Issue 3

OutdoorUAE
The first Outdoor Magazine for the United Arab Emirates and the border of Oman
A CHILDHOOD HERO
WE GET CLOSE TO AN ACTION STAR A BRAVE AND SUCCESSFUL RESCUE UPON THE FAMOUS MOUNTAIN HIKE
STAIRWAY RESCUE
ADVENTURE CHICKS!
WE EXPLORE THE ZIGHY RESORT
TORI INTRODUCES HER MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT
A TRUE HIDE AWAY
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Discover more and visit us online: www.outdooruae.com
Issue 3/2011 March
Photo: JDPhotofairy
Explore the Possibilities
Ocean sports FZE +971 (0) 55 935 2735 enquiries@kitesurfsup.com kitesurfsup.com
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All-around longboard versatility

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Paddles
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140 Javelin & 126 140 Javelin Catalina AsT
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CArbon GlASS
7 8 9.5
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[OutdoorUAE]
Editorial
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
he great outdoors is often about challenges, and touching or even exceeding set targets. Usually I would say it is all about you, how badly you want something and how hard you are prepared to work for it; if you face and overcome your fears, you can reach anything. Of course, I dont think that I can change the world, or anything, but I believe, if I add my small part and help even only one person, its a good thing and worth doing. Give me a challenge and I will face it! But there is one thing, until now, which makes me struggle and question everything. Standing next to the bed of a person, a friend, a loved one, seeing them suffer and knowing you can do nothing about it. Cancer can be a cruel and slow process leading to the final end. Often it seems to be a relief for the person suffering as well as the relatives, no matter which religion or belief. It is so sad, that in our time, we are sometimes simply helpless and all we can do is hope, pray and wish for the best. Thinking back some decades, a cancer diagnosis was worse than nowadays. Depending on the stage and type, the chances of fighting cancer and winning are really good. Therefore cancer awareness, regular preventive checkups and support to cancer research is so important. Fighting cancer is not and should not only involve patients, it should involve all of us. Showing support and sympathy with the sufferers might be only a drop of water on a hot stone, but can develop to a huge wave across the whole world see what the young Terry Fox achieved (see Page 39). With the many egoistic and personal goals which we focus on, it is important that we not forget that we are blessed with good and healthy lives. Dont turn your back on cancer and close your eyes. Do what you can do, even if it is just to run 5km or be there for someone in need. The OutdoorUAE Team will always do its best to support all kinds of charity and environmental initiatives. If you think OutdoorUAE can help, dont hesitate to contact us contact@outdooruae.com Daniel.
Cover Photo Credit: Stephon Karolus In Print: Managing Editor Daniel Birkhofer daniel@outdooruae.com Editors Kim Perks Marilena Cilta Graphic & Design James Russell For advertisement enquiries contact: Tel: 04-4472701 marketing@outdooruae.com Published by: Outdoor UAE FZE P .O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E. Tel. 04-4472701 contact@outdooruae.com www.outdooruae.com Distributor: Abu Dhabi Media Company P .O. Box 40401, ABU DHABI Printed at: Al Reyami Printing P .O. Box 103828 Dubai, U.A.E. 2011 Outdoor UAE FZE Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P .O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E. Issue 3/2011 March
The information contained is for general use only. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources, however the publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in this magazine is provided as is, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. In no event will the publisher, its related affiliates or anyone else be responsible for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine. All contents are under copyrights and may not be reproduced in any kind without written permission.
Reg. at Creative City Fujairah P .O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.
2011 Outdoor UAE FZE
OUTDOORUAE.COM March2011 3
[OutdoorUAE]
Contents
20 12
14
Some great shots of the month
Your Best Shots - 5
Event Schedule - 6
John Basson tells us about his dive trip in Musandam
Musandam - 8
18
World of the Bedou - 10
A camel trek through the desert
We take a peek at the Hatta Hills and the Zighy Beach resort
Location - 12
Products - 14
new
New for this month, Tori shares her wisdom of adventure
Adventure Chicks - 18
Outdoor People - 22
We meet Alex, Fiona and happy boat owner Hany
Ziad describes his stormy boat adventure
The Perfect Storm - 26
Wadi Galilah Rescue - 30
A brace and successful rescue
News - 32
We cover skateboarding, surfing, an air show, sailing and some running.
Event Reviews - 40
Naturally Connected - 48
Clint Moore goes Kayaking
36
Our favourite fisherman joins us again

new
The Fishing Kit - 50
Mike Nott brings us the ultimate off-road guide. Part 1. Gaffa tape and harnesses!
ME4x4 - 36
Tips and Tricks - 53
44
4 March2011 OUTDOORUAE.COM
Our advice continues with a look at filters
Outdoor Photography - 54 Results - 56
53
new
Directory - 58
Your Best Shots

Some of the best photographs taken by us and the readers over the past month
Tara Atkinson RAS AL KHAIMAH
A window to the soul Canon EOS 500D Rebel Canon 24-70mm ISO 100 24mm f/4.5 1/60s
Tired trees* Canon EOS 500D Rebel Canon 24-70mm ISO 100 24mm f/4.5 1/60s *There are many theories to the cause of this phenomenon. Locals believe that its the weight of the date fruit that is simply too much for the trunks, or possibly due to the salt water absorbed from the ground. If you feel you know what is causing this rather odd but beautiful peculiarity, write in to us (contact@outdooruae.com) and you may be featured in our Letters section for next month!
Tara Atkinson RAS AL KHAIMAH
Eagles REAL ACTION HEROES
The legendary Tony Hawk performs at the Yas Marina Canon 1000D Sigma Wide Angle ISO 200 12mm f/6.3 1/640s
[OutdoorUAE]
Kayaking, Bike, Paddle
Events Schedule
Camping
Daily Camping at Umm Al Quwaim Marine Club. We refer to the club as the best kept secret in the UAE, but that identity is history now as it has become popular knowledge that it is one of the best recreational outlets that offers overnight camping. Umm Al Quwain www.uaqmarineclub.com
March 2011
Tours running daily apart from Sundays Kayaking tours in Abu Dhabi and in Umm Al Quwain. Kayak fishing tours in Abu Dhabi, Sailing tours and lessons in Abu Dhabi, all terrain bike tours in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, Stand up paddle board tours and lessons in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi www.noukhada.ae +9715 0721 8928
Dubai International BoatShow

1-5 March 2011 With its Established. Trusted. Chosen. brand recognition the event epitomizes the ultimate style in boating luxury whilst providing unparalleled access to the Middle Easts investors and marine enthusiasts. Dubai International Marine Club, Mina Seyahi, Dubai www.boatshowdubai.com
Drag Racing Festival

4-5 March This is one of the most anticipated yearly events in Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole. Feel the heat of watching a Top Fuel Dragster, at 8,000 horsepower, go from zero to over 480km/hr in less than four seconds! If that doesnt get your blood rushing, the weekend of events will feature a powerful match race between FIA World Champion Urs Erbacher and the 2007 Top Fuel Vice Champion Rod Hot Rod Fuller. www.yasmarinacircuit.com
ABRAS HATTA CROSSCOUNTRY RACE

11th March Venue: Hatta Fort Hotel, Hatta There are separate mens and womens races of around 8.4k, that will climb the Hatta mountain three times. The Hatta mountain is a short, but steep and rocky climb that will test your mountain goat abilities! As an incentive to make it up the hill, there are Hatta Fort Hotel prizes to be won for the 1st overall male and female. There is also a junior race for those aged under 15, of around 3k, over a slightly easier route. Medals will be awarded to age group winners. Juniors over 15 should enter the adult races and will be placed in a separate age category for medals. www. abrasac.org
Big Boys Toys 2011

16 - 19 March Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center Big Boys Toys brings together the latest technologies and the biggest brands along with high impact entertainment features, all packed into four days of non-stop action and sheer excitement. Picking up from the unprecedented success of our inaugural edition in 2009, the 2011 edition has much more in store for every visitor! www.bigboystoysuae.com
Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship

17-19 March 2011 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre The Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship is a competition for Purebred Arabian horses, showcasing their beauty, agility & heritage. It is run over 3 days culminating in the Championship classes for the most exquisite horses. www. diahc.ae
Abu Dhabi Yachts Show

24 - 26 March 2011 Venue: Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi This luxurious and exclusive event will feature some of the worlds most outstanding power and sailing Superyachts ranging from 25m to 100m and with price tags in excess of $100 million. www.abudhabiyachtshow.com
Freedive Open Water Training

25, 26 March Venue: Cornich Street, Abu Dhabi There is still much to learn about freediving. The surface breath-hold world record is over 11 minutes - but it takes less than 4 minutes to get to 200 metres and back - so where will it end? This is one of the attractions of freediving, it is a young sport and there is still a lot to be discovered. breath underwater has freedived. www.freedivinguae.com
March2011 OUTDOORUAE.COM
Winter Hikes
4 March Arabia Outdoors will hike along a deep wadi and take in some steeper tracks through Fujairahs scenic foothills of the Hajar mountains. This hike is good preparation for Aprils Jebel Qihwi hike. www.arabiaoutdoors.com
4th March round 6 18th March round 7 25th March final round Motocross races at DMX are nothing short of being thrilling and exciting. For both spectators and riders alike it never fails to deliver displays of unbeatable combinations of speed, passion, endurance, dedication but most of all comradeship. www.mydubaimotorcross.com
DMX RACES
Dubai Traditional Rowing Race

12 March 2011, 3:00 PM Venue: Dubai International Marine Club www.dimc.ae
Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

12 March 2011 In 2011, Abu Dhabi International Triathlon competitors will again have the option of tackling the long and short distance courses; however, in an attempt to open up the sport to UAE locals and other budding triathlon enthusiasts, a sprint distance has been added to the days proceedings. Distances as follows; Long distance (3km Swim, 200km Bike, 20km Run) Short distance (1.5km Swim, 100 km Bike, 10km Run) Abu Dhabi Sprint distance (750m Swim, 50km Bike, 5km Run) Team relay (Same as Short Distance) www.abudhabitriathlon.com
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

27th March - 7th April The UAE Desert Challenge, one of the worlds most prestigious international cross country rallies, entered a new era in March 2009 when it was renamed the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with the five-day motor sport spectacular being staged in its entirety across Abu Dhabi emirate under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), with the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) retaining its event organizational role. www.atcuae.ae
Dubai International Dragon Boat Festival

8th - 9th of April The Dubai International Dragon Boat Festival takes place April 8&9, 2011 at Festival Marina, Dubai Festival City. This is a community festival bringing together corporate, university, school and community groups from across the UAE www.dubaidragonboat.com/
*All images sourced from event websites or supplied with permission *You can find more events and detailed informationonline at www.outdoorUAE.com *Please send information about events to: events@outdooruae.com
[OutdoorUAE]
Musandam
IF VALUE FOR MONEY IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR: LOOK NO MORE. I DONT THINK THERE IS ANY OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, WHERE YOU ARE BEING ENTERTAINED, THAT CAN COME CLOSE TO A DHOW TRIP IN THE MUSANDAM. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT OPERATORS AND DHOWS VARY FROM AIR-CONDITIONED, WITH SEPARATE ROOMS, TO THE OPEN PLAN ALL SLEEP ON DECK VERSION.
BY JOHN BASSON
hen Jean called to hear if I would be keen to join them for a weekend I was hesitant. He had booked a dhow that could sleep 30-40 people and was short of some names. I love watersport and my oldest son has been snorkeling since he was a toddler. My concern was the inevitable situation of smokers being on the dhow. I would rather not go than being confined on a wooden ship with smokers. Jean ensured me that even with the odd smoker I would enjoy it. Well he was right. We ended up being 70 people going and had to book two dhows. The group was mostly South Africans with the odd Frenchy joining the fun. The Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai Clans met in Dibba by 9am Friday morning. Now for those who dont know South Africans; we DONT TRAVEL LIGHT and an unimaginable amount of gear was carried from the parking area to the dhow. The port in Dibba was being re-built and it was very unpleasant having to carry all this gear about 100m in the already gleaming sun. (May 2010) Our Dhow was the fourth one from the key and birthed alongside with three dhows between the key and our dhow. Fascinated by the level of craftsmanship, or lack there off, I found a spot for the boys and I to put all our gear. Rest assured these dhows are strong and sturdy, but the finishing is not exactly 5-star. But if 5-star was what we were looking for we would have
been on a modern cruise ship and not in Dibba on a Dhow. This was going to be a fun filled weekend with lots of diving and swimming and not a boat evaluation trip.
All the cool drinks on the dhow are free and each dhow has a huge cooler box full of ice and packed to the top with juice and fizzy drinks! We casted off around 12 noon and the weather was perfect. Slightly hot but as we started sailing the fresh ocean breeze did its job. We sailed in formation and all the cameras were clicking away as the picturesque port of Dibba was fading in the distance. The skippers took us very close to the shoreline and we were separated only by a few meters of deep blue water between us and the impressive rocky outcrops and mountains of the Musandam. The 1st stop for the afternoon was in a beautiful blue bay. The lukewarm water of the gulf was explored within seconds of the anchors touching the bottom. Everybody was in the water and we swam, snorkeled, jumped from the upper deck and just floated around for more than an hour. A 3rdDhow with other people joined us in the bay only to be amazed by the South Africans. We were about 50 people in the water and all the children jumping, diving and doing backflips from the upper deck! From this bay it was time for lunch while they sailed us to the overnight spot. Lunch is prepared on board and if you are not a fussy person it is a pleasant and filling meal. We
March2011 OUTDOORUAE.COM
must have arrived at the overnight stop by about 4pm. The scuba divers were anxious to get in the water and were taken to some good diving sites with the tag along ski boat. Again everybody was in the water and this time snorkeling along the rocks seemed to be the main attraction. As my wife had to be in SA I was alone with the two boys and was running (swimming) between them trying to spread the attention equally. This also the reason my scuba gear was at home... By night fall the party mood was starting to present itself and with traditional folk song being connected to the dhows speakers everybody was enjoying themselves. The clear starlit sky added to the occasion. Around 8pm the divers went on a night dive and I took John-John (oldest son) to join them. (We only snorkeled.) John had only done one night snorkel about one year earlier in Fujairah and he was very keen. It was an awesome dive/snorkel and approaching the dhows we were welcomed with the smell of Braaivleis (BBQ). The crew had actually made a fire in a drum and was BBQing lamb and chicken for us!! Bed time is simple. There are stacks of mattresses on the Dhow with a blanket and pillow for each. Everybody finds a spot and its almost like a huge litter of kittens scattered across the deck. The humidity, with the already approaching summer temperatures, made sleeping a bit uncomfortable and I would not recommend this dhow trip between June and September. The next morning, as the suns rays peaked over the mountains top, the 1st people were already in the water. 15min later everybody was in the water! On the last day there is no time for diving as the Dhow needs to be back by around 10 or 11am. The anchors were lifted and the bedding cleared from the deck. With Steve and Dozy singing in the background the crew prepared breakfast as we were setting sail
for Dibba. We were in port by 11am after what can only be described as a fantastic adventure. The price per person for the two days, including all the drinks and meals was only 250AED per adult and kids were 150AED. This is cheaper than 2 hours at ski Dubai where you are indoors skiing on fake snow. There is no comparison. You only live once, Go for gold. John Basson.
[OutdoorUAE]
hen I first arrived in the UAE in Al Ain in 1996, I became fascinated by the desert and the world of the Bedouin, the nomads that roamed the vast seas of sand by camel before the arrival of the car. However, with the discovery of oil in the region and the onset of modernization, many of the traditions and heritage has been lost to todays youth who are caught up with the exponential growth of an oil rich country, wholeheartedly keen to embrace 21st century values. Many of the young men and women of todays GCC are in danger of losing their connection with their natural environment and from traditions such as riding camels. The UAE has diverse natural terrain that spans from fjord like coasts, spectacular mountains and savannahs along with great sands seas synonymous with the region. These areas were once abundant with predators including Arabian wolves and leopards, and hares, gazelles, bustards and eagles. The rate of construction and development has been so extensive, vast areas have been consumed by the beast of progress. Many of the youth remain in these smart cities somehow cocooned from the natural world situated a few kilometers away from the urban sprawl. Sharjah Higher College of Technology has devised a programme that promotes national identity, re-establishing contact with local heritage and exposing young Nationals to the diverse and outstanding natural beauty of the UAE. The first trek involved UAE National students from
Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology and retraced a lost traditional Qafilah across some of the most diverse and stunning terrain in the country. Aptly titled In The Footsteps of Our Ancestors the Qafilah started its journey in the ancient harbour nestled amongst the Fjords of the Hajar Mountains to Sharjah one of the earliest settlements in the Northern Emirates. The group would learn how to develop riding skills, traditional camping proficiency as well as traditional cooking methods. Surprisingly most of these back-country competences, also known as hard skills, were completely new to almost all the group, apart from one of the students who had lived with the Bedouin when he was a child. In addition to hard skills, the group had the opportunity to develop a raft of soft skills through their experience. The students, with the appropriate teaching and learning strategies, were provided with the opportunities to experience self sufficiency, teamwork and leadership potential in an authentic outdoor learning environment. So, as the sun broke on the morning of Saturday 22nd November, along with nine students and twelve camels, dressed in traditional kandorah and gutrah, we rode out of Dibba Al Hisn to embark on our historic journey. Prior to the start of the expedition, quite remarkably, only one of the students had experience of riding a camel. By day one all had be-
He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayahan, founding father of the UAE
come competent in riding and had been given lessons in navigation and basic camp craft. With camels it is important that, where possible, the caravan is single file - as soon as more than two ride abreast a race tends to break out, subtly at first which then leads to a full gallop and chaos. We learnt this very early on in the first day and we were very keen not to repeat it involuntary. We headed along a wide floodplain into the intimidating Hajar Mountains; Lunch was egg noodles cooked under the welcoming shade of an acacia. Although considered winter, temperatures still could hit over twenty five degrees celcius during the hottest part of the day. Thirty five kilometres and seven agonizing hours of riding later, we reached our first campsite, a plateau in the Hajar overlooking the plains thousands of feet below. We set about hobbling the camels, striking camp and preparing food. Over dinner around the majlis we discussed our achievements and what we had learnt from this experience. In the tradition of the forefathers, life revolved around the rhythm of the day, breaking camp before sunrise and travelling across the desert through the day pitching camp as the sun sets. On the sixth day we reached the University City, our final destination, to a procession of thousands of students from
the various college campuses. They had been kept updated by GPS transponders uploaded onto the expedition web page and by the students daily blog uploaded by a satellite modem stowed on one of the camels. The expedition had covered over 160km of the most challenging terrain in the world and had left only footprints behind, similar to those of our ancestors. David Jenns has been developing and managing Physical Education Programs in United Arab Emirates for fifteen years. In 2004, David was elected as a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society, for his efforts in developing a wilderness education and outdoor leadership programme with UAE National Students in The Abu Dhabi Emirate. He is currently Managing Director of Libra and Libra Adventure. If you are interested in participating in one of Davids camel expeditions then please or other Libra Adventure programs please email adventure@libra-uae.com
[OutdoorUAE]
Location
A true
hide-away
UAE
the chauffeur is a good option. I enjoyed the winding road up the mountain and my hopes were being fulfilled it seemed to really be a hide-away. (if a highway could go there I would say nice marketing but definitely no hide-away). I reached the peak of the mountains and was rewarded with my first view down to the bay, the beach, the newly opened marina and the resort. No roads, no high-rise buildings, no noise! For the first time, there was a smile on my emotionless German face. The reception at the traditional entrance gate (GPS N2542.529 E05616.360) of the resort was very nice, no Asian hotels staff in traditional clothes to act as locals to welcome the guests. I was greeted by authentic and real Omani staff. When you unload your car its the last time youll see it for the rest of your stay. There are no roads at the resort and you have to walk, take the bicycles which are at each villa or ask for a pickup with the electric golf carts. Finally I went with my private butler (I hate calling someone my butler, despite all traditions) to my villa, the whole resort is made up villas, from single to multiple I knew in an instant that I would be back. Usually Im not easy to impress, especially here in the UAE, with an oversupply of great hotels, first class service and good food. One night only at the resort and the clock was ticking. I decided to go hiking, mountain biking and as a highlight of the day, a flight with an ultra light plane. Abdullah, who was originally from Muscat was my private guide. We started at 2pm usually the worse time to start a hike in the mountains without shade, but at this time of the year and with a slight sea breeze - not a problem at all. We made our way along the beach past the newly opened marine Zigy Marina which is kept along the same lines as the resort. Between the resort and the marina lies a local Omani village with a lovely tiny mosque. Environmentally friendly and sustainable construction and management of both the resort and the marina is a high priority. They really make a huge effort but it would be too much to go into detail. The marina has just opened and although there are usually only a few berthed boats, it was busy that day with Sailing Oman the Tour making their stop over here (more in event reviews and news). However, our destination Smugglers Village an old abandoned village in the mountains, so named after smugglers who crossed the gulf smuggling all kinds of goods between the UAE and Oman (GPS N2541.903 E05616.360). The smugglers used the remote location to hide and rest in the ruins. I dont know if its true but I like entertaining stories about the region while hiking. Im not sure there is an actual track or a way to Smugglers Village you just somehow make your way through the loose and fragile rocks. You should definitely wear proper hiking boots and be used to walking in rough terrain. I would not recommend doing this with children.
Marketing is a great thing; it wraps up the biggest nonsense in a box of nice words saying so much and nothing with a bow of beautiful pictures around it. Unfortunately so often you dont get what you expect and thats not only in the fast food burger restaurant: The picture of the burger looks so much nicer and so much bigger, that you often think youve received the wrong order. With a holiday its even worse - you wait sometimes years and look forward to enjoying all the pictures you saw and all the promises you read about come true. In short, Im always skeptical, about what I read. So what should I think of the Six Senses Zighy Bay Resort and Spa with all their nice words and beautiful pictures on their website. To be honest, Im tired of 5 star hotels, fancy modern designers, marble and other so called high quality materials. I was hoping the promise of a city hideaway would be kept. With a price starting at 1,300 USD per night for a one bedroom villa I guess it is fair to say, that you come with certain expectations. I drove down from Dubai on the Emirates Road then took the truck road to Dibba, which took a little under an hour and a half. In Dibba you have to cross the border into Oman; with a valid residence or tourist visa you will have no trouble entering Oman, but you need to have your passport with you. The passport doesnt even get stamped, so its really very straightforward. From the border its only a few kilometers to the resort. You have the option of a 4x4 pickup or a boat transfer. Unpaved road in the route map was promising enough for me to drive down with my 4x4. It is absolutely fine to drive a normal car, up until you reach the first gate of the resort. The unpaved road is better than a load of paved roads I have seen. At the gate you should consider leaving your car and taking the offer of a 4x4 transfer. If you are afraid of narrow roads winding up the mountains
LOCATIONS
bedrooms. The walk to the villa was my first walking experience in the resort; since moving to the UAE, I walk whenever I can. Im sure Im not the only one who is spends far too much time in their car. There is nothing better than to walk, no cars, no construction, no noise simply a deep breath and ahhh. My long ahhh of relaxation quickly changed when I entered the villa gate to a long ohhh of surprise. The architect, designer, or whoever created this place was on my wavelength love at first sight. My second thought - why on earth are we doing an outdoor magazine if I cant just enjoy the pool, the view and just do nothing pure relaxation. The only thing I was missing in that moment was my loved one - this place has to be shared with those close to you.
in this time. After my return it was already too late for the mountain biking - there are two routes, one is down in the bay covering a similar route to the one Id just done on foot. The other one leads straight up the mountains who likes to start directly with a really steep hill? So I was actually quite happy having time as a good excuse to skip the big mountain bike route which takes a couple of hours. I went to change and headed straight for the flight. Cristo the Bulgarian pilot, told me some technical details about the plane (I would call it a kite with engine). Cristo learned flying from his father and was airborne for the first time at 3 years old, so I could not imagine a better pilot. An engine with 60hp, some strings, fabrics and aluminum pipes, 2 guys, I guess a total weight of about 600kg will this thing fly? Yes it does and very quickly at that! I was expecting a drive along the whole beach to lift this thing up, but somehow we were flying after only
The hike around the bay and then back over the mountain is about 5km and leads up to only 110m altitude. Because of the rough terrain it takes about 2hrs longer to include breaks. You will also pass two more abandoned settlements. I question why those people choose these remote spots up in the hills instead of the beautiful beaches down below. I still cant imagine how hard life was
a few meters. We gained altitude quickly and circled around the area I had explored earlier by foot. I think it is better to see the things first from ground level and then from above I would say it is hard to top the impression from up there in the air. Our flight was about 15minutes and I enjoyed it immensely even if we had to squeeze into this little thing. One strange thing is the time in the resort, somehow they are one hour ahead of the UAE , so when we returned it was already 5:30pm and time to get ready for the scheduled reception following dinner there is not much to say about the restaurant and the food simply good. A lot of the food is locally produced from local farmers or caught by local fishermen, which is also a
part of the eco-friendly concept of the resort. Before going to sleep, I enjoyed the silence, fresh air and the sound of the sea what a day. The next day I went diving with Extra Divers who also just opened their operation alongside the Marina. More about the private dive experience in the next issue of OutdoorUAE. My summary of the short visit the resort offers more than I expected. I did not even mention the spa offers and treatments which are based on a special concept and commitment to S.L.O.W.L.I.F.E practices in mind just check online about the six sense philosophy to find out more about it. The rustic style and eco-friendly management might not be everybodys style, but it is for me. If you enjoy nature and want to do something special with your loved one > Six Sense Zigy Bay is the place to go. I will come again, but the next time not alone. Daniel.
[OutdoorUAE]
[board] Banshee Bungee
Products
Price: 1,395 Dhs Available at: Leisure Marine BEACH HUT, end of JBR Walk, Phone: 04 4243 191 Set to revolutionize ALL board riding sports as we know it. The Banshee Bungee can launch any boarder across any surface; water, sand, snow, and concrete. Launching skimboarders further into bigger waves that they could never before reach. Launching snowboarders into any urban rail or gap, and skateboarders into bigger obstacles then ever before possible with any kind of tow-in.
win!
[cap] Solar Light Cap developed by 2C

