#73 October 2016

UAE climbers and trekkers recall their experiences
Cycling in the mountains

Taking on the Alps
Essential gear
Expert advice on what you need

to keep safe when climbing or trekking
Trekking in Bhutan
Svalbard
In search of polar bears in the Arctic Circle
Plenty of
PRODUCTS
TO CHECK OUT
Price
10.00 AED
10.00 QAR
1.00 OMR
Tried & Tested:
LOCALLY
MADE
SANDBOARDS
Touring New Zealand:
INVESTIGATING
AOTEAROA
Vol. 6, No. 10
October 2016
www.OutdoorUAE.com
NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UAE!

AVAILABLE IN THE UAE!
For information on stockists visit NOW
www.ramrodoutdoor.com
or email dylan@ramrodoutdoor.com
For information on stockists visit www.ramrodoutdoor.com or email dylan@ramrodoutdoor.com
MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM
OutdoorUAE Team
Daniel Birkhofer
Founder and General Manager
daniel@outdooruae.com
Life...elevated
Theres something about mountains that appeals to many of us. Perhaps its
the fresh air, the sight of snow on the peaks, or just the sheer size and majesty
of them; that they are more powerful than us, and unpredictable in nature.
Having recently spent time in North America and Canada, Ive been thrilled to see
these ancient statues as they punctuate the landscape along my journey.
Climbing Kilimanjaro in 2014 made me feel a new appreciation for the earth; as
if I finally understood the place I call home a little better, just for being on the
roof of Africa.
But climbing mountains is not for me, and these days Im much more
of a casual hiker than somebody who feels the need to ascend the
nearest peak. In this issue, we speak to those who love
to investigate mountains close up, either on foot or by
bike (!). If this whets your appetite, remember that the
UAE and Oman host their own mountains, and now
that the weather is cooling down, its the perfect time
Rachael Bruford
Editor
rachael@outdooruae.com to get out and explore!
Nela Macovei
Business Development Manager
nela@outdooruae.com
Margo Ciruelos
Sales and Marketing
margo@outdooruae.com
Ireneo Jung Francisco

Designer and Photographer
jung@outdooruae.com
Ian Sebeldia
Circulation
EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS
Dan Wright
Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE
Editor
For editorial content and press releases
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 5760322
editor@outdooruae.com
Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)
Tel: 04-447 2030
Mobile: 055 8647125
nela@outdooruae.com
Mobile: 055 9398915
margo@outdooruae.com
Published by
Outdoor UAE FZE
In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS
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Dubai, U.A.E.
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P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE
2016 Outdoor UAE FZE
Vol. 6, No. 10, October 2016
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The information contained is for general use only.

We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been
obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in
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2016 Outdoor UAE FZE

Reg. at Creative City Fujairah
P.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.
Helle Bachofen Von Echt

Elite Women Cyclist
Marina Bruce
The Desert Diva and
off-road expert
www.OutdoorUAE.com
Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE
Cover photo by: Rachael Bruford
Jake Lyle
Diving and Watersport Expert
WHEN YOURE
DONE READING,
PLEASE RECYCLE!
Bandana Jain
Outdoor and Lifestyle contributor
CONTENTS
10 SVALBARD
24 LAKE DISTRICT
36 PACKING ESSENTIALS FOR CLIMBING AND TREKKING
EVERY ISSUE
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
06 EVENTS CALENDAR
08 BEST SHOTS
41 PRODUCTS
63 DIRECTORY
24 LAKE DISTRICT
26 BHUTAN - DRUK PATH TREK
31 NEW ZEALAND
34 DEAD 2
EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS

10 SVALBARD
14 CARROC DE FOC
18 FATBIKING
OUTDOORUAE
20 EMIRATES DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP

22 RED BULL CLIFF DIVING
50 DIVING ZANZIBAR
54 CYCLING IN THE MOUNTAINS
56 OUTDOOR EDUCATION IN NEPAL
LIFESTYLE
OUR EXPERTS
36 PACKING ESSENTIALS - CLIMBING AND TREKKING

38 HABITUALLY HEALTHY
50 DIVING ZANZIBAR - JAKE

54 CYCLING - HELLE
56 OUTDOOR EDUCATION - HAYDON
58 DIVING THE ZENOBIA - GEOFF
TRIED & TESTED
PEOPLE
42 TREAD PROS
46 B-TWIN ROCKRIDER 720s
48 ABOVE SANDBOARDS
60 NINA LONDEI - DRAGON BOATING

62 JOHN MICHAEL ON - TRIATHLETE
OUTDOORUAE
EVENTS CALENDAR
STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS
OCTOBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
14
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Ladies Desert Safari with The Guide Oman
Learn to drive in the desert and camp under the stars in this ladies only expedition.
When: 14th-15th October
Where: The Oman Desert
Contact: info@theguideoman.com | Facebook/The GuideOman
OCTOBER
04
ADIHEX
This prestigious international hunting and equestrian exhibition returns to Abu Dhabi for another
year, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdanbin Zayed al Nahyan.
OCTOBER
15
When: 4th-8th October

Where: ADNEC, Abu Dhabi
Contact: www.adihex.com
OCTOBER
07
Pink is Punk
The Pink is Punk campaign is back for its sixth year,

bigger and better than ever and ready to raise
funds in aid of Breast Cancer awareness,
supported by the Al Jalila Foundation. Swim
and run your way to glory for this great cause.
07
DMX Races Rounds One and Two
Get the motocross season off to a roaring start in

October access is free for spectators!
OCTOBER
15
08
Dubai City Swim
The countrys biggest series of open water

swimming events, involving swimmers of all
abilities. Distances range from 250m to 2500m.
When: 8th October
Where: Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort
Contact: www.hopasports.com
Ignite surface SUP yoga
Swap your mat for a paddleboard and a sweaty

studio for a glassy ocean floor in this full body
workout.
When: Launches 15th October
Where: Ignite Surface, Riva Beach Club,
The Palm Jumeirah
Contact: www.ignitesurface.com or call 04 456 2482
OCTOBER
21
Labour Run 2016
Choose from either a 10km or 3km race in this

great initiative to help support the UAEs labourers.
When: 21st October
Where: Sonapur, Muhaisanah 2
When: 7th and 28th October

Where: Dubai Motocross Club, next to Jebel Ali
Golf Resort
Contact: Facebook: Dubai Motocross
Round 1 and 2
OCTOBER
The Roy Nasr Memorial Triathlon is now in its fourth

year. Roy, who co-founded TriDubai, was tragically
killed by a motorist whilst riding his bike near Safa
Park in the early hours of Friday 6th September
2013 before he could realise his dream of building
a reputable race events management company.
When: 15th October
Where: Jebel Ali Golf Resort
Contact: www.premieronline.com
When: 7th October

Where: Anantara The Palm, Dubai
OCTOBER
Roy Nasr Memorial Triathlon
OCTOBER
21
Oceanic Triathlon Series 1/3
Choose from the short or super sprint course,

which
both take in a natural bay, rolling hills, and the
Khor Fakkan corniche.
When: 21st October
Where: Khor Fakkan, Sharjah
21
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Desert Warrior Challenge
A 100% homegrown concept, this years Desert Warrior Challenge kicks off Dubais adventure race season. Now featuring the regions first 20 kilometre race, the Extreme Warrior. This year also sees the inclusion of a junior category for children aged six to 10.
When: 21st October
Where: Dubai Police Academy, Al Rawia Training Fields
Contact: www.desertwarriorchallenge.com
OCTOBER
21
Pink Ladies Games
This international event makes its Dubai debut.

A feel-good programme of unusual and active
challenges specially designed for women by women.
When: 21st October
Where: Fairmont The Palm, Dubai
Contact: www.pinkladiesgames.com
OCTOBER
28
OCTOBER
28
28
Harlem Globetrotters
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2016
When: 28th October

Where: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium
Contact: Call +971 4 282 4122
When: 28th October from 8pm

Where: Pier 7, Dubai Marina
Contact: www.redbullcliffdiving.com/en_INT/event/dubai-2016
If youre into basketball, then this is not to be

missed! Theres also the chance to meet the
Globtrotters afterwards.
NEO Run
The first ever UV paint fun run has a special

Halloween editionif youre brave enough!
Come and get your glo on!
Featuring the cream of the crop in cliff diving, Dubai Marina will
provide the spectacular setting for the final showdown for the
very first time in 8 years of the series. Come along and watch!
NOVEMBER
01
When: 28th October

Where: Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi
Contact: http://neorun.com/halloween/
OCTOBER
28
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T
ABRaS Mina 10km and 3km Race 1
A popular 10K & 3K Race hosted by the ABRaS

Running Club for the past 8 years. Consistently
selling out in advance of published closure dates.
A fun, fast, community spirited race for all ages.
When: 28th October
Where: Mina Seyahi
International World Rafting

Championship 2016
Come and watch 80 Teams from 25 different Countries

complete for that all important 2016 World Rafting Title!
Entry is free of charge and click here for more information
When: 1st 5th November
Where: Wadi Adventure Al Ain
Contact: - http://www.wadiadventure.ae/wrc2016/
NOVEMBER
10
Dubai Outdoor & Adventure Show
Come and join the UAEs only adventure show,

featuring activities from SUPing to off road driving.
Theres something for everyone!
When: 10th - 12th November
Where: Dubai International Marine Club
Contact: www.dubaiadventureshow.com
BEST SHOTS
Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it
was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies
of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Ashraf Hamdan, Sally Cooper and Jane Harrison. Well done!
Ashraf Hamdan
Musandam Mountains
Sally Cooper
Running in RAK
OUTDOORUAE
Jane Harrison
Yosemite National Park
ACTIVITY REPORT
Dubai to Muscat Silver Anniversary

Offshore Race Launch
Words + Photos by: Provided
An event to inaugurate the 2016

Dubai to Muscat offshore race was
held at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club
(DOSC) in September. DOSC is the
largest sailing club in Dubai, and is
a focal point for all levels of sailing
including junior cadets, Emirati and
private school programs and
Sailability assisted sailing as well
as having a full calendar of IRC
handicap rule rated racing.
The race is scheduled for four days and
20 hours, departing from DOSC in Dubai on
10th November and ending at 6:00 p.m. on
14th November at Al Mouj Marina in Muscat. Upwards of 30 boats have expressed
interest and begun the registration process
for this silver anniversary edition of the race.
The Dubai to Muscat Race is organised
by the United Arab Emirates Sailing and
Rowing Federation (UAE SARF), in association with Omans Ministry of Sports Affairs,
and recognised by the Royal Ocean Racing
Club (RORC). The course is over 300 nautical miles up the coast of the UAE, around
the straits of Hormuz and south east across
the Persian Gulf to Muscat. It is the longest
and most prestigious non-stop competitive
offshore race in the Gulf region.
After record breaking races in 2013 and

2014, the 2016 race is expected to feature
the largest number of entries in the history
of the event with over 30 monohulls and
catamarans racing in IRC and club classes,
including two Volvo 60s, frequently described as the Formula 1 boat of yachting.
In 2013, Adrian Lee broke a 13-year record
for the course, crossing the finish line at
Muscat in a time of two days, 53 minutes
and 40 seconds. In 2014, two boats broke
the 2013 record. Doug Hassell at the helm
of Diablo set a course record of one day, 19
hours, 52 minutes and 41 seconds, followed
by Phil Ellerby just two hours behind.
A series of events have been planned to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of the race,
including a Race Village at Umm Suqeim 1
Fishing Harbour and the Sohar education
program, a new initiative designed to introduce racing to a new generation.
For the duration of the race, the Race
Village will be open to the public and will
feature live feeds from competitors, market
stalls, childrens entertainment, sailing taster
sessions, and food and beverage trucks.
From September, students from five
GEMS Education schools enrolled in the
education program will learn aspects of sailing including navigation, meteorology, boat
construction, fishing and marine management, and sailing event management.
At the event last month, representatives
from the schools, children and teachers

met with skippers and sponsors who will be
educating the children. The children visited
various boats that will be partaking in the
Dubai to Muscat Yacht Race, as well as the
Pindar Sailing Volvo 60, the formula one
equivalent of sailing.
David Worrall, Technical Co-ordinator of
the Sailing and Rowing Federation of the
UAE said afterwards We are so grateful
for all of the support from the schools, from
the sponsors, and from Pindar Sailing who
brought the Volvo 60 up from Abu Dhabi
for the event, we are also very grateful
to Dubai Offshore Sailing Club for their
incredible support of the event.
OUTDOORUAE
ACTIVITY REPORT
Words + Photos: Angela Manthorpe
When I tell people I went to

Svalbard on holiday Im generally
met with bemusement, but if I say
I went to the Arctic, people can
place it, but imagine me hauling a
sled over icy wastelands.
Svalbard is an archipelago of islands administered by Norway; the largest island is
Spitsbergen with Nordaustlandet, Edgeya
and Barentsya being the other major
islands. As the main settlement, Longyearbyen, is 78N and only 1300 km from
the North Pole, its an ideal gateway to the
high Arctic and although 60 per cent of
Svalbards land mass is covered by glaciers,
with 27 per cent barren rock and 13 per
cent vegetation, theres a wide variety of
activities on offer and a lot of wildlife to
see.
One of the main reasons to come to
Svalbard is to see polar bears. They are
everywhere in the airport, the supermarket, in the guesthouses and museum. Its
said that polar bears outnumber the human
population of the islands 3000 bears,
2500 humans. Arrivals in town are handed
a map the pink zone shows the safe
area close to the centre in which you can
expect to walk unmolested, but venture to
the edge of town and you will encounter
the warning signs that indicate that from
here, you should be carrying a gun for
protection, or at least walking with a guide
equipped with flares, a weapon and maybe
Beware polar bears across Svalbard
My first polar bear...asleep
a friendly husky. Only in April a young male

polar bear turned up on the beach close
to the town centre and after the failure of
attempts to scare it away, it was tranquillised and flown by helicopter to a remote
spot. This is a win win situation; since 1973
polar bears have been fully protected and
can only be shot if theres a clear need for
self defence, so for the safety of both sides,
stubborn animals are moved on.
Longyearbyen has a somewhat industrial look to it due to its coal mining
legacy. My guesthouse in Nybyen, about
20 minutes up the valley from the town
centre, was located in one of the old miners barracks. Now that mining is on the
wane, tourism has become a mainstay of
the local economy and activities can be
booked before arrival through the excellent Visit Svalbard website. Day one was
a lazy introduction, but just by wandering
around town I ticked off some of Svalbards
unusual wildlife: firstly on the way back
to the hostel I encountered two Svalbard

reindeer grazing by the roadside. This
subspecies is endemic to Svalbard and has
evolved to have shorter legs and a rounder,
more stocky body shape in order to retain
heat. Later that evening I spotted an Arctic
fox still with half its winter coat - trotting
past my window. Svalbard was very quickly
Supermarket polar bear
Midnight sun over Longyearbyen
living up to its reputation as a great wildlife

destination.
Day two started with a change of plans.
The trek that Id booked fell through and
it was drizzling, which is unusual as this is
an Arctic desert where the islands only get
about 200mm of rain a year. However, I
was just choosing a bike when serendipitously, a fellow guest emerged from the
hostel with gun in hand and proceeded to
ready his own bike. After a quick chat we
decided to set off together to tackle a walk
to the East of town. The road takes you
along Adventdalen, a 30km long valley, and
just on this edge of town are several husky
sheds full of yelping dogs. Whilst a ride on
Foxfonna glacier
a husky sled is a very popular wintertime

activity, the sleds are also adapted with
wheels for summer rides along the tracks
around town. Interestingly, the area around
the husky enclosures is a protected nesting
area for Eider ducks and Barnacle geese.
The birds have apparently learned that having the dogs nearby provides an element
of protection from the resident Arctic foxes.
Heading further along the road takes you
in the direction of the Foxfonna glacier and
Mine No.7, from which Longyearbyen gets
the coal to run its power station. Our walk
took us up a steep hill, past the observatory
and up onto a rocky plateau before crossing the firm snow on top of the glacier for
Lenin watches over Pyramiden
spectacular views across the water. This is

rugged country, very uneven underfoot and
the rain turned to snow, so be prepared for
changeable conditions. Returning along
the one track road we took a brief stop to
avoid the flying mud from a passing convoy
and were rewarded with a sighting of several red throated divers (loons) on one of
the fresh water lakes.
As 60 per cent of Svalbard is covered
by glaciers, they feature highly on tourist
itineraries. In the winter you can explore
ice caves under the glaciers and in summer you can scramble around looking for
fossils. One of the main fossilling sites is in
the terminal moraine at the Longyearbreen
glacier front just above the guesthouses
in Nybyen, and a late evening trip up here
yielded an array of well preserved leaves.
Several hikes start from Nybyen such as
the quick jaunt up to Sarkofagen for a view
over the town, and my reorganised trip to
Trollsteinen (845m). The walk started with
a sharp ascent and very quickly we were
onto the glacier, stepping carefully over
the many streams that cut through the ice.
Although the upper slopes were pretty
barren, a few plants, such as the Svalbard
poppy, eke out an existence here and the
rocks are plastered with colourful lichen.
OUTDOORUAE
11
Svalbards glaciers
Arctic fox in mid moult
Kittiwakes nesting at Pyramiden
As we were up and down Trollsteinen in

only 4 hours there was time for me to bike
over to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
which is set into the mountainside above
12
OUTDOORUAE
the airport. Also known as the Doomsday

Vault, this is a repository for the worlds
most valuable seed varieties. There are
no visits inside the facility but a model in
Svalbard museum shows that the vault

comprises 3 chambers set deep in the permafrost. As a door set in a mountain looks
suspiciously like something from a James
Bond movie, it has become an improbable
tourist attraction and was certainly worth a
visit for its atmospheric location.
Due to its Northerly location the Svalbard
archipelago basks in 24-hour daylight in
summertime. I found this inspiring and on
my third day, my previous walking companion and I set off at 5pm to start the ascent
of Nordenskild peak (1050m). We set off
in bright sunshine, reached the summit in
freezing white out conditions at 8pm and
then spent the next 5-6 hours exploring the
tundra and rocky landscape on the plateau
above town. During our wanderings we
encountered several reindeer, rather unconcerned by our presence and a few ptarmigan whose presence was betrayed by their
white pyjamas. After a couple of days of
low cloud and drizzle we were bathed in
the brilliant midnight sun and I got back to
the hostel at 2am wondering how anyone
gets any sleep at this time!
Still, I hadnt spotted a polar bear yet, so
it was back to the Visit Svalbard site to survey my options. Kayaking is pretty popular,
anything from half day to multi day trips
around the fjords. For those who like the
challenge, you can canoe straight across
Adventfjorden, beach the canoe and nip up
to the summit of Hiorthfjellet for a view of
Longyearbyen from the other side. But the
word around the breakfast table was that
polar bears were being seen a bit further
afield and a bigger boat was needed to get
me to a Russian mining town.
There are actually two Russian mining
towns to choose from. Barentsburg is a
thriving community of around 350, with
mining still underway and even a couple
of hotels. Pyramiden, on the other hand is
a ghost town, population 12....it sounded
more atmospheric. It was also where the
bears had been spotted.
It takes a few hours of motoring steadily to reach Pyramiden. We spotted minke
whale and seals on the way and once there
we were greeted by our Russian guide
for a walking tour. This is the epitomy of
isolation theres only one point in town
The Global Seed Vault
where residents can get an unreliable

phone signal, supplies arrive infrequently
by helicopter and letter writing is still in
vogue. A statue of Lenin the most northerly in the world - presides over the main
square and we were given time to explore
the old cultural centre and the now empty
swimming pool. But today the most noise
comes from the kittiwakes nesting on the
apartment blocks and you are left feeling
rather melancholy for this once thriving
community, now deserted. Leaving Pyramiden we headed to the nearby Norden-
skild glacier and as we edged closer to

the rocks a ripple of excitement went round
the boat because those little creamy blobs,
that at first didnt look like anything, slowly
transformed themselves into not one, not
two, but three polar bears. Yes it was a
bit distant, and the bears lethargic, but
this was my first sighting of the King of the
Arctic, the ice bear, the magnificent marine
mammal that sits at the top of the Arctic
food chain. And, as I readied myself to
join my expedition ship, I had a feeling that
things were going to get better.....
ACTIVITY REPORT
HOW I OVERCAME THE CHARIOTS

