#74 November 2016

Off road adventures in the region

Exploring Indonesia Beaches, jungles and traditions

Reports from Berlin and Chicago

Svalbard Part Two

In search of polar bears in the Arctic Circle

Plenty of

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Vol. 6, No. 11 November 2016

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OutdoorUAE Team

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and General Manager [email protected]

Nela Macovei Business Development Manager [email protected]

Whilst the UAE is not exactly known for vast forests, this quote by Robert Frost is easily translatable to our desert environment if you replace the image of luscious green trees with rolling, golden sand dunes. Off roading is a hobby that many expats have become involved in since moving to the UAE; the ease of getting to the desert and the range of vehicles readily available in which to do so make this a popular weekend pursuit suitable for all the family. This issue, we learn about how to minimise the risks involved, thanks to our expert Marina Bruce, and we also hear about some of the adventures that are to be had in the local area. Furthermore, we also investigate some of the products you might need when taking part in this pastime, such as camping gear so that you can stay the night in the desert rather than having to rush home. If you want to have some company on your desert outings, check out our feature on UAE OFFROADERS, or join Marina on one of her upcoming trips. Don’t forget, our Outdoor & Adventure show is on from 10th – 12th November at DIMC. If you’re an off road fan, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to indulge yourself, from our 4x4 display to all the essential gear that you’ll need to stay safe and have fun. Even if you’re not an off Rachael Bruford roader, but still love the outdoors, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Editor [email protected] We look forward to seeing you there!

Margo Ciruelos Sales and Marketing [email protected]

Ireneo ‘Jung’ Francisco Designer and Photographer [email protected]

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 [email protected] Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries) Tel: 04-447 2030 Mobile: 055 8647125 [email protected] Mobile: 055 9398915 [email protected] Published by Outdoor UAE FZE In cooperation with A2Z EVENTS P.O. Box 215062 Dubai, U.A.E.

Tel. 04-447 2030 [email protected] www.outdooruae.com Distributor Al Nisr Distribution LLC P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE 800 4585/04-4067170 Printed at GN Printing P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE © 2016 Outdoor UAE FZE Vol. 6, No. 11, November 2016

Jake Lyle Diving and Watersport Expert

Helle Bachofen Von Echt Elite Women Cyclist

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and off-road expert

www.OutdoorUAE.com Facebook.com/OutdoorUAE Twitter.com/OutdoorUAE

Bandana Jain Outdoor and Lifestyle contributor

Instagram.com/OutdoorUAE Cover photo by: Andrew St Pierre White

Youtube.com/OutdoorUAE Jen Hardie Family adventure contributor

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

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WHEN YOU’RE DONE READING, PLEASE RECYCLE!

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

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CONTENTS

30 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

34 6X6 ROAD TRIP

38 WEEKEND FAMILY ADVENTURES

EVERY ISSUE

PEOPLE

06 EVENTS CALENDAR 08 BEST SHOTS 43 PRODUCTS 63 DIRECTORY

22 OFF ROADERS CORNER 23 OFF ROADERS CORNER 26 MUSTAFA SAHIN

EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS 10 UMM AS SAMEEM 11 EMIRATES DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP 12 LENIN’S PEAK 14 CARROS DE FOC

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16 BERLIN MARATHON 18 CHICAGO MARATHON 20 RED BULL CLIFF DIVING

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49 QUECHUA CAMPING GEAR

51 EXPLORING INDONESIA

58 OFF ROAD

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

TRIED & TESTED

24 YAMAHA YXZ100R 27 BHUTAN - DRUK PATH TREK 30 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 32 SVALBARD PART TWO 34 6X6 ROAD TRIP 36 DEAD2

49 QUECHUA CAMPING GEAR

LIFESTYLE 38 WEEKEND FAMILY ADVENTURES 41 HABITUALLY HEALTHY 42 DESERT ADVENTURES WITH BIG RED

OUR EXPERTS 51 EXPLORING INDONESIA - JAKE 54 NEPAL - DAN 56 CYCLING - HELLE 58 OFF ROAD – MARINA 60 FISHING – KIT 62 FITNESS FIRST

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EVENTS CALENDAR



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS

NOVEMBER 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

Dubai Outdoor & Adventure Show

Organised by OutdoorUAE, this show at the stunning Dubai Marina will give you the opportunity to try free activities, buy all the gear needed for your outdoor pursuits and relax with food from the UAE’s best food trucks. When: 10th-12th November Where: DIMC, Dubai Marina Contact: www.dubaiadventureshow.com

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The Colour Run

This popular and colourful 5km run is back with a tropical theme! When: 17th November Where: Dubai Autodrome Contact: http://www.thecolorrun.ae

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Beach Run AUH

Come and join in Abu Dhabi’s first ever Beach Run! This fun-filled family beach run is suitable for runners of all abilities. When: 18th November Where: Abu Dhabi Beach, opposite Urban Park Contact: www.premieronline.com

24 hour Walkathon

Starting in Zabeel Park, participants in teams of 20 will test their fitness, endurance and strength for 24 hours on a dedicated route past some of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks. When: 17th November Where: Zabeel Park Contact: www.dubaisc.ae/HBMIEn

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Urban Ultra Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge

This challenge stretches 220km with approx 1300m of elevation along smooth tarmac roads, winding through dunes, over mountain climbs and along the beautiful east coast highway to the finish. When: 18th November Where: Sharjah Lagoons, Mamzar Contact: www.premieronline.com

TribeFit Sunset Yacht Yoga

Enjoy the weather this November and workout in style by joining TribeFit for perform yoga on a yacht, and experience a one of a kind yoga along with the breath-taking views of Dubai Marina. When: 18th November Where: TribeFit, Dubai Marina Contact: www.tribefit.com

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The Caracal Challenge

Tap into khaleeji traditions and use only the moon and stars as our navigation system in our journey across Abu Dhabi’s key desert spots. Learn about the wonders of our local environment in this 15km walk under the stars. When: 11th November Where: Starts from Khalifa Park, ends near Arabian Nights Village Contact: www.husaak.com/tcc NOVEMBER

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Fighting Fit Dubai

Witness the adrenaline-filled climax of Season 2 of FIGHTING FIT DUBAI, Powered by Under Armour, at the prestigious Emirates Golf Club. When: 11th November Where: Emirates Golf Club Contact: https://www.facebook.com/FIGHTINGFITDXB/

YogaFest Middle East

This free event focuses on community, connection and contribution. There’ll be classes, workshops, and the opportunity to buy yoga apparel and accessories. When: 18th – 19th November Where: Dubai Media City Ampitheatre Contact: http://www.yogafest.me/

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Palm Jumeirah 10km tunnel Run The inaugural Palm Jumeirah 10km Tunnel Run starts outside Aquaventure and takes runners through the Palm Tunnel, finishing at Al Ittihad Park on the Palm Jumeirah Trunk. When: 25th November Where: Starting outside Aquaventure Contact: www.premieronline.com

DMX Races Rounds 3 and 4

Continue the thrilling motocross season this November, with free access for spectators. When: 4th and 25th November Where: Dubai Motocross Club, Jebel Ali Golf Resort Contact: Facebook: DMX Dubai Motocross Club

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Red Bull Drift Driving

In another fantastic event, Red Bull bring you a Drift Driving bonanza that is guaranteed to give you an adrenalin rush! When: 25th November Where: Ajman Port Contact: www.redbull.com

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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: Katie Aun, Hena Jacob and Gordon Rech. Well done!

Katie Aun

Walking in Wilderness

Hena Jacob Georgia

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Gordon Rech

Fatbike ride at Hatta MTB Centre

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Words by: Marina Bruce Photos by: Sarah Brooks

Regular off roaders are likely to be used to the various places and types of terrain in the UAE and Oman; the desert is, after all, a giant sandpit. There is, however, a very special place which is like no other, a place where even with your trusty mechanical camel you get a sense of the challenge that the intrepid travellers of not so long ago had to face just to survive. The Omani Rub Al Khali with the Umm As Sameem deep within its heart is such a place. The vast vista of unending sabkhas (salt flats) and towering starfish dunes is a sight to quicken the heartbeat of any dedicated off-roader, and while there are tracks through it making progress easy, there are still some challenges to be had and isolated retreats where you can escape the troubles and worries of the modern world, even in the “Mother of all Poisons” as the Umm As Sameem translates to. My husband and I have made an annual trek through the Omani Empty Quarter since 2012 and we have always wanted to share this area with other outdoor enthusiasts; in September 2016, with our partners Ibex Adventures in Oman, we realised our dream and organised a two-night expedition in this, the most magical of locations. After meeting in Ibri, we convoyed our group around 100kms to our first waypoint – a sign saying we had reached the “Roba Al Khali” (The Empty Quarter) – and we made a long stop for photos and to have our picnic lunch, Scottish style. I should perhaps explain that in Scotland the weather is often rainy and many picnics are consumed in the shelter of cars, but for our group last month, it was dust laden wind we had to shelter from! Moving on, we crossed the enigmatic Umm As Sameem, a 50km wide sabkah, mentioned in Wilfred Thesiger’s ‘Arabian Sands’ and the focus of many Bedouin tales. Today there are rough tracks over the mud but back in the day of camel trains this area was best avoided as the terrain would have been almost impossible for camels to negotiate; not

The sign

Salt crystals

The camp

only that, but when you are in the middle of it, all you can see is sabkah as there are no distinguishing landmarks. There are stories of herds of goats being consumed by the Umm As Sameem and although we did not encounter any quick sands we did find evidence of road signs sinking ever lower into the mud, albeit over a period of years. Arriving at our campsite shortly before sunset we set up our tents in the shade of a dune to shield us from early morning sunshine, before gathering around the campfire, eyes skyward to see the first of the Orionid meteors. There are a number of oil installations in the area but these were sufficiently far away to cause minimal light pollution. I mentioned before that this area was remote - the nearest settlement to our camp was Al Ghaba, over 150kms away, and the nearest towns are Adam and Ibri, both over 200kms distant – this is a journey you certainly should not consider on your own! The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast at 8am, our group split into two convoys for some offroad driving. I led my group of 4x4s on a 100km drive south of the camp, through a dramatic dunescape lined with high, sharp

“starfish” formations which towered over us; our drive was punctuated with short crossings of small technical dunes where the islands of sands converged on a white gravel plain. Unusually, we saw very few signs of life during the day with just a small Shrike bird landing on my roof-rack and a set of bleached camel bones on our return route to the camp. My husband Neil took his group of AWD cars on a track based drive to explore a nearby rocky plateau as well as the outer reaches of the Umm As Sameem itself. There they did find signs of life by way of acacia trees, a cricket and certain signs that camels had visited recently! By nightfall both groups had returned to the camp for a rest before tucking into an Omani feast cooked for us by our camp hosts from Ibex Adventures. We were fortunate to have the eminent archaeologist Dr Jeff Rose with us and he gave a short talk which had everyone enthralled with tales of the area thousands of years ago. The next morning saw us strike camp and return to civilisation at Ghaba services where we fuelled up and bid a sad farewell to our fellow expeditioneers. We hope to lead further expeditions to the Rub Al Khali and Umm As Sameem at least twice over the winter. To allow us to complete the expedition in a weekend, we have tweaked our itinerary to include a hotel stay in Ibri on the Thursday evening followed by a day of driving, one night camping and another half day drive before we return to the blacktop around 3pm on Sunday. Full details will be posted on the Desert Diva Facebook page in due course, but in the meantime to enquire please email [email protected].

Buggy winner Mark Powell followed by Ryan Trutch

Humaid Al Mashghouni (232) followed by Rd 1 Quad Winner Fahad Al Musallam

Mohammed Balooshi (23) chased by Josh Brodalka (34)

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge winner Obaid Al Kitbe returned to a quad for the first time in several years, picking up an impressive second place, with Saudi rider Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi in third. In the Auto competition, Emirati Khalid Al Jafla begin his title defense strongly with the overall win and first place in the T3 Class. 1993 FIA Middle East Rally Champion Sh. Hamad Al Thani of Qatar made a strong debut appearance in the series with second overall Rd 1 Moto Winner Sam Sunderland and first place in the T1 Class. Finally, Mark Powell was the winner in the Buggy category, putting in an exceptional The only other rider able to challenge Sunperformance in the Saluki Motorsport prederland was KTM UAE teammate, and last pared Yamaha. He was followed in second year’s champion, Ross Runnalls, who suffered place by the British crew of Tom Bell and coseveral mishaps during the day including losdriver Patrick McMurren, with debutant Ryan ing his drinking water pack and a badly timed Trutch in third place, despite having rolled his pitstop that lost him time on his rival and Polaris several times. limited him to second place. Emirati MohamThe opening event was held on Friday 14th med Al Balooshi was third on the day, as well October 2016 in the Al Lisali region of Dubai, as winner of the new Veteran Class. in sweltering temperatures. In the Quad competition, Kuwaiti rider “For sure, this was a really challenging day Fahad Al Musallam picked up his first ever for all competitors. AS the opening round win in the championship by employing a wise of the season, it was probably the hottest strategy of carrying a heavy fuel load to save event of the year, and I’m hugely impressed time by not requiring refueling stops. Former that so many competitors finished the race.

Fresh from securing a frustrating second place in the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship for the second season in succession, Dubai based British rider Sam Sunderland returned to the Emirates Desert Championship with a dominant win in the opening round of the series.

Even more importantly, I am delighted that we had no injuries today”, said ATCUAE President and EMSF Chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “It was a pleasure to see such a strong turnout today, as well as welcome our first ever competitors from Iceland, Sudan and Pakistan. This demonstrates the huge appeal of this championship and its growing international reputation. We see this as the perfect entry point for offroad motorsport in the region, and we are working to further improve the discipline with the 2017 introduction of the regional level Gulf Challenge competition, as well as our planned debut of our Dubai round of the FIA Cross Country Rally and FIM Baja World Cups”, Ben Sulayem concluded. The Emirates Desert Championship is organized by the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and the Emirates Motor Sport Federation (EMSF). Five rounds will be held throughout the 2016-17 season with the next event scheduled for Friday 11th November 2016.

Rd 1 Overall and 450 class winner Sam Sunderland (left), with Mohammed Al Balooshi, third overall and Veterans class winner (Center) and ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem

Dana Miskulnig (Left, second Ladies Cup), Sune Schaffler (Second from left, first Ladies Cup) and Elisha dessurne (Centre, third Ladies Cup)

Mohammed Ben Sulayem (Second from left) along with Sh. Hamad Al Thani (Left), Khalid Al Jafla (Second from Right) and Abdullah Bakhashab (Right).

For further details about the championship please contact [email protected] or check the website at www.emiratesdesertchampionship.ae.

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Mountain Graduation: Words + Photos by: Amy Subaey

Most people do not understand why on earth some of us would ever bother to climb mountains. They may have admitted to a passing fascination until they saw EVEREST. That was all the confirmation required to deem all those who attempt such feats as completely nuts. But there are also those among us who remained undaunted, as determined as ever to continue to pursue higher mountains. My daughter and climbing partner, Amira, age 19, shares my passion for the mountains along with those aspirations. Though we have many years of mountain experience trekking together, and a solid base of mountaineering skills through courses in Nepal and Switzerland, much of our experience has been what you would call ‘catered climbing’. Though trekking peaks are certainly challenging in their own right, mountaineering is just a whole new level. Trekking allows you to focus on getting yourself up the hill, while the porters carry the heavy boots and sleeping bags. But, to go higher, we were keen to learn independent skills of carrying, camping and cooking as well gain a substantial amount of altitude. Lenin’s Peak is in Kyrgyzstan, a former Russian republic. The 7145m peak is in the Pamir Mountain range and is a key part of 5 other 7000 meter peaks in the same range, commonly referred to as the Snow Leopard. It is famous in Russia and becoming more popular among aspiring mountaineers due to its reputation of being, supposedly, “an easy 7000m peak’. I do believe that there are better reasons to justify calling a peak ‘easy’ other than the money and the time it takes to climb them. For one, the dangers of crevasses, both those covered by recent snowfall, which is constant, and those too big to be covered, should probably be a bit 12

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higher on the priority list. Insanely unpredictable weather and wind speeds that further drop the temperature into the negative 30’s especially at night. Some climbers on this mountain mistook the ‘easy’ description to justify their lack of safe climbing procedures such as being roped to at least 3 other climbers going over glaciers filled with crevasses. As a result there were lots of accidents. Perhaps another important fact would better explain: out of 150 climbers in the first 25 days of the season, only 2 actually reached the summit. Even Mt. Everest has better summit statistics! Judging from the conversations with those descending along the same route and our fellow climbers at the advanced base camp, it seemed that reaching Camp 2 was considered a really great achievement. Getting beyond that to Camp 3, worthy of a grand salute, and anyone who managed to even take a few steps outside of Camp 3 towards the realization of a successful summit, simply superhuman status. Physically getting in shape for a mountain over 6000m required dedication. Though we trained hard; on average of an hour per day running, climbing stairs with ankle weights, running up the slopes in Ski Dubai, weekend

back to back day hikes until the middle of June, we still underestimated how hard it would be to trek and be really comfortable with the heavy pack and all of gear that is suddenly on your body. Boots and crampons weigh at least 1kg on each foot, a harness with carabiners clanging, a constant reminder of their extra ounces, slings and your axe in one hand. Before you even put on the backpack, you are carrying at least an extra 5kg. We addressed this gap in our training in the weeks just before departure. We headed to Nepal to do a training trek; carrying our 16kg packs for 6 days from 1500m up to 4800m and back down. Then, after 4 days of rest, we headed to Mt. Elbrus, at 5642m, in Russia with our UAE Trekker Team to pre-acclimatize. With only one day of rest between, we headed for Lenin with our international team of 8 from France, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Germany, and USA. In hindsight, there is perhaps a finer line between intense preparation, and overexertion leading to exhaustion before your boots even hit the snow. Of the 21 days on expedition, 17 were on the mountain, and 6 to 8 days of total self -sufficiency. Calculating food rations was a tricky business; though you need around

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10,000 calories per day, you may not have energy left to cook, or no appetite to eat anything. Including more options for food means additional weight, and every little tuna can adds unwanted ounces. To top up our meals, we opted for Chinese energy bars that apparently are eaten on Everest (that marketing technique worked well on me) that could also double as tea, containing 5,000 calories in one bar. When you arrive at Base Camp, your guide, who will hopefully speak English, will inform you abruptly, “6 pm. We discuss. ” Though we chalked this up to the tough talking slightly arrogant Kyrgyzstani attitude at first, but we soon realized it was actually our own arrogance/ignorance. The mountain weather determines your schedule, the guide only interprets how you will adapt to it. Soon enough, we started to roll with the rhythm of the mountain. Wake up timings on the mountain are always early, but more often the sunrise wake-up call is due to the fact that you have your been in your tent since just after nightfall and will have likely have to answer for your attempts at staying well hydrated. So you extricate yourself from your sleeping bag and make a run around and over a hill in hopes that nobody beat you to the “five star” toilet. Otherwise known as the tin box with a hole in the bottom. Breakfast means eating your requisite fried egg, something with dill, and a sausage. Experience already taught us the folly of picky eating and meal skipping. In Russia, they say ‘no porridge, no summit!’ Because of the resulting fatigue and lack of energy from no food in your stomach. We eat whatever is on our plate on a mountain and are grateful for it. After your breakfast, you will likely be ‘acclimatizing’ which means following the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. The trek is usually on slopes so steep that they require a zig zag from one side of a slippery rock to the other. The way back is usually down a deep scree path where you can literally ‘ski’ your way to the bottom in half the time it took to get up. After 5 days of acclimatising, you will arrive at Advanced Base Camp, where the days are marked by how windy, how hot,



or how cold or how snowy they are. The variations are incredible. One minute the sun is out and you urgently escape your layers. The next minute, as the sun goes behind the cloud, you search for them. You spend most time in the group dining tent and just outside it watching teams going up or coming down and listening to stories of those that have completed their first acclimatization ‘rotation’. They are always insane stories about crevasses, the unexpected difficulty, and the cold. Then, waiting for 6pm to discuss what will happen at 2am. The questions, though they have been answered already, are nearly the same each day. How long will it take to reach Camp 2? What if the snow covers the crevasses? What if I have to turn around? Our guide provided calm, unwavering answers. ‘Tonight we see at 2am. We see the weather. If weather good for climb, we go. If no, we sleep. We go up, we see the snow. We see your feeling. Not feeling good? We come back. Feeling good? Good weather? We go up.” Yes, it really was that simple. But they were not simple answers to accept. “Not feeling good - go down”is not what you want to hear when you have planned, prepared, and trained for six months. In the end, your body tells you in no uncertain terms what you will be allowed to do. That’s just the end of the story. That may sound like a wimpy cop-out for those that are used to hearing ‘push hard! You don’t know what your limits are until you pass them!”, but not when it comes to oxygen deprivation at high altitude where there are no water stations, sponge stops or

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ambulances at the finish line. You must listen to your body and let it define your limits. If one day you could breathe and the next, for some reason, finding the strength to get to the toilet box is a challenge, you know that this is a not a fight-on-through moment. The difficult part is accepting that your body and your mind have suddenly entered into an unwinnable conflict; head wants to go up, body wants to go down. Body always wins. If you want to take your climbing to the next level, past ‘catered climbs’ and ‘trekking peaks’ towards expedition level peaks over 6000 meters, take a season to learn these independent skills. Buy all of your own gear to ensure good fit and comfort, and learn how to use it all with confidence. Train with weight, on your ankles and your back. Get uphill as much as you can, for extended periods. Learn the confidence you need in mountaineering skills in the Alps or on lower peaks in Nepal or India without dealing with the effects of altitude. Though most of us climb just for ourselves and our own personal goals and ambition, one team member, Mona Shehab from Saudi Arabia, dedicated the attention she received for attempting this 7000m meter peak to funding Syrian children’s education in Lebanon. Though her exciting posts and eventful updates throughout the climb, she received 100,000 USD in donations for their education, which made her efforts completely worthwhile. Throughout our previous trekking mountains and experiences, we have been lucky to have experienced mountaineering mentors who have taught us valuable lessons in our pursuit of our dreams. Lakpa Sherpa and Chris Jenson Burke together have climbed 10 of all 14 8,000 meter peaks in the world. Their attitude towards each expedition is ultimately one of gratitude of the chance to spend multiple weeks in the mountains, to experience everything it offers, (bad weather, storms, too much snow, too much sun), to accept the outcomes of the expedition and to listen to your body. A summit is a bonus, far from the only reason to climb. Though this philosophy may seem very relaxed for the challenges confronted on an expedition, it captures perfectly the zen that mountains inspire. These are all important lessons to take to heart when you head to higher and tougher mountains where it is more likely not to reach the summit on the first attempt. In the end, every trekking and mountain experience adds to your overall knowledge, understanding and acceptance of the fact that whatever happens on the mountain will happen and you should learn to enjoy yourself, whether or not you get that summit.

