Head to the Corniche on March 1 and you’ll see Jet Skis bombing along at more than 100kmph, surging through our beautiful waters and even flying through the air upside down. But this isn’t a few tourists showing off their erratic driving skills, this is the fourth heat of the UAE Jet Ski Championships.
The tournament takes place over six heats: three in Dubai and three here in Abu Dhabi. And this is the second one to take place in the nation’s capital.
A selection of events will be contested in categories such as ‘standing up’ racing and ‘sitting down’ racing (which are as obvious as they sound and are categories defined by the position the riders take on the Jet Ski).
Taking part will be Emirati Jet Skier Almur Bin Huraiz. This 18 year old is quickly making a name for himself in this high-octane sport and he is trained by his uncle, Huraiz Bin Huraiz.
‘I mentor my nephew, he is the racer. I look after everything for him, basically, from PR to planning for the race and making sure he is ready mentally and physically,’ says Huraiz. ‘I also ride jet skis and I have been riding for 15 years. Almur started at around eight years old and he started racing when he was 11 years old.’
Almur races in the standing up categories, which are the more challenging. ‘Stand up requires more balance and more skill,’ says Huraiz. ‘With stand up you have three categories; you have junior, which is for ten-15 year olds, and then you have the expert ski limited, which is for intermediate riders and there’s no age limit. And then you have broad EGP, which features all the pros from the stand-up category.’
The competition started in the early 1990s, says Huraiz, and attracts many of the best Jet Ski riders in the world. It’s an event Almur has been training for since he was young. ‘He was the first UAE junior to compete internationally,’ adds Huraiz. ‘We started going abroad when he was 12 years old and when he was 13 he won the world championships in the junior category.’
Also competing at the Corniche will be Frenchman Steven Dauliach. ‘He is possibly the fastest guy on the planet and he’s been riding for 18-odd years; the European riders, they have far more experience than the local riders,’ says Huraiz, who thinks competing against the best riders will only benefit his nephew.
‘World champions are coming here to compete in our season, partly because it’s cold in Europe at the moment,’ he adds. ‘We attract a lot of Europeans and it makes it much more competitive. And it’s good training for Almur. There are three world champions competing; two of them have ten world titles.’
Competing is something Almur is doing with some style. He currently sits in second place in the Championship table. ‘Almur has had a good start to the championship,’ says his proud uncle. ‘He got third in the first heat, and in the second round he came first.’
It wasn’t all plain sailing in the last race, though. ‘In the third round recently, he finished fourth because we had a technical problem,’ says Huraiz. ‘But overall he is second in the whole championship.’
But if you’re thinking of doing more than just watching these pros in action at the beach this week, Huraiz has a word of warning for you: it’s not a sport anyone can do without putting in some hard work first.
‘This sport requires a lot of fitness and a lot of time on the jet ski as well,’ he says. ‘It’s a combination of practise on the water and going to the gym for general strength. If your fitness is not high, it doesn’t matter how fast your Jet Ski can go.’
Huraiz also warns these beasts of the sea are not for the feint-hearted. ‘They are very hard to handle, especially because of the top speed and power they can reach these days. It requires a lot of skill.’
Huraiz though doesn’t believe it’s a risky pastime. ‘I don’t think it’s dangerous, especially if the course is well designed. And there are always safety mashals available. As long as people stick to the rules, you hardly ever see people having accidents.’ These rules include the racers maintaining their lines when they start the race. ‘When people don’t maintain their lines, that’s when there is a chance an accident can happen,’ he adds.
The good news is, though, he thinks anyone can learn to compete. ‘It’s not difficult if you have the ability,’ smiles Huraiz. ‘But you have to have your own Jet Ski because if you get into the classes where you can modify the equipment, that’s when it becomes expensive.’
It also costs Huraiz a lot of his spare time. ‘It’s not a full-time job but I do it as a passion,’ he laughs. ‘And seeing the skills in Almur means I am happy to give him a lot of my time.’
March 1, Breakwater, the Corniche. Head to www.abudhabievents.ae for more info. Check out Almur on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlmurBinHuraiz
Where to hire a Jet Ski in the city
Sea Tourism
Conquer the Corniche on their powerful Jet Skis – full briefing and lifejackets provided.
Dhs280 per hour. Villa 23, Royal Marina Villas, behind Marina Mall, www.seatourism.net (02 681 3064).
Al Masaood Diving & Marine Sports
Retailers for most marine sports, this is the place to head if you’re after diving, snorkelling, wakeboarding, Jet Ski and kayaking equipment.
Salam Street, www.masaoodmarine.com (02 642 4222).
