There's no sign of jitters in Blake Granger as he gears up for practice laps at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena.
As the popular Monster Jam competition roars back in the capital on Saturday and Sunday, the Louisiana native is about to hop on to a 5,500kg truck and perform some stunts.
“I have been doing this for eight years,” Granger tells The National, as he puts on a flame-retardant suit.
“If I were scared, I wouldn't be driving a monster jam truck,” he adds with a grin.
Five other drivers are testing the grounds on the Friday we visit, before the show.
Originating from the US, Monster Jam is famous for its exhilarating displays of monster truck tricks.
Drivers are pitted against each other in three adrenalin-fuelled disciplines: racing, two-wheel skills and perhaps the most awaited freestyle show.
Here, drivers perform gravity-defying stunts such as backflips, monster doughnuts and sky-scraping jumps.
Granger is behind the wheels of one of the most recognisable trucks in the game, El Toro Loco, which is Spanish for The Crazy Bull.
“I'm going to take this bull and I'm going to reach for the roof of that arena. I look forward to trying to kiss it,” he says.
Part of the Monster Jam experience is the quirkiness of the trucks themselves. Forget sleek, aerodynamic designs – these behemoths are all about outlandish customisation.
Granger's “bull” features a menacing red and orange paint job, with horns jutting out from the front like a furious beast ready to charge.
Another fan-favourite appearing this weekend is Megalodon, piloted by Charlie Pauken, famous for its shark-like appearance and predatory moves on the course.
There's also the black-and-green Grave Digger, as well as superhero-themed trucks Black Panther, Spider Man and Thor, with Myranda Cozad behind the wheels as the only female competitor this weekend.
A lot of technicality goes into the preparation ahead of such competitions, says Granger, adding it's important for drivers to “feel the track out ahead” especially as they perform in different custom-built environments across the world.
In December last year, Monster Jam hosted a contest at Moreeb Dune, on the western outskirts of Abu Dhabi at Liwa Oasis.
“We have so many things in these trucks that are capable of catching fire, whether it's the fuel or the oils in the transmission,” Granger says.
Every one of these suits, as well as our gloves and our helmet is 100 per cent fireproof.”
Preparing the body physically is also paramount, he adds. “I have two kids and they keep me active,” he says with a chuckle. “We go running or play football. When I'm not travelling for a show, I'm consistently working with the kids, and everything they do, I do.”
Asked how his children feel about him being in extreme sports, Granger quips: “They love it because they go to school and all their friends are like: 'Your dad drives El Toro? I saw him on TV this weekend.' It's pretty awesome.”
“It's something I'll never take for granted,” he says, and his sturdy exterior visibly softens as talks about his children. “It's a dream job.”
As part of Granger's pre-show rituals, he calls his children for extra inspiration.
“They light a fire in me that makes me want to go out and the best role model I can be,” he says.
“My daughter is a barrel racer on horses, while my son plays football and also races motocross, which I also did growing up.
“So they're both building that racing background and, hopefully, one of them will be a Monster Jam driver too.”
Aside from physical preparation, and heavy doses of inspiration from his family, Blake says courage and willpower are crucial for monster truck drivers.
“These Monster Jam trucks are capable of pretty much doing anything you set them up to do – it's all about being daring enough to do it. Us Monster Jam drivers have no fear. Every time we strap into that truck, we want to invent, change the game and bring something new to the table,” he explains.
Potential drivers are scouted by managers in several extreme sports that involve driving a vehicle. They are then sent to Monster Jam University in Illinois to learn everything from basic operations to performing gravity-defying stunts.
“Once they are determined to be ready to drive, they are sent on the road,” says Granger, who adds he wouldn't be surprised if someone from the region eventually becomes a Monster Jam driver.
“We all come from different motorsports backgrounds, but one that we don't have yet is dune bashing, which you do a lot here in the UAE,” he says.
“I got to experience it last year at Liwa Oasis, and that was probably one of the best experiences I've had. This is something that you guys do every day for a normal life, and that might be where the door opens for somebody over here in the UAE,” he adds.
After a high-adrenalin show, Granger likes to cool down by speaking to his children.
“When we get done with a Monster Jam event, the adrenalin is through the roof. You're so hyped, you're so pumped, you just pulled off this crazy trick. The fans are going wild. You get out your truck and you feel a roar like no other,” he says.
“Then I go back the locker room to relax and call my kids – tell them exactly how the show just went and the moves I just pulled off.
“There's nothing better than hearing their excitement for what dad just did, and of course knowing that dad will be home soon.”
Monster Jam is taking place on June 8 and 9 at Etihad Arena; tickets are available at etihadarena.ae
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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EXPATS
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
MO
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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More on animal trafficking
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The five pillars of Islam
RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
The five pillars of Islam
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%203-litre%20V6%20turbo%20(standard%20model%2C%20E-hybrid)%3B%204-litre%20V8%20biturbo%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20350hp%20(standard)%3B%20463hp%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20467hp%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20500Nm%20(standard)%3B%20650Nm%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20600Nm%20(S)%0D%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh368%2C500%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