Price: 149 - 169 Dhs Available at: Leisure Marine Yellow Hat, Icon Auto, Picnico, Aprilia, Wolfis Bike Shop, Pet Corner, Leading Edge, Dubai Creek Yacht Club and Masaood Marine A revolutionary multi-purpose product that combines sun protection while providing essentail solar charged light in darkness or at night. Solar energy is absorbed from the upper side of the cap then used to power the light emitted from the base of the cap. Wear the cap during the day to get over 3 hours of light on full beam whenever you need it, or up to 24 hours on dim.
see page 34
[kayak] Hobie Tandem Adventure Island Mirage Drive Sail-yak

Price: 25,995 Dhs Available at: exclusively from Leisure Marine BEACH HUT How much fun can you actually have with a kayak? Add a sail, a Mirage drive, and how about an extra seat for your mate then find out. The new tandem Sail-yak from Hobie is the king of toys.
PRODUCTS
[camp] Rhino Rack Sunseeker Awning

Price: 2,050 Dhs Available: www.icon-auto.com The Sunseeker Awning is a brilliantly designed, easy to operate, roll out awning that will shade the side of your vehicle in a matter of moments. Simple to use the Sunseeker Awning can be set up and packed away in minutes making it the perfect solution to protect you from the elements. Stored in its own heavy duty PVC bag, the Sunseeker Awning comes complete with all the gear you need to set it up including telescopic poles, guy ropes and pegs.
[sun] Julbo Contest Nautic Eyewear

Price: 840 Dhs Available: ACT Marine, The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence (04-424 3191), Dubai International Boat Show, Stand EX11
win!
see page 34
Developed for the pioneering adventure climbers of Frances Jura Mountain Region in 1888, Julbo have since created the ultimate sailing eyewear. Julbos unique Octopus lenses use NXT technology and are photochromic, getting lighter or darker depending on the intensity of the glare of the sun and water. Water repellent with a panoramic shape, Nose Grip and curved stems, the Contest eyewear are the style of choice of champion sailer Franck Cammas. www.flipfloparabia.com
[bbq] Barbecue Grill

Price: 310 Dhs Available: KTM-UAE P/N- 3PW 107100 - Battery powered - Includes 5 skewers - Perfect for camping
[OutdoorUAE]
[dive] Cressi Kit Matrix Snorkel

Price: 350 Dhs Available: Go Sport Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Center. Sports Direct Khalidiya Mall. Matrix Mask Following the revolutionary principles introduced by Big Eyes, the Matrix establishes new records. The Cressi patented raked lenses and their special inverted drop shape has been developed even further. The lenses are now as close as possible to the eyes, taken to the maximum levels possible. Gamma Snorkel Profiled guard: this drastically reduces water intake and splashing from the top without blocking breathing. Adjustable attachment: system of quick-attachment to the mask strap, which runs along the snorkel bore for perfect positioning. New drainage well: this draws all the remaining water to the bottom end of the tube, preventing all blockage to breathing.
[paddle] SUP Surfboard + Paddle

Price: 6000 Dhs Available at: Picnico Paddle: Universal Blade (8.5) Durable molded blade T6 alloy shaft Ergonomic handle Adjustable from 67 (170cm) to 82.5 (209.5cm) Shaft Construction Durable T6 alloy Board: Stand-up paddling and catching waves has never been easier. The compact shape of the Mana offer great throw-around handling and outstanding stability. The Mana 105 ASA is a beginner board designed for flatwater. Its width and stability make it incredibly easy for people of all weights and sizes. The short length of the Mana 105 allows for effortless turning. It features ASA skin technology, which makes it extremely durable and the ultimate board for beginners, hotels, resorts, and beach rentals. No learning necessary, just stand up and paddle! www.kitesurfsup.com
win!
see page 34
[data] ADC Pro Weather Station

Price: 1,395 Dhs Available: Go Sport Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Center. The small and compact ADC units with a number of important functions keep track of altitude, wind speed, humidity, wind chill factor and other information, that can help you on your expedition. They can even wake you from a deep sleep if you wish. Some models save information that you can then transfer to a computer. The wind gauge Silva ADC Pro also keeps track of altitude, weather and humidity. This gauge is not only for outdoor enthusiasts such as serious mountain expeditions, it is also suitable for engineers, painters and other professions who can make use its functions. Collected data can be transferred to a PC for analyzing, using the accessory ADC IR.
Price: 2,200 Dhs Available: Atlantis Dive Centre Sola Photo 600; its the lightest, brightest and one of the smallest focus lights available. The bank of red LEDs adds stealth for catching shy critters and fish
[dive] Light & Motion Sola Photo 600
[dive] PRINCETON TEC Light Pack
Price: 675 Dhs Available: Go Sport Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Center. Package includes Princeton Tec ShockWave II primary light, ECO Flare Personal locator light and the Torrent backup light. This package has all the light you need to safely enjoy your underwater experience day or night.
PICNICO GENERAL TRADING
Al Bahr Marine, Jumeirah 3, Inside EPPCO Station P.O.Box 1797, Dubai, UAE Tel. +971 4 394 1653 Email. showroom@picnico.ae
no PICNIC without PICNICO
Al Wasl Rd
Al Wasl Rd
PICNICO
Jumeirah Beach Rd Jumeirah Beach Park Jumeirah Beach Rd
BEACH
BEACH
[OutdoorUAE]
W
to Bond.
fitchicksandfastwomen.wordpress.com
Adventure chicks
elcome to Outdoor UAEs best-loved (only!) chicks and their love for adventure here in the award-winning (heres hoping!) column about
with Victoria Leckie
is akin to putting your head in an oven, but for the remaining nine months, the weather is glorious. We are blessed to wake to glorious sunshine every day and we are blessed that theres rarely even a need to consider the onset of cold or wet weather. This is a luxury few can boast so its only right that we take advantage and make the most of our time here.
UAE. There is no shortage of female adrenaline-junkies in the region but all too often we are forgotten and instead, in the limelight, are the masculine males who scale rugged peaks and discover dangerous territory in their quest to be Dubais answer
This monthly column then is dedicated to all the Bond girls; the experiences to be had for all you female readers who no longer get a hit from Legs, Bums & Tums, who no longer get a kick from being the Cardio Queen in the gym. It is perfectly possible to be gorgeous and glamorous yet still have a penchant for the outdoors. Im testament to this as what ever farflung expeditions Ive found myself on, I will always find a little pocket in my pack for those all important Clarins miniatures, nail files and tweezers to keep any unruly brows in check. Afterall, you never know ifyou might meet your very own Bond on said adventures! Every month I plan to try out a new experience; a thrilling, adventurous, adrenaline-pumping experience, all of various intensity. Some will be city-based such as yoga on the beach, cross-fit in the park, horse-riding in the desert or standup paddling .needless to say I hope in the sea! Others will be further afield, and include the likes of rock climbing, diving, crab hunting, sailing, desert driving and flying. We are spoilt for choice living here in the UAE but all too often our weekends are consumed with coffee and carrot cake in Lime Tree, shopping chores in some vile mall or attending yet another leaving do brunch leaving us a lot poorer, a lot fatter and more often than not, rather jaded the morning after. But I lose count of the number of girlfriends who say to me they wish they made more of their weekends and I have no shortage of girlfriends calling asking for top tips to escape city life and explore the outdoors. Were an expat community from across the globe but many of us have arrived to these shores from very different climates to here, where we are spoilt rotten. Admittedly, for three months of the year, leaving the front door Love Tori x
PS. Please feel visit my blog at http://fitchicksandfastwomen. wordpress.com for more rambles on all things health, fitness and wellness-related PPS. My email address is Victoria. leckie@gmail. com for thoughts, ideas, sugge tions or just to say hello!
I find also that thanks to the various budget airlines here, we all too often jump on planes now for long weekends here and there. But what about the weekend adventures to be had right on our doorstep? They are extensive but I admittedly have all too often got carried away myself with ridiculously cheap fares and in doing so neglected whats on offer right here in the UAE. So there you have it. I hope you enjoy the forthcoming issues. If you have a great idea for an activity to be covered in a future column, please dont hesitate to get in touch. Likewise, if you are an adventure / activity business-owner and would like to be featured, drop me a line. I am open to unlimited bouts of bribery and there are no limits to the exposure I will give you, provided you are extremely nice to me!
The inaugural
Sailing Arabia two weeks of intense racing.

