#55 April 2015

DRIVING THE UNIMOG

SUMMIT FEVER

riders on the storm

PEDAL TO THE METAL

PRODUCTSTO CHECK OUT

Plenty of

APRIL IN KATHMANDU

DARK SKIES CHALLENGE

www.OutdoorUAE.com

Vol. 5, No. 4 April 2015

Price10.00 AED

10.00 QAR

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JORGE LORENZO OF MOTOGP

OMAN AND BACK AGAIN

Exclusive interviewGetting lost:

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE APRIL 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

3OUTDOORUAE

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 bereproduced in any form without prior written permission.

2015 Outdoor UAE FZEReg. at Creative City FujairahP.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.

WHEN YOURE DONE READING,

PLEASE RECYCLE!

EditorFor editorial content and press releasesTel: 04-447 2030Mobile: 055 [email protected]

Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)Tel: 04-447 2030Mobile: 055 [email protected]

Published byOutdoor UAE FZEIn cooperation with D32 EventsP.O. Box 215062Dubai, U.A.E.Tel. 04-447 [email protected]

Cover photo: Ian Ganderton by Pete Maloney

OutdoorUAE Team

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

Nico de Corato Diver and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels

Ivana Chiles Health coach and outdoor enthusiast

Dan Wright Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE

Cindy Stadelmann Equestrian expert

Trace Rogers SuperTri triathlon coach

Ian Ganderton Kayaker, climber, mountainbiker and snowboarder. Enthusiastic jack of all trades, master of none

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and off-road expert

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

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DistributorTawzea, Abu Dhabi Media CompanyP.O. Box 40401, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

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2015 Outdoor UAE FZEVol. 5, No. 4, April 2015

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

I took up rock climbing relatively late at the age of 20. Since then, Ive spent most of the last 25 years climbing in various forms and many places around the world: either on steep rock, in Alpine landscapes, or the massive snowy mountains of the Himalaya or simply trekking in beautiful places.

The question that people who dont climb ask most frequently is why do you do it? a difficult

question to answer. Big, snowy, cold mountains are often about pain. They create very similar feelings and emotions to the struggle of an ultramarathon, an Ironman or even your first sprint distance triath-lon.

If we experience a positive experience such as a great day of sand biking or hiking, it is much more powerful than a negative one. In the outdoors, a positive could mean standing on a summit such as Jebel Hafeet or completing a particularly long kayak trip around the Ras al Khaimah mangroves. We remember the positive and forget the negative. Lots of small positives add up to something great and life changing. Even after spending a vast amount of money to spend 6 weeks in extreme cold on a mountain, not being able to breathe properly and eating terrible food, this is quickly forgotten simply by standing for 10 minutes on a summit.

So for April we are challenging you to let yourself experience different emotions and step outside of your comfort zone. Set yourself some goals and never is it a better time to plan something different.

This month in OutdoorUAE we are focusing on auto sports and motocross. We are blessed in the UAE by having some of the most amazing desert and mountain terrain anywhere. In addition, the restrictions to access it and get out and feel the horsepower of these incredible vehicular beasts are virtually nil when compared to other countries. In the weekend, it is truly a spectacular sight watching these brutes roar up and down the dunes. Enjoy April and ride and race responsibly.

Sean [email protected]

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and General [email protected]

Katherine Caedo Patangui [email protected]

Glaiza [email protected]

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing [email protected]

Eulogy van Dyk Editor [email protected]

Jung FranciscoDesigner and [email protected]


4 OUTDOORUAE

CONTENTS

EVERY ISSUE

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS

OUR EXPERTS

LIFESTYLE

TIPS + TRICKS

05 BEST SHOTS06 EVENTS CALENDAR44 LIFESTYLE48 PRODUCTS60 PEOPLE71 DIRECTORY

15 ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE 201520 EMIRATES SUP FESTIVAL 201523 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

30 ADVENTURES IN THE UNIMOG36 THE BELGIAN BIKERS

44 HEALTH POWERHOUSE46 UAE WEATHER

66 HIKING EXERCISES68 MTB EXERCISES

56 DARK SKIES CHALLENGE - MARINA58 THURSDAYS WITH OLIVIER JOHN60 FLY FISHING KIT

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

12 RAMY 4X4

22 MXGP

61 JORGE LORENZO GUERRERO32 HONEY BADGER DIARIES

14 HAJAR 100


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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 book: Arnel Castro, James Spence and John Henzell. Well done!

To submit your entries, simply email us at [email protected] with the subject Best Shots.

John HenzellA different kind of flight.

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

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


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

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

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

Giant Duathlon Series Race 5April 10, 6:30 a.m., Zabeel Park

Running and pedalling is all the same to us! An event for triathletes, duathletes, cyclists, runners, and fitness enthusiasts alike, the fifth leg of the Giant Duathlon series continues to please newcomers and test seasoned athletes. Kids are also welcome in the traffic-friendly courses providing unparalleled safety for all competitors. Each race is based on a run-bike-run pattern and will be open to individuals and duos.

For more information, visit www.race-me-events.com and www.premieronline.com.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Stay up-to-date with the latest events

Dubai Dressage Championship 2015April 13 to 14, Emirates Equestrian Centre

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

For more information, visit www.dubaicalendar.ae.

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

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

For more information, visit www.neorun.com.

Run for Rich from Dusk to DawnApril 16, 6:30 p.m., Nad al Sheba Cycle Park

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

For more information, visit www.premieronline.com.

Team Sports Road Run 10K and 3KApril 10, 7:00 a.m., The Track Golf Clubhouse, Meydan

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



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2XU Wadi RacerApril 24, 5:00 a.m., Wadi Showka/Helo, Dubai

Say good morning Dubai at 5:00 a.m. in this single stage, 10km, 20km or 30km marathon in the outskirts of Dubai. Participants will begin under the cover of darkness and finish with the beautiful first light of day. The terrain is a combination of gravel jeep track and rocky wadi bed with climbs and undulations. For safety, the course will be marked with light reflective material until the sun rises. Pitch tents in the areas nearby and gaze in awe at the beautiful Dubai sunrise. Please note that the course road is not closed to traffic and locals use segments of the area to access their villages. To minimise the risk of accidents participants are advised to stay along the marked course track and be alert of their surroundings as well.

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

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

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


QRC Drift ChampionshipApril 30, Qatar Racing Club

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

For more information, visit www.qrc.qa.

Wadi Adventure Race 9April 25, 9:00 a.m., Al Ain

Gear up for the third and final leg of Wadi Adventures WAR series this year. With a loyal and popular follow-ing, the event will continue with the different race categories that they have introduced since the first leg. To increase the suspense, the obstacles and race details will not be given to participants before the race. The event will introduce challenges that promote a harder, better, faster and stronger lifestyle to participants and they only have one question: Are you ready for WAR?

For more information, visit www.premieronline.com or www.facebook.com/WadiAdventureRace.

The Five Star Aquathlon Race 3April 17, 7:00 a.m., Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

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

For more information, visit www.abudhabitriclub.com or www.premieronline.com.

EVENTS CALENDAR

This is just a selection of the events taking place this month, for more upcoming events visit: www.outdooruae.com/event

The Sand PitApril 17, Al Barari, Dubai

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

For more information on this debut sport and event, visit www.thesandpitrun.com.


NEWS + COMMUNITY

Present in the opening ceremony were members of the Al Yousuf Group the ex-clusive distributor of Yamaha in the UAE who are openly supporting their new venture. Also present were the members of Yamaha Japan as well as distributors from other countries. Amidst the amazed audience, the beauty of the caf shone with its display of Yamaha bikes fused with traditional Japa-nese architecture. Besides the Yamaha dis-plays, the caf also showcases other popular biking accessory brands like Alpinestars, Nolan and Jobe, which can be purchased or ordered from the catalogue for delivery.

The Yamaha Caf was inaugurated last 17th March by Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero, the

Yamaha Caf races its way to Dubai!First of its kind Yamaha Japanese caf opens in Dubais new BOXPARK

Buckle up as caf racers, bob-bers, trackers and most especially food explorers haul their way to a new haven in Dubai the Yamaha Caf. Stage your spirit in a quintes-sentially blended Japanese flair and sportive biking culture settling while enjoying choice sushi, sashimi, curries, tempura, and an exclu-sive range of okashi a traditional Japanese sweet.

Photos By: Glaiza Seguia-Godinez and supplied

Spanish motorcycle road racer who is a two-time 250cc World Champion and 2010 and 2012 MotoGP World Champion. Lorenzo currently competes in the MotoGP class, riding for the factory Yamaha team along-side Valentino Rossi. He also competed in MotoGPs opening race in Losail, Qatar last month.

Commenting on the opening of the Yamaha Caf, Mr. Iqbal Al Yousuf, President of Al Yousuf Group said: Our association with Yamaha has been a long-standing and highly fruitful one. The opening of the caf marks a new beginning in our enduring re-lationship as we expand into the restaurant and caf business. We are very pleased to open this unique caf in Dubai in association with Yamaha.

The Yamaha Caf is a unique blend of Japanese elegance and a bikers rugged-ness. The BOXPARK offers an ideal location for the caf, being the latest and one of the liveliest hotspots in the city. We are certain it will be a huge success in the UAE.

Yamaha Caf is located at The BOXPARK, Al Wasl Road, Dubai.

Mr Yoshiyuki Ito, General Manager of Yamaha Motors, Mr Mohamed Iqbal Al Yousuf, Deputy President Marketing and Mr Jorge Lorenzo, 2012 MotoGP World Champion.


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A seasoned traveller, the round the globe trip is the most arduous, if not most chal-lenging of Wissams travels. Some of his pre-vious missions saw him climb Mount Pumori, and ride a motorbike across 23 countries and all to raise awareness for those in need. The Pumori journey has helped build a cancer department and school for children with special needs in the Middle East. With this ongoing journey, he aims for the bigger prize; the bigger help.

Wissam speaks of his journey: The worst thing in life is to fall down and realise that there is no one to offer a helping hand to get you back up. Sometimes you can rise back up on your own; but that isnt always the case. The sick and injured children of the Middle East have fallen down, and they have no strength to rise up on their own. We need to be that hand; we must be that hand.

Supporters could follow Wissam through his journey in social media where he will be posting up-to-date information on where he is currently on this marvellous journey.

Al Jayyoussi begins around the world journey in DubaiThe labour of love

Last March 1st, Wissam Al Jayyoussi, began his solo journey across the world on his customised KTM 1190 Adventure R motorbike. Starting off his journey in the city of Dubai, his next stops will take him all over the Middle East, to Asia and then towards the Americas. Embarking on this epic journey in behalf of Goodwill Journey and the Palestine Childrens Relief Fund, Wissams miles hopes to gener-ate donations towards the sick and injured children of the Palestinian region.

Wissam Al Jayyoussi

Alongside this, the Goodwill Journeys of-ficial website will also be giving live feeds as well as a map so that people could find out about his next stop in better detail.

His journey begun last March 1st in Dubai. Afterwards, he will be driving towards Oman in what is called an X-axis; where he travels in a horizontal direction. Follow-ing this direction, he will be located in Asia before heading south towards Australia and crossing the Pacific Ocean towards the United States. From this leg onwards, he will be shifting direction and head around the globe in the Y-axis or vertical direction. This direction will see him begin in Alaska riding down towards the southernmost point of South America. In the final leg, he will travel to Africa and make his way north towards the European continent returning to Dubai in approximately 21 months since he began the journey.

Waves of support are being raised

towards Wissam and his journey for a heroic cause that increases the value and impor-tance of this event. Steve Sosebee, co-founder and CEO of the PCRF comments: We are extremely proud of Wissams bravery and courage in taking on this daunting mission to help children in the region who are in need of support. It isnt an easy mission to undertake and the fact that he is taking it on is truly remarkable. On behalf of the entire team at the PCRF and every child that his mission would help sup-port, we thank Wissam for his undying pas-sion and commitment towards the cause.

Palestine has been a location of unrest in the recent times and children as well as families are at risk. This journey intends to help out these children by giving them sup-port via education, access to medicine, and other ways and means by which to alleviate these children from their current situation.

For more information about the mission, or how to support the PCRF and the Goodwill Journey, please visit the website www.pcrf.net and www.goodwilljourney.org.

10 OUTDOORUAE

Words By: Sean James

EverestPart 1 is written from Arabian Ranches, Dubai just before I leave. I am due to meet the rest of the team in Kathmandu. They fly out from the United Kingdom on the 30th of March. This first part is about my prepa-ration, training, the search for support and things that need to be done for a trip that will last until the 4th of June, over 60 days away from home.

Everest has many names but gets its Euro-pean name from the British Superintendent General of the Survey of India from 1830 to 1843, Sir George Everest who first surveyed it. To Tibetans it is called Chomolungma or Qomolangma which means Mother God-dess of the Earth. The Sherpa people call it Sagarmatha meaning Goddess of the Sky. It is undoubtedly the highest point on Earth and a prize for many. Around 4,000 people, or the equivalent of five full A380s have stood on the summit as of 2014.

Ive guided on lots of high mountains before; three have been over 8,000m plus many lower but until a year ago Everest had never been on my list. For the last three years I had been working as a lecturer so I was restricted by the times of my holidays. Last June, my contract finished and rather than look for another rubbish job that I didnt really like, I set my focus on climbing mountains again. Despite not earning much

April in KathmanduThis is a blog that will follow

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

its gone pretty well since and Ive travelled, trained and competed in marathons and triathlons during the last 10 months which has been good preparation. Who knows what the next 10 months will bring when I return in June?

KathmanduI leave Dubai on FlyDubai on the 26th of March and arrive in Kathmandu early. Im with my girlfriend and we want to enjoy a few quiet days in a city that is so differ-ent from anything that we have here in the UAE. The hippie district of Thamel is always bustling and crowded, but it also has small pockets of tranquility. Ive been to Nepal many times and never tire of it. I could quite happily spend a week in Kathmandu trying out the different restaurants, bars and cof-fee shops, even though Ive sat in them for many hours.

