the road
much safer.
Are there any challenges that you have
encountered before?
Sometimes, when Im not fit, because I didnt
have time to train because Im also working
and I have family. There are even times when
I dont even have a month to train and when
the race time comes Im not ready and when
Im in the water Im not fit enough.
What would be your most
memorable race?
I think it is when I am with a lot of champion
racers. It presents a really nice challenge and
when I win in those, I feel genuinely happy
because of the heightened sense of competition present.
What would you say to all the people
that you have inspired?
Id like to promise them that I will be better
than I am now. I will show them more than
what I consider to be my best now and I wish
there would be more racers coming from
Dubai and the other emirates.
Al Yousuf Motors sponsored Ali
Mohammed Yousuf Al Lanjawi during
the whole season with the powerful
unit Yamaha FZS.
LOCATIONS
Persian volcanoes
Mount Damavand
At 5671m, Damavand is the

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

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

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

Iranian way of life and is even featured on
the national currency. The peak is located
only 66kms northeast of Tehran and plays a
significant role in many Persian myths. It is
the symbol of Iranian resistance against evil

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

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

this respect it is easier. As always care and
a gradual schedule for acclimatization is
appropriate but with this approach, most
hikers should be able to summit and take
home some memorable experiences on a
high altitude mountain.
Around the mountain, the villages have
been developed to cater to tourists,
although still basic which is a good thing.
At the village of Polur to the south of the
mountain, the Iranian Mountain Federation
have established a camp. The most popular
route to the summit is the Southern Route
which has some steep steps and a camp
midway at 4220m called Bargah Sevom.
How to prepare yourself
The Damavand climbing season in summer starts from the middle of June and can
last to mid-September. The best time is
in July and August. During this period the
footpaths are generally free of snow and
the weather is usually stable. The climb to
the summit of Damavand in summer is not
technically difficult but physically it can be
challenging unless you have followed a
pre-expedition training schedule. See the
coming months for exercises that can be
used to strengthen your hiking muscles.
The main challenge of the climb is allowing
your body to adjust to the higher altitudes.
To raise the chance of success and lower
the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS),
it is best to allow extra days in the overall

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

A circumnavigation of Oman
Conclusion
Words By: Clive Delves

Photos By: Clive Delves, Elisna and Lawrence Vincent-Edwards
Day Six - 26/11/2014 - Ad-hoc

Desert camp to Desert camp Distance covered - 174kms
After reaching the next sabkha, helped by the

early morning dew, we turned back to Qitbit
in a roundabout way, en route we fell upon
another green and fertile oasis [N19.13975
E54.20783] and also happened upon a
group of 10 4WDs driven by Omanis in what
seems to be the middle of nowhere, they had
gathered there and corralled their vehicles
into what may have been a circle for celebration and seemed to be having a great time
of it.
We tried our luck with the checkpoint,
which was laid on the sand-track that would
take us directly to OE51, and as we explained
our situation, they reacted positively to our
planned route but politely told us for our
own safety, since some tourists were lost a
while back, the policy is to not allow anyone
through without an Omani guide. By the
way, the younger policeman said, I saw you
yesterday at the Oasis, yes?It turned out that
he was the driver of the patrol car, the day
before.
Further route changes were called for and
our new path would take us OP again across
gravely sandy sabkha, passing some interesting geological features, including geodes,
which are round ball shape formations which
held a lining of crystal on the inside, and on
to the track heading towards the lost city of
Ubar which is also the start of the YOS route
64
OUTDOORUAE
in Mikes book.
During this leg we gained a third puncture
from the dried, spiky and tough vegetation
that hung on to life in these remote desert
areas. Even so, we celebrated our fifth night
under the stars with a warm camp shower in
the late afternoon sun, and the luxury of a
double chocolate TimTam biscuit, in an area
of pillow rocks and large trees.
Day Seven - 27/11/2014 - Desert

Camp to YOS track - Distance
covered - 322kms
Arriving at Ubar around midday, it is a hive of

activity. We saw several municipality workers
in their bright orange overalls busy at work,
and it seemed that the place is being given a
facelift. We refilled and refuelled and then set
off down the YOS route towards the confluence of the Yemen-Oman border.
We planned not to venture farther than
YOS13 given the disputed border lines and
after going OP, tearing along kilometre after
kilometre of hard sand and gravel sabkha
many kilometres wide, surrounded by huge
versions of the starfish dunes at the start of
our journey, we popped out between the
dunes fingers at YOS13 and head south
towards the Omani border town of Mazyouna
along unused red flowing sand tracks.
Just before YOS13 we had come across a
solitary Nissan Patrol with five Omani men trying to get it unstuck with no tools or recovery
equipment to hand, just their bodies with
which to push and shove and free the vehicle.
They managed to do it just as we arrived on
the scene, then out of the blue there appears
an Omani farmer in his Land Cruiser pickup
with crazy hair and frightening teeth, and a
questioning gesture. He was probably asking
why, why are you here? I doubt the sight of
three foreigners and one a woman, so near to
his home and the Yemeni border is that regular an occurrence for him. And just as quickly
as he had appeared, he disappears.
Day Eight - 28/11/2014 - YOS track

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

and which linked Hasik to Shuwaymiah for the
first time.
Time was pressing and covering distance
was the name of the game, and after the monotony but quietness of the tarmac surface,
another overnight camp by the beach this
night at Lakby, was interrupted by the visit of
some locals who were interested in who we
were and where we had come from.
Day Twelve - 02/12/2014 Lakby to Wahiba Sands - Distance

covered - 624kms
enough to hold the rack until we arrived in

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

- Distance covered - 127kms
In contrast to the last nine days, Salalah beautiful at any time of the year. It was like a pearl
in the oyster to us. After overnight camping,
dusty tracks and wind-blown sandy plains,
we relished the chance for a hot shower and
air conditioning, and took the opportunity
to wash clothes and to pamper ourselves
over the next two days with some good food
and the much anticipated ice cold in Salalah
drinks, which had become a milestone target
for us.
Day Eleven - 01/12/2014 Salalah to Lakby - Distance

covered - 455kms
With roof rack repairs sorted, vehicle and drivers washed and refreshed we set off on the
return leg north up the coast road. This took
us through the final section of the remarkable feat of engineering that was the recently
opened road across the mouth of several high
More kilometres of tarmac, but by 3:00 p.m.

