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First surf school out in the cold

DUBAI - After saving in excess of about 100 people, staging monthly beach clean-ups and teaching thousands to surf, Daniel Van Dooren and Scott Chambers’ livelihood is hanging in the balance.

And supporters say drownings could occur if the duo behind Surf Dubai are not allowed to operate.

Surf Dubai, which employs four people, have been shut down by the Dubai Municipality since the beginning of April, co-owner Van Dooren said.

“They’ve said no private companies can operate on public beaches ... but they haven’t actually explained (why).”

The business, which had been operating for the past eight years from Umm Suqeim’s Sunset Beach, had “kind of exploded” over the past few years, with a tightknit community who were devastated at the decision, Van Dooren said.

The company, which taught both surfing and paddle-boarding, was earning less than half their income at the moment, as a result of the ban — a situation which could not last indefinitely, he said.

“Most companies would have packed up and left Dubai, but seeing as this is where we were born and bred, we want to keep trying.”

Surf Dubai had tried to continue a school programme they were running, but the municipality warned they would be slapped with a Dh20,000 fine if they persisted, he said.

Van Dooren, 27, said Surf Dubai was the first surf school in Dubai and all of their instructors were fully trained, while the company had a rental and teaching licence to operate, which cost in excess of Dh30,000 each year.

“We try and go the right way and get all these licences and it seems like there’s no point in having them.”

Van Dooren said surfers were the “unofficial lifeguards” on Sunset Beach.

About 50 members of the surf community patrolled the beach when rip currents were about, and regularly plucked people from the water — saving at least 100 victims over the past few years.

While the ban ostensibly related to all private companies, Van Dooren said Surf Dubai was probably a victim of its success as he was aware smaller companies were still operating.

While the company understood the need to regulate the beaches, it was frustrating there was no clear municipality law on licences, he said.

“The only place we can surf is the public beach because of offshore construction blocking the rest of the coastline, so we want clear set rules over what licences we (need).”

The owners had had a “fair bit of communication” with the municipality, but there was not yet any solutions about how to keep operational. Despite this, Van Dooren was hopeful the municipality would see the benefit of the school.

“We’re promoting healthy lifestyles, we’re doing educational programmes in schools, the list goes on.”

The school was speaking with local hotels, which could grant permission to operate on stretches of private beaches, however that would force costs up, with hotels seeking a 70-30 per cent split.

“We’d have to put that 30 per cent on top of the price now.”

It would also mean customers would be largely tourists, as opposed to the local market, he said.

Interior and Craft Designer Nikki Vass, 34, from Australia, said ‘a big chunk’ of her life was missing since the ban forced an end to her four mornings a week paddle boarding.

“It’s drastically altered my lifestyle and it’s taken away some of the joy of living.”

The surf instructors, who had started teaching her to paddle board about 18 months ago and had even got her up on a surf board, were like an extended family, she said.

“For me to start surfing ... I was on Sunset Beach and I literally cried ... I never thought I would stand up on a board, especially at 34.”

Vass had become such an ambassador for paddle boarding, which she said was an unrivalled workout, that when she and a friend discovered Leonard DiCaprio’s mother at the beach, they got her up on a paddle board.

“She said she’d always wanted to but had never had the courage ... she was thrilled.”

Vass said she understood the municipality had a job to do, but she was hopeful they would see reason. Another resident Lori Tusa, a stay-at-home mum originally from America, said Surf Dubai had had a big impact on the life of her family, after her son began surfing almost four years ago, with her husband following soon after and then her youngest son.

“Then mum saw the children taking the lessons and thought ‘That looks fun, I should do it as well’.” Tusa said she had taken up paddle boarding, and was now racing in competitions.

“(Surf Dubai are) doing such a good thing for Dubai and the sport of surfing ... and (it’s not for just) teenage kids, there’s executives and owners of big companies out there riding waves.”

But it was the school’s commitment to keeping people safe in Dubai waters which was one of its greatest contributions.

amanda@khaleejtimes.com