final leg, finishing in an impressive fourth place in the final leg and 6th overall. Team Ras Al Khaimah didnt manage to recover from an error soon after the start and were consigned to fifth in the finishing order of the last leg, but took fourth overall. The Royal navy of Oman battled until the end, finishing soon after Ras Al Khaimah, but crossed the line in the good humour that has endeared them to everybody throughout the tour. Saleh Al Jabri, skipper of Oman Sails Renaissance, was in an understandably ecstatic mood on setting foot back onshore at The Wave, Muscat, When we went into this event we knew it was going to be hard, that it would test us to our limits, mentally and physically, but we what surprised us was how close the racing was. There was never a point when we felt we were out of touch with the rest of the fleet and although we always felt we were doing well, we often surprised ourselves with how well. I can only put it down to great teamwork and respect for each other and our skills. I look forward to sailing with any and all of them again in the near future. I must also thank Renaissance Services for their continuing support and helping us achieve results like this. At a closing ceremony in front of the new Oman Sail headquarters, His Excellency Ali Al Sunaidi, Minister of Sports and Oman Sail CEO David Graham handed out prizes. Many students, sailors, friends and families came along to show their support for the event with a traditional Omani band. David Graham commented on the success of the inaugural Sailing ArabiaThe Tour. I would like to thank all of our commercial partners, the stopover venues and the teams for making the inaugural
Event Review
he fleet of six boats, which between them represents 4 nations, has travelled an incredible 1,064 kilometers since they left Amwaj Marina in Bahrain, and it was not until they crossed the finish line in front of the crowds at The Wave, Muscat that French team of Team New Caledonia emerged as the winner. The fleet was met with challenging conditions as they embarked on the final leg early Sunday morning, setting off from Musannah Sports Village down to the finish at The Wave, Muscat. Winds were forecast to be strong and the teams were not disappointed, as 20 knots of wind carried them down the coast. A change in wind direction after passing the Sawadi Islands created some nerve-wracking conditions, demanding 100% concentration from all onboard- even the smallest mistake could mean losing a place. At 13:42 a jubilant Team New Caledonia crossed the finish line to a chorus of cheers, and with it won the inaugural Sailing Arabia The Tour. Saleh Al Jabri brought his team on board Renaissance across the line five minutes later to seal their second place overall, an incredible achievement for the almost 100% Omani crew. Only a minute later it was the turn of Team Commercialbank Group to cross the line and round off the podium. A welcome sight was the return of the team from Bahrain, GAC Team Pindar to the fleet for the final leg, with Bahrain national Layla Mohsin back onboard, the only woman to take part in the race. The team missed the races between Qatar and Mussanah after facing technical difficulties, but worked hard to get back for the
Sailing Arabia The Tour such a success. Bringing events like this to our region is a source of inspiration that will bring more Omanis to discover sailing and write the next page of the maritime history of Oman. We are looking forward to working with the teams again next year and to welcoming even more to the 2012 Sailing Arabia-The Tour. Final Positions 13th February 2011 1st Team Caledonia- Representing: France 2nd Oman Sails Renaissance - Representing: Oman 3rd Commercial Bank Group - Representing: Oman 4th Team Ras Al Khaimah - Representing: Ras Al Khaimah 5th Royal Navy of Oman - Representing: Oman 6th Team GAC Pindar - Representing: Bahrain www.omansail.com
[OutdoorUAE]
Zighy Bay Marina

ix Senses Zighy Bays new state-of-the-art marina has been designed with the Six Senses philosophy and commitment to S.L.O.W.L.I.F.E practices in mind.
have wished for a better Destination marina than Zighy Bay. A mere two-hour drive from Dubai Zighy Marina awaits the visitor, offering spectacular scenery, great water sports, and fascinating marine wildlife. Zighy Marina sits on Zighy Bay adjacent to the Six Senses, with 60 berths, accredited scuba diving center, dedicated charter fleet, multiple areas for relaxation, crew area, parking and some of the best coastal views in Oman.
ART Marine LLC, an Abraaj Capital portfolio company, and a leading expert in 360-degree marine hospitality in the MENASA region will manage and operate the luxurious and environmentally friendly marina. Nestled on the coastline of then Musandam peninsulas rugged mountain fjords, that rise up to 2,100 meters above sea level, Zighy Bay is a sustainable boutique marina that will offer top-of-the-line services. Encompassing the 50 berths is the marina area built to capture the spirit of indigenous Omani heritage, which respects both the environment and the traditional architecture of Oman. Commenting on the collaboration, Bruno Meier, ART Marine Director of Marine Operations said: Creating Destination Marinas for boat and yacht owners in the region is a strategic imperative in order to allow yacht owners to live and experience our Discover Yachting company credo. Our network of lifestyle marinas will become true destinations by virtue of their attractive settings, and by offering the premium levels of service expected by discerning yacht owners. We could not
Extra Divers at Zighy Bay Dive Centre Esther Stucky & Peter Eckhardt.
Extra Divers Musandam

has its own pool so the first dive lessons can be made in complete privacy. Diving here in Musandam is amazing where the visibility is between 5 until 30 metres. The visibility can change during a dive. The water here has a lot of plankton and because of this you have big schools of fish, sometimes more than thousand! All our dive sites are reached by speedboat with journeys between 45 and 60 minutes. During the drive up north you will see the spectacular mountains of Musandam with their different colours. On the dive sites you can expect hundred sof fish like trigger fish, Arabic angel fish and imperial angel fish, box fish, puffer fish, eagle fish, pipe fish, anemone fish, lion fish, scorpion fish and also bigger fish like eagle ray, feather tail stingray, torpedo ray, different kinds of shark and also whale sharks and dolphins are not a rarity! This is only a small part of what you can discover here. After years in Egypt and in the Maldives finally its a dream came true for us being here in the Middle East. -Esther Stucky xtra Divers success story started over 10 years ago with the opening of the first Extra Divers dive centre at the Red Sea, Egypt. Walter Harscher, the founder and director, focused on
the combination of professional tourism and customer orientated diving to service the ever-growing dive travel market. The concept of safe and guest related diving soon proved to be the way to go. Today, Extra Diver has over 700 employees worldwide. Zighy Bay Dive Centre is equipped with the high-end range equipment of Aqualung, Seemann Sub, Lenhardt & Wagner compressors, Nitrox NRC compressors. In order to increase the safety and comfort of divers, Extra Divers at Six Senses Zighy Bay dive centres offer free Nitrox 32. Extra Divers are a highly experienced team having worked in the region for many years. They are happy to teach privately or in groups and can teach SSI, CMAS and PADI. As each villa at Six Senses Zighy Bay
Oman Sail
T
raditionally, the sea was a thriving source of trade and food for hundreds of years. Sailing is deeply rooted in the Arabic history and tradition of Emirati and Omani coastal living. With the discovery of oil and a growing independence from the sea, these traditions are moving more and more into the background. It is important to maintain and keep these traditions and forward them to younger generations. Furthermore with the economic development and population growth through the settlement of many expatriates, it is also important to transform these traditions, knowledge and connection to the sea to those young people who have never been to the sea before. young crew: Oman Sails innovative training programmes for thousands of young Omanis are inspiring a new generation to discover and en-
Maybe Ive watched too much TV or have simply no idea about sailing, but I was expecting an old man as captain, not necessarily with a long beard, a pipe and a parrot on the shoulder, but definitely older than this
Simon 27 years - captain for 8 years. Eve 20 years young has already sailed the world on a commercial sailing ship and Elsa 22 years a relative newcomer to the sport. You will have the chance to meet the guys and step onboard at Dubai Boat Show 1-5 March 2011, and learn more about sailing, and how inspirational it can be.
joy sailing. For many, as recreation combining physical exercise with mental stimulation and teamwork. For some, as a competitive sport at the very highest levels internationally. Oman Sail contributes to Omans development and raises the profile of Oman internationally. I had the chance to step onto one of their training boats - a huge sailing catamaran, which gives more the impression of a Caribbean cruise than an educational journey. While stepping onto the boat I was welcomed by three young and friendly people. After a brief chat I asked about the crew and the captain, and their answer was for me very surprising: Its us!
[OutdoorUAE]
photo: Rell Taylor
[skate]
Outdoor People
Name: Alexander Medvedev Activities: Skateboarding, Surfing and music Nationality: Russian How long have you been in the U.A.E. and why did you come here? I moved here in 1993 when my parents got a job offer. Its hard to believe that only less then two decades Sheikh Zayed road was filled with sand, small shops and a couple of roads. The only tallest building back then was the World Trade Center, which now is one of the smallest. Its crazy how fast the city has developed since then and how ethnically diverse it has now become. Whats your passion? Travelling would be one of the most desired. Its always fun and exciting to meet the locals from every place and experience their culture and ways. Skateboarding itself in some way is a multi-cultural language and brings skaters from all around the world together. I am always stoked to meet new people and check out every part of the city for skate spots. Love the ocean and being in the water. Whats your favourite spot/route? I would say Abu Dhabi would be one because its more chilled and has less hassle with security. They have an amazing Corniche around the creek that has lots of skate spots. Plus, its a nice atmosphere. Dubai wise, streets, Rage skatepark at DFC and Rage bowl at Dubai mall for times when its boiling outside. What do you recommend our readers? Be stoked, enjoy everything you experience and go with the flow.
Outdoor People
Name: Fiona Busse Activities: Scuba Diving Nationality: South African How long have you been in the U.A.E. and why did you come here? 13 yearsAdventure Whats your passion? Diving Whats your favourite spot/route? Atlantis Dive Centre What do you recommend our readers? If you havent tried diving, a great way to get started is to enrol in a discover scuba diving course. It gives you the opportunity to experience what diving is all about. I was very hesitant and was dragged kicking and screaming by a friend to one of these courses. Well I absolutely loved it! Being able to experience such beauty in a completely different world is incredible. It really is a peaceful and awe-inspiring experience, not to mention a great way to be active outdoors and meet some really fantastic people. Diving quickly became my hobby and now my passion. I was certified as a Scuba Diving Instructor in October and my friend that took me on that first dive became my first student!!
Come and visit the Atlantis Dive Centre whether it is your first breath underwater or the start of your diving career!
Heres whats new!
- Join our photography club, FREE to join with many trips planned for 2011. - Become an Atlantis Dive Centre Club Member with Exclusive Benefits - Complimentary access to the water park for all pleasure divers or students at the Atlantis Dive Centre Come and visit our stand for more information. AtlantisDiveCentre.com | Direct: (+9714) 426 3000 | Fax: (+9714) 426 3030 Atlantis Dive Centre | PO Box 78942 | Dubai | U.A.E
Outdoor (Boat!)People
[OutdoorUAE]
Hany Ebeid
Name: Hany Ebeid How long have you been living in the UAE? I came to the UAE first in 1999, stayed for a few years and then travelled in the region. Now I have been permanently back to Dubai for the past 5 years. Did you ever own a boat before you came to the UAE or had any relation to boats? No. Why did you buy a boat? It started with fishing on the shore line and the Creek, which then developed in a thought of having a very small boat just to go a bit deeper. Obviously this developed further into a true love for my boat where I cant imagine not having one. Was it hard finding a boat? What criteria has been most important in making your decision? The first boat I had was hard as I did not know much yet about boats and because at that time I was only searching for a used boat. Now for my current boat, the main criteria I looked for was : dual engine (safety when out deep), center console (best for fishing and good for pleasure), reasonable size to be easy to have it on a trailer all the time. What is the name of your boat, and why? Zuba, it is a old traditional Egyptian nick name and I like it. Where do you berth / park your boat? Was it easy to find this berth/parking and is it expensive? Berthing and parking in Dubai is the biggest problem and is also very expensive. So I have no choice but to keep it somewhere in the sand at a road side near my house, this is not something I like to do but the prices are totally unreasonable and on top of that you rarely find a vacant spot.
How often are you using the boat and with whom do you go out? This is very difficult to say, but in average I would say once a month or twice maximum. Usually I go out with a friend who loves boating and fishing just as much as I do. Why do you love boats / your boat? Because it takes me out there away from the noise and the daily stressful routine. What would you tell a person who is considering buying a boat? You will enjoy it and be prepared that you will always have a boat, once you have one you will not be able to live again without a one. Boat Specs Length: 22ft Manufacturer: Mercury
Location
Hatta Hill Park
A Barbecue Spot set in the Green Mountain Park
GPS: 24. 48. 129 Lat 056. 07. 797Alt Gear: any vehicle can make it there
UAE
It is a nice and quiet place, made for recreation especially on coolest months of the year. You will find some nice turrets with grills for barbeques, a swimming pool, playing yards for children, football, volley and basket-ball courts. You can also work on your fitness with the 198 steps from the gate of the park to the tower, on top of the hill. It is a peaceful place and the view from the top is quite impressive.
Since 200 0 1, , GUL GULF F FOR FOR GOO GOOD D has has rai raised sed ov over er 1.7 7 mi milli llion on US Dol Dollar lars s for for nee needy dy causes across acr cross oss s th the e glob globe e in in 32 32 char charity ity ty ch chall al eng alleng enges. nges es. To con es co inue contin ue the go good od w work, wor ork k, k we are e pr proud oud to an annou nounce nce th the e foll followi owing ng exc exciti iting ng adv advent enture ure ch chall alleng enges: es:
TREK ETHIOPIA
10 - 19 MARCH, SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
EVEREST BASE CAMP CHALLENGE

14 - 28 OCTOBER, NEPAL
This trek, amongst the world's mightiest mountains to the infamous base camp (5360m), is one of G4G's toughest challenges, but well worth the effort. Funds raised will support disadvantaged children and orphans in Nepal.
Trek through the gorges, cliffs, plateaus and peaks (highest point 4620m) of this stunning African mountain massif to raise funds for RAEY's work with children orphaned by Aids/HIV in Ethiopia.
THE WILDS OF BORNEO CHALLENGE

7 - 15 JULY, BORNEO
An amazing mix of kayaking, mountain biking, bamboo rafting and a tough hike to the summit of SE Asia's highest mountain, Mt Kinabalu (4095m), to raise funds for the impoverished children of Borneo.
CYCLE THE SEVEN EMIRATES

27 NOV - 2 DEC, UAE
A fascinating ride through the mountains, wadis and deserts of all 7 Emirates in just 6 days. See the UAE from a totally different perspective and raise funds for hand-picked children's charities in the UAE.
All Al A ll cha challe halle ll l l nge ges s inc ncl cl c lu ude d a vis visit it t t to o the the ch th hari arity t to ty o spe pend nd n d tim im me with th the th e ch children ild ldr ren en an nd, d wh whe w h re e approp app pr rop o opria pria riate, te te, e, do do s so ome me wor work k t to o help elp th hem. em
C AL CH ALLE L NG LE GE YO YOUR URSE SELF LF - HEL ELP P OT OTHE HE ERS
For more information, contact Gulf for Good on +971 4368 0222 or visit www.gulf4good.org
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[OutdoorUAE]
PERFECT STORM
By Ziad Al Sharabi day. After having a quick bite of breakfast that our friends brought along, it was time to set sail. We left the marina at about 11am with the help of the engine. As we got out into the open sea we put up the sails but the wind was very weak and we were only doing about 1 2 knots. Adeeb looked at me saying, The day we have a nice group and the weather is perfect we get no wind! It was quite funny as the weekend prior to this one we had gone out with just one or two friends and the wind was great. We had told the group that the plan was to go to the World Island passing in front of Palm Jumeirah, and back to Dubai International Marine Club, DIMC, where the boat is docked. We were having a good time enjoying the weather, a few of the girls were tanning on the deck, music playing and the mood was just great. At about midday, we caught a bit of a nice breeze and started to sail a bit faster. I was at the wheel and started pointing into the wind at a better angle, now we started doing about 8 9 knots and the boat was heeling to one side. One of our friends who has never sailed before said, why is the boat like this, are we going to flip over? Adeeb then told me we need to slow it down a little bit so that no one got uncomfortable with the heeling. At that point the wind was had picked up a little and the boat was starting to feel overpowered by the sails. It also required more of an effort to steer the boat straight due to the weather helm which kept trying to point the boat into the wind. At this point we decided to reef the sails a little (to reduce the Sail area to suit the Wind conditions) so that the boat could adjust and we could maintain a good speed while keeping the boat under control. Looking at the horizon we noticed a big black cloud very far away (a squall approaching, which we didnt know at the time since it was the first time we had ever seen one). I remember someone saying that cloud looks scary!, but Adeeb and I didnt give it much consideration seeing how far it was from us and due to the fact that a few days ago we were sailing in very cloudy conditions while it was raining with the wind had been very reasonable. By 12:30pm we were crossing in front of The Atlantis Hotel on the Palm. Adeeb came and stood at the left wheel and told me he wanted to try something. I let go from my side as he took control, and went downstairs to use the bathroom. It was seconds later when everything got dark, the boat was rocking vigorously, I could hear the main sail (the triangular sail on the mast) and the Jib (the sail in the front of the boat) flapping out of control, then from within this racket I heard Adeebs voice shouting at the top of his lungs, Sharabi! Sharabi! Where the @#%! is Sharabi I also heard Aleco and Dana calling my name. I rushed out and went upstairs, and it was a shocking sight. The sky was black, the swell was 6 8 feet high and the wind was blowing at about 50 knots (95Kph). We were hit by a storm! Before I go on I just want to point out that Adeeb and I only had about 3 weeks sailing experience on weekends, so this was not something we were geared up for, yet we had owned boats before, and I can safely say we are good at handling things in emergencies. The key thing here was not to panic and to make sure we kept everyone safe. I quickly jumped up on deck and grabbed the Jib line on the winch on the starboard side. We were communicating quite well and making quick decisions. All I could hear was Adeeb at this point, lets try and get the sails in he said. Adeeb engaged the auto pilot and ran to the mast in order to roll the mainsail back in, and within seconds the boat made a complete 180 degree turn and pointed on the other beam with the wind. The boat was suddenly so overpowered by the wind that the auto pilot could not steer since the rudder had no effect on the boat. I was still on the starboard side standing on deck while everyone else was on the port side sitting
THE
hursday January 27th, 8pm. An SMS was sent out to a bunch of friends asking them who would like to go sailing the following morning. A couple of hours later there were nine of us, planning to set sail at 10am. Friday January 28th, 8am: I (Ziad Al Sharabi) wake up to the sound of a spoon twirling in a coffee mug. Adeeb Sawaya, a friend of 25 years, was up making 2 cups of coffee. It was time to get up and go through the normal safety checks for the engine and equipment, and get everything ready before our friends arrived. After a nice cup of coffee on deck, we called the coast guards office to obtain a sailing permit. Great weather, sunny day, clear blue skies and a perfect temperature, yet we had one problem, there was no wind! While we were getting the seat cushions out and cleaning the upper deck, we kept checking the wind gauge hoping a little wind would pick up for us to have a nice day sailing, but we were out of luck. By 10am a few of our friends had arrived and we were waiting for one more. Our friend Aleco El Hayek is almost always late probably too busy updating his blackberry status which he does about 100 times a
in the cockpit. At this point the wind had filled the sails again and the boat heeled violently to the other side. The boat heeled all the way down and I was standing perpendicular to the water looking down at my friends whose faces had turned white. The spreaders on the mast of the boat had actually touched the water. It was so shocking how it had all happened within seconds. Luckily its a sail boat with a very heavy keel which prevented it from capsizing in this case. About 5 seconds later the boat slowly started to come back upright. As soon as the boat levelled we told everyone to go inside while we continued trying to roll the sails in. It was at this point that I noticed our friend Dana crouched on the floor holding on to the steering wheel trying to counter steer. Her face was as white as a ghost, she was screaming, I cant hold it. Aleco was on deck and I told him to help her till we sorted the sails out. Mind you this was all in a matter of 3 maybe 4 minutes. We got to a point where it was not possible to put the sails back in, and it was a matter of making a quick decision, either try to save the sails or save the boat and the people with us. At this point we decided to bail on the sails, I released the sheets and while the sails flapped violently and started ripping we were able to start rolling them in as much as we could. Adeeb quickly grabbed on the wheel, Dana and Aleco went inside to check on the others, and I stood on standby with Adeeb. We started the engine and began trying to make our way back to the marina. Both sails had ripped by now and were flapping loosely in the wind tangling all the ropes together. In the distance another catamaran with tourists onboard was behind us fighting his way back as well. The engine is not that powerful and we were just praying that it wouldnt fail, as it was our only hope. Pushing through the high swell we caught sight of the waves coming up and crashing onto the boat.
The waves were so big, they would hit the boat then come gushing at us. We had to hold on tight when they hit us so that we didnt get washed away. Forty minutes later we cleared the Palm Island which was our biggest fear, because the thought of crashing into the breakwater was just horrifying. As we steered towards the marina with the JBR in front of us, we could see about 5 or 6 rescue boats in the distance on the lookout for other boats that might need assistance. With the wind blowing from behind us now the canopy shade above us just ripped off and collapsed forward. That honestly was the least of our concerns. There was a small sail boat ahead being followed by a rescue boat. There where 3 people onboard fighting to get back to port after their front sail had ripped. A rescue boat approached us. We gave them the signal that we were fine and heading back to the bay area. After battling the storm
for about an hour, we got into the bay area opposite Barasti. Several other boats had come in to take cover. Adeeb rushed to get the anchor controls while I steered to put the boat in a secure position for anchorage. This is when our friends came up to the deck, with looks of shock on their faces. We waved in a rescue boat to take them and drop them off at the peer. Adeeb, Dana, Aleco and I remained onboard, waiting for the wind to die out so we would be able to get into the Marina. After they left, Adeeb looked at me and smiled and I just started laughing, I guess it was our first reaction after we knew it was over and all was safe and sound. As I went inside to get out of my wet clothes, I looked down at
myself and realized that my zipper was undone. I had rushed out of the bathroom so fast when the storm hit that I forgot to pull it back up. We tidied things up and came back up on deck and started tracing the story back to recollect how it all happened. I must admit it was a time in my life that I will never forget, and I thanked God that we got everyone back safe. We called that day The Perfect Storm. Crew onboard: Adeeb, Ziad, Aleco, Omar, Hafez, Dana, Samar, Ghada and Frederica.
[OutdoorUAE]
Quick
Sand!
Tonto help, I am sinking
BY JOHN BASSON
was the call from the Kimosabe, the Lone Ranger when he fell into Quick Sand and started to sink. I was about 6 or 7 years old when I saw that episode and have had my doubts about sinking into sand ever since watching that episode of the Lone Ranger. Here in the UAE we have good rain once maybe twice a year. Good enough to cover large parts of our riding area. When this happens it is a MUST to go riding. The sand becomes very compact and hard. There is nowhere you cannot ride and the dunes are smooth and clear of all tracks. Imagine a skid pan of unlimited dimensions in the shape of a sand dune! Last year November we had a massive storm, it lasted almost a day and it rained across the
whole of the UAE. Lucky for me it was on a Friday and we went riding Saturday. The dunes were awesome and for hours we skidded our quad signature on the dunes. Then we went down to some flat areas for more fun. What followed was a huge surprise and shock! Patrice was doing some Doughnuts while I photographed him. He was coming out of the 1st one and about to enter the 2nd one when the quad, at full throttle, came to a very rapid stop in the sand. It then the quad started sinking! Fig. 1 - Coming out of the 1st doughnut
fig.1
and about to do the second one. Look at the position of the front wheels relative to the spray marks of the 1st doughnut. By the time the quad had moved only 3 meters more it was totally stuck and started sinking. Fig. 2 - Not sure what to do or what was happening, Patrice just stood and watched as he sank even more. Fig. 3+4 - We were very lucky that the area affected was very small. The way I now understand Quick sand is as follows: The sand must be very fine, like it is here in the UAE. There must be a solid base or rock foundation underneath the sand preventing the water from seeping deep into the ground. If it rains the sand then becomes suspended, not floating on top, but suspended in the water. When you now get on top of it you literally start to sink. Unlike mud that would be pushed away and leaves tracks, you can see on the 4th photo that it is clear behind the quad as the sand moved back across the tracks. Mud does not do this.
We were very lucky as the rock base was only about 30cm below the sand and the quad did not go any deeper than that. We were however unable to stand any where next to or behind the quad (only in front) as we then also sank into it. With your boots 30cm deep in this sand it was impossible to move, never mind push...
Look at how our effort has caused the sand to sink and displace the water. It was dry only 5min ago. We spent about 30min trying to get the quad out of the sand and were physically exhausted by the time we got it out I dont think there are any places in SA where this could or has occurred, but surly has opened my eyes! I now understand why the poor Lone Ranger was so distressed and urged Tonto to do some thing, and do it fast
fig.3 fig.4
John Basson.
fig.2
Wadi Ghalilah Rescue

