Kiteboarding in Qatar

shredbarbie · Since 17 Sep 2005 97 Posts Hood River, OR

I just returned from a work trip to Doha, Qatar in the Middle East. Before I left I did some research trying to find out more about kiting in Qatar, but couldn't find much. I am positive everyone in the NW is chomping at the bit to plan kite trips there, so I figured I’d post the info. Very Happy

While I was there, I happened upon a work mate who had taken a lesson and he hooked me up with an instructor that lived in Doha, named Akram.

Akram is a table tennis coach by profession and I got the feeling he was probably a very good kiteboard instructor as well. I've been kiting for 5+ years and have also instructed, so I didn't need the lesson, just rented the gear from him and he took me out for a day of kiting in a bay/lagoon on the W. side of the country near a town called Bin Zekreet (see #1 on Map below) The conditions were absolutely perfect in mid-Dec. Great wind (15kts), waist deep clear water, very few obstacles, sand on all sides of the bay, and no one out (it was a weekday, however). The country is very small. It took only about 50 mins to drive from Doha to the other side. I thought the fact that our kitesurfing car was a mercedes was pretty funny. First time for everything.

As it turns out, Akram is from Iraq, now living in Qatar. I am still having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that I spent a day kiting with an Iraqi kiteboarder!

...Maybe Bush needs to hit the water with Bin Laden.

Peace thru Kiteboarding!

-Kirsten

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Kirsten that looks tight, I want to take a trip down there. Looks like it would be a good place from some SLIDERZ!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice pics - what were you working on in Qatar - are they pro-west in Qatar or are they looking to behead the bikini clad infidels?

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

K for president...... Looks like you are having a great time, peace out

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2620 Posts The 503 METAL

shredbarbie · Since 17 Sep 2005 97 Posts Hood River, OR

Hi Gman,

I was working on the 15th Asian Games, a version of the Olympics for the Asian and Middle E. countries, but more sport disciplines than the regular Olympics, so it was quite extensive. I'm a freelance event director and was working at Beach Volleyball on the live show. Pretty controversial sport there, but we had the funnest venue for sure, a bit more spicy than, say, fencing. Not many Muslim spectators at our womens games.

The Asian Games was sort of Qatars 'coming out' to the world, following somewhat in the footsteps of the UAE/Dubai, as they are bidding for the 2016 Olympics and it seems they would like to be the Switzerland of the Middle East, as far as being a popular and serious business hub, moreso than just a fancy tourist attraction.

www.doha-2006.com

Interesting article on the teeny bikinis:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16006608/

Below is Japan vs Kazakhstan.

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 425 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

too cool. I have heard some stories about Event Directors and their travels Laughing

A friend of mine was at 4 or 5 Olympics and did just that.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

dangerD · Since 27 Jun 2005 223 Posts Bingen Heights Stoked

Ive heard stories too.
Are you single?

Flo kite school · Since 15 Feb 2011 1 Posts Qatar New Member

Hi,

After few year the situation has change in Qatar.

Now we are a big community of kite surfers starting to organised.

I have created a kite school that is also selling some equipments and making fixing.

You can check my website for more info: https://sites.google.com/site/flokiteschoolqatar/

Cheers.

Flora

hopefall · Since 13 Feb 2009 79 Posts Couve

Welcome Flora. Love to see it!

argos · Since 07 Apr 2010 66 Posts

Not to hijack, but u mentioned UAE?

Any idea how the kiting is in Abu Dhabi or Dubai?