PEDAL TO THE METAL

DRIVING THE UNIMOG

riders on the storm
DARK SKIES CHALLENGE

SUMMIT FEVER

APRIL IN KATHMANDU

Plenty of

PRODUCTS
TO CHECK OUT

Price
10.00 AED
10.00 QAR
1.00 OMR

Getting lost:

OMAN AND
BACK AGAIN

Exclusive interview

JORGE LORENZO
OF MOTOGP

Vol. 5, No. 4
April 2015
www.OutdoorUAE.com

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

OutdoorUAE Team

Greetings from Nepal and from high

altitude! As you read this, I am already in
Kathmandu, Nepal getting ready with the
team to climb Mount Everest. Getting
this far has been a long journey. In the
months before I left when I told people
I was going, they frequently asked me
to the top? I said yes. Next month the
editorial maybe different or not at all. It
will definitely be from slightly higher up
the mountain.

I took up rock climbing relatively late at the age

of 20. Since then, Ive spent most of the last 25
years climbing in various forms and many places
around the world: either on steep rock, in Alpine
landscapes, or the massive snowy mountains of the
Himalaya or simply trekking in beautiful places.
The question that people who dont climb ask
most frequently is why do you do it? a difficult

Sean James
Editor
sean@outdooruae.com

question to answer. Big, snowy, cold mountains are

often about pain. They create very similar feelings
and emotions to the struggle of an ultramarathon,
an Ironman or even your first sprint distance triathlon.
If we experience a positive experience such as a
great day of sand biking or hiking, it is much more
powerful than a negative one. In the outdoors, a
positive could mean standing on a summit such as
Jebel Hafeet or completing a particularly long kayak
trip around the Ras al Khaimah mangroves. We
remember the positive and forget the negative. Lots
of small positives add up to something great and
life changing. Even after spending a vast amount
of money to spend 6 weeks in extreme cold on a
mountain, not being able to breathe properly and
eating terrible food, this is quickly forgotten simply
by standing for 10 minutes on a summit.
So for April we are challenging you to let yourself
experience different emotions and step outside of
your comfort zone. Set yourself some goals and
never is it a better time to plan something different.
This month in OutdoorUAE we are focusing on
auto sports and motocross. We are blessed in the
UAE by having some of the most amazing desert
and mountain terrain anywhere. In addition, the
restrictions to access it and get out and feel the
horsepower of these incredible vehicular beasts are
virtually nil when compared to other countries. In
the weekend, it is truly a spectacular sight watching
these brutes roar up and down the dunes. Enjoy
April and ride and race responsibly.

Editor
For editorial content and press releases
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 5760322
editor@outdooruae.com

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
linda@outdooruae.com

Printed at
United Printing and Publishing
P.O.Box: 39955, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Published by
Outdoor UAE FZE
In cooperation with D32 Events
P.O. Box 215062
Dubai, U.A.E.
Tel. 04-447 2030
contact@outdooruae.com
www.outdooruae.com
Cover photo: Ian Ganderton by Pete Maloney

2015 Outdoor UAE FZE

Vol. 5, No. 4, April 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!

Glaiza Seguia-Godinez
Editor
glaiza@outdooruae.com

Eulogy van Dyk

Editor Qatar
eulogy@outdooruae.com

Linda Turcerova
Sales and Marketing
linda@outdooruae.com

Katherine Caedo Patangui

Administration
kathy@outdooruae.com

Jung Francisco
Designer and Photographer
jung@outdooruae.com

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
daniel@outdooruae.com

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

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

CONTENTS
14 HAJAR 100

12 RAMY 4X4

EVERY ISSUE
05 BEST SHOTS
06 EVENTS CALENDAR
44 LIFESTYLE
48 PRODUCTS
60 PEOPLE
71 DIRECTORY

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS

15 ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE 2015
20 EMIRATES SUP FESTIVAL 2015
23 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE
30 ADVENTURES IN THE UNIMOG
36 THE BELGIAN BIKERS

LIFESTYLE
44 HEALTH POWERHOUSE
46 UAE WEATHER

22 MXGP

OUR EXPERTS
56 DARK SKIES CHALLENGE - MARINA
58 THURSDAYS WITH OLIVIER JOHN
60 FLY FISHING KIT

TIPS + TRICKS
66 HIKING EXERCISES
68 MTB EXERCISES

32 HONEY BADGER DIARIES

OUTDOORUAE

61 JORGE LORENZO GUERRERO

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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

Arnel Castro

This was taken during the February 20th sandstorm somewhere in the middle of the desert in
Maleha area. The low visibility and the strong winds didnt stop me shooting from inside my
truck.

James Spence

At an endurance race in Al Wathba Endurance Village, Abu Dhabi.

John Henzell

A different kind of flight.

OUTDOORUAE

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENTS CALENDAR

Stay up-to-date with the latest events

Dubai International Aquatic
Championships 2015
April 1 to 11, Hamdan Sports Complex

The Dubai International Aquatic Championships (DIAC) is the first international aquatics
tournament for international clubs worldwide.
The event welcomes participants from 10 years
of age and beyond and is also a gathering
point for athletes of all levels, be it novices or
professionals. The landmark competition plays
host to three disciplines including swimming, open water swimming and water polo. It will be the largest aquatic sports event
not only in the UAE but across the Middle East and the world as
well. Bringing together locals and expats alike, this event intends
to prove that everyone can be as great as Michael Phelps or Alexander Popov.

Neo Run

April 10, 7:00 p.m., Dubai Autodrome

Glo crazy with color and dance the night
away This is the motto of the Neo Run
and also exactly what to expect at this fun
run. The first of its kind in the UAE, the
Neo Run will bring runners together at the
Dubai Autodrome for a run in the dark with
glow sticks and other fun lights. Theres also a ton of other fun
activities to take part in at the event. Dont miss out on a truly
new and unique experience.
For more information, visit www.neorun.com.

For more information, visit dnan-sportslife.com/events.

Team Sports Road

Run 10K and 3K

April 10, 7:00 a.m., The Track Golf Clubhouse, Meydan

Taking place in the roads of the
Meydan, this healthy and fun event
is open for all age categories and
novices and experts alike. Participants will be offered medals, certificates, prizes and cash vouchers. The
10K winners in each age category
will receive special trophies, medals
and cash vouchers. There is also a
lucky draw for all participants attending. Prizes worth up to 20,000
AED are up for grabs!

Dubai Dressage
Championship 2015

April 13 to 14, Emirates Equestrian Centre

Widely known as horse ballet or the
sport of kings, the fine art of dressage
dates back to the early era and is a sport
that requires great discipline from both the
jockeys and their horses. The sport requires the rider to direct his/her horse with
precision to accomplish certain moves and
stances with minimal aid. This prestigious display of precision
is open for free viewing and will be held at the majestic Emirates Equestrian Centre.
For more information, visit www.dubaicalendar.ae.

For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

Giant Duathlon Series Race 5

April 10, 6:30 a.m., Zabeel Park

Running and pedalling is all the same to

us! An event for triathletes, duathletes,
cyclists, runners, and fitness enthusiasts
alike, the fifth leg of the Giant Duathlon
series continues to please newcomers
and test seasoned athletes. Kids are also
welcome in the traffic-friendly courses
providing unparalleled safety for all
competitors. Each race is based on a runbike-run pattern and will be open to individuals and duos.
For more information, visit www.race-me-events.com
and www.premieronline.com.
6

OUTDOORUAE

Run for Rich from Dusk to Dawn

April 16, 6:30 p.m., Nad al Sheba Cycle Park

Run for Rich is a group relay race

being held around Nad Al Sheba
cycle path starting on 16th April
2015 and finishing 11 hours later.
The aim is for an individual or
team to complete as many laps as
possible before the 11 hours is up.
Participants may enter as a solo runner, team of 2, team of 3
and team of 4.
For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENTS CALENDAR
The Five Star Aquathlon Race 3

2XU Wadi Racer

After a sold out second leg, the Abu

Dhabi Tri Club returns to the Emirates Palace for the third leg of the 5
Star Aquathlon. Taking place in one
of the most picturesque backdrops in
the world, competitors will swim and
run through magnificent waters and
colourful palace grounds. The event
is open for the whole family and for all ages. The Junior Races
is a 200m deep water swim and 1.5km run starting at 8:00
a.m. The Tiny Triathletes will then wade through the shores of
Emirates Palace beach by 8:30 a.m. Afterwards they will walk,
paddle and swim through knee deep water closing off with a
100m beach run finish.

Say good morning Dubai at 5:00 a.m.

in this single stage, 10km, 20km or 30km
marathon in the outskirts of Dubai.
Participants will begin under the cover of
darkness and finish with the beautiful first
light of day. The terrain is a combination of
gravel jeep track and rocky wadi bed with
climbs and undulations. For safety, the course will be marked
with light reflective material until the sun rises. Pitch tents in the
areas nearby and gaze in awe at the beautiful Dubai sunrise.
Please note that the course road is not closed to traffic and
locals use segments of the area to access their villages.
To minimise the risk of accidents participants are advised to
stay along the marked course track and be alert of their
surroundings as well.

April 17, 7:00 a.m., Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

For more information, visit

www.abudhabitriclub.com or www.premieronline.com.

The Sand Pit

April 17, Al Barari, Dubai

Taking place for the first time in Dubai,
the 2015 season of the Sand Pit opens up
in Al Barari and will play host to a gruelling team and strength building experience. For their first event in the emirate,
they will be bringing their iconic obstacles such as Barby, The Quarter Pipe and
The Mountain, to name a few. Designed to test both physical and mental abilities, the 10km Sand Pit remains true to
the adage that no man is an island because a team will be
needed in order to prevail in this event. Expect to build fellowships, know what you are capable of and have fun while
doing so. And when all is said and done, have a blast at the
after-party and celebrate individual and team successes with
newfound friendships.

April 24, 5:00 a.m., Wadi Showka/Helo, Dubai

For more details and updates, visit www.urbanultra.com.

Wadi Adventure Race 9

April 25, 9:00 a.m., Al Ain

Gear up for the third and final leg

of Wadi Adventures WAR series this
year. With a loyal and popular following, the event will continue with the
different race categories that they
have introduced since the first leg. To
increase the suspense, the obstacles
and race details will not be given to participants before the
race. The event will introduce challenges that promote a harder,
better, faster and stronger lifestyle to participants and they only
have one question: Are you ready for WAR?
For more information, visit www.premieronline.com
or www.facebook.com/WadiAdventureRace.

For more information on this debut sport and event, visit

www.thesandpitrun.com.

QRC Drift Championship

Walk to Infinity 5km
Fun Walk 2015
April 17, 8:00 a.m., Kite Beach

Leave competitive streaks and running

rivalries at home. This event is pure
family and community fun. Celebrate
your health and wellness with family and friends with the splendid Kite
Beach as a backdrop; baby strollers are
welcome too! The walk begins at 8:00
a.m. and finishes in an ideal spot to
grab breakfast in one of the many local
spots. Rest areas, toilet facilities and refreshments will be provided all along the route. A great atmosphere for family, friends
and crew is guaranteed from start to finish!
For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

April 30, Qatar Racing Club

Drifting is one of the fastest growing

motorsports across the world. Following
the success of last seasons Qatar National
Drift Championship, this coming season
promises an action-packed, smoke-filled championship as
competitors exchange dust and vie for the coveted title. Watch
participants across the Arab continent powerslide, counter-steer
and clutch kick their way to victory! The gates open at 6:00 p.m.
with free entry to the public.
For more information, visit www.qrc.qa.

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

for more upcoming events visit: www.outdooruae.com/event

OUTDOORUAE

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

NEWS + COMMUNITY

Yamaha Caf races

its way to Dubai!
First of its kind Yamaha Japanese caf opens in Dubais new BOXPARK
Photos By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez and supplied

Buckle up as caf racers, bobbers, trackers and most especially

food explorers haul their way to a
new haven in Dubai the Yamaha
Caf. Stage your spirit in a quintessentially blended Japanese flair and
sportive biking culture settling while
enjoying choice sushi, sashimi,
curries, tempura, and an exclusive range of okashi a traditional
Japanese sweet.
Present in the opening ceremony were
members of the Al Yousuf Group the exclusive distributor of Yamaha in the UAE who
are openly supporting their new venture.
Also present were the members of Yamaha
Japan as well as distributors from other
countries. Amidst the amazed audience, the
beauty of the caf shone with its display of
Yamaha bikes fused with traditional Japanese architecture. Besides the Yamaha displays, the caf also showcases other popular
biking accessory brands like Alpinestars,
Nolan and Jobe, which can be purchased or
ordered from the catalogue for delivery.
The Yamaha Caf was inaugurated last
17th March by Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero, the

Mr Yoshiyuki Ito, General Manager of Yamaha Motors, Mr Mohamed Iqbal Al Yousuf,

Deputy President Marketing and Mr Jorge Lorenzo, 2012 MotoGP World Champion.

Spanish motorcycle road racer who is a twotime 250cc World Champion and 2010 and
2012 MotoGP World Champion. Lorenzo
currently competes in the MotoGP class,
riding for the factory Yamaha team alongside Valentino Rossi. He also competed in
MotoGPs opening race in Losail, Qatar last
month.
Commenting on the opening of the
Yamaha Caf, Mr. Iqbal Al Yousuf, President
of Al Yousuf Group said: Our association
with Yamaha has been a long-standing and
highly fruitful one. The opening of the caf
marks a new beginning in our enduring relationship as we expand into the restaurant
and caf business. We are very pleased to
open this unique caf in Dubai in association
with Yamaha.
The Yamaha Caf is a unique blend of
Japanese elegance and a bikers ruggedness. The BOXPARK offers an ideal location
for the caf, being the latest and one of the
liveliest hotspots in the city. We are certain it
will be a huge success in the UAE.
Yamaha Caf is located at The BOXPARK,
Al Wasl Road, Dubai.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

The labour of love

Al Jayyoussi begins around the world journey in Dubai

Last March 1st, Wissam Al

Jayyoussi, began his solo journey
across the world on his customised
KTM 1190 Adventure R motorbike.
Starting off his journey in the city of
Dubai, his next stops will take him
all over the Middle East, to Asia
and then towards the Americas.
Embarking on this epic journey in
behalf of Goodwill Journey and the
Palestine Childrens Relief Fund,
Wissams miles hopes to generate donations towards the sick and
injured children of the Palestinian
region.
A seasoned traveller, the round the globe
trip is the most arduous, if not most challenging of Wissams travels. Some of his previous missions saw him climb Mount Pumori,
and ride a motorbike across 23 countries
and all to raise awareness for those in need.
The Pumori journey has helped build a
cancer department and school for children
with special needs in the Middle East. With
this ongoing journey, he aims for the bigger
prize; the bigger help.
Wissam speaks of his journey: The worst
thing in life is to fall down and realise that
there is no one to offer a helping hand to
get you back up. Sometimes you can rise
back up on your own; but that isnt always
the case. The sick and injured children of
the Middle East have fallen down, and they
have no strength to rise up on their own.
We need to be that hand; we must be that
hand.
Supporters could follow Wissam through
his journey in social media where he will be
posting up-to-date information on where
he is currently on this marvellous journey.

Wissam Al Jayyoussi

Alongside this, the Goodwill Journeys official website will also be giving live feeds as
well as a map so that people could find out
about his next stop in better detail.
His journey begun last March 1st in Dubai.
Afterwards, he will be driving towards
Oman in what is called an X-axis; where
he travels in a horizontal direction. Following this direction, he will be located in Asia
before heading south towards Australia
and crossing the Pacific Ocean towards the
United States. From this leg onwards, he will
be shifting direction and head around the
globe in the Y-axis or vertical direction. This
direction will see him begin in Alaska riding
down towards the southernmost point of
South America. In the final leg, he will travel
to Africa and make his way north towards
the European continent returning to Dubai
in approximately 21 months since he began
the journey.
Waves of support are being raised

towards Wissam and his journey for a heroic

cause that increases the value and importance of this event. Steve Sosebee, cofounder and CEO of the PCRF comments:
We are extremely proud of Wissams
bravery and courage in taking on this
daunting mission to help children in the
region who are in need of support. It isnt
an easy mission to undertake and the fact
that he is taking it on is truly remarkable. On
behalf of the entire team at the PCRF and
every child that his mission would help support, we thank Wissam for his undying passion and commitment towards the cause.
Palestine has been a location of unrest
in the recent times and children as well as
families are at risk. This journey intends to
help out these children by giving them support via education, access to medicine, and
other ways and means by which to alleviate
these children from their current situation.
For more information about the mission,
or how to support the PCRF and the
Goodwill Journey, please visit the website
www.pcrf.net and www.goodwilljourney.org.

OUTDOORUAE

Summit Fever
April in Kathmandu
Words By: Sean James

This is a blog that will follow

my climb to the summit of the
highest mountain in the world,
Mount Everest, over the next few
months. There are also live radio
broadcasts from base camp via the
Travel Show on Dubai Eye 103.8
where you can hear how progress
is going.
Everest

Part 1 is written from Arabian Ranches,

Dubai just before I leave. I am due to meet
the rest of the team in Kathmandu. They fly
out from the United Kingdom on the 30th
of March. This first part is about my preparation, training, the search for support and
things that need to be done for a trip that
will last until the 4th of June, over 60 days
away from home.
Everest has many names but gets its European name from the British Superintendent
General of the Survey of India from 1830 to
1843, Sir George Everest who first surveyed
it. To Tibetans it is called Chomolungma or
Qomolangma which means Mother Goddess of the Earth. The Sherpa people call it
Sagarmatha meaning Goddess of the Sky.
It is undoubtedly the highest point on Earth
and a prize for many. Around 4,000 people,
or the equivalent of five full A380s have
stood on the summit as of 2014.
Ive guided on lots of high mountains
before; three have been over 8,000m plus
many lower but until a year ago Everest had
never been on my list. For the last three
years I had been working as a lecturer so I
was restricted by the times of my holidays.
Last June, my contract finished and rather
than look for another rubbish job that I
didnt really like, I set my focus on climbing
mountains again. Despite not earning much

Everest NE Ridge Courtesy of Adventure Peaks

its gone pretty well since and Ive travelled,

trained and competed in marathons and
triathlons during the last 10 months which
has been good preparation. Who knows
what the next 10 months will bring when I
return in June?

Kathmandu

I leave Dubai on FlyDubai on the 26th of

March and arrive in Kathmandu early. Im
with my girlfriend and we want to enjoy
a few quiet days in a city that is so different from anything that we have here in the
UAE. The hippie district of Thamel is always
bustling and crowded, but it also has small
pockets of tranquility. Ive been to Nepal
many times and never tire of it. I could quite
happily spend a week in Kathmandu trying
out the different restaurants, bars and coffee shops, even though Ive sat in them for
many hours.

the UK who initially sell the package. They

would provide advice, training, infrastructure, planning and completely oversee
the trip to ensure that their standards are
upheld. For an 8,000m they would also send
an experienced guide with the clients. Over
the last 20 years, it is these companies that
I have worked for and travelled the world
with. The expedition company would then
contract the ground services in Nepal to
a local agent who they have established a
relationship with. Ground services would
include the hiring of suitable Sherpas, cooks
and ancillary staff plus transport, hotels,
food, oxygen and everything that happens
once in a country such as Nepal. Obviously this is a huge task and the expedition
company wants to ensure that no corners
are cut and the clients are getting what they
expected.

8,000m

Meeting up with old friends again in Nepal

10

OUTDOORUAE

All of the high mountains over 8,000m in the

world are either in Nepal, China or Pakistan. The season to climb in Nepal is in the
spring, pre monsoon from April to June and
in the fall post-monsoon, from September
to October. During these times, everyone
flocks to Kathmandu or Islamabad to start
their adventure.
Most people tackle an 8,000m with the
help of many other people. Firstly there is
normally an expedition company, normally
in the climbers home country, for example

Base camp

Ive been working for OutdoorUAE for the

past two years, writing as an editor and so
for the past few months, our focus has been
on the Everest expedition. We have given
slideshows around Dubai at Fitness First
and the Dubai International Boat Show. We
have tried to involve our current partners
who are the obvious first stop as their outdoor and adventure products have a synergy to what we are trying to do. Dubai is
a fantastic place for energy and new ideas.
Things can happen almost immediately if
you are lucky. Some of our propositions hit
the right spot and fortunately we now have
some great supporters whose products will
be with me in Nepal and hopefully on the
summit in two months.

Preparations

What Ive learnt from previous expeditions

is that food is very important and can make
or break the expedition. Part of our trip is
through Tibet (China) and the food can be
lacking a lot. In addition, on the mountain
we usually eat pre-packaged dehydrated
food out of a bag that you add boiling
water to. They are terrible but light to carry
at altitude. I act like one of Pavlovs dogs
even at the sight of high altitude food and
instantly gag after 20 years of guiding. Im
quite small so any weight loss affects me
a lot so Ive tried to ensure Ive got my
favourites. I even booked extra weight on
the flight over so I could bring some tasty,
spicy packaged curries from Dubai. Heavier
but worth the effort. Luckily GU Energy,
MuleBar and Aqualyte have given me a
large packet to take up to base camp and
on the mountain so Ill be with my favourites. Ill also stock up on Haribo, Pringles
and chocolate in Kathmandu. Time to forget
the waistline.
Equipment is important and over the
years I have collected a vast amount of
down gear, tents, boots, gloves, socks, ice
axes,

Extract from the Alpine Journal in 1920 describing the terrible cold

crampons, rucksacks etc but they are all in

a varying state of repair. Luckily this year
we have a super motivated client from GO
Sport in the Middle East. They have just
secured the Millet range of products, a
French brand of awesome climbing gear
that covers virtually everything. Moving with
speed other companies can only dream of
Im suddenly fully kitted from top to bottom
in everything Millet. After 20 years of trying
to avoid the corporate, commercial and
world of
sponsorship, having someone put their faith
in you to represent their brand is exciting
and gives an added boost of confidence.

The route

There are many routes to the summit of

Everest. Two are considered standard - one
from the south via Nepal and one from the
north via Tibet-China.
The route I will be on is the Northeast
Ridge Standard Route. It was first climbed
on May 25th 1960 almost seven years after
the first ascent from the south. The first
people were Chinese; Wang Fu-chou (Chinese), Chu Yin-hua (Chinese) and Gongbu
(Tibetan).
In the past, the north has been less
popular and seen fewer ascents because of

Looking after clients on the mountains is very demanding

The Alpine Journal

access issues but in the last five years, the

number of ascents has increased. Statistics
can be misleading and despite the fact that
the North East Ridge is considered safer by
climbers it has a higher fatality rate 9%
more than the south. Fatality rate is fatalities/summits.
In terms of objective dangers, the most
dangerous part of the North East Ridge
route are avalanches from stable snow
slopes of the North Col. The narrow, terraced ledges of the Yellow Band at 8,600m
has also seen a number of climbers falling
as they are tired and the altitude is starting
to take effect.
So thats all from April. Next time you
read this, there may be fewer pictures and
the text will be sent back via satellite from
base camp in Tibet. Keep checking the
OutdoorUAE and OutdoorArabia media
channels for further updates.
We would like to thank the following
sponsors for their interest and support in
what we do and in particular Everest 2015.
GO Sport and Millet as well as Nite Watches and Al Mekshah have provided the best
equipment and support possible as well as
numerous others.
If you are interested in climbing high
mountains and even Everest in 2016,
contact us trips@outdoorarabia.com.

OUTDOORUAE

11

Ramy 4X4

The Admiral 2011 Monster JK

Ramy 4x4 is well-known in the
Middle East for upgrading off-road
vehicles. They have been in the
market for more than 23 years.
One of their favourite ongoing projects is this 2011 Jeep Wrangler
3.8 V6 with all the works.
Sulayem, the owner of this monster, has
named it The Admiral. With its 37-inch
tyres, it stands tall amongst others. Its AOR
(American Offroad) exhaust emits a powerful
roar as he turns up the revs and makes the
powerful V6 engine come to life.
Ramy 4x4 has installed many great modifications on this Jeep, each shown below by
category:

Cosmetic modifications:

JK Mad Face Grill

Bushwacker Flat Fenders JK 2DR
Flip-style Licence Plate Mount
Black Aluminium Fuel Cap Cover
Teraflex 1 body spacers, front and rear
Bestop Stubby Bumper
Hood mount LED bracket
JK Billet Aluminium Antenna
These modifications ensure a unique and
aggressive look that appeal to the individual owner. Some of these modifications
show the personal touch that the owner has
requested.

Performance modifications:

Diablo tuner to increase the power

of the engine

AOR Performance Heat reduction hood

AOR Catback Muffler
Differential re-geared to 4.56
K&N Cold Air Intake
All of these modifications have been designed in order for the vehicle to run at optimal performance. These are more prominent
in the Gulf region, due to extreme driving
conditions in the desert heat raising the
need for high power output for extended
periods of time.

Suspension modifications:

Teraflex 3 Lift Kit

Teraflex heavy-duty front track bar
Heavy-duty drive shafts, front and rear
Fox Racing shocks, front and rear with
reservoir
The suspension setup is something that
requires research and thought before installation. This is personal both to the vehicle as
well as the driver. Knowing what the owner
plans to do with the car, the percentage of
usage on-road versus off-road, his driving
style and what level of expertise he has. All
these as well as the budget are all factors
that influence the decision regarding the
suspension setup.

12

OUTDOORUAE

Functional modifications:

Rugged Ridge high-tensile strength shackles

RRC sidestep rock guards
Floor Liner Mat Pair FR JK BLK
Rugged Ridge A-pillar switch pod (for
night driving LEDs)
Off-road Shovel
AOR EZ Deflator
Rear Hitch kit
AOR LED Cree lighting
Artec monster front axle reinforcement
AOR The Beast power pack /jump
starter
ZEON 10S 12V WARN winch with remote
EVO Industries rock skin tyre carrier
Soft-grab sport handles
The modifications seen here are there for
the purpose of off-roading in the UAE. It is
very important to be prepared when driving
in the desert and special attention should be
paid to having quality brands when it comes
to safety and security.
Ramy 4x4, powered by Ramy Trading
offers services covering all aspects of
4x4 accessories and vehicle modifications. They are located in Dubai, Al Ain,
Abu Dhabi and Egypt. For more information, visit www.ramy4x4.com
or call 04 269 8138.

EVENT REPORT

Rocking RAK!