T
hree oclock in the morning is never a good time for a wake up alarm but on this occasion it did not matter. I was already dressed and the alarm acted as a prompt for more tea and toast. Twenty minutes later I was in Ians truck heading north from Ras Al Khaimah towards Wadi Ghalilah. Ian explained the events of the previous afternoon and his trip up and down the mountain after receiving the telephone call for assistance. The majority of the original Stairway to Heaven group had been brought down to the road head while six members of the team that had gone up to assist had stayed on the mountain with the casualty. During the night, the larger team that would be carrying out the rescue had been preparing equipment and trying to get a few hours sleep. Ian and I were the advance party and a team of twenty would be following on an hour behind with the majority of the technical equipment. As a Although I had spoken to Ian several times the previous evening and also with the team high on the mountain; it was only now that the situation became clear. A member of a group on the Stairway to Heaven scramble has slipped and fallen during the descent. The fall had occurred early afternoon. The casualty had suspected broken lower leg, cuts, grazes and a lot of bruises. He was located a couple of hours walk from the end of the Galilah road on a very steep scree slope above a vertical drop. The route up to him was steep, in some places very narrow, covered in loose rocks and there were plenty of opportunities to fall over the edge of a cliff. He needed assistance to get down. Fortunately for the casualty and the rest of his group, while there is no formal mountain rescue service in the UAE, there are a significant number of experienced and active climbers in the northern Emirates. A telephone call from the accident site had initiated a cascade of calls through the climbing community. Within hours a small team had collected their climbing equipment and were heading up the mountain to assist. They had reached the accident site just before last light. Andy, the medic, had assessed the casualty, stabilised him and the decision was made to wait until first light before moving him. voluntary operation put together at short notice without the benefit of rehearsal it was likely that our outline plan would need some modification once we were up at the accident site. Four thirty in the morning, Ian and I were picking our way up a narrow goat track heading up into the mountains. Our head torches picked out boulders, the occasional stunted tree but most of the time it was just a beam of light searching into an inky darkness. No moonlight, no wind and no sounds apart from our increasingly heavy
[OutdoorUAE]
By Pete Aldwinckle Photos by Ian Ganderton breathing and a dislodged rock tumbling into the darkness made us feel very isolated. We pushed on and tried to maintain the pace as the ground steepened. There was no real path to follow to the accident site, just the occasional stack of stones left by previous travellers, a mountaineers intuition and Ians memory from the earlier in the night. The ground was a lot steeper now, great care was required as one slip and we would
Improvised Splint
be plunging into the darkness below us. Our torches were now picking out towering cliffs that disappeared above us in the darkness. Up ahead and disappointingly much higher than we were, we saw a light flickering. At least we knew we were on the right track and it spurred us on to keep the pace up. Thirty minutes more hard effort and we passed the first members of the overnight team sheltering on a narrow ledge under an overhang. After a few words we pushed on up a narrow rocky gulley and then carefully traversed across a steep slope to the casualty party. They were camped, if sitting on a rock can be called camping, on a very steep slope with the casualty lying in a sleeping bag on a very narrow platform. A rope secured him to the mountain and prevented him from sliding over a cliff that was some twenty meters further down the slope. After brief introductions we got to work. Andy, the medic, along with some assistants were splinting the casualtys leg with walking poles, a cut up sleeping mat, climbing tape and, or course, the universally useful duct tape. Another team were assembling the specialist mountain rescue stretcher. As the sky got lighter, the seriousness of the terrain became clear; steep cliffs, very narrow ledges and a lot of loose rock. The cliffs were too steep and enclosing to allow the use of a helicopter so the casualty would have to be carried out. We planned and then prepared for a series of lowers to get the casualty off the scree slope and to the ledge system some thirty metres below us. As the main body arrived on the ledges below us, instructions for more equipment and manpower were
First move of casualty
sent down. By eight oclock we were as ready as we could be and Phils team on the stretcher started the delicate manoeuvre to get the stretcher to the top of the main cliff. Although there were ropes in place, it was still potentially dangerous with loose rock and a big drop below the stretcher team. My team waited at the top of the cliff with the next team at the bottom to receive the stretcher from us. Simply put, our plan was to pass the stretcher down the mountain with teams working ahead of the stretcher preparing ropes to lower over the big cliffs or to back up the carrying team so that the casualty did not get dropped in the event of a slip. Once the stretcher had passed through a section, the team that had prepared the ropes would collect them and then move ahead of the slower moving stretcher party and set up at the next section. It worked out that twenty odd guys were in the stretcher team and two teams of five on the ropes. The complexity was that we were working on very steep slopes with big cliffs close, loose rocks and numerous other hazards. As a team, we were going to be relying on the individual skills and competencies of every member to be able to look after themselves combined with our ability to work together without making any mistakes as the consequences could be fatal. The first technical lower had gone much quicker and smoother than expected. Andy and Phil had been lowered with the stretcher to ensure it did not get jammed against the cliff. The terrain and available equipment had demanded some improvisation but the stretcher with casualty securely strapped in had been safely passed to the next team. We coiled ropes, dismantled belays, packed rucksacks and moved down the mountain after the casualty party. We pushed forward past them at the end of a narrow ledge that must have been challenge to negotiate; I was glad that the other team had that obstacle to overcome. We quickly worked ourselves into a routine of preparing ropes, checking knots and carabineers; checking systems and ensuring that somebody checked us. As the stretcher party approached I struck by the calm purpose that everybody had. There was no rush but we were making remarkably quick progress considering that we were moving down a loose mountain carrying a 120kg of stretcher and an injured person that was totally dependent on us. Those not carrying or working ropes moved rucksacs, water and equipment ahead. There was a constant checking of each other, looking out for hazards and a grinding momentum that was moving us down the mountain. For six and a half hours the casualty was in constant motion towards the road apart from two stops. The first at what must be the only flat ground in upper Wadi Galilah where we ate and relaxed for a moment; the second when the casualty succumbed to the constant bumping and jogging and his bladder said that a stop was required. For the majority of this time we were dependent on ropes for security or back up. And then we reached the vehicles. Our
uncomplaining casualty was transferred to motorised transport for the onward journey to hospital and the operating theatre. As the team sorted out equipment, relaxed and shared food and water, we reflected on the last 24 hours. We had been lucky that our casualty did not have life threatening injuries and so we had not been required to evacuate him at night. He had been lucky that thirty odd experienced climbers had been in the area and had responded to call for assistance. All of us had been motivated to help one of our own and lurking in the back of our minds was probably the thought that next time it could be us. Whilst there may be moves to establish a more formal mountain rescue capability in the Emirates, the mountains will always be rugged and steep with the constant peril of a small slip resulting in serious injury. Anybody heading into the UAE moun-
tains needs to have a high degree of self sufficiency and be comfortable on exposed ledges and difficult terrain. The feeling of remoteness and challenge the mountains provide is very much part of their appeal but they are certainly not benign and need to be treated with respect. Pete Aldwinckle is a resident of RAK and the Technical Director of Global Climbing. He has been enjoying mountains and rock climbing for over thirty years and during this time he has climbed on five continents for fun and worked as a professional mountaineer in Scotland. The names of the majority of the rescuers, companies that released them from work and supplied equipment and the casualty have not been published at their request or as permission to use their names has not be sought. Pete Aldwinckle.
Team work
In doing so, the jockey propelled [OutdoorUAE] rival. himself from last to second in the chal-
2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival - River Jetez waltzes to Balanchine triumph
News
lenge a place behind Calvin Borel who finished with 86 points to Pesliers 81. Watson said: That was a great hour and two great rides. Famous Warrior has taken a while to settle in and we have schooled him in the paddock and stalls. He is a nice young horse and hopefully can improve like Green Coast did. Peslier said: The jockeys challenge is a great initiative and it is nice to win a race seeing as I was last before this one. Doug was very bullish before the race and I can see why because he won that well. The trainer then completed a treble with Barbecue Eddie in the 1400m Business Banking with Richard Hills in the saddle. Top-weight War Artist landed the 1200m Corporate Banking to follow up his win in last years Al Shindagha Sprint over the same trip but on the All-Weather. Now trained by Robert Collet he was again partnered by Olivier Peslier who said: On his day he is a very good sprinter as he has shown on many occasions. It all went right today with a good fast gallop suiting him. The 2504m Asset Management provided Johnny Murtagh with his first Meydan winner and he produced the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Calvados Blues to deny Mikhail Glinka close home. They were last entering the straight and Al Zarooni said: That was a very good ride from a top-class jockey. The horses are in good form. www.dubairacingclub.com
UIM XCAT Middle East Powerboat Championships
Dubai 3rd February 2011. Fazza 3 storms through the finish line in first place amid praise and congratulations for the organizers. In round 2 of the UIM XCat Middle East Powerboat Championships organized by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) Fazza 3 triumphantly led the fleet from the start in a convincing win to score a second win of the season. The decision by the DIMC Committee to move the race to this morning and use the storm course worked so well, said Nadir Bin Hendi the winning driver. Rashid Al Marri and Salem Al Hamli took second place in Extreme Marine and Spirit of Abu Dhabi with Rashid Al Tayer and Majid Al Mansouri came in third. There was a false start, which caused the loss of one lap as some of the boats from the back of the parade throttled up too early. Because of the weather we used the storm course today which is shorter and it was important to slow the boats down and split them at the first mark, so we added an extra mark to divide the fleet and it worked very well, said Mohammed Hareb. With average speeds of 131 kph the winning boat completed the twelve lap the course in 31.23 minutes with the second boat tailing by 17 seconds Three new drivers joined the Xcat fleet today, Team Dubai was crewed by Saeed Al Mehairi and Mohammed Al Ghahaish who have both come from the wooden powerboat class. The Xcat is very different and there is a lot to learn, the skills are something new and we are taking it easy while we build our confidence, said Saeed. The other rookie was Essa Mohammed Bel Hasa who joined Skydive Dubai. The President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and CEO of DIMC, Mr. Saeed Hareb, presented prizes after the race. The next round of the Middle East Championship will be held in Abu Dhabi on March 19th followed by the final in Dubai on March 24th. DIMC
Essa Al Ghurair, Vice Chairman, Emirates Diving Association said: Pearl diving was an important part of the economy of the Arabian Gulf before the current oil boom. Local pearl divers went to great risks to collect oysters from the ocean floor, but the rewards were worth it. The income received from the pearl industry helped support many Dubai families. This book will shed light on a very interesting and important period in Dubais history. For hundreds of years, the finest pearls in the world were found in the waters of the Arabian Gulf. The ancient pearling industry provided the only real income for the people of the UAE. In response to the increased demand for pearls, many more families settled permanently in the coastal villages, which began to grow in importance and influence, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Hashim Al Dabal, Head of Dubai Properties said: Pearl diving is a part of the UAEs heritage. Associations such as the EDA help to preserve our culture; its initiatives give visitors an insight about our ancestors, and the UAEs maritime traditions. With the publication of this book, more people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of this cultural aspect of life in the UAE in the olden days. www.ead.ae
Emirates NBD were the sponsors of Fridays seventh meeting of the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival and the featured Group Two Balanchine Stakes and concluding 2000m conditions race on the All-Weather were dominated by Mike De Kock and Christophe Soumillon. First up was River Jetez in the featured 1800m Balanchine Stakes, a Group Two Turf contest restricted to fillies and mares. Soumillon was able to settle his mount in rear before producing her with a sweeping late challenge to deny stable companion Reem in the final 200m to the delight of De Kock who said: We were very hopeful of a big run but another 1-2 is a great result. I am not sure where we will go with River Jetez as she has plenty of options. Soumillon used similar tactics in the final race, Personal Banking, and decidedly won on Golden Sword who broke the track record over the course and distance of the worlds richest race, the US$10million Dubai World Cup. The trainer added: The [Dubai] World Cup is obviously a consideration and this horse has been a revelation this year. It is a very pleasing conclusion to the night. Racing opened with the Group Two Bani Yas, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card. A 1400m All-Weather contest, it was won well by Dariya, ridden by Ted Durcan for Saifaldin Deeb. Short of room turning for home, Durcan waited for a gap and his mount powered home to deny Kandar Du Falgas. Durcan said: He is a nice horse with plenty of ability. I won on him over 1000m last time and he is pretty versatile and will stay further Doug Watson then opened his account for the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival with Famous Warrior in the 1600m Private Banking, and then doubled his tally with War Monger in the following 1800m Priority Banking, the final leg of the Meydan Masters International Jockeys Challenge. Both winners made virtually all with Tadhg OShea on Famous Warrior who is a half-brother to last years stable star and Godolphin Mile runner-up Green Coast. However, it was Olivier Peslier who was able to get War Monger to the front after about 300m and he never saw another
F1 H2O Racing 4th Season opening
Manchester United Soccer Schools at Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run
www.thenational.ae
The most riveting sport on water, the UIM F1 H2O World Championship series, opens up the start of its fourth decade of the fourth and fifth of March in Doha in Qatar for the inaugural round of the 2011 season. If the story plot follows the same path that it has in the last few years, the fireworks on water should begin right from the opening lap on Doha Bay. There was a time in recent history when two drivers, Italian Guido Cappellini and American Scott Gillman, dominated F1 H2O racing. During a 15-year period from the early 1990s to just recently these two drivers won 14 of the 15 World Championship titles between them. Well, as songwriter Bob Dylan said in a lyric almost fifty years ago, The times, they are a changing, and that is exactly what has happened to the sport since these two legends retired in the last few years. In the past five seasons there have been four different drivers champions headed by two spectacular comebacks by the current World Champion Sami Selio of the Mad Croc Racing Team. The native from Helsinki, Finland for the second time in four campaigns came charging up from the back of the pack
Children, parents and coaches from Manchester United Soccer Schools in Abu Dhabi took part in the 16th annual Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run on the Abu Dhabi Corniche on Friday, with all proceeds going to fund cancer research in the UAE. More than 40 children and their parents who are currently enrolled in the Manchester United Soccer Schools programme took part. Andy Dixon, MUSS head coach, said, This was an important local fundraising initiative which saw hundreds of people coming together to help tackle a serious disease. At MUSS we always try to promote healthy living to all players and parents on our courses and we were encouraged to see so many youngsters involved.
The Emirates Diving Association (EDA) has released a 140 page publication on the rich heritage of pearl diving in the region.
Titled Pearl Diving, the book includes a compilation of interviews with old pearl divers and UAE nationals on their experiences of diving in the UAE. The data, supported by authentic photographs, was collected by Jumaa Bin Thalith, coordinator of the EDA Heritage Department.
of drivers to win the title at the very last day of the season. He did this the first time in 2007 winning the final two events back to back and did so a year ago at the Grand Prix of Sharjah finishing second in the event which was enough to take the title by a razor thin six points. The Mad Croc group took the team title, as well as, first and third in the driver standings in 2010. Joining Sami this season will be last years Rookieof-the-Year runner-up Davide Padovan who comes over from the Rainbow Team. The young driver from Vercelli, Italy shows a lot of upsides with five top-10 finishes in six completed races a year ago with just one DNF and a crash in Linyi being the only negatives to his resume. He should definitely take another step forward improving this season under Selios guidance.
hit hard by Garth Tander (Toll HRT). All three drivers were ruled out of the race. A lengthy Safety Car period ensued, with confusion reining due to a slowmoving Safety Car in the accident area near the exit of pit lane. Officials are reviewing the results postrace as the red light at the end of pit lane was active and could play its part in the outcome of the race. Also in the wars were Craig Lowndes (TeamVodafone) and Russell Ingall (Supercheap Auto Racing). Lowndes outbraked himself, colliding hard with Ingalls Commodore. www.yasmarinacircuit.com
We aim to lift the profile of all the sports Naish are involved in by showing that they are accessible to everyone. We want to promote the health benefits of SUP and will hold events that the whole family can be involved in, says Leigh. With the ever-growing popularity of kitesurfing in the UAE we hope that we can play a fundamental role in the development of this great sport. Theres a fantastic coastline in the region to enjoy and explore, and year-round good weather conditions. There are few better places to take up these sports. Ocean Sports has just this month brought in the Naish 2011 series of kites and boards, and it makes for an impressive selection that is competitively priced. You can see and order from the Ocean Sports FZE range at www.kitesurfup.com, or check it out in person at stockists Surf Shop Dubai, AL Barsha, Dubai, and Picnico, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai. If you really want a taste of what SUP and kitesurfing are all about, Ocean Sports FZEs latest line of Naish gear will be on display at the Battle of the Paddle, Sunset Beach, Jumeirah, Dubai on March 12, and again at Yas Marina paddle, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in April. These are two events not to be missed by any self-respecting water sports enthusiast. For further information please email enquiries@kitesurfsup.com or call Leigh on 055 935 2735. That enthusiasm continued to build throughout the day as teams competed for points across 12 Herculean labours. Through the camaraderie of sport, participants got to think, act and perform as a team while strengthening relationships with their colleagues in a fun and non threatening environment.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company At Gulf Bike Expo 2011
Herculean effort at Sevens Stadium
Round 1 V8 Supercars Championship Race 2 Results Yas V8 400
Over the last 2 years, interest in the Harley-Davidson brand remains strong among riders and non-riders of all generations throughout the MENA region. The MENA motorcyclists positive reaction to new motorcycles such as the Ultra Limited, Sportster Forty-Eight, Sportster 883 Iron and Dyna Wideglide is evidence of the growing relevance of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in this region. The Harley-Davidson experience is such a special and unique one, and the method is to use this to frame the superb product offering with the likes of the Sportster Forty-Eight. Known for producing bold, tenacious bikes, Harley-Davidson have showcased its 2011 JUMPSTART - the future of highly interactive, customer engagement - at the Gulf Bike Week that took place at Dubai Festival City from February 10 to 12, 2011. Additionally Harley Davidson of UAE maintained its tradition with its 2011 line-up consisting of the VRSCF V-Rod Muscle, XL883N Iron 883, Forty-Eight Sportster and FLHXXX Street Glide Trike. We want to encourage people to visit our UAE dealer stand and talk to the staff. It sounds simple but it is easy to jump in and get overwhelmed, but with our experts to guide you, we can show you how the price of entry may pleasantly surprise you, how you can turn a factory Harley-Davidson into your own custom machine and how exciting it is to become part of the ever growing brotherhood of the HOG community. We are also experiencing more interest in online social circles from younger non licensed riders and female prospective riders. To give those without licenses a taste of the brand experience we are bringing a new technology to the bike week where anyone (irrespective of the status of their license) can enjoy the riding experience - said Elsa Abi Nader Marketing Manager Middle East and North Africa At the Gulf Bike Week the JUMPSTART was an innovative demo tool that have put customers in the saddle of a running Harley-Davidson* motorcycle, and let them experience the thrill of the throttle, that comes with riding a genuine Harley-Davidson motorcycle. JUMPSTART is portable, so you can get outside the walls of your dealership and bring the premium Harley-Davidson experience to places its never been. No matter where you are, the roar of a wideopen Harley draws crowds and creates excitement. It generates sales leads, increases Riders Edge/ rider training enrollment, and most importantly sells more motorcycles for the dealership. We were happy to welcome everyone onsite; enjoying the JUMPSTART, having nice spray tattoo and getting closer to starting a dream.
Abu Dhabi February 12: James Courtney has made a stunning comeback at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, winning Race 2 of the V8 Supercars Championship. The reigning V8 Supercars Champion, driving for the Toll Holden Racing Team, used a superior fuel strategy to secure his first win for the factory Holden team in one of the most enthralling races in recent memory. After being penalised 50 points for a collision with Jason Bargwanna yesterday, Courtney went toe-to-toe with Team BOCs Jason Bright in the final laps, passing and re-passing each other a number of times. Courtney ran a risky fuel strategy, running 22-straight laps on one tank of fuel. Bright was on a similar strategy, elevating them to the front of the field while others took late fuel stops. Pole-sitter Jamie Whincup was one of those late stoppers, recovering to finish third after a late stop for fuel. Whincups Race 1 win and his podium tonight keeps him at the front of the V8 Supercars Championship table. Kelly Racings new driver David Reynolds (Stratco Racing) finished a career-best fourth ahead of Michael Caruso (Fujitsu Racing), Jonathon Webb (Mother Energy Drinks Racing), Alex Davison (IRWIN Racing), Shane van Gisbergen (SP Tools Racing), Greg Murphy (Pepsi Max Crew) and Paul Dumbrell (The Bottle-O Racing). The race started with a bang when Tony DAlberto (Wilson Security Racing) collided with Tim Slade (Lucky 7 Racing). Slade spun in front of the pack and was
The inaugural Hercules Trophy intercompany teambuilding and networking event, held for the first time outside of Europe at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai last month, has been hailed a phenomenal success by participants and organizers. A total of 80 corporate teams, comprising between five and seven players, were put to 12 challenging tests designed to help them master teamwork. While only one team logistics firm Danzas took home the official Hercules Trophy, all participants said they felt like winners. Michael Buckley, General Manager - Global Forwarding of winning team Danzas AEI Emirates LLC, said the competition definitely exceeded our expectations. It was an incredibly fun, energizing and enjoyable day for each one of our team members. We feel that it doesnt matter who the winners are, its about developing a great team spirit, and this is what you take back to the workplace, he said. That enthusiasm continued to build throughout the day as teams competed for points across 12 Herculean labours. Through the camaraderie of sport, participants got to think, act and perform as a team while strengthening relationships with their colleagues in a fun and non threatening environment.
OutdoorUAE magazine add Motorcycling and Kayaking sections to magazine
Oceans Sports FZE makes waves in UAE