Part One
OF FIRE: CARROS DE FOC
Words + Photos by: Anne Elizabeth Cecillon
Just past the border of Spain,

in the natural park of Aigestortesi
Estany de Sant Maurici National
Park, lies a natural wonder than
many have attempted but few have
conquered...
My brother Olivier, ever the nature enthusiast, ran it in the summer with his great
friend Daniel, putting this incredible trek on
my radar. For those who are not aware, this
challenging 8000 meters up and down path
was first devised 15 years ago by Miguel
Snchez i Murcia, the keeper of the Ventosa
refuge, as a test for super athletes: the initial
idea was that the route had to be covered

in a single 24-hour period. Astoundingly
enough, people manage to do just that. This
is called the Sky Runner category and the record is 10 hours 35 minutes. For me, making
it through in five and half days was enough
of a challenge. Looking at the map and
timings it seemed easy but once I started I
quickly realised that the timings given were
probably derived from an Izard (the natural
mountain goat native only to the Pyrenes).
Day One
The trek started from Arties, a typical mountain village that doubles as a ski station in
the winter. From there an easy dirt trail took
me to the lower parking area a good three
hours from the first refuge where I was to
pick up my map, baseball cap, and passport
to stamp all the refuges to complete the
famous Carros de Foc. The weather was
absolutely perfect at a balmy 21 degrees in
sunshine, and my only concern besides
hydration was to pace myself and protect

my skin from sunburns. The path was well
worn and easy to follow and a few tour
groups from Spain were happily chatting
away while climbing steadily on increasingly
challenging terrain. A winding path of dirt
and stones was bordered by pine trees and
blackberry bushes and I felt great climbing steadily while looking for markings (non
existent!) or updates of how far I had yet
climbed before reaching La Restanca.
Once on the last turn, after a particularly
sharp hairpin, I was graced by the sight
of a stone water dam on which the refuge
was built, and I happily crossed over to get
my passport. Unfortunately, there were no
maps or baseball caps as the refuge was out
of them.
The refuge was located along beautiful
turquoise waters that were clear as glass,
and I could easily see the bottom of the
natural pool from my view point on the dam.
From Restanca, I was planning on reaching
EstanyLlong but was told that it would be
another 7 to 8 hours before completing that
segment. It was already nearing 15:00 and
since the refuge has a strict policy of dinner
at 19:00 I elected to change my itinerary
and go to Ventosa. That was supposed to

be an easy 2 to 3 hours but instead I made
it just in time for dinner. The climb following
Restanca was quite steep and a good warm
up for the next day, for what would turn out
to be the hardest climb of them all...
On the way to Ventosa I was graced by
more beautiful emerald lakes and the rush
and hiss of competing waterfalls. At one
moment, the only sound was the percussion
of a ravens wings beating against the air as
it flew past. A few courageous hikers were
taking a dip in the lake, but it was way too
cold for me!
The weather was changing and getting
darker and I hurried to the refuge. The
trail was not well marked and I had to ask
a Spanish coupleto confirm my itinerary.
Carros de Foc is wilderness, and wilderness
areas have a kind of common culture, but
this one is in a part of Spain that has a very
particular, and decidedly mixed, cultural and
linguistic heritage. Its in Catalonia, where
many speak Catalan, a language similar
to Provenal; but its also part of a smaller
enclave, the Val dAran, where some people
can still speak yet another language, Aran.
Thank God the people I met spoke Spanish,
as do I, and they gave me good information

on where to go and how long it would take
to reach the refuge. They were running the
trail with only water and energy bars and
were training to complete it in less than 2
days. I later on shared a table with them at
the refuge for dinner and learnt that they
were prison guards in Spain working only 3
days followed by 5 days off and that their
passion was trekking.
The Ventosa refuge was never a better sight in my life than when it appeared
before my eyes. Although nothing special
by any stretch of the imagination, it called of
warmth, safety and rest for me and I was really glad when I finally reached it. I entered
by a small door into amud room filled
with backpacks, boots and walking sticks,
as the refuge policy is very strict and no
one is allowed to enter the main room with
any camping equipment. Once passed the
vestibule and lightened of all my trekking
gear, I was given a small plastic bin in which
to put all my valuables for the night and with
this I was invited to a small shower (ice cold
water only) before dinner. There was just
one shower for over 50 people and then a
bunk on the upper floor in a huge dormitory
that I shared that night with 49 other people
as the refuge was full. I was really glad that
they still had space as although I chose the
end of the season to climb, the refuges were
still quite full and the reservation system
does not allow for changes, so once you
make a reservation you lose your deposit if
you cannot stick to it and have to make a
brand new reservation.
Dinner that night was hearty, with noodle
soup, potatoes and sausage and some sort
of chocolate cream dessert. Then I climbed
on my top bunk as assigned and amid snoring, headlights and people moving around,
slept soundly thanks to my earplugs and eye
mask.
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15
Day Two
The next morning after a breakfast of bread

and crackers with jam, honey and cereal I
started up again for the famous Col de Contrainx, a moonlike world made of big grey
granite stone boulders, the sheer rock towers of the Spanish Pyrenees. Jumping like a
Izard with 12kg on my back from boulder to
boulder felt very uncomfortable at first but
with practice became a rhythm that I carried
on for hours and hours until I reached the
peak.
The start of the trek was on the shadowy
side of the mountain and kept the temperature cool enough to provide natural air
conditioning. The effort produced was really
intense and upon reaching the top I took a
small break to appreciate my surroundings.
I embraced the magnificence around me
coated in a blanket of surreal silence. Sheer
peaks with vertiginous drops, cows sparsely

occupying the lower part of valleys, flowers
gracing the sides of my path, birds circling
high above... I just wanted to sit at the top
and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I
felt. Unfortunately, time was precious and I
had to press on to the next refuge of Estany
Llong. At 1985 meters, the lower altitude
felt like heaven after going downhill for
hours and hours. From the Col de Contraix
at 2749 meters to the refuge is a nearly 800
meters a really steep drop that is quite
hard on the knees. EstanyLlong, naturally
situated along a river, has one hot shower
limited to 5 minutes for 2 euros, but it felt
like heaven after the ice cold shower of the
day before!
Dinner was lively and soon the banter
flew between Spanish, French, Dutch and
German hikers. Once again, sausage was
the main meal with pasta and a piece of fruit
for dinner. After a meal loaded with carbohydrates, it was time for a well deserved rest
again accompanied by my neighbours snoring and night bathroom breaks. There I met
a lovely French lady, a professional mountain
guide who became my go to source for the

latest information on routes and weather for
the rest of the trek. She also saved my feet
by providing double peau double skin to
protect my absolutely destroyed blistered
feet...
Day Three
The next morning saw me on the road

again, this time to climb to the refuge of
Colomina, which was by far my favorite
place with an amazing view of the valley and
a balcony overlooking a steep precipice.
The untimed hot shower made it feel like
heaven and the early arrival to the refuge
allowed me to finally enjoy the scenery and
ambiance of the place.
I met with a very funny Spaniard, wearing
his flip flops Japanese style with his socks
pinched in between his toes, and I have to
confess, I did adapt the style for the rest of
the trek as nights were quite chilly up there.
In the middle of the night, after yet another
hearty meal shared on long pine tables with
benches organised dormitory style, I could
not sleep and decided to go out on the balcony to gaze at the stars and enjoy the fresh
clean mountain air. Following a quick storm
we had right after dinner, I was graced with
amazing stars and peaceful silence. I also
got rewarded by the sight of Izards, reddishbrown animals akin to antelopes, as surefooted as mountain goats. Their black facial
markings were clearly visible in the full moonlight. I soon got cold though and retreated in
the safety of my sleeping bag inside.
To be continued
OUTDOORUAE
17
ACTIVITY REPORT
FAT BIKING IN DUBAI

Words + Photos by: Pasquale Caggianiello
There is no limit to where you

can go with a fat bike, the only
limit is your imagination its a
fun activity for any level of cyclist.
There are many ways to get into fat
biking; obviously, you can buy
your own fat bike and just start
exploring, or places like The Cycle
Hub will rent you a bike for the day
so that you cangive it a try first.
These bikes may be slower but they
really are enormous fun.
As Dubai and most places in the UAE are
mainly sand, this is an ideal place to experiment and explore on a fat bike. A popular
place to ride around are the sand dunes in
the middle of the Al Qudra Cycle track. People ride around there exploring the nature
reserve lakes andother lakes within the sand
dunes. Other great places include Liwa, Fossil Rock, Sweihan and popular mountain bike
trails such as Hatta. A friend rode a distance
of 180km solo over three days, crossing the
Wahiba Sands by fat bike, so there really
is no limit to what you can achieve. Some
people have even raced 6 hour endurance
events at Hatta, and they can also be used
for different riding styles, which shows you
how versatile they are.
Riding fat bikes can take a little time to
get used to compared with riding a conventional mountain bike.The handling of a
fat bike on sand is obviously different to on
gravel and the soft areas of sand and the
contours of dunes makes the bike move
around underneath you a lot. This is all part
of the fun! You will get soft areas of sand
where you will feel that youre coming to a
stop, but if you keep pedalling the majority of the time youll get through it. Other
things to get used to is riding with the
Sand and more sand
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Going down makes getting to the top worth it
correct tyre pressure to suit you when on

sand, as pressures vary depending on the
riders weight - roughly 4-6psi is normally
used.If the tyre pressure is too hard your
tyres will sink into the sand and youll get
stuck as the footprint will be too small.
The lower pressure allows the footprint to
be wider, allowing the bike to float over the
sand. Sometimes getting this wrong puts
people off riding in the dunes, as they think
its too much hard work and not fun at all.
It takes a few goes at experimenting in the
sand dunes to get the pressures correct by
trial and error and finding out what the bike
is capable of.Going tubeless, which means
removing the inner tube, is something else
to consider.This saves weight and also the
hassle of changing tubes in the desert heat.
Getting to the top of the dune will be easy
for some as they pick out the correct line
to get there. Dont just aim for the highest
Fat bike social ride
Soft sand can catch you out but just roll through it
point of the dune, you need to make the

dune as flat as possible. So riding around
the lower points of the dune to eventually
hit the ridge will get you to the top of the
dune. Once youre up there the really fun
part is riding down the dune, as all that hard
work for a few seconds of fun is reallyworth
it. When riding down the dune keep your
bike as straight as possible and dont press
Riding around the lakes at Al Qudra nature reserve
Some important points to

remember when riding in the desert:
Having fun over the dunes
the front brake. There have been some occasions on big dunes where riders have hit
50kmh going down and then roughly 2 Gs
of force when they hit the transition to flat at
the bottom.
Morning fat bike social ride and a run for the dogs
Trail side bike maintainance
Dont ride alone, always ride in a group and stay

close. Mainly in case of a mechanical issue or a
fall.
Have the contact numbers of the people youre
riding with just in case you do get split up.
Wear a helmet yes the sand is soft but sand
stone isnt.
Take plenty of water, especially during the
summer. Youll be surprised how much you will go
through in an hour.
Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged
before you go out. Not only might you need it to
contact someone, but most smart phones will have
access to maps inthe case you feel you are lost.
Ride with a GPS unit so that you can track back
on the route youve ridden. You can follow your
tracks back but there may be other fat bike tracks
that arent yours and your tracks may have been
covered up.
Keep track of the land marks that you can see to
help you navigate if your GPS battery runs out.
Plan a route beforehand so you know roughly
how long it will take and where you are likely to go.
Take some spares and tubes. Tyres can get
punctures in the desert when near vegetation so
having a spare tube and tyre levers is a must, and
obviously a pump or some Co2 canisters (not to
be used with tubeless tires as it freezes the sealant). Tools such as a chain breaker and hex keys
are a good thing to have.
Listen out for other desert users such as 4x4s.
Ride away from any tracks and look and listen out
when you hit the top of the dune ridge.
The Dubai Police app is a useful one to have on
your phone. If youre lost in the desert you can
press the SOS button in the app and you can then
be located and picked up.
If you want to ride with other people who enjoy
fat biking and gain some or more experience riding in the dunes,then follow the Facebook group
called Fat Bikes Dubai - DXB. They do weekly
social rides and also plan some longer rides come
winter that require a good level of fitness. Also,
there are conversations and information sharing
on most of the points made in this article. One
ride that has recently happened is a night ride in
the desert under a full moon. The groups page
has a lot of information and a lot of the members
are keen road cyclists as well, which shows
that the interest for these bikes is not limited
to mountain bikers.
Words by: Stuart Murray

Photos by: Tim Ansell
Friday 14th October 2016

marks the start of the fourth
season of the Emirates Desert
Championship, the UAEs national
baja rally championship for Motorcycles, Quads, Cars and Buggies.
Since its foundation in late 2013, the
championship has firmly established itself
as one of the largest motorsport championships in the gulf region, regularly attracting
entries of more than one hundred vehicles
across all classes at each event.
The championship takes place at desert
locations across the UAE on Friday mornings, with racing beginning at 8:30am and
lasting for approximately two hours. Each of
the vehicles races around a marked course
of between 25 and 20km through the dunes,
and the winners are those who complete
the greatest number of laps in the shortest
period of time.
The championship is organised by the
Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE
(ATCUAE), who are also the organisers and
promoters of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which is held each year as a round of
both the FIA and FIM Cross Country Rally
World Championships. It is this experience
in running a top level, world famous event
over a period of more than twenty five years
that enables them to organise a successful
championship.
What we try to do is essentially scale
down the Desert Challenge to a smaller,
one day event. This allows us to be more
accessible for our competitors, without compromising on our safety infrastructure, such
as GPS tracking and medical cover, says
ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben
Sulayem, who founded the Desert
Challenge back in 1991.
We appreciate that the vast majority of
Khalifa Al Remeithi (109) wheelies his way into a lead off the start line
2016 Auto champion Khalid Al Jafla in his T3 Polaris
Sam Smith (UK) on a Yamaha with a broken foot peg
those taking part are amateurs having fun,

so we have created a format that allows
them to come out early and do the race, but
then be done by midday and have the rest
of their Friday to spend with their friends
and family. That has been the key to such
great entry numbers year after year.
Since its inception the championship has
not only proved popular with local competitors, but has also been able to attract big
name international competitors to the UAE,
including Simon Pavey (from TVs Race to
Dakar), CS Santosh (Indias most famous

motorcyclist and the first of his nationality
to compete in or finish the Dakar Rally), and
Qatari quad rider Mohammed Abu Issa (a
multiple Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge winner). However, a major coup in the history
of the championship was the participation
of five time Dakar Rally winner Marc Coma
at the final round of the 2014-15 season.
Riders of this caliber are attracted by the
fabulous terrain of the UAE, and the training
opportunities it allows them ahead of high
One of the Polaris UAE team passing a rolled CanAm of Chris Jackson
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Tariq Abu Issa from Qatar in his Yamaha Buggy
Mohammed Al Balooshi with the hole shot
Sune Schaffler on her way to a round win

and joint first in the Ladies Cup
Sh. Ahmed Al Qassimi

on his Honda CRF 450
level events. The fact that Coma only came

seventh when he raced also suggests that
the standard of competition isnt bad either!
Last season, the motorcycle race was
dominated by South African Ross Runnalls,
who took four wins from five races to beat
narrowly beat Emirati hero Mohammed Al
Balooshi into second place. In the quad
class, Yamaha mounted Mansoor Al Suwaidi
became the third different Emirati to be
crowned champion in as many seasons.
Riders racing from the start
South African Ross Runnalls on his way

Sam Sunderland on his KTM
to the 2016 MOTO Championship
Meanwhile, Khalid Al Jafla was crowned

overall Car winner in his FIA T3-Spec Polaris
Razor, while Ahmed Al Fahim regained
his Buggy category title that he first won
in 2013-14 to be the championships first
repeat champion in its three year history.
The Vendetta Racing KTM-UAE team
won the MOTO Team competition, with the
Polaris UAE team being crowned best CAR/
BUGGY team.
The 2016-17 Emirates Desert
Championship season will take place over

five rounds between October and February:
14th October 2016
11th November 2016
9th December 2016
3rd February 2017
17th February 2017
For further details about the
championship please contact
entry@atcuae.ae or check the website at
www.emiratesdesertchampionship.ae.
(From left), Owen Glynn, David McBride
and Shannon OConnor fighting it out in the
Masters Class for riders over 40 years old
Mohammed Abu Issa on his Yamaha at the start
Polaris Racing Team UAE, winners

of the 2016 AUTO Team Title
EVENT PREVIEW
Words by: Rachael Bruford

Photos by: Romina Amato and Dean Treml
Dubai residents are in for a

treat on 28th October, as the
famous Red Bull Cliff Diving World
Series stages its first competition
in the UAE, with the iconic Dubai
Marina as its backdrop. Taking
place at Pier 7, international competitors from countries such as
Britain, Mexico, Columbia, USA and
Russia will wow the crowds with
their skills, judgement and bravery.
Moreover, the Dubai event will be
the final competition in the series,
meaning that the champions will be
decided here in the UAE!
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What is Cliff Diving?
Reaching speeds of up to 85km per hour

and experiencing up to 5Gs of physical
force in a three second dive, cliff diving is
certainly not for the faint hearted! Whilst
Olympic diving generally takes place from a
10 metre platform, the Red Bull Cliff Diving
series sees women diving from 19.5 -21.5
metre platforms and men attempting dives
from 26.5 28 metres. Jumping from these
great heights means that the impact can be
up to nine times greater than diving from
a 10 metre platform. Platforms are stable
and are a minimum of 1.5 metres in length,
with a width of 75cm. The water has to be at

least five metres deep, and even then there
are rescue scuba divers and paramedics on
standby, just in case of any incidents.
What are the risks?
Without a doubt, the highest risk of injury occurs during the landing phase, when parts of
the body are already exposed to absolute deceleration (slowing down) and others, above
the surface, are still at full speed. Immediately
after hitting the water, the athlete has to
actively dive away to avoid compression or
contortion of other parts of his or her body
due to the hardness of the water; landing incorrectly from such heights can be compared
to running at full speed into a concrete wall!
Diving from heights over 28 metres does not
really deliver any time benefits due to the
increased acceleration and accompanying
disproportionate risk of injury.
The competition takes place over two days,
and features four rounds for men:
Day one
Round one: 14 divers perform one intermediate dive with a maximum difficulty of 4.6.
Points count towards the final results. A draw
will be made to determine the diving order
for the first round.
Day two
Round two: 14 divers complete one required
dive with a maximum difficulty of 3.8, starting
in reverse order based on the results of the
previous day.
Round three: Starting in reverse order
based on the previous rounds cumulative
score, divers will complete one optional
dive.
Round four: After three dives, the top eight
will advance to the final round, taking into
account their total score from rounds 1, 2 and
3. The eight remaining divers will take part
in a second optional dive starting in reverse
order based on the previous rounds cumulative score.
The winner will be the athlete with the
highest total number of points from all four
competition dives.
The womens competition generally follows
the same format, featuring three rounds
over the two days. Round one is again the
required dive with a maximum difficulty of
2.6, with round two and the final round both
being optional dives.
Rules, scoring and World

Series ranking
If youre heading to the event, it might be

helpful to know just how it is scored, and
how this links to the World Series.
Following the traditional high diving
format featured in other Red Bull events

around the world, the competitions rules are
a mix of those from the Red Bull Cliff Diving
Sportive Committee, FINA and HDA. The
day before the competition, entrants must
hand in their planned dives, which consist of
one required dive of a maximum degree of
difficulty of 3.8, one intermediate dive with
a maximum degree of difficulty of 4.6 and
two optional dives with a degree of difficulty
calculated from the DD table. Divers are
then scored by five high-diving judges. For
female competitors, the rules are the same,
however there is one required dive of a
maximum difficulty of 2.6 and two optional
dives from the DD table.
The competition features ten permanent
divers from the mens event and six permanent divers from the womens event. To
make things extra exciting, and in line with
each tour stop in the series, therell be an
additional four male and two female wildcard entries. Although these wildcard divers
may only compete in one or two individual
events, their results count alongside the
permanent divers. All divers must perform

at least one dive to be included in the final
result.
The winner of each individual tour stop
(other locations include Denmark, the
US, Portugal, France, Wales, Italy, Japan
and Bosnia and Herzegovina) is the diver
with the highest points total from all four
competition dives (three for women). The
ranked athletes from each tour stop are also
awarded points which are then tallied to
produce the World Series ranking. In each
event the points awarded are as follows:
World Series ranking points for men:
Ranked 1st:
200 points
Ranked 2nd:
160 points
Ranked 3rd:
130 points
Ranked 4th:
110 points
Ranked 5th:
90 points
Ranked 6th:
70 points
Ranked 7th:
60 points
Ranked 8th:
50 points
Ranked 9th:
40 points
Ranked 10th:
30 points
Ranked 11th:
20 points
Ranked 12th:
10 points
Ranked 13th:
9 points
Ranked 14th:
8 points
World Series ranking points for women:
Ranked 1st:
200 points
Ranked 2nd:
160 points
Ranked 3rd:
130 points
Ranked 4th:
110 points
Ranked 5th:
90 points
Ranked 6th:
70 points
Ranked 7th:
60 points
Ranked 8th:
50 points
The eventual winner of the Red Bull Cliff
Diving World Series 2016 will be the athlete
with the highest overall points after nine
competitions, or seven competitions for the
female divers.
The Red Bull World Series Cliff Diving
Event takes place at Pier 7, Dubai Marina,
on 28th October from 8pm. For more details, visit www.redbullcliffdiving.com/en_US/
event/dubai-2016
OUTDOORUAE
23
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Words + Photos by: Jen Hardie
Over the Eid break, my

adventure-loving kids and I
managed to escape to the
English Lake District for a
week-long rock climbing and
hiking holiday. The Lake District
is a brilliant place for an active
family holiday because it has
everything mountains, lakes,
crags, and great outdoor shops
where you can stock up on
reasonably priced gear.
Like any weather in the UK, Lake District
weather can be unpredictable. It can rain,
and sometimes you can get a lot of it. Luckily over the Eid break we had sunshine for
most of the week, with only a spot of rain.
The North Lake District is my favourite
part of the Lakes because its a bit further
away, the mountains are wilder, and theres
fewer hikers on the fells. If going as a family,
theres the not to miss mountain, Catbells,
which was made famous by Beatrix Potters Mrs Tiggywinkle, who lived on the
mountain. Its a nice easy walk, a little over
5kms, with a bit of scrambling near the top,
which can be done by even the smallest of
children,although when younger, I did have
to coax my kids up with a few Haribos left
by the dragon who lived on the mountain. If Catbells turns out to be too easy,
or if youre looking for more mountains,
you can continue the walk, and make your
way across to Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale
Head, Hindscarth and Robinson, taking in
beautiful views of Newlands Valley on one
side and the beautiful lake of Derwent water
on the other. This full walk is a little over
18km, with over 1,100 metres of ascent,
so expect it to be a long day. However, its
certainly one of the best walks in the North
Lakes.
If you like mountains with a bit of easy
rock climbing, one of the best in the North
Lakes is Haystacks. Its an 8km walk that
starts near the head of Buttermere Lake,
taking a zig zag path up to the top. Before

reaching the summit, theres some good
scrambling portions and a tarn which is
perfect for a cool dip on a hot day, or a nice
place to eat your sandwiches by and take in
the view.
One of the nicest things about any Lake
District walk, is when you come down off
the mountains, theres always a pub nearby
that you can go for a big meal. My favourite
pub is the Swinside Inn near Catbells, in
Newlands Valley. They have plenty of picnic
tables outside for when the weather is
nice, or a roaring fire to warm up next to
whenever its too wet or cold outside.

