What do paddlers do after a major event like the Dubai Shamaal 2007?  They party, that's what!  The famous Barasti Bar in the host Le Meridien Resort was jumping...  And so were the paddlers.

Party time!

Dance Moves Extraordinary

When Al & I arrived at the Bar after having resurrected the website, we found the race crew well on their way...  The Rooster was trolling around trying to lure people onto the dance floor.  Turned out later that he'd gone back to his hotel after the race to change...  into his special Rooster-shoes and he was feeling the need to exercise them on the floor.

In short order, Dawid, Billy, Andrew, Clint, Wayno, Barry, Tracy and the rest were executing awesome maneuvers...  I'd never realised just how skillfull these guys were - paddling is one thing, but this dancing was form; it was delicacy of step; it was just beautiful...

At about 1am things seemed to be quietening down when Billy giant-stride Harker led the way once more to the floor.  More & more paddlers joined him and within moments, the long suffering DJ had abandoned all hope of an early night (or morning) and was belting out the tracks... 

About then, we left, exhausted.  Dawid, Billy and the rest were still jiving a storm...

On the dance floor! On the dance floor!

Abbey & Herman horizontal Abbey & Herman horizontal

Billy Harker, Rene Appel, Glicker Billy Harker, Rene Appel, Glicker

Extraordinary moves Extraordinary moves

Extraordinay paddlers Extraordinay paddlers

The Rooster Shoe The Rooster Shoe

2800bph @ 180mph 2800bph @ 180mph

4800kg of pure power 4800kg of pure power

World Champions! World Champions!

Surfski.info does 92mph Surfski.info does 92mph

Alain Jaques - check that grin! Alain Jaques - check that grin!

Dubai skyline Dubai skyline

Awesome cockpit Awesome cockpit

Mousley at speed Mousley at speed

What do you do in Dubai the day after the race?

One choice was the Dubai Sevens...  but this week in Dubai sees a whole range of marine activities, including dhow racing, the Dubai Shamaal, and Class 1 World Powerboat Championships...

In our travails with the website, we'd met the press liaison officer of the Powerboat Champs and he'd kindly offered us press passes to the hospitality area; invitations to the guest stands and a ride in the pace boat after the race!

So, joined by John Blacklaws, who'd done the commentary for the live TV coverage of the Shamaal parade the day before, we repaired forthwith to the hospitality tent where we popped couple of bracingly brisk golden beverages...

We watched the race from the grandstands.  The boats are impressive machines - 4800kg with twin V8 or V12 engines of 1400bhp each, they can get up to 180mph.  On the open sea they literally take off as they bounce from wave to wave and require extreme skill to keep them under control. 

Afterwards we went back to the friendly hospitality ladies and were plied with more beverages while we waited our turn to ride the Nor-tech official pace boat.  The trip was short, but wild.  We went out almost to the open sea, getting up to around 80mph on the way out.  The driver was jockeying the throttles as we hit waves, working to keep the boat under control - we literally took off on some of the waves, lifting out of our seats and landing again with a thump.  On the way back into the harbour on the smoother water, he opened up and we reached 95mph before, all too soon, we slowed down to make our way back to the jetty.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow is dragon boat racing and a trip out to the desert where we'll go dune bashing and belly dancing.

What an amazing place.

Results

Click here for the full results - in pdf format...

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Shoes
written by Antoine De Rooster, December 02, 2007

Sorry Dawid, with my shoes and young flexibility combined you didn't stand a chance on the D-floor. I would like to make a very honorable mention to Rob Mousley, that man does not only help this sport out tremendously, hes got some insane moves under his belt!

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written by Ritchie Cunningham, December 17, 2007

That picture is scary. Where's the women?

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women?
written by Rob Mousley, December 17, 2007

There were a couple of girls there I seem to recall - but not nearly enough! (Which goes for Surf Ski in general!)

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