Theres good news for local kiteboarding and paddleboarding enthusiasts this year with the arrival of Ocean Sports FZE on the scene. The only official importer of Naish International products in the region, Ocean Sports is already making waves with its range of quality kites, kiteboards and paddleboards straight from Naish Sails in Maui, Hawaii. According to owner Leigh Pothecary, Ocean Sports FZE aims to be much more than just a leading water sports gear distributor, it wants to be a leader in promoting awareness of the fun and benefits of SUP and kitesurfing in the region.
OutdoorUAE is announcing the launch of two new sections. You asked for it, we listened! During the month of March we will add to the website a new section for Motor Bikes - the philosophy of freedom while riding the bike, especially outside the city. This was reson enough for us to include it as an outdoor activity. Motorbikes are also used as vehicles for camping and exploring tours across the UAE. Motor Cross was included as a section from the very firtst day. So feel free to send us your suggestions or adventures with your bike. Kayaking is the second but not so new section. So far Kayaking is included in the boating section but as such a popular activity, it defenately deservs its own section which will also be launched in March. OutdoorUAE is very happy, that so many people are getting involved with their feedback and contributions. Thank you from the whole team.
RAFFLE!
Get a chance to win some of these great prizes!
SUPSURFBOARD+ PADDLE
Mana 105 SUP and an Adjustable Alloy paddle worth 6000AED Sponsored by OCEAN Sports FZE www.kitesurfsup.com
SCUBADIVINGEXPERIENCEfor2
PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience with Ocean Dive for 2 www.atlantisdivecentre.com
JULBOEYEWEAR 15FREEDUBAI DOLPHINARIUMTICKETS

15 free Dubai Dolphinarium tickets Sponsored by Dubai Dolphinarium www.dubaidolphinarium.ae Worth 840Dhs, from ACT Marine www.filpfloparabia.com
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OutdoorUAE
itesurfing is an extreme sport although here in the UAE with our low to moderate winds it is normally more a leisurely ride on the Ocean where we can forget about the daily stresses in our lives.
Kite Surfing
Understand the weather conditions
very often mean thunderstorms which pose a great danger to kiters on or off the water. Never take a chance and if you are unsure then head straight to the beach, land your kite, anchor it down or deflate and stand by until you are sure that the conditions are safe for you to go back out in. Always take note of more experienced kiters, they may understand the weather better than you. If things dont look right and they head to the beach then you should too. If fellow kiters are calling you to the beach then please heed their warnings, never be afraid to call someone in or recommend against them going out if you spot an impending danger. It is possible that someone may not see the dangers heading their way and they may just thank you later. If you get caught up in winds that are too strong for you to handle then pull the quick release on your chicken loop. Please ensure you are familiar with this and how it works, all reputable instructors will teach you how this works although bear in mind that different brands safety systems may differ slightly. If you feel that the kite is still pulling you towards danger, do not be afraid to release the kite completely. There will normally be people on the beach willing to assist and help retrieve your kite should you get into trouble although remember that your life is way more valuable than your equipment and accidents happen easily. The most important safety devices we have are our own eyes and the peoples eyes around us, so please look out for fellow kiters at all times. If you think someone is in trouble then please do not hesitate to help them. We must all work together to keep each other safe from harm and to protect our much loved sport. Please see the following website for great safety advice http://kitesurfingschool.org/safety.htm and test your quick release systems. Leigh Pothecary.
That said, once in a while a freak wind comes our way and stirs up some trouble and in most cases more fun than we were expecting. On the 28th January however, a black cloud headed across the Arabian Gulf towards the UAE, from the North West. Most people watching this were expecting rain and within minutes the wind went from around 10 knots to a steady 35 knots, with gusts as high as 52 knots recorded on Ness Nass beach in Jumeirah, Dubai. A cloud of sand and dust pummeled through Dubai and dissipated as quickly as it came leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The majority of people living and kitesurfing in the UAE may never experience these conditions but that does not mean that we should not be aware of what is going on behind us as we merrily cruise up and down in front of the beach. Having lived and kited for 7 years in the tropics and stormier seas of South East Asia, I have spent many hours sat on a beach watching the sea and sky, waiting for that moment to come when I will get in the best possible session or heading for cover whilst an almighty storm passes by.
Spot the Signs

With any windsport you should always be aware of the weather around you, things happen fast and before you know it you can be in serious trouble. Of course you can not see the wind but you can look for obvious signs of change. Check upwind regularly and if you see a dark sky or an increase in the spray (white horses) from the sea in the distance this is normally a sign that stronger winds or a storm are coming. In warmer climates black clouds can
ME4x4
[OutdoorUAE]
Part Part 1 1
MIKE NOTT BRINGS YOU HIS SERIALISATION OF THE ULTIMATE OFF-ROAD GUIDE
Introduction
Off-road driving is well established and relatively well supported in the UAE and the Oman. There are a good number of workshops, garages and retailers that support off-roading in the region. There are numerous offroad clubs that are regularly active in the dunes, mountains and wadis of both countries. There is a wealth of knowledge and information already in existence for the first-timer and for those who wish to start exploring the UAE and Oman. In particular, there are several off-road guidebooks that provide ample information for exploring some of the more accessible off-road routes of the region. There is much out there in support of the first timer or in support of those that dont want to stray too far from their comfort zone. The aims of this series of articles and the associated guidebook are different.
In stating this so boldly it is not the authors intention to scare any reader but merely to highlight the risks inherent in following the routes in the guidebook. You have been warned! The guidebook is intended to be simply that, a guidebook, and not a manual for off-road driving. What follows in subsequent articles, however, are some considerations regarding many of the technical aspects and knowledge that will help you in deciding whether to undertake some of the routes in the guidebook. The points are not exhaustive and for greater detail, readers should look to some of the other sources of information already in existence.
Aim and Assumptions

The aims of this series of articles and the guidebook are to describe in detail some of the most ambitious and remote off-road drives that can be undertaken in the region. It is, consequently, not intended as a starting point for those who have never been off-road or for those who have only limited experience. In writing the guidebook and the subsequent articles, many assumptions have been made with regard to any potential user of them. The most obvious is that the user is legally entitled and insured to drive off-road in the UAE and Oman. The less obvious but equally valid assumptions are that the user has driven regularly in the dunes and mountains of the region and knows exactly what to expect from the terrain and climate. The routes in the guidebook are potentially dangerous to your life, limb and vehicle. They traverse the remotest areas of the region and have the potential to leave you stranded, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest help, in one of the worlds harshest climates. If you have any doubt, regarding your competence to deal with such situations, then these articles and the guidebook routes are not for you.
Mental and Physical Approach

Being able to deal confidently with the unexpected, the potential physical hardship and the psychological stress of isolation during remote off-road driving is key to the successful outcome of such ventures. If you are unable to remain calm and take considered decisions in a crisis, based on your prior experience and knowledge, then it is likely that disaster awaits you. You need to be fit in both body and mind. Off-road driving can involve a lot of physical work, particularly in dune driving, and this becomes key to your survival should you encounter problems. If you doubt your mental and physical fitness then you should take the time to address these issues before embarking on the routes in the guidebook. In essence, you need to have the following personal qualities: Self-Reliance, Self-Competence and Resourcefulness.
Off-Road driving is dangerous, it can kill you. Do not drive off-road!

Photo Credits: Colin Campbell, David Townshend, Gordon Smith & the authors own.
ME4x4
Culture, Environment and Climate
Culture The majority of the routes in the guidebook will take you far away from habitation but some of them will expose you to small areas of population. This may be in the form of camel, goat or crop farms, plantations or hamlets, fishing areas and small villages. At all times you should respect the privacy and integrity of the people and animals in these places. The occupants are invariably friendly and generally inquisitive but it is in your interests not to unduly disturb people or exceed their tolerances. Do not drive through the centre of farms, do not disturb people at work by driving too fast or too close to them, do not disturb the fauna and avoid damaging the flora. If you speak a small amount of Arabic this can help considerably in breaking the ice and establishing your good credentials. If hospitality is offered it would be churlish to refuse it. This may delay your journey but it would be considered bad manners to not stop if asked; remember, you may require their help later in the journey. Environment Having driven in the region you will be well aware of the environment through which you travel. It is harsh, barren and unforgiving at the worst of times. At others it is serene, beautiful and welcoming. The mantra leave only tyre prints, take only photographs applies to all we do on our journeys. This essentially means that in the absence of any semblance of order, you are required to clear up your own rubbish and take it with you. Climate The best times for dune driving are between the months of November and March. The sand is generally firmer, does not burn your bare feet and the temperatures allow you to do physical work with relative ease during the day, and to sleep comfortably at night. It is even likely to be chilly at night and for you to experience considerable dew in the mornings on vehicles, tents and other camping gear. It is, of course possible to drive in the dunes outside this period but you need to be aware of the prevailing conditions and the possible consequences. Trying to dig a stuck vehicle out of the dunes in 50 degrees of heat is not a task for the unfit and unprepared. Know your limitations and make you judgment accordingly.
[OutdoorUAE]
UAE and Oman. It holds Newbie Training Days as well as Recovery Workshops throughout the season and welcomes all-comers. In recent years the club has completed a trip to the Saudi/Yemen/Oman border confluence point, a 1,400km off road trip from just south of Jebel Hafeet to the Yemen border on the Arabian Sea coast, and a trip from the Oman/UAE border in Dibba, off road through all 7 Emirates to the UAE/Saudi border in the Liwa. It also does day trips in the local dunes near Dubai! About the Author: Mike Nott, a former British Parachute Regiment officer, studied law at University College, London and is a mountaineer, diver, yachtsman, pilot, tri-athlete, adventure racer and enthusiastic offroader. He has travelled in 52 countries, is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and his hobbies include Rumpole of the Bailey and building garden railways. He is married with one son.
It is less of a potential, physical hardship to drive in the mountains and wadis at any time of the year. The higher you go, the cooler it gets. Thus in winter it is possible to wake up with ice on the ground and on the inside of your tent pack accordingly. Of particular note in the wadis and mountains is the danger caused by rain. Flash floods are common and can wash away roads and vehicles with them. Do not camp in wadis that are prone to flooding during and after heavy rain. Whatever time of year you do your trip you need to know the weather forecast for the period of your journey and remain alert to the possibility of encountering severe conditions; in the form of wind, rain, cold or heat.
Why Another Guidebook?
You may well ask! Having done several years of off-roading in the UAE and Oman it occurred to the author that it wasnt the actual mechanics of driving in the dunes or on rocky trails that excited him but rather the feeling of having completed a great journey. You will find that the routes in the guidebook are predominantly A to B type trips. They are not aimed at those that like to go for a blast in the local dunes but instead are aimed at those that like to feel they have accomplished something that was more of a challenge, took them far from the normal crowded areas and consequently learnt something more of themselves, the geography of the region as well as their vehicles. Acknowledgements: The author owes a great debt of gratitude to ME4x4, with whom he has spent 5 excellent years exploring the UAE and Oman, and whom saw fit to make him their Chairman in 2010. Individually, very special thanks must go to Colin Campbell for his continuous support in editing and contributing to the guidebook as well as leading some of the best trips the author has ever done off-road. Special thanks also go to Jon Harbour, the founder of ME4x4, for his editing, and Gordon Smith and Alan Passmore for their invaluable contributions. Finally, to Toby Foord-Kelcey, for taking on the project and allowing the guide to be the second book he ever published! ME4x4 The author is the current Chairman of ME4x4, a small off-road club based, primarily, in Dubai but with an ever increasingly active branch in Qatar. ME4x4 tends to be more of an exploratory off-road club that undertakes longer, more isolated trips in the remoter regions of the
How a 22 year-old man changed the world... W

hen I first got to know about the Terry Fox run, I didnt really know what it was about. I was thinking this Mr. Fox was a doctor or professor who reached some milestones in cancer research, who dedicated his long life to this, which is why people honour his name. Then I saw a picture of a young man, with prosthesis - Terry Fox. Without knowing anything about him, I went to last years Terry Fox Run in Abu Dhabi, purely by coincidence. But this picture caught my eye and I wanted to know more, so I found out about this remarkable young man: In 1980, the 22 year old Terrance Stanley Terry Fox, with one leg having been amputated, embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. I was, and am deeply touched and impressed by his story. Not only fighting his own cancer, he dedicated his young live to his cause giving hope to so many people and launched an avalanche of support which continues to this day. This 22 year old boy, a single person, really made a difference. Abu Dhabi, February 18 2011: Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to His Highness the President of the UAE, the 16th annual Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run was held this morning. His Highness, Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, presented Professor Mohammed Yousif Bani Yas, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice provost Medical Sciences at UAE University with a grant of AED300,000. This will go towards the three Abu Dhabi-supported cancer research projects currently being led in Al Ain by Professor Sehamuddin Galadari, Professor Tahir Rizvi and Dr. Maria Cabezudo. The grant money is a result of the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Runs fundraising and is the third and final installment to be presented to those researchers. Money raised from the terry fox run in the UAE over the years went towards financing 35 projects at a value of 7,726,608 AED. Photo Caption (bottom right): H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, presenting Professor Mohammed Yousif Bani Yas, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice provost Medical Sciences at UAE University with the AED300,000 grant check, in the presence of H.E Ken Lewis, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, and Nafisa Taha, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run committee.
Event Review
Fire, Smoke and Noise