ACTIVITY REPORT

How I overcame the Chariots of Fire:

Words + Photos by: Anne Elizabeth Cecillon

Day Four The next morning, after once again a loaded carbohydrate breakfast, it was time to go Joseph M Blanc, an amazing refuge nested in between emerald lakes and surrounded by pine trees. Getting there was absolutely dreadful with vertical drops off rocks that needed to be carefully mastered, but once at 2350 meters, I was rewarded by a very comfortable bed and hot shower. The stream beside me on the way down dropped into a succession of small idyllic ponds, each crowned with an effervescent little waterfall. Along the path, bluebells nodded in the grass; the amanita mush-

rooms highly poisonous, were shining a brilliant scarlet. After a vertiginous descent along a rocky mountain face and the constant ring of the cowbells rhythmically accompanying my steps, I saw the refuge briefly, hidden from view by pine trees, a small stone house perched on a low finger of granite jutting into a lake, the water virtually surrounding the refuge. At JM Blanc, one can sit by the cottage and see trout in the ice clear water. However, the weather was deteriorating and an orange alert was in effect for the next day with snow at altitude

and sleet below. Before dinner my traveling companions challenged me to an oversized MIKADO game and we shared many funny moments while waiting for 19.00 and our famous dinner. It came this time paired with chicken and of course the ever present pasta. Dessert was again a piece of apple and I was off to bed early for a very much needed rest before the next portion of the trek.

Day Five

Day five was a long one with a quick stop at Mallafre for lunch and on to Amitges for the night. Little did I know that I would end up with 38,800 steps, 236 floors and 28.36kms... Had I known, I probably would not have left Joseph M Blanc! Early morning after breakfast I started under a light drizzle and cold temperature. I had decided the night before to go around the next col as the weather was menacing and deteriorating and the guides were not recommending to go to altitude. That would add a lot of miles to my already long day but was safer. I started full of enthusiasm and enjoyed a gentle upslope path followed by downslopes around misty landscapes. The path around the mountain was unmarked and I had to go by the very vague information that the guide had shared with me at the refuge the night before. The map was helpful but unfortunately not detailed

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enough to navigate by. I had been told that I would reach two tunnels and to make sure I had new batteries in my head lamp. When I reached the second one and realised that it had collapsed, I was a little disheartened but soon found a path around this new obstacle. The wet terrain made it hard to navigate but after another 5 kilometres I was on fairly flat slope waving my way through fields of rasperberrys and blueberrys. After lunch at Mallafre, it was on to d’Amitges, the biggest refuge of the trek. The walk to d’Amitges was long and strenuous for me having suffered an injury on my knee, but I was rewarded by stunning sights along the way. Beautiful deep lakes and big thick waterfalls, ducks waddling on the lake shores and wild berries lining the path. After a well deserved shower and the customary securing of your bunk for the night, I enjoyed great conversations with my fellow hikers at the main table as we shared a hearty meal. My feet were absolutely destroyed and I spent 15 minutes disinfecting, bandaging and preparing for the next day. That night, before going to bed, I was surprised by a white landscape. It had snowed while we were having dinner and the already peaceful mountains were covered in a sparkling new coat of white blanket. Sleep eluded me that night as I knew it was the last evening I was to spend in the mountains and I wanted to enjoy every single second of my stay...



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

Day Six

Breakfast was awaiting at 07.30 and as it was the last day of the trek, I was a little sad to leave this beautiful park. I had to detour to make the Saboredo refuge and earn the right to say that I completed the Carros de Foc. So off I went in the snow and ice, each step a careful one as the terrain had become very slippery. Slowly I climbed again to pass yet another col and the wind was howling around me, slicing through my light jacket. I was reminded of the fickle nature of mountain weather and how much I was unhappy to carry my winter gear at the start of the trek, thinking that I would not get to wear it; I could not have been more wrong! At the top, it was so cold that I could not really stay and enjoy the scenery. My camera froze and I had to press on to get on the other side of the mountain where the wind would be less fierce. As I was going down, I saw a group stopped ahead of me. I learnt that one of the men was seriously injured and had to be air lifted from the mountain. This was the Spanish gentleman I met in several other refuges who was traveling by himself and only last night actually started trekking with a group of his countrymen. He could not have chosen a better day to be with people as they cared for him while waiting for the rescue. They did not need my help so I continued on to Colomers knowing that I had to beat the daylight remaining. Along the way, I was welcomed by huge cows either laying down and relaxing or grazing. Their constant cow bells felt comforting. The last part to Colomers felt impossible as my knee was screaming in agony. Once I started though, there was no way I was going to quit my quest of completing the trek. My trekking partner took off and left me behind and I kept fighting mentally to finish as every corner seemed to be the last but was not. I guess the hardest part of all was to not have progress points or information. Suffering is easier to bear when you know more or less

how long it is going to last. But in this park, the indication boards are few and that is part of the charm but also an obstacle to surpass. I finally reached yet another dam with what seemed to be the refuge on the other side. Elation engulfed me as I crossed the dam, only to realise that what I thought was the last check point was... not! The abandoned house standing in front of me was not the refuge. The dirt track weaved along a stunning azure water lake but to be honest, all I was concentrating on was finishing and reaching the refuge for my last stamp. I was getting hypoglycemic and my legs were aching, but as I arrived at the real refuge, victory felt very sweet. After drinking coffee, eating a dry sandwich and bandaging my feet once more, I started my way down, right from where I had come from. Carros de Foc, I have conquered you and I have learned a lot from you. I will recommend you to healthy outdoors enthusiasts as it was an absolutely fantastic experience, and as one of my traveling companions said, this place has been struck by the Hand of God. A word of caution though; it is not for the faint of heart…expect sore legs but happy spirits!

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EVENT REPORT

Words by: Nada El Sawy Photos by: Anja Schwerin

At times it seemed that I was not meant to run the Berlin marathon. When I signed up back in 2014, I mistakenly had noted the wrong deadline and missed it by a couple of days. I decided to sign up with a charity, Médecins Sans Frontières, and secured my spot for 2015. But a couple of months before the race, my brotherin-law announced he would be having his wedding the same weekend and I had to cancel. Luckily, I was able to defer my place to 2016. I was determined to run it as part of my goal to run all six marathon majors (Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, Tokyo). So far I had run Los Angeles twice, Dubai, and Paris, but none of the majors. What is the big deal with the majors? Well,

it is the running world’s equivalent of climbing the seven summits. It is considered an achievement and upon completion, you are awarded with a Six Star Finisher certificate and medal. It also is not easy to get into all six, many of which have lotteries and qualification times. Boston is perhaps the most coveted of the bunch, given that one must qualify with a competitive time. Getting a Boston qualifier (BQ) time was my main goal for Berlin. That also had been my goal in Paris in April. The BQ time for my age group is 3:40, but for 2016 there were so many entries the cut-off was 3:37:28. My Paris time of 3:39:18 was not fast enough for 2017, so Berlin was my chance for 2018.

The Training

For more than a year now I have been training with the Desert Road Runners club in Dubai. The challenge for Berlin was that most of the training fell in summer. When I started training in June, not only was it in 40C degree heat and extreme humidity, it was while fasting for the month of Ramadan. I worked around that by breaking my fast with dates just before a speed workout and doing my longer runs late at night. At the expo

Pre-marathon pasta dinner with fellow Dubai runners and friends

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The rest of the summer I was travelling, so I was able to escape the heat of Dubai. In July, I was in the north coast of Egypt, mainly doing my runs back and forth on a one-kilometre path along the beach. I hit a snag in my training schedule, though, when I was injured – not during running incidentally. I fell on my knee on the sharp edge of marble stairs, leaving me with stitches and instructions not to run, exercise, or swim for two weeks. Undeterred, I got back on schedule in Los Angeles in August. I joined a running club there, which helped with motivation and enjoyment. My longest run at 32 km was in Seattle, a great way to see the entire city. By the time I arrived back in Dubai in September, the majority of the training was behind me and I felt ready for the big day in Berlin on Sunday, September 25.

The Day Before The Race

I took a flight from Paris (where I was for a conference) to Berlin on Saturday morning. The girl sitting next to me on the plane was wearing a Garmin watch and a Chicago Marathon jacket. I took a wild guess, “Are you running the Berlin marathon?” Of course she was. She was flying all the

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on Kurfürstendamm street

way from Guatemala to run her second of the marathon majors. Like me, her goal is to complete all of them. I asked her if she was going to head to the expo right away. The email from the organizers said the peak would be 10 am - 2 pm, so I was debating whether it would be wiser to wait and go late afternoon. “Oh no, I’ll go right away. Otherwise, it’s too risky,” she responded. I can certainly relate to that feeling. Anxiety takes over and I think such irrational thoughts as, “I better go buy bananas now or else the supermarket might run out of them, and then what will I do??” But I opted to stick to my original plan of going to the expo later. After I got to the hotel, I went for a slow jog to the start at the Brandenburg Gate, which turned out to be only 15 minutes away. The city was buzzing with crowds and excitement, and runners everywhere. It was a good call to go to the expo later in the day. As I emerged from the underground, there were droves of people leaving. I walked straight to the race packet pick-up area, which was virtually empty. The goodie bag was definitely a disappointment, though. The woman in front of me in line could not believe there was no T-shirt included. “Are you kidding me?” she said, as her jaw dropped. Considering entry to the Berlin marathon is 100 euros, I was even more surprised that our “race kit” consisted of a sponge, beef jerky, and Adidas shower gel (which I had to give away anyway because I only had carryon luggage).I still decided to buy a T-shirt as a souvenir (not the official race T-shirt, though, because that was supposed to have been pre-ordered). It certainly made me appreciate the Eiffel Tower “Finisher” shirt that I got at the end of the Paris marathon. After stocking up on energy bars and other runner essentials, I headed to the ASICS pace band stand to print out a wrist



bracelet with one’s projected 5km split times. My strategy was to go for a five-minute per kilometre pace, which would get me a time of 3:30:58. Factoring in slowing down for water/food, hitting the wall, and other unexpected problems, I was really aiming for around 3:35. To get my mind off the race, I left the expo to walk down Kurfürstendamm street for some shopping. As I exited the H&M store across from the famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which was bombed during World War II, a nationalistic, anti-Merkel, anti-refugee, anti-Islam parade passed by, flanked by police cars. This made me feel sad. Here I was, a Muslim woman running the Berlin marathon, camouflaged in a sea of runners, while my religion is being misrepresented by terrorists. Then I saw some on-lookers booing and giving the thumbs-down sign, and I realised that a small parade of a few dozen people was not the true spirit of Berlin. I would see the true spirit the next day, at the marathon. But running is more about pasta than politics, and carbo-loading was the next item on the agenda. Although my husband and kids could not come with me to Berlin, several members of my Dubai running club were there. We stuffed ourselves and talked race strategy, calling it a night at 8 p.m. so that everyone could get back to their hotels. As I lay in bed I took another look at the race information guide and realised that no headphones would be allowed. That surprised me, but I figured I better not risk it and ditched the plan to take my iPod. There was nothing left to do, but try to sleep, which is always near impossible for me.

Race Day

I woke up at 6:45 a.m. on race day to have oatmeal, a banana, and a cup of tea. I met my running club buddies for a pre-race photo and then to the most time-consuming part: waiting in line for the toilets. That took 40 minutes, giving me just enough time to jump into my pen, ready for the start at 9:15 a.m. I felt as if I could see nothing around me and I could not tell where we were in relation to the starting line. I looked to the big screen to see family and friends of runners sending heart-warming good-luck messages. Then, as energetic music began blaring and the start gun went off, I could see thousands of people running on the screen until finally people around me started running too. We were very lucky with beautiful, sunny weather, starting at 10C and warming up Celebrating after the race at one of Berlin’s gardens

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Former DRR member Anja Schwerin holding up a sign at the 10K mark

to around 20C. The course began in the Tiergarten park running towards the Victory Column. The Berlin marathon is known for being a flat course and indeed there was not even a slight incline the entire race. I started off strong, sticking to my five-minute per kilometre pace. I looked forward to the 10km mark when I would see a German friend, who had moved back to Berlin from Dubai. When I spotted her and her red “GO” sign with the Desert Road Runners logo, I waved my arms and was all smiles. The atmosphere and spectators were amazing. There were bands, people clapping in sync and whirling noisemakers, and plenty of young children holding out their hands for high fives. While in Paris, the signs read “Allez! Allez!” (Go! Go!), in Berlin they read “Lauf! Lauf!” (Run! Run!). Meanwhile I was having my GU gel or Clifbloks every 10km, water and sports drinks along the way, and everything was going fine until the 20km mark. I decided to quickly use the toilet and from that point onwards I had a painful side cramp that would just not go away. I significantly slowed down the second half of the race, sometimes clocking 5:30 per kilometre. Towards the end all I could think about was seeing the Brandenburg Gate. When I finally saw it in view, I glanced at my watch, thinking that I could maybe still break 3:37. I raced toward the gate and put up my arms in victory. I did not realise, though, that the finish line was actually past that point. I kept going and finished in 3:37:55. A few days later, upon returning to Dubai, I got my rejection e-mail for Boston 2017. The cut-off time was 3:37:51. While I do not know what it will be for 2018, I am certainly cutting it close. Nevertheless, I was so happy to have completed my first marathon major and Berlin should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Chicago Marathon

2016

Words by: Rachael Bruford Photos by: Marathon-photos.com

“Oh no…” Those were the first words that I uttered when I realised that my application to run the Chicago Marathon had been accepted, my name picked out in the ballot amongst thousands of applicants, having entered some months previously when I was sure that I didn’t have a hope of being successful. Previous entries into the lotteries for London (several years in a row) and New York marathons had resulted in rejection emails, and I was certain that the entry for Chicago would go much the same way. In fact, I half hoped that I WOULD be one of those who didn’t get picked; it was early April and I was training for Edinburgh, my second marathon in 2016 after completing Dubai marathon in January. The thought of training for a third marathon in ten months and, what’s more, doing so during the stifling heat and humidity of a UAE summer, was not something I particularly relished the thought of doing. But I was in, and there was no going back. After all, it was to be my first marathon major, and the thought of a flat, fast course with plenty of crowd support appealed to me, outweighing the doubt and reluctance in my mind. I pushed away any thoughts of Chicago until after I had completed the Edinburgh Marathon in May, had most of June as a recovery month, and began training for Chicago in July – just as the temperatures and humidity made their annual leap from ‘hot’ to ‘unbearably hot’. Thankfully, during July and August, I was able to make use of the indoor track at

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Dubai Sports World. Although only 600m long, the air conditioned environment was a welcome relief, and I was able to complete my long runs (up to a distance of 35km) successfully, albeit suffering from a huge dose of boredom. I was fortunate enough to visit the UK and Germany for a week in August, which gave me the opportunity to train outside and see what kind of pace I was capable of without the heat and humidity factor. As I was comfortably running at around 5:03/km, I set a goal to complete the Chicago Marathon in 3 hours 40 minutes, meaning that I would need to run an average a pace of 5:12/km for the duration of the race. My previous marathon time in May was 3:45:14, and I did doubt whether I would be able to knock so many minutes off in a matter of months. However, I decided to go for it and consoled myself that I might at least get under 3:45 if my race didn’t go to plan. Training with my club, Desert Road Runners, was a real confidence boost, as was logging my runs on Strava and Instagram. The rise in temperature at the end of August also coincided with the peak of my training, and the closure of Dubai Sports World. Begrudgingly, I took to the treadmill, now known as the ‘dreadmill’, to complete my interval sessions and long runs. Two

mind-numbing 36km runs and countless other sessions later, I found myself escaping the heat and heading to California in September. This was a belated honeymoon for my husband and I, and the plan was that I would stay in the USA until the marathon. The cooler temperatures of the States brought with them other challenges. The first was to continue running on an almost daily basis whilst on honeymoon, and the other challenges included altitude and hills. Staying at Lake Tahoe, the altitude was almost 2000m above sea level, and I could definitely feel my lungs burning as I ran through beautiful forests, struggling to maintain pace. Then came the hills. Yosemite National Park is by no means flat, and it was impossible to get close to marathon pace. I began to doubt myself, thinking that this represented a loss of and lack of fitness. It was not until I found a fairly flat track on which to do intervals in San Francisco that I began to realise that perhaps those few weeks struggling to run might actually have done some good. Staying with family and friends in Vancouver and then Connecticut, I entered the

‘taper’ phase and worked on self belief and trusting in my training. My final long run through Central Park was an hour at marathon pace, during which I felt unstoppable, despite the fact that it was, unknown to me, pretty hilly. Travelling to Chicago five days before the event, I stayed with friends who ensured that my nutrition was on point. Plenty of salmon, quinoa and sweet potatoes, as well as the odd dish of pasta, were served. By race day, I felt light, nimble and ready to go. Even more importantly, I felt confident and relaxed, despite convincing myself that I had every injury possible; I knew that this was just anxiety. On the day of the race, conditions couldn’t have been any better; clear skies, not too much wind, and a high of sixteen degrees. This was perfect running weather and I was determined to make the most of it! The race started at 07:30, and I had planned to run with the 3:40 pace group. However, due to a last minute ‘pit stop’ I was unable to reach them in the crowded corral, and they started way ahead of me. As I waited to start, silence descended and golden autumnal leaves floated towards the ground like confetti. It was the perfect moment for stillness and contemplation, before Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ flooded the speakers and energised me for those first steps. My aim was to start slowly and try to speed up as the race progressed. I realised immediately that the GPS on my watch was completely off thanks to the tunnels and tall buildings en route, so I focused instead on ensuring that I was on track every time I reached a mile marker. Thankfully, I had saved myself from having to do maths by buying a temporary pace tattoo. The first half passed uneventfully, just as I had planned. After a ‘too fast’ first kilometre and then a bit of congestion in the crowd of runners, I had settled into a comfort-

able pace that would bring me in at 3:40. Spotting the pace group up ahead, I slowly caught them up and ran with them for a while. But something felt wrong. Not only was it crowded around the group leaders, but to me the pace felt slightly too easy. Or perhaps not hard enough. For 5km I thought about slowly overtaking, knowing only too well that speeding up too early could be a big mistake and result in me blowing up and missing all my goals entirely. However, I felt good, and thinking to myself, ‘trust your training, you can do this,’ I slowly made my way past them, increasing my pace a fraction. At about 30km, there was a quieter section of the course, which again allowed for a moment of calm and reflection. Yes, I still felt good, but there was a lot of work to be done. Visualising the finish and how good it would feel, I pushed on and soon entered China Town, which was an incredible, almost raucous experience that was just what I needed. The last five miles passed by surprisingly quickly, and I found myself overtaking people who had begun to suffer. One man shouted about how strong I looked as I passed him, giving me an extra boost. By now I was tired, but not in any pain apart from (surprisingly) feeling that my toenails were bruised. Whenever I felt my pace begin to slow, I did a 10-20 second surge as I had practiced in training, and I remember feeling amazed at how much that helped me keep going. In the final mile, I knew that there was a small hill, which I had prepared for in training. Seeing it in reality was demoralising (it was actually only a bridge but may as well have been a mountain at this point), but I told myself, “you trained for this, and it’s nearly over. Don’t give up now!” Somehow, I managed to increase my speed in those last miles to under 8 minutes per mile. The crowd and the fact that I was nearly done pulled me through. Hill conquered, the sign read 400m to go. I pushed, telling myself that someone would take care of me if I fell

over the finish line…all I had to do was get there, and afterwards I could be ill and in pain. I had to make it worth it! In the final straight, I looked at the time on my watch. With 200m to go, I realised I could cross the line in under 3 hours 38 minutes. That was more than I had confidently hoped for, and enough to spur me over the line in a very undignified ‘sprint’. Official time: 3:37:43. I couldn’t believe it. Not only had I beaten my PB by over seven minutes, but I had qualified for Boston 2018 and run a negative split, meaning that the second half of the marathon was over a minute faster than the first half. I revelled in the atmosphere and took it all in, before having a well deserved shower and meeting my friends for a much anticipated Chicago deep dish pizza. The high I feel is still present, and I’m so glad that I pushed through. If only all races could feel like this!