we entered the Wahiba sands where the local
farmers have created a small village of shacks
and sheds built out of what appears to us to
have been things blown ashore by the winds
coming off the coastline only a few metres
away.
30kms into the Wahiba track we are
stopped by a 4WD full of Omanis, one of
whom jumps out and very agitatedly demanded water and chips. I hand over some
water but had no chips, despite his insistence.
He quickly made his way to team VEs vehicle
with similar demands, but again he would be
out of luck for chips.
Team VE sniffed out a campsite avoiding
the chance of being disturbed by interested
locals for a second time, and we settled down
for another night under the stars.
Day Thirteen - 03/12/2014 Wahiba to Yiti - Distance

covered - 405kms
Continuing our path through the Wahiba, we

set a steady pace. The fact that the area looks
so green only a few months after the summer
means that the place would most likely be
a veritable garden by the end of the winter
months. That would be a great reason to repeat the Wahiba track. Our planned route of
135kms meant we surpassed the 1001 Nights
camp. We then went into Al Mintrib for a
refuel and refill, and it was now time to rejoin
the coastal road, which we did by heading
into Sur and following the Muscat road.
One more overnight camp remaining and
we planned to head for the As Sifah/Yiti area,
a track through a dry wadi was used and we
arrived at Yiti in the late afternoon, and found
a small enclosed beach at the bottom of a
steep slope which was ideal for the last night
camp.
Day Fourteen - 04/12/2014 Yiti to Home - Distance

covered - 343kms
The final day and the drive from Yiti on the

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

an end, in a similar way, we also hoped that
the drive we had completed would not be
changed beyond reason. So that others can
experience what we have, to succeed in their
own small way and to be able to just get out
there into real nature and see for themselves
what The Real Oman has to offer.
Drive statistics
Total distance driven in Oman = 4164kms

Total off-road distance driven in Oman = 1944kms
Average speed off-road = 53kms
Slowest pace off-road = 274m in 2hrs
Fastest pace off-road = 102kms between OE10 and Yibal
Number of stucks = Lost count
Credits and appreciation
Big thanks to Mike Nott for his initiative,

Lawrence and Elisna Vincent-Edwards for
their team work, navigation assistance and
their undaunting enthusiasm, Martin Wennerby and Anthony Bolton for the loan of
equipment, Ian Huggins, Norman MacKenzie
and Cheryl Lyou for offering backup support. Clives trusty old Pajero is serviced,
maintained and modified by Bejoy at Auto
Dynamics, SHJ.
LOCATIONS
Get outdoors in the UAE

Hiking A series of articles to help you start or gain progress your hiking in the UAE
Navigating without a compass

Navigation should be easy. In fact

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

is to remain calm and assess the situation.
Try to remember where you have come from
and the type of terrain that you have been
hiking across. If you are near a high point it
would be a good idea to climb it to have a
good look around.
The next step is to picture in your mind
your intended route, where you have been
Hiking around the amazing Hatta Dam
Trees grows thicker on the south side of trees.
and where you wanted to go. You can even

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

lot of time and is the most complicated here.
Its good fun to practise in the back garden
or at a camp. Take a stick such as a hiking

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

it does, place your other little stick at the
spot where the shadow ends. If you havent
got a string, you could use a pole that has
the right length, or try to come up with some
other improvised solution. Just make sure
what you draw is a circle.
Now, the line from the first stick to the
second is west-east, like on the figure. Actually, you may want to mark points regularly,
because any two points that have exactly the
same distance from the base of the pole will
give the West-East line.
Use the North Star

to Find True North
In the northern hemisphere, the Big Dipper

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

You can download the GPS files from our website www.outdooruae.com in the downloads section
Two Sticks at
Night Method
At night another method using stars and

two sticks can be used. Place a stick in the
ground so that it stands vertically. Place a
second taller stick just beyond the first stick.
Crouch down behind the first stick and look
along the line created by the tops of the two
sticks, and then finally to a star in the night
sky. Pick one particular star and watch it.
If the star moves up, you are facing east;
if it moves down, you are facing west; if it
moves right, you are facing south; if it moves
left, you are facing north.
the shorter one and the 12 numeral. The

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

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

use the time to find north. We know the sun
rises in the east, sets in the west and is due
south at local noon if you are in the northern
hemisphere.
Take your watch off and hold your watch
out level in front of you. Point the hour hand,
normally the shorter one, directly at the sun.
If your watch is set to true local time, bisect
the angle between the hour hand, normally
Fish and dolphins often give indications of the location of land particularly far out to sea.
Use the watch hands to find south.
The Moon
We see the moon because it reflects the

suns light. This means its bright side will
always be pointing to the direction of
the sun. This is either approximately east
or west. When the moon is in a crescent
method we therefore know that the line that
joins the horns of a crescent moon together
OUTDOORUAE
67
is at right-angles to this east/west line. Any

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

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

And in areas where there is snow, the
snow will melt faster on south facing slopes
leaving them barer.
Animals
Animals can also give clues as to direction.

