KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)

The world's elite longboarders have descended on the capital for the Surf Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic, the crucial penultimate stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour.

At a press conference at the state-of-the-art Surf Abu Dhabi facility, reigning world champions and defending event winners praised the emirate's unique contribution to the sport and emphasised the event's importance in their hunt for a world title.

Ryan Watkins, General Manager of Surf Abu Dhabi, highlighted the facility's resounding success and its importance to the local community. 

"This is our third WSL event. We're super proud to be hosting some of the best names in the world again. There are many here in Abu Dhabi who are being inspired heavily when such people come around," Watkins said. 

Hudayriyat Island has been designed by the surfing legend Kelly Slater in a place where the lovely beaches and maritime facilities abound. Lack of exposure to ocean currents warrants the artificial surfing experience, and the word from the surfers at the conference was that Surf Abu Dhabi is the best in the world in the category.

The best people to judge on that – the men's and women's defending champions, Steven Sawyer and Alice Lemoigne – spoke on merit in interactions with Aletihad. 

"You definitely have to forget what you previously learned to surf this wave," Sawyer stated. "It's absolutely different, which is great. It makes it an even playing field for this year's competitors."

The pressure is on, especially as the athletes face a new challenge: just like no two waves are the same, the settings on the man-made waves in the UAE emirate have been tweaked. And harder, said the holding champions, with no advantage or high spirits.

"Honestly, not really," Sawyer said when asked if last year's experience provides an advantage to the South African. "We have a completely different wave setting this year... We're having to learn it on the fly. Yesterday and today are our first attempts at it."

Frenchwoman Lemoigne is excited by the update, too. 

"I'm feeling super great. I love this place, I love the people... this year the wave is bigger, so we are having so much fun." And the weather's effect on the temperature of the water suits her, too. "Coming to places like here takes out the unknown factor at other destinations comparatively, where stormy weather can disrupt plans and your preparation."

Abu Dhabi is more than just a spectacle; there is more at stake in the overall championship. As the tour's penultimate round on the way to the championship final, the results here will be decisive. 

"It's a great way to finish our three-event tour and try to... [qualify] into the finals coming up next month," said Rachael Tilly (USA), the reigning two-time World Longboard Champion.

The consistency and perfection of the wave with the overlooking Abu Dhabi skyline is highly appreciated by the surfers. Taylor Jensen, the reigning four-time World Longboard Champion and current world No.3, explained its value. 

"Obviously we know we're going to get perfect surf, which from a surf contest perspective is an amazing quality," the American said.

Sawyer added that the venue is what surfers have "worked our whole lives to be given an opportunity like this." He compared the facility's scale and ambition to a different planet: "Coming onto this island is like stepping into Mars... everything is just bigger, better, faster, greater, stronger."

The athletes were also vocal about Abu Dhabi's appeal as a destination. Tilly revealed she was so impressed by her first visit that she brought her family this year. "I knew out of all of the events that I travelled to this year, I wanted to bring them here," she shared. "Getting to go and explore outside of Surf Abu Dhabi as well is so incredible, and to see Abu Dhabi, the sand dunes and the mosque is incredible."

The second Championship marks the first anniversary for the popular water adventure sports destination. While the professionals spoke about the highly technical moves which can be achieved on waves here, school children soaked in the experience and the thrills of witnessing action firsthand. 

Between the two extremes at Surf Abu Dhabi, an exciting story is developing and comes to a head over the next three days of the championship.