Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Flowrider champions Wesley Fisher and Billy Tenant entertained crowds of surfing fans with a series of special displays at the Wahooo! waterpark over Eid.
Guests were also made welcome to perform their own moves and tricks as part of the attraction's promotion launch of O'neill products at its Wave Pro outlet.
GulfWeekly sent its intrepid columnist Charlie Holding to Bahrain City Centre to check out the action and join in with the surfer crowd
I MAY not boast the physique of a bronzed beach hunk or be the sort of guy to kick sand in a geek's face as I run along with a surfboard in my arms.
In fact, I've never been much of a sportsman. The odd kick about in the park with some friends, an occasional spot of swimming here and there are some of my more exciting sporting career highlights.
But beneath my pale, skinny exterior may lay a cool athlete just bursting to get out ... although it would probably take a world champion or two to steer me in the right direction.
Fortunately there was a pair of professionals up for the task in town to promote the opening of the Middle East's first Surf School at Wahooo! water park. They were brave enough to invite me down to cultivate my hidden bodyboarding skills on the Flow Rider, an artificial wave generator.
Wesley Fischer, winner of the first International Flowboarding Championships (IFC) 2009 and Billy Tennant, who dominates the South African competitive bodyboard scene and is a member of the South African IFC team, were visiting the Bahrain City Centre facility to coach its trainers - who now stage popular surf lessons at the academy - and put on a series of Eid displays for visitors and fans.
There's something about the laid-back demeanour of 'surfer dudes' that I would like to aspire to. Perhaps it's the way they effortlessly ooze cool, maybe it's the wicked tan courtesy of hours practicing under the sun ... whatever it is, there's something special about the whole scene.
I was a little nervous and Wesley told me that there was no reason to be a wimp, afraid of the wave or of 'wiping out' (falling over) because he'd seen four-year-old girls tackle the wave machine, adding: "If that doesn't motivate you enough to try, then nothing will!"
Since I have the physique of a 12-year-old boy and the balance of an elephant on roller blades, I knew this would be no easy task.
Fortunately, I had the experts on hand to give me advice, encouragement and support ... and in return ... I gave them the hilarious image of me wiping out on a guard rail as I tried to step out of the water!
The session started with some basic bodyboarding skills. "All you have to do is lay down and grab the board 'here' and 'here'," said Billy. "Make sure you pop up your chest and lean into the wave using your elbow to keep your balance," he added.
Well, that wasn't as easy or as straightforward as he made it sound. As I was cast out on the artificially-generated wave, with nothing more than a small foam board for support, I proceeded to fall flat on my rear end and I soon realised I was out of my depth!
Since I'm not one to easily accept failure I decided to give it another go but first I asked the pros to demonstrate the technique to me, to make sure they weren't asking me to do the impossible.
It turned out that not only could they both demonstrate the manoeuvre, with the utmost ease, they also took the opportunity to do some fancy tricks that made Flipper, the dolphin, look like an amateur when it comes to turning and twisting around water.
So, with my pride still vaguely intact, I got back on the board and surprise, surprise, I managed to float around for a while before being filtered out with the excess water at the side of the pool.
Since there were two professional bodyboarders and an assortment of Wahooo! trainers and bodyboard enthusiasts looking on, with tears of laughter in their eyes from my abysmal previous attempts, it felt amazing to prove that I could really do it.
"Not a bad effort," said Wesley. "I think you're ready for something different now, let's use a different board and see if you can stand up to ride the wave."
'Yeah, sure, I've been practicing for all of 12 minutes so far, I'm clearly ready for this', I thought to myself before nervously stepping on to a slightly bigger board.
The guys told me where to shift my weight for the best balance and away I went ... down the filter again. I finally understood that nursery rhyme my mum used to tell me at bedtime when I was a child about the spider who got washed down the drain. They should rename it, Incy Wincy Charlie!
Nonetheless, I got back on the board for round two and this time - to make things easier - I had a rope to hold on to. I found my balance and as I stood there, drifting closer to the wave wall, I gradually loosened my grip on the rope.
"Let go man," I heard Billy shout with encouragement. "You're doing good!" he yelled.
Well, with encouragement like that, how could I say, no? I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and let go of the rope which was helping to keep me upright.
For about a minute I was surfing like a natural, might I add, much to the delight of the onlookers. I felt so free, so alive, so ... tired.
I didn't think standing still and trying to balance would involve so much effort but it really takes it out of you.
I knew there was only one way to get back to the side of the pool and that was back through the drainage system.
I felt the board slipping from under me and decided that I was just going to go with the flow (besides, it's not like I had any other option).
As I emerged from the drain I was invigorated and had an overwhelming desire to do it all over again. However, in my rush to get back on the board I carelessly slipped and fell (ribs first) on to a guard rail. Needless to say it knocked the wind out of me, but more than that, it was embarrassing to 'wipe out' when I wasn't even surfing!
I laughed it off and decided to call it a day. I thanked the guys for all their help and took the opportunity to ask what they thought of my skills. Being so laid-back they told me I did really well for a 'first timer' but hastily added that I should try and keep my balance when I wasn't surfing too.
Later that day, I felt some discomfort around my ribs but I decided to man-up and just get on with my life, hoping that it was just a little bruise and the pain would subside in a day or so. The following evening, I went to visit my uncle Ronnie to welcome him back from his summer vacation and as we sat talking he noticed me holding my ribs.
He recommended a trip to the hospital to get it checked out but since I'm not a big fan of hospitals, I objected. It turns out that my uncle is not a man you can say no to and before I knew it I was topless in front of an X-ray machine.
The results didn't show any breaks or fractures (thankfully) and the doctor gave me some pills for the pain.
I think I need some extra surfing tuition before I tackle the waves again and maybe there is someone out there who can help me with ... walking. I guess some people are simply accident-prone.
Once I've confidently mastered that I'll be back. If you want to join me, surf lessons are now available at the 'Wahooo! Surf School' with qualified instructors on hand to teach enthusiasts in Bahrain and the region how to ride a wave.
Students will learn basic surfing fundamentals and how to master those wave-riding skills through a five-week programme. But please concentrate when stepping out of the water!
Editor's note: For more inquiries or to enrol in the surfing school call 17173000 or visit: www.wahooo.com.bh
