Photo of Ibrahim Wadhai by Action Sports Arabia
Ok – today I was exhausted! Jet lag set in around 4 p.m. local time. I knew the short nap on a abandoned terrace overlooking the water in beautiful 80 degree weather would give me a second wind to finish my day, but the fact that I awoke surrounded by a cocktail party was the energy source (powered by utter embarrassment) that brought me back to life. Always wanted to be the topic of conversation at a party!
Today’s topic of conversation – who’s fatter? United Emirate or U.S. Kids? I actually found myself, with my American competitive nature trying to convince people we were fatter!
The problem is, it’s universal, we’re all heavier than we need to be, and on a statistical whole, kids are worse.
Both press interviews today (Shape Magazine & 360 Sports), and a past one I did with Abu Dhabi’s “Time Out Magazine”, wanted to know the solution to solving inactivity among kids.
No matter where you live the solution to getting kids interested in an active lifestyle is straightforward. In order to better engage kids we need to create interest in sports & fitness and make it more contemporary to meet their lifestyle. Let’s face it, with all the advancements in technology, science, and communications that have become staples in our children’s lives, we still present sports as a one dimensional experience similar to what we and our parents did in our childhood.
Kids today have grown up and are wired to take in information & entertainment differently than we did. They want information at their fingertips with speedy interaction with others. Despite the fact that we complain that our kids sit around too much, the irony is they actually despise being bored and waiting for things to happen. Unfortunately that’s exactly the experience they’re receiving through today’s organized sports and fitness programs.
So what’s the solution? Let’s look at where sport participation and an active lifestyle thrives among kids. You’ll find it at any skate or snow park. Kids with passion, that want to be outside learning, improving, and experiencing without a coach or a organized practice. Yet they’ll spend hours upon hours working with their peers or on their own on just one aspect of a trick.
The sport & fitness program (Trick It Out Sports) I’m introducing and installing throughout this trip in conjunction with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to the Middle East, South Africa, and Egypt is modeled similar to how a skateboarder, surfer, or snowboarder participates in their sports. We introduce 6 basic elements of athletic development (agility, balance, coordination, speed, strength, & stamina) through tricks that are self-measuring and allow for everyone to cumulate points, an element that appeals to this video gaming generation.
So my mission on this trip and throughout the United States is to introduce kids to sports & fitness in a new and contemporary way that appeals to how they want to play rather than miniaturizing the same things we do as adults.
As you read this I’m off to Dubai to introduce kids to Trick It Out Sports. I’ll let you know how it goes!
