Competitors during the first day of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, a six-day event that will take athletes all over the emirate.
Competitors during the first day of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, a six-day event that will take athletes all over the emirate.
Competitors during the first day of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, a six-day event that will take athletes all over the emirate.
Competitors during the first day of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, a six-day event that will take athletes all over the emirate.

Adventure Challenge goes backwards to be tougher


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For Sylvain Thuault, the man behind the gruelling six-day race across Abu Dhabi that got under way yesterday, each location provides a new challenge.

He should know: in the 25 years since he started in adventure races as a finish-line usher, welcoming competitors as they crossed, he has built courses for would-be adventurers in more than 40 countries.

"In each country you have to adapt, it's a new race. I can never say I have a plan, that I will do the same thing again," said Mr Thuault, who is now the race director. "Things will always change, based on the geography."

The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, a 426km race across diverse landscapes, began yesterday on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

The race will be demanding on the 50 mixed-gender teams of four members each, who will spend the next six days mountain biking, running, kayaking and trekking to the finish line.

For Mr Thuault, the event begins in April, when his team scouts the emirate to find new challenges to include in the race. Then they return in October to choose campsites and test the different sections.

"When we envisioned a trek through the desert, we had to cross it as the racers would do and see that it's possible," he said.

Adventure races are long-distance endurance races. The course can be either a series of sprints and short challenges, usually lasting one to three days, or an expedition race, which lasts more than a week and covers multiple disciplines.

For many participants, simply finishing the race is its own victory.

The race encourages teamwork, too. During yesterday's triathlon, weaker runners were roped to their stronger team members. Split into two canoes, teams could be seen strapping the crafts to each other. But not all courses are created equal.

Despite being a 2009 Adventure Racing world champion, Nick Gracie, from England, found the pace of the first day exhausting.

"I've done a lot of longer non-stop adventure racing that goes for a couple days," said Mr Gracie, a first-time participant. "This one is just killing me."

Even for those who have participated in all three previous races, this year the course offers something new: it has been reversed.

Previously, it began with kayaking and ended at Al Ain's Jahili Fort. This year, the final stage will be a 121km kayak from Mirfa to the shores of the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

Mr Thuault said: "If you start with the kayaking section, and a team are particularly strong at it, they just have to manage the time advantage they earned in order to place well."

Putting the kayak section last keeps the race competitive until the end. "Racers can make a big difference with the new course."

Mr Thuault may have had the three-time winners Thule Adventure Team in mind when he gave the course a makeover.

On day one the team, headed by adventure racing's golden couple, Richard and Elina Ussher, managed to chalk up a seven-minute advantage over the second-placed Thule Adventure Team Europe from France.

Mr Ussher said despite their strong lead, his team still have a wary eye on several other teams.

"It's always nice to take the lead from the first day but with a new course and a very strong field, this is still wide open," said Mr Ussher, from New Zealand.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

Need to know

When: October 17 until November 10

Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration

Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center

What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.

For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com

FIXTURES

December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm

December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm

December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm