#60 september 2015

Ride Em Cowboy!The Calgary Stampede

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Vol. 5, No. 9September 2015

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Arabian Dive Essentials

GOPRO HERO4 SESSION REVIEW

In Session:Splashdown:

How to build the perfect 4x4PIMP YOUR RIDE!

COOLING DOWN QATAR STYLE

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

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The information contained is for general use only.We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this magazine has been obtained from reliable sources. The publisher is not responsible for any errors. All information in 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 A2Z EVENTSP.O. Box 215062Dubai, U.A.E.Tel. 04-447 [email protected]

OutdoorUAE Team

Kit Belen Our fishing pro

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

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

Marina Bruce The Desert Diva and off-road expert

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EXPERTS & CONTRIBUTORSDistributorTawzea, Abu Dhabi Media CompanyP.O. Box 40401, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

Printed atGN Printing P.O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE

2015 Outdoor UAE FZEVol. 5, No. 9, September 2015

www.OutdoorUAE.com

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Dan Wright Freelance wilderness guide in the UAE

Jake Lyle Diving and Watersport Expert

Ian [email protected]

Katherine Caedo Patangui [email protected]

Linda Turcerova Sales and Marketing [email protected]

Eulogy van Dyk Editor [email protected]

Jung FranciscoDesigner and [email protected]

Keith PereaJunior Editor & Social [email protected]

Rachael BrufordTravel Editor

Daniel BirkhoferFounder and General [email protected]

Helle Bachofen Von Echt Elite Women Cyclist

Since concerned feedback or even complaints are very rare, we usually choose wisely. How-ever, it is inevitable that sometimes we decide to publish content that might separate and even polarize our readers, which we only find out after publishing. We want to unite and not divide our readers.

That said, myself personally

Given the recent rage in the media about hunting in Africa, we put unintentional fuel into a wildfire and received a lot of feedback.

It took us a long time to decide how to reply to all the feedback, since it became very clear that opinions on that subject are so far apart with in our readership, that we would never resolve it and ultimately would alienate some of our readers that would be the last thing we want,especially since the inclusion of the photos were a rare and most likely unique occurrence. OutdoorUAE is not about hunting (except fishing which has been a part of OutdoorUAE since the first issue). We are also against trophy hunting or hunting endan-gered species, but we dont see hunting in gen-eral as a bad thing if done correctly. With this in mind, the content of the magazine will be true to all previous issues and we will now be even more careful to not publish controversial photos.

I want to thank all of the concerned readers who contacted us in that regard. The magazine is for you and your opinions are important. We will always reply to your emails and are available to discuss concerns on the phone. Only if you share your opinion can we take action. We are certainly not able to make everyone happy but we can avoid upsetting readers, so we will take the greatest care in future to avoid making readers uncomfortable with ourcontent, even if others would like it. Thank you for your understanding and we hope that you will enjoy reading this issue of OutdoorUAE.

and the whole team of Out-doorUAE wants to apologize if readers felt disturbed by three photos with hunting trophies that we published last month. We never meant to concern readers with these images.

It is always hard to judge and antici-pate what our diverse group of readers would enjoy reading and what they would not. Preferences and opinions vary a lot. We usually try to focus on subjects that appeal to a wide target group and gener-ally with OutdoorUAE we are lucky that the shared love for the outdoors is the connection between the ocean of readers and followers we have.


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CONTENTS

36 NATURAL HISTORY38 ETHICS OF HUNTING39 HABITUALLY HEALTHY

EVERY ISSUE

LIFESTYLE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

14 THE REBREATHER CALLED IT

12 SOUTH DOWNS 100

06 EVENTS CALENDAR08 BEST SHOTS10 OFF-ROADERS CORNER: ALMOST4X442 PRODUCTS70 DIRECTORY

EVENT & ACTIVITY REPORTS12 SOUTH DOWNS 10014 THE REBREATHER CALLED IT16 CUSTOM SURFBOARDS

18 ROCTRIP - GEYIKBAYIRI24 THE CALGARY STAMPEDE26 THE HONEY BADGER DIARIES28 ELBRUS: LESSONS FROM MARY POPPINS AND MOTHER NATURE

32 TEST YOUR MIGHT: TROUT ON FLY

24 THE CALGARY STAMPEDE


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OUR EXPERTS

TRIED + TESTED PEOPLE

LOCATIONS

TIPS + TRICKS70 TRIATHLON FITNESS

62 MOHAMED HESHAM KAMEL50 DESERT READY DIVA!

50 DESERT READY DIVA! MARINA52 DIVING ARABIA: THE ESSENTIALS JAKE54 MAKE A SPLASH IN QATAR - EULOGY56 CASTING FAR FROM SHORE KIT58 WOMEN ON WHEELS HELLE60 DESERT RUNNING GEAR - NICO

62 MOHAMED HESHAM KAMEL63 LINA ZOGHAIB

64 THE OMANI STRETCH66 NEW ROUTES FEATURE

40 GOPRO HERO4 SESSION44 2XU GHST T-SHIRT AND SINGLET47 POINT65 RUM RUNNER

47 POINT65 RUM RUNNER


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HH SHEIKH MANSOOR BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN GLOBAL ARABIAN HORSE FLAT FESTIVAL 2015A commemorative race series spanning six continents, the UAE leg sees riders vie for the Wathba Stud Farm Cup. Open only to Arabic horses of UAE breed.

When: September 9-12Where: ADNEC, Abu DhabiContact: www.sheikhmansoorfestival.com

EVENTS CALENDAR STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST EVENTS SEPTEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL HUNTING AND EQUESTRIAN EXHIBITIONThe largest and most prestigious exhibition of outdoor activities, equestrian, and hunting that has been part of the UAEs deep traditions.

When: September 9-12 Where: ADNEC, Abu Dhabi Contact: www.adihex.net

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SPINNEYS BUILD UP RIDE 1 OF 4Get back on your bicycles and prepare for the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge in this series of rides.

When: September 4Where: Nad Al Sheba Cycle ParkContact: www.cyclechallenge.ae

THE JEBEL JAIS 1 HOUR RECORD CHALLENGEDiscover how far you can go on the tallest mountain of the UAE.

When: September 12, 5:30 a.m.Where: Ras al KhaimahContact: www.premieronline.com

GO STRONG WARM UP WEEKEND AWAYTwo fun events a duathlon on one day and an aquathlon on the next and a relaxing rest afterwards.

When: September 17, 4:00 p.m.Where: Jebel Jais and The Cove RotanaContact: www.supertriuae.com

DUBAI GLADIATORS CHALLENGEAn enjoyable indoor adventure challenge for the whole family and office.

When: September 17-19Where: Dubai Sports CityContact: www.dubai-gladiators.com, 055-864-7125 www.premieronline.com

FEATURED EVENT

SHEIKHA HIND WOMENS SPORTS TOURNAMENTThe only event dedicated to Emirati women encouraging sports and general well-being.

When: September 9-23Where: Dubai World Trade CentreContact: www.dubaicalendar.ae

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LABOUR RUN 2015 RUN SO THEY CAN RUNRunners and labourers run together in this one-of-a-kind event.

When: September 18, 7:00 a.m.Where: Sonapur, Muhaisnah 2, DubaiContact: www.premieronline.com

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60FT DHOW RACE ROUND 1The first leg of a series of races seeing traditional dhows racing against each other.

When: September 12Where: Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht ClubContact: www.adsyc.ae

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DUBAI DESERT ROAD RUN 10K AND 3KAn intense 10K road race and a 3K fun run, all held on safe, traffic-free, private roads.

When: September 26, 6:30 a.m.Where: The Sevens Village Area, Al Ain RoadContact: www.premieronline.com

ALOFT RUNS FOR CHILDREN ADNEC 2015A 2km charity run held inside the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

When: September 18, 7:00 a.m. Where: ADNEC Contact: www.aloftabudhabi.com

CSD 109KM RIDEBe part of the first group to ride around the new loop in Al Qudra.

When: September 19Where: Dubai Cycling Course, Al QudraContact: www.cyclesafedubai.com

ICE WARRIOR CHARITY CHALLENGE VIThe toughest commando assault course with over 15 courses to tackle; all in snow!

When: Registration until September 27, Event on October 2Where: Ski Dubai, Mall of EmiratesContact: www.premieronline.com

HILTON DUBAI TOWER RACE 2015Support the Emirates Red Crescent in this vertical run spanning 730 stairs over 36 floors.