8,000mAll of the high mountains over 8,000m in the world are either in Nepal, China or Paki-stan. The season to climb in Nepal is in the spring, pre monsoon from April to June and in the fall post-monsoon, from September to October. During these times, everyone flocks to Kathmandu or Islamabad to start their adventure.

Most people tackle an 8,000m with the help of many other people. Firstly there is normally an expedition company, normally in the climbers home country, for example

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

Everest NE Ridge Courtesy of Adventure Peaks

Meeting up with old friends again in Nepal Base camp

Summit Fever

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If you are interested in climbing high mountains and even Everest in 2016, contact us [email protected].

Looking after clients on the mountains is very demanding

Extract from the Alpine Journal in 1920 describing the terrible cold

The Alpine Journal

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

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

Equipment is important and over the years I have collected a vast amount of down gear, tents, boots, gloves, socks, ice axes,

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

The routeThere are many routes to the summit of Everest. Two are considered standard - one from the south via Nepal and one from the north via Tibet-China.

The route I will be on is the Northeast Ridge Standard Route. It was first climbed on May 25th 1960 almost seven years after the first ascent from the south. The first people were Chinese; Wang Fu-chou (Chi-nese), Chu Yin-hua (Chinese) and Gongbu (Tibetan).

In the past, the north has been less popular and seen fewer ascents because of

access issues but in the last five years, the number of ascents has increased. Statistics can be misleading and despite the fact that the North East Ridge is considered safer by climbers it has a higher fatality rate 9% more than the south. Fatality rate is fatali-ties/summits.

In terms of objective dangers, the most dangerous part of the North East Ridge route are avalanches from stable snow slopes of the North Col. The narrow, ter-raced ledges of the Yellow Band at 8,600m has also seen a number of climbers falling as they are tired and the altitude is starting to take effect.

So thats all from April. Next time you read this, there may be fewer pictures and the text will be sent back via satellite from base camp in Tibet. Keep checking the OutdoorUAE and OutdoorArabia media channels for further updates.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their interest and support in what we do and in particular Everest 2015. GO Sport and Millet as well as Nite Watch-es and Al Mekshah have provided the best equipment and support possible as well as numerous others.

12 OUTDOORUAE

Ramy 4x4, powered by Ramy Trading offers services covering all aspects of 4x4 accessories and vehicle modifica-tions. They are located in Dubai, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and Egypt. For more infor-mation, visit www.ramy4x4.com or call 04 269 8138.

Sulayem, the owner of this monster, has named it The Admiral. With its 37-inch tyres, it stands tall amongst others. Its AOR (American Offroad) exhaust emits a powerful roar as he turns up the revs and makes the powerful V6 engine come to life.

Ramy 4x4 has installed many great modi-fications on this Jeep, each shown below by category:

Cosmetic modifications: JK Mad Face Grill Bushwacker Flat Fenders JK 2DR Flip-style Licence Plate Mount Black Aluminium Fuel Cap Cover Teraflex 1 body spacers, front and rear Bestop Stubby Bumper Hood mount LED bracket JK Billet Aluminium Antenna

These modifications ensure a unique and aggressive look that appeal to the indi-vidual owner. Some of these modifications show the personal touch that the owner has requested.

Performance modifications: Diablo tuner to increase the power of the engine

ramy 4X4The Admiral 2011 Monster JKRamy 4x4 is well-known in the

Middle East for upgrading off-road vehicles. They have been in the market for more than 23 years. One of their favourite ongoing pro-jects is this 2011 Jeep Wrangler 3.8 V6 with all the works.

AOR Performance Heat reduction hood AOR Catback Muffler Differential re-geared to 4.56 K&N Cold Air Intake

All of these modifications have been de-signed in order for the vehicle to run at opti-mal performance. These are more prominent in the Gulf region, due to extreme driving conditions in the desert heat raising the need for high power output for extended periods of time.

Suspension modifications: Teraflex 3 Lift Kit Teraflex heavy-duty front track bar Heavy-duty drive shafts, front and rear Fox Racing shocks, front and rear with reservoir

The suspension setup is something that requires research and thought before instal-lation. This is personal both to the vehicle as well as the driver. Knowing what the owner plans to do with the car, the percentage of usage on-road versus off-road, his driving style and what level of expertise he has. All these as well as the budget are all factors that influence the decision regarding the suspension setup.

Functional modifications: Rugged Ridge high-tensile strength shackles RRC sidestep rock guards Floor Liner Mat Pair FR JK BLK Rugged Ridge A-pillar switch pod (for night driving LEDs) Off-road Shovel AOR EZ Deflator Rear Hitch kit AOR LED Cree lighting Artec monster front axle reinforcement AOR The Beast power pack /jump starter ZEON 10S 12V WARN winch with remote EVO Industries rock skin tyre carrier Soft-grab sport handles

The modifications seen here are there for the purpose of off-roading in the UAE. It is very important to be prepared when driving in the desert and special attention should be paid to having quality brands when it comes to safety and security.

Checkpoint 1 was stationed at the base of the first climb leading up the winding road to summit Janas Mountain. Runners looked up in awe as they realised this was their very first ascent. The summit of this mountain is spec-tacular, breathtaking even. The air so clear, runners are seemingly up in the clouds look-ing down over the city and out to sea. This gnarly trail continued across the mountain, up and down, over and through the slices of rock, sometimes narrowing and the edge feeling a little too close for comfort. It soon gave way to a more established gravel road and then Checkpoint 2 where fruit, Aqualyte and water waited for parched runners.

The 13km road down Janas led runners to the next entrance of the wadi bed for a quick 2km where Checkpoint 3 sat wait-ing at the start of the next climb - up Jebel Yibir. Runners slowly appeared at the base of Janas Mountain only to groan at the speed at which the second climb had seemed to come along. Pushing too hard here would almost

Rocking RAK!

The Hajar Mountains slowly took shape as runners lined up and blitzed their way in this years Ur-ban Ultra Hajar 100. Starting off to face the morning sun, the contend-ers bolted out on the flat 7.5km to the first checkpoint following the starter horn, others taking their time, presumably to warm up their legs and take in the beautiful, Ras Al Khaimah morning.

certainly have a serious impact on a run-ners ability to go the distance and a careful management of energy stores was the key to getting over the finish line.

It seemed the leading group of runners Sami Alsaidi, Chad Lasater and Lee Harris were keeping the pace high and only time would tell who would crumble first. This group was closely followed by Clare Mul-lenger for the women and Julia Ibbini a little way behind her.

The climb up Jebel Yibir is by far the toughest. A seemingly never-ending road, so steep you can stretch out your muscles by just turning arond and pointing your feet downhill. Calves worked out to the max, lungs screaming in protest. Then just when you think you have reached the top at a small village, you drop down into the ravine, and turn up into a boulder strewn gorge. No easy way through, runners must clamber up and over. Energy stores are now being depleted double time.

A small village on a plateau signalled at least the end of the climb, but a single-track ridge stood between runners and the refresh-ments waiting at Checkpoint 4. Then it was a short gravel road that led to the smooth tarmac and a good 8km of steep, switchback road leading down into the valley below and the welcome sight of Checkpoint 5 at 52km.