Urban-Ultra Hajar 100

The first and only 100km single stage trail run in the region with 2,600m of elevation
The Hajar Mountains slowly
took shape as runners lined up and
blitzed their way in this years Urban Ultra Hajar 100. Starting off to
face the morning sun, the contenders bolted out on the flat 7.5km to
the first checkpoint following the
starter horn, others taking their
time, presumably to warm up their
legs and take in the beautiful, Ras
Al Khaimah morning.
Checkpoint 1 was stationed at the base of
the first climb leading up the winding road to
summit Janas Mountain. Runners looked up
in awe as they realised this was their very first
ascent. The summit of this mountain is spectacular, breathtaking even. The air so clear,
runners are seemingly up in the clouds looking down over the city and out to sea. This
gnarly trail continued across the mountain,
up and down, over and through the slices
of rock, sometimes narrowing and the edge
feeling a little too close for comfort. It soon
gave way to a more established gravel road
and then Checkpoint 2 where fruit, Aqualyte
and water waited for parched runners.
The 13km road down Janas led runners
to the next entrance of the wadi bed for
a quick 2km where Checkpoint 3 sat waiting at the start of the next climb - up Jebel
Yibir. Runners slowly appeared at the base of
Janas Mountain only to groan at the speed at
which the second climb had seemed to come
along. Pushing too hard here would almost

certainly have a serious impact on a runners ability to go the distance and a careful
management of energy stores was the key to
getting over the finish line.
It seemed the leading group of runners
Sami Alsaidi, Chad Lasater and Lee Harris
were keeping the pace high and only time
would tell who would crumble first. This
group was closely followed by Clare Mullenger for the women and Julia Ibbini a little
way behind her.
The climb up Jebel Yibir is by far the
toughest. A seemingly never-ending road,
so steep you can stretch out your muscles
by just turning arond and pointing your feet
downhill. Calves worked out to the max,
lungs screaming in protest. Then just when
you think you have reached the top at a small
village, you drop down into the ravine, and
turn up into a boulder strewn gorge. No easy
way through, runners must clamber up and
over. Energy stores are now being depleted
double time.
A small village on a plateau signalled at
least the end of the climb, but a single-track
ridge stood between runners and the refreshments waiting at Checkpoint 4. Then it was
a short gravel road that led to the smooth
tarmac and a good 8km of steep, switchback
road leading down into the valley below and
the welcome sight of Checkpoint 5 at 52km.
Checkpoint 5 was a hive of activity: hot
soup and noodles on the go, chocolate,
fruit, peanut butter and jam, tea, coffee; all
the things a runner could need after such an

effort to get there. Runners left Checkpoint

5 to embark on another thankfully short, but
super steep winding descent into the valley
below and then into the wadi bed to follow
the pink markers all the way to Checkpoint 6.
At Checkpoint 7, the runners went through
some lovely landscape, eventually reaching
some very flat sections to take them through
an agricultural and poultry farm area of Wadi
Kub and to the final Checkpoint 8.
With only 8.5km to go to the finish, it
was unclear if it was Chad or Sami - having switched several times from the lead to
second place and back again throughout
the day, was going to be first over the last
rise into the valley of Al Ghail then through a
short section of farm and sand.
Draped in the Oman flag, the young
22-year-old turned into the finish still looking
light footed and fresh to take 1st place in the
mens category. Coming across the line he
proclaimed it was harder than he expected
as he entered thinking it was 100km of sand
dunes! All we can say is it seems he can turn
his feet to any terrain, completing the UrbanUltra Hajar 100 in 11hrs and 37mins. Following 12 minutes later was Chad Lasater and
then behind him, Lee Harris. Clare Mullanger
appeared soon after taking the womens
champion trophy and an astonishing 4th
place overall. Solid evidence that women are
proving to be serious contenders for the top
spots in endurance running, and not just in
the womens category!
As dusk finally gave way to the star-strewn
sky, the appearance of runners slowed significantly, crossing the line in various states
of exhaustion as the night wore on. The glow
of the fire lit the spaced-out faces of finishers coming in the early hours, thrilled with
their performance, but just too exhausted
to celebrate it. At 22hrs and 50mins, the last
runner Hishashi from Japan was cheered in,
his bloodstained Vibrams which hed chosen
to run the last 48km in a testament to his
will and mental strength after such a long
distance and time. From the incredible 11hrs
and 37mins that Sami ran to the 22hrs and
50mins of Hishashi, both are impressive for
very different reasons and no less remarkable.
And to close this season, we all deserve a
rest and a good massage.

EVENT REPORT

2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Report

Words By: Ian Ganderton

Photos By: Supplied

The 2015 Abu Dhabi Desert

Challenge was the 25th edition of
this epic motorsport adventure
race and my first attempt at participating. As the first round of the
2015 FIM Cross Country Rallies
World Championship and the FIA
Cross Country Rally World Cup, it
is a key international motorsport
event that draws the worlds best
riders and drivers from all over the
globe in one place.
There are also a lot of participants like me
pitting themselves against one of the most
extreme environments on the planet and
against the worlds best in motorsport to see
how they shape up.

Day 1 262km Yas Marina

Circuit Special Stage

The first day takes the competitors from Yas

Marina Circuit down to the bivouac next to

Marc Coma - Action Day 3

Qasr Al Sarab at the edge of the Liwa Crescent. Of the five days this is the one I worried
about most. Its the first day of the event and
it involves gatch/sand tracks and the fast,
open desert that is punctuated by technical
drops that can catch the unwary and end
their event just as it has begun.
I stuck to my game plan and had a steady

day making good time up until PC3 and the

last quarter of the stage where I experienced
some fuelling issues. This lead to me getting
stuck in a hole and fighting for an energysapping 30 minutes to get out and then
limping my bike to the finish line with a time
of 4hrs 50mins.
At the front of the bikes leg was 2014
World Champion and Dakar winner, Marc
Coma stamping his authority on the event
with a time of 3:12:54 2 minutes in front of
local hero and fellow KTM teammate Sam
Sunderland. Paulo Goncalves for Honda was
3rd.
In the cars category, the Emirati team of
Yahya Al Helei (driver) and Khalid Al Kindi
Ian directly after his accident. Closing off
his ADDC 2015 run with a broken leg.

Sam Sunderland - Action Day 2

OUTDOORUAE

15

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Crazy Camel Racing team

(co-driver) took the top spot. This was

particularly special as Al Helei is the only
person to have competed in every single one
of the 25 editions of this race. With a time
of 3:20:13, he was almost 2 minutes in front
of last years winner and World Champion
Vladimir Vasilyev.

Day 2 - 279km ADNOC

Special Stage

A long early morning liaison took us out

to the start of the special stage just off the
Madinat Zayed road. This was an exciting
mass start for the bikes. I again managed to
prevent myself getting carried away in the
moment and stuck to my game plan of just
riding my ride. I felt great on the bike and
teamed up with Tony Landh to the half way
point at PC2. I was faster through the technical dunes due to my local knowledge and he
was faster along the open sections. We made
excellent progress. Just before PC2 we came
across a rider out of fuel. I stopped to help
and got him going with a couple of litres of
my fuel. It took 15 minutes and split myself
and Tony up.
About half way to PC3 the going got tough
with lots of camel grass. Id been caught by
the faster cars and they were adding to the
conditions by chopping it up brutally. At
somewhere just over 200km into the stage I
made a mistake on the chopped up sand of
a big slipface on the backside of a big steep
crest. I needed to reset my bike and get
going again. I did this and was on the bike
ready to go when I heard the car coming. A
split second later and it was over the crest
and hit me. I saw the view of a rally car that
can only mean bad things. I was very lucky,
it was only the front wheel that went over
Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi - Action Day 3

16

OUTDOORUAE

my right leg, it could have been a whole lot

worse. I knew I was injured and that my race
was over. Within 15 minutes the paramedics were there and I was airlifted by chopper
to Madinat Zayed Hospital where an x-ray
showed both tibia and fibula broken. Gutted.
In the bikes Sunderland was in his element and won the stage from Austrian KTM
teammate Walkner by 3 seconds. Coma was
back in tenth. This left the overall standings
with Sunderland in first, Coma in second and
Goncalves in third.
In the cars category, Qatari 2015 Dakar
winner Nasser Al Attiyah took first, in a Mini
All4 Racing by 7mins 16 secs from Russias
defending champion, Vladimir Vasilyev in
another Mini, to grab a 4mins 13secs overall
advantage.
With Dutchman Erik Van Loon climbing
three places to third, UAE local hero Yahya Al
Helei - the overnight leader, was seventh fastest on the day to finish the leg in fourth place
overall alongside Emirati co-driver Khalid Al
Kendi in his Nissan pickup.

Day 3 - 272 km Qasr

Al Sarab Special Stage

Starting near Moreeb, this saw the rally having a hot day with temperatures close to 40
with a lot of it inside the Liwa Crescent and its
sand mountains. This took its toll on competitors across the field at all levels.
This day saw Nasser Al-Attiyah strengthening his grip on the race with another measured drive in the Rub Al Khali while World
Champion Marc Coma made a big move in
his search for an eighth bikes triumph in the
event.
Victory in the bikes by 29secs went to
defending champion Paulo Goncalves, but
Yahya Al Helei - Action Day 2

second place on the day was enough to give

Coma a 5min 4secs overall advantage from
the Portuguese rider, with overnight leader
Sam Sunderland slipping to third.
Chiles Pablo Quintanilla, Portugals Ruben
Faria and American rider Ricky Brabec completed the top six heading, with the UAEs
Mohammed Al Balooshi still going strong in
seventh.
Al-Attiyah took the stage by more than 11
minutes from Russias Vladimir Vasilyev to
open up an overall lead of 15min 54secs from
the defending cars champion.
With Dutchman Erik Van Loon another
14min 46secs adrift, the UAEs Sheikh Khalid
Al Qassimi finished the day within reach of a
podium place after another impressive drive
for his Desert Challenge debut alongside
Portugals Jose Marques in Toyota Hilux.
Britains Harry Hunt in a Mini and Polands
Marek Dabrowski in a Toyota Hilux completed the top six at the end of the demanding
leg which was particularly unkind to another
Emirati driver, Yahya Al Helei.
The first stage winner, who was still fourth
at the start of the day, was halted by a broken
clutch as he took his Nissan pickup through
the mighty dunes close to the legendary Moreeb Hill, eventually slipping to ninth place
overall, more than two hours off the lead.

Day 4 - 258km Nissan

Patrol Special Stage

In my opinion this is the most spectacular

day of the rally with most of it in the crescent
passing parallel to the border amongst its
huge dunes and sabkahs. But with a second
horrendously hot day it took a huge toll on
man and machine again.
Crazy Camel Racings Ben Smith who

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Sam Sunderland - Action Day 3

Mohammad Al Balooshi - Action Day 4

had been having a fantastic first FIM race running

consistently around 15th on his Rebel X Yamaha was
airlifted out of the stage with severe dehydration as
was Crazy Camels Jan Zatko. Crazy Camels Tony
Landh suffered a big off and was airlifted to Mafeq
hospital with some significant injuries. Kurt suffered
mechanical problems and Keith stayed with him for
them both to limp their way back to the bivouac
from PC2. Tough day in the office for the Crazy
Camels! Local Superman Kobus Potgieters rally also
ended with a broken wrist after a great consistent
ride up to that point.
There were no problems for stage winner Matthias Walkner, nor for his KTM teammate Coma, who
was second fastest on the day to extend his overall
lead from Sunderland to 11 mins 55secs. But it was
all over for the reign of Goncalves as Desert Challenge bikes champion as he waited for the sweep
team while he encountered electrical problems.
Al-Attiyah won the special stage from defending
champion Vladimir Vasilyev to extend his overall
lead to 19min 47secs. With Dutchman Erik Van
Loon another 20 minutes away in third, Britains
Harry Hunt, and Saudi Arabias Yazeed Al-Rajhi and
Polands Marek Dabrowski, both driving a Toyota
Hilux, completed the top six.
It was a bitterly disappointing day for Sheikh
Khalid Al Qassimi, holding fourth place overnight
on his Desert Challenge debut, and fellow-Emirati
driver Yahya Al Helei, winner of the first stage on
Sunday. Al Qassimi retired half way through the
stage with a gearbox problem, but after such a
strong showing on his first appearance in the FIA

World Cup for Cross Country Rallies there could be

much more to come.
Al Helei, who had slipped to ninth, 24 hours earlier after outpacing the factory cars in his locally-built
Nissan pickup, rolled early on the stage and then
suffered a heavy landing after 35kms. Co-driver
Khalid Al Kendi was freed from the car by the medical team and evacuated by helicopter to Madinat
Zayed Hospital with back injuries.

Day 5 - 234 km Abu Dhabi

Aviation Special Stage

Scheduled to be a close reverse of Day 1 with the

rally heading back to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu
Dhabi for tea and medals a big sandstorm prevented safe racing leaving all the competitors to slog it
out along the Humeem road in horrible conditions.
Final positions leave an amazing situation with a
clean sweep on the podium for Mini in the cars and
KTM in the bikes.
Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in action - leg 1

Final Positions
Vladimir Vasilyev - Action Day3

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (QAT / FRA) Mini All4 Racing

14:33:01.0

2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS/RUS) Mini All4 Racing

14:52:48.0

3. Erik Van Loon / Wouter Rosegaar (NED / NED) Mini All4 Racing

15:13:03.0

4. Harry Hunt / Andreas Schulz (GBR / DEU) Mini All4 Racing

15:43:36.0

5. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gotschalk (KSA / DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive

16:27:01.0

6. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive

16:42:41.0

Bikes
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 450 RR

14:49:05.0

2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 RR

15:01:00.0

3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) KTM 450 RR

15:09:21.0

4. Ruben Faria (POR) KTM 450 RR

15:17:06.0

5. Ricky Brabec (USA) Honda CRF 450 Rally

6. Mohammad Al Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 RR

15:33:53.0

DMX

Words By: Mark Ackerman

Photos By: Abdel Elecho

March 13th, Friday was a

very lucky day for Liberty Kawasakis
Ross Runnals and Jake Shipton as
they won the overalls for both MX1
and MX2 classes. This tandem win
was realized in the deserts of Jebel
Ali which played host to Round 6
of the DMX Championship Series.
It was business as usual for both
riders as they swept clear wins in
both motos to keep their standings
intact. Whilst the MX1 class only
had six competitors it was a highly
contested battle with the fighting for
the top spots throughout the race.

In the 85cc class, Eugenio Barbaglia (SRG

Portable Shade Husqvarna) and Nicholas
Kefford (KTM UAE) chased hard with Kefford
leading the two up to the 4th lap, Barbaglia
took the lead on the 5th only to surrender
his position in a well-executed block pass by
Kefford in the penultimate lap. Barbaglia had
been racing the last half of the race with his
clutch hanging down which was a testament
to the grit the two are showing every time
they are on the track. MX2 was just as fast
but it was a Barbaglia show this time around
leading from lap 2 through to the checkers.

The 65cc class was Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukhs time to shine winning both motos by
over 8 seconds with Ahmed Alnuiami and
Faisal Al Busaidi rounding out the podium.
The Masters class was led by Mark Ackerman (SRG Portable Shade Husqvarna) with 2
holeshots with Janne Tuohino (KTM 350) and
Shannon OConnor (Balooshi Racing KTM)
swapping positions late in the motos with
Shannon finishing in 2nd overall and Janne in
3rd. The Clubman class was once again the
Clinton Wyngard (KTM UAE) show with clean
wins in both motos.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Throughout the day, the temperatures

hovered in the mid to late 20s and that, combined with the strong breeze made for very
mild and enjoyable conditions for the racers
to compete in. Thanks to Karcher for bringing
along the pressure washers for all the riders
to use in the wash bay.
On the junior track things changed quickly.

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Within six months, the lives of these small

racers changed drastically with significant
shifts in speed and in progress over the season. The finest example of this was seen in
Mohammed Bin Laden on the #88 KTM 65cc
who has gone from being lapped in the first
few races to actively contending for a podium
position. Mohammed has been working with
his father and trainer this season and the
results have been nothing short of amazing.
Mohammed is riding with the speed, style
and attitude of a seasoned pro which is very
exciting for the sport in the UAE and sets a
great example to all the kids showing the
results of hard work. Mohammed was able
to finish in second but the day was all Miles
Sexsons with chequered flag wins in both
motos, not putting a foot wrong the whole
day. Gian Luca Holder put in solid motos to
secure 3rd place on that day.

DMX 2014/15 Championship MX1

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4

No.
731
1
3
18

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014

Name
Jake Shipton
Ross Runnals
Dale Jullien
Ben Menzies

MX1 Total MX1 Total

MX

Total

25
16
22
20

25
16
22
20

MX Total MX Total

1/9/2015
MX Total MX Total

Total
250
247
204
187

Diff
0
3
46
63

Gap

Total
278
260
221
201

Diff
0
18
57
77

Gap

Total
282
276
237
185

Diff
0
6
45
97

Gap

85cc Total 85cc Total

85

Total

85

Total

85

Total

85

0
6
39
52

25
22
20
15

22
25
15
20

22
25
15
20

25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

25
22
20
16

Total

Diff

Gap

65cc Total 65cc Total

65

Total

65

Total

65

Total

65

282
246
211
195

0
36
71
87

0
36
35
16

20
22
16
18

25
20
15
22

25
20
15
22

25
20
16
22

25
20
16
22

25
16
22
20

25
16
22
20

25
16
18
20

0
3
43
17

25
18
15
22

25
18
15
22

25
20
18
22

25
20
18
22

25
20
16
18

25
20
16
18

25
20
15
18

25
20
15
18

25
15
x
18

25
15
x
18

x
25
22
x

x
25
22
x

1/9/2015
1/30/2015
MX Total MX Total
x
25
22
x

x
25
22
x

25
22
18
15

25
22
18
15

1/30/2015
MX Total
25
22
16
18

25
22
16
18

3/13/2015 3/13/2015
MX Total MX Total
25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

DMX 2014/15 Championship MX2

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4

No.
1
555
23
38

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014

Name
Ross Runnals
Ryan Blair
Mohammed Jaffer
Keegan Barnard

0
18
39
20

MX2 Total MX2 Total

22
20
18
16

22
20
18
16

25
22
18
16

25
22
18
16

MX

Total

20
25
22
18

20
25
22
18

MX Total MX Total
25
22
18
14

25
22
18
14

22
20
15
14

22
20
15
14

1/9/2015
MX Total MX Total
25
20
18
15

25
20
18
15

25
22
20
16

25
22
20
16

1/9/2015
1/30/2015
MX Total MX Total
20
25
22
18

20
25
22
18

22
20
16
18

22
20
16
18

1/30/2015
MX Total
22
20
18
16

22
20
18
16

3/13/2015 3/13/2015
MX Total MX Total
25
22
18
20

25
22
18
20

25
22
18
20

25
22
18
20

DMX 2014/15 Championship 85cc

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4

No.
19
22
174
18

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014

Name
Eugenio Barbaglia
Nicholas Kefford
Abdulla Alnuaimi
Jasim Alkubaisi

25
22
20
15

25
22
20
16

25
22
20
16

1/9/2015
Total 85 Total
25
22
20
16

16
25
22
13

16
25
22
13

1/9/2015
85 Total
25
22
20
13

25
22
20
13

1/30/2015
85 Total
22
25
20
13

22
25
20
13

1/30/2015
85 Total
25
22
20
15

25
22
20
15

3/13/2015 3/13/2015
85 Total 85 Total
22
25
20
13

22
25
20
13

25
22
20
15

25
22
20
15

DMX 2014/15 Championship 65cc

Season: 2015
Pos
1
2
3
4

No.
1
174
99
22

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014

Name

Yurajsinh Kondedeshmukh
Ahmed Alnuiami
Joseph Mortado
Jamie Horn

20
22
16
18

25
18
14
20

25
18
14
20

1/9/2015
Total 65 Total
25
16
18
20

25
20
16
18

25
20
16
18

1/9/2015
65 Total
25
20
18
15

25
20
18
15

1/30/2015
65 Total
25
22
20
18

25
22
20
18

1/30/2015
65 Total
15
25
18
22

15
25
18
22

3/13/2015 3/13/2015
65 Total 65 Total
25
22
18
x

25
22
18
x

22
25
20
x

22
25
20
x

DUBAI MOTOCROSS CLUB

OUTDOORUAE

19

EVENT REPORT

2015 Emirates Palace

SUP Festival
Words By: Nick Yates

The second annual Emirates Palace

Stand Up Paddle Festival was held on
Valentines Day this year and it was a
date to remember for paddlers and
spectators alike.
The festival had competitive races with
tight finishes, great beach vibes and events
for the entire family, which even included
a tandem race with two paddlers on one
board. It had the thrills and spills to entertain
a crowd of over 150 people and over 125
paddlers representing 19 nationalities. The
daylong festival and the largest SUP event on
the UAE Calendar was organised by the Abu
Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers Group and provided yet another beautiful day with plenty of
fun in the sun.
The race course varied from race to race
but the beach run, dreaded by some, at the
end of each lap was a constant and added
excitement to each lap allowing spectators to
cheer on the participants up close as they ran
by. Paddlers navigated themselves around
the course buoys and then to the beach,
summoning the necessary energy to get their
legs moving in a 50m sprint; no easy feat
after paddling their hearts out! The 4km and
2km race lap was around a course conveniently laid out in the shape of a heart; yes this
was on purpose of course.
The races got off to a cracking start with
the 500m womens, mens, juniors and kids
races. The Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers
dedicate their time to share the sport with
people of all ages and abilities
throughout the year and the participation

rate in the festival within the entry level

beginner race was a testament to their commitment. Almost 50 paddlers entered as firsttime racers and sure, there were shaky legs
followed by a few falls, but that wouldnt be
SUP racing without a few people taking dips
in the refreshing water. Carrie Ingram, Nicolas
Blanc, Joachim Sjodin, Victoria Sjodin, Levi
Chard and Nika Vugrinec took home the top
honours in their respective categories.
The 4km race was up next with a strong
field lining up on the start line. The distance
is a long sprint; it is not a true endurance race
but neither is it a sprint. The times set by the
top paddlers were quick. Amer Dandanchi
and Daniel Van Dooren again duked it out by
swapping the lead several times throughout
the race. It was Amer who beat Dan in the
end to continue his dominance of the long
races here in the UAE. Esther Farrant blazed
the female field on her Naish One Inflatable
board making her time even more epic.
The 2km races allowed plenty of new

racers to test out their speed over a longer

distance as well as plenty of buoy turns in a
variety of board categories from inflatable to
all around surf SUP. For more experienced
paddlers, we saw some very fast strokes
right from the start as enthusiasts powered
through the race course in a very fast two lap
sprint. Plenty of smiles on the water for Anne
Cortez, Tracey Weerawarna, Jilly MacMillan,
Renauld Olivier, Brian Stephenson, Corey
Oliver and Ralph Hussami - the winners of the
seven different 2km categories.
The tandem race debuted in this event
because of the significance of February 14th.
Paddlers paired up; one person laid down
on the board while another person paddled
a 200m lap. At the end, the pair had to finish up with a run leg. Believe me, there was
no love lost as pairs jostled for position on
the water and elbowed their way along the
beach run. Paddling for the most part is an
individual competition so camaraderie shone
through in the tandem and team relay event;

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

another race where teams of three fought for

supremacy with paddlers relishing the opportunity to get ahead of their friends turned
competitors.
The last race of the day was the third in
the N1SCO Race Series and the festival held
back the most hotly contested races for last.
This race levels out all competitors as everyone must use the same race board, the Naish
One 126 Inflatable Board. This inflatable is a
great touring and all around board with easy
storing as it deflates and rolls up into a bag.
It is also a fast race SUP as the men, women,
juniors and kids showed us.
The N1SCO race series ended at the water
line so there was often paddlers flying to
shore and flinging themselves onto the sand
to try and beat their fellow competitors in
knockout heats. There were upsets on the
water as all competitors paddled in heats of
six, 50m out to a buoy and back as quickly as
possible. The buoy turn provided entertainment for the crowd as paddlers fell trying to

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

get around and leaving positions completely

different than when the horn was blown.
Emirates Palace is certainly the most iconic
landmark to paddle in. Spectators lounged
on the pristine beach and paddlers were
greeted with glass-like conditions to battle
it out. There was plenty of entertainment

with OutdoorUAEs very own DJ Maryo Figo

pleasing his fans with an awesome musical
backdrop with mixes that had a little bit of
everything. Adventure HQ also set up their
pump track. You should have seen the stoked
grommets (and big kids!) on bikes, scooters and skateboards tearing it up. A huge
thank you to our sponsors and supporters
who helped make the second annual event
another success including Emirates Palace,
Hydro Marine Sport, Adventure HQ, Oceanman UAE, Naish, Red Paddle Co, Vogue
Fitness, Al Mahara, Live Love SUP, Surf House
Dubai and OutdoorUAE.
To join the Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers
Group, please visit www.abudhabisup.com
for more information. They are the most active SUP community in the UAE with weekly
paddle nights, weekend paddles, race
training and social events.

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EVENT REPORT

Victory for Dylan Ferrandis as Ryan Villopoto debuts

CLS Monster Energy Kawasakis
Dylan Ferrandis showed why he is
going to be one of the contenders
for the 2015 FIM MX2 Motocross
World Championship by blending
speed and spirit under the lights
of Losail to fight for a hard-earned
third position. MXGP launched in
the desert coinciding with the
Qatar Grand Prix for the third year
on the bounce and the Frenchman
recovered from a second race
crash to earn his spot on the podium despite dealing with illness.
Dylan wrapped his hands around four
trophies in 2014 and already has one notch
on his 2015 scorecard. Running with his new
number 4 Ferrandis was lucky to escape
unscathed from a heavy tumble in the
formative stages of the second race and just
when he was starting to size-up an attack
on leader Jeffrey Herlings. He then needed
to recover his composure to regain ground
from eleventh back up to fourth to make the
box.
I was sick this weekend so my goal was to
make the podium; Im pleased about this,
he said. I was surprised to pass Jeffrey in the
first moto. I made two good laps but then
mentally I wasnt ready to lead the moto and
I was making too many mistakes. I was really
feeling good in the second moto but made a
crash when I was chasing Jeffrey. Anyway it is
good to be up here.
His teammates Jordi Tixier and Thomas
Covington also tasted some of the bumpy
Losail terrain as the Frenchman and American
assumed the final two positions in the top
ten. Monster Energy DRT Kawasakis Max Anstie had the scariest get-off of them all after
seeming to miss a gear on the take off to the
large step-up jump and was lucky to hobble
away from a major incident while closing on
the top three.
Over in the premier class there was little

The Winner and the Learner: Ferrandis (top right) takes away the
first round while newcomer Villopoto (left) learns vital lessons.

doubt about who was the main draw in

Losail. Increased crowd attendance was a
sign that many were tuning in to see the
Grand Prix debut of multi-AMA Champion
and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Teams
Ryan Villopoto. The 26-year-old did not have
a dream maiden outing however and finished
seventh overall in what was only the first part
of his adjustment to a new series and fresh
form of racing. A few key mistakes like an engine stall in the gate and several small spills
stopped the American from
running his aggressive speed
nearer the front of the pack.
All I know is that every
time we went on the track
we got better, he said.
From yesterday until now
we got better all the time.