Dream finish for Australian wildcard as America’s Jones grabs maiden men’s win at the season final of the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in the UAE Wildcard Rhiannan Iffland provided the perfect ending to a dream debut season with her fifth success in seven competitions, wrapping up the Red Bull Cliff Diving Women’s World Series title in style under the lights in Dubai Marina, while Andy Jones soared to his first ever victory in front of a 12,000 strong crowd at the sport’s inaugural night event. Iffland was joined on the podium by fellow Australian Helena Merten, with Adriana Jimenez from Mexico rounding out the top three. Britain’s Gary Hunt celebrated his recent title win with a second-place finish, and Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes completed the men’s podium on a memorable and dramatic final night in the UAE. Coming to Dubai, 25-year-old Iffland from Down Under was one dive short of the overall victory but still had the ambition to make it count and finished the 2016 season in style. Five victories plus two podium finishes made her the undisputed dominator in the women’s World Series. The Australians had a strong showing in the year’s final event with Merten, the youngest permanent athlete in the field, finishing on a personal best second

place. Jimenez on third also saved her best result of the year for the floodlit final in the illustrious Dubai Marina. In Friday’s floodlit 2016 showdown, California-based Jones utilised his Cirque du Soleil background in the World Series’ firstever night time event to show his best diving and topped his most successful season with a first place from the 27m-platform, forcing 6-time overall champion Hunt into 2nd place. Paredes, the season’s kick-off winner, finished the year on a high note completing the podium. Looking at the overall results, ‘brilliant Brit’ Hunt wrapped up his second hat-trick of World Series wins after dominating 2010-2012 and 2014-2016. With the world’s hardest dive on his list, three victories and four more podium finishes, the 32-yearold left once again his mark on this sport. Mexican rising star Paredes, who’s famous for immaculately displaying the easiest dives from almost three times the Olympic platform height, bettered his top-three finish

from 2015 by one position to become 2016’s runner-up. Today’s competition winner Jones claimed third place overall, beating Czech’s Michal Navratil on fourth by a small margin. Fellow-American Steven LoBue completes the top four of the 2016 World Series. Over in the women’s, only Canada’s Richard managed to stay on Iffland’s heels in the overalls and with two season victories, she finished 2nd in what was her first fullyfledged season from 20m. Cesilie Carlton from the US and Australian Merten complete the top four, and automatically qualify for the 2017 season. In addition to the top five of the 2016 World Series ranking, the remaining five permanent tickets for the 2017 season were assigned according to the rankings after 11 events, including the FINA world cup and Marmeeting: David Colturi (USA), Orlando Duque (COL), Sergio Guzman (MEX), Blake Aldridge (GBR) and Kris Kolanus (POL). In the female’s, Mexico’s Adriana Jimenez and Ginger Leigh Huber from the US got

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Results MEN 1. Andy Jones, USA – 508.50pts 2. Gary Hunt, GBR – 477.20 3. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 465.05 4. Steven LoBue, USA – 463.45 5. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 457.40 6. Michal Navratil, CZE – 452.00 7. Orlando Duque, COL – 412.30 8. ArtemSilchenko, RUS – 397.00 9. Alessandro De Rose (W), ITA – 309.95 10. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA – 291.80 11. Andrei Mikau (W), BLR – 245.45 12. Owen Weymouth (W), GBR – 238.40 13. Alain Kohl (W), LUX – 202.00

awarded a permanent ticket for the 4th year of the Women’s World Series. Nine tough and testing competitions, including seven for the women, between June and October made for the biggest-ever Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2016, in which this pure extreme sport touched waters in natural and urban surroundings as well as remote and iconic venues. In its eighth year this gravity-defying sports series hit new and proven ground in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East to crown two new champions. In 2016 the World Series has seen more

competition winners than ever before - six winners in nine events, including two new faces on the top with veteran Michal Navratil (CZE) and World Series rookie Sergio Guzman, in the men’s and a complete newcomer who’s taken the female cliff diving elite by surprise to become the first-ever rookie to win the overall championship. The World Series, with its ever growing complexity of dives pushing the limits of what is physically possible, as well as the lengthening list of winners and increasing competition at the top, will return stronger than ever in 2017.

What did the winners have to say? Rhiannan Iffland, AUS

I feel over the moon right now. It’s still sinking in. But I wanted to come here today and do my final dive. I wanted to make it really count and put a strong one in. So I’m very, very happy. I think finding out about the title yesterday made it easier, had I a little bit of less stress on my shoulders. All I wanted to do today was got out there and have a good time.

Andy Jones, USA

I wasn’t thinking so much about the darkness as a lot of the other guys. I think my background was definitely an advantage. I did a whole bunch of high dives in the dark in my career before here. I think it definitely helped me out and I managed to win the first round and hold it the whole way. It was a crazy couple of days. I was thinking about it all day today, all day yesterday and I knew if I do my best then it can happen and I did my absolute best diving. I have my best score ever and I got my first win.

Gary Hunt, GBR

I feel great. It’s a defeat in the end of the day but it’s a full stop on a very long season. A season where I can take a lot of positives away from. There’s nothing relaxing when you’re up on that platform. It’s a thrill ride every time and that said, I felt comfortable and more and more comfortable especially with the title in bag but the edge wasn’t there today.

Results WOMEN 1. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS – 245.90pts 2. Helena Merten, AUS – 226.95 3. Adriana Jimenez, MEX – 209.70 4. Cesilie Carlton, USA – 207.40 5. Lysanne Richard, CAN – 192.80 6. Jaki Valente (W), BRA – 191.15 7. Ginger Huber, USA - 185.40 8. Rachelle Simpson, USA – 175.00 Final Standings MEN (after 9 of 9 stops) 1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 1350pts. 2. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 1030 3. Andy Jones, USA – 910 4. Michal Navratil, CZE – 900 5. Steven LoBue, USA – 800 Final Standings WOMEN (after 7 of 7 stops) 1. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS – 1290pts. 2. Lysanne Richard, CAN – 1030 3. Cesilie Carlton, USA – 780 4. Helena Merten, AUS – 710

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has provided a platform for exhilarating action and dives of ever-growing complexity. The series features elite athletes as well as young up-and-coming talent and a Women’s World Series was introduced in 2014. In 2016 the sport’s best athletes will once again leap, twist and somersault from breathtaking heights with no protection, except their concentration, skill and physical control during nine competitions around the world.

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THE

OFF-ROADERS corner

Name: Ammar Batardouk Nationality: Syrian Occupation: Sales and Marketing Director Vehicle: 2013 FJ Cruiser

In Dubai, it’s common to find FJ Cruisers on the roads, getting people from A to B as they go about their daily lives. Ammar Batardouk also has an FJ, which he purchased in 2013 with the aim of using it solely as an off-road vehicle. Find out about his choice below, and discover the modifications he has made... Tell us the background story of the car…

I worked for a Toyota distributor in Saudi Arabia for 19 years, so I’m aware of the performance and durability of Toyota vehicles, and I had a 2008 FJ Cruiser in Saudi Arabia as a second car. After I moved to the UAE in February 2013 I purchased the same car as a second car (again) so that I could join in with all the off roading activities in the Emirates.

What modifications have been made, performance and cosmetic wise?

In principle, an off road driver shouldn’t start modifying their car unless they know their needs and what exactly they’ll be using the vehicle for, performance wise. Since the FJ

Do you have something that you consider to be a ‘special feature’ of the car?

The hidden electrical winch behind the front bumper.

What were your other options before you bought this car? Cruiser is a really powerful vehicle I made only a few essential modifications: 1. Nitrocharger sport shock absorber from ARB 2. H/T Discoverer tries from COOPER 3. Aluminium front skid plate 4. Back hitch with hitch ball mount 5. Front electrical winch brand TJM 6. Special designed roof rack brand TJM 7. Front 4 light (2 spread and 2 pencil) brand TJM 8. Rear LED light Cosmetic: 1. Back drawers 2. Folding back bed 3. Side awning brand TJM 4. Back ladder to the roof rack

None actually, the FJ Cruiser was my targeted vehicle.

How often do you use your car, and what activities do you take part in?

I use the car almost every weekend, and I’m a member of ALMOST 4X4 off roading club. When the weather is good I go with the team to camp in the desert on a Thursday night and we drive together on Friday through a pre-organised route in the desert based on the driver’s level and skills. We also have many activities out of the country such as our annual trip to Salalah in Oman as well as frequent trips to places like Liwa and all over the UAE.

Are you planning any future modifications?

Yes, I’m planning for front and rear steel customised bumpers.

What 4x4 do you dream of owning?

My dream off road car is actually a 6X6 not 4X4 – the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6.

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Name: Dennis Kumanin Nationality: Russian Occupation: Operations manager Vehicle: 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Dennis’s Jeep Wrangler is the perfect car to take his family on weekend expeditions, exploring the wilds of the UAE. There’s plenty of nifty modifications too, of which even the most reluctant camper would find appealing. Read on to learn more! Tell us the background story of the car…

This is not the first Jeep our family owns. We used to have a Grand Cherokee and Commanders and we were always happy ‘going places and performing tasks’ that conventional cars simply can’t. When we arrived in the UAE last year there was no question which car make to choose. I had my doubts on Wrangler being my daily driver, but as soon as I brought my family to the showroom they got into the Wrangler and simply refused to get out. It was so obvious – this is a dream car for all of us!

What modifications have been made, performance and cosmetic wise?

Wrangler is lego for adults; you don’t just buy it, you build it for yourself the way you want it. For example, there are over a thousand designs readily available for the front bumper only. We have made extensive modifications that will certainly take more than one page to get through. The key things required to convert this particular Wrangler into a mighty comfortable overlanding “adventure mobile” are: Modified suspension and lift kit to accommodate beefy 35” wheels/tires,strong off-road bumper with

self recovery winch, performance headlights for night vision on the road and lots of off-road lights for the night vision out there in a wild, amazing roof rack with lots of accessories to bear all the gear required for a family of 5,rooftop tent with shower skirt, portable potty, awning with Snap-On tent, water tanks, under-the-rack camping table, off-road lights, shovel and ammo boxes with gear. The kitchen is another fancy feature we enjoy on every trip, and encompasses the slide-out fridge, tailgate table with cutting board, a small stove and a gas grill.

a DIY plug-and-play shower system based on a self-priming camper water pump. This really turned out to be a treat.

Do you have something that you consider to be a ‘special feature’ of the car?

How often do you use your car, and what activities do you take part in?

There are certainly a couple of special features, but the one I’d highlight is my DIY pressure shower. When going beachside camping we realise that for the kids and for us a fresh water shower is simply a must. I ended up building and installing the system with a 54L water tank on the roof rack and

What were your other options before you bought this car?

Definitely between the FJ Cruiser and JK wrangler. Both have their pros and cons, but for my family the ability to tailor the car to our needs, converting to overland adventure cruiser was the winning factor. And you can take the roof, doors and even the windshield off… who could resist that!

We try to get out of the city every weekend by going on desert trips with UAE OFFROADERS. We’ve been to Oman’s Green Mountain and try to go as many places as possible in order to get the kids out in the wild, away from the TV, gaming and their iPads.

Are you planning any future modifications?

I believe with Wrangler one can never stop modifying it - the sky is the limit! My next step is a dual battery system; I had my battery drained once which was a stressful experience, and my current solar system does charge the battery, but it takes several hours. Performance Off-road racing shocks are also on my list… and a HEMI conversion kit… I’d better stop now, my wife might read this!

What 4x4 do you dream of owning? This is truly my dream car; I can only dream for another Wrangler to play with when this project is complete. Want your 4X4 to be the next feature? It’s all simple! Just send us an email at [email protected] with the subject “Off-Roaders Corner” and you and your car might just be the next one on this page!

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Yamaha YXZ1000R: Style, safety and POWER, whatever the terrain! The only sport 3-cylinder engine with class-defining 5-speed sequential transmission If you’re an experienced desert driver looking for the next level of thrilling, adrenalin boosting side by side motor, the all-new Yamaha YXZ1000R should definitely be more than enough to pique your interest. Doing more than merely resetting the bar for sport side-by-sides, it is proof that Yamaha is the leader in powersports performance. Featuring a new 998cc inline triple engine mated to a 5-speed sequential shift gearbox with On-Command® 4WD, massive FOX

Racing Shox® suspension front and rear, and styling the competition can’t touch, the new YXZ1000R is in a class by itself—the only true pure sport side-by-side ever developed. The three-cylinder engine is an industry first, and features a compact DOHC twelve-valve cylinder head, an aggressive 11.3:1 compression ratio and high-tech dry-sump lubrication, which all help to give the YXZ1000R engine incredible power, a fantastic midrange torque and a thrilling maximum rpm of 10,500. With all this going on, the ride is actually smooth, thanks in part to lightweight 80mm forged aluminum pistons and a counterbalancer. Riding in the desert, it’s understandable that one might be concerned about the effects of sand on the longevity of such a vehicle. Fortunately, the YXZ1000R’s high capacity intake system features dual air filters—one oiled foam, one oiled paper— affording maximum airflow to the engine as well as durable filtration for the dirtiest riding environments. The re-usable foam filter features tool-free access for easy servicing, too. The 5-Speed Sequential Shift Transmission with On-Command 4WD, is a real highlight of this side by side. It allows a direct connection with the driver as well as permiting rapid and smooth shifting, even in reverse. Moreover, Yamaha’s proven On-Command 4WD system with full Diff Lock is ready to tackle challenging terrain, and the entire

driveline is built to provide unmatched durability. All of this at the twist of a dial! With the diverse landscapes on offer in the UAE, off road enthusiasts need to be sure that their suspension is tough enough to handle sand dunes, rocks, and all the other surprises that one might encounter when out exploring. Thankfully, the YXZ100R is equipped with huge piggyback FOX® 2.5 Podium RC2 Shocks®, which bring a stunning visual impact alongside unmatched performance. All four corners are fully adjustable—spring preload, rebound and both high- and low-speed compression damping—with a huge 16.2 inches of front travel and 17.0 inches at the rear, with integrated Bottom-Out technology as well as front and rear sway bars. When coming to a stop, the YXZ1000R offers precise braking control thanks to twin-piston calipers clamping down on 245mm rotors at all four wheels, for excellent braking power, feel and fade-resistance under hard use. An automotive-style parking brake lever is mounted in cabin’s center console.

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

As far as handling is concerned, optimized frame dimensions help to make the YXZ1000R one of the best available. In addition to the performance and durability that comes with Yamaha’s exacting standards, the YXZ1000R also includes extensive occupant protection without sacrificing driver visibility, and a full-frame composite underbody skidplate protects the chassis from rocks and debris – perfect for exploring the mountainous regions of the UAE and Oman! Steering wise, the YXZ1000R features Yamaha’s class-leading speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering, for reduced steering effort and precise handling in virtually all conditions. The EPS unit is lightweight and compact and mounted high on the new rack-and-pinion steering system, further protecting it from dirt and debris.



Developed exclusively for Yamaha, the YXZ1000R mounts 27-inch Maxxis® Bighorn 2.0 radial tires that offer extreme performance, with increased ground clearance, optimum traction, durability, comfort and steering precision. These tires are mounted to strong yet lightweight 14-inch alloy wheels. Aside from all the performance specifications, you and your passenger are sure to be impressed by the interior, which takes side by sides to a whole new level; the cab features plush cut-and-sew high-back seats with extra lateral support and outside shoulder bolsters, and the cockpit is built to provide a balanced combination of secure confidence with comfort. The floorboards are shaped to provide generous legroom while still giving a planted feel during aggressive driving, too. The driver’s seat is adjustable across 3.5 inches, and the steering wheel is tilt adjustable 5.8 inches to ensure a perfect fit. The instruments on the dashboard are inspired by Yamaha’s high-performance supersport motorcycles. Functions include a high-visibility digital speedometer, analog tachometer and programmable shift light, with digital readouts for 4WD mode, gear position, fuel level, trip meters, hour meter, coolant temperature warning and a clock. But that’s not all. You can bring everything you need to the desert, thanks to the YXZ1000R’s composite cargo bed, with a 136 kg capacity and four steel tie-down points. A sealed compartment next to the cargo bed and glove box in the cab provide additional storage, as do passenger-side cup holders and a central storage tray in the dashboard. Feel the beautiful Arabian winter sun via the composite suntop integrated into the ROPS structure. A pair of whip flag mounts are ready for customization options, too. And at night, stay safe and stylish with four super bright and long-lasting LED

NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

headlights, which provide brilliant forward illumination and give the YXZ1000R a sinister and aggressive sense of style, with a bright LED tail light out back for extra visibility. Also available is the 155HP Turbo kit, which requires only 5 psi of boost to make over 150HP, edging out other the competition, whose vehicles require much higher boost levels. Bolt-on Intercooler design. The intercooler bolts directly to the engine’s throttle bodies with o-ring billet surfaces providing a simple, rigid and resilient connection without all the hassles of individual hose connections to each cylinder. Dimensions: L x W x H: 122.8 in x 64.0 in x 72.2 in Wheelbase: 90.6 in Turning Radius: 236.2 in Maximum Ground Clearance: 12.9 in Fuel Capacity: 34 Litres Wet Weight: 685kg Bed Capacity: 136kg Assembled in the USA, the Yamaha YXZ100R is the hallmark of everything that should be expected from a powerful side by side, and is perfect for exploring all that the UAE has to offer in an exhilarating, stylish and safe way. The product is available in all Yamaha Showrooms across the UAE. For more details, please contact 0505429876 or visit www.aym.ae.

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PEOPLE

Mustafa Sahin Age: 42 Nationality: British (Turkish Origin) Profession: Chief Outdoor Instructor & Company Director, Challenging Adventures, Ras Al Khaimah Words by: Bandana Jain Photos by: Supplied

“It’s important for me to feel at one with nature, respecting what it has to offer always, leaving nothing but a footprint behind and taking nothing but the memories with me along my journey,” says the avid mountaineer Mustafa Sahin, for whom being in the mountains is like connecting with his inner self. What does mountaineering mean to you?

Mountaineering to me translates into freedom, peace and respect. I love nothing more than mountaineering to explore nature; it gives me a sense of freedom without the constraints of modern

life, leaving behind the pressures of city life, the hustle and bustle of traffic, people, electronics, etc.

When and how did you get into mountaineering?

I was born in the Taurus mountains of Turkey and grew up living there. I would take the animals up the mountain to graze and bring them back before dark fell. Sometimes this would be riding mules or horses or sometimes it would be on foot. During the summer months we would move to stay on top of the mountain at a place called “Yayla” (I named my daughter after this amazing place!) for the cool air and the plantation and summer farming. In the winter I would go hunting with my father or brother, climbing up the cliff to reach the beehives to collect the wildest of mountain honey. As a child, my favourite time of year was waiting for the spring to arrive. This was the signal I longed for so we could go exploring in the mountains once more. Spending my childhood and having such colourful happy memories has definitely left its mark on me!

How would you like to inspire others?

I want to encourage people to move out of their comfort zones and explore the amazing world that we have beneath our feet, taking them back to nature to appreciate where our food comes from and how the mountains affect our everyday lives. I hope the more people see this, the better chance we have of preserving what we have for our future.

Where in the UAE and Oman do you go for mountaineering?

I have been mountaineering throughout RAK - I don’t think there is a wadi that I have not been to! I’ve also been to most parts of Oman, although one place that is on my to-do list is Salalah. I think it’s such

a shame that once these beautiful places become accessible by vehicles (I know it’s lovely to make it accessible for everyone), there’s an increase in the amount of destruction and mess that humans leave behind. This really upsets me.

Please share some tips for a good mountaineering expedition.

