Around town
6 cool sports to try this Eid
If you, like us, forgot to make plans this Eid and are now frantically trying to find things to do for the long weekend ahead – don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We tapped into our inner daredevil to gather a list of six sports that you have to try this weekend. Be warned, some of them are not for the faint of heart…
1. Kite Surfing
It’s an extreme sport with its own dangers, but with expert tuition you’ll be flying across the water in no time. In fact, Dukite are so confident in their school, they say you can go from beginner to superstar surfer within 20 hours of lessons.
They are on Kite Beach (funny that) and teach everything from how to prepare your kite and stand on the board to reading the wind directions at extreme speeds. Honestly, after one lesson, you’ll be spending the working week dreaming about your next session.
Price: From AED350 per person
Contact: +971 50 758 6992,
3. Flyboarding
This is another extreme sport you’ve probably seen people trying as you lunch at The Beach but haven’t got round to trying. It’s the one that uses water pressure to propel you into the air, where you can pull off amazing stunts like some kind of jet-pack-wearing astronaut. That’s the idea anyway; frankly, even just standing up is pretty tough. The boards you’re strapped to go as high as 10 metres, but SeaRide Dubai say you should be able to do tricks and backflips after just a few lessons.
Price: From AED300 for 30 minutes
Contact: +971 55 157 9393, website
4. Rock climbing
Why not work up a sweat by tackling Dubai’s highest climbing wall? It took two years to build, and at 15-metres tall, Dorell Sport’s outdoor wall, known as, ahem, The Wall, can be found at the World Trade Centre.
Rock up (sorry) and instructors will give you basic coaching before deciding what coloured “rocks” you should be clinging onto on your way up. Once you’ve done that, you can probably think about heading to Ras Al Khaimah with nothing but a pot of chalk and a sense of adventure. Don’t forget your factor 30.
Price: AED60 for a day pass
Contact: +9714 306 5061,
5. Sand skiing
Sand skiing classes at Viator include quad biking too, because walking up the dunes would be madness. Switch between sand skiing and boarding and after a few lessons you’ll be able to impress your visitors from home when you take them out.
Price: From AED400 for sand skiing
Contact:
6. X-Park Adventure Challenge Course
Bounce, the trampoline phenomenon, has just unveiled its X-Park Adventure Challenge Course, which is the first of its type in the region. Measuring 330 sq m and split over two levels, it contains 20 elements, including a zip line and a bouldering wall.
Where: Bounce, Al Quoz
Contact: +9714 321 1400,