Checkpoint 5 was a hive of activity: hot soup and noodles on the go, chocolate, fruit, peanut butter and jam, tea, coffee; all the things a runner could need after such an

effort to get there. Runners left Checkpoint 5 to embark on another thankfully short, but super steep winding descent into the valley below and then into the wadi bed to follow the pink markers all the way to Checkpoint 6. At Checkpoint 7, the runners went through some lovely landscape, eventually reaching some very flat sections to take them through an agricultural and poultry farm area of Wadi Kub and to the final Checkpoint 8.

With only 8.5km to go to the finish, it was unclear if it was Chad or Sami - hav-ing switched several times from the lead to second place and back again throughout the day, was going to be first over the last rise into the valley of Al Ghail then through a short section of farm and sand.

Draped in the Oman flag, the young 22-year-old turned into the finish still looking light footed and fresh to take 1st place in the mens category. Coming across the line he proclaimed it was harder than he expected as he entered thinking it was 100km of sand dunes! All we can say is it seems he can turn his feet to any terrain, completing the Urban- Ultra Hajar 100 in 11hrs and 37mins. Follow-ing 12 minutes later was Chad Lasater and then behind him, Lee Harris. Clare Mullanger appeared soon after taking the womens champion trophy and an astonishing 4th place overall. Solid evidence that women are proving to be serious contenders for the top spots in endurance running, and not just in the womens category!

As dusk finally gave way to the star-strewn sky, the appearance of runners slowed sig-nificantly, crossing the line in various states of exhaustion as the night wore on. The glow of the fire lit the spaced-out faces of finish-ers coming in the early hours, thrilled with their performance, but just too exhausted to celebrate it. At 22hrs and 50mins, the last runner Hishashi from Japan was cheered in, his bloodstained Vibrams which hed chosen to run the last 48km in a testament to his will and mental strength after such a long distance and time. From the incredible 11hrs and 37mins that Sami ran to the 22hrs and 50mins of Hishashi, both are impressive for very different reasons and no less remarkable.

And to close this season, we all deserve a rest and a good massage.

The first and only 100km single stage trail run in the region with 2,600m of elevation

Urban-Ultra Hajar 100

EVENT REPORT

15OUTDOORUAE

Photos By: SuppliedWords By: Ian Ganderton

Marc Coma - Action Day 3

Sam Sunderland - Action Day 2

Ian directly after his accident. Closing off his ADDC 2015 run with a broken leg.

EVENT REPORT

There are also a lot of participants like me pitting themselves against one of the most extreme environments on the planet and against the worlds best in motorsport to see how they shape up.

Day 1 262km Yas Marina Circuit Special StageThe first day takes the competitors from Yas Marina Circuit down to the bivouac next to

2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Report

The 2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge was the 25th edition of this epic motorsport adventure race and my first attempt at par-ticipating. As the first round of the 2015 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship and the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, it is a key international motorsport event that draws the worlds best riders and drivers from all over the globe in one place.

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

I stuck to my game plan and had a steady

day making good time up until PC3 and the last quarter of the stage where I experienced some fuelling issues. This lead to me getting stuck in a hole and fighting for an energy-sapping 30 minutes to get out and then limping my bike to the finish line with a time of 4hrs 50mins.

At the front of the bikes leg was 2014 World Champion and Dakar winner, Marc Coma stamping his authority on the event with a time of 3:12:54 2 minutes in front of local hero and fellow KTM teammate Sam Sunderland. Paulo Goncalves for Honda was 3rd.

In the cars category, the Emirati team of Yahya Al Helei (driver) and Khalid Al Kindi

16 OUTDOORUAE

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi - Action Day 3 Yahya Al Helei - Action Day 2

Crazy Camel Racing team


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

Day 2 - 279km ADNOC Special StageA long early morning liaison took us out to the start of the special stage just off the Madinat Zayed road. This was an exciting mass start for the bikes. I again managed to prevent myself getting carried away in the moment and stuck to my game plan of just riding my ride. I felt great on the bike and teamed up with Tony Landh to the half way point at PC2. I was faster through the techni-cal dunes due to my local knowledge and he was faster along the open sections. We made excellent progress. Just before PC2 we came across a rider out of fuel. I stopped to help and got him going with a couple of litres of my fuel. It took 15 minutes and split myself and Tony up.

About half way to PC3 the going got tough with lots of camel grass. Id been caught by the faster cars and they were adding to the conditions by chopping it up brutally. At somewhere just over 200km into the stage I made a mistake on the chopped up sand of a big slipface on the backside of a big steep crest. I needed to reset my bike and get going again. I did this and was on the bike ready to go when I heard the car coming. A split second later and it was over the crest and hit me. I saw the view of a rally car that can only mean bad things. I was very lucky, it was only the front wheel that went over

my right leg, it could have been a whole lot worse. I knew I was injured and that my race was over. Within 15 minutes the paramed-ics were there and I was airlifted by chopper to Madinat Zayed Hospital where an x-ray showed both tibia and fibula broken. Gutted.

In the bikes Sunderland was in his ele-ment and won the stage from Austrian KTM teammate Walkner by 3 seconds. Coma was back in tenth. This left the overall standings with Sunderland in first, Coma in second and Goncalves in third.

In the cars category, Qatari 2015 Dakar winner Nasser Al Attiyah took first, in a Mini All4 Racing by 7mins 16 secs from Russias defending champion, Vladimir Vasilyev in another Mini, to grab a 4mins 13secs overall advantage.

With Dutchman Erik Van Loon climbing three places to third, UAE local hero Yahya Al Helei - the overnight leader, was seventh fast-est on the day to finish the leg in fourth place overall alongside Emirati co-driver Khalid Al Kendi in his Nissan pickup.

Day 3 - 272 km Qasr Al Sarab Special StageStarting near Moreeb, this saw the rally hav-ing a hot day with temperatures close to 40 with a lot of it inside the Liwa Crescent and its sand mountains. This took its toll on competi-tors across the field at all levels.

This day saw Nasser Al-Attiyah strengthen-ing his grip on the race with another meas-ured drive in the Rub Al Khali while World Champion Marc Coma made a big move in his search for an eighth bikes triumph in the event.

Victory in the bikes by 29secs went to defending champion Paulo Goncalves, but

second place on the day was enough to give Coma a 5min 4secs overall advantage from the Portuguese rider, with overnight leader Sam Sunderland slipping to third.

Chiles Pablo Quintanilla, Portugals Ruben Faria and American rider Ricky Brabec com-pleted the top six heading, with the UAEs Mohammed Al Balooshi still going strong in seventh.

Al-Attiyah took the stage by more than 11 minutes from Russias Vladimir Vasilyev to open up an overall lead of 15min 54secs from the defending cars champion.

With Dutchman Erik Van Loon another 14min 46secs adrift, the UAEs Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi finished the day within reach of a podium place after another impressive drive for his Desert Challenge debut alongside Portugals Jose Marques in Toyota Hilux.