If you want a break from climbing up
mountains, or are in need of a lazy day,
there are several lakes to walk around and
explore. Derwentwater, in the town of
Keswick, also has small boats that pick up
passengers and drop them off at various locations around the lake, which can be fun for
exploring; Buttermere has a 7km path that
circumnavigates the lake,a perfect distance
when its a rainy day; and Crummock Water,
which sits on the other side of Buttermere
village, is great for taking in the magnificent
view and skipping stones.
For those that enjoy rock climbing, theres

also several places where you can climb in
the North Lake District. One of the most
popular spots, and my firm favourite, is
Shepherds Crag and Brown Slabsin Borrowdale Valley. Its easy to access the crag,
and the rocks are usually quick drying,
which is ideal if it rained overnight. The
crag also has plenty of routes for all levels.
There are spots that you can set up a top
rope if youre climbing with kids, but theres
also more challenging routes that are two
to three pitches, and vary in difficulty, so
theres always something for everyone. Little
Chamonix (graded VD or 5.4 US equivalent); Donkeys Ears (graded HS or 5.6 US
equivalent); and Jackdaw Ridge (graded D
or 5.3 US equivalent) are all easy ones to do
with kids. None of the routes are bolted, so
you need to bring your own protection. If
you need new gear, Needle Sports, located
in the town of Keswick, is the go-to gear
shop for climbers. You can also pick up local
climbing route guides and maps of the Lake
District mountains here too.
When planning your visit to the Lake
District, self-catering cottages are the
ideal place to stay because you can often
walk straight from your door onto the fells.

Newlands Valley, Borrowdale Valley and Buttermere are perfect locations, often having
cottages in remote and peaceful locations.
If thats beyond your budget, there are really nice youth hostels in Borrowdale and
Buttermere, plenty of pubs have rooms, or
many of the local farms offer B&B accommodation.
My top tip is to come prepared for any
kind of weather when visiting the Lake District. Bring your waterproofs because it will
rain no matter what time of year you visit.
Come with an open mind and a spirit for
adventure, the mountains in the Lake District
are magical.
Useful resources
Getting to the Lake District
Fly to Manchester or Glasgow and hire a
car for the 2-2.5-hour drive
lakedistrict.gov.uk Lake District National Park
walklakes.co.uk useful summary of all of
the different walks in the Lake District
northlakes.co.uk things to do in the
North Lakes
Jen is an avid boxer, scuba diver,
runner, rock climber and hiker who can
often be found exploring the very best of
the UAE and the world with her two kids
Matt and Eva.
OUTDOORUAE
25
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
The Druk Path Diaries:
Exploring Bhutan
Words + Photos by: Fahd Abu Aisha
Theres another encounter with

Yaks and a trip to a monastery in
store for Fahd Abu Aisha, in part
three of the Druk Path Diaries.
Day 5, November 3rd:
The Life of a Monk
The fire had kept my body warm throughout the night. However, I happened to fall
asleep on my left shoulder, thus leading to
a tremendous amount of discomfort the
following day. I lay mummified in the sleeping bag, willing the suns rays to hit my tent
before I had to emerge -but they never did.
Not a good omen. The sun hid between
the skirts of a gaggle of clouds while fog
clamoured over the looming mountains and
swept down upon us. We hurriedly ate our
breakfast and set off on our way to the other
side of the lake and up the trail over one of
the mountains. The weather was cold but my
body started to warm up as my thighs tautened with every stride, trudging upwards on
the slope.
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Eventually after traversing over a series of

hills we encountered our biggest obstacle,
greater than Mr. Alpha-male Aggressive Yak
we had previously played Super Mario with.
This time there was a whole colony of them

standing before us and unlike last time our
only option was to surge forth. Any attempt
to maneuver around them would have
resulted in a very long fall down the mountain. There were no yak herders in sight and
Tashi was again hesitant. I urged that we
didnt really have a choice, our only option
being to wait for the chef and the horseman
to arrive, and who knew how long it would
take them.
There were baby yaks amongst the adult
yaks. As we walked past two babies, one
of them let out a little shriek. It caught its
mothers attention. Like the boy who cried
wolf, the threatened baby rushed between
its mothers legs and nodded accusingly
toward us, with what I thought was a smug
smirk on its face. The mother stared at
us reproachfully, but Tashi and I were
having none of it as we pushed through the
creatures, continuing our trail. We carried

on over a ridge and then descended into
another valley, which also had a massive,
(albeit smaller than the previous nights)
lake. It was there we met the yak herders

and Tashi had a few choice words for them
about leaving them unattended.
We walked a little further along the Dried

Lake (legend has it the lake was enormous,
but throughout time had evaporated into
a much smaller size) and it was here where
we finally met tourists that were not Frank
and Nancy. They were American as well
and were doing the trek in the opposite
direction, from Thimpu to Paro. We said
our hellos and exchanged small talk before
continuing on our way. After traversing
up and down through different valleys for
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almost four hours, our chef and horseman

were still nowhere in sight. It was slightly
worrying as the horses were expected to
have caught up by now in time for lunch.
Tashi instructed that we climb to the peak
of the hill we were walking up on, so we
could see if the horses were coming in the
distance.
It took about 20 minutes before we
heard the bells of the leader horse coming
over the valley with our dear chef in tow
from the opposite side of where we were

perched. By then we had begun to freeze.
The sun had never come out of its shell of
clouds, smothered by a grey blanket that
seemed to also be draped on us. We had
reached the highest point on this trek at
4000m and it wasnt the best of places to
sit for lunch, but we did it anyway. The chef
explained they had left the camp a little
later than usual and the steepness of the
slopes slowed them down, hence their tardiness. By the time we were done eating I
had almost frozen so we got up and started
walking again.
Over the course of an hour we trekked
against the beautiful mountains of the
Himalayas, most of their surfaces virgin to
the fingerprints of climbers. This is because the government has decreed their
peaks to be sacred; they are believed to be
the dwellings of the deities. We reached
our final campsite of the day, another lake
SimkotraTsho.
The wind was blowing hard, turning the
air particles into frozen needles that burned
my skin. I imagine that this was how it felt
to attain body piercings. It was only 1pm
and I told Tashi it would be impossible
to sit around in this freezing environment
for the next 8 hours before it was time to
sleep. He agreed and informed the chef of
a change of plan; we would head directly
to Phajoding Monastery, which would take
another 3 hours of walking. The cold had
injected me with enough jittery adrenaline
to make it.
It was evident we were approaching
our destination as we passed by tourists
and Bhutanese locals on the trek. It was a

special religious day that Tashi was not entirely aware of; the day Buddha descended
again. It was also Tashis birthday, a fact he
was reminded of after bumping into a few
locals he knew, who were good enough
friends to remind him. A lot of them were
hiking up to Dong Tsho Lake, the magical
lake, where it is said a mermaid resides
within its waters. We were almost at our
destination, reaching the small watchtower
at the peak of the final ridge, where the
city of Thimpu lay on the other side. It
was a view I could enjoy only briefly as the

incessant fog caught up with us again and
jealously obstructed our view of the capital.
We continued down the final slope to the
monasteries.
The trail was now crowded with the
locals paying their respects to the various
monasteries scattered along the side of the
mountain. It was a welcome interruption, as
we had been in isolation for three days.
We visited Thushedaa Monastery, where
the monk shared its history. Built in the
13th century, most of it had been restored
throughout the years. We drank some holy

water, thanked the monk and headed to
our camp.
The tents were set up a stones throw
away from another temple (of which I do
not recall its name). Inside our main tent, a
local group of Bhutanese women were seated inside having lunch. The chef had made
me some snacks and tea and we took some
pictures together with the monasteries in
the background. The women emerged and
requested if they could take a picture with
me. Tashi joked that the women wanted to
go back to town and make their husbands
jealous with me draped on their arms. I
laughed and happily obliged, finally feeling
a semblance of home. The chef, who knew
the monk of the monastery we had camped
outside told me to go and sit inside the
monks home with the heater on where it
would be warmer.
The monk came to sit with us once he
had finished his duties and explained some
of the daily rituals that were required of
him. This included emptying seven cups of
water that were placed on his altar by himself, which he refilled every morning. The
seven cups represent the first seven steps
Buddha took when he was first born and it
is a ritual that honors him. He sat with us
for the rest of the evening sharing his love
for his beliefs and his ambitions to be a role
model for the younger generation and to
spread positivism throughout the country. It
was a very enlightening experience and we
shared a cup of warm tea before I retreated
back into my tent for one last night out in
the open.
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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
One car, two islands, three thousand kilometres:
DISCOVERING NEW ZEALAND
Words by: Romain Loubeyre and Angelica Motpan

Photos by: Romain Loubeyre
Sound) to North (Auckland). The first two
nights were sorted out before the trip, then
We had been longing totravel
we would improvise along the way. June
to New Zealand for 15 years, and
is a winter month in New Zealand,which is
finally made the decision to embark off-season, so we did not have any trouble
finding accommodation at short notice. We
on the trip of a lifetime in June
did not need to book activities in advance
2016.
either. It suited our travel styleperfectly.
It is certainly not the easiest trip: a 17hour flight to Auckland (new Emirates direct
Day 1: Queenstown
flights from Dubai), or the cheapest (budget
Queenstown, in the Otago region, is suris around AED 8,000/pax), and for us
rounded from all sides by mountains. To
included a 3-hour stopover, beforeanother
make things even better, it is built on the
2.5 hours travelling to Queenstown airport
side of a magnificent lake. All the ingrediand finally starting the first few kilometres
ents for a perfect lifestyle gathered in one
with our rental car (4WD recommended in
place. Something we read recently made us
winter). But no matter the effort required,
think of thisregion: There is a subtle peace
there is one consensus among all visitors to
that only the mountains can offer. Their presthe country: it is all worth it.
ence is magnetic. A quick gaze can quickly
Our plan was simple: 14 days on the road
turn to hours. For some, their sights become
to cross New Zealand from South (Milford
transfixed and the will to be in their
presence becomes almost as strong as the

need to breathe. (Chris Burkard)
Day 2: Glenorchy
Testing of our car on mountain roads before

the big drive to Milford Sound was tough,
yet rewarding. The sinuous roads of the
South Islands are challenging, but also offer
the best mountain driving we have ever experienced. Mother nature threw everything
she had at us on that day; heavy rain, thick
fog, strong winds, hail, all of that while driving on the left side for the first time on roads
that are barely large enough for two cars.
Lets just say that we were happy to arrive at
our destination and felt like we were ready
for the long road ahead of us.
Glenorchyis at the northern end of the lake
Wakatipu, a very isolated part of the Otago
region in winter. With the dramatic weather,
the surrounding mountains, lakes and forests
constituted a very cinematic sight and offered
some easyoff-road driving experience.
Queenstown
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31
Black Sand Beach near Waikato
Road to Milford
Day 3: Onward to Milford Sound
The road from Queenstown to Milford

Sound is a 4-hour drive, but allow some
time for frequent stops, for the scenery on
the way is as varied as it is awe-inspiring.
The Devils Staircase road holds to its name
(especially if you lose one of your lenses in
the middle of the drive) and will put your
driving skills to the test.
It is important to check the weather at
your destination, because the drive down to
the Sound is one of the most challenging in
New Zealand, and frost could be an issue in
winter. We did not encounter frost, but were
attacked by wild parrots (the inoffensive but
curious Kea birds) and survived one of the
biggest rainstorms of our lives, which is not
unusual in one of the wettest places on earth.
Day 4: Milford to Arrowtown
After a complete change of weather, we

enjoyed a must-do 2-hour boat ride within
the Sound under a bright blue sky. The
Milford Sound
32
Glacial Lake next to Mount Cook
landscape and wildlife of the Sound are very

unique, giving us the feeling that we were
visiting Isla Nublar, looking out for Pterodactyls along the way (we did not see any).
Once Milford Sound was crossed from our
bucket list, it was time to start the long way
up north.
300km later, our next stop was Arrowtown.
The city is a former gold-mining community.
Walking around felt like being in the Far
West in 1890; we were expecting gun-fights
around the next corner (there were none).
It is also the start of mountain trails to
some isolated ghost towns dating from the
golden age of mining. These are best done
in Autumn, with fresh air and golden leaves
shining under the morning sun: pretty epic.
Day 5: Arrowtown to Mount Cook
We took the Cardrona mountain road to

Wanaka, stopping along the way to appreciate the bird-eye view of the valleys. The
golden-grass filled landscape makes this a
worthwhile detour.
Seal Pups under Ohau Waterfall
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Glacial Lake with a view of Mount Cook
Wanaka is a nice little town located on the

south side of Lake Wanaka. We had little
time so went straight to that Tree (loc:
-44.698348, 169.117626), a mandatory stop
for all photographers. Seeing Mount Aspiring just around the corner, it was tempting
to visit it, but we had to move on to our next
destination: Mount Cook!
Day 6: Visiting the Southern Alps
Now that place screams adventure: high

mountains, deep glacier lakes, trails going in
every direction, a billion-star night sky (the
whole region being a night-sky reservation).
We could (should?) have spent a few weeks
just there exploring the surroundings. Next
time probably
We stayed in a hotel located right at the
entrance of the Hooker Valley Track, which
we did the next morning: a 4-hour tramp to
the glacier lake and back, with unravelling
views of Mount Cook itself along the way. If
you can bring a tent, camping on the side of
the lake is highly recommended.
Hobbiton
Pukaki Lake
Days 7 to 9: The long way north
Highlights of the way to Christ church then

Picton included: the glacial blue Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo (well known for the classic
shots of the Church of the Good Shepherd)
and the little-less known Mount Sunday
(aka movie set of Edoras), being attacked
by a seal on the side of the road, visiting
a waterfall with seal pups playing under it,
vineyards all over the place and a welldeserved burger in what seemed to be the
only open restaurant in the city (apart from
the local Irish pub obviously, these guys are
never closed).
Beware: if you decide to cross to the north
island via ferry, consider that you will have
to give your rental car back in Picton and
get a new car in Wellington. We had done
close to 2,000km by now, so it was with
some sadness that we said goodbye to our
travel companion. The ferry ride itself was
great. Do spend time on the upper deck to
check for dolphins, which often swim near
the boats leaving the harbour as if to wish
farewell to the explorers of the wild South
Island.
Windy Welly, as Wellington is known, has
a special atmosphere, reminding me of San
Francisco or Reykjavik. Spend the evening
strolling Cuba Street if you have some time,
the night market is a place worth visiting.
Day 10: To the volcanoes
Enough time spent in a city, it was time to

go back to the wild countryside. After a visit
of the Kaitoke Regional Park (great hikes,
hanging bridges, millennia old rain forest,
kayaking spots and Rivendell movie set), we
took the fast road to the Tongariro National
Park.
The snowless peaks (winter came late this
year in New Zealand) werent disappointing.
Make sure to check for volcanic alerts before
your visit; Tongariro is home of active volcanoes such as Mount Ruapehu (last eruption
in 2007). The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
tramping track is a 19.4km, 7-hour walk
which is worth keeping you busy for a day.
Days 11 to 13: Hobbits,

Geysers and Glowworms
Lake Taupo is a great base for a few adventures: sailing to impressive Maori rock
carvings, rafting on nearby rapids, skydiving,
bungee jumpingit has it all. We visited the
Craters of the Moon geothermal park and
witnessed the release of the Aratiatia rapids
(fixed schedule available online) before continuing our journey toward Matamata, where
we would immerse our 12-year old selves in
a recreation of Tolkiens shire.
Expensive but worth our time, we went
for the first tour of the day to Hobbiton, the
very set where the Shires scenes in the movies were filmed. Rotorua Te Puia geothermal
site was our next stop to see some geysers
and geothermal mud pools. The ensuing
2-hour night drive to Waitomo was fun but
challenging (a Mad-Max-soundtrack-onrepeat-to-stay-awake kind of drive).
A north-island must-do, the WaitomoGlowworm Caves are quite a unique site.
We did the short 2-hour visit, which was a
bit too touristy for our taste. Next time a
Mount Ngauruhoe
Entrance to the Glowworm Cave
full-day caving experience will be on the

list. Something which is usually not on the
tourist-guides: you can go at night, by yourself, to the entrance of some of the caves to
enjoy the sight of glowworms in their natural
habitat. The 30-minute hike through the
rainforest with headlights on and swiss-army
knives at hand (just in case) was indeed an
experience to behold, maybe more impressive than the glowworm caves themselves.
Day 14: Fare Thee Well
We had reached the end of our journey;

our last drive on the west coast, the last
rain before going back to the hot, cloudless
summer in Dubai. 3000 km on the counter,
countless memories, even more RAW files
(still not completely processed obviously).
New Zealand, thank you for the wonderful
adventures and we will see you again
sometime soon.
Mount Cook nightsky reservation
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Words + Photos by: Chris and Amanda Fraser
Our first six weeks on the

road were absolutely incredible.
Botswana had presented us with
some of the most amazing wildlife
experiences and we still had
Moremi and Chobe National Park
to look forward to.
As we entered Third Bridge in Moremi,
Chris noticed a few elephants. We went
to the office to sign in and got a better
glimpse of these massive creatures. We
watched closely as one woman got a little
bit too close and the elephant gave her a
friendly reminder to stay out of his personal
space! Two other vehicles had taken note
and started to snap away as the ellies sauntered inches from our vehicle. This disturbed
the herd, sending them into a stampede towards the camp. We drove through the gate
to site number seven and there to welcome
us were none other than the 11 spooked ellies. We remained hostage as the elephants
slowly made their way through, stopping
along the way to grab a quick bite or two.
The animals of Moremi were not finished
welcoming us. As we were preparing our
braai, Chris heard a sound in the bush behind us and calmly said, Check that hyena
behind us. Speaking so nonchalantly, it
hadnt quite registered. Sure enough, there
he wasone healthy looking spotted hyena.
Surely hed smelt the lamb chops and wors;
unfortunately for him dinner was not yet
served.
After a scrumptious meal, a little graveyard of bones were left on the outskirts of
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our camp just in case our friend wanted to

have another visit. And who could resist
some leftovers? We sat around the fire and
watched as the hyena came back to our
site. We all sat still listening to this massive
scavenger sniffing around for his portion.
Although my heart was beating out of my
chest, I felt quite calm considering this
hyena was a mere 10 meters away. Everyone else was very relaxed which eased the
nerves a bit! Jem continued to shine the
spotlight on him as we all sat entertained.
He got uncomfortably close after finishing
his bones. We sat frozen. My mind started to
racewere we now doused in the aromatic
smells of dinner? Did he crave some tender

