If I turn my head slightly to the left, like a mere 15degrees, I can see the flat turquoise blue Arabian Gulf lapping on a paper white sandy beach. In the distance I can see "The World" development as it slowly takes shape 5kms out to sea. It's a chilly 30 degrees celsius mid-winter's morning here in Dubai, the man made oasis, a City built on Sand.

(If you got the Surfskischool email then this is purely a copy/paste, check the video clips for new stuff. Else keep reading......)

Chilling on a beach?
How about this for a lesson in perspective? While at a post race braai in Hong Kong (after the MAN Dragon Run) one of the Aussies asked where I was staying in Dubai prior to the Dubai Shamaal race. All I knew was that I was staying near the beach somewhere to which his response was: "It's ALL beach isn't it?" I laughed, and silently contemplated the lesson on perspective that was unknowingly (I assume) passed onto me. Many, in fact most people, would choose to see a desert next to an ocean, but he chose to see a beach, which at some points, is a bit far from the water's edge. Maybe we should all re-look at our lives and ask if we are ON the beach or IN a desert. I feel that we have all been created with a 5 specific purposes in mind and if we are living those purposes we will always be on the beach, albeit sometimes a bit far from the sea. But if you are stuck in a desert today, maybe you should take a moment to contemplate your life and possibly some of your beliefs. Have fun!

5 purposes?
You may be wondering about the 5 purposes. Hmmm, I'm not sure this email is the appropriatte forum for such a discussion, but I'll tell you if you ask me.

Hong Kong.
The MAN Investments DRAGON RUN in Hong Kong was a fantastic race. It is a superbly organised event which is run in some idylic (polluted but still pretty) surroundings. The ocean conditions, combined with the race route, makes for a demanding, tactical and perfect surfski race.

Pre-Race the organisers don't hold back on making sure the competitors are taken care of. Hosted accommodation is the order of the day but if staying at a hotel, you are still kept in the loop of what is happening. The Stanley Sea School was the official race venue and race finish and served the competitors with gusto and professionalism. All training sessions happened from Stanley and pretty much consisted of out and back paddles to Cape DiAgular and back, a 12km round trip. This was generally followed by coffee, shopping and sight seeing, including a day at the Ocean Park. (Check pics and video clips on www.themockes.com)

Race day dawned with perfect conditions. Part of the fantastic organisation is the fact that all competitors can catch a bus (and skis transported by truck) to the start of the race, a major plus. Briefing on the beach was followed by a 15minute warm up in the idylic (have I said that before?) Clear Water Bay. What a stunning spot! The route would take us 7kms out to some islands (the Nine Pins), then 13kms downwind past Cape Diagular, then 2kms headwind to the finish. With all the bays, beaches and islands around I was stoked to have a GPS pointing the way. During the race the wind dropped slightly making the runs quite technical and difficult to catch, but it wasn't a train smash, it only added to the race.

The business of racing and divine intervention
The first 7kms was critical and Jeremy Cotter and I floored it in this section. This proved to put us out in front and most of the field out of contention. Mid way through the race Clint Pretorius showed off some great downwind skill to catch up to me (on my line) as Jeremy and I parted ways after the Nine Pins and the US$1000 FENN Hotspot which was won by the Aussie. We were now 3 guys in the running for a win and a cool head was needed to grill this toastie. I rounded Cape Diagular first, a major feat and an advantage no doubt, but with 5kms to go it still didn't guarentee the trophy. Soon after this point it felt like divine intervention gave me a bit of a push. Jeremy started having issues with his rudder slowing him down, and I managed to hook 3 tiny bumps in a row to put me a mere 80metres ahead of Clint and around the last turning buoy. My arms searing with lactic acid I grit my teeth and prepared for the worst over this last 2km stretch, but praise the Lord I held out and managed to defend the title. Personally I feel that Jeremy was the stongest on the day and Clint perfectly positioned to grab a win, leaving me a very grateful and slightly less deserving winner.

Bye bye HK, Hello Dubai
A great braai and prize giving followed the race. Our catererers, JASPAS, are top drawer entertainers and purveyors of all things edible making the finish line that much more desirable. Sunday was used to check out Central Hong Kong. A cruise through some traditional markets was topped with a unreal breakfast followed by a foot massage and a good bye braai at James Shortis house, race director and one of the organisers. Hong Kong....CHECK!