When: Registration until September 27, Event on October 3Where: Hilton DubaiContact: www.premieronline.com

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Organised by: Sponsors and Exhibitors:

Media Partners: Partners for the event registration:

Supported by:

Medical Partner:

BEST SHOTS

Here are the best shots sent in by you for our monthly photography competition! Thank you for all your entries, they were all great and it was hard selecting the best photos this month. Congratulations to the top three winners, who will each receive Buff headwear, five free copies of the magazine and the Advance Off-road Guidebook: Jack Lee Sarming, Rastaboy Centeno and Jitesh Sundar. Well done!

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

Rastaboy CentenoThose are not Ants

Jithesh SundarRAK mountains

Jack Lee SarmingRas Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary Sunset

Organised by: Sponsors and Exhibitors:

Media Partners: Partners for the event registration:

Supported by:

Medical Partner:

Photos By: Mohanned SahiWords By: Keith Perea

Tracing its origins back to 2006 as a group made by a couple of friends, ALMOST4x4 became officially known by its current name in 2008. Combining 22 years of off-roading expertise with mechanical, communica-tion and navigation skills, the group is also recognised as a professional off-road club by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF), which is the governing body for grassroots motorsport in the UAE.

One of the unique things that I noticed with the group is that from the logo to the

ALMOST4X4The League of Extraordinary Off-Roaders

With over 2,000 members and counting, the Adventurous League of Mountains, Oceans and Sand Thrills - most popularly known as ALMOST4x4 - comprises one of the largest 4x4 groups in the United Arab Emirates. A multi-cultural group with members of varying backgrounds and expertise, it could be said that this is the it group to be part of.

group name, everything bears some mean-ing. According to their forums (www.almost4x4.com) the acronym stands for the wide range of activities that the group takes part in. Other than that it also encourages people into the group by pre-senting a non-elitist approach of having to have a 4x4 to be able to join in their own words, to encourage non off-roaders to join in on the group as well.

The logo also has an interesting provenance as it exhibits the groups wide range of activities. The logo has three ele-ments: the inverted triangle which is used to grab attention; the scorpion a common animal associated with the desert; and lastly the colour orange symbolizing the sun and sand. Putting all of these together, ALMOST4x4 has created a logo that encourages all people, off-roader or otherwise, to join their group regardless of race, creed or colour.

The group has members as well as marshals that represent the diverse commu-nity of the UAE, meaning that the members get to see various perspectives and view-points from the other cultures that they mingle with. Apart from cultural diversity, the group also prides itself on being non-specific about their vehicles any car with 4x4 capabilities is eligible to be part of their driving group.

One of the biggest benefits of being part of the group, apart from the espoused com-radeship, is the fact that there is a fantastic opportunity for each and every member to grow thanks to the guidance of their

experienced marshals, who give friendly tips on safe driving techniques, technical know-how and even break the ice for newcomers to make them feel at home. All of their trips are graded so that there is something for everyone experienced or otherwise.

As a large and diverse family, ALMOST4x4 is perhaps the metaphorical equivalent of the UAE in off-roading. Its people hail from different countries, all coming together around a similar interest and goal.

OFF-ROADERSTHEcorner

DUBAIShowroom No. 8, Al Ghandi ComplexNad al Hamar Road, Ras al KhorTel: +971 4 2896100 Fax: +971 4 2894914Email: [email protected]

AL AINAl Masaood Showroom, SanayaTel: +971 3 7219999

MUSSAFAHM4, Sector 13, 10th StreetTel: +971 2 5555144

BADA ZAYEDAl Masaood Showroom, SanayaTel: +971 2 8844200

LEBANONHelmets On sarlIndependence Street, Sodeco, BeirutTel: + 961 1 644442 Fax: + 961 1 633332

Contact personMr. Khalil Abu ChwarebEmail: [email protected]

DISTRIBUTORS OMANFairTrade Auto Services LLCP.O. Box 2636, Ruwi, MuscatTel: +968 96778552 Fax: +96824701787

Contact personMr. R. K. SunderEmail: [email protected]

QATARProtech Powered Sports CoStreet: Salwa Road PO Box: 91, Doha, QatarTel: +974 44398030 Fax: +974 44398030SalesEmail: [email protected]

SL Features:n Slingshot Red Pearl Paintn Blade Wind Deflectorn Premium 18 Cast Aluminum Front Wheels, 20 Cast Aluminum Rear Wheeln Media Console: 4.3 LCD Screen, Backup Camera, 6 Speaker Audio System, Bluetooth Integration

Standard Features:n 2.4 Liter DOHC Enginen 5-Speed Manual Transmissionn High-Strength Steel Spaceframen 3-Point Seatbeltsn LED Tailights and Projector - Beam Headlightsn Double-Wishbone Front Suspension with Sway Barn Electronic Power-Assisted Steeringn Electronic Stability Controln ABS Disk Brakesn Tilt Steeringn Adjustable, Waterproof Seatsn Lockable Storage Bins and Glove Box

FULLY LOADED FOR ALL-OUT PERFORMANCE

ACTIVITY REPORT

Photos By: Ross Rosbotham and Stuart March PhotographyWords By: Kevin Rosbotham

This year, two Abu Dhabi Striders mem-bers, me and Khalid Hamid, travelled to the UK from the United Arab Emirates to participate in the run held on 13th June. Having trained in the UAE all throughout the winter in preparation for the event. The UAE-based runners were supported in the race (crewed) by my wife, Ross.

We had a race strategy designed to get us through with minimum stress; 10 minutes hike, 20 minutes run, overlaid with walk

Distance: 100 Miles (160 km)Elevation Gain: 3300mCut-off: 30 hours

The South Downs Way 100 (SDW 100) is an annual United Kingdom single-stage trail run, ran by Centurion Running which runs the length of the UK National Footpath, The South Downs Way, from Winchester, the capital city of Saxon England heading east along the chalk ridgeway to Eastbourne.

uphill, run downhill, and we applied it from the start. We were last to emerge from the starting paddock having started off hiking, but we made good progress. Everything was familiar, and we werent concerned with navigation, as we had competed in the same event the previous year. We arrived intend-ing to run the whole distance together.

Before we knew it we were at Beacon

Hill Beeches (9.85 miles) in an hour and 55 minutes. Far too fast, as Khalid pointed out, and although I agreed, it seemed re-ally easy, well to me anyway! I didnt hear Khalids subtext, this is far too fast for me to maintain for much longer. We arrived at Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP, 22.6 miles) in four hours and 40 minutes, and I was still feeling very strong, but I did note that Khalid was falling behind in the hiking stages, but not terribly so.

Leaving QECP, the route had changed from last year, for the better in my opinion; it now climbed up through a very long footpath in the woods, adding a little ex-tra elevation to the whole route. I loved this bit and power-hiked up for all it was

worth, having just stocked up at the aid sta-tion. I slowed to the top for Khalid to catch up, and he did a little uphill jog to speed the catch up. When he arrived next to me, he was blowing a bit, and admitted he was struggling with the pace. But he made no mention of any real issues at this point, so I slowed a bit and we carried on. About three miles later, when Khalid did a sideways hop to avoid a puddle, his calf cramped. I could see his calf muscle inverting, so I knew it was quite serious, and I started to deep massage the calf to try and ease it. In our conversation though, Khalid admitted that he was cramping, or on the verge of cramp-ing over his entire body, not a good state to be in with 75 miles to go.

After a while of hobbling along together, Khalid told me that I should go and push on, as he could see that I still felt strong. I felt really torn, I didnt want to leave Khalid,

Kevin - the Sun is out - this is what it is all about!

Signpost


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Starters: 266Finishers: 204

but Khalid told me that he was going to drop out at Cocking (35.1 miles) where Ross would be waiting, so I should leave immediately and not waste time. So I ran off, very guilty at leaving Khalid.

I passed through Cocking in 7 hours 32 minutes (1:32PM), which was half an hour before we told Ross we would be there, so I topped my water and food up at the aid station and passed quickly through.

Unknown to me, Khalid also arrived at Cocking be-fore the 2:00 p.m. we had told Ross, so he refuelled and soldiered on considering the option to drop at Washington where we would next see Ross again.

At this point I should say that the aid stations were again, this year abso-lutely fantastic well-stocked with happy, helpful people; soup; hot food; sweet tea; coke; electrolyte and all sorts of picnic paraphernalia. And, this year, having learnt from my previous 100 mile experiences, there was no messing at aid stations; in, eat while your bottles are be-ing filled, out; simple. I dont think I can do aid stations more efficiently!

My running was now going from strength to strength, I was hiking much less, about 10 minutes per hour, and I was also running some of the long slow inclines. I think I could de-scribe myself as having found a rhythm that I didnt really have to think very much about. I was letting the terrain decide how I should progress. I arrived at Washington (54 miles) at 11 hours, 25 min-utes. A t-shirt change, hug from Ross and a cup of tea, and I raced out of the village. I can remember all of the people in the Washington Hall sat in the chairs by the wall looking washed out and I felt really strong. I was really happy, and I think I passed lots of people in this one stop!