We scored okay points and for me it has

been about learning the system and how it
all works. I havent ridden on Saturday and
raced on Sunday or done two twenty-minute
practices and a twenty-minute race followed
by a fifteen-minute practice and then into the
motos; that is more riding on the weekend
than we have ever had in the States. Im getting used to that.
Teammate Tyla Rattray fared better in 17th
overall and was searching for a more effective
set-up all weekend. The South
African will get more time to
refine his suspension and Villopoto is poised to gain more
Grand Prix experience with the
second round slated to take
place in Nakhonchaisri west of
Bangkok.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

EVENT REPORT

the dock of the bay

Dubai International Boat Show 2015
Words By: Keith Perea
Photos By: Abrito Rosellosa Jr. and Jung Francisco

With the cold wind, touching the

seas as cruisers of all shapes and
sizes are moored on the docks, it
was hard not to have a great time
at the recent Dubai International
Boat Show which took place last
March 3rd to the 7th at the Dubai
International Marine Club at Mina
Seyahi.
The event was attended by thousands of
visitors who were either in the market for a
yacht or simply admiring these prestigious
aquatic machines. Other than yachts, this
years Boat Show also introduced other water
disciplines such as SUP, fly fishing, kayaking
and diving to name a few.
On the outset, the Boat Show displayed
the latest and greatest of boating with marine
powerhouses showcasing their latest models of yachts and other craft. Also, it was a
chance for interested buyers to look into what
could be their next cabin cruiser in the buyers
section where free tours inside the yachts
was also provided. Wintry March breeze and
elegant boats always go hand in hand, and its
in the Boat Show where it reaches its zenith.
In the Outdoor Display Area, proud media
partner OutdoorUAE was present to provide
cheers and smiles as they demonstrated some
SUP skills (with some splashes in between)
pleasing visitors young and old alike. Other
than that, visitors were also amazed after
posing for photos in OutdoorUAEs very
own photo booth with visitors taking home
photographic souvenirs of the day they went
and witnessed as the bespoke titans of the sea
exhibited their regal nature.
It was also during the Boat Show where
experts in the field imparted their tips and

tricks via the Marine Talks. The lectures were

delivered by notable experts such as Sean
James, who talk about coaststeering in the
Musandam region and is currently on his way
to the top of the world as of late; Ian Ganderton and Steven Bennet who, in separate talks
discussed essential kayaking know-how and
the challenges that they have faced; seasoned
fly fishermen Kit Belen and Chris Bamford
who talked about the issues that fly fishing
faces in the UAE; and renowned freediver Alex
Boulting who gave a talk about his freediving
adventures and the things that he constantly
learns from these experiences.
A crowd of eager learners paid attention as
these experts shared, laughed and inspired
other enthusiasts as well as inspiring starters
to continue loving their sport and discovering
a new route to travel. The talks inspired and
challenged the audience which in turn gave
rise to multiple questions thus providing a
space for intellectual discussion between the
speakers and the audience.
From my seat during the Marine Talks, it was
nice to hear from Kit Belen and Chris Bamford
about fly fishing. I admit Ive only been introduced to fly fishing during that time. But after
hearing them impart their knowledge, I might
actually give it a go. Other than that, one thing
I also noticed is the presence of kids during
the Marine Talks. It was a pleasure to see the
younger generation taking interest in the life
of the outdoors; they even raised questions!
Of which Chris and Kit gladly answered.
Other than Kit and Chris, Ian and Steven
shared their kayaking adventures around the
Musandam area and the challenges that they
faced not only there but also across the Emirate. Another amazing session was hosted by
Alex Boulting who even brought freediving
champion Alexey Molchanov with him as he

talked about the sport within the context of

the UAE. Whats also interesting to note about
Alexs talk was his amazing use of audience
participation as he gave breathing exercises
to a very eager audience. It was an 5 nights of
beautiful learning.
Apart from elegant yachts, the show
wouldnt be complete without some music.
Living up the event was international artist
Melisa le Rue who gave stellar renditions of
the latest pop music as well as giving new life
to hallmark classics.
In entirety, the Boat Show was a wonderful display of not only yachts but also of
knowledge. With more involvement from the
watersports lifestyle community, the Boat
Show has become more than just a melting
pot for people to look into buying a yacht but
it has also become a stage for learning more
about water sports. With this development
and the presence of the Marine Talks in this
years Boat Show, we can all expect another
amazing Boat Show come 2016. This years
show is proof that the event has escalated into
a place where enthusiasts enjoyed learning a
thing or two as they walked along the steps of
Mina Seyahi amidst the kings and queens of
the seas the yachts.

OUTDOORUAE

23

ACTIVITY REPORT

tales
FROM THE
stables
Words By: Cindy Stadelmann and Cosmo

Recently, I had the chance

to get a sniff of the most exciting
discipline of equestrian sports that
is similar to triathlon. Triathlon for
horses is called Eventing.
Eventing consists of an element of dressage, cross country jumping and show
jumping. Dubai recently introduced another
variation combining human triathlon with
endurance riding, the Dubai Desert Triathlon.
Here competitors run 5km, cycle 50km and
horse ride 40km. Most competitors race in
relay teams since it is necessary to have a
license issued by the Equestrian Federation
to do the horse ride. Additionally, only a few
participants have this license (and a horse),
and are talented cyclists and runners. Back to
my main subject, the sniff of the most exciting
eventing discipline.

Fun at Desert Palm

A few weeks ago, I participated in a cross

country clinic at the Desert Palm stable just
a few minutes away from my home. In cross
country, you canter over long distance on
grass and dirt tracks and tackle jumps on the
way. These are solidly built and can be in the
shape of little huts, benches, ditches, steps
and so on. Cantering is actually an

Beautiful surroundings to ride XC

understatement. In real eventing competitions, you actually gallop which is also a

three-beat gait similar to canter just faster.
I will dedicate one of the next articles to
explain the differences between all different
gaits.
It was my first time to jump over those
obstacles, so I took big leaps over them to be
sure not to touch them. It was fun! No matter
what came my way, I just jumped it. During
the clinic I was accompanied by three other
horses, of which two were actually ponies and
they went over those jumps with absolute
ease. Our trainer, Hannah, took us to a set
of jumps, explained what to do, how to approach and off we went. The ponies knew
what they were doing but it was exciting for
everybody. Cantering in the open and tackling the brown-coloured hurdles was brilliant
except when we came to the water jump.
You want me to go into that? In canter? No,
no, no. I absolutely dont care if the ponies
just went right through it, splashing the water
in all directions. I have no idea how deep that
is!
Well, it took around 10 minutes to convince
Cosmo to walk through the water. Before we
got there, I (the rider) had to get off, push
him, pull him, make him move sideways,
offer treats, verbal praise and pats. Cosmo
made the grass bank even soggier than it
already was. My feet were soaked from the
attempts where I walked ahead deep into
the water. The water slowly ran into my boots
as Cosmo gripped tightly to the edge with
his long stretched neck to avoid any hoofcontact with the water. But after 10 minutes,
Fun with the fences

Cosmo gave in and we finally rode carefully

through. We repeated this twice and then
how about in canter? So, we rode away down
a bank, turned around and cantered up the
slope, which Cosmo greatly enjoyed, and approached the water. He briefly stopped at the
edge and then leaped into the air, as if tackling an imaginary 1m jump, to land straight
with all four hoofs in the water. Splash! We
did it! It was a brilliant afternoon that showed
me how much fun horses have with these
kinds of new challenges. Cross country is
definitely something that needs to be put on
the agenda again for Cosmo.

Cross country

Cross country is one of the three disciplines

conducted in the equestrian sport eventing. Some people might know it under its
previous name Military, due to its historic
origin. In the past, officers of the cavalry met
and competed against each other in this challenge testing their fitness and courage. I have
seen pictures of horses jumping onto roofs
of houses on one side and sliding down on
the other. Horse and rider compete in three
disciplines either all together in a One Day
Event (ODE) or spread out over three days,
Three-Day-Eventing. It starts with a dressage
test that all riders need to complete. They are
judged on balance, suppleness and obedience. In the coming months, I will talk more
about the subject of dressage. In the infancy
stage of this sport, dressage was all about the
officer showing his horses ability to perform
on the parade ground.

Dressage

The dressage test is followed by tackling a

cross country course. Here, horses canter
at great speed (gallop) over a distance of
4-6km and jump between 24 to 36 obstacles
proving their speed, endurance and jumping ability. The jumps are of a fixed and
solid nature. At lower levels, these jumps
are already intimidating but if you look at
big competitions, including the Olympic
Games those jumps include carts, bushes,
log fences, jumps into or within water and
table tops. Horse and rider jump down drops
that are impossible to see from the direction
they have to be approached. An example
of a famous cross country course and event
is the Badminton Horse Trials. Go to their

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Performing in front of the clubhouse

official webpage and watch an animation of

the course and some sampled rides conquering the jumps. Your heart will make a jump,
too. In the old days, military officers had to
complete a long distance ride followed by a
cross country obstacle course within a time
limit showing their stamina, courage and
speed. This symbolised a charger tackling difficult terrain over distance or a courier quickly
dispatching a message.

Show jumping

The third discipline is show jumping. The test

is in an arena in which horses jump about 10
colourful pole-jumps in the form of uprights
and oxers. An oxer is a very deep or wide obstacle. This looks similar to the normal show
jumping competitions, which you might have
seen on TV. The jumps are not as high as during big show jumping competitions but you
have to keep in mind that these horses and
riders already have completed two strenuous tests during that day or the days before.
In the past, the third discipline was to prove
the continued soundness and fitness of horse
and rider. Since 1963, during a three-day
event, the horses are vet checked each morning and given the green light if found sound.

Scoring

The goal of the competition is to avoid accruing penalty points. During dressage, the
horse collects points for its performance minus error points, which is divided by the total
number of points that can be collected. This
is subtracted from 100. For cross country and
jumping the rider again tries to avoid penalties for exceeding the time or jumping errors
e.g. rider falling off, horse refusing, knocking
poles. Elimination is possible as well during
cross country and show jumping if too many
Warming down

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Distractions such as birds and trees test the horses

errors are made. There is more science to the

calculations and the overall results but I want
to leave it at this.

Protection

The cross country course is made of solid

fences and bears a high risk of injury. Hence,
horses and riders wear extra protection.
Horses have padded boots wrapped around
their lower legs and hoofs are covered with
bell boots to avoid any harsh impact.
Riders wear body protectors that remind
slightly of bulletproof vests. They are not,
but definitely prevent bigger injury in case
the rider falls into a jump. Newer models,
mold nicely around the riders body and give
freedom of movement, whilst doing its job.
Some riders additionally wear inflatable vests
that automatically inflate if a toggle is pulled,
e.g. if the rider falls off. Certainly, all riders
wear hats.

The Spinneys Cup

The first military competition was organised in 1902 and only allowed military officers. This continued for years and even when
this challenge was added to the Olympic
Games it remained only for military personnel. Only in 1949, the first civilian three-day
eventing competition was held. It was in the
USA and in 1953 the first shortened version
of the sport was conducted. Over 2,000
additional modifications have taken place
since and now form the standard international format for eventing competitions. I
have been in Dubai since 2005 and ever
since then, I remember the Spinneys Cup
as one of the highlights of the year, at least
for the equestrian sport community here in
the UAE. This big event, now concluding
the eventing season in this country is held

Cosmo testing the water

at Desert Palm, where Cosmo and I had the

honour to follow the great riders and to test
our skills. The Cup was a casual event with
picnic baskets and blankets for the spectators and an exciting day out for the horses
and riders. The event has grown in popularity
and year after year has attracted an increasing number of competitors. Different entry
levels are offered, giving novice to senior
riders the opportunity to enjoy the day. You
see courageous kids zipping along on their
ponies as well as adults on their brave steeds.
One thing you will notice here in the UAE
is that the sequence of the disciplines has
been swapped around. This is due to the
heat encountered during the day. It means
the day starts off with dressage followed by
show jumping before it gets mid-day and
too hot. After a few hours rest and before
sun sets as there are no lights on the course,
the competitors complete the cross country
section, all with fierce faces during the ride
and beaming smiles once through the finishing lines. Besides Desert Palm, the Emirates
Equestrian Centre close to Bab Al Shams offers competitions and clinics, either location
is quickly accessible by car and should be on
your to-do list if you want to have a look
into this exciting competition.
Next month I want to write about one
special event that also runs over multiple
days, tests and demands courage, and is
something very unique. The UAE is the only
country to run this. Want to know more? Stay
tuned.

OUTDOORUAE

25

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

ACTIVITY REPORT

Around the world

in Seven Steps
Words By: Maria Conciecao

It was hard to believe that I was

finally on the way to start the 777
Challenge. It felt just like another
dream and Id had many over the
course of the last six months of
preparation, some of them good
but most of them waking me up in
a cold sweat in fear of something
going horrifically wrong.
The target for this challenge was to run a
full marathon on each of the seven continents
in seven days. To call this a challenge was a
vast understatement. And one long haul flight
after the other with a marathon at the other
end compounded the challenge.
On the evening of the 7th of February we
had a chance to learn what the other runners
were guilty of to deserve this punishment. For
me it was easy, this challenge was a chance to
show my determination, and raise awareness.
The others were a mixed bag from all over the
world: running for a cause, breaking world records but several just for fun the crazy ones.
The first marathon in Melbourne, Australia
was very pleasant with reasonably cool weather. I ran at a comfortable pace and finished
the distance feeling good. I was the second
female to finish from our group finishing in 4h
22m. After the race, I had 3-4 hours before
we had to head to the airport. This turned out
to be barely enough time for a shower, some
food and to read a few emails.
Race 2 was in Abu Dhabi. I fell asleep on
the flight a few times but not for long. The
usual discomforts of a long haul flight were
present but switched into intense mode.
We landed on time and were shuttled off to
Zayed Sports City for the race. It was a really
tough one due to hot weather; strong, sandy
winds and of course the fact that I had already
ran a marathon and flew 7,000 miles beforehand.
We had a few hours rest after the race
before it was off to the airport for the flight

26

OUTDOORUAE

to Paris. It was an overnight flight and by this

time I was becoming desperate for sleep.
France was chilly, which was a welcome
change after Abu Dhabi. The race was in a
nice setting: eight loops around a big lake in
the country. The race started well until half
way around the first loop when we hit the
mud section and it was a super sticky mud
that built up on your shoes making your feet
heavier with each step. We only had a short
time to shower and relax before we were yet
again rushed off to the airport. I finished the
France race around 3:00 p.m.; the next race
would start only 10 hours later in Tunisia!
The race organisers in Tunisia looked after
us well; we were rushed through immigration
and bussed to the historic Carthage Amphitheatre for the start, which was at 1:00 a.m.!
This was mentally tough; it was starting to
feel like torture, but physically I felt okay and
was ready to go. The busy start line helped
build the adrenaline, however once we were
off, we soon spread out at different paces and
it became a lonely race running through the
desolate neighbourhoods of Tunis. Several
volunteers did well to keep us hydrated and
cheered us on. I finished second place in
female overall just before 6:00 a.m.
Next was another long flight, this time to
New York, via Rome. I was looking forward to
reaching New York for one simple reason I
would get to sleep in a bed for the first time
since we started. It was bliss, but it was short
lived. The marathon on Long Island was freezing cold at -7C. The cold kept you moving,
but breathing was difficult and ice patches
presented danger. I enjoyed this race, thanks
to the first proper rest in a bed. I ran a good
race finishing in 4h 52m, not bad for the 5th
marathon, in as many days and continents.
Punta Arenas, Chile, Race Six was the worst.
Remarkably my legs felt fine, but I was totally
worn out, I actually felt as if Id been dragged
from New York. The race was on a concrete

path and the impact of every step sent a

shock of pain through my body. Surprisingly
my finish time was respectable at 4h 53m. I
just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible; the next race in Antarctica was scheduled only eight hours later.
At 2:30 a.m. on the 14th of February, we
were on our way to the airport for our flight
to Antarctica. We reached the continent three
days later. We landed at around 9:00 p.m.
Our marathon was rescheduled to start at
5:00 a.m. the next morning so after a bit of
sleep in a tent (I dont recommend this in Antarctica) I was up and raring to go. I had kept
myself active during the three-day wait so that
I didnt stiffen up and I felt quite good.
The course was a tough one, a very rocky,
hilly trail run with patches of slushy snow
and mud. I set off quickly and maintained a
good pace paying no attention to the several
penguins coming ashore to see what was going on. I was so happy to cross the finish line
and especially as I was the first woman. Seven
marathons in seven continents in 11 days
wasnt the original plan however. The current
Guinness record for females is 48 days.
My goal was to raise funds and awareness for my foundation but also to show our
children that we can push boundaries and
that we dont have to accept what is normal
or what is expected. A couple of years ago
nobody would have expected me run a single
marathon let alone multiple marathon challenges. Mission completed.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

ACTIVITY REPORT

Girl power at the UIM

XCAT World Series

The first ever lady pilot Veronica Olderin

Words By: Nicola de Corato
Photos By: Nicola de Corato and supplied

The year 2008 witnessed the

first ever series of five Xtreme Catamaran Series Powerboat Championship races in the UAE followed by
four more races held in cooperation
with the Abu Dhabi International
Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) and
the DIMC in the next two years,
while another five rounds, including
the Fujairah International Marine
Club, was planned for 2012.
During the first race of 2015 in Fujairah, the
World Professional Powerboat Association
(WPPA) welcomed the first ever woman driver
to the UIM XCAT World Series. Veronica Olderin has been involved in the sport since her
teens, but this will be her first XCAT race as
she joins forces with former Class 3C World
Champion Mikael Bengtsson in one of four
teams joining the series for the first time this
season.
In their first ever appearance at the UIM
XCAT World Series, Swecat Racing managed
to claim a podium finish at the Dubai Duty
Free Speed Cat Run. After the race, we had
the chance to meet her for a coffee and some
questions.
Nico de Corato: You are the first ever woman
driver at the UIM XCAT World Series, how
does it feel?
Veronica Olderin: It feels great! This is a
huge opportunity for me and the next step in
my racing career. I believe its very good that
the guys have a woman to compete with in
this series. Hopefully, this is just the first step
and we will have more girls next year.

Swecat Team in front of the boat

Pilot Veronica Olderin

NDC: How did you get started in the sport?

VO: I started racing in 2006 with my father,
Gunnar Olderin, who is still competing in
Sweden. In 2008, I bought my first off-shore
boat and have since been competing in different classes.
NDC: Who would you like to have as a female co-pilot?
VO: I have always had other girls with me in
the boat and for the last three years I have
been competing with Kristina Coleman, who
is my navigator. If I get to choose one, I think
Marit Stromoy, with whom I have been training with a little in the XCAT. We work well
together and have the same mindset. It is
very important to note that in this sport there
are no negative sides to being a woman!

NDC: Are there other members in your family

with the same passion? What did they say
about your choice of becoming a racer?
VO: My father has been competing since I
was very young and he has been very supportive of me. My mum too, and they are
often with me when I am away competing.
NDC: How do you manage to spend a lot of
time traveling away from family?
VO: Racing is a big part of my life at the
moment so I am away a lot. I dont have any
children, but I grew up following my dad
to different competitions, so I think having
children does not hinder your racing. But of
course, I miss some people so much when I
am away.
NDC: Who do you bring with you during your
trips?
VO: I am used to taking care of myself. The
team that I have in Sweden is just me and
Kristina, and we handle everything. Now, we
are several more people, but we dont bring
more than we need. My dad always comes
with me for support.
NDC: How do you feel before a race? What
do you do the night/day before?
VO: I normally get really nervous, but I think
now that we are two in the boat steering and
throttling, I will be calmer, because all the
responsibility is not on me.
NDC: How do you balance work and training?
VO: I work for Trig Social Media who is one
of my sponsors so I have a good combination
of work and race. I am still home often so I
have time to do other things too. The best
thing is that my best friends and the people
that I care about the most are also racing, so
we spend a lot of time together when we are
out racing, practicing and so on.
NDC: If you win the race, how would you
celebrate?
VO: Depending on which county we are in. I
think I would have a nice dinner, be with the
team and do something extra with them.
NDC: How was your time in Dubai?
VO: For the last five months, I have been to
Dubai five times. I love the city and there is
so much to see. For me, it is the best combination of racing, shopping and vacation. All
the things a girl can wish for.
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
admin@dubaiblog.it for information
about this article or just to say hello.

OUTDOORUAE

27

EVENT REPORT

Who is Mingma?
A Story of the Sherpas

Part 2

Words By: Sean James

This is part two of the Sherpas

tale. Last month we looked at who
the Sherpas are and why they are
so important in climbing expeditions
to the big mountains. This month we
highlight a number of Sherpas that
I have worked with over the years. I
want to bring you their story. Season after season they work tirelessly
to help us fulfil our dreams of trekking and climbing the highest mountains in the Himalayas. The title of
this article is a philosophical question as there are many Mingmas
and many Sherpas. However lets
start with a climbing Sherpa who is
actually called Mingma.

Ongchhu Sherpa leading clients on Cho Oyu

our job. I have attempted to climb Everest

23 times but I was successful to climb it 19
times.
Even his favourite trek is in the Everest region going to the Everest Base Camp. I like
this trek because the area is typical of the
Sherpa community and we get the chance
to view the most beautiful mountains. Most
of the tourists want to see the highest
mountain.
Talking about his family he says: My hero
is my father. He has gone through hard
times to feed us as our family is big. We are
seven brothers and two sisters. So its hard
to feed nine children. He has given his best
care and love to us and now all our families
are established here in Kathmandu. All my
brothers are Everest summiteers and have
got their names in the Guinness Book of
World Records in 2006.

and summited. Since then he has climbed

Everest five times, in Ama Dablam and also
Cho Oyu. In 2012, he completed the aspirant guide course conducted by the Nepal
Mountaineering Association (NMA) and is a
certified National Mountain Guide (Aspirant
Guide).
To further his guiding career he has taken
many courses and says: Its important for
Sherpas to gain proper training from this
organisation (NMA) and our clients can feel
safer working with us because we strictly
follow the rules and regulations of high
mountain climbing to make their trip safer
and successful.

Mingma Tsiri Sherpa

Mingma Tsiri Sherpa has been working

as a guide for 20 years. When I wrote this
article, he has summited Everest 19 times,
K2 once, Dhaulagiri once, Cho Oyu four
times, Shishapangma once and Manaslu
three times, plus countless other high peaks.
He has his own company, Ascent Himalayas
and remembers where it all started - back
in 1991, on his first climb to Mera Peak, a
popular and isolated peak in the 6,000m
range. His home village is in Gauri Sankar,
near Rolwaling and he now frequently
travels to the USA and in Norway to guide
during the monsoon season.
In 1997, he became the first Nepali to
summit K2 but his favourite mountain is still
Chomolungma or Sagarmatha which is of
course Mt Everest in the Tibetan and Nepali
tongues respectively. His motivations for
climbing are surprisingly unemotional to
westerners. I climb because mountains are
a source of income for us. Its risky but its
28

OUTDOORUAE

Dawa Jamba Sherpa

Ang Dawa Sherpa

Ang Dawa was born on the 18th November

1984 in the Solukhumbu District about 50km
south of Mt Everest. He started working as a
trekking guide in 2003 and then graduated
to being a porter guide and climbing Sherpa
on peaks below 6,000 metres. In 2007, at
the age of 23 he got the opportunity to
work on Mt Everest from the north side

Dawa has been working in the mountains

for around nine years. His first mountain was
Mera Peak in 2004. He was born in Tamku in
northeastern Nepal near Makalu. Like many
of the modern Sherpas, he has also travelled
abroad and remembers a trip to South Africa
fondly. One of the hardest mountains he
has climbed in Manaslu because of the bad
weather conditions.
His favourite region in Nepal is around

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Ongchhu Sherpa leading the high life

Dawa Jamba Sherpa on the summit of Everest

Annapurna and he loves the Annapurna

Sanctuary which is surrounded by high
peaks. Coincidently his favourite types of
tourists to work with are the French as he
finds them helpful to the society of Nepal.
The French were the first to climb Annapurna.
He has summited Everest four times,
Manaslu once, Cho Oyu twice and many
more 6,000m peaks. His positivity comes
from his father who he says taught him well
and was his role model. He tries to project
this to others by being helpful to everyone
he encounters.

Jangbu Sherpa

Jangbu Sherpa is another climber with an

impressive record at high altitude. For 11
times he has stood on the highest point on
Earth. He has also found time to summit
Cho Oyu three times and Shishapangma
once. He started as a mountain guide in
2003 and took the diplomas and training
offered by the Nepali Mountaineering Association. His first climb was Island Peak back
in 1998 and his family lives in the nearby
Solukhumbu District. His favourite trek is to
Everest Base Camp and of course he comes
from a long line of mountain men. His father
was also a guide. Jangbu holds a pretty
unique record that probably many wont attempt to beat - in 2006 he stood bare naked
on top of Everest for 4mins and 40secs.

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Ongchhu Sherpa

Ongchhu Sherpa is just starting his career

on the 8,000m peaks. He has summited Cho
Oyu at 8,201m twice. In spring of 2015 he
will be hoping to climb Everest with eager
clients. Coming from a farming family, his
home village is Nagthan in the Solukhumbu
District where he rushes home to his five
children in between expeditions. On a normal day, he is away from home on various
expeditions totalling up to eight months a
year. Ongchhu is typically modest and helpful. A quiet man; you know he will do all he
can to help his clients. His first peak was also
Mera Peak in 2010 and he just loves being
in the mountains, not having a favourite yet.
The last time I climbed with Ongchhu was
in October 2014, since then we have kept in
touch via Facebook and he delights in
telling me his stories about the training
courses and certificates that he receives
from the Nepali organisations.

Before the ceremony starts, equipment

such as climbing boots, crampons and axes
will be piled around the stupa or chorten. A
small fire of juniper branches rises from each
group at base camp daily in the first few
weeks. A lama presides over the ceremony
and chants as he reads from an old Tibetan
prayer book. It is a happy time and at some
point everyone throws their handful of rice
or flour into the air three times. Food and
drink, and usually alcohol are offered to
everyone and more flour is smeared all over
the climbers faces. This symbolizes a grey
beard and long life.
Maybe someday you will be lucky enough
to spend time in Nepal amongst the Sherpa
people and experience their customs, culture and traditions.

Namaste dai!
Dawa Yangzum Sherpa a female Sherpa

The Puja Ceremony

Before any climbing can take place, there

must be a Puja ceremony. A Puja is a prayer
ritual performed by the Hindus to host,
honour and worship one or more deities, or
to spiritually celebrate an event. However,
Puja rituals are also held by Buddhists, Jains
and Sikhs. There are several aspects to a
Puja ceremony and they can last up to two
hours and are essentially asking the gods
for safe passage and the right to enter their
kingdoms.
Prayer flags are found everywhere in Nepal. They come in sets of five colours. The
five colours are arranged from left to right
and must be in a specific order: blue, white,
red, green and yellow. The five colours
represent the five elements: sky, air, fire,
water and earth respectively. At the start of
an expedition prayer flags are hung around
base camp and in high places. Prayer flags
are used to promote peace, compassion,
strength and wisdom and it is believed that
the prayers and mantras will be blown by
the wind to spread good will and compassion.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Maiden Voyage to Oman

Words + Photos By: Rachael Harrison

What on earth is a Unimog? I

hear you ask. I asked the same question when my husband first mentioned getting one about a year ago,
but have since discovered that there
are a significant number of blogs
dedicated to these vehicles and their
fantastic off-road capabilities.
Theyre made by Mercedes-Benz and are
basically medium sized trucks/tractors, often
used by the military. In fact, our Unimog
enjoyed a previous career as an ambulance
in the Abu Dhabi Military (I doubt it ever saw
any action) before it came to us. Theyre suitable for going over a range of different terrains, meaning that we can make trips through
the desert with ease and cross rocky areas
without too much stress. It also has a pretty
high ground clearance, which helps reduce
the risk of us getting stuck on a dune. Its by
no means a fast vehicle, with a top speed of
about 80kph, but its sturdy and reliable despite being only six years younger than me!
Weve since taken out the insides and have

started to build an interior to make camping

trips more cosy, and have also installed air
conditioning in the cab. Theres a lot more
work to be done but we have done enough
to allow us to go away for a couple of days at
a time. Its an ongoing project that will hopefully one day allow us to make lengthy trips,
exploring countries off the beaten path and
sleep wherever we choose to pull over. This
short trip was a way of testing what has been
done so far, and finding out what things need
to be taken care of pretty soon.

The trip

In our usual fashion, we were pretty slow in

getting organised and left the house at about
4:00 p.m. We also had to endure a trip to the
supermarket to buy some food to sustain us
for a couple of days, so in reality we probably hit the road at about 4:45 a.m. heading
to Oman via the border at Hatta. We drove
through sand dunes as the sun began to set.
Reaching the border, we experienced what
I feel is going to be an ongoing issue when
leaving the UAE. As we are not a commercial
truck (and because the truck queue at the
first border point was ridiculous), we tried
our luck by going through the car queue. Uh
oh. We were promptly told off and directed
to the truck queue. Then we were stopped
Mosque in Omani town as my husband tried to explain that we were
merely a camper van, not a truck with goods
on board. The solution was for them to allow
Oman mountains

Unimog in desert sun setting

us to push in the truck queue, and we made

our way to the next border post. There were
so many checkpoints and border posts that
I have forgotten what happened where, but
at one point we stayed in the truck queue
only to be directed to the car queue, and vice
versa. Some of the immigration officials were
so intrigued by the Unimog that they insisted
on having a look, which was lovely but it also
slowed us down although we were some
coffee by one very kind man! Reaching the
Oman border, we had to park the Unimog on
the side of the road to go and get our visas,
rather than leaving it in the car park, because
of course its not a car. All in all, it took us over
an hour to officially enter Oman, and the sun
had well and truly disappeared by the time
we set off for our destination: Sawadi Beach.
So far, we had noticed two things that
needed fixing. The first was that the cab
desperately needed cup holders (the above
mentioned coffee ended up all over my
husbands lap), and secondly, sound proofing
was a must. The Unimog is loud, and we were
both wearing ear defenders. We attempted
a conversation a couple of times but on each
occasion it went like this:

Me: How much further is it?