The Flying Daredevils of Al Ain
To be honest I wasnt very interested in the Al Ain Air Show when it came up on our event schedule, but as one of the major outdoor events in the UAE it was definitely one that we wanted and needed to cover. With a small team, there is not much choice which event will be covered by whom so it was me. Some planes on the ground and some planes far up in the sky making a little bit of smoke, this cant be thrilling.
[OutdoorUAE]
Event Review
I was born in Germany and had never been to an Air Show before. Most people outside Germany will connect Rammstein with a German hard-rock band and not the city of Ramstain with an US Army air base. Ramstein was famous for the annual air show, in 1988, 300.000 spectators went to see the show. Unfortunately the show came to a horrifying end when several planes collided in mid air and the fireball crashed into the crowds. Three pilots and 82 spectators lost their lives and more than 500 suffered serious injuries. This day is marked in history as one of the worlds deadliest air show disasters. Afterwards, all air shows in Germany were banned for years and until now they are only allowed under strict safety regulations, only twice have jets been given permission to fly. So I never had the chance to see an air show with jets. With a bitter taste in my memories on Friday 4th February I approached Al Ain after the show had been delayed for two days due to heavy winds. It was a beautiful sunny day when we came along the E66 to Al Ain. We were a little bit late and the show had already started. Suddenly we spotted a huge heart, drawn into the blue sky by planes. The closer we got, the more excited I became was afraid to miss anything. To be honest it was hard keeping my eyes on the road and not following the planes. With some distance from the airport we could see the planes taking their positions and approaching the site where spectators were looking out for them. It was amazing to see from this perspective how the shadows cast by the planes raced over the dunes, up and down the sandy bumps and passed the many off-roaders who had chosen their first row seats in the desert. After we parked the car, we were rushing to the entrance and the runway so as not to miss one more second of the show. We seemed to share this feeling with hundreds of other people who cued for parking and tickets. No matter what gender or age, all eyes were up in the air. The show featured a wide range of acts and aircraft, including a fly-past by some of the UAE Air Forces most advanced fighter jets and breathtaking formation flying by the national air force squadrons from Saudi Arabia and Turkey in the form of The Saudi Hawks and Turkish Stars. Team Viper, the worlds only Hawker Hunter supersonic fighter jet display squadron thrilled the crowds with its amazing mock ground formation attack, and Middle East debutantes, the Baltic Bees, put on superb display of lightning-quick precision flying. There was a mind-boggling array of aerobatics with Skip Stewart, Otto the Helicopter and the wing-walkers from the Scandinavian Air show, before the show concluded each evening with skydiving from the Fazza Sky Team and a unique performance from flying ace Hannes Arch, which combined aerobatics, music and dance. One of the show highlights was the first ever staging of the FAI-sanctioned Desert Challenge. Six of the worlds top aerobatic pilots battled it out with Spaniard Castor Fantoba narrowly claiming the title. (See also race results) These are just the raw facts of the show, but the difference lies in the detail you have to be experience it yourself. As usual I was following most of the event though the view finder of my camera, but from time to time I had to take the camera down, just to be sure that what I was seeing was true: > a Pilot, flying by in a jet, after finishing his breathtaking show with an open canopy and waving his hand to the crowds like driving a convertible car. > A motor bike jumping over a low flying plane > Special effect of bombs, explosions and smoke > Twisting maneuvers, with all types of planes showing impressively what mastering a plane means as well as testing (or tasting) the limits of physical forces > There was only one thing which did not lift up in the air, but therefore made a hell of a lot of fire and smoke a huge truck with an aircraft turbine as engine. Truly the
biggest smoke machine I have ever seen. The whole Al Ain Aerobatic Show was held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces was so thrilling, that I didnt leave the runway for ages after it had finished. Even in the evening, when it got very chilly and I started freezing, having only a t-shirt, I did not even think about walking back to the car to get my jacket. When it got dark, and I finally reached the car to heat up a bit, I reflected on what an amazing day Id had; still excited about the events of the day and with the taste of burned petrol in my nose, I was driving home with a smile in my face. It was my first air show, but certainly not the last 2012 Al Ain Air Show, I will be there! Im happy that I turned my bad memories into a great and positive experience. No surprise, that this years Al Ain Aerobatic Show held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces ended Saturday evening having more than lived up to its billing as the biggest and best ever with 71,000 spectators pouring through the gates over the two days of the event. Daniel.
[OutdoorUAE]
Event Review
Anna Roberts and Brian Coones summarise their hard-fought Wadi Bih Runs
WADI BIH RUN
was running the race as part of Team Regime. Team Regime was a team made up mostly of personal trainers from Regime Fitness and was comprised of Dan Cantuer, Adam Fox-Mcgregor, Tina Bristow, James Cox (Noble Driver), Dareen Abdullah and myself. Part of Team Regime arrived at the most part we were running it for fun and cheered everyone that we Golden Tulip Hotel around 7pm to set up camp before passed. I was amazed at the number of teams and at the number the rest of the team showed up. When we got there the of children that were also running. beach was already covered with tents and lots of people. It wasnt too crowded so it didnt take us long to find a The route that the race took place on was challenging and very spot and get set up. As we were setting up many more beautiful. Most of the run took place on the stone road through teams kept arriving and continued to well into the night. the wadi. The wadi itself was full of beautiful rock formations and There were several campfires and bar-b-quebut for the wonderful views. I think that the founder of the race John Gregory most part it seemed as if most of the attendees wanted picked an amazing and beautiful place to host the run for the last to get into their tents for a good nights rest; that was 19 years. our plan and we were sleeping by 10:30. Running over the gravel and the distance was not the only chalWhen we woke up there were twice as many cars and lenges. There are several hills and one massive incline that proved tents then the night before. Everyone was bustling and to be discouraging. Cooling down too much after your leg and getting ready for the long race. Many of the teams were before the next was also difficult. The apparent challenges only up before 5am to be the first to start the race at 6. We on made the run that much more run and satisfactory. A fellow perthe other hand slept in a bit longer and started around sonal trainer, David Fisher from a rival team said, no one said it was 8am. gonna be so hard nor beautiful. The race was 72k total, 36k to the turnaround then back the distance was broken up into 26 legs, 13 out and 13 back of various distances. The starting point was at around sea level and the turnaround was approximately 1000m above sea level. Each leg was ran by leapfrog relay style with one team member running while the other rested and rode to the next check point. Dan, Adam, Dareen and I went to the starting line to begin the first leg of the race. The first leg was 800m long and had to be run by four members of the team. While we were running James took Tina to the first check point. When we arrived at the first check point and ever one thereafterthere were many teams awaiting their runners to make the switch. As we passed each check point it didnt matter what team you were on; there was lots of cheering for all the runners. For our team we had a bit of competitive edge with a few other teams but for the The last leg of the race was ran like the first, with four team members and the last 200m was over soft sand to the finish line at the back of the hotel. At the finish line was the famous and adventurous Adrian Hayes was announcing the teams and times as they came across. As soon as you cross the line there was also lots of people to congratulate you and place a medal around your neck. Once a majority of the teams were in Adrian and John Young gave a presentation as we ate. It was a great presentation giving awards for the top teams and solo runners, as well as to the teams that had the most creative outfits and names. After the presentation most of the teams packed up and left. We on the other hand with a few other teams stayed one more night and had a great time camping on the beach. All in all the WadiBih Run was an amazing run that was challenging and beautiful. It was a great experience. Marisabel Portillo says WadiBih; A breathtaking adventure, a true sense of pushing yourself beyond your personal limits. Everyone comes to run, to spend time with friends, to meet new people... everyone leaves with a sense of new found respect... for themselves, for others, for their surroundings- you couldnt be in a happier place! Brian.
Brian
photos: Brian Coones
this one, ok definitely the next but it never came. Then people started passing me. Whats going on? My calves are killing me. How come I cant go any faster I should be nearly there?! I think my time was near on 21 minutes for that leg, horribly disappointing and mentally a bit of a blow as we were only about 15 kms into the course at this stage. But I got there eventually and with much encouragement from my 4 burly team mates as well which helped tremendously. They were all stars caning there way through the course and sprinting up far steeper hills than I had to get up! We also had the most awesome team vehicle ever that charged past the (Porsche) Cayennes on the course. Overall it was a fantastic day, there were really serious teams going for it but also those running in costumes or for charity so what ever type of runner you are there was a team for you. Not to mention the breathtaking scenery you get to run through. Nothing beats getting outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. Highlight of the day was running through the finish line and getting that medal. In all its plastic and gold painted glory it was definitely worth it and weve even started planning for next year, see you in under 6 hours in 2012 Wadi Bih!
e made it in 6 hours and 18 minutes, not bad for a first attempt and there were no tears (Thank You Gods of Embarrassment). The oat slice went down a treat and helped to keep us motivated in between legs. We started out very casual and just wanting to cross the finish line but that very quickly changed to competing against other teams, which they werent aware of, and strategizing ahead along the course. So it was a 72km course which went from The Golden Tulip Hotel in Dibba, along Wadi Bih or the road that you take to the Six Senses Ziggy Bay turn off and back to Dibba. We each took turns at being time keeper along the way and yelled out supportive comments to each other but I have to be honest. It was tough, really tough.
The legs varied in distance from 1.5kms to 4 kms in length, Anna. so generally the shorter the leg the steeper it was going to http://thefrostingontop.com be. I started on leg 7 with what I thought was an easy 2.9 kms. It was the longest 2.9 kms Ive ever run in my life. The first 800 meters was mainly flat and then turned to a mixture of rubble and shingle which kept your mind active as you had to map a course out in front of you as you ran. As I came around a corner the shingle disappeared into compacted road and started to go up. photo: Anna Roberts And up. And up. I kept on thinking after this corner there will be the check point, no OUTDOORUAE.COM March2011 43
Anna
[OutdoorUAE]
Event Review
he sun was out and so were the surfers. I was very excited as this event promised to be quite a show. As I pressed my pale white feet into the not-so-pale sand of Sunset Beach, I couldnt ignore the buzz and the friendly atmosphere. A few friends had greeted me while I was there (for the Longboard Division of the competition) so things were looking up. The event was pretty much free to observe at one of the most popular public beaches next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. There were up to 71 surfers involved in a windy couple of days producing a big swell to set some challenging waves for the riders to conquer. The Friday hosted the Mens Open, where local talent Wes Van Zyl took
Surf Dubai
Sunset Open 2011
By James Russell first place, Brad Van Dervyver second and Cesar Rocha third place. The following day had presented some slower winds where the Under 14s girls and boys event could shine. The judges awarded first place to Dan Hobson, Omar Al Abbar second and third place Joshua Pickering. After that, it was time for the women of the event to show their prowess, for the first time in the Open competition. The inspiring top three finished as follows: Janice Smith took first place, followed by Maria Louisa Haro in second and Rachael Sherif in third. Winds picked up again and it was time for the final segment of the competition The Longboard Division. This was a chance for the riders to show off some of the more unconventional surfing skills, with balance and trickery. An entertaining show led to the crown going to the dominating Dean Cockle, followed by Wes Van Zyl and then Abdel Elecho in third. Thanks go out to Surf Dubai and Surf Dubai Managers Scott Chambers and Daniel Van Dooren for once again hosting a fantastic surf open. Be sure to look out for a Charity Dinner at DOSC, to celebrate the Round the World Stand up Charity Paddle on 3rd March. See you at the next event! James. Photos: James Russell
Abdel Elecho soaking with style
[OutdoorUAE]
hero
I FINALLY MEET THE FACE OF SKATEBOARDING
By James Russell
A CHILDHOOD
eeting an icon in sport is always a pleasure, but when it is someone you looked up to as a child or a young teenager, its a completely different story. Tony Hawk - the man who brought you the best in vert skating, the 900, the reason you bought a Playstation, and probably the drive to make a living out of the thing you love. As soon as my manager had informed me of his potential visit, I could not let it slip away. Missing an opportunity to meet my childhood hero, without much effort, would be like passing your winning lottery ticket to a feckless squirrel. For those of you who are not familiar, Tony Hawk is probably the best-known extreme sportsman on the planet. He is a legendary vert-skateboarder that has quite the reputable X-Games record. He also has his own series of video games, and was the first man to ever land the infamous 900. Tony was performing along with fellow professional skaters Andy MacDonald, Neal Hendrix, Kevin Staab,
Event Review
Jesse Fitch and Elliot Sloan at the Real Action Heroes event at the Yas Marina circuit over the weekend of February the 11th. A good friend Andy Hughes had been working with the company that had set up the ramps for Tony and his team, and had kindly guided me up onto the main vert ramp to shoot some photos. I wasnt expecting to get so close to Tony but as he and his fellow riders had arrived at the ramp, I was shaking with excitement. The demo was underway and the crowds went crazy. I just kept on shooting. This was definitely a moment to savour. James. Photos: James Russell.
Tony Hawk
[OutdoorUAE]
Naturally Connected
by Clint Moore
tle for having the largest per capita carbon footprint in the world. After about 30 minutes of rubbish hunting I loaded three overflowing sacks of plastic bottles and Styrofoam, along with an old metal washing machine onto my kayak and slowly began paddling back to dry land. It was definitely a balancing act, with the debris stacked well over my head and the added weight nearly sinking the kayak. The reward for volunteering was more than just intrinsic because the owner of Noukhada Adventure Company was impressed enough to invite me to join his crew of guides.
tepping out of the climate controlled Dubai airport for the first time in August 2009, I was immediately hit with a 37C slap in the face and 100% relative humidity. So this was the Middle Eastat 1:00am? The shock of the sticky heat only lasted as long as it took my
On one particular trip that I was guiding, I began chatting with one client who spent a long eventful life as a doctor and travelling all around the world. He told me stories of the time she spent in the backcountry of Saudi Arabia, Australia, and South Africa, among other exotic places. His memories were full of admiration for the natural escort to quickly show me to the waiting air conditioned world, including a near death experience when he and taxi cabfor a 90 minute drive to Abu Dhabi. his wife were literally face-to-face with a lioness while in a game park. I asked him, "Why do you have this attracFor the next month, I resided in a 5-star hotel as my emtion to be in nature wherever you ployer frantically tried to find I WAS IMMEDIATELY HIT WITH travel?" He responded by sharing housing for the 470 new emmore stories of his childhood that ployees it had just imported A 37C SLAP IN THE FACE AND illustrated how plants and animals to the UAE. My cohort and 100% RELATIVE HUMIDITY. were the first teachers that taught him how to live life I spent the mornings in orientation meetings, designed through his natural senses. to teach us about our new jobs, or in various government buildings trying to get our work visas processed. With The idea that nature is a teacher is not new to me. I grew the daytime temperatures exceeding 45C, and the Gulf s up in an area of rural America,on a beautiful and vast water temperature around 35C, my onlyrefuge was indoors or submerged under water in the hotels cooled swimming pool. It was a miserable time for someone who had spent the previous four years in Brazil, with weekends filled rappelling down waterfalls, swimming in underground lakes, and backpacking in remote valleys. Now in the UAE and completely disconnected from nature, it was a stroke of luck to have stumbled across an outdoor activity in the form of the Emirates Diving Associations annual Cleanup Arabia Day. I arrived to the eventequipped with my own life vest and CamelBak, was issued a kayak, and entered the EasternMangroves for the first time. The delicate mangrove root systemlay only 10 meters from the endless development of a country that holds the ti48 March2011 OUTDOORUAE.COM
1,500 acres where my sister and I were encouraged to play in the woods, along the creek banks, and in the mountains behind, below, and around my small house. The Monarch caterpillars and butterflies were my teachers, along with the box turtles, deer, and wild strawberries. Hours were spent watching and playing with the tiny, black, roly-poly pill bugs that I affectionately called Friend Bugs. Without me consciously knowing it at the time, these little insects, along with the rest of nature, taught me how to follow my attractions and trust my natural instincts.
...a near death experience when he and his wife were literally face-to-face with a lioness while in a game park.
But along the way nature as a teacher was replaced by humans standing up in front of cinder block walled classrooms, trying to explain Spanish, math, and the American Civil War to me. The trend contunnels through, for example. tinued and I became detached from contact with nature as I moved from the countryside to ever larger cities. It Webstrings are for nature as language is for humans. As was not until recently, eight months ago in fact,when I a collective whole they constitute a system of communienrolled in an Eco Psychology online masters degree cation through natural senses that nature has perfected program through ProjectNatureConnect.org, that I emover eons. Unfortunately for our species, we have genbarked on a journey that would acquaint erally forgotten how to communicate usmy inner nature with the vibrant nature BY GETTING TO ing webstrings. The result is our planets that surrounds Abu Dhabi Island. The KNOW THESE present environmental state and humanwaters, beaches, dolphins, Western Reef itys social and psychological ills. Heron, and the family of Arabian Red SENSES, ANYFoxes in the Eastern Mangrove Forest re- ONE CAN LEARN But all is not lost. In his book Reconnectminded me that nature has a tremendous ing With Nature, Dr. Cohen, the founder amount of teaching to do, if we are willing HOW TO ENTER of ProjectNatureConnect.org, identifies to let it guide us. INTO NONVERBAL 53 natural senses that he says are each a distinct attraction energy, a love that in Through the online Eco Psychology COMMUNICATION nature has no name. Each is an expericourses with Project Nature Connect, I WITH NATURE... ence. By getting to know these senses, began learning how to use the Natural anyone can learn how to enter into nonSystems Thinking Process (NSTP). The basic tenet of verbal communication with nature, thus developing the NSTP states that the natural universe is capable of intelability to live an attractively balanced life. The result is ligently communicating, albeit non-verbally. This way of a healthier existence and some amazingly cool outdoor thinking acknowledges that all things, from sub-atomic experiences right here in the UAE. particles to entire solar systems, areconnected in some way. NSTP explains how all aspects of natural systems Clint Moore. are held together by mutual attraction relationships called webstrings. A single webstring is the essential References relationship between two aspects of nature; the interconCohen, M.J. (2007). Reconnecting with nature: finding nectedness found between an egret and a fish hiding out wellness through restoring your bond with the earth. Minin the mangroves or between the Red Fox and the sand it nesota, Lakeville: Ecopress.
Pirate Wars outdoor UAE.pdf 2/20/11 2:55:29 PM
CM
MY
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CMY
[OutdoorUAE]
This is the first time youve seen me do this huh? I asked. This is technically not a knot its a Bend I continued. A knot jams at one point and tightens and you use only one strand. A bend is when you join two or more strands together. We double the line so we increase the strength of the main line which is the most critical part of your system. This is the most important length of line you have attached. 90% of the fish lost is when its boat-side. With a Bimini Twist you will have twice the protection against shock when the fish is boat-side. It looks complicated he said. Its not rocket science, besides I had a lot of practice. It looks harder than it is, but its really simple I replied. As I go about my work, I calmly explain what I was doing: why I use this type of knot to attach the lure, why I wasnt using a wire leader, why the other line is set further from the others, why I chose this type of lure and why this colour. The old man listens intently, absorbing the words and thoughts as they are rapidly presented to him. I know he doesnt remember most of it and I know that he wouldnt understand the reasons why. I pretend not to notice the old mans smile...He doesnt need to understand. He has me. This was his first trawling trip and this doesnt happen very often... Knots are very important in fishing. I often tell my friends to master at least 5 knots, knots you can tie behind your back. Using the right knot in the right place in your fishing system will help you minimize mistakes. If you read last months edition about regret, youll get the picture. It may be as simple as a clinch knot. There is no excuse for a bad knot and they cannot be substituted by anything else, even crimps. Tying good knots is not a matter of exercise, it is a habit. If you lose a fish because of a bad knot, it means one thing and one thing only: You are careless.
Dad on far left - fishing trip in Cebu
Reciprocation.
the fishing Kit