Khalid later told me that he teamed up with a struggling runner shortly after Wash-ington and another after about 65 miles, and that together they supported each other towards the finish

After Washington, it all becomes a bit of a blur; I was concentrating on keeping my rhythm, and trying to listen to my body for any early signs of breakdown. The balls of my feet started to hurt, it felt like blis-ters, but it wasnt too bad so didnt need attending to. My left foot was starting to hurt under my shoelaces too; a bit stupid

really, as I think that it was just that the lace was too tight. And then there was another pain, on the front of my left shin, and I wasnt at all sure what it was.

In retrospect though, this was just a dumb-assed decision! I wore some

slightly thicker socks for a snug-ger fit in my shoes on the trail, but the elastic on the cuff was probably a little tighter than usual. I think that the elastic irritated the tendon/muscle on the front of my shin over

the distance I was running and was causing the soreness. Anyway,

none of this was bad, and it only really hurt when transitioning from hike to run for a couple of minutes. So, I assessed that continuous slow running, where possible, was the best way forward.

I can remember running down into Clayton Windmills (69.8 miles)

at 15 hours and four minutes (9:04 p.m.), and starting to feel a little cold.

The wind had picked up and the sun was going down. So, as I left the Windmills, I unpacked my waterproof jacket and gloves and covered up for the nights running. It was looking like sub-24 hours was definitely on, and sub-23 was also possible. I was on my own almost all of the way now, and those people I passed were walking, so there were

only mumbled greetings and short polite conversa-

tions about progress and state of health. In some ways, this may have helped me at this juncture, as I was concentrating solely on making good progress and not making con-versation. This is a state which is far away from how I run when I am training, and is not one that I have found myself in before in an ultra-run. A new experience; bring it on!

I reached Southease at 20 hours and five minutes (2:05 a.m.), which is a little railway station at which the bridge crossing is com-pulsory (disqualification if using the cross-ing). This year they had two marshals at the bridge to ensure that everyone took the prescribed medicine. The bridge steps up must have totalled only one story, but they were very difficult! I ran at them to bound up them two at a time like a stairs training session. Oops! I nearly didnt make the first clearance! A quick reassessment and I thought best of bounding up the steps, instead opting to drag myself up two at a time using the bannister...

I left Southease quickly, feeling good for

the finish; only 16.1 miles to go.I had a minor navigation error in Alfriston

at 91.6 miles, where I missed the alley off the main which leads down to the aid sta-tion. I soon recognised the error of my ways as I ran out of Alfriston on the road, as noth-ing seemed familiar! I turned and found the alley on the way back in. I must have been in a good mental state as this small diver-sion didnt bother me one bit!

I think that I have to admit that I was starting to get fatigued now, I found the hill between Alfriston and Jevington quite hard work, and was very glad to arrive at Jeving-ton (95.7 miles). Another small navigation error at Jevington meant that I had to run back up a small hill to the aid station and check-in. Thankfully they were happy for me to shout my race number and I didnt have to climb the stairs to the aid station.

Only 4.3 miles to the finish, just a hike up the hill to the trig point and then a long mile downhill gulley onto the streets of Eastbourne, and two miles of road to the athletics track to finish. I finished well, pick-ing up and encouraging three others as we approached the track. They were buoyed with my knowledge of the route, as I could tell them that they were on for less than 23 hours and four of us entered the stadium together.

22 hours and 44 minutes was so much faster than what I expected to run. Thank you to Ross for being such great crew. Thank you to Khalid for travelling to the UK to run the race with me, and then encouraging me to push-on, when he thought he was finished; thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers for making such a special event.

I went to bed for three hours and then was very happy to return to watch Khalid finish in his usual relaxed manner in 28 hours and eight minutes; not bad for someone who was going to drop at 35 miles!

It was a great weekend, it is a great event.

Route Map with Aid Points

Khalid - finishing and looking good

ACTIVITY REPORT

Words + Photos By: Angus Carlisle

We have been together now for nearly four happy years. In spite of that, and unlike some other divers, mine does not have a pet name it will have to do.

Every time I go underwater, it comes with me. We spend so much time together, with many dives lasting four hours, squeez-ing through and around the shipwrecks in the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea, followed by long hours on the decompression line in clear blue water.

Together we have visited wrecks, reefs, islands and vast underwater sandy plains (for training exercises). We have been to 115 metres below the surface, we have dived in cold winter water (17 degrees C - so cold by our standards!) and hot summer water (a sweaty 36 degrees C). We have dived in dark and murky waters and also in

Dubai based technical diver Angus Carlisle talks about his rebreather his essential item of choice for deep underwater diving in the UAE.

bright blue Middle Eastern waters. Most of this we have put on video. This is another extraordinary development in recent years, as my first underwater video camera was the size of a fridge in comparison to todays equipment.

Underwater, my rebreather has never failed me. We have had extensive training and skill practices together, always carrying backup systems, just in case. On the surface we spend many hours in my diving locker at home, cleaning, servicing and generally just getting ready for our next trip.

Remarkably, every time we dive, it saves me money; by rebreathing the exhaled air, the expensive helium we use for dives below 40 metres is recycled around a loop and back into our lungs. It saves a fortune in gas costs. My open circuit diving

friends will spend in excess of 1500 AED on gas for a single 100m+ dive, whereas I will spend 35 AED, or possibly 40 the cost of an ice cream! My rebreather is of the ECCR (Electronic Closed Circuit Rebreather) type, and as I breathe the gas is monitored and a computer decides how much oxygen to squirt into the loop to keep my body func-tioning well.

All in all, it is a most amazing piece of equipment and in my view it is changing the way we all spend our time underwater. Whilst all the hoses make it look extremely complicated, you dont do much more than put it on, do your checks and go diving. If something goes wrong underwater, well thats a different story and explains the many hours of training required before you use one of these machines yourselves.

Rebreathers have, in the past, had a fearsome reputation for killing their own-ers - and for those not in the know, that reputation is sadly rolled forward still by some commentators who dont know what they are talking about. In fact, the real story is that the manufacturers have been working very hard and now produce extremely reli-able machines for us to use. And yes, elec-tronics and water can mix without problems.

Which machine would you get then, if you wanted to? There are quite a few choices out there, and therein lies a difficulty. As well as the usual marketing hype, ask any owner who has just spent close to 10,000 USD on a rebreather to make a recommen-dation, and they are hardly going to tell you that they should have bought something else! Instead, take your time, do your training and see what everyone else is doing. Ask yourself who is succeeding and who is having problems and then the answer will appear.

16 OUTDOORUAE

ACTIVITY REPORT

Words By: Carl de Villiers

As a long time surfer and Surf Shop owner, I have been through a lot of boards since I started surfing as a kid, from hand me downs to my own purchases when I could finally afford them.

C ustom Made Surfboards

Like most people, I used to go into a surf shop and get a recommended board off the shelf. This was great but a lot of the time, it was a lucky draw and the advice could also be geared towards a sale for the sales person rather than what was best for me. This resulted in some hits and misses, some great boards and some terrible ones.

This was also in the days of hand shaping where surfboard shapers hand shaped boards out of a big block of foam and their skill levels were akin to great artists. The problem with this hand shaping was if you broke your board or it was old and ragged, it was very difficult to reproduce the same board and every reproduction felt different.

Now days, the shapers work is on the computer. Shapers use 3D design software to design perfect shapes and tweak boards to the smallest levels to improve performance and shapes. Where surfboards were previ-ously measured by their size, most are now measured by volume. A machine grinds down the foam to exact specifications of the 3D design and the shapers job is easy as he scrubs off the board, cleans it up and adds finishing details. This means that 90% of the board is done by a machine and the other 10% is where the shaper adds his magic, but

in essence a lot of the magic has been done on the computer before this has even started.

The advantages of this are immense for production and design as the volume can be calculated and adjusted to fit the shape of a board. For example, a surfboard that was previously an 80 minimal can be shrunk down to a 66 with wider and thicker dimen-sions. This has been great in terms of begin-ners surfboard design where the traditional longboard or minimal for learners is being offered in a smaller and more maneuverable design. This has also been fantastic for small wave boards and there are some epic designs on the market that allow surfers to ride the smallest, weakest waves on a short board when traditionally you would have to use your longboard. For reference, check out the Lost Surfboards range which offer some great, small wave rippers as well as shapes that can be adjusted to suit the beginner to intermedi-ate levels.

Production times have also improved greatly and there have been some real advances in manufacturing. Materials have also been updated with EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) being used instead of standard PU (Polyurethane). EPS is considerably light, has excellent flex properties and floats about 20 30% more than PU so its a great choice for small wave boards. Lighter equals faster in junky and weak surf.