American meat? Noticing the hyenas close
proximity, Jem stood up behind us and his
imposing figure sent the hyena in the other
direction.
The hyena had finished his tour of campsite seven and moved towards the other
unknowing dinner hosts. Within seconds
we heard a blood-curdling scream followed
by some panicked Oh my Gods! Simultaneously, two car doors slammed shut. We
looked around stunned. Had someone been
attacked? A nervous tension filled the air
until we heard an almost inaudible apology.
Someone had received the fright of her life.
Our last stop in Botswana was in Chobe
National Park (Ihaha). We were welcomed by
a pride of lion 16 strong. We were informed
that they had last killed two nights prior and
would definitely be on the hunt soon. We
woke up before the sun to visit the pride. All
the lions were eyeing down a herd of 1000
buffalo crossing the river. Had there been
any stragglers during the river crossing,
breakfast would have been served. We left
the pride knowing that 16 rumbling tummies

would definitely be calling in the afternoon.
Our afternoon drive led us back to the
same area a few kilometres outside of camp.
Sure enough, there was the pride scattered
out in the middle of a pan basking in the
sun. Every few minutes the head matriarch
would scan the area. A herd of zebra caught
her eye and all of the pride took on the
crouch position. Unknowingly, the zebra moseyed on down from the bush into an open
battlefield. A younger lioness led the pack,
choosing a small hill to hide behind. Two of
the other members went to her left in hopes
to head off the zebra once the hunt was on.
Unfortunately, the young lioness jumped the
gun. The other lions were not in place as
she darted out in the direction of the zebra.
The entire pan filled with dust; the zebra
were now on foot, but only the one lion was
in the race. The young lioness was always a
few meters too far. She exerted her last bits
of energy in a leap towards the zebra but
came up short. Hunt over, dinner was not
yet served.
The next morning we knew that the time
had come; the pride of 16 would definitely

need to eat. We hoped they hadnt killed
during the night. We arrived to the scene:
two lionesses lying flat out appearing double in size. Wed missed the kill. We went
down to have a closer look: 3 cubs and two
females were still chowing; the pride had
taken down an elephant. What an experience; thank you Botswana.
Outdoor season is coming back and we cant wait to take advantage of it! Whether you are heading out to
Rak Vegas or Omans Sharaf for climbing adventures, make sure you pack well. Here is a guide that will help you
packing just the right kit you need.
Words by: Vanda Turcerova

Photos by: Nyi Nyi Aung
Climbing Kit:
A 35L gearbagis the right size for you

essential kit. All your equipment will fit
neatly inside. Gearbags differ from a regular
backpack in fabric, cut and simplicity, as
they are designed for this purpose. Fabric is
waterproof and sturdy designed to survive
rocky floors and the rough climbing handling. Climbing equipment is not delicate;
you carry carabineers, slings and ropes. A
good gearbag will protect your essentials
well. Of course you also need rope, around
60m in length, and preferably in its own
bag. Rope protection is needed if you want
your rope to last beyond two seasons.
36
OUTDOORUAE
Slings are essential for outdoor

climbing. They are simply tied or a sewn
loop of webbing. Pack 30-60cm lengths of
at least two pieces. You will use these as
anchors, to extend an anchor to reduce rope
drag, in anchor equalisation, or to climb a
rope. Carabineers are your connectors; we
recommend two screwgate and two twist
lock options. Both differ slightly in application but all carabineers are designed to
connect and protect. You will also want to
pack at least ten quick draws. Also called
extenders, their function is to optimise rope
management once on the wall; one carabineer clips into the walls bolt or anchor and
the other carabineer provides loop for your
rope and therefore guides it smoothly to
continue the pitch.
A Harness keeps you safe and alive, whilst

a Belay device (Buddy, Cinch, Shuttle) assists
you in belaying and taking off the weight of
your climbing partner. You will also want a
lightweight helmet for protection. Chalk is
essential to keep your hands dry and performing; keep it in suitably sized chalk bag
around your waist. Grip
savers will help you warm up your fingers
and finger tape will support your ligaments
and help you keep climbing.
NEVER FORGET a hydration system, sun
protection, food solution, comfortable clothing. As always, carry a small bag with you
and take your trash away when you leave.
The kit above is available at all major sports
and outdoor stores throughout the UAE.
The UAE and beyond offers amazing trekking trips all year around. Make the most out of your adventure by
carrying just the right stuff.
Words by: Vanda Turcerova

Photos by: Nyi Nyi Aung
Starting with a backpack, the recommended size for a day trek is 35 liters. While
you are carrying a relatively small amount of
items that are individually lightweight, the
combined weight may surprise you. Your
backpack needs to be accessible from various points, the back contact surface requires
breathability and straps must be sturdy and
comfortable. Airzone Trek + packs are great
choice. Trekking poles are always useful in
providing balance and support. Good trekking shoes are absolute must; yours should
be worn in and comfortable enough to carry
you beyond your planned route.
Even if you are trekking a route you are familiar with, always keep navigation tools on
you: a good compass, map with protective
case and guidebook may just save your life.

You will want to make sure you know how to
read these before so get practicing ahead
your trip. Never leave without an emergency
Thermal Blanket, whistle and first aid kit.
You may need sudden shelter or protection.
A good headlamp with spare batteries also
goes a long way the sun sets quickly so
dont get caught in a potentially dangerous
situation without it. Even if you dont plan
on camping, you should have a fire starter,
matches or lighter on you. Keep these in
waterproof container and make sure you do
not forget multi-tool knife.
Very recommended are binoculars there
are many times that you might just wish you
had these on you no matter how short your
trek may be; observing nature is highly
satisfying. Pack a quick-drying towel too;
it is handy, doesnt take much space and
gets you clean quickly. Other personal

hygiene and protection items you will
want to carry are paper tissues, insect
repellent and for the germophobe in you,
hand sanitiser(contains alcohol so you can
clean minor cuts and scratches with it too).
We also recommend spare clothing, at least
top layer, for any sudden change is weather
or simply to keep as optional change for the
return journey.
As always, stay hydrated, protect your
exposed areas and your head against sun
and wind and carry enough food and water
to last you well beyond your trip duration.
Do not leave your trash anywhere in nature.
Happy trekking!
The kit above is available at all major sports
and outdoor stores throughout UAE.
OUTDOORUAE
37
Habitually healthy
Gluten Free Delights!
Words by: Muneira Al Adwani
When I was first diagnosed as

a coeliac it felt a little like a life
sentence. Suddenly I found myself
spending half my time reading
ingredient lists at supermarkets
and trying to explain to people
that I wasnt just following a new
celebrity diet trend but actually had
an autoimmune disease, which in
itself sounds fairly aggressive.
I still hate having to ask for gluten free

menus or going to a friends house for
dinner and having to remind them in
advance that I cant eat a whole bunch of
foods. Luckily, in this day and age, largely
thanks to celebrities and athletes, gluten
free options are plentiful, in both restaurants
and supermarkets. Dubai is jam-packed with
choices when it comes to eating out, and
The Cycle Bistro is a personal favourite.
When it comes to other restaurants, if you
cant find a gluten free menu online, just
remember to call ahead and make sure that

they know youre coming; more often than
not theyll be able to cater to you.
Cooking at home has also become
easier, as there are so many gluten free
alternatives available to us, which means
I dont have to watch while everyone
munches on my favourite brownies, or
struggle to find something aside from fruit
or eggs to eat for breakfast. Recently I
stumbled across a recipe for flourless
apple cinnamon muffins, which are perfect
for breakfast on the go and can be made
in bulk to last a while, although theyre
so delicious that you may find yourself
munching on them fresh out the oven. I
hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Flourless Apple Cinnamon Muffins

For the muffins:
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
6 Tbsp. honey
1/4 cup creamy almond butter
1/2 cup oats
2 Tbsp. ground flax
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
For the streusel topping:
2 Tbsp. quick oats
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. coconut oil
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375F and prepare a
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OUTDOORUAE
muffin pan by spraying 9 cavities with

cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Prepare the streusel topping by
combining all ingredients in a small bowl.
Set aside.
3. Add all muffin ingredients to a
high-speed blender in the order listed and
blend on high until oats are broken down
and batter is smooth and creamy.
4. Pour batter into prepared muffin pan,
filling each cavity until it is about full.
Sprinkle with a small spoonful of streusel
topping.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops
of your muffins are set and a toothpick
inserted into the middle comes out
clean. Allow muffins to cool in pan for
around 10 minutes before removing.
Store in an airtight container for up to a
week.
The Cycle Bistro

GPS location:
Latitude:
N 25 02.792
Longitude:
E 055 14.384
Phone:
04 425 3000
Braai World
Putting the Braai in your BBQ!
Established in 2014 to bring
the best of African outdoor cooking
to the UAE, Braai World imports
an impressive range of Southern
African products to evoke the true
spirit of Africa when entertaining
your friends at home.
Starting with long burning aromatic
Namibian hardwood logs cut from
environmentally sustainable bushveld
sources deep in the Namib desert and
ending with colourful enameled cast iron
cookware, Braai World has everything you
need to showcase your skills as a master
chef.
Using our South African made heavy duty
stainless steel utensils and accessories to
cook your meat will showcase your skills
as a chef to perfection, whilst preparing,
cooking and serving your food on our
Himalayan salt plates from Nepal only adds
further to the culinary experience as your
friends enjoy a relaxing sundowner whilst
you prepare their meal.
After enjoying the feast you have
prepared, the glowing embers invite you
and your guests to sit around the fire
reminiscing about times gone by and
looking forward to the good times still to

come.
Memories and aromas of far off places
or dreams of places yet to be discovered
fill your thoughts as you make your way to
sleep after a truly memorable Braai World
evening.
Whether you select Sekelbos,
Kameeldoring or Mopani wood for your fire,
all our hardwoods are long-lasting and
hotter burning, giving off beautiful big
flames which not only cook your food with
flavour and make for a great braai, but also
create that wonderful atmosphere that feels
like youre under an open African sky.
Sekelbos burns hot with big high
red/orange vibrant flames. It is a clean
burning wood with a very distinctive smell
when burning and is fantastic for naturally
adding flavour to your meat while it cooks.
Kameeldoring has a red and orange flame
which burns tamer than its wild counterpart
Sekelbos. Once youve got this fire kindled
and burning, expect to spend the rest of
your evening being transported to the
bushveld, as the wonderful wild smell of this
wood drifts across the air. Kameeldoring
is wonderful for those evenings where you
want to socialise and catch up with friends

and family.
Mopani is such an extremely hard wood
that even termites avoid eating these trees.
Mopani is the longest burning wood that we
sell, and is a very popular wood for fireplaces. It has a small blue/purple flame and
the coals retain their heat long after the fire
is dead.
At Braai World we are passionate about
importing the highest quality products for
you to enjoy and purchasing these could not
be easier thanks to our online shop at
www.braaiworld.ae which offers direct sales
with home delivery right to your doorstep.
Our fast growing relationships with our
retail partners have also expanded our client
base tremendously and our products are
now available at a large number of quality
retailers throughout the region.
Whichever you choose, its as easy as 1,
2, 3 and you could be sitting in front of your
very own African fire burning away into the
night.
Available at www.braaiworld.ae and in
the following regions across the UAE:
Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Al Qudra and
Madinat Zayed (Western Region).
For more information regarding retail
outlets, please visit our website.
OUTDOORUAE
39
Dubai
International
Boat Show
28 Feb - 4 Mar 2017
Dubai International Marine Club, Mina Seyahi
SELL THE WATERSPORT

LIFESTYLE TO 28,000
ENTHUSIASTS
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and has average household incomes above $100k
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For exhibiting & sponsorship
opportunities call us on
+971 4 308 6275/6204 or email
dubai.boatshow@dwtc.com
With 66% of our visitors actively taking part in water sports more
than twice a month, make sure you position your product at the
heart of the regions watersport culture with an exciting range of live
demonstrations, hands on displays and exhilarating visitor activities.
ORGANISED BY
VENUE
SUPPORTING
MARITIME
AUTHORITY
boatshowdubai.com
OFFICIAL
MAGAZINE
PARTNER
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PARTNER
OFFICIAL
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PRODUCTS
A ROUND-UP OF QUALITY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN THE UAE
Firewood and Accessories
Bonk Breaker Energy Bars and chews
Available at www.braaiworld.ae and in the following regions

across the UAE: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Al Qudra and
Madinat Zayed (Western Region). For more information
regarding retail outlets, please visit our website.
Available at: Adventure HQ, Trek Bikes stores,

Wolfis Bike Shop, Beyond Fitness, Yas Cycles,
The Cycle House and through Sport In Life
Dry dense hardwood with 6% moisture

Gives an African bushveld aroma
Minimal smoke, bark and mess
Burns hotter and longer
Beautiful big orange, red and blue
flames to create the perfect outdoor
atmosphere
Cooks food and flavours food
to perfection
More popular than local hardwoods
(which have become illegal to harvest
for firewood in UAE)
More popular than imported white
woods from Europe
Price stability with more and more clients buying from Braai World
High quality ingredients

Natural and minimally processed
Gluten, dairy and soy free
Available in delicious flavours such as salted caramel and
peanut butter and jelly
Energy chews are also available
Based in Santa Monica, USA, these freshly baked real food

energy and protein bars are the perfect source of fuel for both
elite level athletes and busy people who are always on the go.
Bars are gluten, dairy and soy free, and are the official nutrition
partner of USA cycling and USA swimming.
Instant Tent Coleman
Campingaz B.B.Q
Available at Hypermarket Showroom (Meena Zayed Warehouse

Area Warehouse No. 260, behind Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society
Meena Mall)
Available at Hypermarket Showroom (Meena Zayed Warehouse

Area Warehouse No. 260, behind Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society
Meena Mall)
150D/150D Polyester/taped seams

Spacious interior has room for 1 queen airbed; 8 x 7 ft. footprint,
4 ft. 10 in. center height
Pre-assembled poles for fast and easy setup in about a minute
WeatherTec systems patented welded floors and inverted
seams help keep water out
Illumiline reflective guy lines for greater visibility at night
Built-in vented rainfly for extra weather protection
Double enameled cast iron grill + griddle

Side burner
Electronic Ignition
2 drawers for collecting fat
Rubber wheels
4 cast iron burners
Power: 21 kW + 2,3 kW
No lava rocks required
Equipped with a double enamelled cast iron grill and griddle
Hose and regulator
are sold separately
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TRED PRO TOTAL RECOVERY

AND EXTRACTION DEVICE
Words by: Marina Bruce
Photos by: Tiaan Nieuwoldt
TRED Pro is a new Total

Recovery and Extraction Device,
designed to make self-recovery
possible in various offroad terrains.
Whether it be mud or sand, these
traction boards will allow drivers
to extract their own vehicles from
stuck situations in a safe manner.
I tried these out in the Liwa area in the first
week of September when the weather was
hot, and in no time at all I managed to get
myself stuck deliberately, I hasten to add!
The most difficult stucks to self-recover from
are those on the flat, where gravity cannot
lend a hand, so we chose a soft, flat area to
test the TRED Pros.
It is always a good thing to check the
product before you head to the desert,
whether it be a winch, a pair of gloves or
even a solo-extraction device, so I unpacked
these at home; I even read the instructions.
I could instantly feel that they were made
of a high quality, strong material and quite
different to competitors products. Evolve
have been selling TRED recovery tracks for
around four years now and with feedback
and some useful insight from their customers as to how they actually use their traction boards, they have developed the next
generation, TRED-Pro. Manufactured
from EXOTRED , a composite which has
good flexibility and superior durability and
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strength, TRED Pros offer a lifetime warranty.

The accompanying instructions give sound
advice to make your recoveries as easy and
effective as possible.
Firstly, once you know you are stuck, stop
trying to accelerate out of it. Power rarely
wins when you are stuck in sand and putting
the pedal to the metal will only make the
eventual recovery more difficult to achieve.
Decide whether you are going to go
forwards or backwards once you get
moving, and clear the sand away from
either the front or the back of the tyres. You
can do this without even reaching for your
spade, as TRED Pros come with an integral
shovel, designed to clear sand quickly. The
smooth grips on each side of the tracks were
comfortable to hold for both small and large
hands and although unwieldy at first, I soon
got the hang of it.
Having never dug out a car with a rectangular green board before I was surprised just
how much sand it could shift in a very short
time; testament to the TRED Pros ergonomic design. Of course the job was done even
quicker when my husband joined in!
Once the sand was adequately cleared,
the contoured ramp slipped easily into
position under the rear tyres and then it was
only a matter of selecting 4LOW and gently
pressing the accelerator to reverse out. The
developers at TRED Pro have analysed
the tread pattern of the most popular allterrain tyres and optimised the grip position
on the traction boards accordingly; I felt

these really took a hold of my Pirelli
Scorpion ATRs.
Cheap recovery tracks often melt due to
a build-up of heat caused by the friction of
spinning tyres, rendering them smooth and
useless for future recoveries, but TRED Pros
have black gripping teeth which have
been engineered to have a high melt-point;
this means that if you do spin your wheels
accidentally then your boards will remain
serviceable.
Having tried these out in Liwa in the summer I find myself wondering how many tricky
self-recoveries over the last seven years
could have been made so much easier with
a set.
Whether carried on a roof rack or in the
car, they take up little space and only add
a few kilograms to the payload, so they are
well worth carrying either as your primary
recovery device or as added insurance if
you have a winch.
TRED Pro have been developed and
manufactured in Australia by Evolve,
and are available in the UAE from AAA and
Mebar in Dubai for 1,100 AED for a set of
two.
Over the years I have seen many cheap
traction boards break or melt during
recoveries and so I have resisted using
these; from now on however, I will definitely
carry a set of TRED Pros whenever my
journey takes me off the tarmac!
PRODUCTS
The Ledlenser SEO7R
The Ledlenser X21R.2
Available at GO Sport, Adventure HQ, Tasleeh Entertainment,

Souq.com, Virgin Megastore and Speedex

The SEO 7R, powerful and lightweight, features Smart Light

Technology for switching quickly between high and low
power and a signal mode and LED LENSERs patented
Advanced Focus System for either a wide beam for reading
a map, or a powerful spot for long distance visibility. The
patented OPTISENSE technology, allows the torch to adjust
its brightness automatically, saving battery life and providing
the user with just the right amount of light, hands free. The
SEO 7R also has a red light mode for preserving night vision.
Comes with carabiner clip for carrying on the go, and features
a swivelling head to direct light exactly where its needed.
Stand asidethis rechargeable flashlight will light a

construction site, backyard or campground at 3200 powerful
lumens. Weve upgraded and updated this light with a 200%
improved run time (up to 40 hours!), a rechargeable Safety
Ytrion Cell battery, and a Fast Action Switch for quickly moving
between light functions. The seven reflector lenses were newly
recalculated in conjunction with all-new LED chips for a more
homogeneous lit area and better light distribution. The X21R.2
puts most car headlamps to shame.
365 AED
220 Lumens
20 Hour Runtime
130M Beam Distance
Rechargeable
2,425 AED
3200 Lumens
40 Hour Runtime
700M Beam Distance
Rechargeable
The Ledlenser XEO19R
The Ledlenser P7.2


The XEO19R utilises ground-breaking technology to achieve

impressive performance for any activity. Our independent
focusing lenses, easily operated by our dynamic control pad,
allow you to stay in control after dark. In addition to lighting
your way, power your lifestyle and the rest of your electronic
devices with our rechargeable power bank battery. With a LED
LENSER XEO19R, night becomes your new frontier. After all,
why should you stop just because the sun called it quits?
Available in Black, White and Green
This light is one of the most popular LED

flashlights on the market today. The P7.2
flashlight has simple to remember
high/low/off settings, and features the
Advanced Focus System to quickly cast
a far-off spot, or close up spill light for
reading. Extremely durable anodized
aluminum casing surrounds the four AAA
batteries needed to power this impressively
bright light, enhanced by a new CREE LED
chip. The all-new P7.2 is the perfect
combination of size, power, reliability and
easy-to-use operation great for camping,
hunting, hiking, walking the dog, work and
more
1,315 AED
2000 Lumens
20 Hour Runtime
300M Beam Distance
Rechargeable
245 AED
320 Lumens
50 Hour Runtime
260M Beam Distance
4 X AAA Batteries
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PRODUCTS
SIC X-12.6 Air Glide
SIC Recon 11.11 Tough Wood
Exclusively available at GO Sport stores in UAE and Qatar
This touring / fitness / race board is perfect for family fun,

fitness and for competing in the 126 inflatable race class. The
X-12.6 Air-Glide is the stiffest board in its class at 20 PSI. While
this board is a great recreational fun, it is also the fastest race
board in its class. The board is kitted with all the standard
accessories offered in the SIC Air-Glide series, Paddle, Fin,
Carry Bag & high pressure pump.
The Recon 11.11 is at home in the surf or on the lake. Its length
and generous volume make it a board for the whole family. If
you want an all-round touring cruising board, try your hand at
downwind paddling or playing in the surf, then give the Recon
11.11 a try. This board can do it all.
SIC Coil Leash - 8ft x 7mm
SIC Adjustable Glide Paddle
110 AED/QAR
835 AED/QAR
Molded leash ends

Double swivels, Triple wrap rail saver
Quick release 1 1/2 ankle wrap cuff
Key pocket in cuff
Adjustable from 67 to 87 inches.