When going into the mountains, be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions. It is very important to have the correct kit, food and drink, understand the timing, the time of the day you start and finish the expedition, the time of the year and the kind of weather at the bottom or top of the mountain. It’s no use starting an expedition with glorious sunshine at the base of a mountain wearing shorts and t-shirts to get the top and be faced with freezing wind or rain and not have the correct clothing to protect yourself from these elements. This is where danger sets in and the situation can spiral out of control. Arm yourself with a couple of alternate plans. Dynamic risk assessment is vital to the safety of yourself and others. People always forget the humidity and wind chill when checking the weather as this makes a massive difference to what the actual weather conditions are. Don’t just look at the temperature, look at the whole picture. If unsure, refer to an expert for advice.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

The Druk Path Diaries:

Exploring Bhutan Words + Photos by: Fahd Abu Aisha

In his penultimate episode of the Druk Path Diaries, Fahd Abu Aisha completes his trek and discovers more about the history and culture of Bhutan. Day 6, November 4th: Takin and Karaoke

Morning couldn’t come sooner. By the time it had I was exhausted, yet ultimately relieved that it deigned to arrive. Finally, I thought, the last trek day, and then I would be sleeping comfortably under blankets in a heated room with a solid roof. The monk had requested we have breakfast in his home; seated next to the radiator. It was a welcome start to the day following a horrific night. We packed our gear but before departing the monk took us into the monastery he looked after. It was a small and quaint sanctuary but beautiful nonetheless; with skillful wood carvings and majestic altars. I made a little prayer for the monk, thanking him for his hospitality as well as the three musketeers (Tashi, Chef and the Horseman) who had taken extremely good care of me throughout this adventure. We then proceeded downhill. We enjoyed a soothing stroll as we passed through the various temples of the stunning Phajoding Monastery. The structures are ancient and many of them are under renovation, propped up by extensive support beams. The beams were put into place following the tremors of the Nepalese earthquake in April 2015, whose waves extended

all the way to the Bhutan. We continued further downhill with the city of Thimpu sprawled in the valley ahead of us, getting larger and larger with every step we took. An hour later we had reached the end of the trail, signaled only by a little indistinct sign pointing upwards: Phajoding Monastery 2hrs. I was ecstatic. I had endured some pretty harsh conditions (by my standards) and made it to the end in one piece. I thanked the chef and horseman for all their assistance as they unloaded our bags into the car waiting for us, only to leave me taken aback, when they mentioned that they would be heading back up the trail and to Paro again! It is illegal to transport or ride the horses by road. The chef chortled softly saying he knew all the shortcuts and would be back home in two days. If only he had shared some of that knowledge with us – I would have had two additional warmer nights. Before we arrived at our hotel in the capital, we visited the Takin reserve. The Takin is Bhutan’s national animal, an endangered species, hence the need to build a massive enclosed national park to preserve them. They are peculiar looking creatures I haven’t

come across in any documentary or nature magazine before. They hail from the family of antelopes but have the head of a goat and body of a cow. With the same fascinated stare I had as a child when I saw a giraffe for the first time, I watched these creatures feeding on the leaves and lounging around in the shade. The novelty of seeing these magnificently unique creatures wore off eventually while they carried out mundane yet envious activities comprised mainly of eating and sunbathing. After heading to the hotel, I got dressed in fresh clothes and left with Tashi to explore the delights of the capital.Our first activity was to get a national robe – also known as the Gho, tailored for me, which I had intended to wear at the Tiger’s Nest Monastery on the final day. It is a knee-length robe resembling a kimono somewhat that is tied at the waist by a traditional multi-coloured belt known as a Kera. The girls in the store giggled away as the tailor tucked and twisted the robe countless times around me before she was satisfied with the fit and declared me fit to pass for a foreigner instead of a cringing tourist. That was good enough for me. A savoury dinner followed at the hotel before Tashi insisted on taking me out on the town, to which I happily obliged. It was a busy night of karaoke with the bar filled to the brim. We nestled into a corner and started flicking through the catalogue looking for some tunes to ruin. However, we all got cold feet as one Bhutanese Sam Smith replaced another on the stage to ovation after ovation. It became evident the Bhutanese took their karaoke very seriously and I wasn’t sure how they would react to some big nosed tourist destroying Owl City’s ‘Fireflies’. Instead we enjoyed the performances of the singers and headed back to the hotel to hibernate for the night.

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Day 7, November 5th: A History Lesson

After a quick breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Tashi and the driver collected my gear and off we went for a cultural and historical tour of the city before we drove back to Paro for the night. The first of the many sights we would stop at throughout the day was the most jaw dropping. Perched on a hill guarding over the city lay the world’s largest and tallest statue of Lord Buddha. The figure, made entirely out of bronze and standing at 189sqft

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(51m), may very well become the 8th wonder of the world when it is complete in two years. It left me speechless; truly a sight to behold. I stood rooted to the spot for at least 15 minutes, admiring the workmanship of the statue’s impeccable detail and design. The devotion of Lord Buddha’s followers to honor him in such a way felt incredibly awe inspiring. The ‘Memorial Chorten’ was arranged by the Queen Mother to commemorate the 3rd King of Bhutan; King JigmeDorjiWangchuck (pronounced: Whang-chook).The site was packed with civilians and monks alike circling the memorial. Like a born again Buddhist I followed suit, circling three times. The purpose is to give ourselves ‘extra merit’ for our next life but only if we remained good people and faithful to our souls, similar to circling the Kaaba. I had reached a certain level of clarity by this point; the Bhutanese perception of life and their culture to continuously strive to be good to themselves, to one another and their environment is something we should all work towards attaining. A short drive later and we visited the Youth Development Fund; a social project created to encourage the Bhutanese youth to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle,

and to pursue their passion with the facilities in place to assist them (similar to a youth summer camp). Within the establishment was the ‘Living Bhutan’ Museum, which was a short but concise tour on Bhutanese culture. I then saw something incredible; a man sat carving designs into wood and painting them, solely using his feet. After watching this amazing feat (pun intended),I was requested to engage in a game of Bhutanese darts, which had the same objective as normal darts except that they were shaped like missiles. I launched the first two which landed above the board and the third missile barely stuck onto the outer ring. It was a poor show. Our final stop before we left for Paro was the National Library of Bhutan, which, unbeknownst to me until that moment, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest book in the world. It is 5ft high, containing stunning high-resolution pictures of Bhutan. Dotted around the library walls were images of the 5 kings of Bhutan – a trek through its monarchal history. The first King of Bhutan, (UgyenWangchuck) stood with his posse of guards decked out in the official royal armor, flaunting his missing his left hand (which he

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

had lost in a battle.) The third King (whose memorial we had visited earlier) stood proudly next to the soon to be assassinated there after Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Tashi added that they were very close friends and the King was devastated when the Tamil Tigers had killed him. As we drove on the highway back to Paro, I saw the first ever monastery to be built in Bhutan out of my window, constructed in 1629. One distinct difference this temple had compared to the others, according to Tashi, was that its floors were made entirely out of stone presumably from the gigantic boulder it was built on. The name of the Monastery is “SimtokhaDzong”- meaning ‘On Top of a Witch’. The belief is that the witch remains alive and



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

well, trapped under there to this day. We continued our drive swerving through the mountain range and eventually under the first and only flyover in the country. I immediately noticed the extensive road works taking place that will soon change the country’s landscape. Too soon I fear. It took us an hour to reach the 4th largest city of Paro, before I was to return to the same lodge I had spent my first night. Tashi

took me to see the first ever monastery built in Paro. This temple was the first of a smattering of 108 temples that were built in a single night across the country to defeat the giant ogres who were suppressing the spread of Buddhism in the land. It was a magical way to cap off the evening and get a good night’s rest for the final hike to Bhutan’s ‘Pyramids of Giza’ Paro Taktsong or more commonly known as The Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

100 Years of Inspiration:

Words + Photos by: Romain Loubeyre

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service, an institution in charge of the conservation of the most splendid landscapes in the United States, ensuring that millions of visitors each year have a chance to experience the great outdoors. So it was about time that I became one of them, and there is no better place than Yosemite National Park for that. Getting to Yosemite

Having the opportunity to go to California on a business trip in September 2016 and having recently watched one of the most inspiring documentaries I had seen in a while (Valley Uprising), I did not need any more reasons to extend my stay and drive tirelessly the 500km toward what many consider one of the greatest of the National Parks, and probably one of the most photographed places in the US. Yosemite is easily accessible from Dubai, with direct flights to both San Francisco (the closest) and Los Angeles, followed by a few hours’ easy drive through California. My McWay Falls

itinerary lead me through a significant portion of the State (2000km on the road) and gave me a good overview of what it has to offer: starting from Los Angeles, I drove along the coast through Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach up until McWay Falls in the Big Sur. I then drove inland to Fresno, through the Sierra National Forest and finally arrived at Yosemite National Park. I flew back from San Francisco (4-hour drive from Yosemite) after a day visiting the city. Taking with me about 15 kilos of photo equipment (I like travelling light), both digital and analogue, my main objective was clear: to make the best use of it. I ended up with about 190GB of RAW files and 6 film rolls, so I’d say the objective was indeed met. Budget-wise, the round-trip airfare is usually below AED 6,000, the entrance to the Park is $30 for the week by car, and the campsite can be as low as $6/night! No need for a 4WD (unless you plan to sleep in it). An RV might also be a good option in case the campsites are all full.

Staying in the Park

There are various options for spending your nights in the Park, from the luxurious lodge to the rough night spent trying to fit on the back seats of your car in a deserted parking lot in bear territory. This is exactly how I spent my first night and was indeed a very special Hang Glider in Yosemite

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experience which I do not recommend, although it did offer plenty of occasions to enjoy the views from Glacier Point at sunset, during the night(waking up every 2 hours trying to find an non-existent comfortable position) and at sunrise, with only a 2min walk from said parking. One thing I did not expect is how busy the Park is, mostly from April to September. By the time I planned my trip (two days before departure) all lodges and campsites were full. They fill up quickly and booking three months in advance is recommended; I did not know that. A permit should also be booked to stay overnight in the wilderness (called the Wilderness Permit), and to do one of the most famous hikes of the Park to the top of Half Dome (called the Half Dome Permit, the NPS does have straight forward names for its permits). Last minute travellers, like myself, have however a few options available: on site application for a permit the day before the hike (limited numbers) and a campsite without prior reservation: the legendary Camp 4 (a must for all climbers). This however means that you should arrive as early as 7 am to the site and wait an hour in line to get a spot. I did arrive at 10am (not being able to miss the opportunity of shooting sunrise) and got lucky by getting the very last one-person spot of the camp (next to the bathroom obviously).

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Points of Interest

There are too many to make an exhaustive list but here is a list of top 10 of my must-see for photography purposes, which do not require a long hike to access: 1) Tunnel View, which might very well be the first sight of the Park that most visitors experience. 2) Glacier Point, which is worth visiting for sunrise, sunset, during the night and pretty much any time of day. From April to September, a group of Hang Gliders start their flight from Glacier Point around 8 am - worth a look (and a picture) if you happen to be there at the right time 3) Taft Point, best visited at sunset when a couple is having their wedding photo-shoot on site (I got lucky…) 4) Pretty much anywhere in the Valley along the Merced River, such as Cathedral Beach, which offers stunning reflections of the rock formations on the surface of the water 5) Vernal and Nevada Falls, which have nice accessible hikes to some of the few waterfalls that are still active after spring (and also happen to be on the way to Half Dome); 6) Olmsted Point, a 1-hour drive from the Valley but worth the view (and also located on the way to 8 and 9) 7) Tuolumne Grove, for an experience of the giant sequoia trees (Mariposa Grove is currently closed to visitors) 8) Tenaya Lake, for a refreshing swim or some kayaking 9) Tuolumne Meadows, offering a quieter visit of the Park and impressive landscapes 10) El Capitan Meadow, to observe climbers on a challenging 3,000 feet ascent of the Nose (I also hiked to the base of the Nose for some closer views of the climbers during their feat).



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Outdoor Activities

Again, too many to list, but a few jump to my mind, photography being my personal favourite. Walking in the footsteps of Ansel Adams is quite exciting and daunting at the same time. As he accurately said: “Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment”.When you have seen so many images of the place, under every angle and light, it indeed feels like a test to finally be there,with a camera in hand. Hiking is one of the most common activities in the Park, and the number and variety of hikes available is pretty much unlimited. Guide books dedicated to Yosemite hikes describe these in detail, and there are a few safety tips you should consider prior to going out there. I did the 4-hour (round-trip) hike to Nevada falls, which was very enjoyable and challenging enough that I felt I finally deserved a hot meal that evening (I had also had enough of my classic combo of beef jerky and granola bar). Less adventurous but equally scenic, walking or biking through the Valley itself is nothing short of inspiring. It does get quite busy after 9 am, especially on weekends (not Dubai-Mall-on-a-Friday-evening busy, but still more than you would hope for when trying to get out of crowded cities). Climbing is another great activity. As said above, watching the movie ‘Valley Uprising’ before going to Yosemite is highly recommended (warning: you might want to buy a ticket to San Francisco immediately after though, so check your account balance beforehand). It does feel like Yosemite was made for climbers: the rock formations, smooth big walls, are just perfect for it. Courses are available, but staying in Camp 4 and meeting other climbers can be an op-

portunity to learn a few tricks as well. My time there went fast and those five days in the Park were equally filled with activities and wandering around aimlessly, camera in hand, and just appreciating the surroundings, which was all very satisfying. It is one of those places to which I will go at least 4 times in my life: once for each season.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Words + Photos by: Angela Manthorpe

There aren’t many roads in the Svalbard archipelago, so if you want to get up close to polar bears, it’s best to get on a ship and look for them on the remote islands and pack ice. So, after a few days of hiking around the capital Longyearbyen, I joined the M/V Expedition for a 10-day trip to do just that. The main Arctic tourist season starts in April but I’d chosen to go in mid-August, late in the season, because with less ice you have the chance to cover more ground and maybe get to some of the less explored islands further East. The intention of the voyage was to follow the ice up North and, subject to ice conditions, circumnavigate the entire island group. Life on the ship has its own routine – a wake up call at 7am followed by a hearty breakfast – after all, you need to build up your energy for a tough day of standing around on deck in freezing temperatures. With lunch at 12 noon and dinner at 7pm, a typical day was designed around 2 activities – such as a beach landing or a trip on the zodiacs, plus a lecture on Arctic wildlife or history. But travel in the Arctic is unpredictable and plans can be affected by a multitude of factors including fog, ice and polar bear sightings. Flexibility is key.

Our first day demonstrated the need for such flexibility. We sailed up the West coast of Svalbard and pulled into the bay at Magdalenefjord. Here there are the remains of a 17th century whaling station with blubber ovens on shore. The crew had launched the zodiacs with the intention of landing all passengers for a closer inspection of this historic area. However, before any shore landing takes place there’s a thorough inspection of the surrounding areas to see if there are any polar bears. As I mentioned in part one, for the safety of man and polar bear alike, you don’t want to have an unexpected encounter. So, when one of the staff announced that a polar bear had been spotted about 2 miles away across the fjord, all plans for the shore landing had to be abandoned and our hike was converted to a zodiac cruise at short notice. Once in the water our flotilla headed off in the direction of the bear and as they are naturally quite inquisitive creatures it didn’t take long for it to make its way down the slope and along the shoreline. Now, during the summer melt polar bears end up in a couple of places - some stay on the pack ice, which is their natural habitat and where seals can be found; as the ice retreats further North, so do the bears. Others get marooned on land where there is less food and they sit out the long days waiting for the ice to return in autumn, maybe scavenging a dead whale,

birds’ eggs or eating a bit of seaweed, depending on their fat reserves to see them through this lean time. This particular polar bear looked pretty healthy and we were able to watch him for a good hour before he disappeared from view. Apparently the winter freeze of 2015/2016 only resulted in a thin layer of sea ice around Svalbard and by late June all of the ice had cleared. If we were to find pack ice and more bears we’d have to head a long way, so once we were all back on board the captain set a course due North and we motored steadily during the night. I was up early the next day to see the pack ice, but out on deck I found the ship shrouded in dense fog. This is one of the hazards of travelling in the high Arctic – fog can descend at any time and as it limits visibility, you can’t move the ship or launch zodiacs until it clears. Occasionally the blanket lifted and we were able to push onwards through a patchwork of scattered ice. During this time we had some great views of seals and approaching one floe we counted almost a dozen harp seals which all slipped away leaving only a single larger and more confident bearded seal. All the while we were surrounded by kittiwakes and fulmars, which snap up the Arctic cod and plankton that gets disturbed as the ship pushes through the ice.

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But really, we were in the ice to find polar bears and having not had any success all morning, our captain took us out of the pack and we raced to the East before plunging due North again. This time we were richly rewarded as the fog cleared completely and now with great visibility, a bear was spotted with a kill. Everyone was out on deck by this time, cameras at the ready, and we slowly approached the bear, stopping within the regulation distance so as not to disturb the animal. It appears that this was a young bear, possibly with its first kill because after tearing off a few chunks of flesh the bear proceeded to cover the kill with snow and then made a few charges at the opportunistic gulls nearby, which is unusual behaviour. We watched proceedings for over 2 hours until the bear settled down for a snooze, and the call of the dinner bell finally dragged us indoors. The following day we called in at several barren islands off the North of Nordaustlandet. On Karl XII-Øya an inquisitive polar bear took to the water and started to follow one of the zodiacs, causing the boat to retreat swiftly. After watching us from a secure vantage point he swam back to the mainland and proceeded to climb up the hillside, presumably in search of eggs and chicks. We also spotted our first walrus here, with several mothers in the water with calves and two hauled out on the rocks. On the island of Brochøya, a very large and healthy male came to check us out near the shore, giving us some excellent photo opportunities, before he too set off up the rocks. Diving back into the pack ice we spotted a young bear in the distance. He ambled closer for a while, sniffing the air and finally settled down for a snooze. The next day brought the first bad weather of the trip with light rain and lower temperatures. We continued East to Kvitøya, a seldom visited island that’s entirely covered by an ice cap. It was here that the three crew members of Salomon Andrée’s 1897 balloon expedition spent their final days.



The bodies weren’t discovered for 33 years; such is the inaccessibility of this island. A landing was planned on the ice free spit of Andréeneset to give us a chance to stretch our legs after three days on board ship, but this time it wasn’t polar bears or fog that thwarted the plans, but a rolling swell falling straight on our intended landing spot. The crew were able to improvise once again however and after a lengthy reconnoitre we were all safely landed on a sheltered beach at Kraemerpynten for a quick walk on the ice cap. For sure, not many ships make it to this point - the most Easterly spit of land in the whole Svalbard archipelago and the last outpost of Europe - Russian waters are only 15 nautical miles away. After these few days in the ice we now turned south and rounded Nordaustlandet, to view the dramatic dolerite cliffs of Alkefjellet, where an estimated 60,000 pairs of Brünnich’s guillemots nest on the tiniest of ledges. When only partly fledged the chicks flutter down to join the adult males in the water - many don’t make it, which explains why the area provides rich feeding grounds for Arctic foxes and we spotted three patrolling the grassy banks below the cliffs. Our afternoon landing was at Palanderbukta on the South East of Nordaustlandet and a fine example of the polar desert – rocky, barren, sparsely vegetated. As I’d opted for the ‘fast hike’ we struck off immediately to ascend the slope behind the beach. We crossed an area dense with shells and looking across the landscape you could see this was a raised beach, evidence of a previous shoreline. It was a fantastically clear afternoon with the sun shining brightly, and from the hill top we had some fine views over the glaciers and the ice cap, which is the third largest in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. On our descent we were able to take a close look at some of the hardy plants that eke out an existence here, such as the Svalbard Poppy and the Purple Saxifrage, the world’s most northerly flowering plant. We were now on a Westerly course and very quickly the environment transforms from rocky desert to the more fertile tundra. This is due to the North Atlantic current, an offshoot of the Gulf Stream, which brings warmer water to the area. We passed through the narrow channel of Freemansundet which separates the islands of Barentsøya and Edgeøya. Polar bears are often stranded here and with binoculars trained on the hillsides we were able to count seven distant bears, bringing our total for the trip to 17. As we’d been lucky to have several close encounters it’s easy to discount these far-off sightings, but be warned, on some

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trips distant creamy blobs can be the only sightings you get of the King of the Arctic. Turning South down the coast of Edgeøya we put in for a landing at the historic site of Kapp Lee, the location of Russian and Norwegian hunting camps from the 17th century. From the beach we were able to get quite close to a walrus haul out, counting about 15 in total. This was an all male group - they can weigh as much as two tonnes with tusks up to one metre in length. At this site the walrus were heavily exploited in the past and skeletal remains litter the beach. Our ‘protection team’ set up a perimeter within which we were able to explore the remains of the hunting camps, the tundra and its rich vegetation, and watch several Svalbard Reindeer grazing the distant slopes. Our afternoon zodiac cruise took us up to the impressive glacier front within Hornsund, and strangely, as the calving glacier rumbled like thunder in the background, it seemed appropriate to have a quick swim! The water was only 3ºC and although most of my companions seemed to think this was ok, I was very grateful that the on-board sauna was steamy hot. Far too soon, our final landing came at Skansbukta, deep within the sheltered Isfjord and close to Longyearbyen. This spot is particularly rich in botany and we found several species which are locally quite rare such as the Boreal Jacob’s ladder, Dwarf Birch and the Net-leaved Willow. The cultural history is also quite rich here as a failed attempt to mine gypsum has left a mine entrance, the remains of a railway and a small cargo ship abandoned on the shore. And so, after almost three weeks in Svalbard I’d seen all that I came for and far more. This is a great wilderness and wildlife destination, and if you’re stuck for ideas for 2017, I’d thoroughly recommend it. Certainly if the worst global warming predictions come true, the pack ice - the true realm of the polar bear - is an environment that needs to be seen soon, before it’s lost forever.

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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Words + Photos by: Andrew St Pierre White

A new continent and an altogether new type of overland vehicle were placed on my plate early one morning in February. I was in Dubai, my first time touring any part of Asia, with a Toyota Land Cruiser six-wheel drive loaded with camping kit in the driveway, ready to go.

