#46 july 2014

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WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM Issue 43, July 2014

Price: 10 DHS

Mountain highCortina dAmpezzo

The wonders of Socotra

Bhutan International Half Marathon

Adam KunInterview with BMX star

in Africa

PRODUCTS TO CHECK OUT

Plenty of

The Honey Badger

Available at: Go Sport The Dubai Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi, Adventure HQ in Times Square mall in Dubai and Dalma mall in Abu Dhabi. Qatar Doha: Go Sport in Villaggio Mall, Doha City Centre Mall

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3OUTDOORUAE

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE JULY 2014 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

The information contained is for general use only. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources, however the publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in this magazine is provided as is, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. In no event will the publisher, its related affiliates or anyone else be responsible for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this magazine.

All contents are under copyrights and may not be reproduced in any kind without written permission.

2014 Outdoor UAE FZEReg. at Creative City FujairahP.O. Box 4422, Fujairah, U.A.E.

WHEN YOURE DONE READING,

PLEASE RECYCLE!

On the cover: Socotra, YemenPhoto by: Pavel Bafeel

Managing Editor Daniel BirkhoferEditor Glaiza SeguiaAdministration Jane Mesina

Sales & Marketing (advertisement enquiries)Linda TurcerovaTel: 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]

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

Printed atGaladari Printing & Publishing LLCP.O. Box: 11243, Dubai, UAE

2014 Outdoor UAE FZEIssue 43 July 2014

BETWEEN THE LINES

Daniel Birkhofer Founder and Editor in [email protected]

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing [email protected]

Jane Mesina [email protected]

EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORS

Tori Leckie Writer, runner, blogger and adventurer

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

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

Mike Nott The 4x4 expert

John Basson Moto/ATV and all round adventure seeker

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? CONTACT US! [email protected]

++

++

Glaiza Seguia-GodinezEditor [email protected]

Ramadan Kareem This is a holy month of awareness and respect for religious and cultural sensitivities.

Active individuals here face some challenges during Ramadan, where in the tempera-tures rises to the 40s. Acute starvation and dehydration are obstacles to physical perfor-mance and should be tackled in a daily basis, but you should still follow the rules.

There are disciplines on maintaining fitness during this month. Minimise playing extreme sports and intense exercises during the day, especially under extreme heat. According to experts, the best time to do activities is either early in the morning or at sun down. It is better that the level of exercise or sports should be moderate. Fluid intake, when you are allowed, is important. Doing exercises or playing sports in general, especially during Ramadan, need not prevent proper nutrition, supplementation and exercise. Yes, it will be a challenge and requires both discipline and moderation, but that is part of the whole process. As they say, respect is a two-way street. To earn respect, we must show respect.

Jane

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Eulogy van Dyk Outdoor loving Qatar explorer

Sean JamesMountaineering and MTBing expert

Ramadan Kareem

Available at: Go Sport The Dubai Mall and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi, Adventure HQ in Times Square mall in Dubai and Dalma mall in Abu Dhabi. Qatar Doha: Go Sport in Villaggio Mall, Doha City Centre Mall

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4 OUTDOORUAE


48 CHAT WITH ADAM KUN

50 HIKING SPOT

CONTENTS

EVERY ISSUE

EVENT REVIEWS & REPORTS

OUR EXPERTS

LIFESTYLE

TIPS + TRICKS

05 BEST SHOTS06 EVENTS CALENDAR27 LIFESTYLE30 PRODUCTS48 PEOPLE59 DIRECTORY

08 BHUTAN HALF MARATHON12 WOMEN AND MOUNTAIN BIKING14 DUBAI PARAGLIDERS

26 ARCTIC CLIMB30 HONEY BADGER DIARIES50 SOCOTRA, YEMEN

27 HABITUALLY HEALTHY28 CROSSFIT

38 KOH SAMUI TORI40 QATAR EXPLORER- EULOGY

55 PICNIC SEABREAM KIT56 MOBILE APPS58 DROWNING GORDON

44 PREPARING FOR THE ADDC

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

22 CORTINA DAMPEZZO

29 FREEDIVING

5OUTDOORUAE


BEST SHOTS

Here are the best shots sent in by you for the monthly Want Fame? 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 and five free copies of the magazine: Beerta, Brendan Moloney and Mike Jobling.

Beerta MainiWater rocket man in Abu Dhabi.

Brendan MoloneyDubai Trail Runners group running out

at Showka Wadi.

Mike JoblingLets roll.

WINNER!

WINNER!

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

Well done!

WINNER!

EVENTS CALENDAR ++Stay up-to-date with the latest events

Dubai Kartdrome Ramadan ChallengeJuly 7 to July 21, Dubai Kartdrome

The traditional Ramadan Challenge at Dubai Kartdrome is back with four rounds heldon Monday evenings with some interesting new elements added. The best of UAEs kartingdrivers will be out in force to battle it on out the tracks. For more information,contact [email protected] or call 04 3678700.

Summer Camp for KidsJuly 13 to 14, 7:30am to 1:30pm, Sunset Beach

Keep the kids active and happy this summer with a combination of indoor and outdoor camp. It consists of a unique program three days per week with activities like paddling sessions, dancing and games that will keep the kids excited and challenged. Suitable for ages eight to 12. For details, email [email protected] or call 04 4526000.

Revolution NightsEvery Wednesday, 6:00pm, Dubai Autodrome

Revolution Cycles Dubai bike shop is inviting everyone to head down to the Club Circuit at Dubai Autodrome in Motor City for the free weekly community event of cycling, jogging, roller-blading or walking. The floodlit venue provides a safe and controlled environment for the whole family. For more information, visit www.dubaiautodrome.com.

Ramadan Motorsports FestivalJuly 4 to July 25th, starts from 9:00pm, Oman Automobile Association ground, Oman

Summer just got hotter with these exhilarating motorsports challenges. The Oman Automobile Association is hosting a series of events throughout July including the Ramadan SWS Karting Challenge, Drift Challenge and Rallly Super Stage. For more details, contact [email protected], +968 24 510 630 or visit www.facebook.com/OmanAutomobileAssociation.

6 OUTDOORUAE

TrainYas by ActivelifeEvery Tuesday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Yas Marina Circuit Abu Dhabi

Runners, cyclists, or even walkers who just want to take a stroll with family and friends are invited to join the weekly TrainYAS by Activelife and sweat it out on the Formula 1 track. Open to all fitness levels and speeds, the Yas Marina Circuit offers a safe and friendly training ground. To register, visit, www.yasmarinacircuit.com.



7OUTDOORUAE

NEWS + COMMUNITY

Climbing is an adventurous activity, and as such has its own representative body within each home country. In that way it is no different to sailing, kayaking or moun-tain biking. It is those governing bodies which define the level of experience and skills necessary to instruct or coach in those environments. Gaining a National Govern-ing Award in any adventurous or outdoor activity is the standard to which providers in the public and private sectors strive for. After all, those bodies represent a wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated by people employed in those industries for years. Within the UK, this is the British Mountaineering Council - through Moun-tain Training UK.

There are a number of schemes to train and skills assessment required to super-vise climbers on purpose-built climbing walls and structures. These vary from the Climbing Wall Award, the Climbing Wall Lead Award, the Single Pitch Award and then the Mountain Instructor Award and Certificate.

Prior to assessment, candidates must have completed training or successfully apply for exemption. Following this they must have six months climbing experience and have climbed at three climbing walls, one of which must be a large commercial centre. Before applying candidates must have: lead at least 40 routes, and be able to comfortably climb Fr4 (French grade 4); gained a minimum of 15 hours of group

Climbing and National Governing awards in QatarThere is climbing in Qatar,

albeit rather limited but there are delights to be enjoyed in Fu-wairit, Zekreet and the unusual Musfer sinkhole. Beyond this, there is a number of climbing walls and some of these are in schools, shopping centers or the Aspire Park.

Cutty Shark F6b, Fuwairit

Paul Smith talks to candidates

Coaching methods

Interstellar Flight F7a+ Musfer Sink Hole

management skills and hold a valid first aid certificate.

During May, Paul Smith, a holder of the Mountain Instructor Award visited AKIS, assessed three staff and one student against those standards. This is a signifi-cant development as this is the first time that the Climbing Wall Award has been assessed outside of the UK. The problem here is that there is an absence of walls. Other applications have been refused in other Gulf states, because it is necessary to

be assessed on a wall which you have not been trained at. Partnership agreements between Aspire Academy, Qatar Leader-ship Academy and Al Khor International School have enabled this to be possible.

With over 1,100 members in the Doha Climbers Facebook page, the demand and interest in all forms of climbing is healthy and alive here in Qatar. The benefits in terms of health, personal fitness, team building, leadership development and com-munication are numerous. Across Europe, North America, Australia and Southeast Asia there has been a significant increase in all styles of indoor climbing facilities, and Qatar has the potential to join this exciting lifestyle change with the right patronage.

Involvement from Mountain Training UK is certainly welcome, and there is the further chance that a Desert Walking Leader Award could be a viable option in the future.

