Stand-up paddling causes a splash at Abu Dhabi festival

Abu Dhabi: Fans were treated to top-class stand-up paddle (SUP) events on Friday on the second day of the Al Gharbia Watersports Festival, which takes place until April 27.

Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, the festival is initiated by the Western Region Development Council (WRDC) and organised by the Al Gharbia Sports Club and Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club.

On Friday, there were high-calibre competitors from around the region taking part in kitesurfing events on Al Mirfa Beach in Al Gharbia, the western region of Abu Dhabi. Competitions included male and female freestyling, where competitors went head-to-head to show off their tricks for a chance to win Dh10,000 in prize money.

Billed as a big draw this year, the festival also has a traditional souq, where eager shoppers were getting their hands on local handicraft items, women’s clothing, traditional toys and sampling traditional Emirati food.

Obaid Khalfan Al Mazroui, the Festival Manager, said: “Yesterday was a big success – we had more than 3,000 attend the opening ceremony. This shows our strategy to grow the festival as the ‘go to’ place in Al Gharbia is working. But we have more special events and entertainment lined up, like the kitesurfing and exciting stage shows for both the adults and kids, so we expect even more people to head to the shores of Al Mirfa Beach over the coming days.”

Jen Scully, a female competitor from Abu Dhabi who won the stand-up paddle competition, said: “It was a wonderful day on Al Mirfa Beach. The conditions were outstanding, which helped me come first in my event. I am buzzing.”

Jackub Szczesny, a kitesurfing professional who is going to be offering free lessons to the public at the festival during the week, said: “The calibre of kitesurfing during the festival is going to be exceptional. There are top-class athletes from the region hitting the water to entertain the crowd. It really is an event not to be missed.”

For more information about the festival and schedule of events, please visit: www.algharbiafestivals.com/watersports or http://www.facebook.com/AGWatersports.