Blade: 90 sq
4,725 AED/QAR
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4,725 AED/QAR
The adjustable glide is the perfect entry-level paddle for

everyone from a small child to a tall adult. It has a strong but
light fiberglass shaft for a good look and feel and a fibreglass
blade and handle for maximum durability and low cost.
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Words by: Paul Cheetham
As a serious road rider I dont

get to do a huge amount of
mountain biking so when I do it
doesnt tend to be on superbikes
that cost tens of thousands of
dirhams. My off road tastes tend
to be more realistically priced,
which is why the B-Twin Rockrider
720s from Decathlon ticks so many
boxes for me.
Decathlon are known worldwide for
providing a no-nonsense, good value
solution to everyones sporting
requirements, and the 720s is a great
example of this ethos. B-Twin, Decathlons in
house bike brand, have managed to deliver
a very capable, well specd, full suspension
mountain bike at a very accessible price point
which certainly wont put too big a dent in
anyones bank balance. Coming in at
AED 5,975, the 720s compares very
favourably to a number of higher profile
brands offerings, and paired with
accessories from Decathlons wide range of
in-house brands I was up and running with
change from AED

7,000 still in my
pocket! I was using
mid-range
accessories and
clothing but there
are helmets, riding
glasses, apparel and
hydration solutions
available at various
price points. They
will keep you safe and comfortable out on
the trails, letting you get on with enjoying the
riding. The helmet I was using was a mere
AED 210, and although it was heavier than
the helmet I wear when out on my road bike
it was cool and comfortable and perfect for
off road riding. The only thing I would add
with regards to the clothing is that if you
were planning on spending more time in the
saddle on longer rides it would certainly
be worth investing in a pair of higher
specification bib shorts as worn by us
roadies!
For the terrain and riding we have here
in the UAE the Rockrider 720s really is a
fantastic solution. The bike is clearly well
designed and the specification brings
together a number of components that work
well together. Simply put, it gets on with the
job in hand without any fuss, whilst allowing
the rider to enjoy the experience. Everything
works well together and as the bike weighs in
at just over thirteen and a half kilos its pretty
nimble too with a well designed frame and
predictable handling.
Wheel size has been an ongoing area of
debate in the mountain bike world and the
720s opts for the 27.5 (or 650b) wheel size
which seems to provide the best solution
for the majority of riders. I find they give the
nimbleness of a 26 yet still carry most of the
speed of a 29er (Mountain bike geekery
and terminology, I know, I know!) and being
shod with Hutchinson front and rear specific
tyres the bike has great grip and traction on
everything except lose sand.
The 720s has front suspension forks with
a very useable 120mm of travel provided by
RockShox paired with an in house air shock
on the rear, again with 120mm of travel. Both
are widely adjustable and the RockShox fork
can be locked out to give better efficiency
when going uphill. The transmission is
provided by a mixture of Sram components
with a very wide range of gear ratios for

going up and down the steepest of inclines.
The hydraulic disc braking system is provided
by Avid, and whilst not my favourite set up,
it provided consistent braking with good
modulation and feedback. All of this means
that you are on board a very well equipped
and set up off road bike that should never
be found wanting when dealing with all but
the most technical of terrain and trails. It
will comfortably meet the needs of all but
the most demanding off road enthusiasts,
handling predictably and forgiving the odd
less than perfect line through a corner. So
basically, for getting out there and enjoying
yourself for a few hours, you point it where
you want to go and pedal, job done.
All products are available at
Decathlon stores: IBN Battuta Mall
and Mirdif City Centre.
PRODUCTS
Alpinestars Tech 10 Boots
Airoh Aviator 2.2
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE
Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE
Specifications:
Top of the range, flagship model
Constructed from full-grain leather with advanced lightweight
microfiber and an impact/abrasion resistant TPU shell
CE Certified
Frontal protection features a dual closure system with an
internal microfiber flap
Shin incorporates a unique TPU blade system engineered to
prevent frontal hyperextension and offer greater flex control
Soft microfiber gaiter helps seal out excessive water and dirt entry
TPU protection and shock absorbing padding on the heel
and ankles and an ultra-thin and flexible forefoot area for
increased sensitivity and control
Specifications:
100% Italian manufactured helmet
with ECE R22-05 homologation
Lightest off-road helmet in the world @ 950 grams
100% Carbon-Kevlar construction
New rear spoiler and peak provides unparalleled protection
AEFR System (Airoh Emergency Fast Remove)
Equipped with a dust filter
Tested for MX and off-road as well as watersports
21% bigger field of vision and 16% higher ventilation
compared to other competing brands
Comes with a free
Go-Pro kit, helmet
peak extension kit,
extra screws and tool kit
Quechua Arpenaz
2+ Tent - 2 people, Blue
Quechua Forclaz 50L Hiking

Rucksack - Grey
Available at Decathlon Mirdif City Centre and IBN Battuta Mall
Available at Decathlon Mirdif City Centre and IBN Battuta Mall
Easy assembly / dismantling: Free standing structure. Simple

installation with poles.
Capacity: tent for 2 people, sleeping width: 60 cm/person. 2
storage areas.
Heat reduction: Fly sheet filters UV rays with a SPF of 30. Rear
ventilation. 2 doors with mosquito nets.
Durability: Resists wind up to 50km/h (Force 6): validated in
wind tunnels on rotating plate.
Waterproof: Tested under shower at 200 mm water/hour
(tropical rainstorm) and in the field.
Weight: 3 kg
Capacity: Volume 52 litres / Weight 1.7 kg / Use Dimensions:

H 62 x W 32 x D 24
Carrying comfort: Compression straps.
Chest strap. Load adjuster straps. Hand-rest.
Multiple compartments: Pockets: 3 ext.,
1 int., 1 belt.
Pole-loop. bottom access and compartments.
2,500 AED
240 AED
2,295 AED
230 AED
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Words by: Daniel Birkhofer

Photos by: Jung Francisco
Recently I had the opportunity

to go and try out sandboarding with
Simon Mark Hunt, the impressively
bearded guy behind a cool new
locally based brand called ABOVE
sandboards, who lovingly handcraft
sandboards right here in Dubai.
Simon says about his newly formed
sandboard brand, I have loved
sandboarding since I was a kid in Australia,
and now I really enjoy making them too.
Each board is a little piece of wood crafting
art. Taking a board from being just a design
idea in my head to then actually making it
and riding it is a really enjoyable process.
Now, I have been sandboarding before,
well at least I thought I had! But this trip
was a total eye opener to how fast and fun
sandboarding can actually be when you use
the right gear. Simon explained that a lot of
the sandboarding that
is happening at desert
camps in Dubai are using
snowboards (not proper
sandboards) and that
snowboards are really
slow and sluggish on
sand. When we were
out in the dunes, Simon
explained the difference
to me between the two
boards, pointing out
that the main difference
between snow and sand
boards is the size
and the base material.
Sandboards are much
smaller than snowboards
to reduce the friction
caused by too much surface area. While
an average snowboard is around 160cm in
length, a sandboard is only 115 139cm
long. He went on to explain the difference
in the base materials and also explained
how sandboard wax plays a huge part in
making sandboarding so fast. The base of a
sandboard is very hard and smooth, unlike a
snowboard that has a textured finish. When

you apply wax to this hard smooth base, this
is what makes you really fly. Explaining the
science behind it, Simon told me that the
wax works in two ways,
firstly filling up any
microscopic scratches or
holes in the board base,
then secondly (and more
importantly) acting as a
static electricity blocker.
The thin layer of wax
enables the board to
break free from the
stickiness feeling you get
from a static build up, and
with the wax it enables
you to accelerate at
similar speed to a
snowboard.
He let me try the
boards without wax first,
and its faster than the
snowboards Id ridden on sand before at
desert camps, but nothing too explosive.
But, then he waxed the board for me and
let me go WOW! I really couldnt believe I
was on sand, the speed was crazy fast! And
naturally I ended up on my sandy backside
quite a few times! Simon says that once you
get used to the speed you can start carving
and jumping in a similar way to

snowboarding. You do need to keep waxing
the board before every big run, but this was
ok as it gave me a little rest after climbing
back up the dune. It felt great, like I had to
work for my ride! Waxing your board is a bit
like the karate kid, you rub the wax on, then
rub the excess wax off by rubbing the board
a few times back and forth on the sand. Then
its ready to fly down the dune at a high
speed!
Sandboarding like this is really fun, way
better than I have ever experienced it
before. I would say its a really nice way to
spend some time with friends while camping
on a weekend, or even heading out
specifically for a sandboard session. There
are so many massive dunes around Dubai,
and anywhere you go out of Dubai you hit
the desert and big dunes that are amazing
for sandboarding.
ABOVE Sandboards are available
at GO Sport stores across the UAE,
Boards range from 795 1,200 QAR/AED
(1050cc)
OUR EXPERTS
ZANZIBAR: AFRICAS
SECRET GETAWAY
Words + Photos by: Jake Lyle
Picture an island in the Indian

Ocean, surrounded by the white
sandy beaches of the Maldivian
atolls and filled to the brim with
the rich culture and tradition of the
African continent thats the island
of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar is an island off the coast East Africa, specifically, Tanzania. Once one of the
largest hubs of 18th and 19th century trading routes, Zanzibar is of immense historical
importance, with a history that mixes in with
Oman, Portugal and Britain.
All it takes is a quick 6-hour flight from
Dubai and youll arrive in 1880. Traditional
is the best word to describe this secret
getaway, as the beaches are untouched, the
canoes are hand calved and the jungles still
filled with animated and energetic monkeys.
The beaches surrounding the island
getaway are some of the best in the world.
They begin with a line of tall palm trees,
bent slightly toward the ocean as if reaching
to examine the crystal clear water they stare
at everyday. Below the dancing green ferns,
the wide stretch of soft white sand starts to
take shape and the picture perfect beach
begins to form. Moving down the sand,
toward the ocean, looking left and right, the
true expanse of this faultless coastline is revealed. The sand extends kilometres in both
directions, with the very same bended palm
trees towering above it all the way. The only
man made features interrupting the flawless
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stretch of smooth sand are hand-carved

outriggers left for the day by local fisherman
or the occasional old-style jetty extending out into the water allowing people to
reach boats in the deeper channels during
low tide. Walking further down the beach,
you eventually reach the clear water quietly
hugging on the sand with continuous sets
of small waves to follow. As you look out
toward the horizon, youll gaze upon a
mosaic of different shades of blue, darker
where its deeper and turquoise where the
sand is right below. Its scenery and beaches

like these that provide us with our images
of paradise that serve as the inspiration for
everything from novels to films.
With many great diving locations, the
experience begins only once youve entered the water, however, on the island of
Zanzibar; the adventure begins at the very
start of the journey.
For us, it started on the edge of cliff,
with a staircase carved into it, fenced with
wooden rails. The view from the top of the
cliff overlooked the entire stretch of the

beach, from the very beginning of the line
of sand, across the exposed rock and coral
that make their appearances at low tide, all
the way to the deeper channels where the
boats can pass through. We followed the
carved-out steps down toward the beach.
The path was surrounded by small rock
pools, some filled with fish, trapped for a
few hours, until the tide comes back in to
help them back out to sea. As September is
in the winter time frame, the tidal differenc-
es are significant. You can sit on the beach,

hundreds of meters from the water line,
reading a book and then a few hours later
you can look up and the water will be tickling the bottom of your feet again. The tidal
changes give you very different perspectives on the beaches, and let you see very
different things at different times. When the
water is low, you can walk out over the sand
and observe the various forms of marine
life in whatever water is left, and then a few
hours later, the path on which you walked
out, will be a few inches below your feet as

your tread water in the new ocean that just
moved in. Moving further down the path we
came nearer to the end, where the walkway begins to descend below the surface
of the water, and as we followed, so did
our footsteps. With the tide at its lowest,
the dive boat needed to keep its distance
from the shallow areas, which meant we
had to walk out to it so we lifted our gear
above our heads and headed for the boat.
Although there are very few dangers in the
shallow waters of Zanzibar, we had to be
careful to avoid stepping on the sea urchins
that scatter themselves across the reef, and
sometimes the sand.
Following the very theme of the island,
the dive boat was traditional indeed. The
40ft African vessel was crafted on the
island, with wood, rope and a bright orange
tarp on top for shade. Although basic, the
boat did the job. The ride out was certainly
memorable. The winter doesnt just bring
with it significant tidal changes, but also
some pretty windy days, and consequently
some pretty wavy oceans. The channel near
to the shore was calm and flat, as the reef
that resided further out, broke the incoming
waves and lessened their energy. However
that very reef where those high-energy
waves were breaking, was our only way out
into the open ocean. So the very capable
captain and his crew scouted for the perfect
point of exit, and so it was found. The boat
turned portside and the 150 horsepower
engine was put to use. As we held on to
the boat, as well as our gear, the captain
engaged the throttle and we sped out into
the waves.
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The sturdy boat kept its composure as we

headed out into our first wave the wave
acted as a ramp and soon the bow was
airborne. For those few seconds the front of
the boat is in the air and descending, you
hold into everything just a little bit tighter
as you brace for the impact of hitting the
surface once again. The boat hits the water,
seawater sprays over the bow and we wait
for the next wave. A few more like this and
were through the breaking waves and out
into the open ocean. But just because the
waves arent breaking, that doesnt mean
the boat isnt going to be rocking and
splashing. The waves in the open ocean are
just as big and toss the boat around just
as much. As the boat fights through these
waves so we can reach our destination,
theres a group of aquatic animals that are
rather enjoying the excitement of the waves.
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On the starboard side of the boat, between

us and the land, a small pod of dolphins
swam amongst the waves. First the dolphins
simply breached the water only slightly,
exposing only their back and dorsal fin. But
soon, perhaps as their confidence grew, or
because they realised they had an audience,
the dolphins began to lift their entire bodies
out of the water, jumping over the waves as
if they were hurdles.
The show was incredible. But as we moved
further toward our destination, we moved
further away form the spontaneous animal
performance. After a quick 10-minute ride,
we reached the dive site. As we gear up,
its made clear that the Tanzanian courtesy
and politeness extends to the ocean as well,
with the crew quick to help as we struggle to
equip ourselves with gear as the boat rocks
us around. After a quick briefing and safety
check, we head overboard and hit the water.

As soon as we descend below the surface, all
the waves, all the rocking and all the splashing instantly disappear its suddenly calm as
can be. Thats the magic of diving.
Being further out from the shore, the
water was deep and there were few other
boats around which meant there was no
anchor line to allow for a controlled descent,
meaning there was no rope for us to hold
as we made our way to the bottom. This
meant a free descent was in order. Its a
very strange, sometimes frightening feeling,
descending into pure blue water, when you
cant see the bottom yet, and the surface
is getting further and further away. Its not
uncommon for people to experience vertigo
in situations like these when you cant figure out which way is left or right, or even up
or down. The solution to such a problem is
simply to watch your bubbles as you breath

out, which will clearly indicate which way, is
up. As the descent continues, the colours on
the reef below soon become visible, providing both a feeling of excitement, and relief.
Getting closer and closer, the colours on the
reef get brighter and brighter. The reef was
large, covering a huge expanse of the ocean
floor, and therefore providing residence to
thousands of fish. Scattered across the reef
was everything from eels to octopi, above
huge schools of fish surrounded our group,
and disappeared just as suddenly as they
arrived. The current in the water began
to slowly pick up, carrying us with it. This
wasnt, however, a problem, as the gentle
current carried us over the reef, saving us
the effort of kicking! As we hovered, we
were carried further across the reef, observing everything as we passed it was a truly
relaxing dive. But as always, all good things
must come to an end, and so we begun our
ascent and made our way back to the boat.
The journey back into the shore was just
as exciting as the way out. Instead of speeding into the waves, on the way back in, we
had to glide with the waves, alongside them
as they broke. As we moved through the
breaking waves, the boat began to tilt forward, and the stern (back of the boat) began
to rise. Upon looking back, we could see a
wall of water that had raised the back of the
boat and in fact reached a greater height
than our boat did, so water began to flow
into the boat. Just as the stern rose, the bow
dipped. The very front of the boat began to
nose dive below the fast moving water and

thin walls of seawater began to rise along
the front of the boat, spraying outward. But
then the boat levelled out the stern back
down and the bow out of the water and
as we matched the speed of the wave, the
engine became obsolete and we began to
ride the wave into shore. It was incredible.
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OUR EXPERTS
Marcus Smith Mental

Strength on Two Wheels
Words by: Helle Bachofen von Echt
Photos by: Marcus Smith
Being a cyclist myself, I know

what it takes to climb mountains;
and already being hugely inspired
by Marcus, as an athlete and
entrepreneur, I was intrigued
to learn more about his motivations
and reasons for taking on the
massive challenge of climbing
16,000m on a bike in just
five days.
Marcus, you are very passionate
about helping people to improve
their lives what exactly do you do?
"I build brands to make people's lives better". I am involved in three businesses that
are all very different but have the same

vision in making people's lives better.
Through my performance brand InnerFight
we try and make people's lives better
through physical and mental training;
through Smith St Paleo we make people's
lives better through good food that enables their bodies to perform optimally and
through my marketing agency I focus on
helping brands create experiences and
environments that make their consumers
lives better.
What is your background in sport

and other physical challenges?
At school all I cared about was sport. I

played every single sport I could. As a kid I
loved athletics and used to compete in as
many events as possible. My main sport was
rugby where I went on to play professionally,
culminating in playing in the 2009 Rugby
World Cup Sevens. Aside from this I have
always believed in challenging myself physically. I have run multiple ultra-marathons

as well as the more famous Marathon Des
Sables. I look at events, and if they scare
me, I normally say yes.
You have only been cycling

for 18 months how did you
get into cycling?
I used to race my mountain bike downhill.