Nowadays, I only ride custom-made surfboards. I very seldom ride boards mass produced in Asia or from shapes that havent been worked and tweaked by an actual surfboard shaper. I feel this is true to the artform and I like working directly with shap-ers to get the best out of my performance and get boards the way I like them. Almost all the WSL (World Surfing League) surfers ride

custom-made surfboards and most even get into the shaping bay themselves to person-ally tweak and produce boards. Surfboards companies like Al Merricks Channel Islands actually have independent shaping bays for these pros so they can work on their own to develop their perfect surfboard.

The advantages of getting a custom made surfboard is that they cost the same as your off the shelf board but you get to tweak and customise the board as much as you like for your own surfing needs. You also get to im-prove your surfing a lot, as each year you can tweak your favorite shape or go with the next years more refined model. You can also tweak the length down to an inch, the thickness to 16th of an inch, select your volume, add channels, choose you fins set-ups and choice of foam - from strong and heavy to light and softer. You can also choose your glassing from ultralight to super strong and add artwork as well as your name, leaving you with a truly great board every time.

Most surfers (like myself) choose their shapes based on what styles we like. For Oman, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other local conditions, I get EPS foam as it floats better, gives me great paddling advantage and allows me to ride my boards about an inch or two smaller than I usually do. I also try new styles of fins such as FCS II set-up, futures as well as experiment with fin set-ups of quads versus tri-fin to get the best results.

All of this allows the average surfer to really step beyond the old days of lucky dips, magic one-off boards and be able to work directly with the people who design, shape and ride the best boards on the planet.

For more information on custom surf-boards, please visit www.surfshoparabia.com.


Words By: Griff Gough-Walters

Bespoke Vehicle

Customisation

at Ramy 4x4Despite the rigorous

pre-production testing that new 4x4s go through, most of them are designed with the masses in mind and more often than not, off-road enthusiasts have to modify them to suit their individual needs. Off-road specialist Ramy 4x4 offers a bespoke service in which customers can order and professionally upgrade their vehicle to their individual preferences with the help of modification experts.

To see some more examples of vehicles modified by Ramy 4x4 search for #ramy4x4project online or find us on Facebook. If you are interested in creating your own modified vehicle with Ramy 4x4 then get in touch with us by contacting [email protected] or on our hotlines. Dubai: +971 4 269 8138, Abu Dhabi: +971 2 554 8466, Al Ain: +971 3 755 4101, Egypt: +2010 2331 6669

The experience begins with the customer coming to the showroom to meet an experi-enced representative who will find out what 4x4 the customer already owns. Or if they are interested in purchasing a Jeep then it is actually possible to order one from the dealer through Ramy 4x4. Exploring what type of off-roader the customer is allows the

representative to identify the upgrades that they will find most useful. However, choos-ing the different upgrades can sometimes be a challenge which is why the representa-tive is on-hand to share their experiences of each suspension package, exhaust system, axle reinforcement and lighting setup. The conversation even goes as far as deciding on a particular colour scheme or supercharger configuration. Well go that extra mile to get your smile Ramy 4x4 stands by their motto to ensure that no matter what part the customer wants, they will either find it or fabricate it themselves.

Once a budget is set and a list of every-thing that is to be installed is created, then the vehicle is delivered to the workshop - where the fun begins! Technicians with racing experience ensure that every part is installed correctly with pinpoint accuracy. All of the ve-hicles that Ramy 4x4 works on are guaranteed to be the best performing and safest both on the road as well as off it, a very important factor when modifying your car. As is the relationship between the company and the customer which is unrivalled by any other ga-rage in the Middle East and one of the main reasons as to why Ramy 4x4 regularly sees

customers travelling from Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to create their own bespoke vehicle. That honest relationship continues until after the project is finished and the customer visits the desert with the representative to ensure that the vehicle surpasses all expectations.

Over the years Ramy 4x4 has created some truly incredible vehicles through this service. One look at the pictures and its obvious that they arent just some new parts thrown onto a standard 4x4 these are fully engineered machines unlike anything else on the road which look and perform exactly how the owner specified.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Time started to catch up with us. After one month on the road, with the climbing, the partying, the constant travel and long drives of the Woodstock Roctrip our energy levels were waning. Yet, with our lungs full of Sakarkayas cool mountain air we packed eagerly, excited for the last leg of our incredible journey.

Words + Photos By: Read Macadam and Tara Atkinson

Bundled into Isas van for the long drive, now with a new member of our

teamsleeping quietly in the back (no doubt snoring away the social excitement from her previous nights in Bafa Lake), we zipped down the narrow roads away from Kapikiri and into new landscapes. With the windows down we shouted our remarks about the beauty of the changing landscape, our arms hanging out the sills, our brows perspiring in the dry heat. Then it rained and we kept the windows down to suck up the cold damp air before stopping at an unknown village mar-ket, which was bustling with people selling and buying the locally grown produce.

Turkey is pleasantly surprising. Turks are clearly proud people. They keep their cities and villages immaculately clean. They bring their fruit and vegetables to the market and will not budge in a game of bargaining, yet they are not too proud that upon request for only a small amount of spices, they gra-ciously hand them over as a gift; This one you must try!

I run into a well dressed gentleman on his scooter. He has ridden into the centre of the covered marketplace and a ray of sunshine has put him in a spotlight. I motion to my camera, Merhaba, may I take your photo, please? I smile. Mais oui, he responds, as if I had broached the subject in French. He grins for the camera and shares with me his story of years in Paris during the 1960s, when he was in his thirties. Cest pas pos-sible, I am shocked. He looks no older than

French climber Nadine Rousselot casually redpointing a burly 7c

Once each week the local market opens and climbers venture down the hill to stock up on delicious fresh local fruits, veg, nuts and bread

Traditional Turkish bread and gozleme. If only photos could capture smells

The man on the motorbike. Classic market life


Much of the climbing in Geyikbayiri is just steps away from the campsite

Climbing roulette

65. Mais oui, he says, incredibly still shak-ing my hand as if we were old pals reunited, Jai quatre vingt quatre annes, he says, grinning. His Rs rolled off his tongue in the oriental way and endearingly he carefully articulated each syllable, clearly enjoying the opportunity to rehash his excellent French. Eventually, I got my hand back and we set off for the remainder of the journey to Geyikbayiri.

You may recall, if you have followed our journey, that GPS maps on our trip have a reputation for leading us astray. It is of course with this in mind that we embarked on the track demarcated by the very squig-gly narrow yellow line on the vans faultless GPS device. It would save us 40km

and lose us about two hours, whilst leading us past behemoth logging trucks

up narrow, dust fogged, rutted roads. Then we were skidding down, literally skidding, through running streams, scraping pine trees on both sides, past remote village settlements and into the centre of what the GPS was certain to be Geyikbayiri. It was not and it was very dark. An angry dog, guard of the driveway we found ourselves on, reminded us of our folly. We laughed, but secretly I was so relieved for the offered directions to a camping site, which is a whole other story. Have you seen a vintage Airstream caravan towed down a loose and dangerous track before? Epic.

But of course, we were there for the climbing. Geyikbayiri is one of those destinations like Tonsai in Thailand, or like Kalymnos in that everything is just so acces-sible and the quality of the rock is excellent,

especially if you like steep tufas.It is a pretty idyllic spot. We woke up each

day amongst the pomegranate trees, heavy with fruit and birds singing. Eating in the filtered sunlight, we warmed ourselves after chilly nights, watching the earliest risers climbing on the gorgeous glowing orange cliffs surrounding the campgrounds in

Geyikbayiri, the camps and the climbing

Swede Said Belhaj styled this 8a+ onsight

There are so many routes at each grade that it seemed ludicrous to take a project

Please, Read pleaded. Just one more climb before we go? Casually onsighting one last classic 7b+ before the sun set on our last day at Citdibi

The Petzl Roctrip Caravan setting up at camp Each night the roctrippers gathered around to hear and share stories from the vertical world

Geyikbayiri, spying our lines that we would try that day. Except for when we were wok-en up by people arguing in their tent yes, folks, tents are paper thin and we heard it all or by discourteous families, letting their children run amok amongst the tents at 6:30 a.m. After 40 days on the road, constant travel and little rest, I felt utterly drained. And now I was feeling grumpy. Climbing was now a chore, the last thing I want it to be. Even in such a fantastic place!

It was a pleasant surprise, though, to arrive at camp one day and bump into Neil Gresham, the true professionals profession-al in climbing. I had the pleasure of deep water soloing with Neil and friends in Oman back in 2011, and he does not mess around. For the next few days Tara and I teamed up with Neil and his crew of British strongmen: Steve McClure (the best climber on the Roctrip, hands down), Leah Crane (stronger than you) and Liam Lonsdale (the one true bobbydazzler).

