Dubai Water Sports - Jet Ski Races at the Mina Seyahi Complex
Colourful spectacle of jet skis at Mina Seyahi - The first heat of the Dubai Jet-Ski races held Saturday at Mina Seyahi saw over 75 jet ski riders and their machines dotting the beach-front ready to participate in an exhilarating sport of speed and skill.
Organised by the Dubai International Marine Club under the UAE Marine Sports Federation, the jet ski races in Dubai have seen tremendous support and interest not only from residents in the UAE but also from the GCC nations as well as from Japan.
UAE nationals have a penchant for jet-skis as much as their other Arab counterparts. In the Ski Limited 800cc category Al Mur bin Huraiz beat his fellow national Ali Nader Bin Hendi to take first and second place respectively. Qatar’s Walid Mahmood Al Sharshini made it to the third place. In the Runabout Stock up to 1600, were Kuwait’s Mohammed Ebrahim Bu Rbaee, UAE’s Saif Khalifa Bin Futais and Japans new entrant Takehiro Ohara in first, second and third place respectively. The Junior Ski 800 cc saw Hisham Ali Bin Hendi take first place while Omar Abdullah Rashid and Toshi Yuki Ohara followed in second and third respectively.
French national Caumont Ludovic narrowly beat his fellow countryman Steven Dauliach in the Pro Ski 900cc to take first place sending his countryman to second place. UAE’s omar Abdullah Rashid made it to third place. Ludovic made quite an appearance when he went to the podium to receive his trophy dressed in the national dress of the UAE, headgear and all. Free Style is one of the most entertaining of the categories as competitors try all sorts of antics and callisthenics with their powered machines. Saif Salim Al Rumaithi stole the show followed by Khalid Al Qubaisi and Mohammed Saeed Al Rumaithi.
The Pro Runabout 1600cc has all the pros one can think off, and who better than himself Nader Bin Hendi sponsored by Dubal. Dubal got into the sporting arena two years ago and has supported this master of the jetski ever since. Nader graduated from being a pro at the jetski to reign in Victory Team’s 1 Class 1 powerboat. Having taken the championship in this category for two consecutive years Nader has set his eyes for the third season. “I am very happy to have won this trophy and dedicate it to the Management of Dubal who have supported my every endeavour in the sport. It is due to their constant support that I have achieved this great honour. I am humbled….”, said Nader after the prize giving. To follow Nader close behind were Lemoine Cyrille and Saif Khalifa bin Futais.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the winners with their trophies along side Mina Seyahi CEO – Saeed Hareb. “Today’s race was a sheer battle of speed and skill. The speed and tactic that the pilots use is incredible. I look forward to more participants in the future and wish to thank Sheikh Zayed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who has taken time to watch the race and be our guest of honour at the prize giving”, Saeed said.