Hubby: What?
Me: Pardon?
Hubby: What did you say?
Me: I CANT HEAR YOU!

Silence

So the journey was pretty boring with no

chatting paired with a dark, straight road. We
eventually reached Sawadi just after 10:00
p.m., and pulled up to go to sleep. The bed
was extremely comfortable, just like being at
home, and I was excited to wake up and see
the sunrise over the sea.
After spending the day at Al Sawadi, we
found a spot for lunch before making our way
towards the mountains where we intended to
spend the second night. Before we rejoined
the road, we had another drive along the
beach, taking in the beautiful surroundings.
Its one of the many things I love about Oman,
from beaches to mountains to sand dunes to
wadis, there are so many different landscapes
that are as stunning as they are unique.
As we had been pretty unorganised before
leaving the house, we didnt have a specific
route planned, and once again sunset was
quickly approaching. This is something Id do
differently next time. Its all well and good to
just roam about and see where you end up,
but its also nice, especially if time is limited,
to have options that you know will bring you
to a safe and scenic place to spend the night.
As it was, we ended up on very rocky terrain,
near a burning rubbish tip, with the mountains
tantalisingly close. However, we didnt want to
risk continuing in the dark in case we shredded a tyre on the jagged rocks, so we pulled

up for the night and finally cooked our stew

as we watched increasing numbers of stars
appear in the night sky.
The following morning, we realised that
we were very close to a road that would have
taken us straight to the mountains. And after
taking our time over breakfast, we took the
road and ended up in a small village. There
was a fort and some very curious local boys
who seemed just as intrigued by us as we
were by their village.
We drove around, happy and aimless, for
an hour or so before once again being surrounded by rocks that threatened to puncture
our tyres. Nonetheless, the Unimog did well
and I now have much more confidence in its
abilities.
Reality was calling and we made our way
slowly back to Dubai after rejoining the main
road. Once again we had issues at the border,
with some telling us to go in the truck lane
and others telling us off for being in the truck
lane. I think that this is something were just
going to have to get used to.

What we enjoyed

The bed was awesome. We both slept really

well and didnt have to worry about the
mattress deflating in the night!
Making the most of very cheap diesel prices
The look on peoples faces as they tried to
work out what on earth that vehicle is. Eyes
on the road, please!
Going over terrain that would have been
impossible for a car
Sleeping wherever we wanted and not
having to put up a tent
Being so high up on the road

Boys in Oman

What well work on next time

Cup holders! So simple yet so important

A fridge. Chiller boxes are not ideal
for long trips
Having a bit more of a plan, but being
prepared to abandon it if we see somewhere
wed like to explore
Sound proofing the cab so that we dont have
to travel in silence. It made the trip feel so much
longer as our interaction was limited. Its so true
that company makes for a good journey!
Knowing what to expect at
the border
So the work on the Unimog continues, and were
looking forward to many
more trips in future. Id love
to go to Liwa, so the next
time we have a couple of
days off it looks like well
be heading to some very
impressive sand dunes!

Unimog in the desert

Unimog tyres in the desert

Omani roads

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The Honey Badger

Episode 12: Working
with chimpanzees

Diaries

Destination:
Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, Zambia
Words + Photos By: James and Mira Raley

The story of Chimfunshi Wildlife

Orphanage started when Sheila and
David Siddle decided to move to an
old fishing lodge by the Kafue River
in Northern Zambia to start a small
cattle farm.
They bought a 3,000 acre plot in paradise
as part of their semi-retirement plan. Little
did they know that they were about to create the most significant chimpanzee orphanage in the world with over 100 chimps and
a variety of other animals including Billy the
Hippo.
Sheila started to spend her time helping
injured wild animals found on the farm before returning them to their natural homes.
It came as little surprise when a local ranger
passed by with a badly bruised and cut
chimp called Pal. They spent weeks helping
him recover by treating him like they would
a human baby. With time, Pal recovered and
the Siddles reputation as carers for chimpanzees started to grow. In the 1990s, Zambia passed a law making it illegal for families
to own chimps as pets, so the Siddles had a

huge influx of young chimps arriving at their

doorstep. They soon took the decision to
turn Chimfunshi into an official wildlife orphanage and David bought a further 7,000
acres and six enclosures which house the
110 chimps today.
Chimfunshi was our fourth and final
volunteering programme in Africa. It was an
extraordinary and rewarding experience with
a variety of daily activities. It did not take
long before we learnt our place in the chimp
pecking order, and we realised that they are
rather less predictable than the lions we had
worked with previously at Antelope Park.
Lions instinct are comparatively simple and
behaviours can been learned to avoid an
attack in a controlled environment. Chimpanzees, however, are intelligent and much
better at luring you in and catching you out.
On our first day, we watched the chimps
playing at lunch time. James had his first
encounter with Renee, one of the older and
cleverer chimps. She appeared uninterested
with us whilst tucking into a cabbage, but
when James looked away for a moment she
grabbed his shirt to pull him in for a bite.
Luckily James was unharmed, but the shirt
was less fortunate with all of the buttons
ripped off. Whilst a bit of a shock, this was
a useful lesson and taught us to respect the
safety precautions and avoid getting too
close to the chimps until we knew them better. So, with a watchful eye, we started work
with the fascinating animals by preparing
their food, feeding them, cleaning their enclosures, and preparing behavioural enrich-

ment sessions our favourite activity with

the escape artists.
All of the enormous enclosures are surrounded by electric fencing to ensure that
they do not get lost or cause any damage
to the employees or their families, who live
nearby. However, the fences are no obstacle
for the four escape artists who either disregard the current and climb over anyway,
or find ways of jumping from nearby trees.
They are also able to detect the clicking
sound made by the fences and therefore
know when the current is low due to bad
weather or plants falling onto the fence.
Sadly the only way of preventing escape is
to put them into a smaller enclosure with
a roof similar to what you might find at a
zoo. This leads to boredom which is why the
volunteers are tasked with finding ways to
stimulate and challenge them both physically and intellectually. We therefore spent two

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

hours every other day making toys and puzzles that would be filled with their favourite
foods and hidden around the enclosure. Our
favourite part was watching Mila, the eldest
chimp, use a mirror to check herself out and
remove sleep from her eyes. One day two
of the chimps, Chiffon and Cleo, had a fight.
Poor Cleo received a nasty gash to her left
eye which she later poked through a hole in
the fence for us to clean. Luckily the resident
vet was able to help, but she would not accept any stitches.
When we were not working with the
chimps, there were a number of physical
tasks for us to help with and manage. This
included painting the chimp enclosures
which are really in need of a significant
overhaul something that requires a lot
of money which is woefully scarce at the
orphanage. We also started work on a neglected orchard which hadnt been touched
for eight years but, when cleared, will
provide a significant source of food for the
chimps with its 150 mango trees. Orchard
clearance was a tiring but very satisfying job.
It is extremely overgrown with acacias and
surprisingly sturdy weeds which provide a
harbour for some of Zambias more
interesting reptiles. Vicky, a fellow volunteer,
was to learn this the hard way when a snake
fell out of a tree that she was clearing and
on to her back. Thankfully, it was relatively
harmless and was more interested in escaping than taking a bite out of its unsurprisingly shocked landing pad.
Another highlight was spending time at
Sheila Siddles house. She was an encyclopaedia of knowledge with fascinating
stories about the history of the orphanage

and the many awards she and her husband

received for their good work. She shared
her photo albums of her favourite orphaned
hippo, who sadly died four years ago, whilst
she beat us at endless games of scrabble.
We also spent afternoons playing with the
other orphaned animals including Moffet, a
cheeky baboon, and Nova, a baby female
vervet who was rescued after watching her
mother get stoned to death by villagers. She
was the cutest monkey but was terrified of
most men, so the female volunteers spent
hours cuddling and cooing over her.
A key difference between Chimfunshi
and our other volunteer projects was the
autonomy and flexibility afforded to the
volunteers. We were allowed to be creative and provide support to the areas where
we thought that we could help the most. A
small example was the absence of a vehicle
for the volunteer team which wasted a lot of
time travelling over 20km per day by bike
to get to the enclosures, or even further to
get to the local town to buy provisions. The
Honey Badger, and its roof, provided an
ideal temporary solution and, despite
suffering a broken windscreen from the
chimps throwing stones, we thoroughly

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

enjoyed exploring the tracks around the

orphanage. James and Rosie, the project
manager, had a few adventures of their own
when they went into town. On one occasion
they met a boy who was naked from the
waist down sitting by the side of the road.
They went and bought him clothes and
food and tried to give him some money. He
refused to make eye contact, let alone accept their gifts, and it seems that he suffers
from mental illness and is just left to fend for
himself in the town. On another occasion
a drunk man jumped onto the side of the
car and tried to steal a mobile phone. He
refused to get off the car and was in danger
of falling and hurting himself, assuming he
did not manage to rob or hurt someone else
beforehand. Thankfully the emergency pepper spray proved to be quite effective.
We had a fantastic couple weeks at Chimfunshi, which is beginning to show the signs
of financial neglect. Whilst it is full of passionate individuals who are trying to create a
healthy and comfortable life for the chimps
and other orphans, it is in dire need of
funding to be able to survive.
The best way to contribute is to spend
some time volunteering, which provides
funding for the orphanage as well as a platform from which you can spread the word
of their good work and need of financial
support. If volunteering is not for you then
we would welcome your donations. Please
follow the link below to contribute and
mention Chimfunshi when you donate.
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

33

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Words By: Tati Coco

Snowshoeing is a sport that

everybody can do. If you think that
winter sports are not for you, you
are wrong. Snowshoeing is a really
accessible sport to everyone and
you will find all levels from easy
tracks on flat land, to very hard
tracks climbing high mountains.
But there are very important factors to consider: the dangers in
the mountain, snow, avalanche and
extreme weather. So if you are not
an expert, go snowshoeing with a
guide. A specialist guide can also
teach you about risks, wildlife and
traditions.
To begin to understand and do
snowshoeing, you first need some good ski
clothes to keep your body warm. Gloves
and hats are obvious choices as well as a
good pair of snowshoes. A snowshoe is a
kind of footwear for walking over the snow.
It is a large pair of shoes which will avoid
you from sinking completely into the snow.
In the past, snowshoes were used by everybody living in the snowy mountains to move
faster and more secure. Today, you can find
three types of snowshoes: running, which
are small and light; recreational, which are
a bit larger for gentle to moderate walks;
and finally mountaineering, the largest pairs

meant for serious hill climbing. Its also

highly recommended to have trekking poles.
Besides being a really old outdoor activity, snowshoeing is also a healthy way to
keep fit in winter or just to practice an easy
activity accessible to everyone. It has been
found to have beneficial effects on resting
heart rate, blood pressure, exercise capacity,
maximal oxygen consumption and of course
quality of life.
So I had the luck and the opportunity to
walk a few days with a guide named Serge
Dobias from the Alps. He is an ex-mountain
rescuer with more than 200 interventions in
avalanche and 20 years of experience. He
is also an experimental free ride skier and
now that he is a retired military serviceman,
he still finds time to share his passion for the
mountains. Thereby I decided to have a go
with Serge in the Alps. He took me and a
few other people to a place called PeiseyNancroix where we walked for five hours
and we learned about wildlife and told us
anecdotes about the big avalanche of 1995
in which 12 people were found alive after
the avalanche crushed their houses. Serge
is never alone; he is always accompanied by
Vautan, a very friendly and intelligent German shepherd rescue dog able to quickly
find anybody smashed under the snow after
an avalanche.

As soon as I did my first paces into the virgin snow, my mind started to feel the silent
mountain, the shy birds, the infinity of time
in life. Your mind embarks in a kind of timelapse along with a deep peace inside your
soul. All you can see is the gorgeous white
mountain offering you the best view and an
endless blanket of snow. To top it all off, a
few doe and chamois were grazing while
some rested on the autumn grass. At some
point, the mountain climb was long and
slow, with the shoes deep in the snow, trying
to find an easy way to get out from its heavy
cover. My heart rate increased and felt
the snow falling and sliding on my cheeks,
cold and wet, but it wasnt a problem. This
expedition was simply stunning and the
scenic views and cliffs have attracted and
captivated me all throughout the walk. One
of the prominent peaks was dominating the
entire valley and Serges stories - the sound
of the snow cracking under my feet were all
just like the song of an angel.
As always I strongly invite you to try this
activity, to connect with wildlife and try new
adventures.

Interview By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez

Photos By: Jung Francisco

Jean Paul Michiels, 63,

found a new home in Thailand after
retiring from the Belgian Air Force,
while Christiaan Pradolini, 51, settled in the country after his leukaemia treatment. Both self-confessed
motorbike freaks, the two became
good friends and decided to go for
their ultimate dream: to ride from
Thailand to Belgium and then back
to Thailand.
This overland journey is roughly 35,000km,
over nine months, across borders and
various terrains and weather, but for them
its just another adventure. We sat down with
them during their stopover in Dubai where
they were having their bikes checked at the
Liberty Kawasaki service centre.

What inspired you to do this trip?

JPM: We are just two good friends and

in the past we have driven our bikes from
Cambodia and Laos; just small trips. We met
each other in Thailand. Belgium is too big to
meet [laughs]. One day, Christiaan proposed
to me why not go to Belgium, because they
have to do a treatment for his daughter
there. I said why not.

CP: I was very sick 11 years ago. The trip

started for myself because I survived my
illness, but my daughter is sick too. She
needed to go Belgium for six months of
treatment so I wanted to do it for her as
well.

How did you prepare

for such a huge journey?

CP: The day he decided to go with me, we

started planning already. We did preparations as early as April last year because its Jean Paul and Christiaan at Kawasaki Dubai Service Centre
going to be a lot of work. We bought the
Kawasaki Versys 650 LT bikes especially for
the trip. Its a fantastic bike!

You are lugging a lot of weight,

how did you manage?

CP: The bike is about 181 kilos, plus the kit

weight, plus our weight. We are on the limit.
We already fell down because of the weight.
JPM: But once you drive, its easier. You can
manoeuvre easily.
CP: We try to sleep every night in a hotel.
I want to really enjoy this trip because this
is once in a lifetime. Normally, we drive for
three days and then we take one day off.

Hows your trip so far?

CP: From Thailand to Myanmar, its normally

impossible to drive with your own vehicles,
but because of the help of some people, we
were allowed. It was rocky and weve fallen
many times and damaged the bike. We rode
130km in Myanmar for 12 hours.
JPM: We then headed to India and saw
plain roads and noticeably a lot of churches.
At the border, the formalities were fairly
simple and fast with little traffic. In less than
two hours, including immigration, we were
on our way. We met a young French couple,
Damien and Marie, who have been on the
road for almost one year and now on the
way back to Europe by bicycle!
CP: Personally, we find that its more

dangerous to drive in Thailand than India.

In India, nobody passes the 100km on the
highway. From Dubai, we will be on our way
to Iran.

But Dubai wasnt

in your original route plan...

JPM: Yes, because were not allowed in

Pakistan. We are re-preparing and servicing
the bikes here.
CP: Thank you, Kawasaki Dubai. Great work
on the repairs and the service is jackpot. I
have to say we are very disappointed with
Kawasaki Thailand. They told us there that if
we have problems on the way, we can
contact them. We bought the bike in Thailand. We paid the full price and everything,
but they told us they cant do anything. We
are not expected to come to the Belgian

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

embassy in Dubai, but we are expected

in Iran. We dont want too much publicity
though [laughs].

brings us directly to the entrance of hotels

in the middle of souks. We are followed by
friends and family on phone and GPS.

How long will this trip take?

How did your wives feel

about this whole trip?

JPM: Nine months in total. We will stay for

one month in Belgium with our families. But
were still thinking if we are going to take
the same route on the way back to Thailand.

How is your communication

while on the road?

CP: Communication is great. We can talk,

hear music and speak on the phone through
Bluetooth. The Garmin is also very reliable.
We download the maps beforehand. It even

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

CP: [Laughs] Oh they know us so well. We

do all these stupid things. Theyre very supportive, happy and proud of us. The hardest
thing for me is missing my daughter and she
already left for Belgium.
JPM: We will meet our families in four or five
weeks and they will welcome us there.
Follow Jean Paul and Christiaans adventures
on their blog: www.belgiumbiker.com/home.

Off to Dubai
Were in India

Last day in Thailand

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MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

457 steps to paradise

Fishing at Crocodile Bay, Costa Rica
Words By: Antonio Varcasia

They are 457. I counted them

several times and it is a thing
almost impossible to forget. These
are the steps you have to do for
crossing the Crocodile Bay pier
to board one of the boats of the
famous lodge and leave for another
day of fishing on the Pacific Ocean
in Costa Rica.
As you cross that long pier many things
come to your mind: the first is to give thanks
for being there, kissed by the sun a few
minutes from the beginning of a dream, or
better, that your has dream finally come true.
Crocodile Bay is located near Puerto
Jimenez in the Osa Peninsula southwest of
Costa Rica overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The Rincon de Osa as it is called by locals
is a very interesting spot because on one
hand it closes the loop of the coast which is
known as the Golfo Dulce, the other overlooking a stretch of untamed wilderness sea
that quickly (15 miles approximately) finds
the continental drop and many oxygenated
waters where pelagic fishes love to swim in.
In addition, the Osa Peninsula is known as

38

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a natural corridor for many animal species

between the south of Costa Rica and closer
countries and one of the most important national parks of the world, the Corcovado. For
this reason, its extremely easy to see animals
that elsewhere are extremely rare like the
scarlet macaw which you can see and hear
directly from your habitation.

On the way to Jurassic park

Three hundred miles west of Crocodile Bay

emerges from the ocean the most remote
national park in Costa Rica, Cocos Island,
where, among other things Jurassic Park, was
filmed.
Although Cocos is quite far, there are at
Crocodile Bay creatures capable of arousing
the emotions even of a longtime angler. In
fact, inshore you can fish all the typical species of the eastern Pacific, there are at least
six species of Jack (Pacific crevalle, bigeye
trevally, blue runner, blue trevally, black jack,
golden trevally) but also African pompano,
several species of amberjack, roosterfish, barracuda, giant needlefish, Spanish
mackerel. These species typical of the surface
layers are catchable with topwater spinning
or trolling.
In addition there are the species that lives
in closer contact with the bottom as different species of Pargo, Cubera snapper and
groupers, including the famous goliath, which
reaches embarrassing sizes. Matapalo Rock
Jurassic roosterfish and Cuberas are wideworld known and several records have been
placed here.
The inshore fishing has no seasonal

variations like off-shore, which suffered more

of season changes. The high season of offshore starts in November, a time when there
was a first run of about a month of marlins
(Black and Blue in prevalence, and
occasionally striped). December to April
begins instead to grow exponentially the
number of sailfish, that during the hot
months (February/ March), can really give
great satisfaction with catches in double
digit. The dorado are present throughout
the year but during the rainy season (August)
you can have a great time with them thanks
to the large number of logs drifting. Tuna
are present too, with at least two species of
interest, the bigeye and yellowfin tuna above
all, with sizes vary widely, but can also get to
200 pounds. The yellowfin are normally intercepted between 15 and 20 miles following
the spinners, one of four species of dolphins
in these waters (besides the bottlenose, the
most common, panza blanca and falsa orca,
as they are called by locals). For lovers of
marine mammals, the Osa Peninsula is also
a great place to practice whale watching or
dolphins tours.

Tropical weather and tides

For an angler used to fish in temperate

weather, the main differences with which he
must to become familiar are the meteorological conditions and the tides and understand
how they affect fishing in Central America.
The region of the humid tropics that encompasses all the countries of Central America
is characterised by two main seasons, a dry,
which runs from November to April and a wet

instead goes from May to October. This is

true in general, because in the areas covered
by forests and generally all over the Atlantic
coasts of the countries of the isthmus, the
rain is something that knows no season.
The tropical rain is not like the one you
know in your country. You wake up with a
beautiful sun that at 9:00 a.m. burns the skin,
when the wind gets up at 12 and you start to
see the horizon clouds running down. In 10
minutes the water flows as if someone had
forgotten upstairs an open faucet. This can
last a few minutes, or even hours, with incredible intensity, able to change the landscape
and the sea conditions dramatically.
The tide is another important parametre
because the tidal range in the Osa Peninsula
can range from 2.20 up to 2.70 metres and
beyond. For people who come from the
Mediterranean this is something shocking,
if used to having the tidal 30cm. The tide
completely changes the scenario of fishing,
so putting a number of phenomena related
to the current and the waves it generates,
which are essential, especially if you are
fishing in the coastal area most affected by
this phenomenon, where your piedra were
preferred to cast could easily be surrounded
by sand or rocks!
The tide changes every six hours, in which
we move from the peak of low to high peak,
and then continue to follow this rhythm usually by delaying and moving forward about an
hour every day. Knowing (or at least the day
before before exiting) when is the peak of
high tide if you want to fish inshore is essential, in order to organise your day and avoid
wasting energy unnecessarily and maybe
get to highlight completely destroyed. This
is even more true for those who love to
fish with a spinning: personally I go fishing
inshore when I can optimally utilise the early
hours of the day accompanied by a rising
tide. However the peak of high is sacred and
if you can its important to be there and give
before and after this the best of themselves,
knowing that it is harder to fish (usually the
sea that enters creates current and raises the
wave).

What to bring

All boats are fully equipped with trolling

inshore and off-shore fishing gear, and on
demand with jigging and fly fishing rods
and some spinning rods. So depending on
the kind of fishing you like, you can leave at
home all the hardware. For those who are
popping and spinning fanatics it is recommended to bring at least two rods, a 20-30lbs
that can cast up to 2oz to fish inshore, with
a reel of class 5000 or 6000 (high ratio) with
50lbs braid for all the inshore pelagic species.
A second rod, of 30-50lbs with a casting rate
of 3oz with a good backbone is suggested
for big Cuberas, XXXL roosterfish and big yellowfin tuna paired with a reel of 10000/14000
class with excellent drag and filled with 60-80
pounds braided. Both types of rods can be
used to have fun with the switch and bait with
sailfish and dorado, if you are not used to
trolling reels. Bring a bunch of topwater lures,
like skipping and WTD, pencils and poppers
generously sized. For those who have never
had the pleasure of fishing in these conditions it is recommended to wear technical
clothing with UPF filter of at least 30 or better
50, polarising glasses and sunscreen suitable
for your complexion (at least 30), and expecially for those who like popping/spinning is
recommended that a good security device
such as Restube.

Why CBR?

Going back to fishing, we can close by

saying that the real reason why it is worth
going to Crocodile Bay is that you can fish all
important pacific gamefish in one place and
without excessive movement. It is not unusual to see boats that start fishing off-shore
sails in the morning and in the afternoon stop
inshore looking for Cubera and roosterfish,
because the environmental conditions (fishing distance and fish presence) allow this.
Crocodile Bay is also a suitable place not only
for fishermen, but also for families, wives and
girlfriends, because while you are fishing,
if your ladies do not like to stay on a boat,
they will have a wide choice of activities to
do, with over 40 eco-tours, from those more
adventurous (canopy, hiking, bird-watching)
to the more family-friendly as the tour of the
Caf. In addition, the resort has a spectacular
pool with Jacuzzi and bar and a spa of over
400 square metres where you can do any
kind of facial or body treatments, massages
you have always wanted. The resort has recently started the construction of a new marina and a village that will be a new reference
point on the west coast of Costa Rica. For
more info look here www.crocodilebay.com

Getting there:

To get to Crocodile Bay you must reach

before the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose

and then take a (small) domestic flight with the

company Naturair (www.natureair.com). You
need to book early to get to Puerto Jimenez.
The lodge is located a few metres from the
small town. The resort has a very efficient
reception and its staff usually welcomes you
at airports. To get to Costa Rica from Europe
you have two choices: from the US, via Atlanta
(Delta) or Miami (American Airlines), and then
catch a flight of 3-4 hours for the Central
American capital. The flight from the USA is
more cost effective and provides more alternatives, only negative is you have to do a visa
even for transit and have an electronic passport approved by USA.
The alternative is a direct flight from Europe
to SJC, possible at this time through Madrid
(Iberia) and Amsterdam (KLM), which is more
comfortable but generally more expensive.
Depending on the flight you choose, inevitably
you will need to spend a night in USA or in San
Jose before you get to the resort, we recommend the beautiful Hotel Martino,
(www.hotelmartino.com). For more information,
you should visit the website of the
Tourism of Costa Rica: www.visitcostarica.com.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Lost in the middle

of Omani desert
Made the best 4WD travel ever!
Words + Photos By: Nina Kogej

Each time I think of our Oman

travel, I get goose bumps. Travelling to this little known Arabic country was a decision which Simon (my
husband) and I made overnight.
We did not know anything about it,
except for the fact that it gets few
foreign visitors, that its perfect for
off-road driving and that wilderness
camping is allowed.
Oman lies just under the more famous UAE
and contains vast areas void of life. For us,
renting a 4WD was the best option to really
get a feel for what Oman is all about.
Landing in its capital Muscat, did not
convince us to stay long, as this modern and
fast growing city cannot really compare with
the adventure we had been looking for. We
stocked our rented Toyota Land Cruiser with
water and food supplies and were ready to
roll.
As soon as we came out into the open,
we were greeted by mesmerising views of
untamed countryside. Driving through small
coastal towns, where fishing represents the
main economy, was like travelling back in
time. Goats roamed in the middle of the
street, while men rested in the shade talking
over a cup of coffee. Combining these sights

with the fact that hardly any women were out,

we deduced that Oman is still a very traditional country.
Even though our Arabic is limited to a
simple greeting, As-salamu alaykum, they
appreciated the efforts made by us foreign
travellers. The language barrier outside of
Muscat can be a challenge, but show and tell
always works and turns simple conversations
into a comedy for all.
Even though we tried to blend in by wearing long trousers and shirts, we could not
really hide. People stared at us constantly,
but we quickly got used to it. They mean no

harm; it just does not happen often that they

see travellers from faraway places.
The long distances between major attractions demonstrated the diversity and
richness of Omani culture and history. Due to
its strategic position, Oman has always been
a tempting conquest. As a result, there are
more than a thousand fortresses throughout
country. These strategically placed outposts
have the most amazing views on towns,
oases, mountains, rivers, beaches, wadis and
deserts. The stunning views make you realise,
that even its dry landscape makes Oman
amazingly beautiful and diverse.
The further we travelled from Muscat, the
rougher the roads became. We finally found
ourselves off the beaten path and could not
have been happier. For the most part, Oman
offers good asphalt roads, but small towns
and remote villages can only be reached by
dirt roads. We happily found that the poorer
the road conditions, the nicer our destina-

tion, including Bilad Said the most beautiful village in Oman. Reaching it was quite a
challenge, especially because of the steep
and narrow track, where sometimes not even
two mules can pass. Asking for directions
was futile, but sometimes the best and most
memorable things happen when you are lost.
Our biggest wish during the Oman travel
was visiting Wahiba Desert, home of the sand
dunes. There is no greater joy and freedom
than driving over the first, second and third
sand dune, knowing it does not end there.
Deserts are no doubt a big playground for
off-road enthusiasts like us.
As we drove, the dunes became increasingly bigger, until 200m dunes soared around
us. The day was ending and we decided to
pitch our tent under one of them. The sense
of freedom created by these vast and remote
areas is indescribable, and only intensified by
the starry sky above us. It was perfect!
Even though we have never driven on our
own in a desert, we decided to go deeper
the next morning. There was a solid track
marked on our maps, which made us feel
confident. But a feeling was actually all it was.
The hot sun was blazing and there was not a
single person or animal in sight. It was just us
and sand and lots of it! After a few hours of
driving, the track we followed became less
and less visible and the sand dunes around
us were getting higher. Even the camels and
the occasional nomadic tent had disappeared. Suddenly the track ended when we
realised that we were lost!
The adrenaline started to kick in hard and
tension was rising. Instead of smiles,
our faces became serious and worried.
What now? Where to? Should we turn back?
Should we go left, right or just continue the
direction we were driving? We were stuck
right in the middle of 4,800 square miles of
sand! We tried to ignore the what if questions and were desperate to make a good
decision that would lead us out of this mess.
We did not have a compass, satellite phone,

or even a shovel. Crossing the desert was not

in our original plan at all. We were completely unprepared for everything we were doing,
but it was too late now to have regrets. We
had to react, and we had to do it fast! We just
hoped that the car was well maintained and
that the suspension wouldnt break after all
the bumps and abuse it received from driving
up and down the sand dunes. At least we
had a full tank of gas and enough water to
last for more than a week.
We decided to drive south, as we eventually would hit the ocean road. We used the
sun as our compass and looked vigilantly for
anything other than sand. It was deadly silent
in the car, when I suddenly screamed out in
relief. Oddly enough, the cause for my shouts
was the camel dung lying all over the sand. I
thought, there must be people somewhere
close. Driving further south, we saw a camel
again; soon came more. Our encouragement
increased, but we were wrong again. There
was nothing, nothing except new dunes, new
sand and new disappointment.
We were feeling completely devastated
when the flash of a sun reflection came from
somewhere. What was that? we asked in
unison. Our eyes almost popped when we
saw a car! Oh my goodness, it is a car! We
are safe, we will not die and we will make it
out alive! I was totally overwhelmed with
emotion and breathed a sigh of relief.
Simon took a sharp left and after a mile or
two, we reached a nomadic tent, where men
were sitting in the shade of a tree, talking,
drinking coffee and eating hawla, a traditional
Omani jelly-looking dessert. I am not sure
who was more surprised to see each other,
but within moments they were shaking our
hands, offering coffee and lunch and creating
a place to sit with them in their circle.
We showed them our map and pointed to
where we wanted to go. It was time again
for another game of show and tell. An older
bearded man with a scarf on his head was
not displaying a promising expression on

his face. It looked like we are still far from

any desirable civilisation. He started to draw
some directions in the sand, but we were
completely at a loss to understand him. A
loud discussion arose between them but all
Simon and I could do was look at each other
in bewilderment. Then one of them stood up
and walked to his car, saying:
Yalla, yalla! Meaning, lets go, lets go.
He started his car and we did the same. We
zigzagged behind him through the dunes
for about 30 minutes when he stopped in
the middle of nowhere. What now, we were
wondering, when he got out of the car and
started walking towards us. Another round
of charades ensued and we figured out that
he was showing us the direction to a T-cross
where we should turn left.
Before saying goodbye, we reached for
some money to give him as a token of our
thanks. This simple gesture did not seem
enough for the sacrifice he made for two
complete strangers. To our surprise he just
raised his hands up towards the sky and
shook his head no. My Arabic is bad and
does not extend past a few basic words, but
it sounded as if he tried to explain that this is
something Arabic people do helping others
in need, especially if they are guests.
Our adventure continued for several more
days, but from the safety of our home, we
can now say that this is our best memory of
Oman. We know now that crossing a desert
without any knowledge, equipment or a real
plan was one of the most stupid and dangerous things we could have done. It was also
very humbling. Reaching home safely felt
like winning the lottery. The thought of what
could have happened in that desert makes
me shiver. Mother Nature taught us well and
we should never underestimate her. On a
positive note, getting lost in the middle of a
desert showed us that acts of human kindness still exist - people who have nothing,
but are willing to give you their last piece of
bread, and not expect anything in return, are
still out there. It does not really matter where
in the world you travel, all you need to do is
open your heart and mind and they will come
to you.