by Kit Belen
struggle out of bed, cobwebs still in my head, gingerly setting off and headed to the door. The only light I see is the faint yellow light passing through the cracks of the doorway. Shaking off the sleepiness, I slowly open the door and am greeted by the faint pink line in the horizon; first Light. A sight I never get tired of seeing. Almost immediately, the sound of the waves crashing the shore fills my ears. I looked at my watch then slowly walked out the door. The air was chilly and damp; the surroundings dim, but I could make out the shadows scut-
catch; handing them to their wives and children who would sell the catch at the local market. Heading back to the cot, I found my fishing partner for the day, awake. The old guy obviously over excited about going out and trying his luck, looked as if he hadnt slept a wink. He was confused about which rods to take You wont be needing those - everything we need was taken to the boat last night I calmly said. In what seemed like less than a minute, we were out in the water, with the boat slowly edging away from shore, the salt spray hitting my face and lightly stinging my eyes. The water was flat and seemed to go on
tling about the shoreline. I walked through the front yard and saw chefs and waiters busy going in and out of the restaurants back door; the boat crew getting the boats ready and the fisher folk slowly paddling their small outrigger canoes out to sea, while some, those who spent the night out in the water, are busy unloading their
forever, it wasnt hard to imagine how the ancients thought the world was flat, it seemed like that today. The old man watched patiently as I rigged each of the four rods; his eyes watching intently as I tied each Bimini twist; That is one strange knot! he said.
A lot of people skip this step - you lubricate the knot before you tighten it. A lot of people use saliva, if you are squeamish, you can use water. Fishing lines are made of nylon, when it contracts, it heats up. Putting some saliva or water before tightening would lessen the heat and will give you some added strength. Some knots are weaker than others. Attached with this article are some
useful and strong knots which you can try out. They may take some time to learn and master but its what it takes to catch the big fish, stop you from making excuses and more importantly, it is not beyond your control. Next to the hook, the most important part in the fishing system is the knot, quite simply because it holds the hook that holds the fish. You can do away with swivels and weights, even a rod and reel. A hook at the end of your line attached with a knot WILL catch fish. Not a lot of people realize its importance and end up losing a lot of fish, going home with nothing but excuses. ...After the morning trawl, we headed back to camp with nothing caught. However, I had something far more valuable than a trophy catch: I returned to shore with memories that would last me a lifetime: The morning I taught my Dad how to trawl. The spirit of fishing isnt in catching a fish; its whom you share it with. And as the boy in the story, I came to realize, timeless memories that are kept in our hearts are worth more than their weight in gold. Its not often that we can take our fathers fishing. While theyre around, take some time to take your father out on a trip. Ive been fishing with some of my friends dads and I wish to take my own dad out and let him experience what he helped nurture. While we still have the time. Till next tide change, Kit.
Uni Knot
J-Knot Rapala Knot San Diego Knot
Papa Bebes first Grunter
Luca with a Grunter
Lucas parents
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Sit harness description
Tips & Tricks

Type of harnesses
full strength stitching
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR HARNESS

A harness Sit together with the rope are the most important parts of your climbing equipment. harness description Thats why its very important to choose properly your harness and to understand how to use it.
reinforced tie-in point permanent bridge
Sit harnesses commercially manufactured sit harnesses are the primary harnesses used for climbing. They are in common use based on their combination of comfort, safety, and function. Full body harnesses these harnesses are not in common use for rock climbing or indoor climbing as they are bit more difficult to use. You can find them in the adventure parks or rope courses. The body harness is also valuable for people with high centre of reinforced tie-in point for sit harnesses. gravity and who lack the hip definition needed This group includes very small children, pregnant women and the obese. Chest harnesses are common use for multipich climbing. The chest harness is always necessary to use with a sit harness. Never use only chest harness for climbing! Parts of climbing harnesses
best adjustment is when you put your hand between the leg loop waist belt and your leg, so you have enough comfort for climbing.
gear loop buckle SINGING ROCK TEAM. www.singingrock.com belay loop reinforced tie-in point Sit harness description
Let s rock!
webbing Last but not least is to check your harness periodically and if you see any wear and tear or if you are in doubt of the functionality of the harness it s recommended to change for new one.
leg loops
Revolution
permanent bridge
waist belt webbing
leg loops
reinforced tie-in point permanent bridge
Waist belt most of the harnesses have padded waist belt which increases comfort during climbing. Tie-in points the modern standard for harnesses is to have two tie-in points, one for the leg loops and one for the waist. Belay loop joins the leg loops and waist belt. Belay loop is for clipping the belay device or to tie-in with the rope. Buckles buckles hold together the harness and are typically of either the three pass design or self-locking design. Apart from that Singing Rock has developed patented smart buckle system, Rock&Lock, which is Easy to lock and open. Gear loops are valuable parts of the harness as they provide storage for your gear. Its very important to know, that gear loops are too weak for belaying or anchoring! Leg loops most of the harnesses have padded leg loops for higher comfort and some of them are adjustable with the buckle. The size of the harnesses To choose appropriate size of the harness is very important before you start with climbing. Most of the manufactures produce the harnesses in different sizes (S XXL). So you can choose the size of the harness which fits the best for you. Size of the harness is made from the size of the waist and perimeter of the thigh (in cm or in). So if you are not sure about the size, the easiest way is to measure your waist and thigh and to compare it with the parameters of the harness. To prevent wrong choice of harness, SINGING ROCK has developed revolutionary size adjusting system BMI. You can easily adjust free end of your waist belt padding and fix it in the right position and minimize sticking out of padding. This BMI system is suitable for situation as losing your weight, putting more layers of the clothes or changing the harness according the climbing seasons. The best position is when buckle lies on padding and BMI system doesnt allow gear loops to get out. When you choose the correct size and you put the harness on, the harness should be above your hip bones and should be tightened at the waist. The harness shouldnt be too loose nor too tight that you cant breathe. After you adjust the waist belt you should adjust Slack should be snuck but Tight your leg loops. Leg loops not to tight, the
Harness fit
Harness fit
buckle leg loops belay loop padding reinforced tie-in point rear straps
gear loop
leg loops
leg loops padding rear straps
Revolutionary BMI size adjusting system

Harness fit
Revolutionary BMI size adjusting system
Buckle locking
1.
1.
Buckle locking
1.
2.
3.
Only small effort 1. Make the loop 2. Hook the loop 3. Tighten.
Slack
Tight
Buckle locking
1. 2. 3.
Only small effort of your fingers is needed to lock and open. 1. Make the loop and put it through the buckle frame. 2. Hook the loop on cross bar. 3. Tighten.
Slack Tight
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
Only small effort of your fingers is needed to lock and open. 1. Make the loop and put it through the buckle frame. 2. Hook the loop on cross bar. 3. Tighten.
[OutdoorUAE]
Outdoor Photography
Filters
motive changes while turning the adjustment ring. In my opinion those filters mentioned are the only useful ones, especially for the UAE and the local light situation, and are a good investment. A polarization filter is usually more than double the price of the UV filter. Prices are strongly dependent on your lens diameter.
In
this lesson we will briefly discuss filters, a short but important topic.
Maybe you have heard of filters for photography or seen them in the shops. If you ask why they are useful, the answer is short and simple. In the time of digital photography filters are really no longer necessary. Everything that a filter does, especially creative filters, you can do later on in editing software like Photoshop e.g. you dont need a red filter (= a red piece of glass which you put in front of your camera) simply tint your photo later using your software and keep the original untouched and pure. However, there are still some filters which are useful. UV Filter A UV filter should actually block the UV light that is not seen by the human eye but could theoretically influence your photo. Especially in old(er) film cameras strong UV light could give photos a blue touch. Nowadays new lenses already have so many glass prisms or a UV protection film on the glass, that a UV blocker is not required. But there is another use. A UV filter protects your lens from scratches and dirt. It is a challenge to protect your gear especially for outdoor photography where there is a lot of action, A UV filter is a good and much cheaper solution than buying a new lens. You should still check for a high quality filter cheap low quality filters could negatively influence your photos.
Polarization Filter Polarization filters can for example darken the sky slightly giving more contrast to an image or reduce reflections caused by water and other surface. Well skip the technical explanation as to why and how this works and focus on the use. A p-filter consists of two layers which need to be adjusted for each picture. Simply look through your viewfinder and turn the adjustment ring of your filter. You will see how reflections are reduced. For example, it will be possible to take pictures through glass or into water without surface reflections. To darken the sky and get some more contrast works similarly, again its physics. Simply, light is not equal and there are light types of differ-
without polarizing filter
without polarizing filter
with polarizing filter
ent waveforms. With a polarization filter it is possible to block a certain type of light which is generally seen in the sky, so the sky gets darker. The foreground is lighted by a different type of light and remains untouched (not darker). Even if I talk about different light types they are all emitted from the sun. Dont worry too much about why, its simple again, look through your viewfinder and see how the
with polarizing filter
Tips & Tricks

This is a simple top tip, originally given to me by Ray Goodwin on a level 3 kayak coach training course, that has proved invaluable to me countless times.
WRAP DUCT TAPE AROUND WATER BOTTLE AND YOUR PEN
BY IAN GANDERTON
uct tape is well established as one of the most useful substances on the planet. Its sticky, strong, water resistant and durable. Roadies use it as the glue that holds together the biggest of stage shows, El Cap climbers will cover EVERYTHING in it to prevent wear on the haul up the wall and this means everything from the haulbags, hands and knees, there is the story of the doctor on a mountain leader assessment who produced a roll as his first aid kit saying that he could solve everything with it as well, if not largely better, than any of the first aid kits the other candidates produced. In the outdoors Ive personally used it to hold together a split for a lower limb injury, repairs the split arse of waterproof over trousers and stopped the blood running down a cut arm while out mountain biking. But the most useful substance on the planet is no good tyo you if you havent got any to hand. So wrap a couple of meters around the kind of day to day objects that you always carry with you, the things that just live in your bag. It works best if they are round, but they dont have to be, and put some thought into where to wrap it so it doesnt affect the way the carrier item works. By just wrapping a couple of meters around a few things youll have enough to get you out of jail. Examples of places I carry a bit of emergency tape are waterbottles, pens, trekking poles and flasks. Im sure youll be a lot more imaginative.
a city girls first attempt
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[OutdoorUAE]
UIM XCAT Middle East Powerboat Championships
Results
Ananth Narayanan 9, Sean Stewart 12) 3. Mirdif Milers 50 points (Chris McCann 3, Ian Clarke 18, Graham Spriggs 29) Source: www. abrasac.org
2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival Bani Yas Sponsored By Emirates NBD
1. Fazza 3 Arif Al Zafeen Nadir Bin Hindi 2. Extreme Marine Rashid Khalifah Al Marri Salem Fadhel Al Hamli 3. Spirit of Abu Dhabi Rashid Suhail Al Tayer Majid Saeed Al Mansouri 4. Secoil Daniel Svenson Joakim Kumlin 5. Qatar Team Mohamad Al Nasser Hamad Jasim Mohamad 6. Manotel Gary Ballough Omar Danial 7. Rock Racing Richard George Mark Walker 8. Team Dubai Saeed Obeid Khalifa Al Muhairi Mohamad Hamad Al Ghashish 9. Consul Brokers Matteo Nicolini Alfredo Amato 10. Skidive Dubai Talib Al Sayed Essa Mohamad Al Ali
Men 1st Deriba Merga (ETH) $25k 59:25 2nd Bernard Kipyego (KEN) $12k 59:45 3rd Leonard Langat (KEN) $9k 59:52 pb 4th John Kiprotich (KEN) $5k 1:00:10 5th Titus Masai (KEN) $4k 1:00:40 6th Getu Feleke (ETH) $3k 1:01:28 7th Maregu Terefe (ETH) $2k 1:02:03 8th Dickson Marwa (TAN) $1.5k 1:02:04 9th Hafid Chani (MOR) $1k 1:02:23 pb 10th Alemayehu Shumye (ETH) $500 1:02:58pb Women 1st Mary Keitany (KEN) $25k + $50k WR 1:05:50 (WR) 2nd Dire Tune (ETH) $12k 1:08:52 3rd Mare Dibaba (ETH) $9k 1:08:57 4th Rose Kosgei (KEN) $5k 1:09:04 5th Agnes Kiprop (KEN) $4k 1:09:11 6th Hilda Kibet (NED) $3k 1:09:35 7th Sultan Haydar (TUR) $2k 1:10:02 debut 8th Eunice Kales (KEN) $1.5k 1:10:41 9th Christelle Daunay (FRA) $1k 1:11:14 10th Aniko Kalovics (HUN) $500 1:13:45
1. DARIYA (FR) - Ted Durcan - Mid-division on rail, not much room 500m out, kept on well final 300m, led 100m out 2. KANDAR DU FALGAS (FR) - V D Watson - Settled rear, smooth progress 500m out, led 300m out, headed final 100m 3. DAS EL SAMER (AE) B B Al Ketbi - chased leaders 400m out, one pace final 200m 4.OMAYYADE THABET (FR) BP - A Al Shamsi Raced rear, never able to challenge but kept on final 300m 5th VITE ROYALE (US) 54.5 P M Al Muhairi Chased leader until outpaced 500m out
Wadi Bih Run 2011
GP 2 Asia Series Abu Dhabi
ABRaS Mina 10K 2010 / 2011 Race 1
RACE 1: 1. Jules Bianchi / Lotus ART 1h 22m 04.643s (33 laps) 2. Romain Grosjean / Dams + 6.681s 3. Davide Valsecchi / Team AirAsia + 12.794s 4. Marcus Ericsson / Sport International + 14.001s 5. Giedo Van Der Garde / Barwa Addax Team + 15.198s 6. Josef Kral / Arden International + 20.601s 7. Sam Bird / Sport International + 24.412s 8. Stefano Coletti / Trident Racing + 36.809s 9. Charles Pic / Barwa Addax Team + 37.411s 10. Fabio Leimer / Rapax + 40.252s RACE 2: 1. Stefano Coletti / Trident Racing 43:02.8192. 2. Josef Kral / Arden International +2.6293 3. Marcus Ericssoni / Sport International +3.3234 4. Davide Valsecchi / Team Air Asia +11.5315 5. Michael Herck / Scuderia Coloni+14.6876 6. Fabio Leimer / Rapax+17.1757 7. Johnny Cecotto Jr / .Super Nova Racing +25.3518 8. Jules Bianchi / ART Grand Prix+29.4349 9. Rodolfo Gonzalez / Trident Racing+30.94710 10. Jolyon Palmer / Arden International
Female Overall: 1. Connie Bouverot 38:54 (also 1st FV40) 2. Sonja Ellmann 39:54 3. Jane Khan 40:07 Male Overall: 1. Andy Macrae 36:06 2. Thomas Opio 36:19 3. Chris McCann 36:30 (also 1st MV40) Female Team: 1. ABRaS 10 points (Sonja Ellman 2, Jane Khan 3, Anna Berrill 5) 2. Abu Dhabi Striders 23 points (Connie Bouverot 1, Jenny Grainger 9, Valerie Eveloy 13) 3. Dubai Road Runners 59 points (Yasmin Kamel 12, Tania Atwell 20, Anja Schwerin 27) Male Team: 1. ABRaS 13 points (Thomas Opio 2, Jason Palmer Meyers 5, Andy Keron 6) 2. Abu Dhabi Striders 29 points (Mark Moses 8,
Team 1. 75 The Abra Striders Experiment Jeremy Curran, Philip Clarke, Andy Keron, Thomas Opio, Sonja Ellman 04:27:46 2. 108 Mountain Goats Scott Jervis, Ann Mari Hyrylainen, Adrian Hayes, Chris, Euca 04:53:22 3. 103 Cracknell Quintin Davidson, Duncan Denley, Quintin Davidson, Duncan Denley, Quintin Davidson 05:18:17 4. 47 The Plastered Penguins Gerhard Hametner, Abbey, Ian Lepelley, Ali, Elliot 05:23:00 5. 87 The Gap Ponies Diarmuid OMalley, Eddie, Eoin OSuillabhain, Jerry Anglim, 05:24:38 6. 57 Sporting Chance Craig Vintcent, Margaret Campbell, Eoin, Richard Street, Richard Scott 05:32:36 7. 101 Muscat Hares Mark Jones, Mark Jones, Mark Jones, Mark Jones, Mark Jones 05:36:49 8. 80 Galleggiamo Lucye Rafferty, Bernardino Provera, Paul, Nick, Giacomo Silvestri 05:37:47 9. 125 Up & Running Marty Zuckerman Quinn, Jane Westley, Will Westley, Duncan Eley, Gary Locke 05:38:26 10. 83 Mirdif Milers Old School Malcolm Gatenby, Chris, Graham, Dink, Carmel 05:39:33 Individual 1 146 Darryl Chiles, 06:35:58 2 6 Adam Marcinowicz, 07:02:29 3 123 Guy Vesey, 07:17:14 4 7 Matthew Novak, 07:23:30 5 64 Eduard Massier, 07:25:03 6 63 Jonas Zimling Westh, 07:34:55 7 23 Simon Beeson, 07:52:37 8 8 Fabrice Laborie, 08:10:43 9 136 Jean-Marc Laventure, 08:21:11 10 110 Adrian Betts, 08:22:15
RAK Marathon
Final Thought... THE SHEER SCALE OF THE PROBLEM