We climbed and laughed, mainly laugh-ing, and after switching to Kezbans much quieter and laid back campsite, my mo-tivation returned. We first climbed in the newest cliff that the Petzl team had bolted the year prior, Citdibi. After a drive up a winding mountain road, with ever larger craggy mountain tops filling the windscreen, Citdibi looms obvious, with magnificent

blue and orange streaked stone. The climb-ers relished in the cool mountain air on the outlandish rock structures.

Back down in the busier main crag of Geyikbayiri, Trebenna, we entertained our-selves with Climbing Roulette say what?! Climbing roulette is the cure for any cynic at an overly busy crag. The rules are simple: If you have at least four people in your group and most of the routes are busy, select two routes farther out that are completely unknown to you. The two climbers then play a gentlemanly, best-of-three round of Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide which of the two routes they will each ascend. Finally, both must climb into the unknown simultaneously.

It is very useful to continue your witty banter and insults of discouragement, especially if you have the easier of the two routes.

With renewed motivation but failing energy levels, I began my spree of falling off the last move of every 8th grade route that I attempted to onsight (onsight means literally on sight ones first try). I loved every minute of it. There are so many routes concentrated in such a small area that even mid-flight I had another route in mind. More on this later as we ended up going back to Geyikbayiri post Roctrip to finish off what I started! First things first. The Roctrip was shifting to its final destination the ancient port city of Olympos.


Photos By: Jurgens Swarts

Sheesa BeachWords By: Neil Murphy

Musandam, the AttractionJust an hour and a half out of the concrete maze that is Dubai, lies an area with majestic scenery, incredible marine biodiversity and is possibly one of the most strategic pieces of land on the planet. An hour and a half away in another country and a different time is on every travellers or residents bucket list.

ServicesSheesa Beach operates eight dhows, numer-ous speedboats and a 180-bed camp. Our offices are conveniently located in the port. From half day trips, seven day/seven night trips and speedboat trips, we offer it all. The most popular trips are our weekend geta-way safaris over two days and nights. All our dhows have on-board watersports activities from diving, kayaking, banana boat rides (the flying fish to be introduced shortly), snorkel-ling and traditional Omani hand-line fishing. We have hotel trained on-board chefs to whip up sumptuous meals and they cater to dietary requests as well.

The Dive CentreWe operate a licensed PADI dive resort that offers diving for everyone. From beginners

who want to experience diving for the first time, we run the ever popular Discover Scuba Diving experience. The waters in the Musan-dam are marine rich and you are guaranteed to have a more thorough and professional experience with us on your initial voyage into the blue than you will in the murky waters of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For the experienced divers and those who have just started out, we have dive sites to suit everyone`s need. From the Quoin Islands in the Straits of Hor-muz, to quiet bays and colourful reefs a dive site to suit every palate. The instructors/guides at Sheesa also offer a unique blend of having come from different backgrounds and thus are able to impart a wealth of knowl-edge, safety and enjoyment to our clients.

Diver TrainingPersonally I think that some of the most important considerations for one looking to do a course are: Location Diving in marine heaven Our own fleet We cut out the middleman and thus make the training more affordable. Knowledge/Professionalism Simply we are the best of the best - try us! Personality Fun and learning are part of our ethos. Package integration and cost You can do a two-day live aboard safari and complete your chosen course for virtually the same

price as you would find completing your course at a local dive centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Dive TripsThe eight dhows we operate afford us the opportunity to provide our clients with tailor-made itineraries. We specialize in group bookings and we run sharing trips for our clients as well. We are also the only centre to run a three-day/three-night sharing trip that showcases the far northern sites and places where fish don`t know your name. Our captains are owners of the company and know areas that are very infrequently dived besides us of course. Our speedboats trips run up to the top of the peninsula as well and they provide a great day out for those who only have a day spare. In the cooler months our camp provides a great overnight option before choosing your preferred trip the fol-lowing day.

NonDive TripsWe offer a half day pleasure cruise every day as well as overnight safaris for those who just want to get away and spend time with loved ones and friends. Kayaking, banana boats; discover dives during the day and an evening under the Musandam stars.


I went to so many fishing trips, but most of them were a disaster. I went fishing in Kuwait, Oman, Spain and Hong Kong to name a few and they all had one thing in common - they were all unsatisfactory. Some were okay, but never like the videos I saw on Youtube. Why is it so difficult to go on a good fishing trip? I know I was doing something wrong, but I didnt have proper guidance. Im not the kind of person that does lots of research and con-sults many people before making a decision. I didnt have real fishermen friends, neither my dad taught me fishing. I learned from my uncle, but he got married and left me behind!

I once organised a fishing trip for my friends to Oman. Of course the trigger was a Youtube video with people catching a huge grouper. What we know is that everyone is talking about this city called Shuwaymiyah in Oman. So we booked our tickets to Muscat and off we go. We arrived and asked the taxi to take us to Shuwaymiyah. He laughed so much he thought we were joking. I told him Why you are laughing? He said its 10 hours away! (Okay, in my defence that was before Google Maps existed).

So we shifted to plan B, to fish in Muscat. We asked the taxi if he knew a captain, he said Maybe, give me until tomorrow. We asked the hotel, they didnt know anyone, so we stuck with the taxi driver. He was on time in the morning and he said the best way to go fishing is to go with real fishermen. So he took us to the fish market! He found local

Words By: Abdullah Alshalabi

Im not sure if you are like me or not, but whenever I travel to a new city I think if there is good fishing to be found. During my entire life, I al-ways find it difficult to find a fishing guide or a fishing charter boat.

fishermen that agreed to take us fishing. The problem is, they dont have fishing tackle and they left us with their youngest crew! To make a long story short, the trip was a disaster. The next couple of days werent any better.

After having the same problem over and over again, I decided to start Fishfishme. Our mission is to make booking a fishing trip super easy, from finding the best captain to facilitating the payment. Fishfishme now have more than 1,000 fishing charter partners spread in more than 30 countries around the world. We currently have three offices - in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Malaga, Spain and San Diego, United States. Fishfishme helped more than 4,500 people go fishing.

If you have any questions you can always contact me directly at [email protected]. Or you can call our team at 800-FISHING (800 347 4464). Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date. If you are an Instagram person then you can find us @fishfishme.

If you are thinking to book a fishing trip, give fishfishme.ae a try. It should take you less than three minutes to book a fishing trip without doing five phone calls and go to the captain to pay him in cash! Youll find custom-er reviews and will be able to compare prices to make a better decision. Moreover, in UAE we are offering sharing trips in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. These trips are organized with the best captains in the UAE (based on our customers reviews), and the prices starts at only 250 AED/person.

Distributor of awesome outdoor brands. www.globalclimbing.com

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ACTIVITY REPORT

Words + Photos By: Darryl MacDonald

Eight seconds. The longest and most difficult eight seconds imaginable; sitting atop a 900kg animal, using only a single hand with a braided rope to hold the rider in position.

A hush falls over the crowd of onlookers, as the rider checks his grip then signals with a nod. The gate flies open and the mass of muscle beneath him suddenly comes to life, leaping into the air then turning, first left then right, all the while bucking and rolling with incredible force. The rider, still only using a single hand, must offset the bulls actions with his own in order to maintain balance and keep from being tossed high in the air or, even worse, slipping off the side and finding himself underneath the hooves or in front of the horns of this massive, untamed behe-moth. Finally, he hears the blare of the horn,

Down the RangeThe Festive Calgary Stampede

signaling the end of the eight seconds. The bull rider releases his grip. As he is launched from the animal, he attempts to land on his feet but stumbles and rolls. Quickly look-ing back, he sees the bull, horns down with intent in his eyes, coming straight at him. The rider jumps to his feet as the rodeo clowns scramble into position, distracting the bull from his intended target and ultimately lead-ing the bull off the field. This is professional bull riding, one of the main attractions at the Calgary Stampede - a long standing tradition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Dubbed locally as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede is an annual agricultural fair and rodeo held in July each year, showcasing a very different type of sport. With roots extending back over 100 years, it is one of the largest events in Cana-

da, attracting visitors from across the country and around the globe. The Stampede hosts one million guests on average each year during its ten days of festivities, with a record 1.2 million visitors this year. These festivi-ties include an extremely broad spectrum of activities to suit every personality.

The event itself is held near the Calgary downtown core, but Stampede related festivities span the city. Communities and local businesses host free pancake breakfasts daily for anyone who would like to stop by for a little Western hospitality. Local restau-rants and pubs hold various Western themed


events throughout the week, including live country music bands, mechanical bull riding and Western style cuisine. For ten days, cow-boy hats, boots and jeans replace suits and ties, becoming the staple items of clothing throughout the city.

