Astir and Mohammed, the local distributors for North and
Fanatic, have planned a great programme. But what I feel
pretty excited about is the idea of snowboarding and stand
up paddling on the snowy peaks of Faraya Mzaar located 40
minutes away from the city. And if you are addicted to ride,
then this is pure bliss. The local ski trails are as beautiful as
those of the French Alps under a bright sun. I really had a lot of fun hitting white
slopes facing the Mediterranean. At the end of the day I grab my Fly Air SUP for a
very special and unique moment. Riding an inflatable board on snow is something I
have never experienced before and find it works quite well. You just have to be
smooth as you push on the paddle. After this cool freeride session in the mountains
it's back to the sea for more stand up.
There are two good spots for surfing: 'Jihé'
and 'Colonel'. One is located in the south
area of Beirut, the other to the north. This is
an important detail because the landscapes
are very different from one spot to another –
as well as the culture. I had the opportunity
to ride 'Jihé' on two occasions. And during
the week I scored two surf sessions, three
flat water paddles, one kitesurf session and
one snowboard day – which is not so bad!
https://goo.gl/maps/uh34YSLqx2J2
To reach 'Jihé' and its wave 'Moussafa' you
have to follow the track that passes in front
of a beautiful mosque, and then go through
plantations of tomatoes and cucumbers.
The beach is not especially picturesque and
it’s pretty dusty. The rocky slab in front of
the beach, however, delivers a powerful
wave, left or right, perfect for shortboards
and SUPers when not too big. If you prefer
to ride a longer but slower wave then move
to 'Colonel' in the north. Locals say it's worth
the trip when the sun goes down as you can
finish your session drinking beers and
smoking hookah (similar to Egyptian
sheesha and quite legal).
When you speak about culture in Lebanon it
is impossible to avoid the topic of religion.
Even though it is not taboo it is a very
sensitive matter. Astir describes a country
that has had to endure several wars and
social movements since the Phoenicians.
She shows me a skit on the internet to
explain things further. Surrounded by Syria
and Palestine, the country had to deal with
some invasive neighbours.
We visited the Ruins of Tyre in the south - a
magical place to discover with its Roman
columns submerged two metres deep. We were
just 10km away from the border and under
close surveillance. The place has lasted
through the Israeli invasion and today the
region still welcomes many Palestinian
refugees. The camps are big and surrounded
by barbed wire. These neighbourhoods
decorate their entrance with portraits of Yasser
Arafat wearing Ray-Ban shades and a black
plaid scarf tied around his head. To the north,
in Tripoli, Lebanon welcomes millions of Syrian
refugees looking for work in the Bekaa Valley.
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