Words By: Garreth Stockton

8 OUTDOORUAE

The light strengthens and, while the valley turns a variety of green hues in response, the pre-monsoon drizzle drops dully off the pine trees onto the pine cush-ion carpet outside my window. The pine needles smell fresh and invigorating in this early morning hour. Across the valley ethe-real wisps of cloud caress the pine-covered Himalayan foothills and draw a brief curtain across the buttressed walls of the Paro Dzong, the fort monastery and adminis-trative centre of this peaceful agricultural community. This idyllic visage is, however, not the reason for my early rise.

Gross National HappinessRunning Bhutans Himalayan Kingdom Half Marathon, May 2014

The day dawns gently over the Paro Valley as I stretch and peer out over the valley from the chalet amongst the pines. Below me the expanse of rice paddyfields and small farms watered by the Paro Chhu River slowly comes to life.

I am awake because I am in Bhutans mountain kingdom, a small landlocked country in South Asia located at the east-ern end of the Himalayas, approximately 255km east of Mount Everest; bordered to the north by Tibet and to the south, east and west by India. I am awake at this early hour because I am running the Himalayan Kingdom Half Marathon today in a country where gross national happiness a core Buddhist value is a counterpoint to gross national product; where economic growth is a means to achieve more important ends such as cultural heritage, health, education, good governance, ecological diversity and individual wellbeing.

And, with calf and upper leg muscles still somewhat stiff from a climb to the prayer flag festooned Taktshang Goemba or Tigers Nest Monastery at 10,000ft above sea level in Paros vicinity two days ago, I approach the start line to witness the unique yet simple and evocative Bud-dhist ceremony to bless the race. As the countdown commences all the advice and information I have gleaned to date flitters through my mind until, all of a sudden, I become focused, and we are off into the early morning.

Running at 8,000ft above sea level is somewhat unusual; running at this altitude for the first time is even more so. I listen to my own derived advice and start off slowly. My heart beats strongly and my breath is short as I try to find my rhythm.

Walk, run, walk, run for the first few kilo-metres and then through a narrow rocky path before I break free onto a stony coun-try road. At last, I have some rhythm now. On my right the Paro Chhu River, swollen from the overnight rains, warbles over the rounded river stones all descendants of the great rocks and crags that thrust

EVENT REPORT

Words By: Andrew Hudson

Start line ceremony

Ascent

Tigers Nest Monastery

heavenwards into the Himalayan sky. On my left is an irrigation canal and home-steads, with resident dogs cuddled up against the chill, children in the national dress on their way to school, and farming families toiling in the paddies.

The kilometres pass by and I have set-tled down. But running at this altitude is hard work. I pass a few runners and we exchange friendly greetings and words of encouragement. Then, at around the 10km mark it starts to rain and with supporters cheering us on at the water point we turn away from the urbanised centre of the Paro Valley and progress up a gentle ascent behind which the upper reaches are white from the previous evenings snowfall. The road becomes somewhat stony now and more care must be exercised over the surface. I reach the fourteen-and-a-half kilometre mark at 7,545ft, feeling strong ahead of the four kilometre climb to the highest point of the race.

I am part of a group of runners and our progress ebbs and flows as we come to the realisation that this is a serious, serious climb. Walk, run, walk, run as the route continues to ascend, leaving the tarred surface behind until even the dust surfaced road gives way to what can best be described as a basic trekking path. The narrow path ascends past irrigation fur-rows then alongside a fence until it winds through thick brush and the ever-present pines. Upwards, ever upwards and, just as I thought it would level off far above the Paro Dzong, the path edges upwards once again. My calf muscles are threatening to

seize up on me now as I coax myself ever upwards until the gradient

eventually tempers and I have crested the hill at 8,313ft.

I rapidly realise that with just over two kilometres to go there is little likelihood of a swift

descent. The track is very narrow,

without any camber and at one point it runs dangerously close to barbed wire fencing, while at other points the descent to the valley below on my right is best de-scribed as cliff-like. A missed footing, or a wrong turn and one could end up far from the designated route within seconds.

I hear the footfalls of a fellow runner behind me and listen to the question that is on every runners mind as we descend to the valley floor: When will this punishing bush path end?Focus, take one step at a time and the descent will inevitably end, I reply as we pass the route mark-ers and check points with leg muscles straining against the pull of gravity. And then, almost unexpectedly, I burst out of the bush onto a tarred road at the 20 kilometre mark and utter a primeval cry of joy, knowing that the end is near. My fellow runner passes me and down the road I go, switchbacks and wet surface and all until race officials, well-wishers and finishers clap me across the finish line.

I have conquered the altitude, the notorious hill and my tired calf muscles. But, more importantly, I have once again conquered myself, as our greatest victories are always over ourselves. What a feeling of euphoria and accomplishment! The Himalayan Kingdom Half Marathon is tough but every finisher knows full well that they have been tried and tested and that they have overcome the adversity. After all, isnt this why we run?

River crossing

38m Buddha above Thimpu

10 OUTDOORUAE

ACTIVITY REPORT

Words By: Stephen Turner Photos By: Stephen Turner, Margaret Rafferty and Charo Abano

One June weekend, we decided to run both mornings. An evening meal with friends on a Friday led to a late(ish) night, so come Saturday morning we departed to go running just as we saw revellers emptying out of the Tecom metro station and stumbling their way home after an energetic night of clubbing.

Arriving at 4:45 at an ADNOC petrol station just short of the agreed dam start-ing point, we filled up with fuel and coffee. On returning to the car the engine failed to start, a flat battery was suspected. Flat? Wed just been driving for over 60 minutes, it should be charged. Hmmm. Quick text to runners en route to the dam hoping they might stop elicited no response. A dead area.

The expat community is strong and a MTB friend coincidentally drove up with his wife. Any jump leads? No.

Go into shop. None for sale.A petrol attendant strolls up. Need ca-

bles. He returns to the shop and produces some booster cables. The shop assistant thought Id asked for charcoal not

Summer friendship in UAE

Drrinngg goes the alarm at 3:15am. Going to bed at 12:15am to arise three hours later is not to be recommended. Lee Harris at Dubai Trail Runners efficiently organises trail runs at Showka every Friday and Saturday morning for groups of very friendly 12 to 25 like-minded souls. Early starts are essential at this time of year, and the 25C (instead of 33C in Dubai) experienced on a recent June Friday morning made for a very pleasant run along the jeep tracks and wadis with 20km or 30km options.

charging cables. Oh well.Delighted that the

garage sold us some, we hoped to be trail running very soon. We linked our two cars and ran the en-gines for ten minutes. The engine still doesnt start, the battery not accepting a charge.

Twocharming and polite21-year-olds appear inlocal clothesand offer help. We use their Land Cruiser engine, run the cables and rev up for another 10 minutes. All lights off, turn the key. Nothing. Battery is definitely kaput.

The Emirati with long curly hair talks to his friend, whoin his accented English very kindly offers to drive us 10km to Al Dhaid to buy a replacement. Thoughts of running are now abandoned. We arrive as the sun rose to a sleepy Al Dhaid at approximately 5:45. Nowhere is open. We need to wait till 6:00am... maybe. We are takenfor coffee at a roadside caf. The barista is still in his pyjamas when, after much shaking of hands, he sympathetically informs us its Saturday, nowhere is open till 8:00am. So we have two hours to kill.

The two young Arabs are cousins and both named Saif, live in Al Dhaid and are Bedouins from the Shams tribe. They invite us to their house outside the town, and treat us to a tour of their neighbourhood we see the palm tree farm/cemetery/disused fruit farms abandoned owing to a drought/municipality building/wedding cen-tre, etc. Then we go to a small forest in the desert

to see camels and smoke local tobacco. Its stronger than normal and lit in a very small bowled pipe. We take photos and I begin to share some of my pics ofour UAE hikes on my mobile. They reciprocate. Talk continues in the shade of the Toyota. Long-haired Saif had been to Europe and they pump me of my time working in USA and Scandinavia. The shorter haired Saif loves country music, especially Johnny Cash.

Suddenly, after a discussion, they decide to take us dune bashingover the dunes to Fossil Rock and beyond. We get bounced and whiplashed a few times, become stuck in soft sand, and climb up and down the

sand and rock hills that we usually see from the Showka road every week. Its a riot. Brilliant fun. Far better than any touristy trip.

Eventually we need to return to go shopping, but they both insist on a short trip back home. Mum has prepared a breakfast for us which we cannot decline. After a feast of local bread, cakes and fruit, washed down with Arabic coffee, its time to buy a battery.

Of several car parts shops, only one has my bat-

tery size. Our two friends, who by now we have formed a strong relationship, begin bartering with the solo vendor and threaten to go elsewhere, beating him down to a lower price. Whereupon I realise he doesnt take credit cards. So back we go into the town centre and find a local bank that not only takes my debit card but charges no commission. Success.

Finally buying the battery, we return to my abandoned Mazda at the petrol station. Neither of them let me help, insisting they do all the work re-fitting the battery. One turn of the key and up she fires. Hand-shakes all round, photos with each other, emails exchanged and off we go on our separate ways.