Britains Harry Hunt in a Mini and Polands Marek Dabrowski in a Toyota Hilux complet-ed the top six at the end of the demanding leg which was particularly unkind to another Emirati driver, Yahya Al Helei.

The first stage winner, who was still fourth at the start of the day, was halted by a broken clutch as he took his Nissan pickup through the mighty dunes close to the legendary Mo-reeb Hill, eventually slipping to ninth place overall, more than two hours off the lead.

Day 4 - 258km Nissan Patrol Special StageIn my opinion this is the most spectacular day of the rally with most of it in the crescent passing parallel to the border amongst its huge dunes and sabkahs. But with a second horrendously hot day it took a huge toll on man and machine again.

Crazy Camel Racings Ben Smith who

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Mohammad Al Balooshi - Action Day 4

Vladimir Vasilyev - Action Day3

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in action - leg 1

Sam Sunderland - Action Day 3

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (QAT / FRA) Mini All4 Racing 14:33:01.0

2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS/RUS) Mini All4 Racing 14:52:48.0

3. Erik Van Loon / Wouter Rosegaar (NED / NED) Mini All4 Racing 15:13:03.0

4. Harry Hunt / Andreas Schulz (GBR / DEU) Mini All4 Racing 15:43:36.0

5. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gotschalk (KSA / DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 16:27:01.0

6. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 16:42:41.0

1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 450 RR 14:49:05.0

2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 RR 15:01:00.0

3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) KTM 450 RR 15:09:21.0

4. Ruben Faria (POR) KTM 450 RR 15:17:06.0

5. Ricky Brabec (USA) Honda CRF 450 Rally

6. Mohammad Al Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 RR 15:33:53.0

Final Positions

Bikes

had been having a fantastic first FIM race running consistently around 15th on his Rebel X Yamaha was airlifted out of the stage with severe dehydration as was Crazy Camels Jan Zatko. Crazy Camels Tony Landh suffered a big off and was airlifted to Mafeq hospital with some significant injuries. Kurt suffered mechanical problems and Keith stayed with him for them both to limp their way back to the bivouac from PC2. Tough day in the office for the Crazy Camels! Local Superman Kobus Potgieters rally also ended with a broken wrist after a great consistent ride up to that point.

There were no problems for stage winner Matthi-as Walkner, nor for his KTM teammate Coma, who was second fastest on the day to extend his overall lead from Sunderland to 11 mins 55secs. But it was all over for the reign of Goncalves as Desert Chal-lenge bikes champion as he waited for the sweep team while he encountered electrical problems.

Al-Attiyah won the special stage from defending champion Vladimir Vasilyev to extend his overall lead to 19min 47secs. With Dutchman Erik Van Loon another 20 minutes away in third, Britains Harry Hunt, and Saudi Arabias Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Polands Marek Dabrowski, both driving a Toyota Hilux, completed the top six.

It was a bitterly disappointing day for Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, holding fourth place overnight on his Desert Challenge debut, and fellow-Emirati driver Yahya Al Helei, winner of the first stage on Sunday. Al Qassimi retired half way through the stage with a gearbox problem, but after such a strong showing on his first appearance in the FIA

World Cup for Cross Country Rallies there could be much more to come.

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

Day 5 - 234 km Abu Dhabi Aviation Special StageScheduled to be a close reverse of Day 1 with the rally heading back to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for tea and medals a big sandstorm prevent-ed safe racing leaving all the competitors to slog it out along the Humeem road in horrible conditions.

Final positions leave an amazing situation with a clean sweep on the podium for Mini in the cars and KTM in the bikes.

Photos By: Abdel ElechoWords By: Mark Ackerman

March 13th, Friday was a very lucky day for Liberty Kawasakis Ross Runnals and Jake Shipton as they won the overalls for both MX1 and MX2 classes. This tandem win was realized in the deserts of Jebel Ali which played host to Round 6 of the DMX Championship Series. It was business as usual for both riders as they swept clear wins in both motos to keep their standings intact. Whilst the MX1 class only had six competitors it was a highly contested battle with the fighting for the top spots throughout the race.

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

In the 85cc class, Eugenio Barbaglia (SRG Portable Shade Husqvarna) and Nicholas Kefford (KTM UAE) chased hard with Kefford leading the two up to the 4th lap, Barbaglia took the lead on the 5th only to surrender his position in a well-executed block pass by Kefford in the penultimate lap. Barbaglia had been racing the last half of the race with his clutch hanging down which was a testament to the grit the two are showing every time they are on the track. MX2 was just as fast but it was a Barbaglia show this time around leading from lap 2 through to the checkers.

DMX


19OUTDOORUAE

DUBAI MOTOCROSS CLUB

DMX 2014/15 Championship MX1

Season: 2015 10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 1/9/2015 1/9/2015 1/30/2015 1/30/2015 3/13/2015 3/13/2015

Pos No. Name Total Diff Gap MX1 Total MX Total MX Total MX TotalMX1 Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total

1234

250247204187

25181522

25162220

25201822

25201618

25201518

x2522x

25221815

25222018

2515x

18

x2522x

25221618

25222018

25181522

25162220

25201518

x2522x

25221815

25222018

25201822

25201618

2515x

18

x2522x

25221618

25222018

03

4663

03

4317

73113

18

Jake ShiptonRoss RunnalsDale JullienBen Menzies

DMX 2014/15 Championship MX2

Season: 2015 10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 1/9/2015 1/9/2015 1/30/2015 1/30/2015 3/13/2015 3/13/2015

Pos No. Name Total Diff Gap MX2 Total MX Total MX Total MX TotalMX2 Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total MX Total

1234

278260221201

22201816

20252218

25221816

25221814

22201514

25222016

22201618

25221820

25201815

20252218

22201816

25221820

22201816

20252218

22201514

25222016

22201618

25221820

25221816

25221814

25201815

20252218

22201816

25221820

0185777

0183920

1555

2338

Ross RunnalsRyan BlairMohammed JafferKeegan Barnard

DMX 2014/15 Championship 85cc

Season: 2015 10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 1/9/2015 1/9/2015 1/30/2015 1/30/2015 3/13/2015 3/13/2015

Pos No. Name Total Diff Gap 85cc Total 85 Total 85 Total 85 Total85cc Total 85 Total 85 Total 85 Total 85 Total 85 Total 85 Total 85 Total

282276237185

25222015

22251520

25222016

25222018

25222018

16252213

22252013

22252013

25222016

25222013

25222015

25222015

25222015

22251520

25222018

16252213

22252013

22252013

25222016

25222018

25222016

25222013

25222015

25222015

06

4597

06

3952

Eugenio BarbagliaNicholas KeffordAbdulla AlnuaimiJasim Alkubaisi

1234

1922

17418

DMX 2014/15 Championship 65cc

Season: 2015

1234

10/10/2014 10/10/2014 10/31/2014 10/31/2014 11/28/2014 11/28/2014 1/9/2015 1/9/2015 1/30/2015 1/30/2015 3/13/2015 3/13/2015

Pos No. Name Total Diff Gap 65cc Total 65 Total 65 Total 65 Total65cc Total 65 Total 65 Total 65 Total 65 Total

1174

9922

65 Total 65 Total 65 Total

282246211195

20221618

25201522

25181420

25201622

25162220

25201618

25222018

252218x

25161820

25201815

15251822

222520x

20221618

25201522

25162220

25201618

25222018

252218x

25181420

25201622

25161820

25201815

15251822

222520x

0367187

0363516

Yurajsinh KondedeshmukhAhmed AlnuiamiJoseph MortadoJamie Horn

Throughout the day, the temperatures hovered in the mid to late 20s and that, com-bined with the strong breeze made for very mild and enjoyable conditions for the racers to compete in. Thanks to Karcher for bringing along the pressure washers for all the riders to use in the wash bay.

