Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
The Call of the Desert
07.12.2007
Between the spangled seas of the Arabian Gulf, sprinkled with inviting, picturesque islands, and the boundless sands of the Rub Al Kahli (The Empty Quarter), a forbidding coruscation of ageless, towering dunes, lies the largest of the seven Emirates constituting this burgeoning federation. Abu Dhabi, home to the eponymous capital city of the United Arab Emirates and the driving force behind its foundation in 1971, is a dynamic and vibrant country.
This cradle of ancient civilisations has succeeded in exploding into the 21st century propelled by invested oil revenues and an unwavering awareness of the importance of historical perspectives. Synonymous with the enduring qualities of hospitality and anchored in ancestral values passed across generations by word of mouth for over 7,000 years, Abu Dhabi, the “Father of the Gazelle�, will introduce Adventure Racing’s newest event to one of the world’s oldest civilisations.
This enticing juxtaposition of the innovative and the traditional is reflected not only in the course layout, combining disciplines using some of the most up to date sporting technologies as well as more prosaic modes of transport, but also in the truly international scope of the team list.
The opportunity to explore and discover the heartland of this little known Arabian wonderland has drawn a star-studded field from around the globe that includes such AR giants as NIKE (USA), LUNDHAGS ADVENTURE (SWE), AFOC FINLAND (FIN), WILSA HELLY HANSEN (FRA), SALOMON SPAIN (ESP) and ADVENTURE SPORT NZ (NZL), who will be seeking to blaze a trail for a clutch of rookie and lesser known hopefuls. Newbie locals TDIC RIGHT TO PLAY (UAE) will race alongside a glittering pack of seasoned challengers shot through with international AR talent like ADCO SELVA (BRA), TERRAMAR/URUGUAY (URU) and ATT360-OTZTAL (AUT), all with the aspiration of “toppling the big boys�.
SleepMonsters