This delightful prospect had kept me awake for three months as the trip was proposed, organised and now imminent. Shaun and Andronette Mayer, South African expats living in Dubai, approached me with the idea of driving across Oman. That idea alone was enough to get my wanderlust boiling over. It turned out that, for over a decade, the two of them had made overland touring in that part of the world a specialty. They had also been part of an editorial team that has produced a number of guidebooks for the area. So, my hosts were well qualified to show me how to take full advantage of Oman. The brief to me was: “Get yourself here with a toothbrush and driving license. We will do the rest.” This made me a bit

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nervous. Many years ago under similar guidance, I found myself alone next to a river with a vehicle, but no fuel, a Swiss-Army knife my only tool, and a night spent on the open dirt with no sleeping comforts of any kind. Not even a blanket. But that’s for another campfire. In contrast, Shaun and Andronete pulled out all the stops and showed Gwynn (my wife) and I an absolutely wonderful time in the desert. But topping everything was the truck. I like Land Cruisers quite a lot. But this one was beyond expectations. At first, I was told my vehicle would be a Jeep Wrangler, and that was good for me. Any time spent in a Jeep is good. Then there was a change in plan, and I

was told, “A Dubai company specialising in vehicle accessories and truck builds is loaning you one of their creations.” This also added to my sleepless nights. Arabs like their 4x4s—a lot. In fact, a bit too much to be healthy really. Some of their outlandish creations are absurd. Me being a bit conservative in my vehicle tastes, I really didn’t want something I wouldn’t appreciate. What I was eventually given curled my toes. A Toyota Land Cruiser 79-series pickup, fitted with the highly evolved Australian Multidrive 6x6 conversion. With a payload in excess of three tons, (not that I needed it) articulated rear axles, auto diff locks and twin fuel tanks, this was going to be amazing. As I first clapped eyes on it, it dawned on me that this vehicle could be an even better overland vehicle platform than my beloved Cruiser Troopie. But, how would it drive? That would be the deciding factor. The route took us through a section of dunes inside the Al Marmoum Conservation Reserve in the UAE. Shaun wanted to show us Arabian Gazelle, Oryx and camels. But I was less interested in the wildlife because I wanted to find out how a 6x6 played in deep sand. With this in mind, I decided to first drive at normal tire pressures, while Shaun dropped his heavily loaded Land Cruiser-76 pressures down to about 1-bar (±14,5 PSI). Astonishingly, I kept up with him, although not with ease. As the day became hotter, I too had to accede: while the 6x6’s capabilities in sand were good, it was no magic carpet. Even with six of them, they will dig in when the sand gets soft enough. But the big surprise was the truck’s agility.

I expected it to feel heavy, cumbersome and a bit of a handful. Not a bit of it. It felt a bit heavier than my Troopie, but not to the point where it became difficult to control. It displayed a similar amount of over-steer and under-steer to what I was familiar with. By the end of the day, I was delighted with my truck. The roads heading south through Oman towards the high plateau were a good test for its on-tar feel. And this is where I was amazed. It tracked as well as a stock Land Cruiser 79 with a high quality suspension upgrade. But its ride was even better. The tendency for a lightly loaded stock Cruiser-79 to kick a bit at the back had gone. High in the Al Hajar mountains, I was introduced to the best overland mountain pass I have even driven. Ninety minutes spent climbing over 6000 feet of elevation, with switchback after switchback, all surrounded by towering cliffs. The 6x6 handled this challenge as easily as any 4x4 pickup. The brakes were excellent, better that my stock Troopy by a large margin (stock Troopy brakes with rear drums are lousy!) Over the top and, to my absolute delight, the tortuous decent was loose gravel. Heaven! And this vehicle was easy to drive. With no overt under-steer, as I expected, a bit of over-steer can be induced— exactly what I am used to. Another two hours of

straining against the seat belts and I think I permanently creased my face with a smile all the way down that pass. I loved every inch of it. The routes through Oman were brilliant. The truck marvelous. The scenic shots unsurpassed. The quality of the campsites terrible. Sadly. While the rubbish, litter and general mess around many of the campsites dented our impression of Oman, it did not spoil our enjoyment of the country to any significant degree. Surely litter and mess is an easy problem to solve. Trash cans, education and a bit of political will is all it takes. My verdict on the Multidrive 6x6 Land Cruiser is: In a dual-cab configuration with a quality camper canopy installed, it would be a truly amazing long distance overland truck. It has everything going for it. This one had the 1HZ, 4,2 normallyaspirated straight-six diesel engine, the one loved by undeveloped countries because of its lack of any electronics. Even with the after-market turbo fitted, it’s still a bit underpowered. In Asia these Cruisers can also be delivered in 4-door dual cab form with the 4.0 V6 petrol, and in Australia with the 4,5 V8 diesel. Fuel consumption on this trip equaled that of Shaun’s laden Cruiser-76 station-wagon, averaging about 15 liters per 100 kilometres (±18mpg)

But the very best part of this rig is its ride on rutted tracks and washboards. The rear axle system means that when axle-2 rides up, it pushes axle-3 down. And when axle-3 is pushed up, it pushes axle-2 down. Driving over speed humps displays how this works. As the front wheels ride over the bump, the vehicle hops as normal, but the effect on the rear is odd to say the least. Almost nothing happens. Because of this suspension, the rear lift over the bump is divided by two. In the cab, the rear wheels lifting over an obstacle can hardly be felt. Off road, it feels strange and took a bit of getting used to. Once I got the measure of it, I was so impressed. The ride on tracks is amazing. “Quite horrid corrugations,” Shaun said once. I looked at him with a blank stare. I honestly hadn’t even noticed them. Truly. But I leave this one for when I’ve experimented some more with this setup on corrugations. I find it all a bit to good to be true for now. So, as I contemplate my next major vehicle build, (in Australia) I have to consider if this truck is the next step up the overland ladder. Could the Cruiser 6x6 be turned into the perfect overland truck? We’ll see want the future brings. As far as Oman is concerned, it could easily become a favourite. We loved every minute of it.

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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Words + Photos by: Chris and Amanda Fraser

We thought the pride taking down an elephant was our grand finale in Botswana…but we were wrong. We decided to skip our afternoon game drive, indulging in a few sundowners instead. Just as the sun was about to settle over the Chobe, Chris started shouting frantically, “WILD DOGS, WILD DOGS, WILD DOGS!!!” Was this another case of boy crying wolf? Just one week back we’d encountered the same excited announcements only to find out it was several impala across the river. Whoops. Sure enough we all turned our heads to find a pack of 9 wild dogs running across the floodplain directly in front of our camp. “WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.” Nunni’s arms went flailing, stopping the oncoming campers from getting in the way of our view. Little did we know they were also following the dog pack. Because the sun was setting, we had a bit of a predicament with heading out of the park to follow their hot pursuit. Chris and I jumped in the vehicle, promising Nunni we would not leave the campground. Jeremy instructed us to go around the no access points at the end of Ihaha camp and follow them flat out. The angel and the devil were playing our on our shoulders…what to do?! The pack slowed down as they took note of a herd of zebra and several impala in the distance. We had a perfect view right from campsite one. The angel was winning; maybe we could watch it all from there. Suddenly, the pack split up in various directions. Chris and I were watching in awe. I started hitting him and repeating the fact

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that 70 per cent of all wild dog hunts end with a successful kill. Would we be so lucky? The impala recognised the impending danger and darted, running back towards our campground. A few followed the riverbed while others scattered through the campsites. Pandemonium ensued. Three dogs chased the impala through a stunned group of campers in site number three. Chris followed the dogs at high speed. The other dogs chased the impala near the river, crossing right in front of Jeremy and Nunni. As a desperate last effort, two of the impala leapt INTO the river. From the car, we assumed those two were finished. So we turned back to see part of the pack regrouping and making plan B. We raced back to the end of the campground where we noticed two or three impala on the other side of the camp. Now the devil was whispering in my ear…this is something that could not be missed! I started yelling for Chris to drive through the ditch and cross the no access point, cutting across the open game park plains. He was not sold and thought we might get

in a lot of trouble if caught. We waited for a minute to see how the hunt played out. And so our luck continued…Botswana just did not want us to leave. Four dogs cornered the impala, chasing them back into our campground just above the ablutions block. Chris and I were going full speed, creating our own road to where we assumed the attack would go down. We were now following the dogs on our own, cutting through the vegetation at the top of camp. We hit a stump so hard, the radio switched on; a low static filled the air and we thought that was it, a tire had popped. Not giving up on this hunt, I reminded Chris that punctures could easily be repaired, and that we must carry on. We finally realised the noise was from the radio and were relieved to still see a few dogs in sight. When we got to the top of the campsite we found a fresh impala carcass, guts pulled out. We’d just missed the take down. The lead hunter gathered his chommies and the savage feast was over in less than five minutes. Seven wild dogs tearing apart the impala. Smiles appeared on every dog’s face as the last bits of meat were devoured. Chris and I sat in awe. We’d witnessed the entire hunt, start to finish. No more than 15 chaotic minutes…we didn’t need to leave the campsite and there was still a distant glow from the setting sun; the angel had overpowered the devil and we were rewarded for following the rules of the national park!

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LIFESTYLE

Weekend Family Adventures

Words + Photos by: Jen Hardie

There are so many wonderful places to visit in Oman and the UAE for weekend trips with kids where there’s plenty of adventure for parents and children to share and enough fun for those who don’t have kids as well. Two of my recent favourites are Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, a few hours outside of Muscat, and Jebel Akhdar, which is roughly a five-hour drive from Dubai. WADI SHAB, WADI TIWI and TURTLES Distance from Dubai: 650-700kms Good for: Jumping into big wadis, short hikes and exploring nature Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi are almost a bit too far for a weekend away from the UAE, but definitely doable for a long weekend. If you do want to explore, but can’t get more than a few days away, you can fly to Muscat and hire a 4x4 at the airport.

Wadi Shab is roughly a two-hour drive from Muscat, and you’ll experience windy mountain roads with breath-taking scenery for most of the journey. Once you reach Wadi Shab, you can take small boats from the car park across the wadi, which will get you started on the path. In the hotter months, make sure that you bring plenty of water, as your walk to the wadi is about 45 minutes with very little shade – expect even longer if you’re travelling with kids. After the initial hike, you reach a big pool of greenish blue water. It’s at this point that you need to dump anything that you don’t want to get wet, so make sure that you leave all of your valuables locked in your car, and jump into the water. After 45 minutes under an unforgiving sun, your first dip is complete bliss. You swim through the water for about 20 minutes until you reach a cave. When you’re doing the swim with kids, having life jackets or swim floats can make things a little easier, as there are parts of the water that can be as deep as 3-4 metres, especially inside the cave, where there is not much to hold onto.

There’s an old rope inside the cave that adventurous explorers can climb up on, but the rocks are slippery, so don’t expect to get too far! After visiting the cave, there are plenty of rocky ledges that you can climb up and jump into the water. The water is a good 3-4 metres deep at this point, so it’s safe for jumping in. In WadiShab, there are not many creepy crawlies in the water, but do expect to meet plenty of toads, most of whom are quite content (for a while) to be picked up and manhandled by children. Expect WadiShab to take a full day. Bring a packed lunch and snacks and plan on just enjoying nature: as well as the wadi, there are plenty of rocks to scramble across and explore.

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After our big day in Wadi Shab, we headed over to Ras al Hadd Turtle Reserve at dusk, where we saw Green turtles laying eggs and burying them in the sand. It’s a special sight, no matter what your age is. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see one of the tiny turtles trying to make it back to the sea. Sadly only 2-3 out of the 1,000 that hatch actually make it to sea, with many getting munched by crabs or other large fish waiting for them by the water’s edge. On our second day, we drove to Wadi Tiwi, where you drive up a very steep mountain road, past old villages to the top. From there, we walked past a local village and then into the wadi. You definitely need a 4x4 for this bit, as the road is very steep, but certainly exhilarating. Wadi Tiwi is great for families with adventurous kids, as well as anyone without kids. The walk to the wadi is about 10 minutes from the village. Once arriving at the wadi you can leave anything you don’t want to get wet, then begin to circumnavigate your way through beautiful rock pools filled with crystal clear water. You can easily spend all day at Wadi Tiwi splashing in the water and exploring. Depending on how much water is flowing, you might even encounter a waterfall or two. Eva, my



seven-year-old, had decided that the old falajes (aqueducts) were much like a water slide at Wild Wadi and spent a good hour whooshing down them. On the way back to Muscat, we passed by Dabab Sinkhole, which is a little over 100kms from Muscat. The sinkhole, inside a park, is accessible for everyone, complete with stairs to reach the bottom. It’s good fun to cool off in the heat, and there’s a few rock ledges that the more adventurous can jump from. If you’re lucky you might see a few of the locals jump in from the very top. If you’ve not had much experience in the wadis, joining a group for the first time might be a good option.

JEBEL AKHDAR Distance from Dubai: 500kms Good for: Exploring villages, going for hikes, cooling off Jebel Ahkdar is a great mountain to visit if you’re relatively new to 4x4-ing and camping in the region. If you don’t have a 4x4, there are even places that rent them at the base of Jebel Akhdar. The mountain is about 3,000 metres high, but it has a road that can only be accessed by 4x4s, which goes all the

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way to the top. There’s a police checkpoint at the bottom of the mountain where they’ll check your driving license, Oman insurance and the suitability of your vehicle to make it up and down; beware, the road is steep! There are plenty of camping spots to find around the mountain and lots of big and small hikes in the area. For kids there are a number of walks through villages, complete with falajes for them to jump in and out of, and breath-taking scenery. Hikes are marked by yellow, white and red flags painted on rocks and buildings, so it makes it really easy to find your way. As there are a number of inhabited villages on the mountain there are also a few small shops selling necessities and a petrol station – so if you run out of basics, there’s always somewhere to stock up.

Useful links

Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve: www.rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com Groups that organise regular adventure trips include: UAE Trekkers: www.uae-trekkers.com Trekkup: www.meetup.com/trekkup Adventure Emarat: www.meetup.com/ Adventure-Emarat Dubai Offroaders: www.dubaioffroaders.com 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.

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Habitually healthy

Sourdough Bread Words + Photos by: Michelle Harvey

We recently started making our own gluten free sourdough bread at The Cycle Bistro. We have had a lot of questions about how it is made so I wanted to take this opportunity to write a little about how sourdough works. We’ve also had great feedback on the sandwiches, so thank you! We are lucky to have Ranjan in the kitchen who possesses a myriad of sandwich ideas, so please come by to try one if you haven’t already! Before the advent of commercial yeasts, all bread would have been considered sourdough. Bakers realised that they could harness the natural yeast and bacteria from the flour and air to leaven their loaves. If they kept some of this pre fermented bread and flour mixture (known as a sourdough starter) behind, it could be used to leaven more

loaves in future. The majority of bread you buy is made using commercial yeasts that enable fast and uniform leavening useful in a large scale bread making context. However, in making the process more efficient we lost the health benefits that defaulted from the old traditional methods. Commercial bread is refined to the point where the germ (the only nutritious part of the grain) is discarded before being whitened with chlorine gas. Some breads have as many as 31 ingredients. Each ingredient has a different function from re-fortifying (often the nutrients stripped away by discarding the germ at the beginning of the process are reintroduced later) to creating the right consistency of dough for use in the machines. This process leaves us with a fluffy white bread, sweet in taste and almost completely devoid of nutritional value. A lot of people marvel at the sudden rise of gluten intolerance. They are mystified or even dismissive of its pervasiveness as a mere trend. However, I think the processing of bread is perhaps more to blame than the gluten itself. Sourdough fermentation partially breaks down gluten, destroying some of the peptides thought to be responsible for gluten intolerance. The organic acids produced by a sourdough culture also slow

How make a sourdough starter: Ingredients • One or more of the following wholegrain gluten-free flours: Sorghum flour, Teff flour (I have found sorghum to be the best) Brown Rice Flour, Amaranth flour, Quinoa flour, or Buckwheat flour. I recommend that you do not use a high starch flour like tapioca, millet, white rice, sweet rice, or potato. These will cause the yeast to go into overdrive and become high maintenance. • Filtered Water • Organic red cabbage leaves Method 1. Place 1 cup of sweet sorghum or teff flour (these seem to work the best to begin the starter) and 1 cup of filtered water in your container. Mix with a whisk. 2. Add 1 or 2 leaves of organic red cabbage. Mix those around with the flourwater slurry.

3. Cover with porous material like cheesecloth or a kitchen cloth. You need air penetration for the bacteria to enter. (The ideal temperature for yeast to grow at is around 21 to 24 degrees C. The colder the environment, the more slowly the yeast will grow. The warmer the environment, the faster the yeast will grow) 4. Stir it every so often (although try to stir it at least once during the 8 to 12 hours between feedings). 5. About 8 to 12 hours later, feed your starter: add another 1 cup each of whole grain flour (the same one you started with) and water. Whisk again. 6. Repeat this process every 8 to 12 hours (your starter will do the best if it’s fed more often–i.e., it can be fed every 12 hours but every 8 is better). After about 48 hours you should see some bubbling action in your starter.

our bodies’ absorption of sugars in white flour and reduce the dangerous spikes of insulin that can be caused by refined carbohydrates. Researchers in Italy have found that an adequately fermented sourdough could be tolerated, even by someone with celiac disease. I like to think of fermentation as an external stomach. The bacteria and yeast do some of the digesting for us outside our bodies. When the grain does finally enter our stomachs, the nutrients in are much more available.

How does sourdough work?

Bacteria from the air and yeast from the flour work symbiotically to ferment the grains. The lactic acid bacteria creates an environment for the yeast to grow and stops the invasion of things like mould. The sugars in the flour are broken down and the gas eliminated creates the rising effect of bread. This process creates a complex and sour flavour typical and unique to sourdough bread. Since gluten is sticky and elastic, it’s much easier to ferment than the gluten free grains. However, there is a way to speed up this process - by adding a cabbage leaf to your sourdough starter. The white film you see on cabbage leaves (see photo) is wild yeast. The same is also found on grapes. By adding a piece of cabbage to the starter you can effectively borrow this yeast and use it to help kick start the fermentations process. Once the starter is established, you use a portion of it in each batch of bread to act as the leavener and to add flavour. Making a sourdough is not something that will be successful solely based on your ability to avidly follow a recipe. It requires a certain patience and curiosity that, if mastered, will carry you far beyond your bread baking escapades. Good luck and please let me know if anyone attempts this at home!

The Cycle Bistro GPS location: Latitude: N 25° 02.792 Longitude: E 055° 14.384 Phone: 04 425 3000

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Words by: Catalin Anghelescu Photos by: Ian Sebeldia and Jung Francisco

When you think about Dubai, what are the first things that come to your mind? For some, it’s the shopping malls, iconic towers and five star hotels…for others, it’s the sheer majesty of the desert. For desert lovers and first timers, Big Red Motorsports offer many adventures and cater for a complete range of desert tours. The newest ‘toy’ that they bring for your never ending thirst of desert adrenaline is the RAGE buggy (RAGE Cyclone 1000cc). It has been designed around the very strong and well established two seater chassis used on the Hurricane and Comet vehicles. For the driver looking for some serious off-road fun, this is the vehicle for you to let off some steam and unwind in. The 998cc engine gives incredible performance and will take the vehicle to a top speed of over 75mph. These buggies burst with exhilaration and raw power and leave the drivers yearning for more. These toys, the ultimate in desert fun, are available as part of both the Introduction tour and the Explorer tour with Big Red Motorsports. Anyone can experience the thrill of riding through the desert with Big Red, and if you’re looking for a fun day with friends, the Polaris Buggy guided tour is a great option.

These buggies, with automatic gearbox and 4 wheel drive, ensure that your ride to and through the epic dune landscape is easy and with the highest safety measures. The tour options start from a one hour tour, where you will drive a Polaris RZR XP Dune buggy and get comfortable with it, to the longer options of couple of hours or full day tours. You can also choose a customised Polaris desert experience tour for a large group of friends or even for team building activities. A fantastic multi day ride across the seven emirates is also available, so there are multiple choices for you to enjoy. Another specialty of Big Red Motorsports is KTM Enduro Desert tours. If you love the thrills and adrenaline offered by an off-road dirt bike, there is no better experience than to take one of Big Red Motorsport’s guided KTM desert tours. Again, the range for the tours starts at one hour and goes up to three days, depending on your particular set of skills. You can learn how to ride in sand and have a small taste of it before embarking for a longer duration tour, or, for the more

experienced, you can explore dunes from Al Badayer to Fossil Rock or Wadi Shawka, or from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah for a dip in a mountain rock lagoon. Besides the tours, Big Red Motorsports also provides motorcycle training classes for everyone, including beginners or those who want to ‘skill up’ their game. And if this wasn’t enough, you can also become a member and have unlimited access to any bike in the Big Red Motorsports fleet. Last but not least are the Quad (ATV) tours, which allow you to drive through the top tourist attractions and the biggest dunes in the UAE. Of course, utmost safety is the priority of the guides and there is plenty of speed and excitement. For all the tours, you receive a helmet, goggles, gloves for protection, and refreshments, which are very welcome in the desert heat! To ensure that all the vehicles are in perfect condition and always ready for riders, Big Red Motorsports also have their own workshop. They service their fleet, and they also service your own vehicles, so if you have a buggy, bike or quad, they will gladly do maintenance and servicing work, diagnosis, tyre repair, customisation and accessories installation. Big Red Motorsports is located in Sahara Amusement Centre, Nazwa Dubai - Hatta Road, E44.