On the junior track things changed quickly.

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

EVENT REPORT

Words By: Nick Yates

The festival had competitive races with tight finishes, great beach vibes and events for the entire family, which even included a tandem race with two paddlers on one board. It had the thrills and spills to entertain a crowd of over 150 people and over 125 paddlers representing 19 nationalities. The daylong festival and the largest SUP event on the UAE Calendar was organised by the Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers Group and pro-vided yet another beautiful day with plenty of fun in the sun.

The race course varied from race to race but the beach run, dreaded by some, at the end of each lap was a constant and added excitement to each lap allowing spectators to cheer on the participants up close as they ran by. Paddlers navigated themselves around the course buoys and then to the beach, summoning the necessary energy to get their legs moving in a 50m sprint; no easy feat after paddling their hearts out! The 4km and 2km race lap was around a course conveni-ently laid out in the shape of a heart; yes this was on purpose of course.

The races got off to a cracking start with the 500m womens, mens, juniors and kids races. The Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers dedicate their time to share the sport with people of all ages and abilities throughout the year and the participation

The second annual Emirates Palace Stand Up Paddle Festival was held on Valentines Day this year and it was a date to remember for paddlers and spectators alike.

rate in the festival within the entry level beginner race was a testament to their com-mitment. Almost 50 paddlers entered as first-time racers and sure, there were shaky legs followed by a few falls, but that wouldnt be SUP racing without a few people taking dips in the refreshing water. Carrie Ingram, Nicolas Blanc, Joachim Sjodin, Victoria Sjodin, Levi Chard and Nika Vugrinec took home the top honours in their respective categories.

The 4km race was up next with a strong field lining up on the start line. The distance is a long sprint; it is not a true endurance race but neither is it a sprint. The times set by the top paddlers were quick. Amer Dandanchi and Daniel Van Dooren again duked it out by swapping the lead several times throughout the race. It was Amer who beat Dan in the end to continue his dominance of the long races here in the UAE. Esther Farrant blazed the female field on her Naish One Inflatable board making her time even more epic.

The 2km races allowed plenty of new

racers to test out their speed over a longer distance as well as plenty of buoy turns in a variety of board categories from inflatable to all around surf SUP. For more experienced paddlers, we saw some very fast strokes right from the start as enthusiasts powered through the race course in a very fast two lap sprint. Plenty of smiles on the water for Anne Cortez, Tracey Weerawarna, Jilly MacMillan, Renauld Olivier, Brian Stephenson, Corey Oliver and Ralph Hussami - the winners of the seven different 2km categories.

The tandem race debuted in this event because of the significance of February 14th. Paddlers paired up; one person laid down on the board while another person paddled a 200m lap. At the end, the pair had to fin-ish up with a run leg. Believe me, there was no love lost as pairs jostled for position on the water and elbowed their way along the beach run. Paddling for the most part is an individual competition so camaraderie shone through in the tandem and team relay event;

2015 Emirates Palace SUP Festival


another race where teams of three fought for supremacy with paddlers relishing the op-portunity to get ahead of their friends turned competitors.

The last race of the day was the third in the N1SCO Race Series and the festival held back the most hotly contested races for last. This race levels out all competitors as every-one must use the same race board, the Naish One 126 Inflatable Board. This inflatable is a great touring and all around board with easy storing as it deflates and rolls up into a bag. It is also a fast race SUP as the men, women, juniors and kids showed us.

The N1SCO race series ended at the water line so there was often paddlers flying to shore and flinging themselves onto the sand to try and beat their fellow competitors in knockout heats. There were upsets on the water as all competitors paddled in heats of six, 50m out to a buoy and back as quickly as possible. The buoy turn provided entertain-ment for the crowd as paddlers fell trying to

with OutdoorUAEs very own DJ Maryo Figo pleasing his fans with an awesome musical backdrop with mixes that had a little bit of everything. Adventure HQ also set up their pump track. You should have seen the stoked grommets (and big kids!) on bikes, scoot-ers and skateboards tearing it up. A huge thank you to our sponsors and supporters who helped make the second annual event another success including Emirates Palace, Hydro Marine Sport, Adventure HQ, Ocean-man UAE, Naish, Red Paddle Co, Vogue Fitness, Al Mahara, Live Love SUP, Surf House Dubai and OutdoorUAE.

To join the Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddlers Group, please visit www.abudhabisup.com for more information. They are the most ac-tive SUP community in the UAE with weekly paddle nights, weekend paddles, race training and social events.

get around and leaving positions completely different than when the horn was blown.

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

Ocean Sports FZE: +971 (0) 55 935 2735 - [email protected] - kitesurfsup.com Photo: S. Whitesell NaishKiteboardingNaish_Kiteboarding

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Dylan wrapped his hands around four trophies in 2014 and already has one notch on his 2015 scorecard. Running with his new number 4 Ferrandis was lucky to escape unscathed from a heavy tumble in the formative stages of the second race and just when he was starting to size-up an attack on leader Jeffrey Herlings. He then needed to recover his composure to regain ground from eleventh back up to fourth to make the box.

I was sick this weekend so my goal was to make the podium; Im pleased about this, he said. I was surprised to pass Jeffrey in the first moto. I made two good laps but then mentally I wasnt ready to lead the moto and I was making too many mistakes. I was really feeling good in the second moto but made a crash when I was chasing Jeffrey. Anyway it is good to be up here.

His teammates Jordi Tixier and Thomas Covington also tasted some of the bumpy Losail terrain as the Frenchman and American assumed the final two positions in the top ten. Monster Energy DRT Kawasakis Max An-stie had the scariest get-off of them all after seeming to miss a gear on the take off to the large step-up jump and was lucky to hobble away from a major incident while closing on the top three.

Over in the premier class there was little

EVENT REPORT

CLS Monster Energy Kawasakis Dylan Ferrandis showed why he is going to be one of the contenders for the 2015 FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship by blending speed and spirit under the lights of Losail to fight for a hard-earned third position. MXGP launched in the desert coinciding with the Qatar Grand Prix for the third year on the bounce and the Frenchman recovered from a second race crash to earn his spot on the po-dium despite dealing with illness.

Victory for Dylan Ferrandis as Ryan Villopoto debuts

doubt about who was the main draw in Losail. Increased crowd attendance was a sign that many were tuning in to see the Grand Prix debut of multi-AMA Champion and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Teams Ryan Villopoto. The 26-year-old did not have a dream maiden outing however and finished seventh overall in what was only the first part of his adjustment to a new series and fresh form of racing. A few key mistakes like an en-gine stall in the gate and several small spills stopped the American from running his aggressive speed nearer the front of the pack.

