MAN OF IRON

From Al Ain to top of the world
Exclusive by Philip Moore

Faris Al Sultan has come a long way since he rode his bike from Al Ain to Dubai, slept on the beach, then competed in a triathlon next morning.

“I did do that,” laughs Al Sultan. “It was in the wilder young days. It was a bit of craziness. That’s not part of the training regimen nowadays, I hasten to add.”

For the rest of us a day at the office; for Faris Al Sultan circa 2009, aged 31 and superstar of Abu Dhabi Triathlon, the elite international team supported out of the UAE capital, its putting in the long hours and hardest of yards to take part in the torture that is the Hawaiian Ironman. If Al Sultan isn’t the best in the world he’s on the short list.

He has followed the global Iron Man trail for a decade and, after two third places and a top 10 slot, won the most brutal sporting event on planet earth in 2005. The guy who was well known for a distinctive bandana and running and riding around Al Ain, dreamt of being number one. He did in when he executed the perfect race in Hawaii and etched his name among the immortals.

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4 miles (3.86 km) swim, a 112 miles (180.25 km) bike and a marathon 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.

The Ironman Triathlon, or The Ironman Triathlon World Championships, or Ironman Hawaii, is both the original Ironman triathlon and the annual world championships of the event, held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It was made famous by its gruelling length, harsh race conditions, and spell-binding television coverage “That’s the one it’s all about,” says Al Sultan.

Al Sultan, son of an Iraqi father and German mother, divides his time between Al Ain and Germany. He has many friends in Al Ain, the conditions are excellent for triathlon training, and Germany, along with the US, boasts the bulk of the best triathlons.

“I started with swimming. I wasn’t great, I just enjoyed it.  Then I saw the TV footage of the Iron Man in Hawaii. It was amazing. So when I was 18 I did a triathlon. I just got hooked.

“We have friends in Al Ain and I love going back there to train. The conditions are excellent. There’s a lot of traffic on the roads in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Al Ain is a quieter place and the whole set-up is good for triathlon training. The roads are quieter for the running and bike and you have places like Jebel Hafit too. The water situation is not an issue as 90 per cent of your training is done in the pool, only about 10 per cent in the open water.

“In the winter and spring you’ll still find me in Al Ain. I’m based in Germany most of the rest of the time as the bulk of big races are in Germany or the US.”

Al Sultan positively drools at the thought of Hawaii. He can taste the competitive spirit of that event where it’s all down to how much pain your body can endure.

The original Ironman is held in conditions which are uniquely tough for endurance racing: Hawaii’s water is warm enough that helpfully buoyant wetsuits now being axed from swimming, are not allowed; though the cycling hills have only moderate gradients they are normally crossed by strong and gusting winds; and the marathon leg of the race is usually extremely hot.

Anyone completing a sanctioned Ironman event within the time limit, so long as it is the prescribed distance, is entitled to be called an Ironman – the term being gender-neutral. At one time there was no cut-off time, then a 15 hour time limit – for these events the normal time limit is now 17 hours. Al Sultan will have it done and dusted in roughly half that.

The Ironman format remains unchanged, and the Hawaiian Ironman is still regarded as the most honoured and prestigious triathlon to win anywhere in the world.

Although thousands of athletes worldwide compete at an Ironman event each year, the vast majority aim simply to just finish the course if they are first timers, or set a PR (personal record) time if they’ve raced this distance before. Only highly talented athletes realistically compete for a spot in Hawaii, and just finishing an Ironman race, let alone the one in Hawaii, is often the highlight of many triathletes’ careers.

But a small group comprising the likes of Faris Al Sultan are out there to win it.

“This is the pinnacle of the sport and it’s the one everyone wants to win,” he says “I’m no exception. It’s a hot event for starters and you’re looking at those eight hours of it. Living in Dubai can help with the heat but it’s tough just the same and the best in the world are there so there’s no chance to relax at all.

“It’s all there – the elite competition, tough winds, extreme heat, no shadows. And with this level of competition you really have to push it. There’s not a second to lose. Half a dozen can win, about 25 can make the top 10.”

Realistically, Al Sultan feels he has lost too much momentum in training this year due to bike problems to make a major impact on next month’s event in Hawaii where any advantage to an opponent is the kiss of death.

“I have had a bad season and have had some technical problems,” says Al Sultan. “We have found the source off the problem. I would think I would be a top 10 contender this time, the one after that I’d hope to be a top contender. It has been about some problems of positioning on the bike and we’ve identified them now but it took a long time.”

His age and fitness are just about right though, he says.

“For health and motivation, I’m at my peak.”

Al Sultan carries the colours of Abu Dhabi Triathlon, another sporting success of Abu Dhabi Tourism. And this isn’t just some team of convenience as each of the five members have an affinity with the UAE.

The ADTA-backed Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon features five leading triathletes, headed by Al Sultan. Other members are: Swen Sundberg (35), Andi Böcherer (26), Ina Reinders (30), and Andrea Brede (32).

The team takes part in major international Ironman fixtures and has raced the 2009 Triathlon season in the Team Abu Dhabi strip. It joins a Team Abu Dhabi family which already competes as the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team (see story from Australia this edition) , Team Abu Dhabi F1 Powerboat Team and Team Abu Dhabi Hannes Arch - Red Bull Air Race (see story this edition) blazing a trail across the sporting world.

“Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon work for us in three ways,” says Ahmed Hussein, deputy director general, ADTA. “Firstly, it will be an important promotional tool in Germany, which is one of our key European markets as well as among the worldwide triathlete community which is looking for healthy, outdoor adventure – a wish-list the destination can ably fulfill.

“Secondly, we hope the move will establish a firm foundation for Abu Dhabi to host an international triathlon event in the not too distant future. And thirdly, we look to the initiative to inspire a new generation of triathletes within Abu Dhabi, particularly among young Emiratis whose cultural Bedouin heritage of strength, fortitude and resilience could serve them well in this most challenging of sports.”
Al Sultan is committed to success with Abu Dhabi Triathlon for what he calls his “adopted home”.

“I have lived in Al Ain for many years. Even though I also represent Germany, Abu Dhabi is also my home. All the team and I feel that it is a great honour to represent Abu Dhabi and promote the emirate worldwide. Hopefully we can be as successful as our fellow Team Abu Dhabi motorsport champions.

“The idea of forming the team out of Abu Dhabi in the UAE was for it to be done right, done professionally and also nurture the sport in the UAE. We also feel it’s important that the team members have to have some connection with the UAE – and we do.

“We set ourselves the highest standards. There are great teams like the German Bank team which is a role model along with some others. We want to be like those.

“Some of us were trying to take triathlon in the Gulf to another level and this gave us the opportunity and we are grateful. With the credit crunch hitting we were extremely pleased and flattered that Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority still offered to help. They had been interested in organising a team in triathlon and we are keen to repay their support.

“All the members of the team have trained there, the relationship is not artificial. I have participated in events in the UAE for 10 years. We certainly want to promote the sport in triathlon in the emirates.
“There are five German athletes in the team. We want, expect, and Abu Dhabi wants, a larger team. The plan is to enlarge the team and we anticipate doing so in 2010. The team members must have the level of skill.

“We certainly want to encourage more locals to take up the sport. We also want to see more women taking part.

“And our team will also take part in the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in December as part of our multi-sport approach to things.”

And there’s that small matter of a hot date in Hawaii.