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You can contact them at +971 50 919 2394 or visit www.bigreddxb.com to find out more about their tours and to choose the best for you, family friends or for corporate groups.

Swedish knife craftsmanship is coming to the Middle East Words + Photos by: Daniel Birkhofer

No matter what outdoor activity you do, a knife is always a good companion that some of us don’t appreciate enough. A knife is actually the ultimate outdoor tool and dates back more than two and a half million years. Knives were the first tools used by mankind even though, back then, they were simple stones or bones with sharp edges. So if you think that a knife evolved over a period of a few million years, you can be certain that it reached very close to perfection. In some cultures knives are even so important that they have spiritual and religious significance. As simple as knives may look, there is own science behind them and if you start digging you will find countless books and information about knives, their materials, their use, their maintenance and so on. If you appreciate simplicity and craftsmanship, you will like the knives from the Swedish company Morakniv. Knives have been made in the area around Mora since the 1700’s. The foundations of today’s factory were laid in 1891, and their knifemakers manufacture knives by hand, just like back then. We got the chance to have a closer look at a few of their knives… Eldris is the smallest knife that Morakniv produces, with a 2mm thick blade that measures only 59mm in length. The blade is made of 12C27, a high quality Swedish stainless steel that is treated through unique processes in the factory in Mora. The handy size of the blade suits the varied

situations you can encounter on your hike, camping trip or anywhere in the outdoors. The knife has a secure grip made out of two different polymers and a click lock, making the knife safe to handle. In combination with a fire steel it is very small and versatile tool. The short blade reminded me of an oyster knife where a strong short blade is needed to open the hard shell of the oyster. So my test for the Eldris was to get some oysters on the shore: the handle has a great grip even when it is wet and the sharp blade makes it easy to remove or open oysters. As the blade is short and thick, you don’t need to worry that it might break. Kansbol Multi-Mount is for me the ultimate adventure knife. No matter where or how you want to fix it - to your arm, leg, belt, backpack, ATV or “MOLLE”... thanks to its Velcro strips, straps, holes, and notches you can fix it anywhere. Kansbol brings you the best from two worlds. It has the flexibility of a lightweight knife, and the strength of a robust model with its 109mm blade. This combination makes it a real all-round knife and a reliable partner on your adventure. The blade has been profile ground for increased precision and the spine grinding means the blade can be

used with a fire starter. Garberg is a powerful full tang knife, designed to withstand the toughest challenges imaginable. Its blade is 3.2mm thick, 109mm long and made of high quality stainless steel, specially treated in the factory in Mora to make it even stronger. The blade has a special Scandi-grind, making the knife easier to keep sharp. Also, the spine of the blade has been ground to be used with a fire starter, so your essential fire is never far away. Just by holding the knife in your hand, you will feel that this tool is made to last with its 272g (e.g. the Kansbol is the same size and one third lighter), the best abuse I could come up with for the Garberg was to open a coconut and check the sharpness of the blade afterwards and the knife passed this test with ease. When I am looking for a good outdoor tool, I want to be sure it is always reliable and will last for a long time. Morakniv gives you a lifetime warranty on all knives, which should be convincing enough to make you trust their knives, and I am sure you will enjoy them for many years. Even after 2.5 million years a knife serve only one sole purpose, and does not need any bling or other useless features. Morakniv gives you exactly that - simply a good knife. Available at Al Sayad Hunting Equipment: Port Saeed, Dubai, UAE, 04 295 9666

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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

Millet Khumbu 65+ 10 Backpack 969 AED/QAR | 105.300 OMR

Available at GO Sport stores in UAE, Qatar and Oman • Expandable trekking body • Detachable 2-buckle floating lid • Storm collar and compression strap • Zipped double compartment • Ice-axe holder

425 AED/QAR | 46.200 OMR

Available at GO Sport stores in UAE, Qatar and Oman • Synthetic fill • Double side zip and inside anti-cold flap • Capacity: 3.5L • Comfort temperature: 10°C • Limit temperature: 6°C • Extreme temperature: -6°C

Wanabee Atacama 4 Tent

Wanabee Alti 10 Sleeping Bag

Available at GO Sport stores in UAE, Qatar and Oman

Available at GO Sport stores in UAE, Qatar and Oman

• 4 person tent • Dimensions: L 410 x W 180 x H 240 cm • Weight: 8.35 kg

• Synthetic fill • Compression straps • Comfort temperature: 10°C • Limit temperature: 3°C

650 AED/QAR | 70.700 OMR

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Millet Baikal 750 Sleeping Bag

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170 AED/QAR | 18.500 OMR

Aiming to promote four wheel driving, dune bashing and exploring the gorgeous desert, mountains, wadis and landscapes of the UAE, UAE OFFROADERS is a family oriented club that was formed in Abu Dhabi in September 2009. The club has grown rapidly, with members enjoying many activities and off-roading trips ranging from mild to wild. Trips are run by very experienced trip leaders who are able to advise and assist members in safe driving techniques. Welcome to UAE OFFROADERS! Marshal and Founder: Amro Altamimi Our members range from rookie off-roaders to the very experienced. To cater for our members a variety of trips are organised and posted on the website on a weekly basis to suit all levels of competence, starting from ‘rookie-runs’ to advanced trips, as well as camping and wadi/mountain exploration trips. Being a member of UAE OFFROADERS is very rewarding. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds, nationalities, cultures, and religions that you might not get the chance to meet in your everyday life. All types of 4 wheel drive vehicles are welcomed, great fun is guaranteed and you will take home wonderful memories. New members who join UAE OFFROADERS are surprised to find out that some of the best times are spent not in the confines of their car, but after all the driving is done and we are relaxing around the campfire sharing experiences and jokes and reflecting on the day. The desert is a place which commands tremendous respect. The Bedouin Nomads have survived and endured life in it for centuries, and now we as expats are captivated by its mystical charms. UAE OFFROADERS invite you to join us for your own Nomadic experience and an evening of enjoyment under the stars.

Our Commitment to you:

as one family and we really focus on all the finer details to provide everyone with all the information they need to start with us. Learning as you go along is also a great way to gain experience. Each trip has family fun and plenty of learning opportunities. All of our trips are handled safely by our expert Marshals who all have the capability to manage any situation safely for all drivers, from newbies to experts. At the end of the day, our motto is ‘Safety First’. UAE OFFROADERS will provide you with hands-on technical and instructional training and information of how to drive safely in the sand, raising your confidence level and your confidence in your vehicle’s capabilities. Most of all, UAE OFFROADERS will introduce you to the fun factor of being in the desert with the best 4WD offroading club in the region. Member: Ms. Zhen Sun I have found my second family here in UAE after joining UAE OFFROADERS. Being involved in such activities as a female was a challenge for me, but they gave me all the support I need to be satisfied with my level now. Thanks UAE OFFROADERS! Marshal: Mohanned Hamdan There are so many off-road clubs in the UAE, but I believe that we are the best! The reason behind this is that in UAE OFFROADERS CLUB we treat the members

Marshal: Farhan Sharif Here are the reasons why I recommend UAE OFFROADERS: 1. The trained Marshalls at the club make sure that safety and security is the highest priority and is never compromised. 2. This club’s main theme is to entertain and serve Families with a ‘family comes first theme’ 3. We handle several public awareness events such as Pink Drive for Breast Cancer awareness 4. We train each and every member in line with their level of adaptability so as to achieve the best level of service in line with respect to each vehicle they drive both on road and off road

UAE OFF-ROADERS CLUB One Team…One Family www.uaeoffroaders.com Magazine

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

PRODUCTS Morakniv Eldris Neck Knife kit

Morakniv Garberg

Available at Al Sayad Hunting Equipment

Available at Al Sayad Hunting Equipment

With a handy sized blade made of 12C27, a high quality Swedish stainless steel, this knife suits the varied situations you encounter on your hike, camping trip or when hunting. The knife has a secure grip made out of two different polymers and a click lock, making it safe to handle. In the accessory kit, there’s a paracord rope and a secondary lock so the knife sits even more securely in the sheath. The kit also includes a fire lighter that matches the size of the knife, perfect for when it’s time to light the campfire or camp stove.

A powerful full tang knife, designed to withstand the toughest challenges imaginable. Its blade is 3.2 mm thick and made of high quality stainless steel, specially treated in our factory to make it even stronger. The blade has a special Scandi-grind, making the knife easier to keep sharp. Also, the spine of the blade has been ground to be used with a fire starter, so your essential fire is never far away. It has an exclusive leather sheath, a handsome and resistant protective cover.

Technical Specification: Net Weight: 119 g Product Length: 154 mm Gross Weight: 177 g Product Width: 43 mm

Blade Thickness: 2 mm Knife Length: 143 mm Blade Length: 59 mm

GoPro Hero 5 Black The most powerful GoPro ever, made easy

1,599 AED Available at Beyond The Beach, Sharaf DG, Adventure HQ, Virgin Megastore, Grand Stores, Emax, Jumbo and Plugins Convenience: • Voice control on camera • Waterproof without housing to 33ft (10m) • Rugged camera body • Enhanced user interface • 2-inch touch display • Simple one-button control Connected: • Direct upload to GoPro Plus • Easier connectivity to Capture • GPS location capture • Advanced wireless connection to GoPro accessories, remotes and Works with GoPro sensors Capture Quality: • Up to 4K30 video, 12MP photo • Video stabilization • Advanced wind noise reduction • Immersive stereo audio from 3-mic system with RAW track • Improved low-light performance • Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) photo capture • RAW Photo

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Technical Specification: Net Weight: 272 g Product Length: 248 mm Gross Weight: 326 g Product Width: 58 mm

Blade Thickness: 3.2 mm Knife Length: 229 mm Blade Length: 109 mm

Firewood and Accessories 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. • 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

The Hero 5 is GoPro’s latest and greatest. The design has been revised from the Hero Session which users loved for its size and ruggedness. The recording capabilities of Hero 5 Session have been bumped up to record stunning 4K videos at 30 fps and slow motion 1080p at 90fps. But that’s not all…the camera can now take burst photos at 30 frames per second as well. The camera lens is now 10 Megapixels rather than 8MP from the previous Session. It has a Simple One Button control which enables users to instantly start capturing at the press of a single button. All of these features have been there, in a way, in the previous session; however, what’s really new in the Hero 5 Session is the Video Stabilisation and Voice Control features. The Video stabilisation is not Optical but the resulting video is stunning nonetheless as this

was one of the things missing from all GoPro cameras. The voice control works with specific commands like “GoPro Start Recording” or, “GoPro Take a photo” to take a photo. The hot word is “GoPro” and it has to be said at the start of each command. There are 12 commands in total and these work in seven different languages. So even if your camera is out of reach you can give it commands with just your voice. All of this is done by using the onboard pair of microphones on camera which also help reduce wind noise in your recordings. You can even use the Remo (sold separately) to control your camera with your voice from distances of up to 10 meters. The Hero 5 Session lacks a touch display, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t see what you’re doing. The LCD monitor now shows more information and you can access all modes on the camera itself. There’s builtin Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the camera which helps you connect to GoPro’s updated “Capture” app through which you can get a live preview, change settings and see the content already present on your memory card. In the recording department, GoPro has introduced a new FOV (field of view) in their Hero 5 lineup and it’s called LINEAR FOV. As the name suggests, the recording in this one is flat but not as wide as the Super View. So

if you were never a fan of the fisheye effect there’s now a way to get rid of it. The built-in battery is the same as the last Session (1000 mAh) but now has the advantage of Type C USB which means it charges faster; up to three times faster than the previous model. So whenever you want to head out you can use the Supercharger (sold separately) to quickly charge it. The Hero 5 can also take a memory card of up to 128GB which means that you can keep on recording without having to worry about running out of memory or frequently having to change memory cards, perhaps missing crucial moments of action. The Hero 5 Session and Hero 5 Black now come with an Auto Upload feature which starts working whenever you connect your camera to any power supply. It seamlessly uploads your content to your GoPro Plus account and can be accessed from GoPro apps like Capture, QUIK and QUIK Desktop. GoPro Plus is free for 2 months after that it is $5/month. Available at Beyond The Beach, Sharaf DG, Adventure HQ, Virgin Megastore, Grand Stores, Emax, Jumbo and Plugins For only 1,199 AED

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

PRODUCTS TCX X-Groove Boots

Alpinestars Brass Leather Jacket

Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE

Available only at Al Yousuf Motors across UAE

• UPPER: Full grain leather • LINING: Gore-Tex® Extended Comfort Footwear for increased breathability • REINFORCEMENTS: Malleolus area, toe and heel reinforcements • CLOSURE: Lacing system • FOOTBED: Anatomic and replaceable • SOLE: New designed rubber sole with specific path to increase stability and grip

• Hand-finished, premium full grain leather main shell, which is treated using a traditional artisanal tanning method to ensure a unique vintage look and styling • Perforated leather zones on sleeves improve jacket’s ventilation and comfort • Unique OSCAR-style detailing, trims, snaps and rivets complete vintage look • Removable, class-leading CE certified shoulder and elbow protectors for impact protection • Interior back protector pocket allows for accessory upgrade of back protector insert to ramp jacket’s protective capabilities • Rear shoulder gussets allow for unrestricted freedom of movement in the riding position • Accordion leather waist inserts allow for close and comfortable fit • Interior and exterior compartment pockets incorporate zippers for safe closure, plus convenient coin pocket on left arm

B’TWIN Rockrider 520 Mountain Bike, 27.5” - Blue

Quechua Camping Table with 4 Seats - 4-6 People, Green

Available at Decathlon Mirdif City Centre and IBN Battuta Mall

Available at Decathlon Mirdif City Centre and IBN Battuta Mall

Designed around the 650b format, this b’Twin Evo alloy frame delivers great performance at an exceptional price. The specific geometry and sizing is both comfortable and dynamic with great attention to detail. Hayes MX5 disc brakes, full SRAM 24 speed groupset, double walled aero 650b wheels and adjustable Suntour XCT forks lets you glide over rough terrain and stop with ease in all weather conditions. • Cycling comfort: Raised position. Ergonomic saddle. Height-adjustable stem. Soft-touch grips • Efficiency: CGF Evo aluminium frame. 24-speed SRAM X3. Light, 27.5” Aero Trail Evo wheels • Precision: Double disc brakes. Easy-to-handle geometry. Tyres have good grip in turns. • Size M/L / XL • Weight 14.7 kg in M without pedals

Designed for use during a hiking camp.

645 AED | Was 745 AED

1,800 AED

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1,780 AED | Was 2,095 AED

330 AED

Product Benefits: Ease of use Large table top (120 x 60 cm) + 4 separate chairs (suitable for adults and kids) Easy transport Seats and table fold away into a compact suitcase (60 x 60 x 10 cm). 8.7kg. Durability Laminated table top with aluminium frame and reinforcements. Steel legs. Product Information: Dimensions L120 x W60 x H70 cm Folded size 60 x 60 x 10 cm. Weight 8.7kg.

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Words by: Sandy Bruford

As somebody who loves camping and being outdoors in a desert environment (I need to get my fix as frequently as possible), being given the opportunity to try out products that I haven’t used before was a great opportunity to discover new products on the market that don’t cost a small fortune, yet are still reliable and make a trip to the desert much more convenient and comfortable. Camping Shelter (AED 420) Size 2.5m x 2.5m This is great for those sunny days, giving your family protection against the harsh rays of the sun, as it is rated to a UV SPF of 30. At 2.5m square and 2.2m high, the shelter allows plenty of room for a rug and seating for up to six people. The frame consists of steel poles, and a flysheet stretches over the steel skeleton with open sides. The Quechua camping shelter has been wind tunnel tested to 50km/hr. Remember, when using this in the desert you will need to fill bags with sand to hold the camping shelter firmly on the ground. The shelter is easily packed away in its own bag ready for your next outing. Arpenaz L100 Camp Bed (AED 270) Size 190 x 65 x 45cm when extended Weight 7.5kg Having not used a camping bed before, I wanted to see what it would be like. Firstly, I removed the bed from its bag and extended it for use. Once extended there are two latches either side of the middle leg which, once secured, will stop the bed from folding up. I found the bed to be very comfortable and sturdy in the sand. There was enough give in the material to allow a very comfortable night’s rest under the stars. When it came

to packing away, the instructions were very easy to follow and it literally took seconds to put it in the bag. Quechua 2 seconds XL Air III pop up tent (3 man) (AED 585), Weight 5.7kg As it says, this tent really does take two seconds to put up! It’s very easy to set up and then all you need to do is spend just a few minutes putting in the pegs (or sand bags if in the desert) and your tent will be ready and waiting for you. Stowing the tent for the first time takes a little longer, but by the second time, once you’ve learnt all about the clips and how to fold it, it can be done quickly. Comfort XL Waterproof picnic rug (AED 120) Size 210 x 170cm As the name implies, this waterproof and foam based rug is very comfortable. For transporting, it is very easy to roll up; just clip the ties together which are already attached to the rug. The rug is large enough to lay out on and can be used when on camping trips or just for a day on the beach. Camping Table (AED 330) This lightweight folding table also includes four foldout chairs. Once the table is folded in half it acts as a carrier case for the folding chairs. Ideal for those who like to picnic or camp in style. Comfortable chair (AED 195) Quechua have made a very comfortable folding chair with great back support. It has very sturdy armrests, although there are no beverage holders. The seat webbing is lightweight but strong and allows air to pass through. When it’s time to leave, the Quechua chair folds easily and has a shoulder strap for easy transportation. Kitchen Unit (AED 355) We all go camping with food and sometimes

a gas stove or burner. With this kitchen unit we have a firm and clean base to put our gas stove/burner on surrounded by a stainless steel wind blocker to stop the flame going out. Below the bench top you have storage shelves which have solid bases and air vents, allowing your tasty food to be stored without flies or bugs tucking in! Portable Shower 8L (AED 270) I have seen various types of portable showers over the years, and believe that Quechua have made a great job with their 8L portable shower. It is all manual, so there is no need for batteries or wires. All you have to do is pour water into the bottle up to the max line, close the lid and pump approximately 25 times to pressurise the bottle, then connect the hose to the outflow pipe on the side of the shower bottle. To use, press the showerhead button. I found that there was great pressure lasting for approximately two minutes. Arpenaz air basic inflatable camping airbed (AED 110) 3 sizes 70/120/140cm This 120cm airbed was very comfortable and easy to inflate with the Quechua Hand Pump. Seconds Utility Tent (AED 240) This was easy to assemble, and featured an open roof. Great for privacy when changing and compatible with a shower. It was a little tricky to set up in windy conditions, however. Lamp (AED 65) Fantastic little lantern giving white, red and dim light. Ideal for hanging in the tent due to its lightweight or simply placing on your Quechua folding table. Quechua have come up with some great products that are simple to use, easy to pack away and, more importantly, are affordably priced. This allows campers time to enjoy their outdoor adventures in comfort, privacy and without breaking the bank. All products are available at Decathlon stores: IBN Battuta Mall and Mirdif City Centre.

Braai World A Q&A with Braai World

This month we have taken a trip to the desert with Expedition X, who focus on local and regional camping trips and expeditions for off-road enthusiasts, whether beginners, experts or anyone in between, to do some outdoor cooking and relaxing in preparation for our next Braai World editorial. We decided that this month’s focus will be a Q&A to give people a bit more insight into who Braai World is. Where did Braai World start and what is it all about?

The idea to start Braai World started quite a few years before the company was registered in 2014. We identified that there was something lacking in the market when it came to firewood and we found that we could fill that void with the wood we wanted to import. In addition, we wanted to import and distribute quality braai / bbq products for a reasonable price.

How do you distribute your products?

We have two ways through which we distribute our products.We use our online shop at www.braaiworld.ae to distribute our complete range of products, and in addition we distribute our wood through a number of retailers within the U.A.E.

used for home or commercial use and the quality of the products will allow this product to be used over and over again whether it’s camping in the desert or entertaining guests at home, or in your commercial kitchen for that matter.

If I was looking for a retailer to purchase from when I run out of wood over a weekend, can you name the retailers who distribute your wood?

What other accessories do you stock?

A: Yes,we have a few large retail partners, namely Speedex in Al Qouz and DIP (Dubai), Park ‘n Shop in Al Wasl and DIP (Dubai), Souq Planet (formerly known as Abela) in Al Ain, Etihad Plaza and Madinat Zayed (Abu Dhabi) and Adventure HQ in Times Square (Dubai). We also have smaller outlets, namely Rahal Outdoor in Nad Al Hamar, Spicy Village in Al Qudra and Istanbul Picnic Accessories opposite Big Red.

So what is the difference between the wood you import and the wood you find in the market?