All I know is that every time we went on the track we got better, he said. From yesterday until now we got better all the time.

We scored okay points and for me it has been about learning the system and how it all works. I havent ridden on Saturday and raced on Sunday or done two twenty-minute practices and a twenty-minute race followed by a fifteen-minute practice and then into the motos; that is more riding on the weekend than we have ever had in the States. Im get-ting used to that.

Teammate Tyla Rattray fared better in 17th overall and was searching for a more effective

set-up all weekend. The South African will get more time to refine his suspension and Vil-lopoto is poised to gain more Grand Prix experience with the second round slated to take place in Nakhonchaisri west of Bangkok.

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


23OUTDOORUAE

EVENT REPORT

The event was attended by thousands of visitors who were either in the market for a yacht or simply admiring these prestigious aquatic machines. Other than yachts, this years Boat Show also introduced other water disciplines such as SUP, fly fishing, kayaking and diving to name a few.

On the outset, the Boat Show displayed the latest and greatest of boating with marine powerhouses showcasing their latest mod-els of yachts and other craft. Also, it was a chance for interested buyers to look into what could be their next cabin cruiser in the buyers section where free tours inside the yachts was also provided. Wintry March breeze and elegant boats always go hand in hand, and its in the Boat Show where it reaches its zenith.

In the Outdoor Display Area, proud media partner OutdoorUAE was present to provide cheers and smiles as they demonstrated some SUP skills (with some splashes in between) pleasing visitors young and old alike. Other than that, visitors were also amazed after posing for photos in OutdoorUAEs very own photo booth with visitors taking home photographic souvenirs of the day they went and witnessed as the bespoke titans of the sea exhibited their regal nature.

It was also during the Boat Show where experts in the field imparted their tips and

With the cold wind, touching the seas as cruisers of all shapes and sizes are moored on the docks, it was hard not to have a great time at the recent Dubai International Boat Show which took place last March 3rd to the 7th at the Dubai International Marine Club at Mina Seyahi.

the dock of the bayDubai International Boat Show 2015

tricks via the Marine Talks. The lectures were delivered by notable experts such as Sean James, who talk about coaststeering in the Musandam region and is currently on his way to the top of the world as of late; Ian Gander-ton and Steven Bennet who, in separate talks discussed essential kayaking know-how and the challenges that they have faced; seasoned fly fishermen Kit Belen and Chris Bamford who talked about the issues that fly fishing faces in the UAE; and renowned freediver Alex Boulting who gave a talk about his freediving adventures and the things that he constantly learns from these experiences.

A crowd of eager learners paid attention as these experts shared, laughed and inspired other enthusiasts as well as inspiring starters to continue loving their sport and discovering a new route to travel. The talks inspired and challenged the audience which in turn gave rise to multiple questions thus providing a space for intellectual discussion between the speakers and the audience.

From my seat during the Marine Talks, it was nice to hear from Kit Belen and Chris Bamford about fly fishing. I admit Ive only been intro-duced to fly fishing during that time. But after hearing them impart their knowledge, I might actually give it a go. Other than that, one thing I also noticed is the presence of kids during the Marine Talks. It was a pleasure to see the younger generation taking interest in the life of the outdoors; they even raised questions! Of which Chris and Kit gladly answered.

Other than Kit and Chris, Ian and Steven shared their kayaking adventures around the Musandam area and the challenges that they faced not only there but also across the Emir-ate. Another amazing session was hosted by Alex Boulting who even brought freediving champion Alexey Molchanov with him as he

talked about the sport within the context of the UAE. Whats also interesting to note about Alexs talk was his amazing use of audience participation as he gave breathing exercises to a very eager audience. It was an 5 nights of beautiful learning.

Apart from elegant yachts, the show wouldnt be complete without some music. Living up the event was international artist Melisa le Rue who gave stellar renditions of the latest pop music as well as giving new life to hallmark classics.

In entirety, the Boat Show was a wonder-ful display of not only yachts but also of knowledge. With more involvement from the watersports lifestyle community, the Boat Show has become more than just a melting pot for people to look into buying a yacht but it has also become a stage for learning more about water sports. With this development and the presence of the Marine Talks in this years Boat Show, we can all expect another amazing Boat Show come 2016. This years show is proof that the event has escalated into a place where enthusiasts enjoyed learning a thing or two as they walked along the steps of Mina Seyahi amidst the kings and queens of the seas the yachts.

Photos By: Abrito Rosellosa Jr. and Jung FranciscoWords By: Keith Perea

stablestalesFROM THE

Words By: Cindy Stadelmann and Cosmo

ACTIVITY REPORT

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

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

Recently, I had the chance to get a sniff of the most exciting discipline of equestrian sports that is similar to triathlon. Triathlon for horses is called Eventing.

understatement. In real eventing competi-tions, you actually gallop which is also a three-beat gait similar to canter just faster. I will dedicate one of the next articles to explain the differences between all different gaits.

It was my first time to jump over those obstacles, so I took big leaps over them to be sure not to touch them. It was fun! No matter what came my way, I just jumped it. During the clinic I was accompanied by three other horses, of which two were actually ponies and they went over those jumps with absolute ease. Our trainer, Hannah, took us to a set of jumps, explained what to do, how to ap-proach and off we went. The ponies knew what they were doing but it was exciting for everybody. Cantering in the open and tack-ling the brown-coloured hurdles was brilliant except when we came to the water jump. You want me to go into that? In canter? No, no, no. I absolutely dont care if the ponies just went right through it, splashing the water in all directions. I have no idea how deep that is!

Well, it took around 10 minutes to convince Cosmo to walk through the water. Before we got there, I (the rider) had to get off, push him, pull him, make him move sideways, offer treats, verbal praise and pats. Cosmo made the grass bank even soggier than it already was. My feet were soaked from the attempts where I walked ahead deep into the water. The water slowly ran into my boots as Cosmo gripped tightly to the edge with his long stretched neck to avoid any hoof-contact with the water. But after 10 minutes,

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

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

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

Fun with the fences

Beautiful surroundings to ride XC


25OUTDOORUAE

at Desert Palm, where Cosmo and I had the honour to follow the great riders and to test our skills. The Cup was a casual event with picnic baskets and blankets for the specta-tors and an exciting day out for the horses and riders. The event has grown in popularity and year after year has attracted an increas-ing number of competitors. Different entry levels are offered, giving novice to senior riders the opportunity to enjoy the day. You see courageous kids zipping along on their ponies as well as adults on their brave steeds. One thing you will notice here in the UAE is that the sequence of the disciplines has been swapped around. This is due to the heat encountered during the day. It means the day starts off with dressage followed by show jumping before it gets mid-day and too hot. After a few hours rest and before sun sets as there are no lights on the course, the competitors complete the cross country section, all with fierce faces during the ride and beaming smiles once through the finish-ing lines. Besides Desert Palm, the Emirates Equestrian Centre close to Bab Al Shams of-fers competitions and clinics, either location is quickly accessible by car and should be on your to-do list if you want to have a look into this exciting competition.

