Adventurers head for Abu Dhabi

Gruelling 400km race involves kayaking beside the Corniche, trekking through the Empty Quarter and climbing Jebel Hafeet.

A team treks through the Empty Quarter during the first challenge.

ABU DHABI // It may involve hiking across Liwa's expansive dunes, scaling Jebel Hafeet, mountain biking through the desert and tasting the Gulf Sea spray during a gruelling kayaking race, but it seems the world is up to a second Abu Dhabi Challenge.

The six-day endurance event returns on Dec 12, with more teams and a new route cutting through the Sir Bani Yas Island wildlife sanctuary. So far, 29 mixed teams of four, representing 15 countries and four continents, have signed up for the multi-discipline outdoor competition, and there are still two months to register. "We're well on track for the 2008 event to once again be the most international adventure race in the world," said Ahmed Hussein, the deputy director general of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

In keeping with last year's debut event, the route will cover more than 400km and will take competitors through many of the emirate's natural wonders, ending with a blistering bike dash on Dec 17 to the oasis town of Al Ain. Despite the scenery, this is not a glamour sport. Last year, an Austrian athlete twisted his ankle, forcing his team to withdraw, and registration costs ?3,500 (Dh17,550). This year's total prize pot is ?173,000 (Dh858,100), with ?40,000 going to the winning team.

"Be warned, the challenge requires extensive training and particular specialist skills," Mr Hussein said. "It is not for the faint-hearted." While serious athletes are encouraged to register at the website, www.abudhabi-adventure.com, organisers warn the contest requires participants to compete in high-stamina challenges, such as sea kayaking, desert hiking, mountain biking and climbing, which are extremely physically demanding.

"The quartets must complete the various sporting disciplines and cover the competitive distances in the shortest time possible," said Mr Hussein. "One of the keys to the event is that all team members must pass through route checkpoints simultaneously, so teamwork is essential." Squads from the UAE will take on teams from Slovenia, New Zealand, Brazil, the US, Romania and Britain. The tourism authority created the event last year to show off the emirate's stunning scenery, with clips from the race broadcast on the National Geographic channel.

Sir Bani Yas Island - the Arabian wildlife reserve 170km west of the capital - will act as backdrop for 70km of the all-terrain bike race. The race begins in Abu Dhabi's urban centre, with kayaking along the Corniche's new public beach and around Lulu Island, before moving to Sir Bani Yas Island for more challenges. Teams will then paddle 150km through coastal waters to Mirfa and trek for two days through the red dunes of the Empty Quarter.

On the final leg, contestants will encounter the Jebel Hafeet mountain, rising 1,240 metres and spanning the border with Oman. After a rugged hike, they will get on their bicycles for a last push to the finish line. As for the future of the event, there would be "plenty more to see", said Mr Hussein. "The authority is trying to raise global awareness of Abu Dhabi with the long-term objective of having the emirate globally recognised as a destination of distinction."

The competition is being held under the patronage of Shiekh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. "It will be one of the most interesting and demanding races found anywhere in the world," Sheikh Hazza said in statement. "The inaugural Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge laid the groundwork for an annual event, which is already gaining global momentum." [e-mail]