Dubai: Despite surfers facing fines for taking their boards to the water on Dubai's coastline last year, surfing is far from being wiped out in the emirate.
A Dubai Surfing Association is being formed to group and represent Emirati and expatriate surfers who have been a common sight on Dubai's beaches for 20 years.
Currently more than 1,500 surfers are registered with Surf Dubai, the first surfing enthusiasts club in the region since 1994. According to Scott Chambers, founder of Surf Dubai, surfers have been cooperating with Dubai Municipality to develop the sport further.
"The municipality has been extremely supportive and helpful. We are working very closely to ensure the safe practice of surfing in the UAE," said Chambers.
The Dubai Surfing Association (DSA) which is ‘close to completion' will promote the growth of surfing amongst the local population as well as cultivating local surfing talent in Dubai. DSA will also regulate International Surfing Association standards for the safe practice of the sport.
A recent scare initially linked to a shark attack, later put down to a possible barracuda bite when a surfer emerged with bite marks on his foot, remains hazy.
"We do not think it was a shark. It is more probable that it could have been a barrucada, however even this is extremely unlikely. We have never seen or experienced any shark related incidents in our 20 years of surfing the Gulf," said Chambers.
The 26-year-old Brazilian is now preparing for one of the biggest events on the surfing calendar — the Annual Quicksilver World Surfing Championships on Australia's Gold Coast from February 26 to March 10.
It will be all work and no surfing this time around though.
"We are travelling there purely as ambassadors of surfing from the Middle East to discuss important topics such as the Dubai Surfing Association, the latest indoor Wave Pool technology, artificial surfing reefs, and international competitions in Dubai," said Chambers.
Of the more than 1,500 surfers registered with Surf Dubai, there are over 200 Emiratis who have taken to the sport.
"Surf Dubai and Quicksilver's primary initiative has been extremely successful. We've seen a big rise in local interest. The number of surfers in Dubai has grown exponentially since 2000."
During the contest in Australia, Surf Dubai will meet and collaborate with leaders of the surf industry to discuss the potential for surfing projects in Dubai such as state of the art Wave Pool and Artificial Surfing Reefs, neither of which currently exist here. But plans are in the pipelines to change this.
Replicate
Wave pool technology available today is able to virtually replicate exact surfing conditions of world class destinations inside a controlled environment such as a wave pool. This serves as a great location to hold surfing events and special events with the world's best surfers.
"It is like waves on tap, perfect waves whenever it is needed which means no waiting or travelling involved," said Chambers.
While the waves in Dubai may not compare to some of the best surfing locations in the world, like Snapper Rocks on the Gold coast of Australia, there is still enough of a swell to hold informal contests.
"We will be looking to discuss how we can improve Dubai's surf contests through Artificial Surfing Reefs and Indoor Wave Pools. We will also be discussing Stand Up Paddling races and competitions," he added.
Artificial surfing reefs are made of geotextile bags filled with sand.
"The bags are structured together to form a specific shape laid along the sea bed which can produce excellent quality waves. Artificial Surfing Reefs also serve as effective and sustainable forms of coastal protections. There have been plans to build an Artificial Surfing Reef which I was personally involved in developing; however this has not yet come to fruition," said Chambers.
"As a tertiary function, they can also serve as dive sites because the geotextile material is environmentally friendly and coral reefs can form on them."
Surfing, an active sport which promotes fitness and well-being and its growth, could be of huge benefit to the region.
"This is a direct benefit in tackling our local problem of diabetes and child obesity. Surfing does not use any form of pollutant in practice or doesn't deplete any natural resources," said Chambers.
Have your say
Do you know how to surf? Do you know of any similar activities that could be introduced in the UAE? Which outdoor sport do you participate in? Tell us.