In 30 months in Dubai this is our first real interaction with local Emirati from a purely social perspective thats not been via busi-ness and/or not having been previously introduced. They were both an absolute

pleasure to spend a very hos-pitablemorning. Generous with their time, enthusiasm and spirit. I cant thank them enough. Their family should be very proud of them.Smile Factor: Immeasurable.

12 OUTDOORUAE

ACTIVITY REPORT

Queens of the mountainWomen and mountain biking in the UAE

The Velo Vixens

Words + Photos By: Sean James

I dont claim to be an expert of women and biking, but over the past month I have probably done more research and reading than most. The intention at the start of this project was to highlight mountain biking in the UAE and particularly what the women are doing here. I initially believed it would only cover a couple of pages but the project increased in scope when I discovered more and more.

Cape Epic, there is a growing movement of women who are regularly riding their bikes. It seems the best way for women to progress is to work together. In the UAE biking, both road and mountain seems to be booming. Shops, tracks, coaches and facilities are opening for business every month. We now have a Tour that attracts the top cycle teams. At the moment this is only the men. How much longer before a progressive leader here decides to stage a major womens cycle tour in Dubai.

For the first time in US history, 60% of bicycle owners who are between the ages of 18-27, are women. These figures are from a survey titled The American Bicyclist Study: On the Road to 2020. These figures are surprising and encouraging. However the survey also pointed out some other worrying information. The study also showed that in the USA, 3 million young-sters and juveniles dropped out of cycling between 201112, with outdoor activity rates amongst adolescent girls the lowest recorded. Despite the introduction of Title IX over 40 years ago in the US, female participation in recreational exercise seems to be dropping.

This does not seem due to a lack of mo-tivation or enthusiasm. Women only groups with imaginative names such as SheRiders, Dirt Skirts, Dame Cycling, Team Estrogen,

The Tuesday Tarts, Women on a Roll, Velo Vixens, Lady Loopers and PinkBikers are becoming more widespread and encourag-ing new entrants to the sport. They also seem to have a sense of humour and enjoy creating their own identity.

The American study also asked what the barriers for women to taking up an outdoor activity, such as mountain biking, were. Listed among the top reasons were not having someone to participate with and the feeling that they didnt possess the necessary skills or abilities. Biking or doing outdoor sports with organised groups, such as those below, helps to overcome these issues. Try them for yourself and see how much fun they are.

One interesting statistic that I found gets a lot of discussion time on forums and particularly womens forums is the use of Strava. Strava is an application that lets you record, track and analyse not only your times and efforts but also those of your friends on specific rides or segments of a route. It should allow greater collaboration and enable riders to seek out and ultimately ride with women of similar ability. Interest-ingly though, women riders only make up 10% of Strava users. Whereas, runners on Strava are split equally with 50% male and 50% female. So does this mean women are less competitive or not interested in

It is an interesting project as both the UAE and mountain biking are traditionally male-oriented. Whilst researching ideas and information, I came across statistics and initiatives both in the UAE and around the world that made me raise my eye-brows and want to extend this article. As a result, part one is an introduction and a general background whilst part two will showcase a number of women in Dubai who are regularly out in the heat and dust competing and training on their mountain bikes all over the world. A female friend of mine regularly gives motivational talks to other women. One of the facts I picked up from her that I thought amazing, was that to increase the performance of girls in classroom exams was as easy as ensuring that a female invigilator who was perceived as an expert was present. How easy is that to raise confidence and participation in a group of people?

What is happening not just in the Middle East but worldwide is in a similar vein and nothing short of revolutionary. From the first ever female Afghani Cycle team, who now regularly compete in major champion-ships to the Rapha 100 (July 20th 2014) to the equal prize money for women at the


The Tuesday Tarts

statistics than men and they are only interested in riding for fun? Strava has the added bonus that if you are the fastest on a particular segment you get to be called Queen of the Mountain for that segment. If you are a member on Strava, follow Mari-anne Vos. She has so many QoMs that she has been called the Queen of Strava.

June seemed like a very good month for female role models, Andy Murray started to work with Amelie Maurismo, Helena Costa was appointed as head soccer coach at French Ligue 2 club, Clermont. Even Formula 1 seemed to want female drivers with Danica Patrick, the first female to win an Indy car race being cited as the first ever Formula 1 driver in 2016. Hot on her heels are Simona de Silvestro and Susie Wolff who have already taken part in practice rounds.

So women and mountain biking things are changing. All you need to do is look and get involved. Manufacturers are making specific mountain bikes for females. The womens clothes sections in bike shops are carefully thought out and extensive. In the UAE, females hold significant positions in many of the bike shops and coaching organisations. Online, I found at least 10 training camps across the world specifically for women who are thinking of competing or simply starting in mountain biking.

To finish, a few more interesting pieces of information that I found. According to a study by Fischer and Namgung, as you would expect, mens and womens perceptions of safety and of the feasibility of bicycling are different. Women are more sensitive to the absence of bike lanes and trails. For this reason the well-developed trails and infrastructure in the UAE, both on and off road should be appealing. Of 710 female mountain bikers questioned, 46% said they first learned about mountain biking from a partner and 44% said a friend invited them out to ride.

What can you do if youre an experienced mountain biker? Ask another woman to go on a ride with you. Chances are shell enjoy it and tell her friends Organise a weekly or monthly ride if there is not one that you like

Start an open, welcoming online club that focuses on women via social media (Insta-gram, Strava, Facebook) Start a club that also meets socially, face to face outside of mountain biking Talk to your local bike shop about their ideas to get more local women mountain biking

What can you do if you are interested in mountain biking but fear getting started? Ask an experienced mountain biker to take you out on the trail and say yes when they ask you to go. Refuse to say no just because you dont think you can keep up. Join a local womans ride Find a womens only mountain bike camp Find a local mountain bike race and enter the beginners category. This is a good place to meet other women mountain bikers. Find a local bike shop that will help you get started with the correct bike and gear

The following are some of the more prominent female only cycle groups that are in the UAE. The Dirt Skirts They came together in 2013 with the goal of empowering women to learn and practice mountain biking together. There are now more than 30 who meet at Showka and ride between 15-30km off-road. Angelika Whitaker runs the Face-book group and rides so get involved.Velo Vixens A group of experienced female road cyclists kept under control by Emma Woodcock who claim to be positive, eager, supportive, reliable, competitive, open-minded, focused, fit women. Their regular ride around the Dubai Cycle Course at Al Qudra is on Monday mornings at

05:30 in the summer. They also organise other rides and events such as the Rapha 100. On Wednesday mornings, there is a skills based clinic for ladies new to group riding or those just getting back on the bike. They have a no-drop policy on this ride so you wont be left behind. Contact them and get more details via www.face-book.com/groups/VVDXB/. TREK Seih Al Salam Womens Cycling Group A relatively new group that rides from the Trek store at Al Qudra on Monday evenings. The group welcomes beginners and the distances they ride reflect that and keep everyone together. The Tuesday Tarts A group of female cy-clists led by Caroline Labouchere based at Arabian Ranches who meet every Tuesday evening at Al Qudra to ride the loop. At present David Labouchere is coaching the group so expect big performances from these ladies in the future.

Other female group to get involved with in the UAE Ladies Hiking Club. Midweek hiking in the UAE mountains led by the ever keen and experienced Helen Rodd Dubai surf club Womens Football (Dubaiwfa.com) Dubai Roller Derby Addicts GoYAS by Activelife (every Wednesday for women only) Rapha 100 - Global event on 20th July - 100km rides Afghan Cycles - inspirational trailer about womens cycling in Afghanistan (vimeo.com/79696482)

Next month, meet the women who are pioneering mountain biking in the region and competing in races worldwide.

Our group of four was headed by Laszlo Toth, a flyer since 1982 who serves as both our paragliding instructor and guide to the best sites to practice the sport. The team consisted of Laszlos 20-year-old son Daniel, a flyer with exceptional ability and experience, Carl Bailey an avid outdoors enthusiast with about a years experience

the Czech Republic, Scotland, America and Russia.

Paragliding is a sport of extreme pa-tience. Each and every flight must have perfect weather conditions. Wind direc-tion and speed at the launch and land-ing points must be monitored to ensure safety for the pilots. On many days, I have awaken to beautiful weather thinking we would fly only to learn that the wind condi-tions were either too strong, weak or had shifted in the wrong direction.

Weather was also the main concern in Abha. Our first day was spent waiting for the wind to slow down. During most of the day the winds were gusting between 22 to 27km per hour and were coming as a side wind to the launch zone. The optimum headwinds we waited for was in a range of 15 to 20kph so we spent most of the day in the events massive tent and swapped paragliding stories.