Ants like to build their nests on the south
side of trees.
At sea birds in particular are valuable aid
in working out direction and the proximity of
land. The annual and daily patterns of bird
flight, combined with the habits of marine
life like whales and dolphins offer valuable
help to those who look for these clues. Birds

will often fly towards land in the evening.
The wind
One of the first things to do on arriving in

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

keep you on track. If there are low, fluffy,
cumuli clouds in the sky at the start of your
hike check which way they are moving.
Generally at this level they wont change
direction over the course of a day so keep
yourself in the same orientation. The direction of the clouds in the sky is different to
the wind you will feel at ground level. This is
a phenomenon known as backing in the
northern hemisphere whereby the wind turns
left, sometimes by as much as 50 degrees
when it contacts the ground.
Sand dunes form at 90 degrees to the prevailing wind.
Quick checklist route planning
Start point
244743.41N56 631.90E
Off-road driving required?
No
Distance and time from Mirdif to start
111km 85min
Navigation on hike
Very easy route finding on wide gravel tracks
Time required for hike
1 - 2 hours
Distance
4.6km
Elevation gain on hike
94m
High point
432m
Grocery / water on hike
No
Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail?
Yes
Suitable for all the family?
Yes
68
OUTDOORUAE
A hike for May
This hike takes you to the beautiful area

around Hatta and one of the dams. Hiking
near water is amazing and this trail is easy
to follow and can be extended and time
spent around the lakes or exploring adjacent
wadis. This is a great introduction to hiking
and this area.
If you are not confident going or
starting hikes alone or you just want to
have an expert or a group of nice people with you, OutdoorArabia is offering
hikes lead by our expert Sean James.
outdoorarabia.com/regional-trips
Ski Fitness
Words By: Mark Poolan
Photos By: Jung Francisco
SKI Fitness is becoming more and

more popular around the globe, specifically throughout the UAE.
Skiing is extremely demanding on the

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

functional exercises correctly, this will improve your performance, reduce the risk of
injury and maximize your time on the slopes.
Each exercise is specifically designed to
mimic the movement patterns in skiing in
order to condition your body to be ready for
the slopes. The main muscles used
during a typical day on the slopes are: Erector Spinae, Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads and
your Core Stabilizing Muscles.
Exercise 3: Multi level box jumps

Exercise 1: Ski Squat
Start standing upright with both your feet

together. Initiate the movement from the
hips and drop down with your bum ensuring your weight is kept through the heels
and your knees dont go past your toes. Go
as deep as possible ensure good form is
kept throughout and return to the starting
position pushing through your heels. In this
exercise it is important to keep a neutral
spine and keep your head and chest in an
upright position.
Exercise 4: Explosive Squat Jumps
Start standing upright with both your feet

shoulder width apart. In this exercise we are
going to perform three mini squats then explode up into a jump as high as you can. To
perform this exercise, perform three squats
but only focus on the first 45 degrees of the
squat. Once three mini squats have been
performed, drop into a deep squat and explode up into a jump trying to maximise the
time you spend in the air. It is important that
once you land, you land with bent legs to
cushion. Repeat this process once a secure
landing has been made.
Exercise 7: Swiss Ball Jacknife
To get onto the Swiss ball, start behind the

ball, place your mid-section on the ball and
roll forward until your hand reaches the
floor. Walk out with your hands until the
ball is placed on your shin or underneath
your ankle. Also have your hands shoulder
width apart. To perform the exercise, keep
your core muscles nice and tight, bend
your knees and roll the ball up towards your
torso then return to the starting position. It
is important that you keep the movement
smooth and do not drop your hips or raise
your lower back.
Exercise 2: BOSU Lateral Shuffle
Start with the soft part of the BOSU facing

up with one leg on the BOSU and one leg
off the BOSU on the floor. With both legs in
a powerful movement, transfer to the same
position on the opposite side of the BOSU.
Start off slow and ensure that good balance
and coordination is kept throughout the
exercise.
Exercise 5: Kettlebell
Stiff-Legged Deadlift
Start with a slight bend in the legs with your

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

each other. Start with one leg on the raised
step box and one leg on the floor. With
explosive power from your legs, propel your
body from one box to the other. Make sure
both feet leave the box and the floor at the
same time and land on the box and floor at
the same time to ensure balance throughout
the exercise.
Exercise 6: Isometric Wall Squat
Stand with your back against a wall and

lower the body down so that there is a 90
degree torso/hip/knee alignment. Once
this position has been achieved, hold this
position as long as possible. Remember to
always keep your weight through the heels
and not your toes. This type of exercise is
called isometric exercise in which the joint
angle and muscle
length do not change.
This type of exercise
is a great way to train
to increase muscular
strength.
MARK POOLAN
Fitness Manager
Fitness First Al Manzil
OUTDOORUAE
69
TIPS & TRICKS
Sea kayak skills

The forward paddling stroke
Words By: Steven Bennett
There are many skills a sea

paddler will use during a typical trip,
and whether you are a recreational
paddler or a committed, hardcore
sea kayaking junkie, the most
important skill to learn is effective
forward paddling. You will be
spending 99% of your time doing
this and a good, effective technique
will allow you to paddle for hour
after hour.
It starts with your kayak. Correct posture
is important, so sit with your feet against the
footrests, your knees braced into the deck
of the boat next to the cockpit with your
backside comfortable in the seat. Sit slightly
forward with your back supported by the
back rest. You do not want to be too tight
as this will restrict movement so adjust the
footrests or backrest to suit. With your feet
against the footrests you should be able to
lower your knees and straighten your legs.
With sit-on-tops, obviously you cannot brace
your knees in the same way but the principle
is basically the same. A backrest with sit-ontops is especially important.
Next, you need to hold the paddle in the
correct manner. Most kayak paddles have
feathered blades which means the two
blades will be set at an angle to each other.
The reason for this is that as the lower blade
is in the water, the upper blade is slicing
through the air making your job easier.
Hold the paddle with your hands just
slightly over shoulder width apart and an
equal distance between each hand and the
blades. Paddles can be either left or righthanded and depending on which is your
orientation. This hand will be your controlling
hand. This hand provides the control to set
the paddle for whatever stroke you intend to
use. The knuckles of your controlling hand
should be in line with the blade on that
side and should not move in relation to that
blade. The other hand holds on loosely but
firmly.
Kayak forward paddling is a rotational action that theoretically doesnt have a start or
finish however, it can be broken down in this
way. Catch. Power. Follow through.
Fig 3. Catch
Fig 2. The knuckles of the controlling

hand (right hand in this case) in line
with the blade on that side.
Fig 1. The correct hand position on the paddles.
Catch. With your controlling hand forward

