My friend Chris Mitchell is good at conjuring amazing opportunities and hired me on for his most recent one, the Redbull Dubai "Lord of the Streets" contest - thank you sir!
For those of you unfamiliar with Dubai, one of seven United Arab Emirates, Google Dubai or better yet Youtube it . . . the place is insane!
Normally, my trip would have consisted of lots of skateboarding. However, due to a recurring knee injury from early in 2007 (months out of commission! Arghh!), the trip ended up being the event plus lots of site seeing and desert dwelling . . . which was incredible.
Here are a gaggle of pictures documenting much of my trip.
Thanks to Chris for inviting me along and Roy Mrad for being the best host possible . . . I am looking forward to more great times, friends and Lebanese food next time!
Chris Mitchell toasting to continued good fortune
Our tour guide, liaison and wonderful host Roy Mrad
Erik Bailey was our blader pro . . . I am ashamed to admit that he is more up on just about any current skateboard fact than I am - "hey Kirkwood, did you see that crazy trick Mario Blah Blah did in the new Circus Freaks skate video!"
A view of the main strip from Roy's digs.
A shopkeeper sleeps in the afternoon heat
The Dubai mascot is everywhere . . . and he is happy!
A bustling river separating new Dubai from old
A small example of the incredibly creative architecture that dominates the downtown area
The tallest building in the world - the Burg Dubai, surrounded by dwarfed skyscrapers
Post production onset of the "Lawrence of Arabia" remake
The vastness of the Hatta desert - I walked it . . . psych
Check back in for part 2 - the event highlights.
Thanks for dropping by!