Although we were not flying, we were all impressed as one participant, Tomas

Carl landing

Preparations for take-off

Laszlo Toth

Locals watching the take-off

and me, the most novice of the group. The competition was scheduled for

three days, June 20th to 22nd. After our flight to Jeddah, we travelled the remain-ing 650km by car, an opportunity to see Saudi Arabia and experience the chal-lenges of driving their highways. In all, we travelled from Dubai, elevation zero and by days end we arrived at Abhas Jabal Al Sooda (the rock mountain) that is approxi-mately 3,000m or 10,000ft high.

Our goal was not to win the competi-tion, although this would have been a great accomplishment. We were all there for the adventure and experience the completion would offer. The Aseer competition, now in its third year, attracted a diverse group of GCC nationals and expats from all over the world. A total of 31 competitors, including one woman, took part in the event. The 13 countries that were represented included host Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria, Ku-wait, Hungary, New Zealand, Switzerland,

Landing in Abha, Saudi ArabiaDubai ParaglidersEVENT REPORT

Words By: Tony TerryPhotos By: Laszlo Toth

In the sport of paragliding, a safe landing is considered a good one. With this in mind our group of four Dubai Paragliders took the opportunity to test our landing skills in the 2014 As-ser International Competition for Paragliding Accuracy held in Abha, Saudi Arabia.


15OUTDOORUAE

Lednik a Czech paragliding test pilot and instructor, who flew in the extreme condi-tions and performed aerobatics for the Saudi crowd filled the mountain top. To-mas was invited by the event organisers to add a higher level of professionalism to the ranks of weekend paragliders that made up the participants. In addition to perform-ing, he also flew willing Saudi onlookers in tandem flights. From the looks of amaze-ment on their faces, many of the locals might possibly take up the sport now.

What is it that attracts men and women to the sport? Sure, we have all looked to the sky and marveled as birds casually soar in free flight as the mountain winds keep them aloft, but what is it that takes you to the next step? My paragliding fascina-tion began with a weekend trip to Dibba, Oman. I drove to the mountains outside the Zighy Bay Resort. When I got there I expected to take in the spectacular view of the mountains and sea, instead I arrived and watched as three men prepared a brightly coloured canopy for flight. The canopy laid nearly motionless on the level dirt spot that served as the launch area there tucked in the mountains. Within sec-onds of my arrival, one of the group took the lines and in one swift, effortless

motion, he lifted the canopy that easily filled with air from the winds coming off the sea. The pilot glanced overhead at his canopy that was completely filled and steady in the winds. He then began a slow run jog with his passenger to the cliffs edge where they were immediately greet-ed by an updraft that took them into the air. I stood in awe at this incredible sight. There was only sound as they traveled away from me my statement of wow. From that moment, I knew I had to fly.

Soon after viewing this flight, I put Google to work and found Dubai Paraglid-ers on Facebook. Contact was made and within a few days I was practicing lessons in proper ground handling. If you have been to Jumeirah Open Beach you may have seen some of the students practicing.

Following ground handling and canopy launching lessons, it was time to fly. My first flight was at Wathba hill near the Abu Dhabi endurance riding stables and course. The 100m summit made of rock and surrounding desert sand offers one of the best and approved areas to fly in the UAE. This flight was an experience that took my interest in the sport from I have to try paragliding to I have to get better. This was the reason for my trip to

Abha and the Asser event. Only 17 of the 31 competitors were

able to fly on the first day of the competi-tion. By the time the winds shifted and steadied to the proper speed it was late in the afternoon. This meant that 14 of us, including our entire group, had to wait for the second day to make their first flight.

This gave us time to properly view and access the landing area at the base of Jabal Al Sooda. It was a challenging set up that consisted of a dirt patch nearly the size of a football pitch, but more narrow. There, nearly in the centre of the land-ing zone they had made a series of chalk circles as the bullseye target.

We each had two flights on the second day of the competition. In the late morn-ing we made our first flight. It was a fantastic flight with nearly perfect winds and we each successfully landed. Later that afternoon we made our second at-tempt. Although the winds at the launch zone were good, the winds at the landing zone were a completely different matter. Landing in the confined area was made even more difficult due to the strong updraft that came from the mountain valley. Imagine trying to land as you are being pushed higher by the winds at the landing zone. Following our landings, we all shared the same comment that it was the most challenging weather conditions we had ever experienced. Our goal was a target landing, but that afternoon, safety was our main concern.

That was the end, the third day the wind was too severe for any flying and the com-petition was called to an end. We did not win, but the experience was incredible. We had each challenged and took our abilities to the limit. Soaring 3,000m above the Aseer Mountains in Saudi Arabia never came to my mind when I first began the sport and now that I have, I wonder where my next experience will take me.

For more information about the Dubai Paragliders contact: +971552120155 or [email protected]

Dubai Paragliders Team

The participants

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Exploring new heights Words + Photos By: Rhys and Laura Jones

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

It was hard to imagine the polar climate of the Arctic as we packed our kit bags in our home in Dubai. The temptation to be dismissive of just how cold it might get was something we were very mindful of as we shuffled down jackets and heavy duty mittens into various piles on the floor of our spare room. Finally though, it was time to start our long journey, and it was with some relief that the day had finally come to leave and start heading north. We flew via UK where we saw friends and family, who seemed a little concerned for us! We repacked, shaving more weight off our kit and leaving behind all of our luxuries. With just one ski bag and one

After several months of planning and training, the time had come to start our adven-ture to Greenland. The plan was ambitious to climb the highest peaks in the Arctic, and make an ascent of a previously unclimbed mountain.

kitbag between us, we flew to Iceland, and then onwards to the northern tip of the country, from where wed fly in a small ski-equipped plane to Greenland.

We sat at a round table in the tiny domestic airport, killing time before our pilots and charter aircraft was ready. Our first sector was from Akureyri (Iceland) to a small gravel landing strip on the coast on Greenland, called Constable Point. We heard there was freezing fog at Constable Point, which delayed our departure by six long hours. We eventually flew to Green-land, high above the icebergs and frozen ocean. By the time we landed, our pilots didnt have enough duty hours remaining to take us on to the glacier, a further two-hour flight inland. So we spent the night in a bunkhouse, getting twitchy and ever more eager to finally touch the snow and get started!

The next morning we took off, just Laura and I in the back of our plane, and flew over hundreds of miles of pristine Arctic wilderness. It was shades of white, blue and black, with peaks jutting out of the icecap. It was visually stunning but the sense of commitment became ever greater as we realised we were getting farther and farther away from civilisation and medical help. If anything went wrong,

we knew we had no margin for error. Our guide, Simon, was waiting at Base Camp, a cluster of three tents on an otherwise blank canvas of glacier. Hed been escort-ing a small team the week before and was staying on to lead our trip. The plane then took off, leaving just the three of us, feel-ing very insignificant against such a vast backdrop.

We had lunch and a full briefing on all of our emergency kit: satellite phones, beacons, flares. We also discussed polar bear safety and procedures. We slept with a rifle in each tent and prayed we wouldnt see a bear. We hoped we were far enough inland that none would be passing. Fortunately, we didnt see so much as a trace of any wildlife for the whole trip! That afternoon, we fitted skins to our skis; thin mohair sheets which grip the snow. Wed be walking everywhere on skis, as it spreads the weight and enables easier passage over very deep snow. We also adjusted our pulks, the large plastic sleds which we dragged behind us con-taining all of our food and kit.

The next day we started a long ski tour to a high camp on Gunnbjornsfjeld, the highest mountain in the Arctic. We thought wed climb this mountain first, and as it was my birthday I felt particularly


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TO BE CONTINUED

Exploring new heights

excited about it. We loaded our pulks and walked towards the horizon, aiming to turn at the base of a ridge line, and then ski up steeper slopes to a small flat area where wed pitch our tent. We planned to travel light, taking just two nights of food, as we would summit the mountain the next day, sleep, and then return to Base Camp the following day. My pulk felt like it was full of lead. I can comfortably say that hauling it up to high camp was one of the hardest days of my life (even compared to climbing Mt Everest). It was sheer physical effort, for hours on end and mile after mile. We finally reached camp after nine hours, exhausted. We melted snow to make boiling water for our freeze-dried meals, and collapsed into our sleeping bags.

We woke up after a long and cold

night of perpetual daylight. The tent was shaking in the wind as we got dressed for the climb. We set off from camp and each had to stop to put on our spare layers of clothing. Extra jackets, thicker gloves, balaclavas. We just couldnt stay warm. It was around -30C and the wind was increasing. We decided that the only sensible decision was to retreat to our tent and wait for the wind to die down. We would certainly have gotten frostbite in those conditions, so we hunkered down in the tent for the afternoon. I was secretly glad of the extra rest, still feeling drained from the previous day. That evening the wind picked up even more, shaking the tent violently. It continued to do so for the next two days, with no respite. The three of us were sharing one small tent so there was no privacy. We also ran out of freeze-

dried meals, not planning to stay so long at the camp. Instead we ate soup and the rations wed singled out as being our least favourite tinned sardines and mushroom paste.