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MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Adventures from the sky

Words By: Monica Antal

Since childhood I liked to have

my bags packed and ready for
adventure. My mother used to joke
that I had my entire life packed in
a suitcase. So after I finished my
studies, it was time. I applied for
the airlines, and got a job in the
capital of the United Arab
Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Im Monica
and Im from Romania and here are
my adventures that unfold straight
from the sky.
Around the world in running shoes

My idea of travelling the world was a little

different than what the job of cabin crew
actually proved to be. I was more interested
in nature and mountains rather than the fastpaced city life. I had to adapt to make it more
enjoyable. It became a journey of observation; I soaked up the people, their culture,
their lifestyle and their cities.
For air crew, a layover in a destination commonly takes 24 hours long, and out of this
you have to balance your rest and exploration time.
I wanted to do everything, including sightseeing and most importantly my beloved
sports, but in time I discovered that I would
have to choose. So it was my destiny that
those running shoes would accompany me
to every corner of this beautiful world, they
became my most loyal travel companion.
I started with running marathons and halfmarathon races long before I joined the
airlines. My dusty medal collection, dormant
in a drawer of my childhood desk, back in my
home country of Romania, encompasses the
finishers souvenirs from races all over Romania, and also Vienna, Paris, Munich, Barcelona
and Hungary.
After I started flying, planning and signing
in for races became difficult, and I could not

A medal from Paris

get days off for specific dates, so I planned

my own race, my own route in each of my
travel destinations.
Running 21km still feels like an accomplishment. Running in a city with a camera in your
CamelBak gives you the chance to cover
much more ground. Exploring on foot, you
can discover hidden corners; indulge in little
treats on the street - things you cant even
find in comprehensive tourist guidebooks.
You become aware of the surroundings; you
feel the culture, notice the peoples expressions and what lies under a nations faade.
Running is for loners, or for social people;
for optimists or pessimists. For people who
love rain or hate it. Adding obstacles always
gives more value to your achievement. So
going flat or always choosing the path most
travelled by is not always the most rewarding
experience.
Out of my travels I came up with three
places where I love to run.
PARIS (The city trail) - Oh la la! One of my
favourite European cities to run. Has so many
parks, so many good runs along the Seine.
What catches my eye is the way the French
ladies dress up, the way they carry their
umbrellas during rainy days, and the way they
cycle. France is also home to the Tour de
France! The city cycles while in suits, with the
laptops in the basket, or wearing a mini and
the handbag on one shoulder then add some
heels. I find it trs chic!
SINGAPORE (The jungle and the beachscape) - The tropical climate and the high
humidity doesnt make it an ideal destination
for running. You can easily trick your feet by
allowing your eyes to enjoy the lush greens
and the lovely vegetation. If you feel like

Monica at the Grand Prix

Running around Spain

Monica at Fossil Rock

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OUTDOORUAE

covering as much ground as you can, just

choose Sentosa Island. Every step on the
luxurious beaches, or the muddy and hilly
jungle, makes you pick up the pace. Outrunning mosquitoes is always a good stimulant
to increasing your speed, but the earthy smell
and greenery makes it worth it.
OMAN (The social mountain run) - One of
the most pleasant escapes, the Sultanate of
Oman offers so many options to hike. From
Khasab to Muscat, the landscape is stunning
as well as the beautiful curvy roads, the sea
breeze and the desert. Simply stunning it will
leave you breathless. From March to October it will be hot, but Jebel Shams or Jebel
Akdar remains cool even during the summer
months. The capital of Oman, Muscat, is the
home of one of the most active running community in the Middle East. Here, if you prefer
running on solid ground you can join the
Muscat Road Runners, or if you want to head
up to the remote mountain surroundings of
Muscat you have the option to get involved
in some serious socialising: Jebel Hash House
Harriers (H3) and Muscat Hash House Harriers
(MH3). The two non-profit institutions organise weekly events where people of all ages
and fitness levels, get involved and have fun,
trying to cover together a previously marked
path, followed by a rehydration social
gathering, that I would classify from its
cheerful beat as an after-run party.
Made you curious? Want to be part of it?
Put your running shoes on. Ready? Get set!
Go!
I will join your path no matter where; still, I
have a world ahead to discover.

Monica Antal is originally from Romania and

has been living in Abu
Dhabi for five years.
She currently works
as air crew for Etihad
Airways. The UAE is
a world hub for the
aviation industry. These
are her adventures
from around the world as nights and days
merge into one and she seeks out adventure in the UAE and in far-flung places.

LIFESTYLE

Au Natural:
Health powerhouse
Hydration and how
to restore your lost
electrolytes in the
most natural way
Words By: Ivana Chiles

As summer quickly approaches,

staying hydrated is becoming
more and more important in preventing heat related issues and
overall health. If we get properly
hy-drated, then we are going to feel
a whole lot better and we are going
to detoxify a whole lot faster.
This month I will share with you some
tips about how to stay hydrated with some
exciting drinks you have probably never even
considered.

H20

Water is the basis of all life. While you can

survive for weeks without food, without
water you would not last for more than few
days.
Optimal hydration is essential for the body
to function correctly, especially during an exercise in hot weather. You need extra water
if you are active, because your muscles generate heat and the body perspires to stay
cool. Water also transports energy-providing
glucose to muscles and carries the waste
away from them, which helps to prevent
muscle fatigue. To maintain endurance, you
need to drink 15-30 minutes before, during
and after your workout.
Warning signs of dehydration are heat
cramps, heat exhaustion and even more
severe, heat stroke. The common signs and
symptoms are muscle cramps, high body
temperature, headache, lethargy, nausea
and you may even pass out and become
unconscious.
If you have become dehydrated, it is important to restore your bodys water balance
as soon as possible. Just remember, drinking plain water is not sufficient. The water in
your body contains electrolytes, which are
important minerals that allow your body to
carry out critical chemical reactions. They
are responsible for muscle contractions and
neural activity.
Getting your fluid replacement issue right
means that you have made one of the most
important and powerful steps in taking control of your health.
To be properly hydrated, you need to replace fluids lost from the body with one that
is similar to the bodys natural composition!

Why is being hydrated

so important?

Dehydration generally means that you have

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OUTDOORUAE

lost more than 1% of fluids. But why is it so

important to stay hydrated?
In the blood, water helps to transport nutrients and oxygen to all cells of the body.
In sweat, water removes body generated
heat and toxins out of the body.
In saliva and stomach juices, it helps to
digest food.
Proper hydration helps to lubricate joints
and cushions organs and tissues.
In urine, water carries away waste products.
Salt helps with regular bowel function; small
and large intestines require mineral salt in
order to retain moisture in those environments to stop constipation and to allow
bowel movements to occur regularly and for
detoxifica-tion to happen smoothly.

How much water

is actually enough?

Have you ever questioned the general

recommendation to drink 8-10 glasses of
water a day? I personally agree with the fact,
that we are all different and the key is how
you are feeling about your own hydration.
Also remember, that about 20% of your daily
water intake comes from food you eat.
Your body has in fact a built-in mechanism
that tells you when you need to replenish
your water supply. Hydration needs are very
individual and vary from day to day. They depend on the duration and type of activity you
are involved in, environmental conditions and
even the clothes you wear. Generally, if your
workout lasts longer than one hour, then you
need more than just plain water to rehydrate.

Are you hydrated?

There are two factors to tell you how well you

are hydrated:
The colour of your urine. If your urine is
dark in colour or you have not urinated for
several hours, it is an indication that you are
not drinking enough water. I recommend that
athletes weigh themselves before and after
exercise. The goal is to stay hydrated and
weigh the same before and after workouts or
races.
Use thirst as a guide to determine how
much water you need. Once your body has
lost between 1-2% of its total water, the thirst
mechanism will let you know that it is time to
drink some water.
Contrary to that, drinking too much water
can cause hyponatraemia (sodium levels

in the blood dangerously low). While most

of your body cells can handle the excess
water, your brain cannot and starts to swell.
This condition is commonly known amongst
athletes.

Hydrate for optimal performance

There are two things you should be adding to

your hydrating drink along with water:
Carbohydrates
(no more than 14g pre 8oz.)
Electrolytes
Electrolytes lost through sweating can be
replaced by adding small amounts of natural,
unprocessed salt like Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt (contains more than 84 naturally
occurring minerals and trace minerals) into
your drink. Sodium holds water so it helps
with rehydration.

Coconut and chia

Coconut water is one of the highest sources

of electrolytes known to man. High in potassium and fat free, some remote areas of the
world use coconut water intravenously to
hydrate critically ill patients as it has a similar
content as blood plasma!
Next time, try to add one tablespoon
of chia seeds to your coconut water. Chia
seeds were traditionally used by the Aztecs

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

to increase stamina, strength and endurance

on battlefield. Besides being packed with
healthy Omega 3 and 6 acids, this superfood
is coated with unique soluble fibre, which is
hydrophilic (absorbs water). Water-soaked
chia will prolong hydration and will help you
retain electrolytes.

Types of coconut
water to look for:

Eat avocados or make them

part of your race smoothies

Avocados contain more potassium than bananas and are source of healthy fats and fibre
that will hold on to water for longer.

Eat food containing electrolytes

One medium banana contains
about 400mg of potassium

Always look for coconut water with no

added ingredients.
Your best choice
will always be fresh
coconut, but if you
find it difficult to
locate it in your
grocery store, these
are the healthier
ones. You can add
one teaspoon of chia seeds to your coconut
water to stay hydrated for longer.

Drink thin soups

Drink and eat watery vegetables

and fruits that will hydrate you
more effectively than water alone

Sports drinks/ energy drinks/

vitamin water

Cucumber contains 95% water and is an excellent source of Vitamins A, C and folic acid.
Blend them in a powerful blender like Vitamix
to keep the fibre in to stay hydrated for
longer. Add green apple, freshly squeezed
lemon, a piece of ginger and a handful of
mint leaves to make yourself a super hydrating drink! You can also add 2-3 organic celery
sticks!
Some fruit juices are better than others; I
recommend watermelon for its high content
of Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and 8% sugar content. It also
contains lycopene and beta-carotene to give
your body protection from UV light!

Make a mint/ lemon cooler

to hydrate during hot summer
days or after exercise
Herbal teas

Next time you are

preparing for a race
or long workout,
prepare yourself
a tea from your
favourite herb (mint,
elderflower, lemon
balm, etc), let it
cool down and add
some more water,
honey, lemon and
chia seeds. You can
also use green matcha for a small dose of
caffeine.

Elderflower drink

I remember my
first ever marathon
where I ran comfortably with bottles
filled up with mums
homemade elderflower syrup diluted
with water, some
honey and one teaspoon of sea salt added. Perfect electrolyte!

My ever favourite organic, reduced-sodium

miso soup or organic chicken broth is certainly something which will replenish your energy
stores in a fast and healthy, efficient manner.
I know some of you will now comment that
most of these drinks will be difficult to sip on
from your drinking bottle. Remember you
can always alternate between thin drinks and
other nourishing beverages like smoothies.
You just need to find the right balance.

Drinks to avoid

If you have recently switched from soda to

highly popular vitamin water because
you believed it to be a healthier choice, you
might be disappointed. It is unfortunately
nothing more than a marketing trick designed to promote a product.
Most people believe that sports drinks are
the best alternative to replenish lost fluids
and electrolytes during and after exercise.
Sadly, just like vitamin water, they are full
of sugar and unwanted substances which
certainly do not contribute to optimal health.
Furthermore, they contain high amounts of
sodium in the form of processed salt and
are very likely to give you stomach pain. I
personally do not recommend any processed
energy drinks. They contain dangerous
high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), additives,
preservatives, artificial colours and caffeine.
I have been simply discouraged from them
by the fact that they leave my water bottle or
drinking bladder nastily coloured and that is
what they do inside your precious body. They
have certainly have no place in the diets of
children and adolescents.
Distilled water is one of the worst types
of water you can put into your body. It is
completely free of minerals; however, it is
an active absorber. When in contact with air,
distilled water quickly absorbs carbon dioxide
and becomes acidic.

Beware of bottled water

Besides massive environmental destruction,

bottled water is likely to contain chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic
hormones in your body and are major cause
of breast cancer in women. If you have tried
to do something for our environment and
got yourself one of the water fountains, think
about how often was your water delivered to
your door step warm, especially in summer.

Other tips:

Always drink slowly to avoid stomach upset.

Drinking too fast will cause your body expel
a significant amount of urine, which will slow
down the rehydration process

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Drink at regular intervals throughout the

day, especially in the morning
Drink in between the meals
My philosophy is not to drink with your
meals, as you will be diluting precious stomach acids and slow down digestion
Slow down towards the evening to ensure
good night sleep
Carry a re-usable bottle on you at all
times, preferably a glass bottle rather than
a plastic bottle. Do not leave your car in the
heat as the heat will cause chemicals from
plastic bottle to leach out into the beverage.
Sip tepid water, because your body has to
expend energy to bring cold water to body
temperature before being absorbed. Cold
water cools you off, but does not hydrate
you as quickly.
Install a water filter in your home. Most of
them work on the principle of reverse osmosis. In addition of removing chlorine, they
will also remove most of the fluoride. Just
make sure that you add the mineral back in
after filtration.

Banana and Mango

Pre-race Smoothie
Ingredients:

1 medium
banana
1 small mango
2 cups coconut
water
1 cup Greek
yogurt (has
more protein
than
regular yogurt)
1 tsp maca
powder
(excellent for endurance!)
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp honey
1 tsp flax seed
1 tsp bee pollen (increases performance by
up to 40%, fights the fatigue)
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (helps muscle
recovery)

Optional: 1 tsp protein powder

Method: Blend all ingredients together
and drink at least one hour before the race
or workout. Use as recovery drink within 30
minutes after the physical activity.
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.

OUTDOORUAE

45

LIFESTYLE

Why we have the

weather we do!

Whether the weather be nice,

Or whether the weather be not,
Whatever the weather
Wherever the weather,
In the Emirates its normally hot!
Words + Photos By: Dan Wright

The first year I was in the UAE I

was amazed at how hot it was for
how long and then suddenly when
the heat and humidity was at its
most unbearable wed get torrential
rain for several days and everywhere would be flooded.
These extremes of temperature and weather were the most varied I had ever encountered anywhere in the world and it took some
years for me to get used to it. Now of course
like all the old hands who have been here so
long I look forward to the 6-10 days of rain
we get a year and my wife and I will sit on our
balcony with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and enjoy the spectacle of a storm over
the mountains! So the question this month is:
where does our UAE weather come from?
Geologically, the world we live in experienced two major climates each of which spans
many thousands of years. The Glacial Periods
(when everything was covered in ice) were
drier and much colder. And the Inter-Glacial
Periods (when the ice melted) were wetter
and warmer. We are currently in an inter-glacial period and in fact the world is getting a
lot warmer. Scientists have proved that rising
C02 levels bring on warmer climates. It is also
agreed that most of the global warming in the
last 50 years is linked to mankinds increased
industrialisation of the planet. We only have
to look at rapidly shrinking glaciers around
the world (Kilimanjaro, The French Alps, The
Himalayas, The Andes) to know this will become a major problem for us, perhaps even in
our own lifetime. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi has
been leading the way in finding initiatives to
counter the greenhouse gas emissions. Projects like MASDAR which aims to develop
clean energy technologies, the Sulphur Free
Gas Oil (SFGO) project which will decrease
diesel fuel emissions or the 2030 Vision for
Urban Planning that is focusing on proper
land use and sustainable transport systems, all
help to reduce the overall C02 emissions of
the UAE.
In the last 5,000 years the UAE and the surrounding Arabian Peninsula has experienced
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OUTDOORUAE

a very dry period that has turned the postice age green and fertile landscape into the
desert we know today.
Before the Union of the Seven Emirates in
1971, there were fewer people back then than
what we have now. There are around eight
million people of which 7.2 million are expats
and the rest are Emiratis. In those days the
water table underground was much higher
with less people drawing on it as a resource
and it was common to see pools of water in
the wadis all year round. And although there
were no flowing rivers, there were several
areas where spring water flowed via rock
pools downhill forming small streams. I have
several local friends who have told me that in
their childhood they would swim in the wadi
outside forts like Bithna pretty much all year
round. The falajas (manmade drainage channels) which you can still see in the mountain
areas today, transported water from springs
to crops and farms and flowed in all but the
hottest weeks of the year. Unfortunately now
these sights are rare to see and there are only
a very few places where water flows all year,
like Wadi Wurayah National Park and Wadi
Shawka in the Eastern part of the UAE.
Precipitation (rain) is very low every year
with the highest rainfalls being on the East
Coast and the lowest out in the Western Region. In the Abu Dhabi emirate for example,
on average there is an annual rainfall of just
100mm with some years much less. So how
does such a small amount of water cause so
many problems? Well the main problem in
the cities is the urbanisation of surface areas
which basically means how much concrete
Pools at Wadi Wurayah

there is on the ground compared to soil.

Areas with soil and sand can absorb rainfall
much faster but areas of concrete and tarmac
have to rely on drainage systems. In an area
where the drains fill up with leaves and debris
during the dry days, the one or two days of
heavy rain each year quickly causes them to
overflow back onto the streets. The response
to rainfall in the mountains is equally as impressive as in the cities. The ground is baked
all year in the sun and when it rains is usually
too hard to absorb the water causing it to run
off and follow gravity to naturally low lying
areas which in the mountains means that the
wadis fill up. If you ever watch the rain (from a
safe place) in the mountains you will see thousands of waterfalls all spewing water down
into the wadis, which are then prone to flash
floods. These are both incredibly destructive
and very dangerous. You may have noticed as
you drive to Dibba or Fujairah or Kalba that
the wadis look like they have been carved out
of the rock and landscape sediments with a
giant spoon, well thats not far off! A massive
wall of water will pick up anything lying in its
path from trees, to shrubs, to whole sections
of hillside debris and carry it further downstream and redeposit it somewhere lower
than where it started.
In the aftermath of these rain storms the desert and mountains which are usually dry and
arid landscapes, literally change overnight
and green plants bloom everywhere. Flowers come out and the air buzzes with active
insects collecting nectar and carrying pollen
around for their host plants. Hamath (Sorrell)
with its apple/lemon tangy flavoured leaves
springs up all over the place and the locals
will collect baskets of it in the evenings to add
to their salads.

The UAE is affected by six different

air masses which approach us from
different directions and produce
different climatic changes:

1. Modified Maritime Polar Produces drizzle, cloudy weather and long but light rain. It
approaches us from a northwesterly direction.
2. Continental Tropical This builds up
moisture in the air over the Red Sea and can
lead to tropical thunderstorms. It approaches
us from a southwesterly direction from the
Sudanese deserts.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Lightning off the East Coast

Hamath in a hat

3. Highland Brings on thunderstorms and

come from the southeasterly Hajar Mountains.
4. Maritime Tropical This creates most of
our thunderstorms and comes again from the
southeast from the Arabian Sea.
5. Continental Polar This brings us colder
temperatures from the northeast.
6. Arctic These are cold polar air masses
and they come from the north.
The Water Cycle is responsible for the
flow of water from rain into the earth then
back up again as evaporation to form clouds
which then rain again! The picture below
shows how a typical water cycle works. The
water that collects in the groundwater storage
takes longer to replenish if there is a bigger
demand of its use (being pumped out for
farming) or if there are long, dry spells with
little or no rainfall.
In the summer months the majority of rain
that falls in the UAE is in the eastern region.
Indian monsoon humid air masses that
approach us from the Indian Ocean push up
against the Hajar mountains which causes
the air to move upwards where it condenses
into clouds and falls on the eastern seaboard,
which in turn keeps the air temperature lower
than the rest of the country. This feature of the
eastern area is why so many locals have holiday homes in Kalba, Fujairah, Korfakkan and
Dibba which they retreat to at weekends in
the summer to escape the heat of the inland
desert areas. Often when it is 52C or more
in Abu Dhabi in August it is still only 46-48
in Fujairah! Temperatures are higher all over
because the northern hemisphere is facing
the sun.
The autumn is when the Gulf waters reach
their highest temperatures and this in turn to
leads to mass evaporation which causes high
moisture content in the air and leads to the
fogs we experience especially in Dubai and

Abu Dhabi at that time of year.

The most popular season in the UAE is the
winter and this is when we can see desert
camps all along the roadsides especially
around, Madinat Zayed, the Hatta Road, Al
Ain and Maleha. Many families make the most
of the cooler temperatures to go hiking and
camping and to do sports like quad biking etc. Clear skies in the winter lead to fast
cooling of the earths surface and much lower
temperatures and it can even drop below 0
in the cooler winter months. Temperatures
are lower everywhere because the Southern
Hemisphere is facing the sun.

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Interesting weather phenomenons that

most people living in the UAE or Middle East
will have seen are Dust Devils or Djinns.
These are mini tornadoes that form when
hot air near the surface rises quickly through
pockets of cooler low pressure air above. If
conditions are perfect then the air will begin
to rotate and as the air rises fast the column
stretches out and as it sucks in more hot air
from the base it picks up dust particles from
the floor and spirals them up the column. The
air that is cooling descends outside the dust
column and acts as a stabilising wall which
holds the column together. The friction on
the ground and further hot air at ground level
that gets sucked in is what gives the column
motion and when it hits a pocket of cold air at
ground level it can suddenly collapse! We see
them most often with flat terrain like building
sites or desert or tarmac that allows a constant hot air supply. We also see them around
buildings where the micro-climates generate
their own wind tunnels and these dust devils
appear suddenly and spin very fast.
So despite being a country famous for its
hot weather we are actually quite lucky to see
some variety in our climate, from big storms
to mini tornadoes. Those who like to work on
their tans poolside have plenty of opportunities in the summer months and those people
who, like me, enjoy outdoor activities have
the winter to look forward to. Its definitely
fair to say though that we all enjoy the rain
when it comes and look forward to those
thunderous storms. Were also very lucky that
my family cant wait to come out and visit us
and soak up some of those suns rays we get
to enjoy almost daily. My mother is coming
out this April for a month and no doubt shes
looking forward to the sun. But just between
you and me and the editor Im secretly
hoping for a bit of rain.

Land Rover camping in the wilds of the UAE

In the spring we experience more rain and

fog than other times of year this is due to
tropical cyclone fronts from the Indian Ocean
and Arabian Sea. In 2014, the Abu Dhabi
Government issued a storm
warning to all schools before 11:00 a.m. one
morning in spring to send all students in the
country home before the UAE was due to
be hit by huge rainstorms that caused a lot
of flooding on the roads. All the staff at my
school went and stood outside to enjoy the
rain when it finally arrived!

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

47

T R&I E D

TESTED
ODUC
THIS PR

OV
T IS APPR

TDOO
ED BY OU

RUAE

Landyachtz
Switch 35
Words + Photos By: Mark Jayson Remot

It was about four years ago when

my friends introduced me to longboarding. It was love at first sight
from then on; every time I hop on
to my longboard, I get a whiff of the
fresh breeze as it touches my skin.
Theres a lot that I have experienced being
a longboarder here in Dubai Ive seen the
places I never even thought existed and it
gave me a way to relax especially after a
long day in the office. It makes me feel good;
longboarding gives me a taste of freedom
combined with summertime beach lifestyle. I
consider myself a sailor on the asphalt when I
cruise the streets or spend some time travelling down the shore with my stand up paddle
in hand. Longboarding is not just a way of
travel or a sports gadget it is both a lifestyle
and a fashion statement.
As a lover of board sports both on land and
sea, Im always in the pursuit for the hottest
brands with the coolest products. Recently, I
got the chance to try the Landyachtz Switch
35, which according to my knowledge is a
very formidable and interesting longboard.