However, as a kid, inspired by my father
completing cycling challenges, I knew that
one day I would ride a road bike. That day
came at Nad Al Sheba after finishing a
running session, when Wolfi (of Wolfis Bike
Shop) introduced himself. We had both
heard a lot about each other but had never
met. The way Wolfi approaches cycling and
life immediately appealed to me and we
decided I should get a bike.
16,000m+ of climbing in the Alps

in just 5 days tell us more!
Last year I joined a few friends on their annual bike trip to the Dolomites in Italy; that
was my first cycling challenge. Although
I had trained quite a bit it was a baptism
of fire. Riding a bike up some of the Giro
routes was just unreal; the physical and mental challenge was like nothing I had done
before.
54
OUTDOORUAE
I returned totally pumped and we started

planning for 2016. I made a pledge which
was to be far better in 2016 than 2015; the
prospect of more suffering excited me. In
July 2016 we completed the Mont Ventoux
Challenge, climbing the mountain three
times in the same day; 137km with 4,400m
of climbing. We then went on to the Alps
and after three "warm up" days of 3,000m+
of climbing per day, we completed La Marmotte, one of the more well-known Sportifs
taking in over 5,000m of climbing across
170km, including Col Du Telegraphe, Col
Du Galibier and Alp D'Huez; all iconic climbs
I remember watching in the Tour De France
as a kid.
What were your motivations for

taking on such a huge challenge?
After my debut in Italy I wanted something

equally as challenging, but I wanted to be
better; I wanted to be faster and generate
more power. Some people do these things
for charities which I think is awesome, but
for me most of the time the drive is more
personal; it's for myself, it's to learn, it's to
suffer so that I can get better as a human
and through my experiences help others.
I am passionate about coaching people,
and for me to do that correctly and ask people to suffer, I have to have been through
the same pain or more. I want to go out
there and feel it so that when I am coaching
someone I know how they are feeling.
How did you prepare

for this challenge?
I used functional strength and conditioning year round to stay "fit" and "ready". Of
course, for cycling I had to get very cycling
specific and we are super lucky at InnerFight
to have Neil Flanagan as our head of
endurance coaching. Neil is a great athlete

and his understanding of how to write people's training for endurance events blows my
mind and he has written my programs for
the last three years.
I spent a lot of time on the indoor trainer
but of course what is important is time riding
the bike up mountains and suffering. I spent
weekends at Jebel Jais; and at Jebel Hafeet
I sometimes made ten ascents in a weekend.
Marcus, in general you are super strong
and fit was the challenge hard for you?
I go through hell just as much as anyone
else. It annoys me when people tell me "you
are fit, it's easy." That is not the case. I am
189cm tall and 93kg, that is not "easy" to
get through 5,000m of climbing in 7 hours
- it's painful and I suffer. My legs hurt, I feel
tired, my lungs burn. They are the challenges. At the end of the day we are humans
and we feel similar emotions. The difference
is how you deal with them.
So how did you deal

with the hurting?
It's all mental. Our bodies are totally

amazing; it's the mind that breaks first every
single time. Mental strength to me is three
things:1) Setting your goals properly,2)
understanding why you are doing it, and3)
focusing on the process. Too often, people
fail on all three of these and then wonder
why they only achieve average in life.
CrossFit really is I think. People see it on

YouTube and make a decision that it is not
good for other sports, and to be honest
what they may see on YouTube probably
isn't good. However if you want to ride a
bike with more power, then having stronger
legs can only aid that. Do I think taking a
workout from the CrossFit games and doing
it every day will make you a better cyclist?
Not for one second, it may do more harm
than good. But strength and conditioning is
a wide field and cycling can benefit from it,
thatI am sure of.
You clearly thrive on pushing yourself out of your comfort zone why?
You learn so much about your body and life;

things that cannot be taught in a classroom
or from books. You have to get out there
and challenge yourself. Right now that may
be just running 5km and that is ok. Everyone's Everest is different but people need
to realise that there are way too many limits
imposed by society or ourselves that are just
untrue.
At InnerFight, how do you help

others to become better
at challenging themselves?
Our process is the same no matter if you are

a professional athlete or professional desk
jockey. We want to make sure your body
works well first - simple movement is so
important and often overlooked. We check
people's movement and what's working and
what's not working and then we link it to
their sport and put together programs that
are going to make them better in their sport
and by default better in life.
What will your next challenge bring?

I have no real bucket list but if it looks
uncomfortable I will go. For our next cycling
challenge we are looking at doing something similar again, and yet again I will aim
to perform higher, push more watts and be
able to suffer more.
With a background
in CrossFit how do you think
CrossFit and cycling can benefit
or hinder one another?
There is a massive misconception of what
You can learn more about Marcus and

his businesses at www.mjdsmith.com,
www.innerfight.com and
www.smithstpaleo.com
OUTDOORUAE
55
OUR EXPERTS
Educat ion
Words + Photos by: Haydon Kerr
As a kid in New Zealand, I grew

up with stories of how Sir Edmund
Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay
had been the first to successfully
reach the summit of Mount
Everest, and return to tell the tale.
With Nepal just a few hours away
from Dubai, it was only a matter of
time before I could fulfil a childhood
dream to visit this place Id read so
much about as a student.
My first trip was in the summer of 2007
after completing my first year as an international teacher. I couldnt have predicted
back then, that this would have been the
first of more than a dozen return trips to this
magical place full of amazing mountains
and beautiful people.I went with a teacher
colleague who suggested going to Nepal
so we could take some footage, and create
a short video to promoteone of the charities
in Kathmandu. However, no itinerary would
56
OUTDOORUAE
have been complete without venturing out

among the Himalayas too!
The first week was spent in Kathmandu
meeting up with a local friend who showed
us around many of the amazing Temple
sites, as well asa few orphanages and community projects. It was a week that seeded a
deep appreciation for the welcoming nature
of the Nepalese people and a desire to
experience more.
I was determined to see Everest and

explore up as far as possible witha guided
trek, but was recommended to try the
Annapurna mountains instead. So with a
guide organised and gear packed, I was
stuffed into a small bus where I travelled the
200kms in around eight hours to beautiful
Pokhara. The first thing that struck me about
this lakeside community and gateway to
the Annapurna ranges, was the impressive
figure of the sacred Machapuchare or Fish

Tail Mountain in the distance.
My guide was a small guy named Khadka
or KB to his friends, who was local to the
area and interested in how much I was attempting to carry in my pack. He had turned
up on the first day of the expected 10-day
trek with nothing more than a tiny school
bag while I had around 15kgs strapped to
my back.After climbing nothing but steps
for the first couple of days, I managed to
whittle down the pack weight by donating
spare T-shirts and towels to whoever would
take them.
As we made our way up into the Annapurnas, the scenery was nothing short of
spectacular and something that my words
could ever do justice. Staying in charming
tea-houses and spending time with humble
Nepalese people in villages along the way
was great fun, and passing young students
completing school work with million dollar
views was surreal. The next few days took
KB and I through lush forested steps which
soon gave way to the more rugged alpine
terrain.
Sections of ice often covered our path on
sloped ground which I managed to gingerly
traverse with my hiking boots, while KB trot-
ted over them with ease in his old pair of

trainers. As we neared the Annapurna Base
Camp site I was dwarfed in the shadow ofits
peak at more than 8,000m above sea level,
and many of the other peaks well over the
7,000m mark.
There was a great sense of satisfaction to
reach Base Camp and spend time in awe of
the sheer size of the surrounding mountains.
Sleeping at night took a little extra effort
due to the thinner air, and I found myself
waking often to the moonlit mountain views
outside my window. KB and I had made our
way to this point a little more than 4,000m
above sea level in just a few days, so resting
up for a night or two was a welcome chance
to recharge. We were also super lucky with
the weather,which had allowed for remarkable sunrises and sunsets to revealnatures
full spectrum of vivid colours.
A climbing team set to go a lot further
up into the Annapurnas than I was prepared for, left Base Camp at the same time
I began my descent.I couldnt stop thinking about the incredible views they would
score as they scaled further up to the higher
camps and potentially up to the summits.
The trek back down past the villagers with
their big smiles and simple way of life left
me wanting more of this charmed little

country.
With a few more days in Kathmandu, I
was able to make some great contacts at
various institutions who were in need of
some assistance. It was at this point that
the first school trip was hatched in order to
gather donations and expose our international students to what Nepal has to offer.
In the following academic year, the first
group of students from Deira International
School were on the way to Nepal, with bags
and boxes full of clothes, toys and learning
materials for underprivileged children.
It was to be the first of several trips to
Nepal with which all have had significant impact on our students. We now go to Nepal
with groups of students every 2 years with
the next one taking place in November of
this year. Gaining an appreciation for the
plight of countless children in orphanages,
and getting a lot out of physically handing
over materials to put so many smiles on
faces, is priceless. Getting our students out
into the mountains and experiencing the
awe of the Himalayas has also been truly
rewarding, and hopefully fostering a long
term connection with the wonderful place
that is Nepal.
OUR EXPERTS
THE 406 2016 BIG EID TRIP

ZENOBIA, CYPRUS
Words + Photos by: Geoff Patch
Underwater photography: Alexandros Papandreou
What does a third century

Queen of the Palmryrene Empire in
Syria and a world famous shipwreck
have in common? They both go by
the name Zenobia.
While I do like a bit of history, the prospect of diving on what is widely recognised
as one of the top ten dive sites in the world
enthralled me. So several hundreds of years
after Queen Zenobia led a famous revolt
against the Roman Empire it was with great
anticipation that I set off for Cyprus with fellow members of the Sharjah Wanderers Dive
Club (BSAC406) for our 2016 big Eid trip.
While the UAE has many excellent dive
sites and year round diving, we try to take
advantage of the Eid al Adha holiday each
year to arrange a trip to somewhere that
combines diving and an opportunity to learn
more about the region. Past years have seen
successful trips to Oman, Egypt and a club
favourite, Beirut. With our ex-Chairman Mike
Dalton now in semi-retirement in Cyprus,
it was decided that our 2016 big Eid trip
would be to dive the MS Zenobia.
The Zenobia was a ro-ro ferry built in
Sweden and launched in 1979. On its maiden voyage,carrying 104 Volvo lorries and the
captains car, it experienced ballasting problems resulting in a severe list to port that
could not be recovered and the ship sank on
7th June 1980 barely 1500m offshore from
Larnacaport,taking her estimated 200 million worth of cargo to the seabed.
With an early departure time and

afour-hour flight from Dubaiwe arrived in
sunny Cyprus by mid-morning and were
checked into our accommodation for the
weekend by early afternoon.Well, most
of us;unfortunately two of our party were
bounced due to an over-booked flight and
did not arrive until the next day! Home for
the weekend would be the Sun Hall Beach
Apartments, ideally positioned on the promenade overlooking Phinikoudes Beach and
barely five minutes walk from the Larnaca
Marina.
Alexandros Papandreou (Alex), Director at
Nemo Dive Center, would be our lead guide
and arrangements had been made with
him to complete the registration formalities
on the afternoon of our arrival to enable a

prompt start to the diving the next day. Alex
has been diving on the Zenobia since it sank
and has extensive knowledge of the wreck.
His enthusiasm was infectious and it was
with great anticipation that we savoured our
first dive.
Our dive boat was to be the Pirate out
of Limassol under the control of Captain
Christakis. With the wreck barely 1500m
from shore we prepared our dive equipment
in the Marina before heading out to the dive
site.
During the briefing, Alex, joined by Tony
Regan (Dive Master),provided an overview
of the wreck and explained that the first dive
would be to familiarise the divers with the
layout.
Zenobia Wreck GPS Position: 34, 53.5 N,
33, 39.1 E (1.500 meters from the shore) in
42m.
Tying up to one of several permanent
buoys,we could see the outline of the wreck
some 18m below the Pirate. However, it
was on entering the water that the amazing
visibility truly became apparent. Descending
along the mid-ship buoy line, the 25-30m
visibility revealed the full scale of the vessel.
On this first dive we swam under the starboard funnel towards the cargo ramps and
round to see the starboard propeller before
returning to the mid-ship buoy line for a
slow controlled ascent.
On subsequent dives we explored more
areas of this fascinating wreck including the
bow, bridge, accommodation area and
How to get there?
Both Emirates (from Dubai) and Etihad (from

Abu Dhabi) have direct flights to Larnaca.
Where to stay?
There are several accommodation options. The Sun Hall Apartments overlook
Phinikoudes Beach and are conveniently
located for the Marina and food outlets.
Sun Hall Beach Hotel Apts., 4 Evriviades
Street, 6023 Larnaca, Cyprus
Telephone: +357.24.400888
E-mail: info@sunhallbeachhotelapts.com
Who to contact for diving?

upper cargo deck, all of which revealed their
secrets and a glimpse into the past of this
fascinating wreck. The swim through the
upper cargo deck on day two was particularly exciting, effectively diving through a
huge man-made cave where more trucks
and debris could be seen. While many areas
have easy access with plenty of natural light,
entering wrecks should only be undertaken
after specialised training due to the inherent
risks associated with diving in an overhead
environment.
Despite having been beneath the waves
for almost 40 years the wreck is in excellent condition. Numerous trucks are scattered like toys on the seabed and around
the decks. Unlike wrecks in the Gulf, where
the shallow warm waters encourage life,
the Zenobia has very little marine growth
such as soft corals and barnacles. However,
several species of fish were seen including
two-banded sea bream, snappers, groupers

and lion fish.
After each days diving we were treated to
a barbeque meal by Captain Christakis and
his crew as we made the short journey back
to Larnaca harbour.
The diving was our main reason for visiting
Larnaca but the town offered many interesting places to explore on our down-time
including a Byzantine medieval castle, Hala
Sultan Tekke mosque and the church of St.
Lazarus with its beautiful architecture and
adornments.
Our long weekend in Cyprus was soon
over but the Zenobia, the country and
the people left a lasting impression which
means we will return!
The BSAC 406 members on the trip were
Ian, Cathy, Mike, Wendy, Davidson and
Geoff. More information about BSAC 406 can
be found on our website, www.bsac406.com
Nemo Dive Centre (recreational diving)

Alexandros Papandreou (Director),
IDC Staff Qualified
Address: 8, Thermidos Street,
Larnaca - Cyprus
Telephone: +357 24666333
Mobile: 99461815
E-mail: nemodivecenter@cytanet.com.cy
Website: http://www.nemo-divecenter.com/
Dive-In (technical diving)
Chris Demetriou (Manager)
Address: Lordos Seagate Block A, Tasos Mitsopoulos Avenue, 6028 Larnaca Cyprus
Telephone: +357 2462 7469
Mobile: 9956 0366
E-mail: Larnaca@dive-in.com.cy
Website: www.dive-in.com.cy
OUTDOORUAE
59
PEOPLE
Nina Londei
Age: 34
Nationality: British
Profession: Business Professional, Dragon Boat Coach
Words by: Bandana Jain
Photos by: Supplied
How long have you been into

dragon boating and how did you
get introduced to it?
I have been dragon boating for six years. It

all started when I was asked to participate in
a corporate team race at Shangri La Dragon
Boat Festival back in 2011; the adrenaline of
the races and camaraderie of my teammates
got me hooked! I was then approached by a
premier team and didnt hesitate to join and
raced with them for the rest of the season.
This was the start of my dragon boating
career and it led me to create and coach my
own team.
What keeps you

passionate about it?
I love being a part of the dragon boat community. Its a sport that brings people from
all walks of life together.Dragon boating

appeals to my competitive nature. There is
nothing more satisfying than racing with my
team and watching all our hard work and
training pay off. I also love coaching and
introducing new people to the sport.
How is dragon boating different

from other forms of boating?
A modern dragon boat is 10-12 meters long

and consists of 10 rows of seats for 20 paddlers sitting side by side with a drummer in
the front and steersman at the back. Despite
its unique set up, what truly sets dragon
boating apart from other forms of boating is
its rich history and tradition. Dragon boating
originated in China over 2000 years ago,
and the colourful dragon heads at the front
of the boat and rhythmic pounding of the
drummer can still be seen and heard today.
Does one need any special kind of

training to do dragon boating?
Dragon boating is a very technical sport

with specific forward trunk rotation and leg
drive movements which do not feel natural
at first. It can take up to six months for a
new paddler to truly understand the body
mechanics behind the technique, however
with that being said, anyone can learn to
paddle and most get hooked within the first
few sessions.
Are you a part of particular

dragon boating team?
I am the head coach of the Desert Dragons

Abu Dhabi, a team that I have been a part
of since its formation in 2012. It is a competitive premier team, made up of a highly
diverse group of paddlers. We have over 40
members, with 20 different nationalities and
an age range of 23 to 65.
Where do you do dragon boating

here in the UAE?
Eastern Mangroves Marina in Abu Dhabi is

where the Desert Dragons AD call home.
We are surrounded by beautiful, natural
mangroves and visitors to the area will see

us there up to four times a week.In Dubai,
the training is usually held at Barasti Beach
and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort.
How frequently do you race?
Our race season in the UAE is from October until April, with a race every month at
different locations during this period. Teams
in our league also choose to race abroad in
locations such as Australia, Hong Kong, Italy,
Korea, Philippines, and many more, which
means that training extends all year around.
What are the benefits

of dragon boating?
Health and fitness is the main benefit of

dragon boating. Paddling improves your
cardio vascular health as well as your
strength and muscle endurance. Our training
regime also includes training on land which
consists of partner-based exercises specifically designed to promote teamwork and
camaraderie essential for the boat!Another
benefit is being part of a lively social group.
Dragon boaters train hard but also enjoy
spending time with each other outside of
the boat.
Very few people know about

this sport. Do you have
any advice for readers?
If you are looking for an exhilarating sport

that will improve your health and social life,
dragon boating is for you. My advice would
be to find a team near you and get involved!
Some of the most dedicated paddlers on my
team are those that have never been part
of a team before. Joining a dragon boat
team can be one of the most rewarding and
memorable experiences of your life.
Any memorable moments?
One of my most memorable dragon boating

experiences was paddling in the first ever all
female race in Doha, Qatar last December.
It was an empowering feeling paddling in an
all-womens crew compared to a mixed crew.
No doubt, it was an exciting race and we
were second place, but the real joywas to
be a part of this event and to make dragon
boat history.
PEOPLE
John Michael On
Age: 36
Nationality: Filipino
Profession: Purchaser at a government school in Abu Dhabi
Words by: Bandana Jain
Photos by: Jx Nonog
Triathlon is one of the most

rewarding things one can ever do
in life, not just physically, but
mentally, spiritually and socially as
well. John Michael On can vouch for
its many benefits.
When did you get into triathlons
and what made you so passionate
about them?
I started triathlonsin 2011 as a relay team

member.I have enjoyed this journey of training so far and have met generous people
along the way, which has made the journey
even more interesting. The fact that I have
been able to train with agroup of like-minded people who have helped each other and
seen real progress makes it more exciting to
be a part of. Triathlons are also a great way
to get involved socially through volunteering, spreading awareness and contributing
towards social causes.
How long have you been

competing and which triathlons
have you participated in?
I started with my first sprint triathlon in

Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi in 2011. My first
70.3miles Half Ironman race was in my
hometown in Cebu, Philippines in 2012
and just recently in 2016. Thereafter, I
participated in Pico de Loro Tri invitational
2013 in Batangas in the Philippines, which
happened to be my first age group podium
win. I did my 1st 140.6 Ironman at Zurich in

Switzerland in 2014, followed by Bahrain in
2014 and Calgary in 2015. I was a part of
SuBIT age group select 2016, first drafting
Olympic distance race. I have also taken part
in local races like Jones Lang La salle series,
Mamzar series, TriYas, and ITU-Abu Dhabi.
Tell us about your training
Training depends on the upcoming races

and the main A race. I usually train early in
the morning before everyone wakes up at
home. I try to train consistently and follow
the training program set mutually by me
and my coach Andy Dubois.I swim at the
pool and when weather allows, at Bateen or
Saadiyat Beach. As far as biking is concerned, I used to ride with the Raha Cycling
led by Kevin Duell, then I moved indoors
using my bike trainer to do more specific
training and long rides to Al Wathba every
Friday. Running generally takes place around
Khalifa City Bridge and Yas Island. I run with
Abu Dhabi Striders led by Kevin Rosbotham
and Steve Watson. So, overall I train for

10-12 hours a week.
Why are triathlons such

a great way to stay fit?
The advantage in triathlon is that it involves

three sports so you never get bored,though
the challenge factor remains and you always
have a different training block focusing on a
specific discipline.
What, according to you, is a great

way to begin with triathlons, and do
you have any tips for staying and
excelling?
Dont be shy to ask for help;there are lots
of generous people willing to share their
knowledge and contribute to your learning
curve. So, just go ahead and start!
Consistently follow your plan, practice it
and most importantly, involve your family in
the equation- happy wife is equal to happy
tri-life! And lots of foam rolling it helps in
muscle recovery.
What has been your

best record ever?
In the 70.3 challenge in Bahrain I finished

in 5 hours 3 minutes, while it took me 41
minutes to do 10km in Abu Dhabi. I did my
half marathon in Abu Dhabi in 1hour and 36
minutes and Dubai Marathon in 3hours and
45minutes.
How have triathlons helped you

become a better person?
Triathlons have helped me to lead a healthier lifestyle, which every triathlete will agree
with. They have helped me in managing my
time and priorities and more so, helped me
in using my time wisely and developing my
skills, at the same time.
62
OUTDOORUAE
UAE DIRECTORY
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center,

Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE,
+971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai:
+971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi:
+971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae
Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42839392, www.decathlon.com
Go Sport, The Dubai Mall: +971 43253595;
Abu Dhabi Mall: +971 26454595; Bawabat Al
Sharq Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 25868240; Yas
Mall: +971 25650812; MOE: +971 4395 8951,
www.go-sport.com
Peiniger BMT Est., CBD, Khalifa Street,
Yateem Optician Bldg., Abu Dhabi, UAE,
+971 26262332, www.peiniger.org
Sun and Sand Sports, most shopping
centres, +971 43599905; Online store: +971
43149001; Retail store: +971 43504400,
http://en-ae.sssports.com
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 25718, 27th Floor,

