SNOWSILL TRIES SAND SURFING IN ABU DHABI
TRIATHLON, February 11: Olympic triathlon champion Emma Snowsill recently took some time off from her pre season training regime to attend the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards as a guest of the Foundation and enjoy the local sport of sandboarding.
In the United Arab Emirates' capital for the Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony on Monday, February 7, the triathlon champion was also joined in the desert by Australia's seven-time surfing world champion, Layne Beachley; and Frenchman Taig Khris, the X-Games winning in-line skater, who recently broke the world record for the highest roller skate jump after dropping 131ft from the Eiffel Tower's first floor onto a massive vert ramp.
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk swapped half-pipes for towering dunes along with multi-gold medal winning Olympian, Great Britain's Kelly Homes. 2008 Beijing men's Olympic triathlon champion Jan Frodeno was also in attendance.
As guests of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the legends of sport strapped up their bindings and headed out to the rolling expanse of Liwa, in the emirate's Eastern Region, to tackle towering dunes, which can reach the size of a 60-storey skyscraper and are some of the largest found anywhere on the planet.
Three time world champion Snowsill says it was an amazing experience, the sandboarding was so much fun and being among so many of the world's best athletes is inspiring in itself.
"Wow another year at the Laureus Awards and it really is quite overwhelming to be amongst some of the greatest sporting legends around.
"It was great to see how many Australians are involved in the Foundation and to see the tough job the Academy members have selecting the winners in each category," said Snowsill.
Snowsill has vowed to be back for the awards next year as she prepares to defend her Olympic crown.
"Abu Dhabi is an exceptional host to this incredible event and it's evident why they have held the event 2 years in a row.
"It really does feel like the Oscar's of Sport and it has been a privilege to be invited back again," add Snowsill.
Once again Laureus will partner with the International Triathlon Union as their official Global Charity Partner. The first event of the 2011 season is the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Sydney on April 10.
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is a unique association of 46 of the greatest living sports legends, including Boris Becker, Dawn Fraser and Cathy Freeman, who use the power of sport to improve young lives and bring about social change.
"Looking forward to being involved in some of the Sport for Good projects and maybe one day even being nominated," said Snowsill
Media Release issed by USM Events