First footing

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This feature is for the kids and teenagers of Dubai, with the hope that we can enlighten you on what watersports you can do if you live around Dubai, from the ages of six to 16. Right now it's a little hot for watersports, well any outdoor sports really, but as soon as the autumn hits, go out and try one of the many choices and see what tempts you.

From fishing to mono-skiing, there are places and people that will help you to learn, and you will also meet new people that are into the same thing. I know its hard to get into anything new in Dubai, but the more people that take it up the cheaper and easier it will become. Whether you would just like to have a go at something or take a few lessons, there are so many opportunities if you just look for them.

The best way to find out if you'll like a particular watersport or not is to find someone who does it, and then ask to have a go. However, if you do not know anyone, there are a few places that do offer a choice of watersports for young people. For sailing, in addition to the sailing clubs, Duboats offer a ‘Discover Boating' course where you don't need any previous experience at all.

You can turn up alone or with a group and an experienced sailing instructor will show how to sail and have fun in a boat. Bluesail, DOSC and JASC offer RYA-accredited sailing, windsurfing and powerboat courses, but these are often over-subscribed. If you're thinking you'd prefer to be underwater, then Gulf Marine Sports, Al Boom and Arabian Diver organise diving trips and training, but there are age limit restrictions, so best to contact them for details. Bristol Middle East in Dubai and Al Jazeera sports club in Ghantoot offer wakeboard, wakeskate and waterski lessons. Ghantoot is also the home to Zapcat UAE, the extreme inflatable powerboat racing sport.

However, if none of this takes your interest, then get some friends together and spend a day down at one of the many beachfront hotels and see what watersports they do. Although this may be a bit pricey, it will give you an insight into different sports and whether you want to invest further in a particular sport or not. The next time you're bored silly, look on the internet or pop down to one of the marinas and grab a few pamphlets.

Where to go?

Even researching this feature was not easy - as much as everyone says there is a lot to do on the sea, unless you know someone who does it, finding out about how and where to go is not so easy. You cannot just walk into the sailing clubs to find out, and if it is not easy to find out about, many kids will give up. If the main sailing clubs lowered the prices for a certain age group or even just organised a pickup and drop-off plan, so it wouldn't be such a mission to get to and from the clubs, this would encourage more teens to avoid the already over-crowded malls and get out onto the water.

Exercise

Most teens only get one or two options for exercise at school, and doing exercise by itself is not always fun. Okay, so working out in a gym can tone up your body, but sitting there lifting weights or working on machines indoors is not very interesting and does not give you a complete body workout. Activities on the water are called ‘watersports' for a reason - because they are active sports; you use up energy and have a good time. From the more active sports such as wakeboarding or windsurfing, to even diving and using a jet ski, your body is getting a workout and you'll develop more coordination and mental strength than if you're just lifting weights.

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