The main event kicked off with a massive parade through the downtown area, which is marshaled each year by a celebrity. Past pa-rade marshals have included Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Chris Hadfield and William Shatner. On the main fair grounds, there is enough going on daily to keep visitors occupied and entertained for days without succumbing to boredom or repetition. There are daily music concerts on the grounds included in the price of admission and a few larger events, hosting big names in music, throughout the week at a nearby stadium. Historically, the Stampede has attracted some of the biggest names in musical history; not just country music but everything from rock and blues to jazz and alternative as well. If youre a thrill seeker, the midway has plenty of rides that will get your adrenaline flowing and turn even the strongest of stomachs. There is also a daily energy-charged moto-cross show which includes everything from BMX racers to back-flipping motorbikes and snowmobiles on fire, finishing with a woman propelling herself from a giant, custom made

cannon over a hundred feet into the air! For the foodies, there is a wide range of midway food to indulge in. Highlights from this year included the foot-long corn dog, scorpion pizza, deep-fried Oreos, mini-doughnuts, the 100 USD dragon dog and spareribs.

The main attraction at the Calgary Stam-pede however is the rodeo. It is one of the largest professional rodeos of its kind in the world. The athletes, both cowboys and cowgirls, that come to Calgary are some of the best in the world and compete in this event for over 1,000,000 USD in prize money. The rodeo occurs daily and consists of seven major events:Barrel Racing Female riders nimbly manoeuver their thoroughbred horse around a series of barrels in a race against the clock, competing for the fastest time, without knocking over any barrels.Steer Wrestling The name says it all! Cowboys race their horses after a young cow, called a steer, leaping off the horse and attempting to wrestle the steer onto its back, again racing against the clock.Tie-down Roping Cowboys, mounted on their horse, race after a calf, lasso it and then leap off the horse in mid stride in an attempt to tie together the three legs of the calf whilst racing against the clock.Saddle Bronc Cowboys attempt to stay on a bucking bronco (horse) for eight seconds. Successful riders are scored on their riding technique, including spurring and also on the horses bucking performance.Bareback Riding Like the saddle bronc event but without the saddle.Bull Riding One of the most danger-ous and anticipated events of the show. It has been called the most dangerous eight seconds in sport. Cowboys attempt to stay on a bucking bull for an action-packed eight seconds. Successful riders are scored on their own riding technique and also on the bulls bucking performance.Rangeland Derby Nicknamed the half-mile of hell, four thoroughbreds pull a covered wagon, or chuckwagon, around

the racetrack. Outriders, accompanying cowboys, must break camp at the start and make sure they cross the finish with their respective wagon. This race originates from the old cattle drives when the cowboys en-tertained themselves with camp races as they neared home.

Every evening finishes with the Grandstand Show; a spectacle of dancing, singing, acro-batics and fireworks, celebrating Canadian heritage. All in all the Calgary Stampede is an event of epic proportions that has something for everyone. So if youre looking for a reason to visit Canada, this definitely is a great place to start.

Without a certain mode of transport, exploration wouldnt be possible. With this in mind, we catch up with James and Mira Raley who just about a month ago, returned to the United Arab Emirates from their arduous year-long journey across the African continent. This is the story of the car that made their journey possible the Honey Badger.

Where did the name Honey Badger come from? James: It took a while to come up with a name. We eventually happened upon a YouTube video and it was very amusing and made us think about honey badgers. They are ridiculously tough, live in the African wild, and have a lot of character. That pretty much sums up what we were trying to achieve with the car, so we called her the Honey Badger. Mira: The idea behind the name was that our trusted Land Cruiser will be able to drive through anything and persevere through the toughest situations we went through. Although we did have plenty of problems, the car got us home, so the name was very suitable.

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Photos By: James and Mira RaleyInterview By: Keith Perea

Transportation has changed the world in a tremendous way in that it has made contact with other countries much easier and it has made getting from point A to B much faster. But for the outdoor community, transportation has paved the way for exploration and looking into the unknown and meeting the wonders that reside there.

76 but is bigger. It is ideal for overlanding and can be turned into a comfortable home whilst still getting you everywhere you need to go. For me, the main appeal of the 78 is the space for a small living area inside where you can stay out of the rain and away from wild animals and insects.Mira: Another change would be to choose a Diesel engine over petrol. Although we never really had much difficulty finding pet-rol, the cost of it was astonishing and a big chunk of our budget went to fuelling the car.

What were the first five things that you got for the Honey Badger and how did they contribute during the trip?James: Metal bumper from ARB: This allowed us to drive through thick undergrowth without worrying about damaging the car. It also holds the winch, hi-lift jack and additional lighting which are essential.Water tank: There is no point in wasting valuable drinking water on washing dishes or showers, and this made a big difference. Ours was only 40 litres and I would probably choose 100 litres next time.Vehicle tracking and satellite phones from SecureLocate: This gave us peace of mind throughout the trip, especially when we were out of mobile reception. Whatever the situation, we always had contact with the outside world, and friends and family could always see where our phones were and where the car was. Knowing that we could immobilise the car remotely if it was stolen was another significant advantage.Roll cage: Thankfully not necessary during the trip, but after we rolled the car in the UAE eight months before we left, I insisted

The Honey BadgerDiaries

Were there any other names you had in mind for the car?James: El Basha or The BeastMira: We did not really have other names for the car. At one point a friend recom-mended The Beast but that never really stuck. She was the Honey Badger all along!

Why this make and model?James: Good question. We researched quite carefully through the internet and by talking to experienced friends. I was keen on a Land Rover because they are slightly better off-road with the new traction control, they look better and they are British (more or less). It finally boiled down to three ir-refutable facts: (1) Land Cruisers are more reliable, (2) They are easier to repair in Africa and parts and servicing are cheaper and (3) They are cheaper to buy in the UAE.Mira: We spent hours researching what car would be best for the type of trip we were doing and although there were plenty of choices out there, it came down to three options: a Land Rover 110 Defender, a Land Cruiser 78 Series and Land Cruiser76 Series. We ended up choosing the 76 series because it was more robust for 4X4 driving, and it was what was available to us at the time. Most people we met on the road with the Defender had difficulty finding parts in Africa, however for us that was never a problem.

Did you imagine how the trip would have been in a different vehicle? What would you have chosen?James: In my opinion, the Land Cruiser 78 (often used as military troop carriers or ambulances) has similar performance to the

Special Episode:Whats in the Car?

ARB fridge and drawer system

Trialling the new solar panels


27OUTDOORUAE

that we had one fitted. Rolling is much more likely whilst dune bashing in the UAE than off-roading in Africa. However, wherever it happens, it is good to know that there are a couple of inches of steel be-tween you and the easily crushed roof.Mira: We started on the exterior of the car first, so we spent a large chunk of money on the roof rack, roof tent, back and front bumpers and leaf springs. Everything on that list, except for the leaf springs, was from ARB and we loved their service and product quality. The leaf springs however, were a very bad buy and they deteriorated within weeks. We ended up having to replace them four times throughout the duration of the trip.

Having a robust exterior was extremely useful in very rough terrain, and our roof tent was probably one of our best buys as it was very easy to use, it lasted the entire trip and nothing could beat the size and comfort in that tent (especially since we added a mattress, duvet and pillows).

Given the chance, what would you have left behind and deemed as unnecessary equipment?James: A linen suit and pith helmet, exces-sive shoes and clothes and mosquito nets.Mira: We definitely over packed. James has a natural inclination to want to take

everything, assuming that it might be useful sometime in the future. In some cases things turned out to be very useful, but in others it was more of a hassle having to lug around stuff we really did not use. Luckily we had family and friends come to visit us at differ-ent parts of the trip so we were able to send stuff back, otherwise we gave a few things away to people on the road. A list of things we did not need: n Climbing equipment n Lots and lots of clothes that we returned or gave away n A Shower Tent that we never used n More gadgets then we can handle (extra walkie talkies, extra torches, loads of cables and camera gear)

Whats the one piece of equipment you cant imagine not having in the car?James: Hi-lift jack. Sometimes the only way out of a situation is to lift the car, and this is the only thing that can do it anywhere.Mira: There are a few essentials that we definitely could not survive without including recovery gear for the car, torches, and spare wheels.

What did you learn from the Honey Badger that you plan on applying on any future journeys?James: Every vehicle has it limits, and it pays to know your car extremely well before you set off.Mira: - Do not over pack! Take only the essentials and you will always manage. Buy Quality , spending more money in the initial stages would have saved us a bundle later on in the trip. If you are going to buy second hand, make sure every part of the car is checked thoroughly before going ahead (like the front diff in our case!)

Lastly, how has the Honey Badger grown onto you after a year of be-ing on the road?James: It is hard to answer this question truthfully without sounding materialistic, but she was our home, our harbour and our mobility for a whole year.