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

rotation to provide power. Top arm does not
cross the centre line of the boat.
Remember, with a smooth, rhythmic action
you can paddle for hours on end.
One point to note: this technique is for
use with conventional kayak paddles. For
wing paddles, the technique is very different. Wing paddles are used by competition
paddlers and surf skiers and are rarely used
by sea kayakers.
Happy paddling.
Fig 6. Looking from above. At the end of the stroke notice
how the top arm does not cross the centre line of the kayak.
Follow through. The trunk is now fully

rotated with the blade exiting the water just
behind the cockpit. At this point the upper
arm at full extension will drop slightly and
during the entire stroke the top arm does
not cross the centre line of the kayak. The
only time it does is for turning or correction
strokes. Upon leaving the water, the blade
will be raised with the hand coming up level
with the shoulder, at the same time your
controlling hand will twist backwards allowing the blade on the opposite side to be
presented to the water. The process is then
repeated on the opposite side.
During this cycle do not hold too tightly
onto the paddle. This can put strain on the
hand muscles and become very tiring. On
the push phase, the hand of the upper arm
can be opened and the palm used to push
the paddle. This will allow the hand muscles
to relax.
The key points to remember: correct
posture in the boat. Hand positions on the
paddle with the controlling hand not moving
Fig 4. Power
Fig 5. Follow through
UAE DIRECTORY
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,

Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
+971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai:
+971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi:
+971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae
Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42839392
Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595;
Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al
Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240
InterSport, Dubai Times Square Centre:
+971 43418214 and Dubai Festival City:
+971 42066581,www.intersport.ae
Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street,
Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE,
+971 26262332, www.peiniger.org
Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping
centres, +971 43504444,
www.sunandsandsports.com
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Alpha Tours, Off #512, 5th Flr., Al Qwais Bldg.,

Al Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai,
+971 42949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com
Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers,
Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566,
www.dadabhaitravel.ae
Desert Rangers, Dubai, +971 43572200,
www.desertrangers.com
Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr.,
Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.arabiantours.com
Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta
Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
+971 44329392, www.dreamdays.ae
Dream Explorer LLC, Shop no # 9,
Plot # 312-504, Al Musalla Building ,
Mina Bazar, Bur Dubai, +971 43544481,
www.dreamexplorerdubai.com
Dubai Relax Travel, National Towers: Churchill
Tower Suite #614, Business Bay, Dubai,
+971 44221776, www.dubairelaxtours.com
Element Fitness, Dubai, +971 502771317,
www.element-fitness.net
Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai,
+971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae
Gulf for Good, Dubai, +971 43680222,
www.gulf4good.org
Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre
+971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com
MMI Travel, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata Travel
Centre, Shk Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43166579, www.theemiratesgroup.com
Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi,
+971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889,
www.opdubai.com
Rahhalah, Dubai, +971 44472166,
www.rahhalah.com
Vera City Tours, Downtown, Dubai, UAE,
+971 556100414, www.veracitytours.com
Wild Guanabana, Dubai, +971 567954954,
www.wildguanabana.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking,
& Adventure Club, +971504920860,
[email protected]
Air
Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai,

+971 42854949, www.ballooning.ae
Dubai Paragliders, www.microaviation.org,
+971 552120155 or +971 552250193
Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +971
6139859, www.jac-uae.net
Seawings, Dubai, www.seawings.com
Sky Dive Dubai, Dubai, +971 501533222,
www.skydivedubai.ae
Boating & Sailing
Manufacturer
Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam,
+971 72682333/+971 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443,
www.alshaalimarine.com
Alyousuf Industrial, LLC,
+971 43474111, www.aym.ae,
[email protected]
Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1 office
# 3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE,
+971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com
Gulf Craft, Ajman, +971 67406060,

www.gulfcraftinc.com
Distributors and Dealers
Art Marine, Shed Nr. 31, Jaddaf, Dubai, UAE,
+971 4324061, www.artmarine.ae /
www.artmarinechandley.com
Azure Marine, Dubai, +971 43404343,
www.azuremarine.net
Luxury Sea Boats, Dubai, +971 505589319,
www.luxuryseaboats.com
Macky Marine LLC, Dubai,
+971 505518317, www.mackymarine.com
Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 65576818,
www.nautilusyachts.com
The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
UAE Boats 4 Sale, Dubai Marina,
+971 44471501, www.uaeboats4sale.com
Western Marine, Marina Yacht Club, Dubai,
+971 43039744
Equipment
Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Deira, Dubai,
+971 42263220
Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
www.masaoodmarine.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43808616 / +971 553899995,
[email protected],
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Extreme Marine, Dubai, +971 43992995,
www.extrememarine-me.com
Japan Marine General Trading, Al Garhoud
Road, Liberty Building, Dubai,
+971 559299111, +971 42828255,
[email protected], www.japanmarine.co
Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43391512, www.rinehemiratesme.com
Repairs and Maintenance
Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com
Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1,
Al Quoz, +971 43391512,
[email protected],
www.rinehemirates.com
SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park, Jebel Ali,
Dubai, +971 501405058, [email protected],
www.snsmarine.ae
The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
Cruise Operators
Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26665491, www.marinaalbateenresort.com
Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba,
Musandam, +968 26836550, +971 65441232
Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite
the British Embassy, +971 43994994
Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina,
+971 44309941, www.bristol-middleeast.com
Captain 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 Travel and Tourism, Dubai,
+971 42737779, www.fourstartravels.net
4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina
Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi,
+971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 558961276, +971 503960202,
www.happydaysdubai.com
JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225,
Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43437734, www.jpsyachts.com
Khasab Divers, Oman, +971 567255889,
[email protected]
Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours,
PO Box 411, Khasab, Musandam,
+968 93350703, [email protected]
Khour Shem Tourism, Oman,
+968 26731919, www.khourshemtours.com
LY Catamaran, Dubai, +971 505869746, +971
566506683, www.lycatamaran.com
Marine Concept, Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7,
Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600,
Dragon Boat Groups

Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating,
Dubai, +971 508795645 (Michael),
www.dubaidawnpatrol.org
Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175
(Nick Hando), www.dubai-diggers.com
UAE Dragon Boat Association,
+971 507634008,
www.dubaidragonboat.com
Camping & Hiking
YAS
www.noukhada.ae
RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton
Marina, +971 504912696, +971 72066410
Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats
Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011
Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
+971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com
Smoke Dragon Of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi
International Marine & Sports Club, +971
507011958 / +971 504546617
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk
opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel
Marina, +8008044,
www.theyellowboats.com
Marinas
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club,
Abu Dhabi, Breakwater,
+971 26815566, www.adimsc.com
Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi,
Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam
+971 72682333 / +971 504873185
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al
Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com
Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai,
+971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com
Dubai International Marine Sports Club,
Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae
Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai,
+971 43627900,
www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com
Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina, Dubai,
+971 43455545
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai,
+971 43941669, www.dosc.ae
Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 43388955
Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com
Fujairah International Marine Club, Fujairah,
+971 92221166, www.fimc.ae
Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina,
Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com
Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina,
Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555/5029,
www.jebelali-international.com
Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar,
+974 55843282, www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com
Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24737286 (ext 215), www.marinaoman.net
Pavilion Marina, Dubai,
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800
The PearlQatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar,
+974 4965801, www.ronauticame.com
Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club,
Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644,
www.uaqmarineclub.com
Equipment
Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255,
www.blingmytruck.com
Gulf Camping, Dubai, UAE,
www.gulfcamping.com
Jack Wolfskin, Mirdif City Centre Dubai,
+971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall,
Abu Dhabi,+971 24437802
Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG
Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43951113
Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink,
The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801
Tour Operators
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43459900,
www.adventure.ae
Desert Road Tourism,
Al Khor Plaza 503, Dubai, +971 42959428,
www.arabiatours.com
Libra, +971 559228362, www.libra-uae.com
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,
+971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com
Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba,
Caving
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,

+971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com
Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre, Oman,
+968 24543002,
www.holiday-in-oman.com
Oman World Tourism, Oman,
+968 99431333,
www.omanworldtourism.com
Climbing
Equipment
www.adventurehq.ae
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.
barracudadubai.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Jack Wolfskin
Mirdif City Centre Dubai,
+971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi
+971 24437802
OUTDOORUAE
71

Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome
www.cyclechallenge.ae
Dubai Roadsters, www.dubairoadsters.com
Diving
Services
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43459900, www.adventure.ae
www.adventurehq.ae
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World
Trade Centre, +971 43065061,
www.climbingdubai.com
E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 42824540,
www.esportsuae.com
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
Information
UAE Climbing, +971 506456491,
www.uaeclimbing.com
Mountain Biking & Cycling
Equipment/Dealers
Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H,
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE,
Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al
Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415,
www.cyclesportsuae.com
Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall,
Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor,
C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi,
[email protected],
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 / +971 43308023
Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1,
+971 43255705, www.probike.ae
Rage Shop, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates,
Dubai Festival City,
+971 43369007, www.rage-shop.com
Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex
Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441,
www.rcdxb.com
Ride Bike Shop, Dubai Mall, Festival City,
Oasis Centre, Mirdif City Centre,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43750231,
www.ridebikeshop.com
Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road & Jebel
Ali, Dubai, + 971 43388644
Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525,
www.tamreensports.com
The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai,
+971 505528872, www.thecyclehub.com
Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam,
Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377,
www.trekbikes.ae
Trikke uPT, Dubai, +971 45081202,
+971 556096757, www.trikkeme.net
Wolfis Bike Shop, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road,
+971 43394453, www.wbs.ae
Operator
+971 43459900, +971 506259165,
www.adventure.ae, [email protected]
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Tri Club,
www.abudhabitriclub.com
72
OUTDOORUAE
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +971
42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road,
+971 43468000, Dubai
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Blue Waters Marine, +971 42232189, Dubai,
Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com
Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi,
Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +971 26665226,
www.premiers-uae.com
Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai,
+97143414940,
[email protected]
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, [email protected],
www.divemahara.com
Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah,
+971 72226628, +971 502428128
www.arabiandiver.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Coastal Technical Divers,
[email protected],
www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com
Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City,
Dubai, +971 44308246,
www.diveindubai.com
Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015400,
www.divemahara.com
Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel
Resort & Spa, +971 92370299,
www.diversdown-uae.com
Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi,
near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444,
www.edc-ad.ae
Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman,
+968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam,
+968 26735555,
www.extradivers.info
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah,
[email protected],
www.freedivinguae.com
Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba,
Royal Beach Hotel, +971 43944275,
www.freestyledivers.com
Fujairah Rotana Resort
& Spa - Al Aqah Beach,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation
Club, Oman, +968 99317518,
www.global-scuba.com
Khasab Divers, Oman,
www.khasabdiver.com
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Moonlight Dive Center,
Madinat Qaboos, Oman,
+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre,
Oman, +971 503289642,
www.holiday-in-oman.com
Neptune Diving, +971 504347902,
www.neptunedivingcentre.com
Nomad Ocean Adventures,
www.discovernomad.com,
+971 508853238, Dibba, Oman
Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24284240, www.omadivecenter.com
Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai,
+971 44068828
Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488,
www.scubaoman.com
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971
92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922,
www.scubauae.com
7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan,
+971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com

Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971
50784 0830, www.bsac406.com
Sky &Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
The Dive Shop, 34G, European Center, Green
Community, Dubai, UAE,
+971 48135474, www.thediveshopdubai.com
Clubs
Atlantis Underwater Photography Club,
Dubai, +971 44263000
Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai,
www.desertsportsdivingclub.net
Emirates Diving Association, Diving Village,
Al Shindagha, Dubai,
+971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com
Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC),
Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421,
www.thefilipinoscubadivers.com
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah,
[email protected],
www.freedivinguae.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971
507840830,
www.bsac406.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
+971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Road, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43808616 / +971 553899995,
Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798,
[email protected]
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre,
+971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com
Operators
+971 43459900, www.adventure.ae
Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach
Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993
Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra,
Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72434540,
www.alhamramarina.com
Al Mahara Dive Center,
Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125,
www.divemahara.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al
Walltopias ME Sales Showroom

and Bouldering Facility
Single visit: 80 aed
Special rates for kids at weekends
10-visit pass: 500
Courses for beginners every
month
Unleash the Beast!

facebook.com.rock.republic.dubai
[email protected]
04 88 29 361
Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +974 4

2394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing (Al Wasl
Passenger Yachts and Boats Rental LLC),
Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai, +971
42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al
Bateen Marina Resort,
+971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah
International Marine Club, +971 9222558
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 53244550,
www.funbeachsports.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai, +971
558961276, +971 503960202,
www.happydaysdubai.com
Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi Hotel,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26811900
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company,
Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971
26503600, www.noukhada.ae
Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre,
+971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com
Soolyman Sports Fishing, Dubai,
Umm Suqeim, +971 508866227,
www.soolymansportsfishing.com
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com
Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking
Club, [email protected]
Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers
Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai,
+971 554986280, www.dskc.hu
General Sports Equipment

Distributors

Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
www.adventurehq.ae
800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai
+971 43467751, www.800sport.ae
Flip Flop Arabia, [email protected],
www.flipfloparabia.com
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai
Goal Zero, +971 509128353, www.goalzero.ae
Highbury Trading, Dubai, UAE,
www.highburytrading.ae

Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai,
+971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi,
+971 44437802
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
PORTABLE SHADE UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai,
UAE, +971 4 3469600,
www.portable-shade.net
Sakeen General Trading, +971 47094224,
www.sakeen.ae
Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar
Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42896001, +971 42896002,
[email protected], www.sportinlife.ae
Tresspass, The Dubai Mall
2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801
Horse Riding
Equipment
Al Asifa Horse Equestrian
& Requisites Trading, Al Khawaneej 1,
Dubai, +971 554733110, www.asifa.ae
Black Horse LLC, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26422237, www.blackhorseuae.com
Bonjour Equestrian Supplies,
Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai,
UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002,
[email protected],
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,
[email protected], www.aljiyad.com
Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian Centre,
Dubai, +971 44274055,
[email protected]
Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai, +971
503099770 / +971 501978888
Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir
Road (going to Hatta-Oman),
Dubai, +971 43238010,
www.desertpalm.peraquum.com
Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai,
+971 508879847,
www.dubaipoloacademy.com
Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
Arabian Ranches, +971 43618111,
www.poloclubdubai.com
Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai,
+971 505587656,
www.emiratesequestriancentre.com
Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Golden Stables Equestrian Club, Al
Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri) +971 555528182,
www.goldenstables.ae
HoofbeatZ, located just inside the Dubai
Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
+971 501810401, www.hoofbeatz.com
Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club, Mushrif

Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai,
+971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com
Qudraland Community,
[email protected], www.qudraland.com
Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area,
Abu Dhabi, +971 566127914,
www.rahalranch.com
Riding for the Disabled, Dubai,
[email protected], 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,
Japan Marine General Trading,
Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai,
+971 559299111 / +971 42828255,
[email protected], www.japanmarine.co
Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4,
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, [email protected].
www.alshaalimoto.com
Golden Desert Motorcycles
Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai,
+971 551532550,
www.goldendesert-dubai.com
Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai, UAE,
+971 509192394, www.JustGasIt.net
KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +971
4323151, www.ktm.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4,
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 25555144, www.polarisuae.com
Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1
Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai,
+971 48321050, www. wildx.ae
Equipment
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959429,
Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental),
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43470270,
www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com
Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3,
+971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com
Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial Area,
+971 42852200, www. wildx.ae
Workshops and Services
Moto-X and Quad, PO Box 476214, Dubai,
UAE, +971 50 6169727, www.gasgasmotos.
me
Motorcycling

www.aym.ae/yamaha
Ducati, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25535771, [email protected],
www.ducati.ae
Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com
Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667,
[email protected],
www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange4,
Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex,
Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor,
+971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com
Tristar Motorcycles, +971 43330659,
www.tristaruae.com
Workshops and Services
Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu
Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com
Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +971 43678700
www.dubaiautodrome.com
Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain,
+971 67681717
2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi,
www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Off-Road
Dealers
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 / +971 505548255,
[email protected],
4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai,
+971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com
Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789,
www.libertyautos.com
Repairs and Services
AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE,
+971 4 285 8989, www.aaadubai.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai,
UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.com
Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43392449,
www.offroad-zone.com
Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939
www.salukimotorsport.com
Equipment
Advanced Expedition Vehicles,
Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152,
www.aev.ae
Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 /
+971 505548255,
[email protected],
Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial,
Abu Dhabi, +971 567231967,
www.heartlanduae.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai,
UAE, +971 4 3469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta Road,
Dubai, +971 48321050, www.wildx.ae
Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times Square
Center, Dubai, +971 42898060,
www.yellowhat.ae
Tour Operators
Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi,
+971 43034888, www.arabian-adventures.com
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959429,
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 42628889,
www.opdubai.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club,
www.ad4x4.com
ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club,
+971 507665522, www.almost4x4.com
Dubai Offroaders,
www.dubaioffroaders.com
JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club,
[email protected],
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,
[email protected],
www.abudhabistriders.com
Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi,
Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info
Dubai Creek Striders
www.dubaicreekstriders.org
Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing,