On the fourth morning, the wind was dying down, so we decided to make an attempt on the summit, else wed have to return all the way to Base Camp, and then ski all the way back up again to have a second attempt. It had been a long few days cooped up in the tent, and we were pleased to be outside and moving again. That said, we were tired and hadnt been eating well, so the thought of a long summit day was hard to take on with the usual amount of enthusiasm! We were just pleased that the weather was improving and we had a shot at the summit. More about that, next month.

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

DiariesEpisode 3: Close encountersThe Honey Badger

Destination: Tsavo National Park, Kenya Date: 21st May 20th June 2014

After an incredibly long wait for The Honey Badger to arrive, James and Mira then had further delays resulting from industrial strikes at Kalindi port in Mombasa and an overpriced and less than helpful shipping agent.

James had two tedious days waiting with the agents where the car had been stored after arrival at the port. Whilst all of the paperwork was in order the wait was caused by a number of individuals vying for bribes to which they considered themselves entitled. A total of 35,000 KES (400 USD) was demanded by customs, operations managers, security personnel and agents. With the existing agent fee of 1,300 USD and the interminable delays, James was not inclined to pay anything extra and therefore had to wait and haggle. Two days and 60 USD later, The Honey Badger was free.

A quick addition of a metal trunk on the roof to cater for over-packing, and a stock up on food, and The Honey Badger was ready for her first safari. Tsavo East and West National Parks, the setting for Out of Africa was a wonderful start to the journey. Tsavo East was the first stop, but only after a brief spell in jail for James having been caught in a speed trap. After an hour in a cell waiting for a court ap-pearance, Mira managed to point out that no crime had, in fact, been committed, and then negotiated James bribe-free release, dodging the 10,000 KES which had been requested. There was still time for a quick safari before they settled down for the night at Ndololo public camp-site. Other than the guard who slept in a nearby lodge, James and Mira were the only people there. Whilst this was initially an exciting prospect, the limitations of be-ing alone in the African wild soon became clear. A large family of baboons had also taken up residence at the campsite and were clearly hungry. Whilst they were fairly cautious around James, most were happy to have a go at Mira from time to time. The Honey Badger was parked about 20m away from the loo and Mira asked James to accompany her for a quick visit after

Celebrating our one year anniversary in Lion Bluff Lodge

Hippos relaxing at our campsite at Jipe Lake View of Kilimanjaro from Jipe Lake campsite

MIDDLE EASTS OUTDOOR, ADVENTURE, TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

dark to ward of any speculative baboon raids.On the way back to the car James had a quick

scan of the area with a very powerful (3,500 lumens) torch only to find a hunting lioness 10m away! The lioness was walking towards the campfire next to the car, but thankfully turned away when dazzled by the torch. Not taking any chances, the couple legged it back to the loo at a speed that Hussein Bolt would be proud of, and quickly barricaded the door with anything they could find. The following hour consisted of oc-casional nervous glances out of the window and considering the prospect of sleeping in a loo for the night. Eventually, however, a call to the Tsavo East wardens house saved the day and some rangers were sent to clear the campsite. The rest of the night consisted of fitful sleeping and the occasional Hyena visit. The tentative walk down the ladder to be greeted by a leopard in a nearby tree the following morning was enough to ensure that pepper spray, baton and machete have been to hand at all times since.

The next day was spent exploring Tsavo East which has an abundance of African elephants and other wildlife. If you plan a visit, the pipeline road is definitely worth a look. Four of the Big 5 were spotted within a few hours, including hun-dreds of elephants. The rhino is the last remained unseen.

The next stop was Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary for one night at the Lions Bluff Lodge to celebrate the couples first wedding anniversary. Absolutely breathtaking views from the room, wonderful food and staff, and a plague of harmless tick-like beetles.

A friendly crowd at Lions Bluff recommended Lake Jipe and drive through Tsavo West before heading to Nairobi. The campsite was a couple of metres from the lake and right next to two fami-lies of hippos. A group of elephants also visited for a swim during the night and came so close to

the car that the alarm was triggered several times.Although Tsavo West does not have the

abundance of wildlife found in Tsavo East, it does have incredible scenery including sunsets over Mt Kilimanjaro.

Now taking stock in Nairobi (Nairobbery, apparently) for a few days at Jungle Junction campsite before heading with a few detours towards Ethiopia.

PricingTsavo East:Entry fee: 70 USD per person for 24 hoursCar entry: 350 KESPublic campsite fee: 20 USD per person

Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary:Entry fee: 60 USD per person for 24 hoursCar entry: 300 KESLion Bluff Lodge: 8,000 KES per person per night (expensive but a truly special anniversary treat)Tsavo West:Entry fee: 70 USD per person for 24 hoursCar entry: 350 KESPublic campsite fee: 20 USD per person

A key part of Mira and James trip is fundrais-ing and volunteer work. If you are interested in helping them to achieve their target and make a difference to African communities and wildlife, please spread the word or donate using the fol-lowing links:

Tsavo East views

Ndololo campsite

To donate: www.gofundme.com/thehoneybadgerdiaries

If you would like to follow our journey through Africa:

Website: www.thehoneybadgerdiaries.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Honey-BadgerDiaries/716885161656060?ref=hl

Instagram: @thehoneybadgerdiaries

ACTIVITY REPORTTRAVEL + ADVENTURETRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The beauty of SocotraWords + Photos By: Pavel Bafeel

Socotra is the largest island of Yemen, approximately 130km long by 50km wide and a population of 55,000 with their own district language and culture. The best time to visit Socotra is between November and May. November is mostly green with light wind and average of 30C, while April is best for fishing and observing the unique trees flowers. During the summer, its high windy season and only enjoyable for kite surfers. If you will choose Socotra as your holiday destination, I strongly recommend you hire a driver and a tour guide. I think the best in the business is Socotra Eco-Tours (www.socotra-eco-tours.com), they charge approximately 700 USD for six days tour for two people. Eco-Tours provide you with hotel, transportation, guides, food, camping gear, etc.

Places to visit on Socotra:Dihamri marine protected area It boasts with one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago. You can relax on the beach in palm leaf huts or swim and snor-kel in Dihamri bay where snorkeling gears can be hired. Some marine species you will see underwater include: parrotfish, moray eel, rays, sea urchins and, if you are lucky, you will meet turtles. Divers can also use the services of Dihamri Diving Center and go for a dive here or another of superb div-ing spots in Socotra.

Socotra, heaven on earth and the land of the kids and goats, is a UNESCO protected area and home of unique fauna and flora.

Homhil A protected area with fabulous sceneries that give you a kind of prehistoric feeling. You can take a trek to Homhil that starts at the bottom of a spectacular ravine on sea level. The trek is of medium difficulty and wont take more than one and a half hours. You will have enough strength to enjoy the view back towards the sea where you started ascending.

Once at Homhil, you can choose from a selection of walking trails. You will be astonished by the prehistoric atmosphere of the landscape rich with dragon blood trees (Dracaena cinnabari) and bottle trees (Adansonia digitata). You will be addressed by local children who sell dragon blood resin and frankincense. One of the trails leads to a viewpoint with a natural pool of almost freezing blue water.

Hoq cave and ArherHoq cave is easily accessible by foot and you have to plan for about one and half hour trek to the entrance of the cave. Cave

Trek to Homhil

Dihamri marine protected area

Arher

Homhil Plateau with a bottle tree

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*Please refer to your consulate for travel advisories to Yemen.

Pavel with the Yemeni

is approximately 1-1.5km long, path is marked by reflection tape and make sure to have a good flashlight with you.

Arher is a place where a fresh creek comes out from a granite and meets salty seawater on the beach. You can relax on the green grass around, swim in the water or if you feel fit, climb a huge sand dune to get a fantastic view of this charming spot.

Diksam and Derhur CanyonDiksam Plateau and gorge is definitely the most spectacular limestone landscape fea-ture on the island. The gorge drops 700m vertically to the valley floor. The edge of the gorge has attractive stands of dragon blood trees and the extensive limestone pavement. Sections of the plateau have

Dolphins on the way to Shuaab beach

partially slipped into the gorge, leaving lost worlds accessible only to buzzards and vultures. The plateau is home to no-madic Bedouin herdsmen who move from one site to another with their herds. They welcomed me with a cup of tea.

The forest in Diksam is the last dragon blood woodland. Nowhere else in the world can one find these trees growing in such densities as here.

After Diksam Plateau, the road plunges 400m into a profound chasm slicing through the granite, giving a completely different atmosphere from the airy heights of the plateau. The lush canyon floor has been planted with palm trees, in the shade of which lay Bruces Green Pigeons (Treron waalia) and Laughing Doves (Spilopelia sen-

egalensis) and you can refresh by swimming in the wadis deep pool, escaping the heat.

Qalansyia, Detwah Bay, Shuaab areaFishermens town of Qalansyia is located on the western part of the island. It con-sists of traditional Socotri houses, narrow alleyways and a long beach full of fishing boats ready to set off for todays catch or to take you to Shuaab beach, which is the most beautiful beach on the island.