She is now parked in the garage awaiting expensive registration. Occasionally we take her out on short trips and we are immediately returned to our happy travelling zone. I will sit behind the wheel feeling completely content with a stirring sensation of adventure. Ill glance over at Mira who will be smiling, and I know that she feels exactly the same.Mira: The Honey Badger was our home for over a year and we have grown attached to it. Although at times we were sick and tired of things breaking down, it always managed to get us to where we needed to be. Even though we are unable to register it in Dubai as it is, we plan to keep it and use it as our camping/weekend car, and maybe take the time to re-do the interior so that it is better planned out to include a third member to the family!

Spare parts from Toyota

Shower

Aluminium box

28 OUTDOORUAE

TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

Last July, while on our way up at around 4500 metres, we noticed the wind getting stronger and heard thunder rumbling in the distance. No sooner had we said the words Uh oh, maybe we should turn around? Suddenly, we all felt a strange buzzing, not just in our ears, but all around us. Amiras hair stood up straight on her head around her headband. We all locked eyes in confu-sion. An instant later, the clap of distant thunder was right above us discussion over. We all started to run. But for some reason, we didnt all run in the same direc-tion, so we were separated within seconds. A few of us, including me, were actually hit by what is described in weather language as positive streamers. Basically, it means you have been charged and are about to be struck by lightning. It probably didnt help that we were in the snow, carrying metal axes and wearing metal crampons attached to our feet. We were little electrical conduc-tors! We were both hit once more by those

Words By: Amy Subaey

One thing Elbrus has in com-mon with every other mountain in the world is the unpredictable and dangerous weather. Last years trip gave us a good initiation to the speed at which weather can change and this lesson stayed closely with us this year.

positive streamers, but were luckily never hit by an actual lightning strike. We all made it back down one by one, greeted with hugs and tears of joy and relief.

Needless to say, this group was well aware of those stories told by last years Elbrus group of UAE Trekkers and keen to avoid any similar scenario. So when our guide in-formed us that the weather forecast dictated a dramatic change of plans, we obliged without any opposition. But we were still hesitant as our rescheduled summit bid was a full two days earlier. This meant pushing the boundaries of an ideal acclimatization schedule and just hope that our bodies would adapt faster.

We even had a positive omen in the form of a billboard of encouragement from President Putin on our way to the mountain. I cant actually think of any other mountain where Ive seen a presidential endorsement of our sport. But Putin is smart to show his support for mountaineering since Mt Elbrus, as the highest peak in Europe, claims a prestigious spot in the Seven Summits of the world club. This brings mountaineers from all over the world to the tiny village or Terskol for eight weeks every summer.

Although, its not as high as Kilimanjaro, its more challenging. Its also a logical transition from trekking to the first stage of mountaineering for those aspiring to achieve higher altitude climbs or more technical mountains in places like the Himalayas.

We were eager to get going, so we were first in line to the chairlift set to go, back-packs moved to front and poles in hand. But the local Russians all went first. One by one, they each stood on the square, umbrella in one hand and eyes straight ahead as they prepared to be launched into the air up the hill. As if trained by Mary Poppins herself, they even whistled as they rose steeply and disappeared into the clouds. After the tech-nique had been clearly demonstrated, we all followed suit and cheered for each other as we each successfully launched, as it meant that we had managed to hold on for the initial stomach-dropping swing backwards

Lessons from Mary Poppins and Mother Nature

SEPTEMBER 2015 - WWW.OUTDOORUAE.COM

before going forward and upward. Our first days hike, just as the chairlift

ride, seemed to start in fast-forward. We made our way slowly up a steep and rocky hill to Cheget Peak, at 3750m. But the trail seemed rockier than I remembered, with bigger boulders to jump over, and the gaps between them widening the higher we went. The precarious cliffs, narrow ledges and unstable rocks were not made more fun with a light rain, only more slippery. But when I asked why we werent doing the gentle trail clearly visible directly below us, our guide replied in a heavy Russian accent, This, adventure trail! But we go back down easy trail. Everything will be well. And it was indeed.

Abruptly again on day two, we made our way up to base camp via two cable cars and two chairlifts. We settled into Elbrus barrel hut life for the next four days. The barrel huts have a bad reputation, but they are actually quite warm, which is always a win-ning feature. We all acclimatized well over the next few days but the weather proved to indeed be unpredictable and unstable. Our team walked as slowly as possible to 4700m in extremely cold, wind and sleet conditions. We realized that this is not something we would like to experience any higher up. We only hoped for a clear day for our summit attempt, planned for the next day starting at 4:30 a.m. It was predicted that the blue sky would hold until early afternoon when clouds were expected to descend for the next three days. Since everyone wants to avoid being above 5000m when the weather changes, teams have to determine, based on the pace they set the day before, how long their summit attempt will take and then judge whether or not its possible to cover the distance without the snowcat boost. Its far from a perfect science, so most people err on the use the snowcat side of caution, as did we.

Our summit push went ahead brilliantly. Richard was the first to reach the highest point in Europe, which was an astounding feat considering hed also summited Mt Ararat, in Turkey, just five days prior. The pic-turesque summit morning gave our photog-rapher a stunning backdrop. It really is just

as pretty as it looks in the pictures. We started back down things and were

going so well that Andrew decided to go for the double summit challenge; heading down to the saddle then back up to the second peak, which is a mere 40 metres or so lower than the main peak. Just as he made the decision and disappeared from view and out of walkie-talkie range behind the hill, the weather turned. It is really hard to describe, and understand, just how fast this change in weather happens. In actual time, it was not more than 15 minutes before the sunny clear sky gave way to high winds and increasingly threatening skies. What seemed like it would have been an enjoyable jaunt back down to barrels in the snow became a race to get the next snowcat transport back down to the safety of the barrels. What we saw as a boost for people who just didnt want to hike, we now understood really was for completely different reasons; the snowcat saves lives on a mountain that does not really respect meteorological forecasts and offers no refuge at all once it changes. And short of saving lives, it simply minimizes the risks by reducing the time you are on the mountain in general.

Back at the barrels, we hesitated for a

congratulatory all down safe celebration. Andrew still had not returned from his dou-ble summit bid, the weather was not improving, and a team member presented symptoms of altitude sickness that neces-sitated getting to a lower altitude as soon as possible. The ladies of Barrel Hut Four sprung into action, gathering up the various jackets, boots, toiletry kits and sleep sacs thrown about in the morning rush. We all gracefully practiced our between-the-bunk cha-cha in order to get past each other in our hut and get gear packed quickly. Our guide, Andrei, was frantically working out a way to get us down by convincing the chairlift operator to come back up. But, as luck would have it a pickup truck had just arrived a bit below the camp to pick up what seemed to be a giant empty plastic tank with some skanky water at the bottom. Within minutes, Margaret and I were on


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board. She jumped in the cab and I secured myself into a spare tire in the bed. Bounc-ing our way down the mountain we figured that this little truck was a rather reliable hikers last resort transit of sorts. Every few kilometres, we would pick up some exhausted Russians with giant backpacks running after us hoping to escape the last 10km. So, the driver stopped for everyone in need without conversation or question in an act of unselfish community service. The truck finished the journey with about 13 hikers crammed in the truck bed by the time we got down. As expected, Margarets altitude sickness symptoms subsided with the drop in altitude. Crisis averted!

The rest of the team returned the next day with dramatic stories of their own; lightning strikes hit just behind the barrel huts. We were all relieved that we had moved up our summit push.

Once we were all reunited at the hotel, showered and fresh, we joined two other teams that had also summited in the last few days for the traditional Russian Cel-ebration of Summit Party. As one would expect, traditional beverages of the local culture are shared in abundance. In limit-less abundance, that most of us took full advantage of. Why not, after what we had been through? Climbing the tallest peak in Europe, in Russia? And who were we to insult our gracious host country by refusing their national beverage? This was how we justified our overindulgence, until we faced some difficulty finding our way back to the hotel a few hours later. Considering the hotel was only 500 meters away on a gravel road, we really had no good excuse for our

struggle. Unfortunately, the journey did not end well for the soft tissue under my knee, which suffered the full force of a five-person stumble. We were lucky enough to have a certified nurse on the team, who did her best to get me cleaned and bandaged through protests of no big deal.

