Twins Omar and Ahmed Mohamed Al Hamed have fallen in love with their new sport.
After a week of tumbling to the ice at Zayed Sports City (ZSC) they are now skating around the rink like experts.
Operation co-operation for Ahli coach Hasek
The key to getting back to the top, the successful manager in the past tells Ahmed Rizvi, is to get the team working together again.
TOP SPORT STORIES
Man City reject Corinthians' offer for Tevez's transfer.
Read article
Time at Greenwich good sign for 2012 London Olympics
.
Read article
Afghan and Pak cueists snookered by lack of funds on the table.
Read article
The 13-year-old Abu Dhabi brothers joined almost 100 fellow Emirati schoolboys at the capital's summer ice hockey training camp at ZSC. And it has not taken the Al Ruwad Model School pupils long to get to grips with a game that only last month was alien to them.
"I feel really free when I'm out there on the ice on my skates," Omar said. "Ice hockey is just so quick and exciting. I don't feel like myself when I'm playing.
"We have only been playing for two or three weeks, and it's been amazing. I got interested because my dad took me to some games, so I came down to this training camp. I liked it right away so I am going to continue playing.
"Maybe this is something I can do really seriously when I get older. We both fell down a lot at the start, but it is great fun."
Ahmed admitted the physical aspect of the sport can be difficult to handle, but it has not put him off.
"It only took me one week to start really enjoying myself, even if it was a week of falling down," he said. "It does hurt at times, but that doesn't mean it's not fun. Omar and I are quite big, so that helps."
Omar is not the only young Emirati who is considering ice hockey as a career.
It is why the UAE Ice Hockey Association has attracted some top quality young coaches so they can make the country a future name in the world of ice hockey
One such coach is Kellin Carson, who has been in the country for just three weeks. He was at college in Finland when this opportunity came up. He did not even think twice about the move.
"The reason coming here really appealed to me was that, in ice hockey terms, it's a developing country and they are trying to get the sport started," said Carson, who grew up in Vancouver.
"Where else would be better? Canada doesn't need me to teach them about ice hockey, so why not go somewhere that needs my help.
"I am here to make a difference. This, for me, is the place to be.
"Everything happens so quickly. It's stunning to me. As soon as I saw this venue I knew I'd made the right decision. Training the kids like this is also getting the message out there that we have ice hockey in the UAE, even if it is 100°F (38°C) outside."
The 100 or so boys, aged from five to 13, have been quick to learn how to stay on their feet on the ice.
"We had them here in the first week and almost everyone was hanging on to the side as the skated around. Now none of them do," Carson said.
"I was five when my dad first took me on the ice, so a lot of these kids are not far behind. It's not as if they are all late starters.
"It's just an achievement for a desert country to have genuine hopes of making the World Championship ranks . but the organisation here is superb and while it's going to take a few years, they have the money, resources and are willing."
Helping out this month is Faisal Saeed, a defensive stalwart for the UAE national side for the past 11 years, a time which culminated with him winning a bronze medal at this year's Asian Winter Games.
The 35-year-old GASCO Oil Company worker from Abu Dhabi can hardly believe where his chosen sport is now as he had to fly halfway around the world to get his first taste of it while at university in Denver.
"When I came back to the UAE there was ice hockey at ZSC, but it was only expats that played at that time," he said.
"Despite having enjoyed watching and playing a bit in the States, I never thought I would take it up when I got back home. But the expats started to teach me and other locals, and it really took off."
"It's great to see so many kids involved and most had no clue about ice hockey before they got here."
The sport was so new to many of the youngsters that some even had to ask how to score a goal.
"Ice hockey is still a big challenge here," Saeed said. "I was in Finland two years ago, doing some coaching, and in a country such as that one everybody plays the sport. So we are still a minority, although one which keeps growing."
And it is not only for the boys as the first women's team from the Emirates - the Abu Dhabi Storms - took part at the Asian championship in Hong Kong in May.
"This is a sport for everyone," Faisal said.
"That is one of the best things about it."
ncameron@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShare%20price%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETarget%20raise%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%248%20billion%20to%20%2410%20billion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProjected%20valuation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2460%20billion%20to%20%2470%20billion%20(Source%3A%20Bloomberg)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELead%20underwriters%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Barclays%2C%20Goldman%20Sachs%20Group%2C%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20and%20Mizuho%20Financial%20Group%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Lady Parma, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
Winner: Night Castle, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
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
Persuasion
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarrie%20Cracknell%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDakota%20Johnson%2C%20Cosmo%20Jarvis%2C%20Richard%20E%20Grant%2C%20Henry%20Golding%20and%20Nikki%20Amuka-Bird%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
