ABU DHABI // The capital will soon be treated to some sick air (good jumps) and gnarly grabs (cool tricks). Probably a few faceplants (wipeouts), too.
That is because it was announced yesterday that Abu Dhabi would host one of the biggest events in professional wakeboarding, the 2010 Wakeboard World Series, known among the sport's aficianados as Wakestock.
The three-day competition, which kicks off on March 4, will see some of the world's top wakeboarders, including the reigning champion Phillip Soven of the US, competing for US$50,000 (Dh184,000) in prize money.
The wakeboarders will show off their surfing-style tricks on boards made of honeycomb mixed with resin and fibreglass while being pulled by a speedboat across the water at speeds of around 40kph.
The event will include an F1 FanZone-style venue and will be free to the public.
The festival will also feature concerts by international and local musicians after the daily competition. After the sun goes down and the athletes have put down their boards, movies about the sport will be projected on to giant screens.
Before the competition, there will be a chance for the public to try out wakeboarding using a straight-line cable tow system powered by an electric motor. This will be set up by February 3 and there are plans to keep it on the Corniche after the contest.
"It's an action sport, it's a young sport," said Mike Fairburn, the marketing director at Flash, the organisers. "The festival when it's held in the UK is a well-attended event. We also want families to come down from all areas of the community. That's why it's free and on the Corniche beach."
Mr Fairburn did not reveal which musicians would be performing, but said organisers had "approached UK indie bands, cutting-edge DJs, local talent, local DJs and local personalities that young people will relate to".
Mark Durston, the founder of Wakestock, called the Corniche "one of the most amazing urban beaches".
"From Lulu Island to the backdrop of the city itself, and the beautiful blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, I cannot imagine a more perfect setting," he said.
asafdar@thenational.ae
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
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What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