48

OUTDOORUAE

As I got my hands on it, I knew I was in love;

and we were both going to have fun over the
weekend knowing each other.
Staying true to its name Landyachtz, its
a fairly large board standing at 35 long and
9.5 wide. Keeping this Canadian Maple
board rolling is its huge wheelbase (26.80).
An interesting thing to note about the Switch
35 is its drop-down design that kept my feet
closer to the ground as I pushed the board
onwards. The wide wheels provide a stable
ride even if I was carrying my big SUP board.
Even if I would be bringing in groceries or
bringing my office bag, the Switch 35 would
be my best choice its more than just a
longboard, its a mode of transportation
that puts convenience and versatility on the
forefront. Another aspect that I noticed is its
amazing freeriding capabilities thanks to the
short wheelbase.
As I continued the day with the Switch 35,
I tried to do something all skaters do some
tricks. So I got some friends and went to
Jebel Hafeet to really put the Switch 35 to
its paces. After several runs along the swirling mountain roads, I discovered the Switch
35s superb sliding capabilities - it does its
job infinitely well as I found myself throwing
180 slides on it with minimum effort. Whats
more, the Switch 35 is also the ideal board
to use when going for downhill runs at high
speed because of its unique drop-down
design that keeps it stable no matter how fast
you are. And for skaters like me stability is
always synonymous to safety.
Overall the Landyachtz is what it says it

is its a land yacht. Easily comparable to a

Cadillac from the 50s which exudes large
bodies with majestic styling, the same could
be held true for the Switch 35. Its a showstopping longboard with the looks and the
skills to prove it.
The Landyachtz Switch 35 is readily
available at GO Sport stores across the UAE
and Qatar for 1,299 AED/QAR.
This is my personal rating to the amazing
Landyachtz Switch 35
Cruising
Freeride
Downhill
Push

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Habitually healthy
The Off-Roaders Snack
Words + Recipe By: Chef Christopher Zerbe

Hello all! Happy spring, errr,

more like happy early summer here
in the UAE! As we can all see and
feel, its already starting to warm
up quite a bit! You know what that
means, right?
Yes, its off-roading season. Tons of great
off-road trails to hike and drive over, lots
of weekend wadi trips to be had and, of
course, the quintessential off-road trip
youve always wanted in Oman, where its
quite a bit cooler by the sea and in the Hajar
Mountains compared to Dubai! As a seasoned off-roader back home in the states,
I have always maintained a strict discipline

when taking off-road adventures

in my trucks. Whether you have a bulletproof off-roader like the Land Rover Defender or more of a weekend warrior CSV
type off-roader, there are always essentials
to bring that will make your adventure, safer
and more fun. I would like to hope that
everyone attempting to do these activities
remembers to bring a good first-aid kit and,
of course, plenty of water!
However, the majority of off-road enthusiasts tend to forget the golden rule: always
bring double the food you think you need!
And of course that should concentrate on
non-perishable items! One of the biggest
problems with this though is the sheer
amount of sodium and preservatives that are
in those types of foods. So what can you do
to be a bit healthier on that off-road trek?
How about a simple home made trail mix?

Or perhaps you are a bit more adventurous

like me and have an affinity for beef jerky or
biltong? How about dried fruits like golden
raisins or dried apricots or even dried cranberries? Each of these food is loaded with
natural energy and packed with essential
vitamins and minerals and can even contain
power packed proteins. If you decide to
make your own biltong at home, do some
research online and ask your South African
friends; they can, for sure, give you some
great ideas for your off-road snack. As for a
Paleo-friendly trail mix, see my recipe with
this article. I am sure you will love it!

Paleo Trail Mix

Ingredients

Amount

Notes

Almonds

1 dry cup

Whole unsalted

Cashews

.5 dry cup

Whole unsalted

Pumpkin seeds

.5 dry cup

Whole salted

Sunflower seeds

.5 dry cup

Whole salted

Dried apricots

.5 dry cup

Chopped

Dried cranberries

.5 dry cup

As is

Cacao nibs

.5 dry cup

As is

Dried flaked coconut .25 dry cup Lightly chopped

(toasted is great
too!)

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing

bowl and toss together!
Pack in airtight containers (I like our Cycle
Bistro Jars, they double as great drinking
glasses when the trail mix is all gone!)
The Cycle Bistro
GPS location:
Latitude:
N 25 02.792
Longitude:
E 055 14.384
Phone:
04 425 6555

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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

PARAKITO bands and clips

89 AED

Available at Adventure HQ, GO Sport, Golf House and many

more retailers (store locator at www.mapyr.com)
Number one natural prevention against mosquito bites,
PARAKITO refillable bands and clips offer a very unique
combination: natural ingredients, patented technology, original
designs, with an extremely easy use.
The PARAKITO pellet is soaked with essential oils extracted
from plants selected all over the world. You just have to insert
it in a band or a clip (each one is sold with two pellets) to be
naturally protected against mosquito bites for 15 days.
PARAKITO is suitable for everyone, because it doesnt
touch the skin. The protection is optimal under all
conditions: sweat, water, hot
and cold
environment.

Sport-Brella
280 AED

Efficient and economical, PARAKITO is

the solution to stay
protected from
insect bites when
doing
outdoor
activities.

Available at Modells Sporting Goods Ibn Battuta Mall,

Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre

Buff Shemargh

TCX R-S2 Boots

Available at Adventure HQ, GO Sport and Modells Sporting

Goods. Coming soon to Sun and Sand Sports

Available at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE

75 AED

Original Buff headwear now in new Shemargh colours

Original Buff headwear keeps you cool in the summer and
warm in the winter. The Original and still the best so uniquely
versatile it can be worn in up to 13 different ways for protection, comfort and fun! Made from seamless 100% microfiber,
the breathable fabric wicks away moisture and dries quickly.
Soft, breathable 100% microfiber polyester
100% seamless
Polygiene Active Odor Control
Moisture-wicking
Thermal protection from cold & wind
Quick-drying
2-way lateral stretch
One size fits all adults
2.9 oz.

The 8ft wide Sport-Brella is the original portable sun and

weather shelter with all the features you need to enjoy your time
outside. Whether you are on the sidelines, at the beach,
or having fun just about anywhere, there is no easier, more
convenient or effective protection available.

1,300 AED (previously 2,200 AED)

Precise Air Fit System and CE certification
Upper: Light micro fibre, breathable and highwear resistance;
microinjected inserts and wider padded front and rear area for
better comfort and flexibility
Lining: Air Tech breathable, new double compound PU soft
padding around the ankle area
Protections: Polyurethane shin plate with iron
mesh air intakes; polyurethane shift
pad integrated in the sole,
internal suede heat guard to
grant maximum grip
Sliders: Replaceable highresistant alloy toe, rear and
ankle sliders
Mid sole: Anatomic, with
heel shock absorbing foam,
extra light and breathable
Sole: Low profile

50

OUTDOORUAE

Discover Mocks
Your First Steps in Mocks
Are your feet ready for an adventure? One where theyll be stepping
into a world of pure colour, pure comfort and pure style? Youve
arrived at Mocks, the award-winning footwear for mens, ladies and
kids that your feet will thank you for.
Taking our lead from traditional moccasins - and generations of
native Americans cant be wrong - weve looked at a comfort classic
and given it a few 21st century twists.
With so many colours and styles to choose from, you can express
yourself and get your feet fizzing wherever you are: in the city, in the
country, on the beach.
Explore our world. Take your first steps in Mocks and you know
good times are ahead
Available at Namshi, Athletes Co, TAF and Stadium

MENS

Specifications:
Sterilizable - Our mocklite material is made of STERI-TECH
technology (a high-quality polymer material).
Coolmax Technology - The Coolmax insole allows air to circulate inside
the shoe, keeping your feet drier.
Soft Scent - Our footwear has a soft scent to keep your shoes and your
feet smelling fresh.
Closed Heel - Additional support making our shoes the ideal casual
footwear for a range of locations, from the bar to the beach.
Washable at 90C - Our Mocklite Classic shoes can be washed at high
temperatures - in the washing machine or dishwasher - however we recommend not putting your Mocks in with your plates and cups (please
remove the insole and laces first).
Antislip - The sole is designed to reduce the risk of slipping.
Upper Protection - Avoids the entrance of liquids to the inside of the shoe.
For more information, call (+971) 50 436 2485

WOMENS

KIDS

OUTDOORUAE

51

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

PRODUCTS
Eton Rugged Rukus
395 AED

Available at Adventure HQ
Rock the outdoors with the Eton Rugged Rukus portable wireless speaker. With Bluetooth connectivity, built-in solar panel
and durable splash proof body, its your perfect outdoor music
companion.

Shimano Dynalast

495 AED (Shimano R088)

375 AED (Shimano R065)
Available at Adventure HQ
Have you tried the new Shimano cycling shoes with Dynalast
technology Adventure HQ? It combines both comfort and
rigidity which is a rarity!
We have two new models:
SH-R088 - Perfect for the club and recreational cyclist with
expert-level performance
SH-R065 - Compatible with indoor cycles and the best entry
level shoes for beginners

Stages Power Meter

Polar V800

Available at Adventure HQ, Cannondale, Probike, Trek and

online at Stages Power Middle East Facebook page

Available at GO Sport, Adventure

HQ, Modells Sporting Goods, Mega
Sports, City Sports, Virgin Megastore
Mall of the Emirates, Intersport, Saucony, Orlando Sports and Sportone.

Starting from 3,299 AED

The Stages Power Meter is primed to bring power-based

training to all disciplines of cycling. With advanced
technology and a simple, elegant design, the Stages Power
Meter is perfect for any cyclist. Whether they are looking for
their first power metre or a savvy power-training expert wanting
to add power measurement.
Stages Power Meter weighs only 20 grams and are the smallest,
most technologically advanced unit available today and they
are being distributed by Sport In Life Distribution.

2,290 AED

Designed for professional athletes

and demanding amateurs for whom
sport is a way of life, the new Polar V800
sports watch with integrated GPS helps
you reach peak performance just when you
need it. It combines your workout training load
with data on the small activities you do every day, so you have
a true picture of your required recovery time before getting out
there again. Its technology youll want on your wrist 24/7.
Most importantly, the Polar V800 helps serious athletes gain an
edge by training, and recovering smartly. It offers:
Smart and accurate monitoring of training sessions as well as
the smallest activities in your everyday life, thanks to an integrated activity tracker.
Instant analysis and in-depth insights into all your training and
recovery on the Polar V800 when used with the Polar Flow web
service.
It records your heart rate even while swimming making it
perfect for triathletes and includes the most accurate altitude
readings with a built-in barometric pressure sensor.

52

OUTDOORUAE

T R&I E D

TESTED
ODUC
THIS PR

OV
T IS APPR

TDOO
ED BY OU

RUAE

Simple Things are Sometimes the Best

NITE WATCH NATO

Words + Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer

Nowadays we expect a lot of

features from small gadgets or
at least be given the idea that we
need all these features which is a
great driver for consumerism. On
the other hand, I tend to be more
conservative - loyal to my old stuff
and keep mobile phones until they
die. Todays gadgets are loaded with
a lot of things most of us dont need
and never even explore. They are
mini super tools doing everything a
bit but nothing in perfection. Sport
and outdoor watches also fall into
this category and while they are
loaded with features you really need,
the core functions of simply giving
the time are neglected.
So testing the Nite Watch was something
refreshingly simple - all the watch does
is tell time. No bling, no nonsense, just a

rugged watch with precision Swiss made

movements, stainless steel housing with an
ultra tough, highly scratch-resistant sapphire glass which is waterproof up to 300m.
Another thing worth mentioning about a
watch which only comes to life in darkness
is that the dial of the watch is illuminated
by Gaseous Tritium Light Source or GTLS
which works properly all night and in complete darkness. My Tissot watch is actually
also supposed to have illuminated (fluorescent) dials but the performance is very
weak and will not last all night.
GTLS is a unique, highly specialized technology that uses a combination of tritium
and phosphorus to create visible light. As

The watches at night. My Tissot versus the Nite Watch Natos superior GTLS illumination.

a cold light source, it requires no external

electrical energy and is used for numerous
applications such as emergency exit signs,
military equipment, kit markers, compasses
and wristwatches. It is a completely self
powered, light source and works up to 25
years.
So if you are looking for a tough watch
that could show you the time in any condition - be it trail running at night, diving into
underwater caves, fishing or just camping
in the desert, the Nite Watch Nato is a
good choice.
If youre wondering where to get the
Nite Watch Nato, they can be found in Al
Mekshah in Dubai for 2,000 AED. Their staff
focuses on direct customer service which
is also a good indicator that most of the
money really goes in producing the watch
rather than marketing and sales channels.
Meaning, you get a great value for money.
You dont need to climb Everest like
Sean who is taking his Nite Watch to the
top of the world, but for us more grounded
people, the simple but ingenious feature of
seeing the time anywhere and everywhere
is highly appreciated if not pragmatic. The
Nite Watch can either be with you on the
top of the world or when you are checking
if your steak is rare or medium done while
BBQ-ing at night.
Available at
Instagram: @almekshah
Facebook: www.facebook.com/almekshah
Mobile:+971 55 4005441

OUTDOORUAE

53

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

PRODUCTS
ABOVE Sandboards
Jolly Roger Sea Dog
1,900 AED/QAR
206.500 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
When designing the Sea Dog, no effort was spared in creating
the optimal performance of a 295cm or 98 sit-on-top kayak,
while maximising comfort and stability. Using the most advanced
design technology available, paired with life-long experience
and a deep understanding of the sea, we have managed to create an outstanding craft.
Performance kayaking
The ride is stable, comfortable and dry with lots of space for dry
bags, fishing gear and other necessities in the storage compartment behind the cockpit.
Comfortable and ingenious backrest
The standard equipped backrest is in itself an innovation worth
mentioning. Not only does it offer superior back support and optimises paddling performance but it is also extremely easy to attach.
Performance is everything
So if design and performance is important this is the perfect
kayak. It not only paddles great, it looks the part.

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
Sled Sit down family fun board, but dont let this fool you, its
super fast.
Speed Demon Standup speed board perfect for carving down
dunes, for riders over 85kg.
The Drop Short and agile, great for tricks and spins, for riders
under 85kg.
All ABOVE boards are handcrafted in Dubai. They are made of
laminated quality hardwood.
The footstraps have been developed from kiteboards and offer
excellent control and comfort.

Stellar Elite Intermediate

Stellar Mid-Wing Value Paddle

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

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 Stellar Elite Intermediate (SEI) Surf Ski provides intermediate

paddlers with an all-condition boat that has high top-end speeds
as well as great stability in rough conditions. Other features of the
SEI include a narrow catch, low volume footwell and a comfortable
seat with a slight curved on the back side. We expect the SEI to
set a new standard in the intermediate surf ski class for speed and
stability.

Our Wing paddle provides strong connection through the drive

and a clean release on each paddle stroke. The low twist Airfoil
cross-section of our wing provides hydrodynamic lift during a high
angle stroke that is easy to paddle. Comfortable Oval Shaft fits
your hand well and is stiff for maximum power application. The
paddle is easy to adjust on both angle and length with a simple
and secure cam lock. Length adjustment is available in ranges
of 10cm and is scribed with 1cm increments for accurate length
adjustment as well as angle for left and right feathers.

6,995 AED/QAR
760.300 OMR (Advantage model)

54

795 AED/QAR
86.400 OMR

OUTDOORUAE

650 AED/QAR
70.700 OMR

QATAR EXPLORER

Do something different
Words By: Eulogy van Dyk
Photos By: Michael Anderson

Gone are the days of people

saying, Theres nothing to do in
Qatar. If your bodys own engine is
not keen to take you out for a spin,
why not hop on a motorised engine
and join a group for a motocross
session in the desert. But beware,
although powered by fuel it is still
a demanding sport both physically
and mentally.
The MXGP World Championship returned
to Qatar for the third consecutive year this
2015 and kicked off with the first race of the
championship at the Losail International Circuit. A few more similar international events
took place in the country, which makes it a
good indication that Qatar is a favourable location to participate in a sport like this. With
rumours that Formula One might be headed
to Qatar in the near future, it is clear that
motorsport is becoming increasingly popular
in our small, Middle Eastern peninsula.
The local community (expats and Qataris

alike), however, is still a rather small group

of people participating in the sport, but according to some of the riders, the group is
growing each year and showed a significant
increase the past two years. Similarly, events
that cater to motocross enthusiasts have
been increasing steadily every year.
Currently, there are no motocross clubs in
Qatar, but an active Facebook community,
the Qatar Duners, exists where you can connect with like-minded people. It consists of
a mixed group, from all walks of life and is
open for all to join. Normally they go out for
rides on Friday morning and Saturday, which
is becoming increasingly popular.
The riders focus on the following types of
riding; Motocross, Endurocross (longer distances with less jumps) and Free riding (just
going out for a ride in the desert, weekend
warrior style).
There are two tracks built in the desert

by the Qatar Duners and located close to

the Inland Sea in the south of the country.
One track is less technical and the other
with more demanding, adrenaline pumping
jumps. This serves as the main training area
for the locals currently. It is possible to go on
a cross-country ride with no formal routes,
although it is advised to take care before
embarking on an individual outing. In a sport
where open space and alluring area is a
must, the desert is the perfect place to be!
The season runs mainly from October to
April where pleasant weather equals pleasant
riding conditions. In the hot summer months
you will only find a few daredevils chasing
out at 4:00 a.m. in the morning to get their
daily dose of adrenaline pumping through
their veins.
Tips for the local riders: never ride alone
and be aware that some sand dunes do
change shape during the course of a season!
At the moment there are limited shops that
cater for motocross specifically, so most people order spare parts and accessories online.
There is however Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda
and KTM bike dealerships in Qatar.
The motocross community in Qatar is
warm and welcoming. There is a special camaraderie between them where great friendships are built. And the best of all, families
can join for a day out in the desert whilst the
boys (or girls) go out to play in the dunes.
So if you are looking to do or try something else, motocross is a fantastic way to get
out of the house and do something different
in Qatar, instead of falling into the trap of
getting the hump that there is nothing to
do.
To get in touch with the motocross community contact Qatar Duners at
qatar-duners@googlegroups.com or
visit their Facebook page.

OUR EXPERTS

2015
Winner Best Stuck Jeepers Bigfoot

Words By: Marina Bruce

After the success of Oasis Offroads Dark Skies Challenge 2014

(see OutdoorUAE December 2014
issue), it was decided to run the
event again with a few changes.
The inaugural event was held on the last
weekend of October, when temperatures
were a bit on the warm side (averages
34C/21C), the sunrise was too early and
the sand super soft.
Taking these factors into account we
moved the Dark Skies Challenge 2015 to
20th/21st February, when the average inland
temperature in Abu Dhabi Emirate is 27C
with overnight averages of 15C, although
the actual recorded temps on the day were
33C and 22C respectively. The day started
much later too the campsite was bathed
with the first rays of the winter sun at 6:53
a.m. (as opposed to 6:28 a.m. on 30th
October) with sunset at 6:20 p.m. a total of
11 hours and 26 minutes of daylight driving
time required by the challenge rules.
Most of the UAE was hit by torrential
rainstorms in January including the Dark
Skies area in the Western Desert, so I was
sure that the going would be so much easier
this time round or it would have been, had

Winner Desert Life by Jeepers Bigfoot

56

OUTDOORUAE

Winner Teamwork by Tusken Raiders

we not been hit by some sandstorms during

February!
All 11 teams checked-in at our base camp
near Arada on Thursday night before 11:00
p.m., were issued with their t-shirts (kindly
supplied by Eastern Motors Al Ain) with
instructions to be back at reception for a
pre-trip briefing next morning at 6:30 a.m.
sharp! To be sure that everyone was up and
awake, I arranged for Andy to tour the camp
with a special wake-up call a trumpet
reveille followed by the theme to Chariots

Treasure - by the Highjacks

of Fire and this must have worked as

everyone was gathered on time!
Having fielded five teams from Oasis Offroad in 2014, the club did the same again
and our trip leaders led the Oasis Ospreys,
Oasis Saffas, Oasis Slipfarces, Dig Out
Your Soul Oasis and Oasis Dubai All Stars
onto the sand. We added to our numbers
by inviting some external teams and we
welcomed Jeepers (Jeepers Bigfoot), Knight
Riders, Just Offroaders (Desert Strike Force),
Desert Buccaneers (Patrolling Buccaneers)

Nature by DigOutYourSoulOasis

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

together with two private teams which were

the Tusken Raiders and the Highjacks.
To keep everyone safe we had three
sweep teams equipped with winches Jo,
Lia and Sarah near the front; Ian, John Flavin
and myself tried to keep somewhere in the
middle of the field; and the third sweep
team comprised Ivan, Stephen and Alan,
who patiently lingered near the back of the
field. A total of 53 cars took to the sand.
Administering such an event is quite an undertaking and I was ably assisted by Karen C
in organising the teams and distributing the
information.
One thing beyond my control was the
weather youll no doubt have noticed the
photos which accompany this article we
had a mega sandstorm where everyone was
sandblasted for most of the day; thankfully
the wind died at night so we could enjoy
a lovely camp not very far from the Saudi
border where we enjoyed a truly dark sky,
free from light pollution.
The challenge itself was made slightly
easier than last time round with the addition of some intermediate waypoints to pull
teams away from a 6km stretch of relentless,
soft, technical dunes which were torture for
some of the teams in 2014. The course was
also lengthened from a 108km straight line
to 144km which included an overnight stop
at 101km. The teams who completed the
Friday section in the shortest distance were
Knightriders and Desert Strike Force with
an impressive 108km; and overall shortest
distance over the two days were Knightriders with 157.3km.
Once more we implemented a grid system
over the course which saw teams sending an
SMS at the end of each sector to Sandy, who
armed with her clipboard, kept an eye on
all the teams progress and ensured we did
not lose anyone in the vast expanse of the
western desert.
The cars set off and despite the weather
made good progress over the course which
had been chosen to set both a driving

Teamwork by Oasis Ospreys

and navigational challenge; the run of the

dunes is northeast - southwest and the first
waypoint was around 70km northwest. Team
leaders had to search for sand saddles to
allow them to climb over each dune line yet
keep on course penalties would apply if
they went more than 2.5km off the straight
line.
You cannot believe how excited people
can get over finding a tiny treasure chest
containing sweets, matches, a carabiner and
a get out of stuck free card in the desert
and so as not to disappoint our drivers we
dashed into the desert a few days prior to
the event and buried some swag in some
uber-soft dunes just beyond the first waypoint.
Despite the atrocious weather, all teams
made it to the Friday night camp before
sunset, where we had a huge campfire and
gave out certificates to all the participants.
Some teams had sped through the course
quickly and on arriving at the camp spot in
the horrendous sandstorm, decided to finish
the course and head home. I dont blame
them but they did miss a great campfire and
the chance to drive in a second sandstorm
the next day.
On the Saturday morning, we had one
team with a car which literally was not firing
on all cylinders so I escorted them on a
super easy route out, then raced round to
meet the other teams as they reached the
final point.
Post-event, all teams submitted their
tracks and a selection of photos for our
competition and you can see the winners
here. Each category was sponsored by a
company: Rahal Outdoor, Southern Sun
Abu Dhabi, the Liwa Hotel (who graciously
sponsored two), Black Pearl Car Care Centre
not forgetting OutdoorUAE. Oasis Offroad
thanks you very much for your support.
When they reached the end point I asked
Miriam of Oasis Dubai All Stars, Same time
next year? And her reply was No, we need
another one before that, maybe in October!

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Winner Sunrise by Jeepers Bigfoot

Stuck by Oasis Dubai All Stars

DesertLife by DigOutYourSoulOasis

Sunset by Oasis Saffas

Winner Nature by Jeepers Bigfoot

Ian Huggins of Sweep 2 is ready to rescue

Teamwork by Knightriders

Winner Action Shot Jeepers Bigfoot

OUR EXPERTS

Thursdays
with Olivier
Words By: John Basson

Whats more appropriate than

this issue of OutdoorUAE to say
farewell to a great mentor, guide
and friend. It is hard to believe
that it was almost seven years ago
that I did my first ride on a bike in
the UAE desert. It was on my CRF
250X that accompanied me from
South Africa with myself, Patrice
and Olivier as the riders.
They were already competent desert riders and they were on quads. You can only
imagine how far I was out of my league on
that ride. I think I dropped (no accident, just
dropped it a little) my bike about eight times
on that ride. What I do however clearly remember was Olivier constantly looking over
his shoulder to make sure that I was okay.
Every time I dropped the bike, got stuck or
hesitated crossing the dunes he would turn
around and assist me.
Let me give you all a short history on
Olivier Almairacs riding career and then try
to reflect in words what a great inspiration he
has been to me over the last seven years.
Olivier started riding at a very young age
and raced his first race at the age of only
15. He won that race. His MX riding/racing

progressed to the level of being 125cc pilot

for Honda in France. Oliviers passion for riding was certainly not limited to MX, but also
included go-karts, trials bikes, quads and
more. Not only does he ride, but he also services and maintains his bikes/quads to a level
that can only be admired. It was this passion
for not just the riding, but the machine that I
think connected us. We both prefer doing
the work ourselves and would not even let
others wash our bikes/quads, never mind
servicing them!
Our initial routine used to be Thursday
afternoon rides from Al Ain, for about two to
three hours. As my riding skills and experience increased, Olivier and I started doing
more, longer trips together, and also riding
not only on Thursdays, but Friday and Saturdays. The weekend rides generally being
over 100km and three or more hours. By
this time I had bought Oliviers Suzuki LTR
450 quad when he upgraded to a KTM. The
Suzuki obviously resembled a new rather
than second-hand machine. It was the occasional riding of my CRF 250 that got Olivier
to again buy a two-wheeler (CRF 450X). This
naturally triggered me to also get a CRF
450X just to maintain a fair level of competition between us. These bikes we collected
from Honda in their boxes and assembled by
ourselves.
Suddenly our new bikes opened opportunities that were not previously possible on
our quads. These included trips from Al Ain
to Liwa, Al Ain to Kalba (where we nearly got
arrested), Dubai to Dibba, Dubai to Fujairah
and many more. Each ride being a learning
curve as I learnt from Oliviers vast experience. His knowledge on bikes, adjustments
and their performance regularly caused me
to lose a friendly bet. Not only did our passion for riding and machines complement
each other but our wives, Mari (my love)
and Claudia (Oliviers love), are both one of
the reasons we had so much fun. They both

allowed us to ride as much as we wanted,

as long as we were together. They were
regularly invited to join us at the resorts we
rode to. I am sure they knew the invitation
had something to do with them having to
take our pickups with trailers there to collect
us, but they never declined. I supposed they
thought we were safe in each others company. If only they knew how often we were
racing each other, they probably would never
have allowed us to ride together. Nevertheless, thank you to both ladies, you were (are)
great!
About three years ago Olivier decided to
upgrade his KTM 450 quad to new KTM 525.
He did however still want to have a second
quad just in case a friend or his son came to
visit. He subsequently made me a deal that
was at first difficult to comprehend: You can
have my 450 if you are willing to maintain
it like your other bikes, and if I could use it
maybe once a year.
I thought he wanted me to maintain it so
that his friends could ride it? No, he gave
me a virtually brand new KTM 450 quad as a
present. By far the most impressive gift I ever
received from anybody!
Now seven great years later, it is time to
say good bye. Surely it is not a permanent
one as I will still join him in France for trials
riding and he will come to SA for some
adventure riding within the next few years.
However, there will no longer be early Friday
morning rides from my villa. Something we
will both miss.
Olivier, thank you for the seven amazing
years and thousands of desert miles you rode
with me. It was awesome riding with you!
Ride safe, appreciate what and who you
have, and go for gold!
Regards,

JB

OUR EXPERTS

Fly fishing

What you need to get started

Words By: Kit Belen

When I first started, there was

hardly any information on what to buy and
where to buy. There were only a handful of
fly fishermen and most of them were not
interested to share. So like many others
before me, I had to do everything the hard
way learn with whoever I can watch and
mostly learn on my own.
I soon discovered that putting together
a fly fishing outfit was mostly like putting
together a puzzle. You will soon realise that
you have preferences you need to discover
to make it work for you. Putting one piece
out of place would give you somewhat of a
bad experience, but through it all, if you are
committed enough, you will find the pieces
of the puzzle yourself and make your experiences more enjoyable.