Next month I want to write about one special event that also runs over multiple days, tests and demands courage, and is something very unique. The UAE is the only country to run this. Want to know more? Stay tuned.

official webpage and watch an animation of the course and some sampled rides conquer-ing the jumps. Your heart will make a jump, too. In the old days, military officers had to complete a long distance ride followed by a cross country obstacle course within a time limit showing their stamina, courage and speed. This symbolised a charger tackling dif-ficult terrain over distance or a courier quickly dispatching a message.

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

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

errors are made. There is more science to the calculations and the overall results but I want to leave it at this.

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

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

Performing in front of the clubhouse Distractions such as birds and trees test the horses

Cosmo testing the water

Warming down

ACTIVITY REPORT

Words By: Maria Conciecao

26 OUTDOORUAE


The target for this challenge was to run a full marathon on each of the seven continents in seven days. To call this a challenge was a vast understatement. And one long haul flight after the other with a marathon at the other end compounded the challenge.

On the evening of the 7th of February we had a chance to learn what the other runners were guilty of to deserve this punishment. For me it was easy, this challenge was a chance to show my determination, and raise awareness. The others were a mixed bag from all over the world: running for a cause, breaking world re-cords but several just for fun the crazy ones.

The first marathon in Melbourne, Australia was very pleasant with reasonably cool weath-er. I ran at a comfortable pace and finished the distance feeling good. I was the second female to finish from our group finishing in 4h 22m. After the race, I had 3-4 hours before we had to head to the airport. This turned out to be barely enough time for a shower, some food and to read a few emails.

Race 2 was in Abu Dhabi. I fell asleep on the flight a few times but not for long. The usual discomforts of a long haul flight were present but switched into intense mode. We landed on time and were shuttled off to Zayed Sports City for the race. It was a really tough one due to hot weather; strong, sandy winds and of course the fact that I had already ran a marathon and flew 7,000 miles before-hand.

We had a few hours rest after the race before it was off to the airport for the flight

Around the world in Seven StepsIt was hard to believe that I was

finally on the way to start the 777 Challenge. It felt just like another dream and Id had many over the course of the last six months of preparation, some of them good but most of them waking me up in a cold sweat in fear of something going horrifically wrong.

to Paris. It was an overnight flight and by this time I was becoming desperate for sleep. France was chilly, which was a welcome change after Abu Dhabi. The race was in a nice setting: eight loops around a big lake in the country. The race started well until half way around the first loop when we hit the mud section and it was a super sticky mud that built up on your shoes making your feet heavier with each step. We only had a short time to shower and relax before we were yet again rushed off to the airport. I finished the France race around 3:00 p.m.; the next race would start only 10 hours later in Tunisia!

The race organisers in Tunisia looked after us well; we were rushed through immigration and bussed to the historic Carthage Amphi-theatre for the start, which was at 1:00 a.m.! This was mentally tough; it was starting to feel like torture, but physically I felt okay and was ready to go. The busy start line helped build the adrenaline, however once we were off, we soon spread out at different paces and it became a lonely race running through the desolate neighbourhoods of Tunis. Several volunteers did well to keep us hydrated and cheered us on. I finished second place in female overall just before 6:00 a.m.

Next was another long flight, this time to New York, via Rome. I was looking forward to reaching New York for one simple reason I would get to sleep in a bed for the first time since we started. It was bliss, but it was short lived. The marathon on Long Island was freez-ing cold at -7C. The cold kept you moving, but breathing was difficult and ice patches presented danger. I enjoyed this race, thanks to the first proper rest in a bed. I ran a good race finishing in 4h 52m, not bad for the 5th marathon, in as many days and continents.

Punta Arenas, Chile, Race Six was the worst. Remarkably my legs felt fine, but I was totally worn out, I actually felt as if Id been dragged from New York. The race was on a concrete

path and the impact of every step sent a shock of pain through my body. Surprisingly my finish time was respectable at 4h 53m. I just wanted to get it over with as soon as pos-sible; the next race in Antarctica was sched-uled only eight hours later.

At 2:30 a.m. on the 14th of February, we were on our way to the airport for our flight to Antarctica. We reached the continent three days later. We landed at around 9:00 p.m. Our marathon was rescheduled to start at 5:00 a.m. the next morning so after a bit of sleep in a tent (I dont recommend this in Ant-arctica) I was up and raring to go. I had kept myself active during the three-day wait so that I didnt stiffen up and I felt quite good.

The course was a tough one, a very rocky, hilly trail run with patches of slushy snow and mud. I set off quickly and maintained a good pace paying no attention to the several penguins coming ashore to see what was go-ing on. I was so happy to cross the finish line and especially as I was the first woman. Seven marathons in seven continents in 11 days wasnt the original plan however. The current Guinness record for females is 48 days.

My goal was to raise funds and aware-ness for my foundation but also to show our children that we can push boundaries and that we dont have to accept what is normal or what is expected. A couple of years ago nobody would have expected me run a single marathon let alone multiple marathon chal-lenges. Mission completed.


27OUTDOORUAE

ACTIVITY REPORT

Blogger, marathon runner and triath-lete, diver and heli rescue swimmer with Bergamo Scuba Angels. You can read my blog www.dubayblog.com, contact me on social networks or via email at [email protected] for information about this article or just to say hello.

The first ever lady pilot Veronica OlderinPhotos By: Nicola de Corato and suppliedWords By: Nicola de Corato

girl Power at the uim XCat world series

The year 2008 witnessed the first ever series of five Xtreme Cat-amaran Series Powerboat Champi-onship races in the UAE followed by four more races held in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) and the DIMC in the next two years, while another five rounds, including the Fujairah International Marine Club, was planned for 2012.

During the first race of 2015 in Fujairah, the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) welcomed the first ever woman driver to the UIM XCAT World Series. Veronica Old-erin has been involved in the sport since her teens, but this will be her first XCAT race as she joins forces with former Class 3C World Champion Mikael Bengtsson in one of four teams joining the series for the first time this season.

In their first ever appearance at the UIM XCAT World Series, Swecat Racing managed to claim a podium finish at the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run. After the race, we had the chance to meet her for a coffee and some questions.Nico de Corato: You are the first ever woman driver at the UIM XCAT World Series, how does it feel? Veronica Olderin: It feels great! This is a huge opportunity for me and the next step in my racing career. I believe its very good that the guys have a woman to compete with in this series. Hopefully, this is just the first step and we will have more girls next year.

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

NDC: Are there other members in your family with the same passion? What did they say about your choice of becoming a racer? VO: My father has been competing since I was very young and he has been very sup-portive of me. My mum too, and they are often with me when I am away competing.NDC: How do you manage to spend a lot of time traveling away from family?VO: Racing is a big part of my life at the moment so I am away a lot. I dont have any children, but I grew up following my dad to different competitions, so I think having children does not hinder your racing. But of course, I miss some people so much when I am away.NDC: Who do you bring with you during your trips? VO: I am used to taking care of myself. The team that I have in Sweden is just me and Kristina, and we handle everything.

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#55 April 2015