Burlington Tower, Business Bay, Dubai,
+971 47019111, www.alphatoursdubai.com
Dadabhai Travel, SR 1&2, GF, Gulf Towers,
Oud Metha Rd. Dubai, +971 43885566,
www.dadabhaitravel.ae
Desert Rangers, P.O. Box 33501, Dubai
UAE, +971 44569944 or 507035111
www.desertrangers.com
Desert Road Tourism, Office 503, 5th Flr.,
Al Khor Plaza, Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.desertroadtours.com
Dreamdays, First Floor Rm. 107 Ibn Battuta
Gate (Offices) Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai
+971 44329392 or 44329393,
www.dreamdays.ae
Dream Explorer LLC, JLT, Dubai,
P.O. Box 214576, +971 44563390
www.dreamexplorerdubai.com
Dubai Relax Travel, P.O. Box 37459,
National Towers: Churchill Tower Suite #614,
Business Bay, Dubai, +971 528996307,
www.dubairelaxtours.com
Explorer Tours, Umm Ramool, Dubai,
+971 42861991, www.explorertours.ae
Gulf for Good, P.O. Box 506006, 1/F, Building
4, Dubai International Humanitarian City,
Dubai, +971 43680222, www.gulf4good.org
Gulf Ventures, Dnata Travel Centre,
+971 44045880, www.gulfventures.com
MMI Travel LLC, Mezzanine Floor, Dnata
Travel Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 4 4045999,
www.theemiratesgroup.com
Net Group, Dubai and Abu Dhabi,
+971 26794656, www.netgroupauh.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, P.O. Box 181258 Dubai,
Office 404, Royal Plaza Building
Al Rigga Street, +971 42628889 or
42686826, www.opdubai.com
Rahhalah, Shata Tower 27th Floor, Office
No. 2711, Media City, Dubai, +971 44472166,
www.rahhalah.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Fishing, Camping, Kayaking,
& Adventure Club, +971 5 04920860,
mohammed.almahrouky@gmail.com
Air
Balloon Adventures Emirates, Office 123

Oasis Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43884044, www.ballooning.ae
Dubai Paragliders, +971 552120155 or
552250193, www.microaviation.org
Jazirah Aviation Club, Ras Al Khaimah,
+971 72446416 or 555531318,
www.jac-uae.net
Seawings, Dubai,+971 48070708,
www.seawings.ae
Skydive Dubai, The Palm: Al Seyahi St,
Dubai Marina, +971 43778888,
www.skydivedubai.ae
Boating & Sailing
Manufacturer
Al Fajer Marine, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43235181, www.alfajermarine.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK border Musandam,
+971 72682333 or 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Shaali Marine, Ajman, +971 67436443,
www.alshaalimarine.com
Al Yousuf Industrial, LLC,
+971 4 3474111, www.aym.ae,
yamboats@alyousuf.com
Elite Pearl Charter, P.O. Box 214173,
Saeed Tower 1, office #3102,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43889666,
www.elitepearlcharter.com
Gulf Craft, P.O. Box 666, Sheikh Khalifa Bin
Zayed Street, Ajman, +971 67406060,
www.gulfcraftinc.com
Distributors and Dealers
Art Marine LLC, Al Quoz Industrial Area,
Sheikh Zayed Road, 3rd Interchange
+971 43388955, www.artmarine.ae or
www.artmarinechandlery.com
Azure Marine Dubai, +971 4 3706886,
www.azuremarine.net
Luxury Sea Boats, Showroom #8, The Curve
Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 4 3284629, www.luxuryseaboats.com
Macky Marine LLC, Box 37594, Ground
Floor, Marina Yatch Club, Office # 5, Dubai
Marina, Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 505518317,
www.mackymarine.com
Nautilus Yachts, Sharjah, +971 553419494
or 503419494, www.nautilusyachts.com
The Boat House, P.O. Box 71628,
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43405152,
www.theboathouse.ae
UAEBoats4Sale, Dubai Marina,
+971 42932465, 567001801,
www.uaeboats4sale.com
Western Marine, P.O. Box 52938, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Knotika Marine Mall, Dubai,
+971 44327870
Equipment
Ali Khalifah Moh Al Fuqaei, Ground Floor,
Tara Hotel Building, Abdul Nasser Square
Street, Dubai, +971 42263220
Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
www.masaoodmarine.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43808616 or 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Extreme Marine, Dubai Marina Branch,
+971 43992995, www.extrememarine-me.com
Japan Marine / D1 Marine,
WS # 110, Dubai Maritime City,
+971 4 4426395 or 55 1666035,
www.japanmarine.co
Rineh Emirates Trading LLC, Al Quoz,
Dubai, www.rinehemiratesme.com,
+971 43391512
Repairs and Maintenance
Extreme Marine, Jebel Ali Branch, Jebel Ali,
Industrial Area, P.O. Box 97705, Dubai,
+971 48830777, www.extrememarine-me.com
Rineh Emirates, Sheikha Sana Warehouse 1,
Al Quoz, +971 43391512,
SNS Marine, Dubai Creek & Yacht Club,
Dubai, +971 501405058, www.snsmarine.ae
The Boat House, P.O. Box 71628, Al Quoz,
Dubai, +971 43405152, www.theboathouse.ae
Cruise Operators
Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26665491
Al Marsa Travel & Tourism,

P.O. Box 32261, Sharjah, UAE, +971
65441232; Dibba, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26836550
Bateaux Dubai, Dubai Creek opposite
the British Embassy, +971 48145553
Bristol Middle East, Marina Heights Tower,
Dubai Marina Marina Walk,Dubai,
+971 4368 2480, www.bristol-middleeast.com
Captain Tonys, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu
Dhabi, +971 26507175, www.captaintonys.ae
Delma Industrial Supply and Marine
Services, Al Bateen Jetty, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26668153, www.delmamarine.net
Eden Yachting, Dubai Marina,
+971 43282930, 50 3716377,
www.edenyachting.com
Emirates Yatching, P.O. Box 8380, Dubai,
+971 42826683
El Mundo, Dubai, +971 505517406,
www.elmundodubai.com
Four Star Travels and Tourism, Dubai,
+971 561012599, www.4startravels.com
4 Yatch Chartering LLC, Toll Free: 800
YACHT (92248), Office #4, Dubai Marina
Yatch Club, Dubai, www.4yachtchartering.ae
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa,
Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Ghantoot Marina & Resort, Abu Dhabi,
+971 529933153, www.ghantootmarina.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 48706668, www.happydaysdubai.com
LY Catamaran, Bur Dubai, +971 566506683,
www.lycatamaran.com
Marine Concept, P.O. Box 282586, Office
611, Al Barsha Business Centre, Dubai,
+971 43958022, 559603030
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Nautica1992, Habtoor Grand Beach Resort
& Spa, Autograph Collection, Dubai Marina,
+971 504262415, www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company - P.O. Box
73373, C/O Ali & Sons Real Estate LLC,
Plot No. 29, Abu Dhabi Al Ain Rd, Um Al
Nar, Abu Dhabi, UAE - +971 25581889
www.noukhada.ae
RAK Marine LLC, Ras Al Khaimah City
Hilton Marina, +971 72066410, 504912696,
507682345
Sea Hunters Passenger Yachts & Boats
Rental, Dubai Marina, +971 42951011
Smoke Dragon of London Yacht, Abu Dhabi
International Marine & Sports Club,
+971 507011958 or 504546617
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
The Yellow Boats LLC, Dubai Marina Walk
opposite Spinneys, Intercontinental Hotel
Marina, 800892, www.theyellowboats.com
Marinas
Abu Dhabi International Marine
Sports Club, Abu Dhabi, Breakwater,
+971 26815566, www.adimsc.com
Abu Dhabi Marina, Abu Dhabi,
Tourist Club Area, +971 26440300
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam
+971 72682333 or 504873185,
www.aljeerport.ae
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road, Al
Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760 or 42959477,
www.cruiseindubai.com
Dubai Creek Marina, Deira, Dubai,
+971 43801234, www.dubaigolf.com
Dubai International Marine Sports Club,
Dubai Marina, +971 43995777, www.dimc.ae
Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai,
+971 43627900,
www.dubaimarinayachtclub.com
Dubai Maritime City Harbour Marina,
Dubai, +971 43455545
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Dubai,
+971 43941669, www.dosc.ae
Emirates Palace Marina, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26907725
Fujairah International Marine Club,
Fujairah, +971 92221166, www.fimc.ae
Intercontinental Abu Dhabi Marina,
Al Bateen, Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26666888, www.intercontinental.com
Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa Marina,
Jebel Ali, Dubai, +971 48145555
www.jebelali-international.com
Pavilion Marina, Dubai,
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, +971 44068800
Umm Al Quwaim Marine Sports Club,
Umm Al Quwaim, +971 67666644,
www.uaqmarineclub.com
Dragon Boat Groups

Dubai Dawn Patrol Dragon Boating,
Dubai, +971 508795645,
www.facebook.com/DubaiDawnPatrol
Dubai Diggers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
pier next to 360, Dubai, +971 501547175,
www.dubai-diggers.com
UAE Dragon Boat Association,
+971 507634008, www.dubaidragonboat.com
Camping & Hiking
Equipment
Blingmytruck.com, +971 505548255,
www.blingmytruck.com
Gulf Camping, Dubai, UAE,
+971 551222252 or 502550666,
www.gulfcamping.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall,
Abu Dhabi,+971 24437802
Tresspass, 2nd floor above ice rink,
The Dubai Mall, +971 43398801
Urban Peak, PO Box 9587, Office 502E,
Ibn Battuta Gate Offices, Dubai,
+971 44548805, www.urbanpeak.com
Tour Operators
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai,
+971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463,
www.adventure.ae
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959428,
www.arabiatours.com
Libra Travel & Tourism LLC, +971
43397700, www.facebook.com/
LibraTravelDubai
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,
+971 506595536, www.mountainhighme.com
Sheesa Beach, Musandam, Dibba,
+971 50336046, www.sheesabeach.com
Caving
Mountain High Middle East, Dubai,

+971 43480214, www.mountainhighme.com
Climbing
Equipment
Adventure HQ, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai Times Square Center, toll free:
800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Street 13A
1, Al Safa 1, Dubai, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Global Climbing Trading LLC,
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
+971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi
+971 24437802, www.jack-wolfskin.com
Services
Absolute Adventure, Dubai,
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square
Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free:
OUTDOORUAE
63

Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 28137444, www.alshaheenme.com
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Dorell Sports Management, Dubai World
Trade Centre, +971 43065061,
www.climbingdubai.com
E-Sports UAE, Dubai, +971 43697817,
www.esportsuae.com
The Club, Abu Dhabi, +971 26731111,
www.the-club.com
Information
UAE Climbing, +971 506456491,
www.uaeclimbing.com
Mountain Biking & Cycling
Equipment/Dealers
Bikers JLT, Unit H6, Cluster H,
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, UAE,
+971 526221888
Cycle Sports, Shop No. 1, Al Waleed Bldg.,
Al Barsha 1, Dubai, +971 43415415,
Fun Ride Sports, 301, 3rd floor, Mushrif
Mall, Abu Dhabi, Rm. 4, Mezzanine floor,
C-13 Bldg., Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24455838, www.funridesports.com
Micahs Bike Shop, Warehouse No.4
6th St. Al Quoz 3, Dubai, +971 43805228
Probike, Dubai, Al Barsha 1,
+971 43255705, www.probike.ae
Rage Shop, Al Ghurair Centre: +971 4294
8634; MOE: +971 43413388; Al Wahda
Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24437617, Dubai
Mall: +971 44341549, www.rage-shop.com
Revolution Cycles, Shop G05, Apex
Atrium, Motor City, Dubai, +971 43697441,
www.rcdxb.com
Ride Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road:
+971 43395602; Mirdif City Centre: +971
42840038; Al Seef Village Mall, Abu Dhabi:
+971 26337172, www.ridebikeshop.com
Sportz Unlimited, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, + 971 43388644 or 43391333
Tamreen Sports LLC, Khalifa Street,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26222525,
www.tamreensports.com
The Cycle Hub, Motor City, Dubai,
+971 505528872 or 44256555,
www.thecyclehub.com
Trek Bicycle Store, Seih Al Salam,
Al Qudra Road, Dubai, +971 48327377;
Shop #5, Reemas Building
Al Quoz 1, Exit 46/47, Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai, +971 43211132
www.trekbikes.ae
Trikke UPT, P.O. Box 53527, Dubai,
+ 971 43434499; P.O. Box 33869, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26333377, www.trikkeme.net
Wolfis Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae
Operator
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae,
info@adventure.ae
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Tri Club,
www.abudhabitriclub.com
Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome
www.cyclechallenge.ae
Dubai Roadsters, +971 43394453,
www.dubairoadsters.com
OUTDOORUAE

Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Nautica 1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Noukhada Adventure Company,
Villa 332/7, Al Meena Street, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25581889, www.noukhada.ae
Ocean Active, +971 504592259,
www.oceanactive.com
Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam,
Soolyman Sport Fishing, Umm Suquiem,
Fishing Port No. 2, Jumeirah Beach, +971
508866227, 508866228 or 503402379,
www.soolymansportfishing.com
Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai,
+971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com
Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina,
+971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking
Club, mohamed.almahrouky@gmail.com
Dubai Surfski & Kayak Club, Kitesurfers
Beach, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai,
+971 554986280, www.dskc.hu
Diving
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi and Dubai,
+971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Blue Waters Marine, +971 43808616,
Dubai, www.bluewatersmarine.com
Gulf Marine Sports, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26710017, www.gulfmarinesports.com
Premiers for Equipment, Sheikh Zayed
1st. Road, Abu Dhabi, +971 26665226,
www.premiers-uae.com
Dive Shop.ae, Building #123, Street 26,
Area 369, Al Quoz Industrial Area 4, Dubai,
+971 43414940, www.diveshop.ae
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Diving Centres
Al Boom Diving (equipment),
Dubai, Al Wasl Rd, +971 43422993,
www.alboomdiving.com
Al Jeer Marina, RAK Border, Musandam,
+971 72682333, www.aljeerport.ae
Al Mahara Dive Center, near Muroor St.
across from main bus terminal,
+971 26437377, info@divemahara.com,
www.divemahara.com
Arabian Diver, Hilton Marine, Ras Al
Khaimah, +971 72226628 or 502428128
www.arabiandiver.com
Arabian Divers and Sportfishing
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Coastal Technical Divers,
glenn@coastaltechnicaldivers.com,
www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com
Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City,
Dubai, +971 44308246,
www.diveindubai.com
Desert Islands, Sir Bani Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 28015454,
www.divemahara.com
Divers Down, +971 559888687, Dubai;
Fujairah, Rotana Al Aqah Hotel Resort & Spa,
+971 92370299, www.diversdownuae.com
Emirates Divers Centre, Abu Dhabi,
near Meena Fish Market, +97126432444,
www.edc-ad.ae
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Fujairah, +971 506130486
contactus@freedivinguae.com,
www.freedivinguae.com
Freestyle Divers, Al Corniche Street, Dibba,
Fujairah, +971 504514259,
www.freestyledivers.me
Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa - Al Aqah
Beach, Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92449888, www.rotana.com
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Dibba Road, Fujairah, +971 92449000,
www.lemeridien-alaqah.com
Neptune Diving, +971 504347902,
www.neptunedivingcentre.com
Pavilion Dive Centre (equipment),
Dubai, +971 44068828
Scuba 2000, Al Bidiya Beach, Fujairah,
+971 92388477, www.scuba-2000.com
Scuba UAE.com, +971 502053922,
www.scubauae.com
7 Seas Diving Center, Khorfakkan,
+971 92387400, www.7seasdivers.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah,
+971 506683430, www.bsac406.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Clubs
Atlantis Underwater Photography Club,
Dubai, +971 44263000
Desert Sports Diving Club, Dubai,
www.desertsportsdivingclub.net
Emirates Diving Association, Diving
Village, Al Shindagha, Dubai,
+971 43939390, www.emiratesdiving.com
Filipino SCUBA Divers Club (FSDC),
Dubai, UAE, +971 566952421,
www.facebook.com/FSDCuae
Freediving UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Fujairah, contactus@freedivinguae.com,
www.freedivinguae.com
Sharjah Wanderers Dive Club, Sharjah,
+971 507840830, www.bsac406.com
Fishing & Kayaking

64
General Sports Equipment

Distributors
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment,
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai,
+971 43444468
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Rd, +971 43390000, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931,
www.fishabudhabi.com
Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai,
Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558,
www.barracudadubai.com
Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11,
The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, +971 43808616 or 553899995,
www.bluewatersmarine.com
Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798
or 44538386,
contactus@challengingadventure.com
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai,
Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre,
+971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com
Operators
+971 43926463, www.adventure.ae
Al Boom Diving, Le Meridien Al Aqah
Beach Resort, Fujairah, +971 43422993
Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al
Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, +971 72432274,
www.alhamramarina.com
Al Mahara Dive Center,
Downtown Abu Dhabi, +971 501118125,
www.divemahara.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing, Airport Road,
Al Qwais Bldg., Off. 207, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42394760 or 42959477,
www.cruiseindubai.com
Al Shaheen Adventure, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26429995, www.alshaheenme.com
Al Wasl Charter & Fishing
(Al Wasl Passenger Yachts
and Boats Rental LLC),
Airport Road, Al Owais Building, Dubai,
+971 42394761, www.cruiseindubai.com
Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971
506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com
Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209,
www.arabiaoutdoors.com
Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah
International Marine Club, +971 503366224
Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi, +971 26594144
Captain Tonys, Yas Marina, Yas Island,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26507175,
www.captaintonys.ae
Fun Beach Water Sports, Dubai,
+971 507050433 or 506947764,
www.seaworlddsf.com
Happy Days Sea Cruising LLC, Dubai,
+971 48706668, 503960202,
www.happydaysdubai.com
Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi
Hotel, Abu Dhabi, +971 26811900
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort,
Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square

Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Toll free:
Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai
+971 43467751, www.800sport.ae
Flip Flop Arabia, +971 556881793,
501084010, www.flipfloparabia.com
Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai
Highbury Trading FZE LLC, P.O. Box
16111, RAK Free Trade Zone Authority, Ras
Al Khaima, +971 526799506,
www.highburytrade.com
Jack Wolfskin, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24437802
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
Picnico General Trading, near Sharaf DG
Metro Station, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43951113
Portable Shade UAE, Jebel Ali, Dubai,
UAE, +971 508897125,
www.portable-shade.net
Sport in Life Distribution, Nad Al Hammar
Rd., Ras Al Khor, Dubai, UAE,
+971 42896001 or 42896002,
info@sportinlife.ae, www.sportinlife.ae
Tresspass, The Dubai Mall
2nd floor above ice rink, +971 43398801
Horse Riding
Equipment
Al Asifa Horse Equestrian Equipment
& Requisites Trading
P.O. Box 77282, AL Khawanij 1st , Dubai,
+971 554733110, www.asifa.ae
Black Horse LLC, Baniyas West,
Near Empost Abu Dhabhi, +971 25866205,
www.blackhorseuae.com
Bonjour Equestrian Supplies,
Nad Al Hammar Rd., Ras Al Kho, Dubai,
UAE, +971 42896001, +971 42896002,
info@bonjourequestrian.com,
www.bonjourequestrian.com
Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies,
16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi,
+917 22222433, www.cavalosuae.com
Emirta Horse Requirement Centre,
Sheik Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43437475,
www.emirtahorse.com
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif,
Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street,
Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +971 42988408,
www.alahliclub.info
Al Forsan International Sports Resort,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai
International Endurance City, Dubai,
+971 505995866,
info@aljiyad.com, www.aljiyad.com
Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian
Centre, Dubai, +971 44274055,
equestrian.centre@alsahra.com
Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai,
+971 503099770 or 501978888
Desert Palm Riding School, Near Al Awir
Road (going to Hatta-Oman), Dubai,
+971 43238010, www.dubaipoloclub.com
Dubai Polo Academy, Dubai,
+971 508879847, www.dubaipoloacademy.com

Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
Arabian Ranches, +971 43618111,
www.poloclubdubai.com
Emirates Equestrian Centre, Dubai,
+971 505587656,
www.emiratesequestriancentre.com
Ghantoot Polo & Racing Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Golden Stables Equestrian Club,
Al Khawaneej, Dubai, (Nouri)
+971 555528182
Hoofbeatz, located just inside the Dubai
Polo & Equestrian Club, Dubai,
+971 569424551, www.hoofbeatz.com
Mushrif Equestrian and Polo Club,
Mushrif Park, Al Khawaneej Road, Dubai,
+971 42571256, www.mushrifec.com
Rahal Ranch, Al Wathba Racing Area,
Abu Dhabi, +971 565066741,
www.rahalranch.com
Riding for the Disabled, Dubai,
lessons@rdad.ae, www.rdad.ae,
Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club,
Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road,
+971 65311188, www.serc.ae
Racecourses
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif,
Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500,
www.adec-web.com
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399,
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi,
+971 25629050, www.grpc.ae
Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu
Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road)
beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai,
+971 43474914
Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse,
Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 43270000, www.meydan.ae
Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road,
Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae
Jet Ski
Dealers
Al Masaood Marine, Dubai,

Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000,
Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai,
+971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Japan Marine General Trading,
Al Garhoud Road, Liberty Building, Dubai,
+971 44426395, uday@japanmarine.jp,
www.japanmarine.co
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
Direct: +971 45019442, 45019412
or 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com
Motocross & ATVs
Dealers
Al Badayer Rental (Rental),
Dubai-Hatta Road, +971 68861161 or
507842020, www.albadayerrental.com
Al Shaali Moto, Ras Al Khor,
+971 43200009, www.alshaalimoto.com
Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Rd, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha
Golden Desert Motorcycles,
P.O. Box 47912, E-44 Hatta road, Al Badayer
Madam, Sharjah, +971 529484616
or 505 033 800
Just Gas It, Hatta Rd., Al Aweer, Dubai,
UAE, +971 559031664, www.JustGasIt.net
KTM, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, exit 42,
+971 43468999, www.ktm.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442,
45019412 or 43419341,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Motoventure, Hobbies Club, Al Awir,
Hatta Road, Dubai, +971 555437392,
www.motoventure.net
mxDubai, Al Ain Road Dubai, +971 55
2090832, www.mxdubai.com
Polaris UAE (atvs), Ras Al Khor, Nad al
Hamar Road, Al Ghandi Complex, Dubai,
+971 42896100, M4, Sector 13,
10th Street, Mussafah Industrial, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26441478, www.polarisuae.com
Sebsports, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1
Dubai, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
Equipment
Sandstorm Motorcycles (Rental),
Al Quoz, Dubai, +971 43395608,
Sebsports, Dubai, Al Quoz Industrial Area
3, +971 43393399, www.sebsports.com
2XWheeler, Motorcity Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.2xwheeler.com
Motorcycling

Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd.,
Dubai, +971 43390621,
Book Your Test Drive
Call : 055-2385880
|
|
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Ducati, Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi,
+971 24918593, www.ducati.ae
Duseja General Trading Co. LLC,
Warehouse No: B3, Alquoz Ind Area #3, Umm
Suqeim Road next to Max Garage
Diagonally opposite Lulu Hypermarket Al
Barsha, +971 43476712,
www.dusejamoto.com
Harley-Davidson, Mussafah 4, Street 10,
Abu Dhabi, +971 25540667,
hd.auh@harley-davidson.ae,
www.harley-davidson-abu-dhabi.com
Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange4, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442,
45019412 or 43419341,
www.libertykawasaki.com
Polaris UAE, Al Ghandi Complex,
Nad al Hamar Road, Ras Al Khor,
+971 42896100, www.polarisuae.com
Tristar Motorcycles, Al Awir Road,
Nr Oman Transport, +971 43330659,
www.tristaruae.com
Workshops and Services
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Dubai Autodrome, Dubai,
+971 43678700,www.dubaiautodrome.com
Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain,
+971 67681166
2xWheeler Adventures, Dubai,
+971 44548388, www.alainraceway.com
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi,
800 YAS (927) or +971 26599800,
www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Off-Road
Dealers
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 or 505548255,
info@blingmytruck.com,
4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai,
+971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com
Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789,
www.libertyautos.com
Repairs and Services
AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE,
+971 4 2858989, www.aaadubai.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2,
Dubai, UAE, +971 43469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Off Road Zone, Dubai, Al Quoz,
+971 43392449, www.offroad-zone.com
Saluki Motorsport, Dubai, +971 43476939
www.salukimotorsport.com
Equipment
Advanced Expedition Vehicles,
Dubai & Abu Dhabi, +971 43307152,
www.aev.ae
Dubai, +971 43390621,
www.aym.ae/yamaha
Bling My Truck,
+971 503634839 or 505548255,
Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial,
Abu Dhabi, +971 569796524 or 506472447,
www.heartlanduae.com
Icon Auto Garage, Dubai, +971 43382744,
www.icon-auto.com
Mebar Auto, Al Quoz, Industrial Area 2,
Dubai, UAE, +971 4 3469600,
www.mebarauto.com
Wild X Adventure Shop, Dubai-Hatta
Road, Dubai, +971 48321050,
Yellow Hat, Nad Al Hamar, and Times
Square Center, Dubai, +971 42898060,
www.yellowhat.ae
Tour Operators
Arabian Adventures, Dubai & Abu Dhabi,
+971 43034888,
www.arabian-adventures.com
Desert Road Tourism, Al Khor Plaza 503,
Dubai, +971 42959429,
www.desertroadtours.com
Oasis Palm Dubai, Dubai,
+971 4 2628832 or 4 2686826,
www.opdubai.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Off- Road Club, www.ad4x4.com
ALMOST 4x4 Off-Road Club,
+971 507665522, www.almost4x4.com
Dubai Offroaders, www.dubaioffroaders.com
JEEP Wrangler JK Fun Club,
suffian.omar@yahoo.com,
www.jk-funclub.com
ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com
Running
Clubs
ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org
Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi,
www.abudhabitriclub.org
Abu Dhabi Striders,
admin@abudhabistriders.com,
www.abudhabistriders.com
Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi,
+971 504188978,
alainroadrunners@yahoo.co.uk
Mirdif Milers, Dubai, www.mirdifmilers.info
Dubai Creek Striders
www.dubaicreekstriders.org
Desert Road Runners
www.desertroadrunners.club
Stand up Paddling, Kite &

Surfing, Wakeboarding
Equipment
Al Boom Marine, Abu Dhabi & Dubai,
Dubai, +971 43468000,
Kitesurf Dubai, Kitesurf Beach,
Umm Suqueim and Jumeirah 3
+971 505586190, www.kitesurfdubai.ae
Picnico, Al Fairdooni Building, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Near Sharaf DG Metro Station
and Mall of Emirates, +971 43951113
Surf Dubai, Umm Suqeim, Dubai,
+971 505043020, www.surfingdubai.com
Surf Shop Arabia, Building 1,
Al Manara Road (East), Interchange 3,
Dubai, +971 564716180,
www.surfshoparabia.com
Surf School Arabia, +971 556010997,
www.surfschoolarabia.com
UAE Kite Surfing, +971 505626383,
www.ad-kitesurfing.net
Distributors
Kitepeople Kite & Surf Store,
International City, Dubai,
+971 504559098, www.kitepeople.ae
Ocean Sports FZE, +971 559352735,
www.kitesurfsup.com
Operators
Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555,
www.alforsan.com
Dubai Kite Surf School, Umm Suqeim
Beach, Dubai, +971 504965107,
www.dubaikitesurfschool.com
Duco Maritime, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah
and Abu Dhabi, +971 508703427,
www.ducomaritime.com
Dukite, Kitesurf Beach, Umm Suqeim,
Dubai,+971 507586992, www.dukite.com
Kite Fly, Dubai, +971 502547440,
www.kitesurf.ae
Kitepro Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

and Al Dabbayyah, Abu Dhabi,
+971 505441494, www.kitepro.ae
Nautica1992, Dubai, +971 504262415,
www.nautica1992.ae
Shamal Kite Surfing, Umm Suqueim
Dubai, +971 507689226,
www.shamalkitesurfing.com
Sky & Sea Adventures, Dubai, Hilton,
Jumeirah Beach Road, +971 43999005,
www.watersportsdubai.com
Surf School UAE, Umm Suqeim Beach
and Building 1, Al Manara Road (East),
Interchange 3, Dubai, +971 43791998,
www.surfschooluae.com
Watercooled, Jebel Ali Golf Resort and
Spa, Dubai, +971 48876771,
www.watercooleddubai.com
Water Cooled,
Watercooled Sports Services LLC,
Hilton Beach Club,
Abu Dhabi, +971 26395997,
www.watercooleduae.com
Clubs
Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle,
www.abudhabisup.com
UAE SUP and Surf Association, +971
26665588, www.ridersuae.com
Water Parks
Aquaventure Atlantis, Dubai, Palm

Jumeirah, +971 44260000, www.
atlantisthepalm.com
Dreamland Aqua Park,
Umm Al Quwain, Emirates Road,
+971 67681888,
www.dreamlanduae.com
Wadi Adventure, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain,
+971 37818422,
www.wadiadventure.ae
Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai,
+971 43484444, www.wildwadi.com
Other leisure activities
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, P.O. Box 51234, Sas

Al Nakhl, Abu Dhabi, +971 28853555,
www.adgolfclub.com
Al Tamimi Stables, Sharjah,
+971 67431122 or 44370505,
www.tamimistables.com
Blokart Sailing, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai,
+971 556101841, www.blokartme.com
Childrens City, Creek Park Gate No.1,
Dubai, +971 43340808, www.childrencity.ae
Dolphin Bay Atlantis, Dubai,
+971 44262000, www.atlantisthepalm.com
Dubai Dolphinarium Dubai, Creek Park Gate
No. 1, +971 43369773,
www.dubaidolphinarium.ae
iFly Dubai, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre,
+971 42316292, www.iflyme.com
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi,
Saadiyat Island, +971 25578000, www.
sbgolfclub.ae
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club,
Sharjah, +971 65487777,
www.golfandshootingshj.com
SkiDubai, Dubai, Mall of the Emirates,
+971 44094000, www.skidxb.com
Spacewalk Indoor Skydiving, Abu Dhabi,
+971 26577601
adcountryclub.com/spacewalk/aboutspacewalk/
Health, Safety & Training
Safety Lessons
Marine Concept Yacht Charter
& Sea School, Rania Business Centre,
Dubai, +971 559603030,
www.marine-charter-concept.com
Sport and Health Centres
Bespoke Wellness, Dubai,
+971 553724670, www.bespoke-wellness.com
OUTDOORUAE
65
Original Fitness Co., C6 Tower Al Bateen

Bainunah St, Abu Dhabi, +971 2406 9404;
P.O. Box 126469, Office 508 The Fairmont

Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai,
+971 43116571 www.originalfitnessco.com
Orthosports Medical Centre, 5B Street,

Jumeira Beach road, Dubai, 800 ORTHO
(67846), www.orthosp.com
The Physio Center, Suite 405, Building 49,

Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai,
+971 44370570, www.physiocentre.ae
OMAN DIRECTORY
Al Sawadi Beach Resort, P.O. Box 747,

Barka - Al Sawadi, Oman, +968 26795545,
www.alsawadibeach.info
Diving UAE & Oman, www.dive-uae-oman.com
Euro Divers CAYC Oman, Marina Bandar
Al Rhowda, P.O. Box 940, Muscat, Oman,
+968 97899094, www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Musandam, PO Box 498,
PC 811 Khasab, Musandam, Oman,
+968 99877957, www.musandam-diving.com
Global Scuba LLC, +968 24692346,
www.global-scuba.com
Khasab Musandam Travel & Tours,
P.O. Box 786, PC No. 811, Khasab,
Musandam, Sultanate of Oman,
+968 91713449, info@tourkhasab.com
Al Mouj Marina, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24534554, www.almoujmarina.com
Moon Light Dive Center, P.O. Box 65,
Madinat Qaboos, Muscat Oman,
+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Nomad Ocean Adventures,
+968 26836069, Dibba, Oman; Fujairah,
+971 508918207, www.discovernomad.com
Diving Centres
Euro-divers Marina Bandar Al Rowdha,
P.O. Box 940, Postal Code 100 Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman, +968 98194444,
www.euro-divers.com
Extra Divers Zighy Bay, Oman,
Musandam, +968 26735555,
www.extradivers.info
Moonlight Dive Center, Near Grand Hyatt
Muscat, Shati Al Qurum, Oman,

+968 99317700, www.moonlightdive.com
Oman Dive Center, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24284240, www.omandivecenter.com
Oman Dive Center Resort, P.O. Box 199,
Medinat Sultan Qaboos, Oman,
+968 24824240, www.omandivecenter.info
Omanta Scuba Diving Academy,
Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area,
Muscat, Oman, +968 99777045,
www.omantascuba.com
Oxygen Diving and Adventures,
P.O. Box 1363 PC130 Alazaiba, Muscat,
Oman, +968 92537494 or 9723 2661,
www.o2diveoman.com
Scuba Oman, Oman, +968 99558488,
www.scubaoman.com
Seaoman, P.O. Box 2394, RUWI PC 112,
Oman, +968 24181400, www.seaoman.com
P.O. Box 117, Postal Code 421,

Bediyah, Ghabbi, Oman,
+968 99310108, www.safaridesert.com
Stand Up Paddeling, Kite

& Surfing, Wakeboarding
Boating & Sailing
Clubs
Horse Riding
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Bike and Hike Oman, P.O. Box 833, Ruwi,

Postal Code 112, Oman, +968 24400873,
www.bikeandhikeoman.com
Dolphin Qasab Tours, P.O. Box 123, P.C. 811,
Khasab City, Musandam, Oman,
+968 26730813, www.dolphinkhasabtours.com
Go Dive Oman, Marina Bander Al Rowdha
Dive Center, +968 9548 3813 or 98194444,
www.godiveoman.com
Khour Shem Tourism, Oman,
+968 91713449, www.khourshemtours.com
Nomad Tours, PO Box 583, Postal Code
100, Muscat, Oman, +968 95495240,
www.nomadtours.com
Oman Trekking Guides, PO Box 917,
NIZWA, Oman, +968 95741441,
http://omantrekkingguides.tumblr.com
Cruise Operators
Diving
Equipment
Al Marsa Musandam, PO Box 44, Dibba,
Sultanate of Oman, +968 26836550; UAE: +971
502124100, www.almarsamusandam.com
QATAR DIRECTORY
Adventure tours
and desert safaris
Al Mulla Travels, P.O. Box 4147, Doha,

Qatar, +974 44413488,
almullatrvls@qatar.net.qa
Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 13530,
Doha, Qatar, +974 4344499,
info@alphatoursqatar.com
Al QAYED Travel & Tours, PO Box: 158,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44072244,
www.alqayedtravel.com
Arabian Adventures, PO Box 4476, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44361461,
www.arabianadventureqatar.net
Black Pearls Tourism Services,
P.O. Box: 45677, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44357333
E2E Qatar Travel and Tours,
PO Box 23563, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44516688 or 444515995,
www.e2eqatar.com
Falcon Travels, PO Box 22031, Doha,
Qatar, +974 44354777,
www.falcontravelqatar.com
Gulf Adventures Tourism LLC, P.O. Box
18180, 29 Aspire Zone Street, Aspire Zone
Al Ryyan City, State of Qatar
Switchboard: +974 44221888,
www.gulf-adventures.com
Net Tours Qatar, P.O. Box 23080, Doha,
Qatar, +974 4310902, www.nettours.com.qa
Regency Travel & Tours, +974 44344444,
www.regencyholidays.com
Qatar Adventure, P.O. Box 13915,
Doha, Qatar, +974 55694561,
www.qataradventure.com
Qatar Inbound Tours, P.O. Box 21153,
+974 77451196, www.inboundtoursqatar.com
Qatar International Tours, P.O. Box 55733
Doha, Qatar, +974 44551141,
www.qittour.com
Qatar Ventures, Barwa Village Bulding #12
Shop #33, Doha, Qatar, +974 55776679,
www.qatar-ventures.com
Cycling, Running & Triathlon

Qatar Chain Reaction,
www.qatarchainreaction.weebly.com
Qatar Sandstromers, +974 77775207
or 77776634, www.facebook.com/
QatarSandstormers
Velostar Doha, https://www.facebook.com/
groups/587539064642288/
Doha Bay Running Club,
www.dohabayrunningclub.com
TriClub Doha, www.triclubdoha.com
General Sports
Equipment Megastores
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,

Qatar: +974 44822194; Villagio Mall,
Qatar: +974 44569143; Ezdan Mall, Qatar:
+974 44922827, The Pearl(Parcel 9) +974
40027513, Souq Jabor +974 44430322.
Office: +974 44417935,
www.galaxysportqatar.com
GO Sport Qatar, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
+974 44631644; Villaggio Mall,
+974 44157463,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Sun & Sand Sports Qatar, City Centre Mall,
+974 44837007; Dar Al Salam Mall,
+974 44510179; Mustafawi Exhibition,
+974 44935183, en-ae.sssports.com
Boating & Sailing
Equipment
Regatta Sailing Academy, Katara Beach
+974 55503484
www.regattasailingacademy.com
Speed Marine, Speed Marine, Museum
Road, P.O. Box 9145 Doha, Qatar,
+974 44410109,
www.speedmarinegroup.com
Marinas
Four Seasons Marina, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44948899, www.mourjanmarinas.com
Lusail Marina, Lusail City, Qatar,
+974 55843282,
www.mourjan-lusailmarina.com
The PearlQatar Marinas, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44953894, www.ronauticame.com
Add your free listing to the

66
OUTDOORUAE
Equipment, Operators
Kiteboarding Oman, Sawadi Beach,
P.O. Box: 133, PC 118, Muscat, Oman, +968
96323524, www.kiteboarding-oman.com
Omans Kite Center, +968 94006007,
www.kitesurfing-lessons.com
Camping & Hiking
Caving
Muscat Diving & Adventure Centre,

Oman, +968 24543002,
www.holiday-in-oman.com
Oman World Tourism, Oman,
+968 24565288, www.omanworldtourism.com
Fishing & Kayaking
Equipment
AzZaha Tours, +968 99425461,
www.azzahatours.com
Water World Marine Oman,
P.O.Box76,Muscat,113,Sultanate
ofOman, +96824737438,
www.waterworldoman.com
Manufacturer
Saphire Marine, PO Box: 11,
Post Code 118, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24568887, 24566566, 24561619 or
24568881, www.sapphire-marine.com
Marinas
Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Muscat, Oman,
+968 24737286 (ext 215),
www.marinaoman.net
Tour Operators
Safari Desert Camp,
Fishing & Kayaking
Equestrian Clubs/Centres
Al Shaqab, P.O. Box 90055, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44546320, www.alshaqab.com
Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club,
Racing and Equestrian Club,
P.O. Box 7559, Doha, Qatar, +974 44197704,
www.qrec.gov.qa
Diving
Equipment/Centres
Al Fardan Marine Services, Najma Street
(near Al Fardan Exchange), Doha, Qatar,
+974 44435626
Doha Sub Aqua Club, Doha Sub-Aqua Club,
PO Box: 5048, Doha, Qatar,
+974 50483794, www.dohasubaquaclub.com
Extreme Adventure, P.O. Box 33002, Shop
3, 4 Ahmed Bin Ali Street (Bin Omran), Doha,
Qatar, +974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
GoSport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
Qatar: +974 44631644; Villagio Mall,
Qatar: +974 44517574,
www.facebook.com/gosport.qatar
Pearl Divers, P.O. Box 2489, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44449553, www.pearl-divers.org
Poseidon Dive Center, P.O. Box: 11538,
Ras Abu Abboud Street, Al Emadi Suites,
Showroom #2, Doha, Qatar
+974 66084040, www.pdcqatar.com
Qatar Scuba Center, 187 Al Mansoura
Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277, www.qatarscubacenter.com
Q-Dive Marine Centre, Souq Al Najada cnr
of Grand Hamad and Ali bin Abdulla Street;
+974 55319507 or 4375065, www.qdive.net
World Marine Centre, PO Box 6944,
Doha, Qatar, +974 44360989,
www.worldmarinecenter.webs.com
Qatar Divers, Marriott Hotel Marina Near Old
Airport, Ras Abu Aboud Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 55246651, 40405156,
www.qatardivers.com
Qatar Marine, Go Sport City Center
West Bay, P.O. Box 16657, Doha,
+974 55319507, www.qatarmarine.net
Qatar Scuba Centre, 187 Al Mansoura
Street, Al Mansoura Area, Doha, Qatar,
+974 66662277 or 44422234,
www.qatarscubacenter.com
Equipment
Al Kashat, Fishing and Hunting
Equipment, Souq Waqif, next
to the Falcon Souq, +974 70057489
Al Mamzoore Marine Equipment,
P.O. Box 6449, Old Salata, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44444238, almamzoore@qatar.net.qa
Extreme Adventure, Shop 3,4
Ahmed Bin Ali Steet, Doha,
+974 44877884, www.extreme.qa
Fish World, P.O. Box 1975, Doha, Qatar,
+974 44340754
State of Qatar (QatarSub), Souq Waqif,
next to the Falcon Souq, +974 4431234,
www.stateofqatar.com
Operators
Paddle Qatar, +974 55490895,
www.paddleqatar.com
Stand Up Paddeling, Kite

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

Carbon Wheels Bike Shop,
Al Maha Center 10, Salwa Road, Doha,
+974 44419048,
www.facebook.com/CarbonWheelsQTR
Flash Bike Shop, Mesaeed New Souq,
Shop C.06, +974 6600 9116,
www.flashbikeshop.com
Skate Shack, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44692532, www.skate-shack.com
Galaxy Sport, City Centre Mall, 3rd Floor,
+974 44822194; Villaggio Mall, +974 4456
9143; Ezdan Mall, +974 4492 2827,
www.galaxysportqatar.com
Sportswell, Salwa Road, South Doha,
+974 44151687
ONLINE DIRECTORY

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