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Surfing uAE
September marks the start of the Middle East’s surf season, Jade Bremner finds out all you need to know to ride Dubai’s waves… It’s something of a well-kept local secret that you can actually surf in Dubai. The area produces consistent glassy swells reminiscent of Thailand’s small tropical waves which come with short periods of localised wind-driven swell. In fact, the scene has a core following of regular surfers and even pros such as Joel Fitzgerald, Nate Tyler, Josh Hoya and Nathan Banks have hit the UAE’s coastlines. “Most people get hooked as soon as they get up on a board, then their quest to find the next best wave begins,” says Dubai resident and surfer Axel Server from Australia. “It’s warm, sunny, and there’s a great atmosphere amongst surfers in the water,” agrees Scott Chambers, owner of Surf Dubai – one of two main surf outfits (along with Surf Shop Dubai) who offer lessons on the open beach by Burj Al Arab. On the downside, the creation of The Palm and The World has left only a few surf spots in the city, with waves being blocked by construction, but conditions for those keen to learn are perfect and plentiful still:
“The two main beaches are Sunset Beach and JBR Beach,” explains Chambers. “Typical conditions are two to three foot waves, ideal conditions for learning to surf.” With recent shark attacks reported off the coast of Egypt and the Seychelles, surfers in the emirate can take to their boards in the knowledge that the more peaceful Gulf waters are said to be some of the safest in the world, with no reports of dangerous marine life or hidden jagged reefs lurking beneath the surface. Not only that but you’ll be experiencing a truly unusual ride in the UAE, explains Chambers, “waves in Dubai come from low pressure systems that develop over Kuwait. North Westerly winds blow the length of the Arabian Gulf for several days and these winds generate swell that travels straight for Dubai’s coastline. The emirate sits in the exact location that receives the longest fetch within the gulf,” he says. “If we were anywhere else we would have much less surf.” Want to catch your first wave? Visit surfingdubai.com or surfshopdubai.com
Surf’S up We head off the beaten track to find waves for all levels, right here in the Middle East. Beginners: Joe’s point, oman Wave size: Three to six feet. Ocean floor: Rocks, reef or sand (locations vary). Just 5km north of Asyllah or three hours south of Muscat, Joe’s Point offers rides of up to 30 seconds long, though plan your trip by checking out weather conditions before the off – wide open beaches mean waves can get blown out. Intermediate: Almina spot, Lebanon Wave size: Three to six feet. Ocean floor: Reef and flat rocks. This world-class surf spot sits on the Mediterranean and gets going after a heavy storm out to sea. Find it 22km away from Beirut near the seaside town of Jieh near Marina Beach. Advanced: socotra, Yemen Wave size: Up to 10 feet. Ocean floor: Sand. Head her for sizeable, offshore waves that are rumoured to be as good as Indonesian swells. Experienced surfers can also master perfectly formed offshore mini barrels.
September 2011 Kanoo World Traveller 11