Detwah lagoon, which is a marine protected area, is renowned for its magical landscape. You will be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by turquoise waters of the bay. This surely is one of the best views on the island. When you are there you have to ask for a fisherman Abdullak the Cave Man and he will show you all the species living in the lagoon. After the lagoon tour, he will prepare deli-cious mussels or blue leg crabs in his cave above the lagoon.

Thank you,

Pavel

Catch of the day on the Shuaab beach

View from the Diksam Plateau with a dragon blood tree Derhur Canyon

Detwah Bay

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

The silhouettes of pinnacles, spires and towers, impressive and unmistakable Dolomite shapes, are carved into the bril-liant blue sky. Cortinas timeless landscape, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Area, is a paradise for hikers and climbers with a wealth of hiking trails, classic and sport climbing itineraries, and some of the most beautiful via ferrata routes in the Dolomites. Enjoy classic family walks to Croda da Lago, perhaps via Mondeval to visit the prehistoric burial site of the Mondeval Man, or visit the extraordinary Lake Sorapis with its turquoise waters. Hike through the spectacular Val Travenanzes and experience its continuous-ly changing scenery or visit the trenches in the 5 Torri area where the Alpini, the Italian mountain troops, were positioned during the First World War.

The legacy of the mountain soldiers is not limited to the vast open-air Museum of the

Photos By: Cortina Turismos ArchiveWords By: Nicola de Corato

Cortina, the Queen of the Dolomites!Summer on the DolomitiCortina has been always

considered the Queen of the Dolo-mites, where you can enjoy trekking to the vie ferrate (iron roads), road bike trips through the passes to free riding, sophisticated gourmet events to activities for the whole family, and a range of sport, musical and cultural events like the Coppa dOro (historical cars race) to the many marathon and triathlon races that take place here.

Great War. The hugely popular via ferrata routes in the Dolomites were originally pioneered by the Alpini and the Kaiserjager during the war in order to access hard to reach areas of the mountain. Today, these are maintained by the alpine guides who have also added more recent routes. In fact some of the most beautiful via ferrata routes in the Dolomites can be found right here in Cortina and now is the perfect time to try one. Following a metal cable for safety, hikers move along spectacular mountain passages at altitude equipped with a safety harness. Cortina has a rich variety at all levels of difficulty, from beginner routes suitable for children aged eight and up, like the ferrata of the cascate (the highest per-manent waterfalls in the Dolomites) and the ferrata degli Alpini, at Col dei Bos, to highly vertical technical routes for experts, such as the Sci 18 in Faloria. Some of the more

challenging routes are also among the most spectacular for sheer beauty, such as the Lipella which takes you to the peak of the Tofana di Rozes, and the Tomaselli, which rises to reach the Cima Fanis. The Olivieri to Punta Anna, which departs from Pomedes on Mount Tofana is another all-time favour-ite, offering breathtaking views of Cortina as you rise above the green meadows and into the Dolomite rock.

Thanks to 56 refuges, restaurants and 34 lift facilities, the summits are just waiting to be conquered, offering natural viewpoints for admiring the Ampezzo valley below.

It is highly recommended to seek the advice of mountain professionals prior to attempting a via ferrata for the first time. Cortinas alpine guides organise individual and group excursions. They also furnish you with the correct safety equipment and teach you the basic techniques for how to

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simply book an overnight stay at one of the many mountain refuges and ask to be woken up in time to catch the first rays of sunlight creeping between the towering peaks until they glow with warmth.

And after marveling at the magic of sunrise, theres nothing better than a hearty breakfast before embarking on an intense day of exploring Cortina and its environs, or joining one of the fantastic events taking place there, such as the Coppa dOro delle Dolomiti

This event has been held every year since its creation in 1947. It was an instant success because of the spectacular landscapes of the Dolomites. The race was launched by Ferruccio Gidoni, president of AC Belluno, and its most famous testimonial was the legendary Tazio Nuvolari, who was guest of honour at the first races. It was a very useful testing ground for the top drivers of the major car makers of that time. The course has always been the same: 303.8 km.

approach a via ferrata in safety.Sometimes, in order to find yourself,

you first need to get lost; what better way than exploring the Dolomites vertical miles with climbing, free climbing and dedicated climbing areas.

These numbers make Cortina the natural home of rock sports. There are technically demanding, incredibly scenic climbs as well as a huge number and variety of vie ferrate, which were created in Cortina during the First World War to facilitate movement of troops and artillery.

Local alpine guides organise special tours, lasting from three to seven days, with the option of staying overnight in one of the refuges and availing of a luggage transfer service.

Among the numerous areas for free climbing activities is the historic 5 Torri area with incredible 108 routes. This is where the legendary red-shirted Cortina Scoiattoli (Squirrels) climbing club was formed back in 1939. Thats why you can find a red squirrel in the logo of Cortina!

Cortina offers the chance to learn rock climbing with courses and mini courses, under the expert tuition of professional climbers, even if youve never climbed outdoor before. Just remember that the indoor climbing experience is very different from outdoor climbing, which requires an entirely different competency and skills for a

safe experience. But also an easy outdoor approach with a professional guide can let you experience the Dolomitis in safe way.

First important step is to wear proper gear and in a proper way: your instructor will assist you in that, if its your first time. Try different ways to grip different handholds. Some holds will be crimps with just your fingertips crunching down on the top of the small hold. Others are jugs that you can comfortably wrap your whole hand around; holds that you can pinch; or pockets which you can cram a few fingers into. No matter what the holds though, your forearms are burning and your upper arms are getting pumped.

The problem is that youre trying to pow-er up the wall with your arms, and youve inadvertently discovered one of the keys to successful climbing, either indoors or outsideuse your feet effectively. Legs are not only stronger than arms, but theyre also better for bearing your body weight than your arms. Moving from your feet and legs helps keep the weight off your arms. Youre able to move with economy and balance rather than with sheer strength since with vertical posture your weight stays over your feet and you maintain a natural balance.

Other common sport activity you can easily do is trekking: one of the best trek we had, is the one along the canyons and waterfalls trail in the Ampezzo Dolomite Natural Park.

Discover many alpine lakes, streams and waterfalls hidden away in the mountains surrounding Cortina. For the adventurous, canyoning offers a refreshing alternative to hiking on a hot summers day. For unforget-table water experiences walk along the waterbed of alpine streams, abseil down gorges of incomparable beauty, or climb down rushing waterfalls with ropes.

If you prefer some more relaxing activity, you can enjoy the sunrise in the moun-tains. It is an unforgettable experience and nowhere is this spectacle more impressive than in the Dolomites.

Ticking this one off the wish-list is easy:


For more information and pictures, please do not hesitate to contact me or visit www.cortina.dolomiti.org

Cortina TurismoConsorzio di promozione turisticaVia Marconi, 15/b32043 Cortina dAmpezzo (BL)

How to get thereThe village has nearly 7,000 inhabitants and it is located at 1,224m. Geographi-cally it is included in the Belluno province and it is 72km from the town of Belluno. It is located between Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions, the border between the two regions is at Cimabanche Pass (1,530m) 13km from Cortina.

By busThere are direct bus connections between Cortina and some Italian cities: Bus service between Mestre (Venice) railway station and Cortina dAmpezzo (Bus line Cortina Express) in connection with the Eurostar trains from/to Milan. Bus service between Bologna railway

Nico is a blogger, marathon runner and triathlete, diver and heli rescue swim-merwith Bergamo Scuba Angels. You can read his blog atwww.dubayblog.comor email him [email protected] for information about Dubai and desert trips, to schedule a desert run together, or just to say hello.

Starting out from Cortina, it took in Passo Falzarego, Agordino, Arabba, Passo Pordoi, Val di Fassa, Passo Rolle, San Martino di Castrozza, Fiera di Primiero, Feltre, Belluno, Longarone, Pieve di Cadore, Auronzo, Misurina and Passo Cimabanche. And back to the town known all over the world as the Queen of the Dolomites, Cortina dAmpezzo.

Nowadays the Coppa dOro delle Dolo-miti is a proper event, more than a race.

The 2014 edition will take place from Thursday, July 17th to Sunday, July 20th.

Ready to explore,

Nico

station and Cortina dAmpezzo (Bus line Cortina Express/Zani) in connection with the Eurostar trains from/to Florence-Rome-Naples and with the Adriatica line (Rimini-Ancona-Pescara-Bari).

The journey from/to Mestre takes about two hours and 15 minutes and from/to Bologna three hours and 55 minutes. It is possible to pay the ticket on board. For further information, please contact Seam Office at [email protected]

The Cortina Express is operated through very comfortable buses, also with Wi-Fi connection: panorama is enchanting and the service is available all over the year (triplicate during the high season).

There are also regular bus services to and from Venice with stop at Mestre and Treviso. The travel takes about three hours and 15 minutes. During the high season there is a daily service, whereas, in other periods of the year, the service is on Sat-urdays and Sundays only. Booking at the Seam ticket office in Cortina is required (service not available by telephone). Infor-mation at ATVO Bus company.

