The mercury is creeping up, and that has (most) sportsmen and women retreating to the shade – or better yet, into some of Abu Dhabi’s climate-controlled indoor sports arenas.
Cool licks of A/C are just what the doctor ordered for those who’ve spent one-too-many knockabouts in rising temps outdoors, and we’ve been inspired by their commitment to keeping cool.
Here are six simply magnificent indoor sports to beat the heat with this month.
Be bowled over at Khalifa International Bowling Centre
Sun skittling your plans? Seek shade at the UAE’s national bowling centre. This mega bowling alley at Zayed Sports City has a monster 40 lanes, meaning you’ll never have long to wait to throw down a strike (or slam one into the gutter). It’s used by the national team and it’s even hosted the World Bowling Championship in days past, so the facilities are excellent. There are also ping pong tables and arcade games to hop on to if the pins aren’t falling your way. Sore loser? Us? Never.
Open daily 3pm-3am. Zayed Sports City (02 403 4200).
Clamber over the squishy obstacles at BOUNCE
There’s something oddly enjoyable about taking a tumble when you know you’re going to bounce straight back. And spring upright you shall at BOUNCE, where those who can’t sit still can burn off any excess energy – and then some. It’s all the benefit of a serious cardio workout with complete disassociation of the work that’s actually being put in. Plot a course through the springy arena with mates and see who can hit the highest of heights.
Open Sun-Thu noon-midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi, bounce.ae.
Dive in at the deep end at Cleopatra Swimming Academy Al Jazirah Club
Pool day with a difference? Boost your cardiovascular efficiency while toning muscles for the actual pool days. Contrary to popular belief, hitting the lengths in an outdoor pool doesn’t always serve swimmers well, with the body temp soon catching up with the heat. But at Cleopatra Swimming Academy, goggle-wearing guys and girls can bob up and down the lanes to their hearts’ content.
Open Sat-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri 10am-10pm. 12 Al Sayfah Street, Mohamed Bin Zayed City (600 515156).
Go totally sub-zero at the ice skating rink
Stick a triple Salchow to look sub-zero levels of cool at Zayed Sports City. Okay, that may not be quite possible for the beginners among us (no shame in gripping that handrail tight, folks), but this is still quite literally the best place to cool off in the capital. There’s an art to ice skating, and there’s plenty of whimsy to behold as skaters twist turn and spin in circular motions across the frozen glass.
A perfect way to beat the heat, just be prepared for the odd bump and bruise
when taking a slip.
Open Sun-Wed noon-5pm and 6.30pm-6.15pm, Thu noon-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 10.15am-10.30pm. Zayed Sports City, zsc.ae (02 403 4200).
Scale new heights at CLYMB Abu Dhabi
Head for heights? CLYMB Abu Dhabi is a physical test like few others in this part of the world, giving climbers the chance to get to grips with a real test of their credentials. There’s a huge range of walls to get familiar with, including the 43m SUMMYT, which boasts the record of being the world’s largest indoor wall of its kind. You may be strapped in, but do push off a solid foot and never (ever) look down.
Tue-Sat 1pm-8pm. Yas Island, clymbabudhabi.com (600 511115).
Score a screamer at indoor football
It’s the beautiful game, but there’s nothing pretty about wringing out sweat-soaked jerseys at full-time. Thankfully, at The Dome players can take their headers and volleys inside, swerving the sweltering sunshine in the process. After all, top corner screamers always feel that much better when you actually have breathe left in the lungs to scream about them afterwards. The only thing you need to worry about is how you’re celebrating.
Open 8am-1am. Zone 1, Rowdhat, thedome.ae (02 447 0754).
Music to move to
Finding the perfect playlist to get psyched on a matchday is a seemingly impossible quest. There is always a better (but not-yet-downloaded) track that can get the adrenaline pumping at even greater velocity, while no two sets of ear drums are the same when it comes to getting hyped in the team dressing room ahead of kick-off.
And when it comes to the gym, well, it’s very much each to their own.
But that hasn’t stopped the bods (probably very in-shape bods at that) at PureGym analysing over 142,000 songs which have been added to ‘workout’ and ‘gym’ related playlists by Spotify users.
The deep dive churned up a top ten ‘mega’ playlist comprising a high-tempo mix of dance and rap music, topped
by the inimitable Eminem.
Happy listening.
1. ‘Till I Collapse – Eminem
No. of playlists featured in 318
2. Roses – SAINt JHN (Imanbek remix)
No. of playlists featured in 252
3. The Business – Tiësto
No. of playlists featured in 218
4. Head & Heart (feat. MNEK) – Joel Corry
No. of playlists featured in 206
5. Turn Me On (feat. Vula) – Riton
No. of playlists featured in 168
6. Stronger – Kanye West
No. of playlists featured in 168
7. Remember the Name (feat. Styles of Beyond) – Fort Minor
No. of playlists featured in 166
8. Goosebumps – HVME
No. of playlists featured in 160
9. POWER – Kanye West
No. of playlists featured in 156
10. Lose Yourself – Eminem
No. of playlists featured in 150