Ian Ganderton highlights the magnitude of the plastic bottles waste here in the UAE
his photograph was taken on a small beach on the wild, beautiful and largely uninhabited East Coast of the Musendam Peninsular during a trip. To be honest I dont think Ive quite captured just how many bottles there were. It has highlighted to me the sheer scale of the problem caused by plastic bottles thrown away. As you can see the highwater mark is just covered in hundreds of bottles. What can be done? Well we can do 2 things: a) highlight the problem to others and b) do our best to not buy any more plastic bottles. This is going to be quite hard. Here in the UAE it is very hot a lot of the time and this means we need to drink a lot of water. I spend a lot of time driving because of work and the standard 1.5l disposable water bottle at just a couple of dirhams is the easiest way to stay hydrated. So Im going to start using the drinking water supplied in the large recyclable containers and aim to keep my selection of water bottles filled and in the fridge ready to use. This should be something we can all make a habit of in order to keep our shores clean and beautiful.
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[OutdoorUAE]
Directory
Camping
Arabia Outdoors Tour operator. Dubai,UAE TEL: +97155 9556209 www.arabiaoutdoors.com Leading Edge Boating, camping equipment Tel: +971 7 244-7732 www.leadingedges.com Libra Outdoor camps Tel:+971559228362 www.libra-uae. com Picnico Picnic & camping equipments Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 3, Dubai Tel: +97142679992
General Sports
Go Sports Outdoor equipment Ibn Batutta mall: 043685344 Mall of the Emirates: 043413251 Mirdif City Centre: 042843034 Sun&Sand Sports outdoor equipment www. sunandsandsports.com
Fishing/Kayaking
Barracuda Fishing Fishing and Kayaking equipment Dubai Marina, Street 307, Dubai Tel: +07141234567 www.baracuda.de Xclusive Yachts Sport fishing & Yacht charter Xclusive Boats Charter LLC,Unit 4 Marina Diamond 3, Dubai Marina Drive, Dubai Marina, Dubai Tel: +971 4 432 7233 www.xclusiveyachts.com Absolute Adventure Tour operator. Set amongst the regions best trekking, mountainbiking, rock climbing, kayaking, diving and sailing area our centre is equipped with quality outdoor gear. Dubai,UAE Tel: +97143459900 www. adventure.ae Desert Islands Resorts & Spa Kayaking, Archery, Snorkeling, Bird watching, Mountain biking, Nature and wildlife drives Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Tel: +97128015400 www.desertislands.anantara.com Xventures Fishing, jet-ski, camping Tel: +971555404500 www.x-ventures.ae
Hiking/Running
Absolute Adventure Tour operator. Set amongst the regions best trekking, mountain-biking, rock climbing, kayaking, diving and sailing area our centre is equipped with quality outdoor gear. Dubai,UAE Tel: +97143459900 www.adventure.ae Arabia Outdoors Tour operator. Dubai,UAE TEL: +97155 9556209 www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Adventure/Tour
Explorer Tours Tour operator Dubai,UAE Tel: +971 4 2861991 www.explorertours.ae Cyclone Tours & Travels Tour operator Omeir Holidays Building,Mezzanine Floor, Khalifa Street,Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: +971 2 6276275 www.cyclonetours.com Net Group Abu Dhabi Tour operator Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: +97126794656 www.netgroupauh. com Dream Explorer LLC Adventure tourism company Dubai,UAE Tel:+9714 3319880 www.dreamexplorerdubai.com Noukhada Adventure Company Adventure company Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: +97150721 8928 www.noukhada. ae Sky & Sea adventures Tour operator Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort, Jumeirah Beach Road,Dubai Marina, Dubai Tel: +97143999005 Ballooning Adventures Balloon adventure tours Tel: +97142854949 www.ballooning.ae Desert Rangers Tours and desert safaris Tel: +97143572233 www.desertrangers. com Dubai Dolphinarium Dolphin Swimming, Dolphin Show Creek Park Gate No. 1, Dubai Tel : +9713369773 www.dubaidolphinarium.ae Khour Shem Tourism Tours and desert safaris Tel: +971503724411 www.khourshemtours.com Off Road Adventures Tours and desert safaris Tel: +971506289667 www.arabiantours.com Relax Tours Travels LLC Tours and desert safaris Tel: 971 4 422 1786 www.dubairelaxtours.com Seawings Seaplane tours Tel: +97148832999 www.seawings.ae Bristol Tours, Boat Charter, Diving, Fishing 04Dubai Marina, Dubai 4309941 www.bristol-middleeast.com
Cycle
Absolute Adventure Tour operator. Set amongst the regions best trekking, mountainbiking, rock climbing, kayaking, diving and sailing area our centre is equipped with quality outdoor gear. Dubai,UAE Tel: +97143459900 www. adventure.ae Cycle Sports Cycles, equipment & service Al Barsha First, Dubai Tel: +97143415415 www.cyclesportsuae.com
Horse Riding
Sharjah Polo & Equestrian Club Horse riding Al Dhaid Road - Interchange (6), Al Otain,Sharjah Tel: +9716 5311155 www.forsanuae.org. ae Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club Horse riding Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: +97124455500 www.adec-web. com Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club Horse riding Dubai,UAE Tel: +971 43618111 www.poloclubdubai.com Emirates Equestrian Centre Horse riding equestrian club Tel: +971505587656 www.emiratesequestriancentre.com Jebel Ali Equestrian Club Horse riding equestrian club Jebel Ali Village, Dubai Tel : +97148845101 www.jaec-me.com Emirta Horse Requirements, Riding equipment Sheik Zayed Rd, Dubai 04 3437475 www.emirtahorse.com
Climbing
Global Climbing General outdoor equipment Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Tel/Fax +9717 235 3910 www.globalclimbing.com Absolute Adventure Tour operator. Set amongst the regions best trekking, mountain-biking, rock climbing, kayaking, diving and sailing area our centre is equipped with quality outdoor gear. Dubai,UAE Tel: +97143459900 www.adventure.ae
FreeDiving UAE Freediving courses Abu Dhabi, UAE contactus@freedivinguae.com www.freedivinguae.com Absolute Adventure Tour operator. Set amongst the regions best trekking, mountain-biking, rock climbing, kayaking, diving and sailing area our centre is equipped with quality outdoor gear. Dubai,UAE Tel: +97143459900 www.adventure.ae Divers Down Diving activities Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa, Fujairah, UAE T: +971092370299 www.diversdownuae.com 7 Seas Diving center Khorfakkan, UAE Tel: 97192387400 www.7seasdivers. com Al Boom Diving Diving& diving equipment Tel + 97143422993 www.alboomdiving. com Atlantis Dive Centre Dive trip, boat cruises, fishing trips The Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714426 3000 www.atlantisdivecentre.com Scuba Dubai Diving & equipment Tel:+97143414940 www.scubadubai. com Sheesha Beach Dhow cruises, diving, camping Dibba, Musandam Tel: +97150336046 www.sheesabeach.com Deep Blue Sea Diving Diving centre International City, Dubai Tel: +97144308246 www.diveindubai. com Extreme Marine Marine equipments and services at DIMC, Dubai Tel: +97143992995
Dive
Surf/Wake/Skate
Act Marine Water sports equipment Ground Floor, Shams Sector, The Walk Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Tel: +97144243191 Kite4fun Kitesurfing Abu Dhabi Tel:+971508133134 www.kite4fun.net Surf Dubai Surfing Umm Suqeim, Dubai Tel: + 971505043020 www.surfingdubai.com Surf Shop Dubai Surfing & equipment Al Barsha 1, Dubai Tel: +97143990989 www.surfshopdubai.com Ocean Sports FZE Kite surfing & Stand-up Paddle equipment Dubai (0) 55 935 2735 www.kitesurfsup.com
Wild X adventure shop Off-road and outdoor products Showroom No 4 , Sheikh Omar Almajid Building, Marrakesh Street ,Um AL Ramoul Industrial area ,opposite Festival City Dubai Tel: +97142852200 www.wildx.ae Icon Auto Garage Off road equipments Dubai,UAE Tel: +971 4 338 2744 www.icon-auto.com Dune Bike Dealer accessories bikes & buggies Rashida Buset Building Al Khail Road Alweer, Dubai Tel: +97143272088 www.dunebuggyuae.com Off Road Zone 4x4 vehicle repair and services Al Quoz, Dubai Tel : +9714 339 2449 www.offroad-zone.com AEV - Advanced Expedition Vehicles Off road Show room # 4 : Brashy Building, Sheikh Zayed Road Tel : +97143307152 www.aev.ae Yellow Hat Car & off-road equipments Sheikh Zayed Road & Nad Al Hamar, Dubai Tel: +97143418592 www.yellowhat.ae
4x4
www.extrememarine-me.com Khasab Divers Diving, fishing, kayak, beach camping Oman www.khasabdiver.com Summertime Marine Water sports provider Tel :+97142573084 www.summertimemarine.com Rineh Marine & water sports equipments and services Al Quoz, Dubai 43391512 www.rinehemiratesme. com Extra Divers Zigy Bay Dive center Musandam, Oman 96826735555 www. extradivers.info
Al Quoz, Dubai 04-3413550 www.geckomotors.com
Jet Ski/Boating
Xclusive Yachts Sport fishing & Yacht charter Xclusive Boats Charter LLC,Unit 4 Marina Diamond 3, Dubai Marina Drive, Dubai Marina, Dubai Tel: +971 4 432 7233 www.xclusiveyachts.com Absolute Adventure Tour operator. Set amongst the regions best trekking, mountain-biking, rock climbing, kayaking, diving and sailing area our centre is equipped with quality outdoor gear. Dubai,UAE Tel: +97143459900 www.adventure.ae Nautica 1992 Water sports provider located on the beach of The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort&Spa Tel: +971 50 42 62 41 5 www.nautica1992.ae Leading Edge Boating, camping equipment Tel: +971 7 244-7732 www.leadingedges.com LYCATAMARAN Cruises Dubai,UAE Tel: +97150 58 69 746 www.lycatamaran.com Marine Concept Cruising & sea school Tel: +9714432 9496 www.marine-charter-concept. com Xclusive Yachts Sport fishing & yacht charter Xclusive Boats Charter LLC,Unit 4 Marina Diamond 3, Dubai Marina Drive, Dubai Marina, Tel: +97144327233 www.xclusiveyachts.com
Al Masaood Marine Marine equipments and services Sheikh Zayed Showroom Tel:+97143468000www.masaoodmarine.com Sheesha Beach Dhow cruises, diving, camping Dibba, Musandam Tel: +97150336046 www.sheesabeach.com Umm Al Quwain Marine Club Outdoor Activities Tel: +971 67666644 www.uaqmarineclub.com Al Yousuf Motors LLC Motorbikes, Motocross, Jet Ski, Boats Dealer and equipment Sheikh Zayed Rd, Dubai www.aym.ae/yamaha/ Art Marine Boats & yacht dealer, maintenance, jetty services, yacht management, charter, and marina management Al Quoz, Dubai Tel: +971 4 3388955 www.artmarine.net Azure Marine Boats & marine equipments Tel: +97143412866 www.azuremarine.net Boat House Boat Dealer and Service, Maintenance Al Quoz, Dubai Tel: +97143405152 www.theboathouse.ae Dubai International Marine Sports Club Marina & Water sports Events at DIMC, Dubai Tel: +97143995777 www.dimc.ae Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC Fishing and Boat cruise Dubai Tel: +97155896 1276 www.happy-
daysdubai.com Macky Marine LLC Boat dealers Tel: + 971505518317 www.mackymarine.com Luxury Sea Boats Boat dealer Al Quoz, Dubai 04 4473652 www.luxuryseaboats. com Boats Ocean Boat Dealer / Manufacturer Al Quoz, Dubai 04-3403303 Abu Dhabi Int. Marine Sports Club Marina & Water sports Events ADIMSC, Abu Dhabi 02 681 55 66 www.adimsc.ae
Shooting
Motorcycle
2XWHEELER Motorcycle event organzier Tel :+971506003058 www.2xwheeler.com KTM Motorcross & quadSheikh Zayed Road, exit 42 www.ktm.com Probike Bike equipment Sheikh Juma bin Ahmed Al Maktoum Building (near Mall of The Emirates) Al Barsha 1 Tel: +97143255705 www.probike.ae Wolfis Bike Shop Bike equipment Sheikh Zayed Road,Between Interchange 2 & 3 Tel: +971 4 3394453 www.wbs.ae Gecko Motors Motor Cross bikes and service
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Golf, shooting, archery, paintball Sharjah, UAE Tel: +971 6 548 7777 www.golfandshootingshj.com
Would your company like to be included in our directory listings? contact@outdooruae.com or call: 04 4472701
Advertise Your Business & Support Us

OutdoorUAE is the only magazine in the UAE dedicated to Outdoor Activities and Outdoor Lifestyle. We are a young magazine in its 6th month and strongly depending on support of advertisers and sponsors. The sales price of the magazine is kept to a minimum of 10AED what is not even covering our printing and distribution cost, to keep it accessible for everybody. The only source of income is advertisement. If you like the magazine, please advertise with us and support us on the way to a great future for the outdoor community in the UAE. A benefit for your business is guaranteed. To get more info on print run, circulation and pricing please contact us: 04 4472701 or contact@outdooruae.com
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Commercial entries in this section are free of charge, to give our readers a full picture of suppliers and services. If you want to list your company here please send your company details and short business description to contact@outdooruae.com or call 04 4472701
Thanks!
Now available at Leisure Marine - Beach Hut, JBR Walk Opp. Sheraton Hotel, 04 356 6783 Dubai Boat Show 2011 at stand EX11

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OutdoorUAE

TORI INTRODUCES HER MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT

A TRUE HIDE AWAY

nR af fle ize sW or 10, th 00 0D hs!

Discover more and visit us online: www.outdooruae.com

Issue 3/2011 March

Explore the Possibilities

Ocean sports FZE +971 (0) 55 935 2735 enquiries@kitesurfsup.com kitesurfsup.com

Flatwater Touring and Racing

All-around longboard versatility

Carbon Carbon Carbon Kevlar wood

140 & 140 AsT

140 Javelin & 126 140 Javelin Catalina AsT

116 & 116 AST

114 & 114 AST

2011 Outdoor UAE FZE

Some great shots of the month

Your Best Shots - 5

World of the Bedou - 10

A camel trek through the desert

New for this month, Tori shares her wisdom of adventure

Ziad describes his stormy boat adventure

The Perfect Storm - 26

Wadi Galilah Rescue - 30

A brace and successful rescue

Our favourite fisherman joins us again

The Fishing Kit - 50

Tips and Tricks - 53

Our advice continues with a look at filters

Outdoor Photography - 54 Results - 56

Your Best Shots

Tara Atkinson RAS AL KHAIMAH

Eagles REAL ACTION HEROES

Kayaking, Bike, Paddle

Dubai International BoatShow

Drag Racing Festival

ABRAS HATTA CROSSCOUNTRY RACE

Big Boys Toys 2011

Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship

Abu Dhabi Yachts Show

Freedive Open Water Training

Dubai Traditional Rowing Race

Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Dubai International Dragon Boat Festival

[board] Banshee Bungee

[cap] Solar Light Cap developed by 2C

[kayak] Hobie Tandem Adventure Island Mirage Drive Sail-yak

[camp] Rhino Rack Sunseeker Awning

[sun] Julbo Contest Nautic Eyewear

[bbq] Barbecue Grill

[dive] Cressi Kit Matrix Snorkel

[paddle] SUP Surfboard + Paddle

[data] ADC Pro Weather Station

[dive] Light & Motion Sola Photo 600

[dive] PRINCETON TEC Light Pack

PICNICO GENERAL TRADING

no PICNIC without PICNICO

with Victoria Leckie

Sailing Arabia two weeks of intense racing.

Zighy Bay Marina

Extra Divers Musandam

photo: Rell Taylor