The next morning, I realized indeed the injury was going to require attention. The nearest hospital was about an hour away, but there was an alternative; a doctor with an assistant in the local teaching hospital just 15 minutes away. We also had the help of our guides, Madga and Anatalia to help translate the doctors directions. But, in the seconds that it takes to listen to and trans-late the sentence Im going to give you a shot in your knee and its probably going to hurt the needle was already IN. Next, without any words being exchanged in any language, my head was propped up and a small glass of strong liquid was poured down my throat. Before I could ask what that was, a mint green biscuit, about the size of my entire mouth, was shoved in after it. In the time it took me to chew the biscuit, the assistant had refilled the glass and repeated the traditional Russian pain-numbing

treatment. By the third round, I didnt really mind how many needles were in my knee. All I remember thinking was that maybe a limp and a bandage would be enough for a complimentary upgrade to business class on the way home. (It wasnt).

Both trips to Elbrus were so different to any other mountain Ive climbed. The chance to visit this part of Russia gives you a unique insight into the country, its people that you would not ever experience in one of the more famous big cities. It is also quite an achievement for all of us. Most trekkers had never used crampons, harness-es, ice axes or safety lines. Even those that were experienced in climbing or in trekking had not had the opportunity to combine all of these skills, as you do on Elbrus. And as usual, the final ingredient in the making of a memorable and adventurous week is the group dynamic.

In Kathys words, I would never do these things alone. Normally, people suffer for hours together, reach personal limits, but top that with a natural sense of humour and who is able to smile after walking for 13 hours (or longer) with all gear up a mountain and back? The UAE Trekkers!

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TRAVEL + ADVENTURE

We were staying in Southampton with good friends Robs and Frank and when I put in the GPS coordinates for the fishing it was literally around the corner. I thought I had the GPS incorrect and rechecked as I was driving into Southampton but then at the last traffic circle off the highway, I took a right to Broadlands.

I drove down some small country lanes in a small hired car, very different to the thirsty

Words By: Nick Bowles

Brown Trout on FlyTest Your Might:

I have been lucky enough to tick off a couple of bucket list items lately and when I got given the opportunity to fish the River Test, I jumped at it with both hand and feet. I had been chatting with good mate Charl Devunge from Farlows about coming to the United King-dom and he asked if I would be interested in fishing the River Test at the Broadlands Estate with The river keeper Jon Hall! Yeah good joke! But it was not joke and the plan was hatched!

trucks we have in Dubai and Oman. Finally I came to the sign Broadlands Fishing! I spoke to Jon and he said to wait down at the fishing hut. I arrived there and stopped on the bridge only to stare at the swirling river with green weed swaying in the current and trees overhanging into the river truly mesmerizing, the same as sitting around a campfire watching the flames jump around in the wind. Awesome!

I waited for a while for Charl and Jon to arrive and had time to check out the fish-ing hut, which was like a bomb shelter on the side of the river and you could feel the history and I felt a bit of nervous creeping in to think I was going to fish the home of fly fishing and walk the banks that so many people and legends have walked before. I was definitely out of my depth! No big waves, open water or marauding GTs!

Jon and Charl arrived and we had a coffee in the hut with some of the other fishermen fishing some of the famous beats. Great to sit and chat and tell a few stories! Finally game time arrived, we got out the gear! A little different to PE10 and 250lbs leaders, these were four weight lines with 4lbs leaders! I think the cotton I used for fixing clothes is stronger! Then the flies came out and there was no way I was going to be able to get the line through the eye

of the hook, could not even see if it was in fact there! But with Charl and Jon on the case, they set up the gear and the mindset started to change and I started to get into the swing of the river and the fishing.

We walked down the river and came up to the first hole. Straight away both Jon and Charl got very excited; there was a big fish in one of the holes and after a few seconds it turned out to be a salmon! No pressure. The first fish I was going to cast at was a salmon, it couldnt get any better. But once the gear was set up, I realized this was not going to be as easy as I thought. Kneel-ing on the grounds casting over thistle and stinging nettles does not make for easy fishing. I finally got the hang of fishing off my knees and managed to put in a couple of decent casts. The fish was not interested and after a while we moved on looking for trout on the number four.

But the adrenaline was pumping and a great adventure had started. We fished a couple of runs without too much success and made our way back to the hut. Jon waded out into the river with me in tow and we came up to some fish sitting at the back of a pool. With a wind rippling the surface the visibility was not too good and the fish came in and out of view. Finally we put in a few casts and had a fish come up but by the time I realized the fish had taken to fly it was too late. With a few more words on en-couragement and coaching from Jon, I had another few shots but no hook ups. As we were about to move, I put in one last cast over the pool and let the fly drift down the

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pool watching the dry fly I was using as an indicator for the dropper and as I got to the end of the pool I started to load the line to do another cast and out of nowhere a tiny wild brown trout came flying out the weed and snatched the fly before I could cast and I had my first River Test trout on. The little guy tried as hard as he could but even on the light gear, we had him on hand and landed my first fish for the day. This time size definitely did not matter and I was very chuffed with my first River Test Brown Trout.

With the drought broken, everything started to fall into place, casting, sight-ing fish and enjoyment! We walked up the river stopping and casting at fish, I had a few follows but no takes. We then got to a pool with a few fish we could see. I put out several casts at a couple of the fish with not much interest shown but then on one of the casts the brown trout came up and took a

look at the dry fly, turned away and sank back down towards the bottom, my heart started to drop, but the fish had second thoughts and turned around and came up and sipped the fly off the surface, bang! Fish on! A nice 3lbs brown on the end of the line on a number four rod was great fun. The fish gave a good account for itself. I got the fish close to the side and Jon netted the fish and I had a decent sized fish! A good few pictures and the fish was released back into the river. Mission accomplished! Brown trout on the Test on dry fly!

We took a break for lunch at a country pub and the sun had come out and the day was just getting better and better, truly amazing place that is good for the soul. We had a great lunch chatting about fishing around the Globe and a few more plans laid for the future.

For the afternoon session Jon wanted to try for a salmon! This is the holy grail of fly fishing, a salmon on the River Test! I had a shot in the morning but this was a bit rushed and now we were prepared. Jon had a spot he thought might work and on arriving we saw a big salmon sitting at the end of a small pool. We had a bridge we could fish off and started casting the salmon fly back to the fish. After a few attempts the fish showed no interest but this was window shopping at its best! You want it so bad, you are willing to do almost anything.

After a while we changed our angle and tactic a bit and I put the fly into a deep hole to try run the fly back to the fish, but the fly got stuck. I thought it was weed and gave the rod a bit of a tug and all hell broke loose! The small pool erupted and this massive bar of silver started going wild in the pool that seemed way to small for the fish! I tried to tighten up on the rod and reel but as quick as it started it was over! I had just lost a fish of a lifetime! A big salmon on the River Test, after the initial shock we all packed out laughing and could not believe what had just happened! That fish will live

on in my memory for the rest of my days and will most probably haunt me to the day I die! The story will definitely be repeated many times on the future and the fish will most probably grow in size!

After trying and trying to get another hookup on a salmon we finally had to call an end to the day and headed back to the hut. On the way back at dusk, Jon said Lets have one last try at the evening hatch. There was a bit of wind and the hatch was minimal but we tried close to the hut and a few fish started rising. I had a few attempts and misses. Then as the last bit of daylight disappeared and I could no longer see the fly or the line, I could only see the line land-ing on the water. I had one last chance. I saw a fish rise up about five metres from the bank, I put out a cast in the general direc-tion and watched the water, I saw a fish rise in the general location of where I thought my fly might be, I took a total chance and struck! Bang fish on! I fought the brown as the last disappeared and darkness fell across the river, Jon landed the fish for me to a good few high fives and pictures taken. It does not get much better than that to end a wonderful experience and day on the Broadlands Estate on the River Test!


The launch was graced by the presence of Mr. Snehashis Chakrabarty, CFO of the Al Abbas Group; Mr. Pepe Lozano, Internation-al Sales Director of KEEN and Mr. Chandy, Managing Director of Hadi Enterprises.

KEEN Footwear Range Launched in the GCC

The United States headquar-tered and internationally renowned footwear brand KEEN launched their product range in a high profile event in the Conrad Hotel in Dubai on the 4th of August 2015. One of the coolest and most innovative footwear brands in the world, KEEN is known for its lifestyle and out-door performance shoes and toe-protecting sandals. The brand has already found good acceptance in this market and the formal launch will provide a platform for customers to get the entire range of KEEN products easily. The lavish event witnessed the display of KEENs entire catalogue of sandals,

boots and shoes that are ideal for hiking and other outdoor activities thanks to their revolutionary toe protection areas that ensure safety when climbing. The sandals also provide utmost comfort so that you not only have a safe hike, but a convenient one as well.

Another plus factor is that they are made of organic materials, making these pairs the healthiest and most comfortable shoes ever to hit the UAE. The KEEN range will initially be available at Hadi Enterprises retail showroom at Karama, Dubai, and selected outlets of Sun & Sand Sports, Adventure HQ, Impressions, Sports One, K Corner and TOG.

Outlining the his

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