Firstly, it has to be the density of our wood. With the harsh semi-desert like conditionsthat the trees grow in, they have to be tough, which means high density and low moisture content. The moisture content is far lower than the average whitewood from Europe, which means that our coals last longer and retain a much larger amount of heat until well after you have finished cooking. Secondly, it has to be the aroma of our wood when it burns, which imparts a unique flavour to the food as it cooks and which has to be experienced to be appreciated. You’ve mentioned that you also have other products such as accessories and utensils.

Can you tell us a bit more about this part of your business?

Well, firstly we stock high quality stainless steel utensils. Anything from braai tongs, fish tongs, meat hooks and grid brushes to name just a few. Our utensil range can either be 50

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We also sell other accessories that could make your outdoor cooking experience better than before, such as outdoor cast-iron cookware, kettle braai accessories, rotisseries, Himalayan salt plates andbraai grids. For more information related to all our products, it’s best to look at our webstore at www.braaiworld.ae.

What does the future hold for Braai World?

The immediate future is very simple…to keep doing what we are doing and to try and improve every day. It’s to ensure that our webstore clients as well as our retail clients get the best possible service and delivery and to ensure that the quality of our products is kept at the highest standard. In the long-term, we would like to expand our operations into other avenues like charcoal import and export. We have established great relationships with suppliers from different countries across the world and it will be fantastic to add this to our arsenal of deliverables. We would also like to expand our business to become wholly centred around the outdoor living / outdoor lifestyle model and we look forward to bringing more products to increase the enjoyment of the outdoors for all our customers over the coming years. 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.

OUR EXPERTS

Indonesia:

An island for everyone Words + Photos by: Jake Lyle

About Indonesia… As the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands, all separated by sparkling, vibrant blue water. No one island is the same as the next and each one has it’s own unique pulls and special charms. This in my opinion is the greatest thing about this remarkable country – so many islands scattered across an ocean, coming together to make one destination that can satisfy every type of vacation. Although there are thousands of popular tourist destinations around the world that can offer the landscapes, the adventure and the relaxation, the destinations that can offer truly unique experiences found nowhere else are becoming increasingly rare. Fortunately, there are a few left, and Indonesia is one of them. This unique experience comes in the form of a dragon.

Dragons in Komodo National Park

Yes, dragons do exist, but only in Indonesia. In the southern part of the country, there is a set of islands that make up Komodo National Park, covering an overall area of 1,733km2. The dragons aren’t alone on these prehistoric islands, but instead live alongside deer, monkeys and even wild horses: all of which have become prey to the Komodos at one point or another. The islands that make up Komodo National Park are wild, densely populated with animals and are unlike any other islands around the world – which would naturally make it my first stop in Indonesia. Within the National Park was Rinca Island, one of many islands that thousands of

dragons call home - which was immediately made evident upon arrival as we were instantly greeted by a Komodo Dragon napping under some trees on the entrance path by the dock. We were able to get surprisingly close to the sleeping giant and quickly take some pictures, and then we moved on to meet our rangers. Visitors on the island are assigned one or two rangers to escort them along the trail, for safety reasons, and so they can help spot the dragons. Even before we left the meeting point we came across several dragons grouped together under the rangers’ station, trying to catch some shade – they were packed tightly together, with some even crawling over one another in the fight for the coolest spot. Moving on, further down the path we came across a female, sleeping in the middle of about six holes in the ground. When I asked why there were so many holes, the ranger informed us that one hole was to

protect her eggs, and the other five were to act as a distraction to any other predator hungry and in search for a meal – revealing that their strength and their jaws aren’t their only evolutionary assets. Concluding our tour of Rinca Island we moved onto the next one – the famed Komodo Island. Much like Rinca Island, as soon as we stepped foot on the sand, the dragons were in sight. The five that we encountered on this island seemed larger, and more active, with a few even walking around – one in the direction of us – prompting a quick shift to the side. Although the dragons were moving slowly, you certainly felt the weight of their footsteps as they pounded into the ground and sensed the strength of their tail as it swept away anything on the ground near them. But the dragons aren’t the only attraction in Komodo National Park, as the waters surrounding these islands are filled with just as much wildlife.

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Heading underwater

Pink Beach in Komodo National Park and Gili Trawangan off the coast of Lombok were two spots where I had the opportunity to head below the surface and explore the underwater realm. One of the things about Indonesia’s underwater offerings that stood out the most to me was the variation and diversity in the coral. There were overhangs to swim under; plateaus to swim above and huge schools of fish to swim straight through. For a snorkeler or freediver it truly was an underwater playground. Around the coral reef you could occasionally find a bright white sand patch, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a stingray or a shark resting for the day. The exploration of these reefs was addictive, and hard to stop – you’d spot a brightly coloured fish and go in for a closer look, you start to follow it as it swims through its neighbourhood; through an anemone, over a sand patch and under a sea fan. Before you know it you’re in an entirely new space that you now want to explore as well.A day was hardly enough to explore this pristine ecosystem; I could have easily spent several in only one spot, because there is just simply so much to see in these densely packed reefs.

Beaches

Stepping out of the water and back onto land, the first thing you encounter are the beaches. With such a vast amount of islands, comes a vast amount of coastline – in fact Indonesia has the second largest coastline in the world, with over 54,000 kilometres of it. With the vast amount of beaches, each residing on different types of coastlines, there’s great variation in the setting and adventure opportunities present on each of them. Some of the most perfect beaches are hidden between two cliffs, where few can find them, others may be protected by lines of tall palm trees. If you’d simply prefer a beach where you can look out onto the white sand and the glistening horizon behind it from within a restaurant, then head to Lombok, as the main beach on the island has just that, but has also been able to maintain its perfect condition as a picturesque paradise.

Jungles and monkeys

Moving up the beach and into the jungle, you’ll experience a whole different 52

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side of the country. Unlike many jungles at popular tourist destinations across the globe, the jungles in Indonesia are still very densely populated and active – most prominently with monkeys. These aren’t the type of jungles you have to hike through for hours to spot some wildlife; they’re the type where you’re greeted by animals like monkeys before you’ve even fully entered the wilderness. Not only did we see monkeys, but we also encountered deer, wild boar, snakes and lizards. To emphasize the high population of monkeys in these jungles, when we entered monkeyprone areas we were told to not carry with us any food, put away all plastic bags and even remove our sunglasses as these items are some of the monkeys’ favourite souvenirs. Not all the monkeys were mischievous however, as we spotted many families, with babies clinging onto their mothers back as they both climb, adults relaxing in trees grooming each other. So if you’re looking for a close up animal encounter – you’ll want to visit the Monkey Forest in Ubud on the Island of Bali.

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Rice terraces and traditions

The area of Ubud also has other spectacular settings as well as jungles. One in particular is the Rice Terraces of Tegallalang. These terraces carved into the walls of this valleynot only create a spectacular site, but are also still used today to produce rice for the island. Along the top terraces are palm trees, which run along the valley, almost like a fence. Descending down the terraces to the lower levels I passed women with baskets atop of their heads and children playing and laughing as they climbed down the terraces alongside me. Reaching the lower levels of the valley and looking back up the sheer size of the site was immense, reminding me almost of the Grand Canyon in the USA. It provokes thought on the manpower it would’ve taken to accomplish such a feat, showing the capability and ingenuity of the traditional people of the time. Tradition is at the forefront of Indonesia culture, and so it has been well observed and sustained throughout the years. I had the good fortune of visiting a number of cultural and traditional sites, including temples, villages and heritage sites. One of the most breath-taking temples was Uluwatu Temple. Situated on the very edge of a cliff, this magical site brings thousands of tourists from around the world every year to admire the temple and it’s grand views. Leading up to the main temple, there is a path running along the edge of the cliff, allowing you to peer down to the waves crashing against the face of the cliff hundreds of meters below. It is almost trance-inducing, standing on the edge of the cliff and staring out into the horizon. During our time at this temple, we

attended a traditional dance; known to the locals as the ‘Kecak’ dance – which involved tens of people, elaborate costumes, and lots of fire. Our next cultural destination was a heritage site known as Garuda WisnuKencana National Park. Having arrived early in the morning, the park was almost empty – and good thing we did, as it revealed the size

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and scope of the site. The park was made up of a massive rectangular courtyard surrounded by colossal pieces of rock, carved into mysteriously straight-edged cubes. At either end of the rectangular courtyard were statues – smallon one end, and on the other end was a huge statue of ‘Garudua’ a mythical creature integral to Indonesian culture. Our third and final cultural stop was in a village high up in the mountains on the Island of Flores. We were welcomed outside the communal area by the leaders of the village and then were lead into a courtyard which over looked the entire island. The people of the village were very warm and hospitable, and offered us all a traditional drink. As we sipped our welcoming gifts, six men dressed in traditional costume began an age-old performance in the courtyard. For someone watching who didn’t know what to expect, it was certainly a spectacular performance. As you can see, Indonesia is not just a beach holiday, nor is it just a place to relax – it’s both of those things, and so much more! Surf, relax, learn, hike, dine, sail, and anything else you can think of – it’s all possible. Thousands of islands make up this diverse country, all of which are different from the last – so pick one, pick five or pick twelve!Experience your adventure – because in Indonesia, there’s an island for everyone.

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Natural History Words + Photos by: Dan Wright

Ok, so the title of this article is a bit misleading! Gold doesn’t actually visibly flow in rivers through the Himalayas. But you can collect it if you look carefully and this is exactly what I went to find this summer in Nepal. As a Geologist I have a fascination with rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils and of course precious materials, and I have always wanted to go into the wilderness to find my own, even if it’s just to have a small sample to keep in my collection. This summer I headed to Nepal to explore stories I had heard about locals who pan for gold in the rivers. I landed in Kathmandu towards the end of the monsoon season when the rains make their way up from the Indian plains and stop at the Himalayas, dumping all their water on the mountains. This abundance of water makes Nepal the second Gold Camp

Maya using the Riffle Tray

biggest water resource country in the world (after Brazil). The rains fill the rivers and there are many landslides in the remote areas which block villages from the roads for weeks at a time. Nepal is famous for adventure sports like rafting but in the Monsoon season the rivers become too dangerous to navigate and with constant rain everyday it becomes too wet for trekkers. So in the summer months Nepal is much quieter for tourism but coming from the heat of the UAE it is a paradise of greenery, rain and cooler temperatures! I chose the Trishuli river on the road from Kathmandu to Pokhara because it has wide curves with huge sediment deposits on the inside bends that have lovely sandy beaches with gravel underneath. There are no obvious nuggets of gold lying around, otherwise everyone would be out there collecting it, but there are tiny flakes and because they are so small and light they work their way down through the sand into the gravel layer where it meets bedrock. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at

Dhan Majhi digging by hand

the right time and my local contact introduced me to a man and his wife who were Gold panning on the shore of a beautiful beach at the Borderlands – Trishuli Beach Camp Resort. My translator was Megh Ale, who is the founder of Borderlands Resorts, and he explained that the man was Called Dhan Majhi and his last name was a Hindu

Washing Sediment

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Panning the sediments Sperating the gold from last sand

Crushing soapy leaves

Gold Flakes sperated out

caste for Fishermen. His wife was called Maya (‘love’ in Nepali) and they had been coming together every summer to this same beach to pan for Gold. Normally they would take away just a few grams for several weeks’ hard work, but that was enough to supplement their income from selling fish and they saw it as a working holiday. Their camp up the beach looked very basic, just a plastic tarp over a stick frame and an open campfire with a few blackened pots, but they seemed very happy and relaxed! Dhan Majhi agreed to be my teacher for a few Pans and he explained you have to start by digging a trench down through the sand to the gravel layer. He did this using a hand tool like a small rake to dig through the layers and used his hands to shovel up the sediments. You then collect this on a sheet and carry it over to the waters edge. Here you have to set up a riffle board over a catchment tray. The riffle board is made of thin bamboo rods woven together to form a mat with holes in it, which effectively sieves out the larger sediments and deposits in the catchment tray the finer gold bearing sediments. To sieve it you have to pour handfuls of water over the sediment and this washes the finer grade down through the riffle mat. The Gold is still not visible at this stage. Once you have sieved several sheet loads into your catchment tray you should have it about half full of sediment. The Catchment tray is sloped at one end so you can tilt it and this is to allow you to splash water up onto it to wash away the bigger sediment again. The finer sediment gets washed back on the tray and you continue this till you have reduced the sediment in the tray

The seasons find so far

right down to the finer grade. Next, outcomes the Pan, but in this case unlike its famous counterpart in America, it is a wooden board. The finest sediment is poured onto the pan and now the gold flakes start to appear. Maya went to the jungle edge and collected some leaves which she crushed on a rock and made a soapy liquid. This she poured onto the fine sediment and they told me it acts like mercury in that it pulls the gold flakes together as you very carefully wash the other sand gravel away. This process is quite meticulous and took Dhan Majhi a good 30 minutes to complete but when he was finished

Paying for my River Gold in Nepal

he had a pan with a very visible fine layer of gold flakes collected at one end! My first river Gold, untouched by human hands, and as Dhan Majhi explained we had to be very careful when it was dried not to touch it with our fingers or the minute flakes would stick to them and be lost. I asked Dhan Majhi if I could see everything they had collected in the last two weeks. They produced a small metal pot with what looked like several finished pans worth of gold flakes. When I asked its value I was told around 4000 Nepalese rupees ($40). I asked my translator if I could buy the gold including what we had collected that day and I offered an extra 1000 nrs ($10) which made the old couple very happy! When we had made the exchange Maya shyly asked me if I would make the gold into a small jewelry item for my wife and she was very surprised when I told her that I wanted to keep it as Gold Flakes and that I would use it for teaching Geology! If anyone is interested in Gold Panning in Nepal, I highly recommend going to the Borderlands – Trishuli Beach Camp Resort for next Summer season as a short break. Feel free to contact me through the magazine for more information. Nepal is always a fascinating place to visit and although I didn’t come home rich I had an excellent trip with a shiny result! Dan Wright is a Wilderness Expedition Guide and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). He has a degree in Environmental Science and works as the Project Manager of the ADAPT Adventure & Field Studies Center, based in RAK. Dan writes for a range of publications in Arabia and Asia on Environmental Issues and Personal Development. His wife Nirjala is the former Nepal National Mountain Bike Champion and their son Percy is an adventurer in the making! They spend all their spare time exploring the UAE.

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OUR EXPERTS

Battle of the Roads

Women

n Wheels

Words by: Helle Bachofen von Echt

We are heading into the second season of the Urban Ultra Women’s Cycle League. The first season wasn’t smooth sailing; the points system was changed midseason, there were disagreements as to which races should be part of the league and we encountered technology problems in indoor racing scenarios. We also witnessed some teams grow from strength to strength and show some real team work and racing tactics. The first season was certainly a valuable experience for organisers, riders and sponsors. This month, we take a look into some of the more prominent local women’s teams, who share with us what they are all about and what we can expect from them this coming season.

Philosophy: We want our team to improve, but also to inspire other ladies to participate in cycling throughout the UAE. We hope that through our participation and presence in events, we will encourage others to ‘have a go’. Who to watch: Each lady in our team has a different strength; there are strong climbers and also powerful sprinters. Team training and social aspect: We often join the Cycle Hub Group Ride taking place at Al Qudra on a Saturday morning, catering for different speeds and distances. We also develop team spirit and support recovery by enjoying breakfast together at the Cycle Bistro after a hard morning of training! For the community: We hope to show that cycling is accessible for all and it can promote a healthy lifestyle. Cycling is a supportive and encouraging community where you can have a lot of enjoyment!

Who to watch: Yvonne Van Hattam, who is one of ten semi-finalists out of 1,200 women in the Zwift Academy competition to get into a pro-team. Both Yvonne and Deirdre Casey are demons on the hills. Team training: We are all busy with our own working schedules and families. We mainly meet up for group rides on Fridays or Mondays. Most of the girls also use indoor trainers. How to join the team: We love a good friendly attitude. Come on a Roadsters ride and say “Hello”. What to expect this race season: We hope to see more races out of Dubai. We enjoy both the hills and flat cycle races and it’s always fantastic to go to the mountains. The teams to watch will be Cycle Hub and BeSport Support: In general we find that women underestimate their capabilities when biking and don’t want to ‘hold others up’. Having a team offers support and reassurance but most importantly, makes it fun! Strength in numbers: The league has made road cycling more accessible for females by giving them a voice to the race organisers and saying, “We want a separate start.” This makes a huge difference.

Wolfi’s Contessas By: Natasha Leask

The Cycle Hub Ladies By: Laura Holton The Team: We are a strong group of determined, focused and competitive ladies, made up of variety of endurance athletes; cyclists, triathletes and runners. We are all committed to regular, high intensity training. 56

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The Team: We are all about enjoying riding our bikes! We have a good time and we encourage each other. The team is selected from girls riding with The Roadsters’ Friday group ride. We always try to race as a team and use tactics that allow all our riders to get a good race. It’s a very social atmosphere and we have a lot of jokes and friendly teasing of each other. Goals: Last year we didn’t get the podium victories that we would have liked. The first season was a good learning curve and as our team has not changed greatly, we will be fired up to try some new team tactics. Team strength: On paper our team is extremely talented individually, although it’s the positive attitude of all the riders which makes us really strong and a fun team to be in.

BeSport Women’s Team By: Roison Thomas The vision: Our vision this coming season is to have two teams; one for racing elite and one for racing open. And we want the riders in the same mind set; that’s the most important thing. Goals: We aim to get the A Team into a training programme - and to get the B Team focused on getting cycling skills and fitness up.

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Team strength: Our main strength will be the support offered by Be Sport Bike Shop – and structure. Team training: Our training is scheduled and specifically structured for racing. What does it take to join the team: To join the BeSport team you must have good riding skills. Inspiring others: We hope to see our team riders flourish as cyclists but also become inspirational role models for females and males across the UAE.

YAS CYCLES, Abu Dhabi



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achieve a better performance. Having the correct mindset is what keeps us united. Goals: Same as last season; continue to gain strength by learning to target our training and honing in on skills which we really didn’t understand when we first started riding. We ride with other experienced riders and ask lots of questions. Who to watch: Orla White, who has been training all summer with different groups of riders to learn skills. Orla has gained a lot of strength too. And Vilma Purvinyte; she is a tenacious new player and a fast learner. Team training: We try to train together twice weekly. We practise pacelining for TTT events and we target our hills indoors at Bespoke Ride. If we can do it, anyone can do it: The female teams create a lot of visibility and empowers and encourages other women into the sport. We are responsible for inspiring other women into cycling. If we can do it, so can they.

By: Amy Carter The Team: We love to cycle, pure and simple. For us, it’s all about connecting and inspiring other female cyclists to get out there and ride bikes; and to have fun with it! Aim: Last year was our first season, so this year we aim to be bigger and better; we can only improve! Team strength: We can ride as a team, which is a great strength to have. We also have a real mix of great talent for the variety of races we have here in the UAE. Team focus: We aim to focus on Team Time Trials this year and we train together weekly. What it takes to join the team: You need to be committed and a team player. We work really well together in both a sporting and a social capacity. What to expect this season: Racing is really on the up here in the UAE with the help of Sporting event companies like Gulf Multi Sport adding more and more great events to the calendar. Bringing women together: Women tend to inspire other women, so if we can show that taking part in race events can be fun as well as a great way to improve on fitness, then we will get more women wanting to join in. Healthy encouragement to bring like minds together.

TREK Tigress By: Amber Mirza The Team: We are all growing, learning and evolving with experience and time. Our team is all about helping one another

LIV Race Team By: Johanna Rossouw Goals: To form a dedicated ladies specific race team, based in the UAE and GCC, who has a great passion for the sport. We aim to be present at most of the road races this season. Training: We will be working on speed and definitely interval training. Beyond road racing: We also have a dedicated mountain biking race team made of talented and committed riders. This season you will see LIV riders and teams in all triathlons, road racing and mountain biking events. What does it take to join the LIV teams: We love riders who have a good fighting spirit, who are willing to give their all on the race course and commit to team training and tactics, but the main requirement is to be active and passionate about cycling. The LIV Club: This is our ladies specific social group ride at Al Qudra cycle track on Saturday mornings and we welcome ladies of all abilities to join. We are a bunch of happy women and you will have fun riding with us! “Actually I can”: Being the first cycling brand dedicated entirely to the female cyclist, LIV’s powerful message to all of us, “Actually I can”, represents a battle of determination, of will and of spirit. It’s the moment you decide whether to meet your fears – or retreat.

Bikes changing lives: At LIV we create an environment where women can feel part of the sport, be competitive and inspire other women to take part. We strongly believe that bikes can change the world!