Activities Hiking, white water rafting and sightseeing

Length 4 Days / 3 Nights

Cost (not including flight) 2,140 AED not including flightsTwo-way airfare is approximately 1,600 AED

Departures October 3rd, 2014 (Eid Holiday Escape)

Nepals Kathmandu Valley Two days exploring the Kathmandu valley

For many, stepping off a plane into Kathmandu is a pupil-dilating experience: a riot of sights, sounds, colours and smells that can quickly lead to sensory overload. Whether youre strolling the winding streets of the old town, marveling at exquisite medieval temples of Darbar Square or haggling your way through Thamels many shops, Kathmandu is an intoxicating, amaz-ing and simply fascinating place.

The Kathmandu Valley is home to the UNESCO World Heritage villages of Patan and Bhaktapur, and is a patchwork of ter-raced fields and sacred temple towns that showcase the glory of Nepals architecture. The whole valley is a living museum of Ne-pali culture. It is hard to go a few hundred metres without stumbling upon a medi-eval village or a centuries-old temple. If Kathmandu is the head of Nepal, the valley could be its heart. Full-day Rafting TripThe rivers of Nepal are full of life and drain from the highest mountains in the world. Nothing compares to the rush of rafting these rivers! With professional guides and a support team, no experience is neces-sary; overall physical fitness and a sense of adventure is all that is needed!

Half-day HikeDraped along the heights of the Himalayas, Nepals sublime scenery, time-worn temples and peerless walking trails leave visitors spellbound. With an easy or challenging route to choose from, all ages and abilities can do this hike. Youll see temples and rice paddies along the way, and be amongst the countrys most spectacular nature.Accommodation: Three-star standard hotels in Kathmandu and a Mountain Lodge overlooking the mighty Himalayas Board:Daily breakfast and lunch while rafting / hik-ing / sightseeingTransfers and activities: Exploring Kathmandu Valley includes All transfers, including airport transfers Professional English speaking guides during all tours

Activity option of white water rafting or hiking

Two days of sightseeing in the Kathman-du Valley

One night in the mountain village of Nagarkot

White water rafting includes:Transfers, lunch, all rafting equipment and permits, guides and support team Hiking includes:Transfers, lunch, group hiking guidesand hiking permitsFitness Level:This trip is suitable for all fitness levels

Escape Travels+971 56 694 5364www.escape-travels.com

Socotra, Yemen: A Botanical Odyssey

Activities Hiking, snorkeling, camping, cliff diving, dolphin watching

Length 4 Days / 3 Nights

Cost (not including flight) Starting at 2,300 AED not including flights.Two-way flights with Felix Airways are 2,730 AED

Departures Departing on request every Wednesday and returning on Saturday.

To step foot on Socotra is to embark on a botanical odyssey through one of the most alien-looking places on earth. This island, off the Horn of Africa, is the most isolated island in the world of non-volcanic origin. Scientists call it the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, with one-third of its plant spe-cies being unique to the island. Socotra is located 380km from mainland Yemen, and there are absolutely no safety or security issues here. Travelers do not even leave the airport in Rayan en-route to the island.Day 1: Wednesday - Arrival, Dihamri (snor-keling) and Ar-Ar BeachDay 2: Thursday - The Interior: Homhil Hik-ing and Diksam PlateauDay 3: Friday - Qalansiya, Shaub Beach and Dolphins in Detwah Lagoon Day 4: Saturday - Departure from SocotraAccommodation: Two nights camping on the beach (all equipment included), and one night in a basic hotel. Board:Full boardTransfers and activities:Private 4X4 vehicles (max of four travelers per car) for the duration of the trip

Fitness Level:This trip is suitable for people of all fitness levels

Escape Travels+971 56 694 5364www.escape-travels.com

TRAVEL LISTINGS

TRAVEL LISTINGS

The Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort and Spa is a Mountain and Spa Retreat in the heart of the Arabian countryside at the foot of the Majestic Hajar Mountains, overlooking a beautiful valley full of date palms and farmland. The Resort & Spa is around 45 minutes from Dubai and only 20 minutes drive from the beauti-ful beaches of Ras Al Khaimah and five minutes from RAK airport. During your stay with us you will enjoy our leisure and dining facilities as well as our spacious and comfortable rooms.

Mountain and Spa Retreat Khatt Springs Wellness & Spa is an unrivalled heaven of peace and tranquility spread over an area of more than 2,000sqm that will help you

Golden Tulip Resort, Dibba is located on the shores of the East Coast of the Musandam Peninsula in the Sultanate of Oman, just 60 kilometres north of Fujai-rah, and only 120 kilometres, or less than two-hour drive from Dubai International Airport.

Nestled on a pristine sandy beach, in the foothills of the rugged Hajar moun-tain ranges, it immerses guests to this legendary hideaway for its blend of

Golden Tulip Dibba - Resort

Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort & Spa

natural beauty, romantic heritage and contemporary luxury. From its site it offers dazzling panoramic views as well as terrific base point for recreational activities and excursions, such as exploring the region stunning Wadis (Wadi Bih, Wadi Khab Al Shamis, Wadi Sidr/Sana, Wadi Tayyibah, Wadi Asimah, Wadi Wurrayah).

The area is also renowned for its fascinating marine life, home to many exotic species of fish. The coral reefs off

the coast offer divers and snorkelers the ultimate underwater experience. Enjoy adventurous excursions and activities such as dolphin watching, dhow cruise, scuba diving, fly fishing, cannoning, kayaking, rock climbing, and mountain safari, just to name a few.

With its idyllic climate and deep em-brace of the outdoors, Golden Tulip Re-sort Dibba is the perfect place to indulge the senses and invigorate the soul.

relax and rejuvenate your soul, mind and body. A wide range of spa services will be offered to you and will be provided separately for men and women: 38 warm

hydro pools with gentle massage jets, 14 treatment rooms, ice grotto, steam and sauna rooms, snail showers and warm stone beds. We will be pleased to welcome you as well to The Harmony Ayuverda Centre in which you will try a new way of therapy and philosophy of liv-ing life with our wide range of herbal and mineral medicines.

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The Cycle BistroGPS location:Latitude: N 25 02.792Longitude: E 055 14.384Phone: 04 425 6555

LIFESTYLE

Habitually healthyWords By: Chef Christopher Zerbe

Ingredients Quantity Unit Preparation Method

Chicken 0.200 kg (I like to use boneless free range chicken thigh meat) cut into 2 inch cubes

Thai marinade 1.000 ea Just put a bit of lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, red chili, coriander, sea salt, coconut oil in your food processor and grind into a paste, marinate meat for up to 2 hours in it. (Some coconut aminos are a nice addition too!)

Green papaya 0.100 kg Peel the hard, outer dark green skin off to reveal the light green flesh inside. Cut in half and remove the seeds. Using a peeler just shave off a big handful then cut into thin julienne

Tomato julienne 0.040 kg Cut your tomatoes into half, then half again and remove the seeds. After cut into thin strips

Sliced red onion 0.010 kg I prefer the taste of the small local red onions. Be sure to slice nice and thinly

Red chili 0.001 kg Slice the chili in half and remove the seeds to cut down some of the intense heat! Then cut into little strips

Sesame oil 0.005 L I like to use just a small little bit like a teaspoon

Vinegar 0.005 L Either use white vinegar or if you can find, I like coconut aminos (similar to soy sauce without the soy!)

Coriander leaves 0.010 kg Just chop roughly with the stems

Mixed lettuces 0.035 kg I like a little salad with all my meals

Beefsteak tomatoes 0.045 kg Just cant get enough tomatoes

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Well, its summer time here in the Middle East and you know what that means! Vacations! (Well, for some of yall!)

During this time, we tend to break our carefully crafted diets that we swear by all year round in favour of the more con-venient foods we find in our little summer sanctuaries away from home. Personally, I just returned from a short trip to Thailand where food is in abundance and can be found just about anywhere. Whether it is a little street hawker stand selling Pad Thai or crispy fried chicken or grilled squid on a

stick, there are so many tempting choices! The biggest thing to watch out for when

Thai chicken skewers scented with lemongrass and lime leaves served with raw papaya salad

traveling throughout places like Asia is the amount of Ajinomoto (aka flavour enhancer, aka MSG). Even though they start off with fairly good quality meats and poultry, you really should avoid the usage of these seasonings and stick with a little old fashioned sea salt and some pep-per. Fortunately in a place like Thailand, seafood and fish is in abundance! Steamed or grilled with hints of lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, spiced up with Thai chili and coriander, cooled down with opal basil leaves and simple cucumbers. Its a verita-ble explosion of amazing flavours each bite you take! No need to enhance anything. Just keep it natural. Dont forget all the lovely coconuts freshly cut and opened just for you each and every day too. Definitely my favourite! Anyway, heres a recipe for my own little Thai dish that I love; done up in a simple, tasty, healthy way.

28 OUTDOORUAE

What is fitness? And are you as fit as your life needs to be?

At LifeSpark, like many CrossFit facilities, we believe that fitness is essential to a great life. It is the physical em-bodiment of confidence, dedica-tion and passion.