Wakeboarding
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
+971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Masaood Marine, Dubai,

Iknic Brands, Suite 509 Dsseldorf Business
Point Al Barsha Dubai, UAE
Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach,
Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3
+971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae
Pearl Water Crafts,
Dubai Marina Yacht Club, +971 553749398,
www.pearl-watercrafts.com
Picnico, Jumeirah Beach Road
Opposite Sunset Mall, Dubai
+971 43941653
Surf Dubai, Dubai, Umm Suqeim,
+971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com
Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1,
Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3, Dubai,
+971 43791998,
www.surfshoparabia.com
Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997,
www.surfschoolarabia.com
UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383,
www.ad-kitesurfing.net
Distributors
Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store,
International City, Dubai,
+971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
Operators
Al Forsan International Sports Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com
Dubai Kite Surf School, Dubai,
Umm Suqeim Beach, +971 504965107,
www.dubaikitesurfschool.com
Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah
and Abu Dhabi, +971 508703427,
www.ducomaritime.com
Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim,
Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com
Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440,
www.kitesurf.ae
Kite4fun.net, Abu Dhabi, +971 508133134,
www.kite4fun.net
Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi,
+971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim Dubai,
+971 507689226,
[email protected],
www.shmalkitesurfing.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach
and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East),
Interchange 3, Dubai,+971 556010997, www.
surfschooluae.com
Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort
and Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771, www.
watercooleddubai.com
Water Cooled, Watercooled Sports Services
LLC, Hilton Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE,
+971 26395997, www.watercooleduae.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle,
www.abudhabisup.com
UAE SUP www.uaesup.com
OUTDOORUAE
73
Water Parks
Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm

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

+ 971 25588990, www.adgolfclub.com
Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah,
+971 67431122 \ +971 44370505,
www.tamimistables.com
Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
www.godiveoman.com
Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code
100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240,
www.nomadtours.com
Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917,
NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441,
www.omantrekkingguides.com
Diving
OMAN DIRECTORY
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi,

Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873,
www.bikeandhikeoman.com
Dolphin Qasab Tours, PO Box: 123, P.C.
811, Khasab City, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com
Go Dive Oman, Capital Area Yacht Club
(CAYC), Sidab Muscat, +968 99289200,
QATAR DIRECTORY
Adventure tours and desert safaris
Al Mulla Travels, PO Box: 4147, Doha, Qatar,

Alpha Tours, PO Box: 13530, Doha, Qatar,
Al QAYED Travel & Tours, PO Box: 158, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44072244, www.alqayedtravel.com
Arabian Adventures, PO Box: 4476, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44361461,
www.arabianadventureqatar.net
Black Pearls Tourism Services,
PO Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar
East Marine, West Bay, Doha, Qatar,
+974 55200078
E2E Qatar Travel and Tours,
PO Box: 23563, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44502521, www.e2eqatar.com
Falcon Travels, PO Box: 22031, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44354777, www.falcontravelqatar.com
Gulf Adventures, 29, PO Box: 18180 Qatar,
+974 44221888, www.gulf-adventures.com
Net Tours Qatar, PO Box: 23080, Doha, Qatar,
+974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa
Regency Travel & Tours, +974 4434
4503/4718, www.regencyholidays.com
Qatar Adventure, PO Box: 13915,
Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561,
www.qataradventure.com
Qatar Desert Gate, Doha, PO Box: 18496
Ad Dawha, Qatar, +974 55594016,
www.qatardesertgate.com
Qatar Inbound Tours, PO Box: 21153,
+974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com
Qatar International Tours, PO Box: 55733
Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141, www.qittour.com
Qatar Ventures, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679,
www.qatar-ventures.com
Equipment
Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba,
Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550,
www.almarsamusandam.com
Al Sawadi Beach Resort, PO Box: 747,
Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545,
www.alsawadibeach.info
Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.
com
Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar Al
Rhowda, PO Box: 940, Muscat, Oman,
+968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box: 498,
PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman,
+968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com
Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346,
www.global-scuba.com
Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207
/ +974 77776634, www.facebook.com/
QatarSandstormers
Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/
groups/587539064642288/
Doha Bay Running Club,
www.dohabayrunningclub.com
TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,

Qatar: +974 44822194; Villagio Mall, Qatar:
+974 44569143; Ezdan Mall, Qatar: +974
44922827, www.galaxysportqatar.com
GO Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar:
+974 44631644; Villaggio Mall, Qatar:
+974 44517574, www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Sun & Sand Sports, City Centre Mall, Qatar:
+974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall, Qatar:
+974 44932973, www.sunandsandsports.com
Boating & Sailing
Equipment
Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach
+974 55503484
www.regattasailingacademy.com
Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum Road,
PO Box: 9145 Doha, Qatar, +974 44410109,
www.speedmarinegroup.com
Horse Riding
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Al Shaqab, PO Box: 90055, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com
Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Racing and
Equestrian Club, PO Box: 7559, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44197664, www.qrec.gov.qa
Diving
Clubs
Cycling, Running & Triathlon

Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach
+974 44439840/+974 55649995
www.qmsf.com
Qatar Chain Reaction,
www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com
Equipment/Centres
Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street
(near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar,
+974 44435626
Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club,
+974 66304061, www.dohasubaquaclub.com
Add your free listing to the

74
OUTDOORUAE
+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.ae
Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate
No. 1, +971 43369773,
www.dubaidolphinarium.ae
iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42316292, www.iflyme.com
Sadiyaat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat
Island, +971 25578000, www.sbgolfclub.ae
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah,
+971 43999005,
www.golfandshootingshj.com
SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of The Emirates,
+971 44094000, www.skidxb.com
Spacewalk Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24463653, www.spacewalk.ae
Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65,