Navigating the jungle

The very first thing you notice when you

look at fly fishing gear is the mention of line
weights. As each rod has a rating, the line
has a rating and the reels also have a rating.
Without complicating things, the very first
thing that you need to know is to balance an
outfit; you get the rod, line and reel with the
same rating. So, lets say you want a starter
outfit something you can use anywhere and
catch almost anything look no further than
a 9wt.
The fly line does a few things; its the part
of the fly casting system that you cast, as the
flies themselves are nearly weightless. The
lines come in a few varieties, but the main
ones are floating (meaning, the line floats),
intermediate (sinks very slowly) and sinking
(speaks for itself). The best line to get as your
first is the floating; this is the easiest to cast.
Although I have to say, the most useful one is
almost always the intermediate line.
The rods are the part of the system that
to me is the most complicated. It is what
propels the line and I find it complicated
because this is where you start with your
preference. Generally, the stiffer the rod (fast
action) the farther the potential cast. However, not everyone can cast a fast rod. It takes
a little juggling until you find what is right for
you, regardless of the brand, keeping in mind

that the rods are not cheap; it is an expensive

juggling act for most people. The best way
around this is to look for people that have
different rods and ask to cast them and then
you would find out what suits you the most. A
medium action rod is the path of least resistance; however, there is a danger of the rod
being outgrown fast.
The reel, for me, is the least complicated
of the system. You basically get one with a
good drag system, if you can find one with a
sealed drag (which means the whole system
is encased and isnt as prone to saltwater
intrusion) even better and one that holds at
least 200m of 10-15kg backing (a length of
fishing line that comes after the fly line, which
is mostly only 100ft in length, some fish will
run and take you to your backing, but most of
the fish you encounter will not get you there).
The leader in fly fishing is tapered, meaning the section that attaches to the fly line
is thicker than the section that you tie your
fly onto. This has something to do with the
transfer of energy from the fly line to the
leader, which enables your fly to turn and
roll out to straighten when you present the
fly to the fish. They each carry a weight and
at times labelled after the fish that they are
designed to catch. Although you can make
your own, its better to purchase a few to get
you going; bonefish leaders rated at 12lbs or
6kg is a good place to start.
A selection of flies to start (clouser minnows and crazy charlies will catch almost
anything that swims!) and all thats left is to
put the backing on the reel, attach the fly line
and leader, attach the reel to the rod and you
are ready to learn how to cast.

Casting

The best way to learn how to cast is to find

someone who knows how to cast and learn
from him/her. The second best thing is YouTube. As I am self-taught, I feel that I am not
really qualified to teach people. Fly casting is
like the golf swing; you can easily learn bad

habits and these are more often than not

harder to get rid of than learning better form
from the start.

Where to fish

You can fly fish almost everywhere you can

use spinning gear, just make sure you have
enough room for a back cast, and that its not
crowded to avoid accidents.
Yas Island is a prime location with a lot of
possible places for anyone to explore, as
are the mangrove areas of Umm Al Quwain.
Across the border, Oman offers a lot of possibilities and is only a committed drive away.
If you are not shy of boats, a charter with
Soolyman or East Coast Charters, both having experience with fly fishing offshore, can
help you catch some good dorado off the
coast of Fujairah.

Where to buy

Barracuda Dubai has a selection of Orvis

rods, reels, lines, leaders as well as flies.
Ocean Active at the Garden Centre has some
gear as well. Aside from these two options,
you can find some deals in the US online
shops and eBay.

Parting cast

Everything in fly fishing will be a challenge

from the cast to catching consistently. Just
when you think the fish is hooked well, things
could easily go wrong and it will throw the
hook before you could react. Fly fishing takes
commitment, perseverance and a whole lot
of patience. It is not the most efficient way of
catching fish; in fact, it just very well may be
the least efficient of all. It is also very expensive as good gear commands a premium
price. It is not for everyone, not because of
the price, but because of the learning curves
involved. Learning how to cast a decent
distance would take a long time (about a year
on average). Casting a fly rod is undoubtedly one of the most frustrating things you
will learn (or not), and its the experience that
make a lot of people give up.
Our fishing pro who shares
his experiences and erpertise with OutdoorUAE
through his regular column.
thefishingkit@gmail.com

OUTDOORUAE

59

PEOPLE

Iain Winterbottom
Occupation: Geography teacher
at GEMS Cambridge International,
Abu Dhabi
Nationality: British
Age: 28

Iain says he is pretty much new

to the world of running. He disliked
it at first, but moving to the UAE
last September has made him reconsider. And this decision took him
right at the doorstep of the toughest footrace on Earth the Marathon des Sables. We asked about
his decision to run the MDS 2015
from April 3rd to13th and how he
finds the running community.

running rhythm. Of course, daily life doesnt

stop and after a hectic day at work, going
for a long run is often the last thing I want
to do especially when Im tired. When I
break into my natural cycle however, I love
the feeling of being free. I become removed
from my normal life and the world that goes
on around us. I feel small and consider the
bigger picture of life. I see myself as though
I am looking down on myself - as if from a
satellite or on a map. I think about where I
am on Earth and see myself as a small dot
running on the surface. Sounds strange but I guess thats what happens when you
force yourself not to think about the daily
grind.

When did you first hear about the

Marathon des Sables?
A friend of mine decided we needed a new
challenge. We had both completed long
distance walks before, mostly in Europe.
These events include the International Four
Days Marches Nijmegen (160km over four
days) and the Belgian Dodentocht (100km
in 24hrs). Having completed these events
several times and having not had a challenge for a while, my friend took a day off
from work to sign us up for the MDS. I dont
think either of us, especially me, expected
we would get a place. A few years on, here
we are.
Could you tell us more about
the cause you chose?
I am running for the Bluebell Wood childrens hospice in the United Kingdom. I
used to live in an area where their work
touched the lives of many. Bluebell Wood
helps young people and their families who
have a shortened life expectancy. The work
they do is invaluable to families and friends
at a very difficult and precious time.
How are you preparing for the MDS?
I have been following an intensive running and gym schedule since September. I
completed my first half marathon in Dubai in
November/December, and my first marathon in Dubai on 23rd January. I now have
all the appropriate kit I need. The MDS is a
self-sufficient race meaning I will carry all my
food and will be limited to 10L of water per
day. I spend my evenings running with my
desert pack and wearing my sand gaiters.
I often get funny looks until I reach those
sandy areas. I think it looks weird but equally
cool.
What do you love most about running?
I love the sense of accomplishment. Sometimes it is difficult to get into my natural
60

OUTDOORUAE

Are there any other sports

you are involved with?
I am a traditional outdoor pursuit person. I
enjoy hill walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, road cycling, climbing, abseiling
and canoeing and kayaking. I used to work
in the outdoor pursuits industry in the UK
and a lot of my time was spent doing the
above.
Whats next for Iain? Are there any other events that you are preparing for?
I am preparing for a week of not running
anywhere when I return from the MDS! After
that, Im not sure. I feel like I have started a
journey and found that I am actually quite
good and enjoy something I always disliked.
Besides, I have bought a lot of expensive
and specialised desert running kit now.
Lastly, how did your decision to take
part in the MDS impact your life?
I think the true answer to this remains to be
seen. However, up until now I have gone
from not being able to run very well or for
very long, to running marathons. I have no
spare time and I have lost weight (something I didnt need to do!). I know I am going to experience something very different
and very tough with people I do not yet
know. The impact on my life could be profound lets hope I dont think about the
big picture too much whilst in the middle
of the Sahara. And to my fellow 2015 MDS
participants, I hope we can all help each
through and complete the MDS together.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

PEOPLE

Occupation: MotoGP rider with

the Movistar Yamaha Team
Nationality: Spanish
Age: 27
Interview By: Keith Perea
Photos By: Supplied

We met Jorge on a windy

Tuesday afternoon in the newlyopened BoxPark in Dubai. It was a
very modern and artsy strip with
shops set inside coloured shipping containers. The Yamaha Caf
faade was in black, but running in
contrast are the reds of the brand
logo, carpet and ribbon poised for
the opening ceremony; while the
interiors are white and wooden,
remaining true to the aesthetics
of Japanese minimalism. MotoGP
rider Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero
joined the Al Yousuf and Yamaha
family in welcoming everyone into
the first ever Yamaha Caf.
At age of 27, he has successfully won the
250cc World Championship and the coveted
MotoGP World Championship twice, racking up four trophies. A native of Spain, he
began his racing career back in 2002 when
he qualified for the 125cc category of the
Spanish Grand Prix. We had a quick chat
with him after the Yamaha Caf ribbon cutting to talk about riding and racing for the
pure fun of it.
Hows your visit to Dubai?
Ive been in Dubai twice or thrice if I could
remember correctly. Ive been to many
places and Dubai remains one of the beautiful cities.
We have read that you are taking
part in the Grand Prix of Qatar
on the 29th, are there any
preparations that you are doing?
Well, we are doing some training, riding and
lots of exercises. But most of the time were
out on the track and testing out the bike
looking for areas to be improved, things to
be fixed. Majority of the training I do is

focused on gaining the best times on the

track which is important when the race
starts.
Since youve been here in the UAE a
couple of times, what do you think of it
in terms of motorsport? Or, to be exact,
how does the Dubai Autodrome fare as
a track based on your experience from
various tracks such as the Circuit de
Catalunya, Silverstone and the Twin
Ring Motegi?
The Autodrome is a very sophisticated track
it is very secure, and the facilities are upto-date and the turns are challenging. I have
seen it in the A1 Grand Prix, but have yet
to see it as part of MotoGP. But from what
Ive watched, if its good for the A1, then its
good for MotoGP

Hopefully, to become the world champion

for this season of course. More fun, races,
safety, competition, winning and of course,
no crashes [laughs].
Lastly, whats next for you?
Are there any other events that
you are preparing for?
Well, the 2015 MotoGP season is underway
and were mostly focused on that. All our
time is devoted to training, riding and trying
to beat lap times.

Whats the most challenging

race you had?
Its difficult to tell. Ive had more than 200
races in my entire life and each one was
challenging to a degree. So its pretty hard
to say which one is the most challenging of
all.
What do you love most
about the sport?
The bikes there is just so much fun to be
had in riding bikes; my crew, the Yamaha
team and getting to travel the world. I love
the exhilarating feeling of riding my bike
every time. Also the fun, the fun of racing
and training.
What are you expecting
for this MotoGP season?

OUTDOORUAE

61

LOCATIONS

Get outdoors in the UAE

Hiking A series of articles to help you start or gain progress your hiking in the UAE

The highest points in the UAE

Words By: Sean James

Making lists, ticking challenges, collecting race medals and

bagging peaks are all things that
adventurers and particularly hikers
or mountaineers do quite regularly.
There are seven continents in the world
and climbers like to stand on top of the highest mountain of each continent and complete
what is known as the Seven Summits. There
are around 196 countries in the world if you
include Taiwan. Each of these countries has
a highest point or mountain. That is a big list
to complete. For those of you who like facts
here is another list:
Antarctica is the continent with the highest average elevation; most of the land is
covered by an ice sheet 1.6km thick.
Australia is the continent with the lowest
average elevation at 330m.
Kyrgyzstan has the highest average elevation at 2,750m.
Netherlands has the lowest average elevation at 11m.
The country with the highest low point is
Lesotho at 1,400m.
The country with the lowest high point it
Maldives at 3m.
The countries with the lowest high point are
Israel and Jordan at -418m.
The country with the highest difference in
elevation is China at -154m to 8850m.
Aconcagua is the highest point outside of
The Himalayas and The Karakoram.

Some of the paths cling to the side of the cliffs

What is a mountain?
In the United Kingdom, the government
has decided that a mountain is a peak over
600m. This is to define freedom of access.
Mountaineers have further classified mountains of a certain height with different names.
For example any mountain above 914m is
called a munro. To those using the metric
system, 914m could be a strange point to
pick until we look at the imperial equivalent
of 3,000ft which is slightly more rounded. The
term was created by Sir Hugh Munro and was
originally only applied to Scottish mountains
meeting the height criteria. Such is the fervour and fanaticism of mountaineers that the
trend soon caught on and they created terms
for all their mountains of a particular height.
There is no official reward for climbing all or
The mountains form a natural border here overlooking Dibba

any of the Munros, Corbetts, Donalds, Grahams, Murdos, Wainwrights, Birketts - only
personal achievement. However many spend
a lifetime trying to stand on the summit of
each if only for a brief moment.
In the UAE there are no names yet for our
mountains. But here is a list of some of the
highest so that when there is a name, you can
claim to have done them.
Highest point in the UAE
The highest point in the UAE is not massively
high by world standards but is a very worthy
objective. Most people think the highest
mountain in the UAE is Jebel Hafeet. Others
think the highest mountain is Jebel Jais. They
are both wrong. The summit of Jebel Jais is
actually the ninth highest mountain in Oman.
In fact it can be quite a confusing issue. The
highest point and the highest named mountain are actually different places. The highest
mountain or peak in the UAE is Jebel Yibir.
But the highest place you can actually stand
on in the UAE is a point on a mountain slope
on Jebel Jais. However the true summit of
Jebel Jais is in Oman. Jebel Yibir is at 1,527m
while Jebel Hafeet is at 1,240m.
Below is a list of the highest points in the
UAE with the GPS reference. Many do not
have paths to the summit so using software

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

like Google Earth is an ideal way to plot a

route. Alternatively, you can contact OutdoorArabia and join one of their guided hikes to
the summits.
The region and its mountains
Many people only envisage the UAE as a
flat desert and gleaming new cities. In fact,
the mountains are of worldwide significance.
Known as the Al Hajar Mountains, translated
in Arabic as stone mountains, the range runs
from northeastern Oman through the eastern
United Arab Emirates and down into southern Oman. Although there are no official
tourist hiking trails in the UAE, The Ministry of
Tourism in Oman has developed a wonderful set of 11 marked trails, grading them
from Grade 1 to 3 with hiking time anywhere
between 1.5 hours to 18 hours. The highest point in Oman is Jebel Shams, meaning
mountain of the sun and is just over 3,000m.
The UAE
In the UAE, the Al Hajar range separates the
Al Batinah coast from the rest of the UAE.
You would be mistaken for thinking Ras Al
Khaimah is the most mountainous emirate
but in fact, Fujairah can claim to have many
more peaks, although not quite as high. In
many places such as Dibba, Kalba and Khor
Fakkan, the mountain slopes run directly

Google Earth screenshot of the route

You can download the GPS files from our website www.outdooruae.com in the downloads section

down to the shore. The emirate of Fujairah was the first to create a decree by His
Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al
Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and
Ruler of Fujairah protecting Wadi Wurayah
and it is now the UAEs first protected mountain area. The wadi is a 129km protected
nature conservation area that due to its
permanent water resources has been used by
local communities for thousands of years. It is
home to rare and endangered species such
as the Arabian Tahr and Arabian Leopard
which are vital to the UAEs national heritage.
Musandam
The Hajar Mountains extend into Musandam
and the landscape is a sharp contrast of sea
and mountain. Jebel Harim is the highest
point in the north at a height of 2,000m. This
area is known locally as the Ruus Al-Jibal,
which literally means heads of the mountains.
Geographically, these mountains are of
special interest to geologists because they
consist of the worlds most extensive surface
exposure of ophiolites. Many years ago the
surface here lay much further north and now
this rich seam of igneous and sedimentary
rock is very visible, displaying obvious movement of the mantle and oceanic crust. These
are the beginnings of the Mesozoic carbonates of the Arabian Platform which further
west bear the oil that drive the region.

Some of the high points in

the UAE are very isolated

A natural border formed by the mountains

Quick checklist route planning

Start point

25 018.61N 56210.58E

Off-road driving required?

No

Distance and time from Mirdif to start

152km and 92min

Navigation on hike

Intermediate skills of navigation

Time required for hike

3 -4 hours

Distance

8.4km

Elevation gain on hike

660m

High point

932m

Grocery / water on hike

No

Possible to encounter a vehicle on trail?

Yes

Suitable for all the family?

The trail is loose rock, some steep but never too hard

Looking down on the Green Mubazzaarah from Jebel Hafeet

Jebel Hafeet
Jebel Hafeet is worth a mention although not
the highest, it is definitely one of the most
beautiful and gentle introductions to hiking in
the region. You can actually drive very close
to the summit of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain but
a good hike is detailed below. The mountain
road curves gradually up 12km to overlook
the desert and at nearly 1,250m the view on
a clear day is both over the desert and the
city of Al Ain.
Jebel Hafeet is outstanding because of its
isolation and easy accessibility. In addition to
hikes around the slopes there is an extensive
cave system that apparently opens up into
the Royal Palace on the top. At the bottom,
the Green Mubazarrah is a busy area of hotwater springs, streams and lake as well as the
nearby Wadi Adventure.
All of the data regarding the mountains in
the UAE has been compiled from a number
of sources including Peakery and Geonames.
If you have further information, we would like
to keep it updated, so please contact us.
A hike for April
This hike takes you to the beautiful area
around Al Ain and up the slopes of Jebel Hafeet. The hike is relatively short; around four
slow hours and the views open up to show
the desert and the green oasis of Al Ain.
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

OUTDOORUAE

63

LOCATIONS

The Oman Quad

A circumnavigation of Oman
Words By: Clive Delves
Photos By: Clive Delves, Elisna and Lawrence Vincent-Edwards

Taking the initiative from Mike

Nott through his book Off-Road
Adventure Routes: UAE and Oman,
I stitched together four Oman
routes (Starfish [SF], Oman Empty
Quarter [OE], Yemen-Oman-Saudi
[YOS] and Wahiba Crossing [WX])
into one long circumnavigation
driven in one continuous loop over
14 days, and with help from Colin
Campbell and Marina Bruce both
of whom have experience of the
intended routes, we chose an anticlockwise direction since it allowed
the hard stuff to be taken care
of first, then delays could be
absorbed into the second half of
the drive which would be predominantly on tarmac.
We also decided to not take Mikes YOS
route to its extreme westerly point close to
the Yemen-Saudi-Oman confluence given
the less than friendly welcome received
there by a convoy last year and to allow
two nights stop-over in Salalah to provide
a break in the camping and the luxury of a
halfway celebration Ice-Cold in Salalah at
the Khareef Pub in the Crown Plaza.
Team VEconsisting of Lawrence and Elisna Vincent-Edwards and Team CD just myself, had 14 days to complete the drive, so
it was necessary to simplify Mikes routes to
a manageable level of difficulty and achievability, especially given the extra weight that
we would need to carry. 120L of petrol and
40L of water, adding close to 180kg, so as
always compromises were necessary in packing only the bare essentials.
Safety first, since accidents do happen
and in the remote areas where we were
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OUTDOORUAE

going it becomes more of a critical situation, so an 8:00 p.m. reporting schedule was
arranged and a procedure to follow if the
scheduled calls were not received. For this
we were equipped with a satellite phone in
case of no mobile coverage, which could
often be the case.

Day One
21/11/2014
Mezyad to Starfish Camp
Distance covered 97km

The much simpler SF route provided excellent views of the dunes in their full beauty
without too much effort, the bridges across
the lower choppy tongues of the dunes were
testing for our fully loaded vehicles and the
crossings were adapted to fit. Even so, we
encounter several stucks, some resolved
with good old fashioned dig and push and
several with the winch. We all appreciated
the workout and the winch, and by the time
the sun was lowering its head, we had fallen
short of our expected distance and we settle
down for camp in a large bowl. The stars
are in full bloom as the new moon was not
yet full and Team VE were on shooting star
lookout.

Day Two
22/11/2014
Starfish Camp to Fahud
Distance covered 356km

A very humid night results in bedding hung

out in the early morning sun. We join the
OE route by crossing the long sabkha via
zigzagging tracks to avoid the stony ground,
and by-passed the start of the OE route to
take in the beautiful scene as camels took a
dip in a small lake [N23.34740 E55.69076]
surrounded by large dark orange dunes,
patrolled in the air by hawks gliding on the
air currents. As we wiggle our way through
tongues of dunes blown across the track
south into the deserted industrial area of
Safah, all to be seen is pipe heads and pipes

that follow our track for many kilometres.

Farther south we skirt around the industrial area of Al Khuwayr and head southwest on faint tracks, past a sign boldly
stating the Road Conditions [N22.81932
E55.33118] but whose status looked never
to have changed judging by the condition
of the sign itself. Heading OP off-piste
towards the confluence of UAE-Oman-Saudi
borders we travel along the fence-line to
locate the actual post that denotes the
joining point of the three countries borders
[N22.70135 E55.21337].
Once regaining the OE track south, the
hard surface of compacted sand and sabkha
is fine for a faster pace to make up for time
lost earlier on, however the surface is also
able to exploit any weakness that it finds
and soon Team VE have their first puncture
near the oil and gas area of Yibal. A tyre
change and soon we are continuing on our
route, with plans to fix the tyre in Fahud
which would be our first refueling point.
We drive the 70km detour east to the
Bridgestone tyre shop at Fahud, where we
were unlucky to arrive just after closing. So
with chicken biryani in our belly and the sun
going down on Fahud we camp outside the

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

town and plan for an early visit to the tyre

shop the next day.

Day Three
23/11/2014
Fahud out and back again
Distance covered 234km

Up with the sunrise and into Fahud proper,

unfortunately neither the Bridgestone nor
the Michelin shop next door stock off-road
tyres off the shelf, so the decision was
taken to purchase a road tyre of the same
size to act as the second spare, which while
not ideal, would do the job if needs be
and we would keep any further delay to a
minimum.
So back out again through Yibal and
return to the OE route, heading towards
the start of the Umm Al Samim, the notorious flat expanse, famous for quicksand and
other desert trickery. However only 40km
out, Team VEs second rear tyre suffers a
similar fatal puncture and the plan is quickly
changed to return to Fahud and fit a full set
of new off-road tyres that we confirm would
be brought from the warehouse by 5:00
p.m. that day. Job done by 8:00 p.m. and
another overnight camp outside Fahud.

Day Four
24/11/2014
Fahud via Al Ghaftain
to Muqshin Oasis
Distance covered 531km

Leaving Fahud behind in a trail of dust as we

head out across the Umm Al Samim, we are
passed by a police pickup whose occupants
wave enthusiastically to us. This is the only
vehicle we see for the next 370km. Weaving
our path through some of the most spectacular dunes, in shapes hard to believe, along
tracks covered in places by drifting sands
blown by the same winds that had created
these almost vertical walls and towering
dimpled pillows of sand all around us.
No punctures, a varying terrain and good
track surfaces allow us to make very good
time and complete that days route before closing time at the Al Ghaftain petrol
pump and we drive on-road to set our next
overnight camp near to the Muqshin Oasis,
where we will visit the next morning. During
the evening while sitting out in the glow of
the star filled sky, we see a flare penetrate
the dark skies and hear several gun shots,
but that was the highlight of the evenings
fireworks and we settle down for our fourth
night under the stars.

Day Five
25/11/2014
Muqshin Oasis to ad-hoc
Desert Camp
Distance covered 125km

The Muqshin oasis [N19.58298

E54.88633] is full of vegetation growing
around a large natural lake that appears to
be present year-round, judging by the size
of the area. Local municipality workers are
hard at work pruning trees and it is nice to
see the area being taken care of for visitors,
local and not so to enjoy.
We had planned to take an alternative
track away from a checkpoint which we
expected would not allow people to pass
without an Omani guide and also due to
the terrain which was said to contain large
areas of tyre puncturing dried vegetation
protruding from the hard sabkha floor.
So instead of taking the OE route, our
planned route takes us OP across the
white sand plains of Muqshin to Al

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Montasarvia a track we name the white

sand road, which seems more like driving on the surface of the moon, passing
what appears to be a tree graveyard on
either side, and where those hardy enough
to thrive are placed on its own individual
raised island. We had planned to check out
another oasis spotted earlier on Google
Earth [N19.45362 E54.61974], smaller
than Muqshin but with just as much life for
such a remote location and as we arrived
we encounter many birds, green grasses
waving in the wind, tiny fish, dragonflies,
butterflies and very shortly after, a police
patrol car. The driver watches and waves
politely as we roam the oasis, the wind
billowing the white sand adding dramatic
contrast to the fertile land which lay only
metres from barren desert floor.
The second part of our alternative track,
did not go as well as hoped. Anticipating
going OP again for 45km and crossing the
low lying dunes between Qitbit and meet
the OE route at OE51, using a straight-line
track planned on GE, based on old tyre
tracks, but those images cannot show the
consistency of the sand and how the wind
has whipped it up into a powder. This kind
of sand along with the extra weight carried by the vehicles made it very difficult
to cross, and at one point we struggle to
advance more than a few hundred metres
in an hour. Even though the dunes are low,
as we cross one ridge the next would cause
another stuck that we need to recover from,
on what seemed to be at every rise and fall.
The first 15km across the sabkha took 20
minutes, the next 10km on the dunes took
four hours 30 minutes. We were in a fix and
would not be able to complete the whole
route if we continue to battle ahead at such
a slow pace.
The sun became lower on the horizon,
we agree to spend the night on the dune
ridges, arise early to get down to the next
sabkha with the help of the damp sand
from the morning dew, and then follow the
sabkha back out. To reduce some weight
we removed four petrol jerry cans and drag
them bodily across the dunes to the sabkha
edge thus removing approximately 80kg of
weight from team VEs vehicle.
(To be continued)

OUTDOORUAE

65

Hiking tips to help you go further

2. Mountain Climbers

Words By: Ben Press

Photos By: Jung Francisco

Hiking is the single, most popular

outdoor activity in the world. The combination of fitness, nature and landscape
makes for an amazing day out, for singles
and groups of all ages. But how can we
improve our fitness and strength so we
can spend more time appreciating the
great outdoors and not our lack of breath
or burning thighs.
In this article, I will be taking you through
five simple, but highly effective exercises
to help improve your fitness levels through
cardio-based exercises and increase strength
with compound-based movements.

1. The Hip Thrust

Our glutes (our bums) are one of the single

most important muscles in our body and
having weak glutes can cause a load of
problems from lower back pain to joint issues. The hip thrust is a compound movement that primarily targets our glute muscles. Position your upper back on a bench
with your feet a little wider than shoulder
width. Drop your hips down towards the
ground then drive them up squeezing your
bum at the top.

Imagine your core muscles as a belt that

wraps around your waist and lower back,
keeping everything tight when we exercise.
The appropriately named mountain climber
is a combination of a core strength and cardio output. Start in a press up position with
your back straight and abs tight. Bring your
knees up to your chest, alternating legs as
fast as possible.

5. Back Extensions

Most hikers fill their back packs with drinks,

food and snacks to keep them fuelled on
their hikes. This all adds weight and makes
the trek a lot harder. Back extensions focus
on our lower back strength to help keep our
posture correct when on the move. Adjust
the back extension so your hips are at the
top of the pad, lower yourself slowly keeping
your back straight and abs tight.

3. Lunge onto BOSU

We have all been walking or running on the

street and twisted our ankle at some point.
Ankle stability and strength is a must when
hiking up or down steep and uneven terrain.
Place the BOSU ball blue side up and take a
big step back. From this position step onto
the middle of the BOSU bending both legs
to 90 degrees. Alternate for each leg.

4. Step Ups

Being able to ascend steep hills or mountains is one of the main challenges and
motivations for hikers; we all want to reach
the summit to admire the view. But Im sure
we have all had that burning feeling in our
thighs where we just want to stop and sit.
Find a box that is knee height or higher. Step
on and extend until you are standing, pushing your hips through at the top.