We love the freedom that comes with being physically able to do anything that you want to do; whether it a days surfing, rock climbing, wadi bashing, desert driv-ing or travelling on adventures to remote corners of the earth. We want a level of fitness that enables us to enjoy everything we demand of life, and to be fit enough to be able to handle whatever surprises life throws back.

With this in mind, your fitness pro-gramme has to support whatever life throws at you! The fitter a person is, the more they are physically able to do things that bring excitement and fun into their lives.

Fitness is about being able to push the car out when its stuck in the desert, as well as enjoy driving the dunes. Its about the paddle boarder who can single-hand-edly re-strap the board to the car roof, in high winds, after an hour on the water. Its about people maintaining and improv-ing their functional capability, exceeding rather than meeting the demands of their sport or activity. Its about excelling, accepting any challenge and achieving your goals. We believe that everyone can achieve great fitness and that great fitness facilitates all lifes adventures.

When looking for a definition of fitness it is difficult to find a decent answer. The dictionary defines fitness as:1. the state of being fit2. Biology:

a. the degree of adaptation of an or-ganism to its environment, determined by its genetic constitution

b. the ability of an organism to produce viable offspring capable of surviving to the next generation

These definitions do nothing to advise or guide an individual to achieve any level of fitness. The key themes are there; ability to adapt, survive, but by defining fitness as a state of being, there is little scope for growth or development. There is certainly no accounting for an individu-als ability to thrive.

CrossFits definition of fitness is the one that we aspire to, and use to inspire our community. CrossFit is a strength and

Words By: Candice HowePhoto By: Ales Vyslouzil

conditioning programme that delivers genuine fitness. The beauty of CrossFits definition of fitness is that it is quantifi-able. There are four elements to the definition:

1. 10 Components of FitnessThe 10 general physical skills or com-ponents of fitness are widely outlined in sport physiology and exercise science. CrossFit aims to increase fitness in all 10 areas in order to broaden the general base of physical preparedness. While this may be seen to limit potential in one area, results have shown that for the vast majority of people, improvement across all 10 components leads to an increase in overall, and often task specific perfor-mance.

The 10 components of fitness are:Power, Speed, Strength, Stamina,

Accuracy, Endurance, Balance, Coordination, Agility and Flexibility

Fitness is therefore developed through a programme that improves all of these skills.

2. Task performanceThis focuses on breadth and depth of per-formance. Fitness requires the ability to perform well at every, and any, combina-tion of tasks essentially a constant state of preparedness. Picture an infinite num-ber of physical challenges. Fitness can be measured in how well you can perform at any and every imaginable task.

3. Energy systemsThere are three metabolic pathways that provide the energy for all human action:a. Phosphagen pathway, which is used in

high-powered activities lasting up to 10 seconds b. Glycolytic pathway, which is used in moderate-powered activities, lasting up to several minutesc. Oxidative pathway, which dominates low-powered activities, those lasting in excess of several minutes

Fitness in each of these pathways dic-tates the time and power within which you can perform physical tasks. Total fitness, requires competency and training in each of these three pathways.

4. Health continuumViewing fitness as continuum from sick-ness to wellness to fitness ensures that a measure of fitness will account for health as well as physical prowess. Nearly every measure of health will conform to this continuum; which considers fitness as a form of super-wellness, thereby placing the eradication of illness and achievement of health or wellness as essential in the development of true fitness.

Consideration of all four of the above elements enables the achievement of broadest and most general fitness pos-sible. This definition deliberately develops broad, general and inclusive fitness. The aim is to maximise potential and ensure fun, adventure and challenge. It enables the ability to say Yes! to whatever op-portunities come your way.

Life rewards this kind of fitness.

Want to give LifeSparks approach to fitness a try?

Contact [email protected] to schedule your free taster class!

29OUTDOORUAE


AIDA International AIDA was established in 1992 and is the worldwide federation for breath-holding. AIDA International is the regulatory body for all competitive freediving competi-tions. It oversees record attempts and is responsible for freediving education.

AIDA freediving coursesThe AIDA education system is the most popular training system for anyone interested in freediving. An AIDA course is a great way to learn more about safe practices in freediving. Although you will almost certainly improve your depths and times underwater as a result of complet-ing the various levels of AIDA education, what is more important is that the AIDA education system teaches students how to dive safely with the right mindset.

There are AIDA training courses suitable for all levels of the sport, from total beginners through to competitive freediving. AIDA courses are progres-sive and in order to enrol on a higher level course, you must have successfully completed the previous levels. The foun-dational levels provide you with not only

LIFESTYLE

Although freediving is something anyone can try, it is important to remember that freediving is a sport with a recognised hierarchy of training courses in place. While you dont have to sign up for a training course to enjoy a casual adven-ture near the beach, enrolling in a certified course will help you learn more about freediving and, more importantly, how to prac-tice it safely when you attempt deeper dives.

the practical skills which are taught in the pool and open water environments, but also the theory behind the exercises and safety measures presented during the courses. Minimum requirements for AIDA coursesIn order to sign up for an introductory or foundation (Level I and II) AIDA course, you must be at least 16 years of age (with a parent or guardians signature) or 18, in good physical health, and capable of swimming at least 100 metres without stopping.

You dont need any previous experi-ence of freediving in order to sign up for an introductory AIDA course. Instructors are happy to teach students who have never done any type of diving before, although many students use freediving as a step up from snorkelling and scuba diving. Complete beginners would need to start off with the Level I introductory course but more experienced snorkel-ling enthusiasts and scuba divers may be able to start off at Level II.Level IThe Level I Introductory course is perfect for anyone who would like an introduc-tion to freediving in a safe and controlled environment. The course is a mixture of practical and theory lessons and at the end of it you will have gained a good understanding of what this sport entails. The Level I course includes breath hold-ing exercises, descending and ascending using fins, plus some theory lessons in a classroom environment. Level IILevel II Foundation is designed for people who are already competent and confident in the water. The course covers everything taught at Level I, but practical sessions will take place in open water as well as in a swimming pool environment. Unlike the Level I course, students will be introduced to the four main freediving disciplines: Static Apnea Dynamic Apnea Free Immersion Constant Weight

After completing the AIDA Level II you would be able to dive to 16m and hold your breath for over two minutes!Level IIIThe Level III Intermediate course builds on knowledge gained in the Level II course. You will also learn about different safety issues and techniques, including free

falling, as well as how to use training tables and the risks associated with in-creasing and decreasing water pressure. Theory sessions are more in depth than Level I and II courses. Upon completion of a Level III you will be confident diving down to 20m and holding your breath for over three minutes!Level IVThe Level IV Advanced AIDA course is designed for those who want to do more than recreational freediving. As well as building on the knowledge gained in the first three courses, students will be introduced to variable weight diving, body and lung stretching, cross training and diet. Students have to be certified in First Aid and CPR in order to complete the Level IV Freediving course. After completing this course you will confi-dently dive to 30m and possibly go on to compete.

AIDA Instructor CoursesStudents who have successfully com-pleted Level I to IV can study for their AIDA Instructor qualification if they wish. This will allow you to teach students up to Level III. AIDA Master Instructors are qualified to teach students up to Level IV and AIDA Instructor Trainers are qualified to teach trainee instructors.

Just be careful because you may end up like Rachael from Muscat who after just one trip said:

Into the blue my exciting new ad-diction!Wow, where do I begin? Im a scuba diver and thought Id give freediv-ing a go. Feel bad saying this but the feeling I get from freediving is like no other. Totally at one with the ocean my biggest love.

Im now obsessed on promoting this awesome sport here in Muscat to spread the love I have found for this amazing experience.

There are numerous ways to get involved with this exciting sport through AIDA freediving courses, so if you are

a complete novice or you want to improve your existing skills, visit www.FreedivingUAE.com today or email [email protected] for more information.

The AIDA Freediving Education System

We have one golden rule: we try to find the pros of a product, but we will be honest and not make up reasons to buy a product if there are none. So when I went to GO Sport to collect the Point 65n Rum Runner 12.5 Stand Up Paddle board (SUP), I was sceptical. The Swedish manufacturer Point 65n is the only sup-plier in the region that provides modular kayaks and now also SUPs. The kayaks of Point 65n are very similar to the shape of the known kayaks in the market, but the SUP is a complete new shape and I have not seen anything similar to it the region. More about this later.

The SUP, comes in three sections which are held together by straps. The first thing I noticed is that the gaps between the sections are not seamless, and even allowed for some movement when the board was assembled and carried to the car. This brought up my first worry; that this will affect the performance on the

If you are an outdoor enthu-siast you would also love to try new products, and so do I. But sometimes I face some ethical issues when we get a product to test and it is hard to find reasons to recommend the product.

simply because we have perfect flat water conditions on the sea. When the board is assembled, it is heavier than a normal rigid or inflatable SUP and therefore much harder to carry. The two handle straps make this more convenient and easy to carry with two persons or you can simply drag it along the sand. The plastic body is also much more forgiving than other (molded polyethylene) materials, so that little scratches are almost unnoticeable. Also, the material w

#46 july 2014

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