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

& Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment, Operators
Kiteboarding Oman, Sawadi Beach,
PO Box: 133, PC 118, Muscat, Oman,
+968 96323524,
www.kiteboarding-oman.com
Extreme Adventure, PO Box: 33002, Shop
3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha,
Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, Qatar:
+974 44631644; Villagio Mall, Qatar:
+974 44517574,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Pearl Divers, PO Box: 2489, Doha, Qatar, +974
44449553, www.pearl-divers.org
Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud
Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2,
+974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com
Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura Street,
Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com
Q Dive, Souq Al Najada cnr of Grand Hamad
and Ali bin Abdulla Str.; Al-Odeid Aisle numbers
129-132, +974 55319507, www.qdive.net
World Marine Centre, PO Box: 6944,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989,
www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com
Pearl Divers, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street,
Doha, Qatar,
+974 4444 9553, www.pearl-divers.org
Poseidon Dive Center, Ras Abu Abboud
Street, Al Emadi Suites, Showroom #2,
+974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com
Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old
Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44313331, www.qatardivers.com
Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center
West Bay, PO Box: 16657, Doha,
+974 553199507, www.qatarmarine.net
Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura Street,
Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277 / +974 44422234,
www.qatarscubacenter.com
Qdive Marine Center, PO Box: 16657, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44375065, www.qdive.net
World Marine Centre, Old Salata Street, near
the Qatar National Museum, Doha, Qatar,
+974 55508177
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq
Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 66724828
Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment,
Health, Safety & Training
Safety Lessons
Marine Concept Yacht Charter
& Sea School, Rania Business Centre,
Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Safety & Leisure Training Middle East,
Dusseldorf Business Point, Al Barsha 1,
Dubai, +971 44502418, www.sltme.com
Sport and Health Centres
Bespoke Wellness, Dubai,
+971 553724670, www.bespoke-wellness.com
Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen
Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404,
www.originalfitnessco.com
Orthosports, 5B Street, Jumeira Beach road,
Dubai, +971 4355060, www.orthosp.com
The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49,
Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai,
+971 44370570, www.physiocentre.ae
Omans Kite Center, +968 94006007,

www.kitesurfing-lessons.com
Camping & Hiking
Tour Operators
Safari Desert Camp,
PO Box: 117, Postal Code 421,
Bediyah, Ghabbi, Oman,
+968 99310108,
www.safaridesert.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
AzZaha Tours, +968 99013424,
www.azzahatours.com
Water World Marine Oman,
POBox:76,Muscat,113,Sultanate
ofOman, +96824737438,
www.waterworldoman.com
Boating & Sailing
Manufacturer
Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11, Post Code 118,
Muscat, Oman, +968 99877243,
www.sapphire-marine.com
PO Box: 6449,Old Salata, Doha, Qatar, +974
44444238, [email protected]
Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4 Ahmed Bin Ali
Steet, Doha, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
Fish World, PO Box: 1975, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44340754
State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif,
next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234,
www.stateofqatar.com
Operators
Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895,
www.paddleqatar.com
Entalek, +974 3023 3207, www.entalek.org
Motocross & 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, www.fly-n-ride.com
Flo Kite School, Westbay, Doha,
+974 55041039, www.flokiteschool.com
Kitesurfing Qatar, +97430179108,
www.kitesurfingqatar.com
QSUP, Qanat Quartier, Costa Malaz,
The Pearl-Qc, Doha, Qatar, +974 66602830,
www.qsup.me
Cycling (Road & Off Road)
Bike Servicing, Equipment

Carbon Wheels Bike Shop, Al Maha Center
10, Salwa Road, Doha, +974 44419048,
www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR
Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq, Shop
C.06, +974 6600 9116, www.flashbikeshop.com
Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor, +974
44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456 9143;
Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827,
www.galaxysportqatar.com;
Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 40165155 / 40165156
ONLINE DIRECTORY
The Dubai Mall
04 434 1280
Mall of Emirates
04 347 8277
City Centre Mirdif
04 284 3143
Al Wahda Mall
02 443 7397

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WHATS SUP?

THE GRAND FINALE

Eco-friendly Sustainable Bamboo

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Im writing this again from the slopes of

out and try to beat the whopping 40-50 degrees that

Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)

2015 Outdoor UAE FZE

2015 Outdoor UAE FZE

Eulogy van Dyk

Katherine Caedo Patangui

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

The information contained is for general use only.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS

40 BEETLING ABOUT THE UAE!

70 SEA KAYAK SKILLS

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Clear direction in the Hatta Mountains.

A day at the races.

Rey Dennis Penuela

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

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

May 15-16, Els Club, Dubai Sport City

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

Join OutdoorUAE and David Mawditt for our

All aboard! The Al Gaffal Dhow Race is a

For bookings and more details email [email protected]

For more information, visit www.dubaicalendar.ae.

May 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6:00 p.m., Yas Marina Circuit

Arabian Travel Market 2015

Held under the patronage of His Highness,

Get ready to make a splash this summer and

Sunman for Rich

Go start and finish anywhere around

Labour Run 5K Run

This one-of-a-kind event will bring

This is just a selection of the events taking place this month,

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MAY 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

A story in two wheels

Dubai followed. The Dubai store, which is

specialised needs at the track.

Cristina Calin Thompson and

Cristina Calin-Thompson and Landors Filou claimed the

in the Advanced level with a 63.67% of the

Words By: Sean James

Here is a list of the camps, heights and times

relatives and friends from people I dont

The sign to Everest or Qomolanga

The Lalung La Pass at 5050m Views of Shishapangma

less in Kathmandu. Other relatives of theirs

Everest North Base Camp: 5182m

The lama praying for permission to

If you are interested in climbing high

Surf Ski is a great water sport