Back Extensions 1

Back Extensions 2

The Hip Thrust 1

Mountain Climbers 1

The Hip Thrust 2

Mountain Climbers 2

Mountain Climbers 3

Building strong legs and a strong core will

not just help when hiking, but also in day to day
life. Your legs and
core muscles are the
foundations of your
body, they keep you
moving forward and
standing tall. Like always if you need any
help with technique
or form ask one of the
fitness professionals
in your local Fitness
First. Add these five
exercises into your
BEN PRESS
training programs to Fitness Manager
help you go further.
Fitness First Al Manzil
Example training program

Lunge onto BOSU 1

66

OUTDOORUAE

Lunge onto BOSU 2

Step Ups 1

Step Ups 2

Exercises

Reps/Time

Sets

Rest

Hip Thrusts

10-12

3-4

60 seconds

Mountain Climbers

30 seconds

3-4

30 seconds

Lunge onto BOSU

10-12

3-4

60 seconds

Step Ups

30 seconds

3-4

30 seconds

Back Extensions

10-12

3-4

60 seconds

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

LOCATIONS

Location mini guide

Kayaking in the Marina

Words + Photos By: Ian Ganderton

Kayaking in the Dubai Marina

area offers a unique perspective
on the city and there arent many
places in the world where you can
be floating completely surrounded
by towering skyscrapers one moment or view sky divers from directly below as you pass Skydive Dubai.
It also offers a sheltered area very
suitable to beginners.
There are two options. A there-and-back
trip launching from one of the access/egress
points, exploring a bit then returning the
same way. The other option is the 8.5km
circumnavigation which is a fantastic trip
exploring the whole area.
My favoured launch point is the beach
next to the Sheraton at the far southwestern
end of JBRs The Walk. Parking is easy and
close to the shoreline.
Starting out from the beach, you can head
out just 100m and savour the seaside view of
JBRs impressive skyline before turning left
and rounding the sea wall to enter the Marina. You quickly feel yourself being surrounded
by the imposing, albeit majestic towers.
The route is obvious and there are lots
to explore. But any day of the week at any
given time there can be plenty of boats
moving around so take care to stay well out
of the way.
From this point onwards, your option
would be to putter about and explore the
area before heading back the way youve
come or to continue through the inland
waterway passing under bridges and passing
the luxury yachts on the right and the palm
tree and caf-lined walkway on the left.

Google Earth screenshot of the route

After a few kilometres you reach the

Marinas northeastern corner with yet more
luxury yachts and speed boats racked in
the jetties. Turn left and head towards the
open sea. Grovesnor House is on the left
then Mina Seyahi on the right, just after the
bridge, then Skydive Dubai on the left.
Dont get too distracted by the sky divers
as this is a busy area of the sea between the
drop zone and The Palm.
Once you get past the end of the runway,
JBRs magnificent skyline will again be visible
to your left. Youll find the water quieter and
closer to the beach, and you make your way
back to your start point at the far end.

Starting and finishing points

Sheraton End Beach (250426.3N
550733.8E) - Easy parking pretty close to
the beach. Easy access to the southern end
of the Marina
Yoga Beach (250507.5N 550813.5E) Beware of the soft sand here, keep well over
to the right and park sooner rather than later
if you are in a 2wd. This area provides great
access to the Skydive Dubai area and the
northern end of the Marina.
Things to consider
Once inside the Marina you are completely
sheltered from the wind but the launch
points are more exposed despite the construction work going on for the Dubai Eye
Ferris Wheel. Bear in mind that the wind
always picks up as the day goes on so I
always recommend an early start as paddling
on calm water is quite special. Be extremely
cautious when winds are offshore.
The area is busy with plenty of water traffic
away from the beach. Keep your wits about
you and use common sense to keep out of
harms way. Keeping to the JBR side of the
Marina away from the jetties will keep you
safe.
Wear a PFD. Respect other water craft.
Paddle within your abilities and experience.
Paddling in small groups is safest. Tell someone where you are going and let them know
when you get back.

OUTDOORUAE

67

TIPS & TRICKS

A view while you ride is good motivation

Major Muscles
Words By: Sean James

You dont have to have to be strong or

have big muscles to enjoy your mountain
bike in the UAE, but it definitely helps! The
number of mountain bikes and road cycle
races in the region is growing.
If you are interested in getting a higher
position in the finishing results or simply
want to feel more comfortable when you go
out riding over the next few months, we are
going to look at some simple exercises that
can be used to improve your strength on a
mountain bike. A systematic programme of
muscle strengthening will also decrease the
chance of becoming injured. This month we
point out some of the main muscle groups
and show some simple exercises. These exercises can be done at the gym, at home or
at the beach. They deliberately do not use
weights. Next month, we look at exercises to
improve your core.

overtraining, doing too many repetitions and

using weights that are too heavy can lead to
a condition called DOMS (delayed muscle
onset soreness) and a lack of motivation to
continue with the programme.
Start with your feet shoulder width apart,
your core tight and spine neutral. As you
come down, bend at your hips and knees,
making sure your knees dont pass your
toes, and stop when youre parallel to the
floor. On your way up, emphasize pressing through your heels. You should feel the
glutes, hamstrings and quads all working.
We are not trying to take them to exhaustion, only to isolate them with relatively light
movement and create a muscle memory that
will then be transferred to your mountain
biking.
It is more important to do the exercise
slowly with the correct style and technique
and with controlled breathing. If you are
new to these types of exercises you should
do four sets of 10 reps for each of these
five exercises. Twice a week for the first five
weeks until your body becomes accustomed
to working like this.

Start by balancing on one leg then lean

forward, making sure to keep your core tight
and the spine is neutral. Stop once your upper body is parallel to the floor. You should
return to the upright position by squeezing
your glutes and hamstrings on the working
leg and slowly bringing your feet together
again.
Again you should aim for four sets of 10
reps for this exercise. Twice a week for the
first five weeks until your body becomes accustomed to working like this.

3. Push-ups

1. Squats

Squats will work on your glutes, hamstrings

and quads. These muscles are the key to a
powerful pedal stroke, both on the down
and the up stroke. In the gym they are often
done with weights but be careful if you
are starting out for the first time as
68

OUTDOORUAE

2. Single Leg Deadlifts

Single leg deadlifts isolate and focus on the

posterior or rear side of your body by working your glutes, hamstrings and quads. They
also improve your balance and you will easily
be able to tell if you have an imbalance and
one leg or side is stronger than the other.

Holding your mountain bike steady over

rough ground is important. Some strength in
the upper body will improve your confidence
and control. Push-ups are an upper body exercise that improves upper body strength by
working on your chest, arms and shoulders.
Place your hands shoulder width apart and
bring your chest as close to the floor as you
can without touching it. Keep your elbows
tucked in close to your side. It is important
to do all of these exercises in a slow and
controlled manner, breathing in and out. As
you return to the starting position dont lock
out your elbows.
You should try to keep your head slightly
raised and look ahead so that your body,

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

chest and chin are inline. Add this exercise

into your circuit of the five and do four sets
of 10 reps twice a week for the first five
weeks.

and perpendicular to the ground and the

back leg must be bent. As you come back
to the starting upright position try to press
through your heel. Throughout this exercise
make sure that your chest is out, core is tight
and spine is neutral. Repeat with your other
leg and a lunge with each leg can count as
one lunge.
Do four sets of 10 lunges twice a week for
the first five weeks.

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

in an almost vertical position remembering

to breathe in as you lift up and out when you
slowly lower. Keep your core tight and spine
neutral.
Do four sets of 10 lifts or rows on each
arm, twice a week for the first five weeks.

Tips and advice

These exercises are very intense. Start slowly

and make sure that you recover after each.
Remember, you are trying to get stronger
and your muscles only rebuild and get
stronger when you rest. When you are doing
the exercises you are actually getting weaker.
Give the muscles time to repair. A continuous programme over weeks and months will
benefit your health as a whole and make you
a better rider.

An interval workout on the bike

5. Bent Over Rows

4. Lunges

Lunges are slightly dynamic and again

should be done in a controlled and smooth
manner even though the name suggests differently. Over exertion can place pressure on
the joints and tendons. Lunges also work the
glutes, hamstrings and quads. An important
point to note is that your knee, when it goes
forward and bends it should not pass your
toe. You should keep most of your weight
on your front leg. The correct position for a
lunge is to keep the front shin almost upright

Riding a bike all day can make you slightly

hunched and the chest muscles can become
slightly dominant. Bent over rows are a great
exercise to balance the body and work your
back and arms. You will need something
that is easy to pick up and has some weight
to it. Try around 10kg to start but you dont
have to be precise. Again the lift should be
smooth and controlled and you are not
trying to jerk the heaviest weight that you
can. If you are outside, some rocks inside a
plastic bag will be sufficient. Start with your
feet about shoulder width apart and in a
staggered position i.e. one slightly backwards of the other. Bend your body at the
waist until it is nearly parallel to the ground.
If you have your left foot forward you will be
lifting the weight with your right arm and
vice versa. Raise the weight slowly upwards
Downhills are also fun and improve technique

The exercises above will isolate the key

muscle groups that you will be using when
you ride your mountain bike. If you do them
regularly you will see your power on the flat
and on climbs increase. Something else that
you can do to increase your climbing power
is to add intervals into your mountain bike
rides. If you cycle at the same speed every
ride then your power and speed will generally be the same and you may plateau and
see no improvement. An interval is a short
period of time where you produce a higher
level of effort than normal. You can measure
this with a heart rate power metre or simply
go by feeling at how much effort you are
putting in.
You could go out specifically to do intervals or during a long ride you could add
some intervals during your route. Intervals
will most definitely give you an increase in
your overall strength and it will feel like you
have more gears in your legs.
The best place to do intervals will be on
an uphill trail with a 3-4 minute climb. The
trail can have some moderate technical
features but you must be able to ride the
technical sections without difficulty. The
objective is to ride up the climb without
stopping and to be at a heart rate zone of
five or power L5 or VO2 max pace. If you
dont know what that means, its about 90100% of maximum. This is pretty hard and
virtually everything you can give. To keep
this up for an entire ride is not possible so
an interval of 3-4 minutes is perfect. You
can then coast back (ride easily or spin a
light gear) to the start or continue on your
ride and recover for three minutes. This is
one complete interval.
Again, start with four back to back intervals in a session. If you just warmed up, do
the intervals and then warm down. You may
almost feel like the session is too short and
you have more to give. But remember the
aim is not to overdo it and completely burn
yourself out. You will feel your legs energised and the strength will build over time
making you much stronger.
See www.outdoorarabia.com or
contact trips@outdoorarabia.com for
details of our courses and hikes in the
UAE wilderness.

OUTDOORUAE

69

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

TIPS & TRICKS

Never too young to Tri!

Words By: Trace Rogers

Besides the obvious benefit of

enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle, we take a deeper look into the
advantages of getting youngsters
involved in triathlon.
Tomorrows champions start training
today. Dr Ander Erricson came up with the
theory that it takes 10,000 hours to become
an expert at anything. Although there are
many who disagree with this theory, they
all agree that practicing your sport is vital
to success. The younger children start, the
more time they have to spend on honing
their skills. This puts young adults who have
trained in a sport for a large part of their
childhood at a distinct advantage to those
that take on a sport as an adult for the first
time.
Quality family time. Triathlon is something the whole family can get involved in.
A triathlon requires that three disciplines
are completed and most races provide the
option to enter as a team or individual. This
would therefore allow family members to
divide
the workload
Outdoor
UAE march.pdf
1 3/11/2015between
4:15:57 PM themselves

and focus on one or two discipline(s) only,

knowing that the rest will be covered by
another family member. This is a great way
to encourage bonding and teamwork.
Strategic thinking. Unlike many singular
disciplined events where the focus is to
complete the said discipline in the quickest time possible, triathlon requires a
participant to pace and place themselves
efficiently so as to complete all three
disciplines. This requires having a strategy.
Learning and practicing strategies as a
child will certainly benefit the future adult

in tasks that require planning and organisation.

Patience. Being an endurance sport, a
young triathlete needs to be prepared to
think long-term. This is both in terms of
an actual race as well as in terms of seeing
their own progress and development in the
sport. Technique plays a big role in being
successful and it takes patience to master
a swim stroke or a fast transition. We live in
a world of instant gratification where many
results can be obtained through pushing
a button. In triathlon, there are no short
cuts. Time needs to be invested to achieve
results.
Discipline and commitment. There is no
hiding in triathlon. If you want to succeed
you have to commit to training and be disciplined to learn the rules and techniques.
Its fun! This is the most important reason
why children should try competing in a triathlon. There is a sense of achievement in
participating in a fairly daunting sport. Its a
great way to meet likeminded friends and
develop a healthy sense of competition.
How to get involved. Both SuperTRI and
Starfish offer Triathlon specific training to
children. For more details, visit www.supertriuae.com or www.starfishsports.com.

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

UAE DIRECTORY
General Sports
Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,

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

Adventure tours
and desert safaris

Alpha Tours, Off #512, 5th Flr., Al Qwais Bldg.,

Al Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai,
+971 42949888, www.alphatoursdubai.com
Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers,
Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566,
www.dadabhaitravel.ae
Desert Rangers, 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,
mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com

Air

Ballooning Adventures Emirates, Dubai,

+971 42854949, www.ballooning.ae
Dubai Paragliders, www.microaviation.org,
+971 552120155 or +971 552250193
Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah, +971
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,
yamboats@alyousuf.com
Elite Pearl Charter, Saeed Tower 1 office
# 3102, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE,
+971 43889666, www.elitepearlcharter.com
Gulf Craft, Ajman, +971 67406060,
www.gulfcraftinc.com
Distributors and Dealers
Art Marine, 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,
info@bluewatersmarine.com,
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,
uday@japanmarine.jp, www.japanmarine.co
Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43391512, www.rinehemiratesme.com
Repairs and Maintenance
Extreme Marine, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com
Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1,
Al Quoz, +971 43391512,
info@rinehemiratesme.com,
www.rinehemirates.com
SNS Marine, JAFZA Techno Park, Jebel Ali,
Dubai, +971 501405058, info@snsmarine.ae,
www.snsmarine.ae
The Boat House, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
Cruise Operators
Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26665491, www.marinaalbateenresort.com
Al Marsa Travel & Tourism, Dibba,
Musandam, +968 26836550, +971 65441232
Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite
the British Embassy, +971 43994994
Bristol Middle East, Dubai Marina,
+971 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,

YAS

+971 504586171, www.edenyachting.com

Emirates Yachting, Dubai, +971 42826683
El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406,
www.elmundodubai.com
Four Star Travel and Tourism, Dubai,
+971 42737779, www.fourstartravels.net
4 Yacht Arabia, Shop No. 5, Dubai Marina
Yacht Club, 800 92248, www.4yachtarabia.ae
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi,
+971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 558961276, +971 503960202,
www.happydaysdubai.com
JPS Yachts and Charter, Room 225,
Emarat Atrium building, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43437734, www.jpsyachts.com
Khasab Divers, Oman, +971 567255889,
khasab.diver2@gmail.com
Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours,
PO Box 411, Khasab, Musandam,
+968 93350703, info@tourkhasab.com
Khour Shem Tourism, Oman,
+968 26731919, www.khourshemtours.com
LY Catamaran, Dubai, +971 505869746, +971
566506683, www.lycatamaran.com
Marine Concept, Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company, Villa 332/7,
Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi, +971 26503600,
www.noukhada.ae
RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City Hilton
Marina, +971 504912696, +971 72066410
Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats
Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011
Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
+971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com
Smoke Dragon Of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi
International Marine & Sports Club, +971
507011958 / +971 504546617
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk
opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel
Marina, +8008044,
www.theyellowboats.com
Marinas
Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club,
Abu Dhabi, Breakwater,
+971 26815566, www.adimsc.com
Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi,
Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam
+971 72682333 / +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
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

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

OUTDOORUAE

71

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Desert Road Tourism,

Al Khor Plaza 503, Dubai, +971 42959428,
www.arabiatours.com
Libra, +971 559228362, www.libra-uae.com
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,
+971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com
Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba,
+971 50336046, www.sheesabeach.com

Caving

Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,

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

Climbing

Equipment
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,
Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
www.adventurehq.ae
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.
barracudadubai.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Jack Wolfskin
Mirdif City Centre Dubai,
+971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi
+971 24437802
Services
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43459900, www.adventure.ae
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,
Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
www.adventurehq.ae
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World
Trade Centre, +971 43065061,
www.climbingdubai.com
E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 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,
+971 526221888, products@allbikers.net
Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg., Al
Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415,
www.cyclesportsuae.com
Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif Mall,
Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor,
C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi,
info@funridesports.com,
www.funridesports.com
Micahs Bike Shop, Warehouse no.4
6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228
Peak Performance, Mall of the Emirates,

72

OUTDOORUAE

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
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43459900, +971 506259165,
www.adventure.ae, info@adventure.ae
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Tri Club,
www.abudhabitriclub.com
Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome
www.cyclechallenge.ae
Dubai Roadsters, www.dubairoadsters.com

Diving

Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, +971
42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road,
+971 43468000, Dubai
www.masaoodmarine.com
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Blue Waters Marine, +971 42232189, Dubai,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com
Premiers for Equipment, Abu Dhabi,
Sh. Zayed 1st. Road, +971 26665226,
www.premiers-uae.com
Scuba Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Khail Road, Dubai,
+97143414940,
info@scubadubai.com
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971
92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Diving Centres
Al Boom Diving (equipment),
Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993,
www.alboomdiving.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam,
+971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae
Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St
across from main bus terminal,
+971 26437377, info@divemahara.com,
www.divemahara.com
Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al Khaimah,
+971 72226628, +971 502428128
www.arabiandiver.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Coastal Technical Divers,
glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com,
www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com
Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City,
Dubai, +971 44308246,
www.diveindubai.com
Desert Islands, Sir Bani YAs Island,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015400,
www.divemahara.com
Divers Down, Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel
Resort & Spa, +971 92370299,
www.diversdown-uae.com
Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi,
near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444,
www.edc-ad.ae
Euro-Divers Oman, Muscat, Oman,
+968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Ziggy Bay, Oman, Musandam,
+968 26735555,
www.extradivers.info
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah,
contactus@freedivinguae.com,
www.freedivinguae.com
Freestyle Divers, Dubai, Al Wasl & Dibba,
Royal Beach Hotel, +971 43944275,

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

www.freestyledivers.com
Fujairah Rotana Resort
& Spa - Al Aqah Beach,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Global Scuba Dive Center, Civil Aviation
Club, Oman, +968 99317518,
www.global-scuba.com
Khasab Divers, Oman,
www.khasabdiver.com
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Moonlight Dive Center,
Madinat Qaboos, Oman,
+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre,
Oman, +971 503289642,
www.holiday-in-oman.com
Neptune Diving, +971 504347902,
www.neptunedivingcentre.com
Nomad Ocean Adventures,
www.discovernomad.com,
+971 508853238, Dibba, Oman
Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24284240, www.omadivecenter.com
Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment), Dubai,
+971 44068828
Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488,
www.scubaoman.com
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah, +971
92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922,
www.scubauae.com
7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan,
+971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971
50784 0830, www.bsac406.com
Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
+971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com
Sky &Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
The Dive Shop, 34G, European Center, Green
Community, Dubai, UAE,
+971 48135474, www.thediveshopdubai.com
Clubs
Atlantis Underwater Photography Club,
Dubai, +971 44263000
Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai,
www.desertsportsdivingclub.net
Emirates Diving Association, Diving Village,
Al Shindagha, Dubai,
+971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com
Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC),
Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421,
www.thefilipinoscubadivers.com
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah,
contactus@freedivinguae.com,
www.freedivinguae.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah, +971
507840830,
www.bsac406.com

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
+971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Road, +971 43468000,

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
info@globalclimbing.com
04 88 29 361

www.masaoodmarine.com
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43808616 / +971 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798,
contactus@challengingadventure.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre,
+971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com
Operators
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43459900, www.adventure.ae
Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach
Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993
Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra,
Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72434540,
www.alhamramarina.com
Al Mahara Dive Center,
Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125,
www.divemahara.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al
Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE, +974 4
2394760-61, www.cruiseindubai.com
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing (Al Wasl
Passenger Yachts and Boats Rental LLC),
Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai, +971
42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al
Bateen Marina Resort,
+971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah
International Marine Club, +971 9222558
Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26594144
Captain 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

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
+971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com
Soolyman Sports Fishing, Dubai,
Umm Suqeim, +971 508866227,
www.soolymansportsfishing.com
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com
Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking
Club, mohamed.almahrouky@gmail.com
Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers
Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai,
+971 554986280, www.dskc.hu

General Sports Equipment

Distributors

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,

Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
www.adventurehq.ae
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai
+971 43467751, www.800sport.ae
Flip Flop Arabia, flipme@flipfloparabia.com,
www.flipfloparabia.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Goal Zero, +971 509128353, www.goalzero.ae
Highbury Trading, Dubai, UAE,
www.highburytrading.ae
Jack Wolfskin Mirdif City Centre Dubai,
+971 42840228; Al Wahda Mall Abu Dhabi,
+971 44437802
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
PORTABLE SHADE UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai,
UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.portable-shade.net
Sakeen General Trading, +971 47094224,
www.sakeen.ae
Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar
Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42896001, +971 42896002,
info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae
Tresspass, The Dubai Mall
2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801

Horse Riding

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

+971 501810401, www.hoofbeatz.com

Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club, Mushrif
Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai,
+971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com
Qudraland Community,
info@qudraland.com, www.qudraland.com
Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area,
Abu Dhabi, +971 566127914,
www.rahalranch.com
Riding for the Disabled, Dubai,
lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae,
Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Sharjah,
Al Dhaid Road,
+971 65311188, www.serc.ae
Racecourses
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu
Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399, Abu
Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu Dhabi
- Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road) beside
the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai,
+971 43474914
Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Al
Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 43270000, www.meydan.ae
Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah,
+971 65311155, www.serc.ae

Jet Ski
Dealers

Al Masaood Marine, Dubai,

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

Motocross & ATVs

Dealers
Al Badayer Rental (Rental),
Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 507842020,
www.albadayerrental.com
Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor,
+971 43200009, sales@alshaalimoto.com.
www.alshaalimoto.com
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Golden Desert Motorcycles
Rental (Rental), Dubai-Hatta Road, Dubai,
+971 551532550,
www.goldendesert-dubai.com
Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai, UAE,
+971 509192394, www.JustGasIt.net
KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42, +971
4323151, www.ktm.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange 4,
Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43419341,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Polaris UAE (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

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai,

+971 48321050, www. wildx.ae
Equipment
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.arabiantours.com
Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental),
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43470270,
www.sandstorm-motorcycles.com
Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3,
+971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com
Wild X, Dubai, Um Al Ramoul Industrial Area,
+971 42852200, www. wildx.ae
Workshops and Services
Moto-X and Quad, PO Box 476214, Dubai,
UAE, +971 50 6169727, www.gasgasmotos.
me

Motorcycling

Distributors and Dealers

Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Ducati, Mussafah 4, Street 10, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25535771, info2@ducati.ae,
www.ducati.ae
Duseja Motorcycles, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43476712, www.dusejamoto.com
Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667,
hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae,
www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Dubai, Interchange4,
Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 42822144,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex,
Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor,
+971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com
Tristar Motorcycles, +971 43330659,
www.tristaruae.com
Workshops and Services
Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu
Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com
Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +971 43678700
www.dubaiautodrome.com
Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain,
+971 67681717
2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi,
www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Off-Road

Dealers
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 / +971 505548255,
info@blingmytruck.com,
www.blingmytruck.com
4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai,
+971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com
Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789,
www.libertyautos.com
Repairs and Services
AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE,
+971 4 285 8989, www.aaadubai.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai,
UAE, +971 4 3469600, www.mebarauto.com
Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43392449,
www.offroad-zone.com
Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939
www.salukimotorsport.com
Equipment
Advanced Expedition Vehicles,
Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152,
www.aev.ae
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 /
+971 505548255,
info@blingmytruck.com,
www.blingmytruck.com
Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial,
Abu Dhabi, +971 567231967,
www.heartlanduae.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2, Dubai,
UAE, +971 4 3469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta Road,
Dubai, +971 48321050, www.wildx.ae
Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times Square
Center, Dubai, +971 42898060,
www.yellowhat.ae
Tour Operators
Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi,
+971 43034888, www.arabian-adventures.com
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.arabiantours.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai, +971 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,
suffian.omar@yahoo.com,
www.jk-funclub.com
ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com

Running

Clubs
ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org
Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi,
www.abudhabitriclub.org
Abu Dhabi Striders,
admin@abudhabistriders.com,
www.abudhabistriders.com
Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi,
+971 504188978, alainroadrunners@yahoo.co.uk
Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info
Dubai Creek Striders
www.dubaicreekstriders.org

Stand up Paddling, Kite & Surfing,

Wakeboarding

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

OUTDOORUAE

73

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

OMAN DIRECTORY
Adventure tours
and desert safaris

Bike and Hike Oman, PO Box 833, Ruwi,

Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873,
www.bikeandhikeoman.com
Dolphin Qasab Tours, PO Box: 123, P.C. 811,
Khasab City, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com
Go Dive Oman, Capital Area Yacht Club
(CAYC), Sidab Muscat, +968 99289200,
www.godiveoman.com
Nomad Tours, PO Box: 583, Postal Code 100,
Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240,
www.nomadtours.com
Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box: 917, NIZWA,
Oman, +968 95741441,
www.omantrekkingguides.com

QATAR DIRECTORY
Adventure tours and desert safaris

Al Mulla Travels, PO Box: 4147, Doha, Qatar,

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

Clubs

Cycling, Running & Triathlon

Doha Sailing Club, Katara Beach
+974 44439840/+974 55649995
www.qmsf.com
Qatar Chain Reaction,
www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com

APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim,

Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com
Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440,
www.kitesurf.ae
Kite4fun.net, Abu Dhabi, +971
508133134, www.kite4fun.net
Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi,
+971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim
Dubai, +971 507689226,
astrid@shamalkitesurfing.com,
www.shmalkitesurfing.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
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

Diving

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

Equipment
Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box: 44, Dibba,
Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550,
www.almarsamusandam.com
Al Sawadi Beach Resort, PO Box: 747, Barka
- Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545,
www.alsawadibeach.info
Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.com
Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar Al
Rhowda, PO Box: 940, Muscat, Oman,
+968 95035815, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box: 498,
PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman,
+968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com
Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346,
www.global-scuba.com
Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box: 65,
Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman,
+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Oman Dive Center Resort, PO Box: 199,
Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman,
+968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info
Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207
/ +974 77776634, www.facebook.com/
QatarSandstormers
Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/
groups/587539064642288/
Doha Bay Running Club,
www.dohabayrunningclub.com
TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com

General Sports
Equipment Megastores

Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,

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

Boating & Sailing

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

Horse Riding

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

Diving

Equipment/Centres
Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street
(near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar,
+974 44435626
Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club,
PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66304061, www.dohasubaquaclub.com

Water Parks

Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm Jumeirah,

+971 44260000, www.atlantisthepalm.ae
Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm Al Quwain,
Emirates Road, +971 67681888,
www.dreamlanduae.com
Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain,
+971 37818422, www.wadiadventure.ae
Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai,
+971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com

Other leisure activities

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi,

+ 971 25588990, www.adgolfclub.com
Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah,
+971 67431122 \ +971 44370505,
www.tamimistables.com
Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 556101841, www.blokartme.com
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

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
Omans Kite Center, +968 94006007,
www.kitesurfing-lessons.com

Extreme Adventure, PO Box: 33002, Shop

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

Fishing & Kayaking

Equipment
Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting Equipment, Souq
Waqif, next to the Falcon Souq, +974 66724828
Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment,

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

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

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

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

BUFF and Flat is Boring are registered trademark property of Original Buff, S.A. (Spain)

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