In addition, watch out for teams Velo Vixens, VCUAE/High5, Urban-Ultra and Souplesse Cycle; all competing in the Urban Ultra Women’s Cycle League. Helle Bachofen von Echt is a Dubai based amateur road cyclist competing in both local and International events. She is team leader of a UAE based female amateur cycling team and she is also an Indoor Cycling Instructor at Flywheel Sports Dubai. Helle loves traveling with her bike and you can follow her adventures and racing in pictures on instagram @thegirlwhocyclesinthedesert and her blog page www.hellebve.com

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OUR EXPERTS

Reducing the Risk Words + Photos by: Marina Bruce

Going out into the desert with your 4x4 can be a fantastic experience. You can enjoy the scenery, see some wildlife, meet new friends and learn a new skill. Offroading can be dangerous however, though knowledge and consideration of the risks can reduce them and make it safer. Trust me, you will never be able to plan for everything that could happen in the desert! Cars can - and occasionally do - overheat, break down, have tyre issues, collide with objects, catch fire or roll over. Drivers and passengers can become overheated or fatigued, bitten by a scorpion or similar beastie, fall ill, become injured and sadly, in extreme cases, even die. The desert is beautiful and enchanting, yet it is a very inhospitable and unforgiving environment. It's important never to underestimate the risks mentioned above. Having driven in the desert frequently for over seven years now I am still learning and encountering new challenges when away from the tarmac. Planning is key to making the trip enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons.

who are quite happy to take friends offroading, and providing they are suitably experienced in recovery and survival techniques a weekend camping trip is one of the best ways to spend Friday and Saturday. Never, ever go out on your own. Even the best drivers make mistakes, lose concentration momentarily and get stuck or in trouble. If you only have one car on the trip and it breaks down, how are you going to get out of the desert safely? All too frequently local newspapers report on people dying in the desert, particularly in KSA, and almost invariably these vehicles have been crossing sand terrain on their own. Even if you go out with friends, it's important to limit yourselves to dunes and obstacles you have the skill for. Having a car “fly” over a dune might look good in a YouTube video but such momentary lack of control can cause injuries or damage your vehicle,

Managing the Risk 1: Pick the right people to go with

There are many good offroad clubs in the UAE running weekend trips where you can learn desert driving from more experienced people. Some clubs use the "coaching" technique, ie stop at obstacles, explain how to negotiate them safely, demonstrate, then let the rookies have a go; other clubs have a "follow the leader and you'll pick it up as you go along approach". Choose one that meets your preference. There are also lots of individuals out there 58

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Tyre problems by Debra Galvin

so make sure you learn how to control your car in the sand before tackling any tricky terrain.

Managing the Risk 2: Have a minimum of three cars

Now I know that my husband and I frequently go offroading in remote locations with only two cars, but we have an immense amount of desert experience between us, well kitted out cars including one with a winch, and as ex-fire service in the UK, Neil is well equipped to cope with emergencies. So please do as I say, not as I do, at least until you get a few thousand kilometres of pure sand under your tyres! The thinking behind the minimum number of cars is this - if you have three cars and one breaks down, at least you have two left to get out of the desert. Similarly, if one gets stuck, and the second one also gets

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Drive in a group for safety

vehicle. Do not forget to check your spare tyre, which should be in good condition, at full inflation, and matching the ones on the car. Make sure you have the tools and the know how to remove it from your vehicle!

Managing the Risk 6: Have at least one GPS device in your group Avoid driving over plants

stuck recovering the first, you then have the choice to use the third car to pull the other two out, or get out of the desert safely.

Managing the Risk 3: Check the weather forecast

Before we moved to the UAE we expected it to have perpetual sunshine for 12 hours a day, all year round but the reality is somewhat different. In the summer we often do have baking hot sun all day which brings the temperature up to 45-50C most days. It also makes the sand rather hot so always wear boots/trainers or closed in shoes. You can get hit by a sandstorm any time of year which greatly reduces visibility and makes recoveries difficult for those who have to get out of their cars. It's definitely not the best weather for driving if you have a topless Jeep! During the winter any area in the UAE is regularly blanketed in early morning fog, with zero visibility. When offroading, driving in fog is more dangerous than driving in the dark; you could literally slip off the side of a high dune as you have no idea of the terrain around you.

Managing the Risk 4: Take plenty of food and water with you

It is always better to have too much water than not enough – for an all day trip we pack a 24 x 500ml case which means we have 6 litres of water per person. We prefer these to larger containers – if we hit a bump hard then a large container could shatter meaning we have lost all our water, but it is unlikely you will break small bottles and certainly not all of them. Take a bag with snacks such as nuts, crisps (chips), breakfast bars, boiled sweets and even tinned fruit to maintain your salt and sugar levels. Always take a mat to sit on; sand is often very hot or damp (but never both!) and if you can, something to rig up some shade should need it –we sourced army bashas in

the UK and these tarpaulins are very flexible and can even be used to create shade for vehicle repairs ‘in the field’. Remember to pack a first aid kit and fire extinguisher too!

Managing the Risk 5: Make sure your car is properly prepared

You should go prepared to get stuck when driving in desert terrain – I always hope for a “Teflon” (non stick) trip but nine times out of ten this does not happen! Heavy-duty recovery hooks on your vehicle are very important – some stucks are easy to recover from the back but others you have to pull forwards so it is important to have them on both the front and rear of the car. Your vehicle should be up to date with servicing; remember here in the desert many manufacturers recommend an oil change every 5000kms. All known defects should be sorted before you take it on the sand; if it's making weird noises on the blacktop then offroading will do it no good at all! The condition of your tyres is very important and it is not a good idea to go out with old or defective tyres, or ones with damage to the valves, as unreliable tyres can be dangerous. Sometimes if you hit a plant side on with the tyre it will come off the rim, called a pop out and these are especially common with old tyres which have lost their sidewall ‘flex’; the good news is that the tyre can normally be re-seated whilst still attached to the Waiting for early morning fog to clear

It is essential that at least one or two of the group have a good GPS which tracks where you have been - and someone should know how to use it! Plan a trip using Google Earth before you go, if only to put in a start and finish point and one or two intermediate waypoints. NB: If you have to abandon a car due to breakdown etc, remember to mark on your GPS where you have left it!

Managing the Risk 7: Ensure good communication

Always carry your mobile phone in the desert - the favourite areas for offroading have almost 100% coverage. (If driving in Liwa we recommend Etisalat as Du has poor coverage in some areas). Remember to charge your phone up before you go, make sure you have plenty of calling credit AND take your car charger for it too. Leave word with your friends where you are going. On long ambitious trips we leave a trip plan with friends who are prepared to come and retrieve us or even alert the emergency services if we are seriously overdue. If you are going into an extremely remote area, you could consider buying a satellite phone. These are about the price of a good smartphone but we consider the $50 annual subscription a small price to pay for added peace of mind. The desert requests the pleasure of your company... I hope I haven't scared you off coming out in the desert, it's such a wonderful environment and for most expats, so different from our homelands. Know the dangers, treat it with respect and you could find yourself having a love affair with the largest sand desert in the world!

OUR EXPERTS

Words + Photos by: Kit Belen

The landscape of fishing in the UAE has been slowly changing over the years. Gone are the days when the majority of people who line the jetties and breakwaters were armed with long telescopic rods with reels spooled with thick monofilament lines casting bing sinkers with multiple hook rigs and bait. The scene has been replaced by people armed with the latest rods from Japan and reels that have drags strong enough to stop a cow dead in its tracks. The monofilament lines of old have been replaced with high tech fishing lines made with the same fibers as bulletproof vests. Gone as well are the big sinkers, giving way to lures; and people have learned to target bigger fish from the shores, reducing the urge to jump on a boat to chase after the big ones. However, what I have seen so far has been some growth in the more technical aspects of luring with spinning reels and hardly any movement in the use of baitcasting and conventional reels for fishing. While the choice to use spinning reels or baitcasters are totally within the personal preference realm, I believe a lot of anglers here are very hesitant to cast a baitcaster because of the fear of getting a backlash. A backlash happens when the lure slows down on the cast while the spool still turns from the initial momentum –it over runs. To be able to stop this, you need what we call “an educated thumb”. At least in the past, this used to be the case. Modern baitcasting reels as well as smaller conventionals that are meant to be cast out have braking sys-

With the cast control options available to the angler today, baitcasters should not be feared and should be taken advantage of

tems in the reel that help you slow the cast down to a manageable level, however, you still need to stop the spool with your thumb as soon as the lure hits the water. There are two methods in slowing the spool down – Magnetic and Centripetal brakes. A third kind is employed by the tackle manufacturer Shimano, a digital cast control system which works great, although the reels with the DC cast system are very expensive. These breaking systems are far perfect; but with a bit of practice, they make your life easier and will help you cast further and more accurately than you would ever be with a spinning reel – the biggest drawback may be that you actually need to practice to be able to get to the level that you want to be at…which I believe is one of the things a lot of people here are hesitant to do.

Why the Spinning reel was invented The Spinning Reel was invented because Mitchell (the brand) wanted to make fishing easy for everyone. Baitcasting reels or multipliers were the standard and although it was a very capable design, it took some skill to cast it and it had a problem casting very light lures. The introduction of the spinning reel paved the way to the boom of fishing in the years after its introduction. The main advantage of the spinning reel compared to the baitcaster is quite big – buy a spinning rod and reel and it takes about fifteen minutes of instruction for an average person to cast it out a good distance from shore – it is that simple. Baitcasters need at least a month or two to

Only a handful of anglers in the region are reaping the benefits of these great reels

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train your thumb – when you get into distance casting with conventional reels (overhead reels without a level wind) it might get a bit complicated. Again, practice would be the main solution, however, with the baitcaster, casting accuracy is almost second nature as soon as you learn how to cast it. Let me go out on a limb and say this – All the distance casting records are from overhead reels. The following explanation might be too technical for most people: spinning reels and rods create a lot of friction that slow the cast down rapidly – this is because as the line diminishes from the spool, the line needs to climb out of the spool (friction point) and overthe lip (another friction point) before it reaches the guides – The line travels in a spiral off the spool, which means when the line hits the rings, line spirals inside each of the guide rings (more friction points). This is the reason why spinning rods have less guides than baitcasting rods – to avoid more friction points. In the case of small conventional reels and baitcasting reels, the line feeds directly to the spool and straight out the guides, feeds in a linear fashion and does not spiral, wobbling a bit but not really touching a lot of friction points – less friction = more distance. I’m not saying that you should get yourself one to break distance records; what I’m trying to point out is that in the right hands, it will outcast a spinning combo any day. If there are days when you need to cast further than anyone to get to the fish, you will find a conventional reel will help you catch more than a spinning combo would.

Top of the range models have both centripetal and magnetic brakes giving you the most control and worry free casting

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Goodbye to Backlash…almost

In recent years, baitcasting technology has steadily improved and have become easier to use. Although largely unnoticed here in the UAE and the rest of the region, elsewhere, baitcasters are the norm –for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. In recent years, much of the improvements have been in making the reels easier to use – a large part is the ease of casting - meaning better brakes to avoid backlash. Smaller, more powerful magnets are now used in place of the thicker, bigger magnets, and several manufacturers are now employing finer adjustment increments this significantly makes the cast smoother. Improvements in centripetal brake block design have also given rise to better performance and distance. These two technologies combined give you almost infinite adjustment settings to suit the lures you’re casting. The most significant change in recent years is the inclusion of both systems in mid end reels – these were previously only available in their top end models – this means you get reels that are small, strong, light and are able to cast greater distances without having to worry about the dreaded backlash. I know there are a handful of anglers out there that are already using them, however, most still prefer spinning tackle because they are just too easy to use – I don’t blame them. However, with the innovation and all the technology available to us today,

Centripetal casnt control systems such as this give you a lot of distance but require a bit more practice

a spinning reel, and you’ve got yourself a fishing machine that will give you years of trouble free fishing. A magnetic cast control system such as this, makes it very easy to cast and help avoid backlash

baitcasters and small conventional reels are quite cost effective and offer quite a lot of features for their price – more than a mid range spinning reel would ever offer. Add to that the almost zero line twist and the fact that a baitcaster or small conventional reel in practiced hands will always out cast

Till next tide change,

Kit Our fishing pro who shares his experiences and expertise with OutdoorUAE through his regular column. [email protected]

Exercises to make the most of the cooler weather Words by: Nicky Holland Photos by: Jung Francisco

Now that the temperature is cooler and the humidity has reduced, exercising outside becomes more bearable. This is good because it adds more variation to your training. Doing different exercises in a different environment can avoid tedium and help with motivation. Some Fitness First clubs have an Outdoor Training area which allows you to train in a different way. Imagine you have no equipment but want to train; what do you do? If you are stuck for ideas, this article will help you. It will give you an all round body workout which you can do indoors or outdoors with minimal equipment. Now there really is no excuse!

Back Extension Another good exercise without any equipment is a simple back extension. This involves lying on your front facing the floor. Place both arms out straight to the side as this will focus more on the erector spinae in the back and also the upper back and rear deltoids. From this face down position, keep your feet together and lift your chest away from the floor. You will feel your lower back working and also the back of your shoulders. Try to do 10-15 lifts.

1

3

Lateral Lunges with overhead press 2

Spiderman Push Up

Burpees Set yourself up in the push up position. Start with your hands shoulder width apart, under your shoulders and with both feet on the floor. As you lower your chest to the floor, bring one knee up to the side. Then as you push up from the floor, bring your leg back to the starting position. This exercise primarily works the upper body, chest and triceps. But it can also work the core as you bring your knee up to the side you will work your obliques and abdominal muscles. Try to complete 20 in total, 10 each side.

Now that we have strengthened the core, it’s time to raise the heart rate. Burpees will certainly do that. The correct burpee has a series of phases to complete just one rep. Start standing then drop into a push up position. Take your chest to the floor then use the legs to jump back up to the standing position and finish with a vertical jump off the floor. This movement works lots of muscles and also your heart and lungs. Try to complete 10 reps and keep the speed high. The faster you go, the higher your heart rate and the more calories you can burn.

Most people will lunge forwards or backwards. This is ok as it works the frontal plane of movement. But it is better you mix this up. Lateral lunges means taking a step to the side. Here you will work in the sagittal plane. This works different muscles to the normal lunge which will challenge your stability and strength. Once you are comfortable with this change of direction, you can hold a plate and perform an overhead press as you lunge. This will work the shoulders so you will get more muscle activation during the move. Try to do 20 in total so broken down is 10 lateral lunges each leg. For the workout above you can decide how you do it. You could do each exercise once through then complete three sets or you could do the first exercise, rest then complete the first exercise again until you do three sets and move onto the next. Form and intensity is important so make sure your technique and movement is correct. See you at the beach or park for your next workout!

Side plank to front plank Most people avoid training their core. But as we get older it is our lower back and hamstrings that get tight. A good way to strengthen these areas is to work the muscles around them to become good synergists and fixators that support movement. This exercise has three movements in one. The first is to lie on your side, push your bottom elbow into the floor and raise your body into a side plank. From here, there should be a diagonal line from your shoulder, to your hip and

your ankle. Hold this position for 15 seconds then rotate straight into the second exercise which is a front plank for 15 seconds. Make sure your hips are not too high and that your back is straight. Then rotate the other direction into exercise number three which is a side plank facing the other way. The total time here is 45 seconds but you can build up to a minute by doing 20 seconds on each movement. This is really good for toning the waistline and hips.

Nicky Holland Fitness Manager, Fitness First Uptown Mirdif

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NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

UAE DIRECTORY General Sports Equipment Megastores

Adventure HQ, Dubai Times Square Center, Sheikh Zayed Rd, toll free: 800-ADVENTURE, +971 43466824; The Beach on JBR, Dubai: +971 44304419; Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi: +971 24456995, www.adventurehq.ae Decathlon, Dubai, Mirdif City Centre, +971 42839392, 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, [email protected]

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,

[email protected] 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 Tony’s, 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: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 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 Micah’s 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 Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43394453, www.wbs.ae Operator Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 43926463, www.adventure.ae, [email protected] Clubs Abu Dhabi Tri Club, www.abudhabitriclub.com Cycle Safe Dubai, Dubai Autodrome www.cyclechallenge.ae Dubai Roadsters, +971 43394453, www.dubairoadsters.com

OUTDOORUAE

NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM 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, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.com Soolyman Sport Fishing, Umm Suquiem, Fishing Port No. 2, Jumeirah Beach, +971 508866227, 508866228 or 503402379, www.soolymansportfishing.com Summertime Marine Sports, Dubai, +971 42573084, www.summertimemarine.com Xclusive Yachts, Dubai, Dubai Marina, +971 44327233, www.xclusiveyachts.com Clubs Abu Dhabi Camping, Fishing & Kayaking Club, [email protected] 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 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com 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, [email protected], 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, [email protected], www.coastaltechnicaldivers.com Deep Blue Sea Diving, International City, Dubai, +971 44308246, www.diveindubai.com Desert Islands, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, +971 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 [email protected], 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 Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +971 503336046, www.sheesabeach.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, [email protected], 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, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Hamur Marine and Sports Equipment, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, +971 43444468 Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com Al Yousuf Motors, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Rd, +971 43390000, www.aym.ae/yamaha Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Barracuda Fishing and Outdoor, Dubai, Street 13A 1, Al Safa 1, +971 43466558, www.barracudadubai.com Blue Waters Marine, Shop 11, The Curve Bldg., Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43808616 or 553899995, www.bluewatersmarine.com Challenging Adventure, Wadi Al Bih Ras Al Khaimah, +971 561060798 or 44538386, [email protected] Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai, +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com Ocean Active, Dubai, Garden Centre, +971 502898713, www.oceanactive.com Operators Absolute Adventure, Dubai, +971 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 Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters, Al Bateen Marina Resort, +971 506146931, www.fishabudhabi.com Arabia Outdoors, Dubai, +971 559556209, www.arabiaoutdoors.com Barracuda Diving Centre, Fujairah International Marine Club, +971 503366224 Belevari Marine, Abu Dhabi, +971 26594144 Captain Tony’s, 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: 800-ADVENTURE, www.adventurehq.ae Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha 800 Sport, Al Quoz, Dubai +971 43467751, www.800sport.ae Flip Flop Arabia, +971 556881793, 501084010, www.flipfloparabia.com Global Climbing Trading LLC, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai +971 48829361, www.globalclimbing.com 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, [email protected], 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, [email protected], www.bonjourequestrian.com Cavalos Equine Care and Supplies, 16th Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi, +917 22222433, www.cavalosuae.com Emirta Horse Requirement Centre, Sheik Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43437475, www.emirtahorse.com Equestrian Clubs/Centres Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Al Ahli Riding School, Al Amman Street, Dubai-Sharjah Rd., +971 42988408, www.alahliclub.info Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Al Jiyad Stables, Behind Dubai International Endurance City, Dubai, +971 505995866, [email protected], www.aljiyad.com Al Sahra Desert Resort Equestrian Centre, Dubai, +971 44274055, [email protected] Desert Equestrian Club, Mirdif, Dubai, +971 503099770 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

MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 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, [email protected], www.rdad.ae, Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, Sharjah, Al Dhaid Road, +971 65311188, www.serc.ae Racecourses Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, +971 24455500, www.adec-web.com Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Exit 399, Abu Dhabi/ Dubai Highway, Abu Dhabi, +971 25629050, www.grpc.ae Jebel Ali Racecourse, off the main Abu Dhabi - Dubai Highway (Sheikh Zayed road) beside the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, +971 43474914 Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, +971 43270000, www.meydan.ae Sharjah Racecourse, Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah, +971 65311155, www.serc.ae

Jet Ski Dealers

Al Masaood Marine, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com 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, [email protected], www.japanmarine.co Liberty Kawasaki, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Direct: +971 45019442, 45019412 or 43419341, www.libertykawasaki.com

Motocross & ATV’s

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 (atv’s), 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

Distributors and Dealers Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai, +971 43390621,

W/ WARRANTY

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NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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, [email protected], www.jk-funclub.com ME 4X4, www.me4x4.com

Running 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, [email protected], 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 Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi, +971 25568555, www.alforsan.com Dubai Autodrome, Dubai, +971 43678700,www.dubaiautodrome.com Emirates Motorplex, Umm Al Quwain, +971 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, [email protected], www.blingmytruck.com 4x4 Motors LLC, Shk. Zayed Rd, Dubai, +971 43384866, www.4x4motors.com Liberty Automobiles, Dubai, 800 5423789, www.libertyautos.com Repairs and Services AAA Service Centre, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE, +971 4 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 Al Yousuf Motors, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43390621, www.aym.ae/yamaha Bling My Truck, +971 503634839 or 505548255, www.blingmytruck.com Heartland UAE, Al Mafraq Industrial, Abu Dhabi, +971 569796524 or 506472447,

Clubs ABRasAC, Dubai, www.abrasac.org Abu Dhabi Tri Club, Abu Dhabi, www.abudhabitriclub.org Abu Dhabi Striders, [email protected], www.abudhabistriders.com Al Ain Road Runners, Abu Dhabi, +971 504188978, [email protected] 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, +971 42894858, www.alboommarine.com Al Masaood Marine, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 43468000, www.masaoodmarine.com 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 Al Forsan International Sports Resort, 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 Children’s 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

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MIDDLE EAST’S OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE



NOVEMBER 2016 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

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, [email protected] 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 Sheesa Beach, Dibba, Musandam, +968 26836551, www.sheesabeach.com

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, [email protected] Alpha Tours, P.O. Box 13530, Doha, Qatar, +974 4344499, [email protected] 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 Distributors and Dealers 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 Pearl–Qatar 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 Oman’s 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 Az’Zaha Tours, +968 99425461, www.azzahatours.com Water World Marine Oman, P.O. Box 76, Muscat, 113, Sultanate  of Oman, +968 24737438, 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, [email protected] 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