American Tony Hawk is the greatest skateboarder of all time and gained global notoriety when, in 1999, he performed the first 900 on his board - the equivalent to two-and-a-half revolutions in the air (900 degrees).
At 43, he claims he can still perform the stunt and has gone on to become a multi-millionaire with a series of computer games, as well as film and television appearances.
Hawk admits to a love for speed, whether that be on his skateboard or at the wheel of one of his many cars in the garage of his California home.
His "day-to-day car" is a Lexus 600H - "it's the one I take the kids around in" - of which he has four from his three marriages.
But his two pride and joys are a 1963 Corvette Stingray and a 620hp 2008 Hennessey Jeep HPE600 Turbo; both a far cry from the car that he learnt to drive in: a 1977 Honda Civic.
"I love my cars and I've always been a big fan of cars," he explains. "I'm always looking at them and fantasising about getting new ones. Growing up, the '63 Corvette was pretty much my dream car so, for a long time, the ambition was to get to a place where I could get one. It's a beautiful car and driving it is absolutely the best feeling. When I first saw it as a kid, I genuinely thought it was the Batmobile and you can see what I mean with the black outside and red interior.
"The supercharged Jeep's great too. It's quick, it can fit all the kids in as well. Okay, I might not love it quite as much as the Corvette, but it's still a great ride."
When not driving his cavalcade of cars around in the Californian sunshine, Hawk revels in watching whatever motorsport he can.
He attended his first Formula One race - the British Grand Prix - a couple of months ago and admitted to becoming infatuated with the roar of the V8 engines on the grid and the noise of the crowd, as well as the undeniable glitz and glamour.
"It was my first time in F1 and I didn't know what to expect," he says. "I must admit, I didn't know a lot about the guys driving there but someone was kind enough to invite me. I met a few of the guys and I had a good time."
He was in Abu Dhabi the past two years for the Laureus Awards and performed stunts during the V8 Supercars race weekend at Yas Marina in February.
But being an American, it's understandable that his first motorsport love is Nascar, and Hawk has been a regular at races over the years, even taking part in a celebrity Nascar event.
"Now, that was a lot of fun," he says, "and who doesn't like to go fast? It was something I've been trying to do for years and I finally got the opportunity. I did okay, I think. I got the fastest lap of all the celebrity field at Charlotte Motor Speedway and had a real good time."
"Of course, you can't help but think afterwards that you could have been a contender if you'd been a racer but I know realistically I wouldn't have got close to these F1 and Nascar guys," he says. "They're unbelievably quick and it's such a rush."
Perhaps, though, his most random motoring foray has been taking part in the Gumball Rally, in which he competed with some fellow skateboarders, as well as the Gumball 3000.
"Both were great fun," he says. "We got pulled over by the cops in the Gumball 3000 for going too fast but the cop was a good guy and said he didn't give us a ticket as we were the only guys he could actually catch.
"On another play, we headed to Salt Lake City and drove to Las Vegas and then Los Angeles in just eight days. Is there a better rush? A great trip."
On his own cars, Hawk speaks fondly of all of them, even the Civic he learnt to drive in.
"I've happy memories of it," he says. "It was my parents' car and my Dad taught me how to drive in it. I then saved up enough money to buy it off them and it was my baby."
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Violence%20
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Match info
Bournemouth 1 (King 45 1')
Arsenal 2 (Lerma 30' og, Aubameyang 67')
Man of the Match: Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
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Avatar%20(2009)
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MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
The biog
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Baghdad
Education: PhD student and co-researcher at Greifswald University, Germany
Hobbies: Ping Pong, swimming, reading
