Hamantoosh: Making Waves Wherever He Goes

Abdulrahman Al Omar is a self-described "sea-a-holic" who started riding jet-skis at the young age of 6 years old under the supervision of his older brother, Abdulwahab; former World Champion jet-skier. "Hamantoosh", as he is endearingly known among his friends, began entering jet-skiing races when he was 11 years old and, with the support of his family and friends (and lots of training), managed to achieve World Champion status earlier this year in Arizona, USA. He is also a proud member of the AUK community.

Over the years, Al Omar has managed to make a name for himself in the jet-skiing community by participating in several local and international competitions. "My first time competing was in a time-lap competition in Kuwait when I was 11 years old. I was not supposed to compete with the other jet-skiers because I was considered too young. But I did anyway, and ended up taking first place. My brother and friends were there to cheer me on, and the feeling I got after I had won was amazing. I wanted to do more," recalled Al Omar.

In addition to his training, commitment, and the support from his family and friends, Al Omar managed to land TV interviews on many of the local TV channels, as well as a couple of international ones, where he managed to create a name for himself amongst his peers in the jet-skiing community.

In 2013 he traveled to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA, to compete in the World Finals, where he won 2 bronze medals and 5 trophies, earning him the title of World Champion.

"My advice for people who are pursuing a similar interest is to train hard and, most importantly, wear full safety gear. If you want to achieve anything, you must believe in yourself and not care what other people say - just set your goal and work hard for it," he added.

Hamantoosh joined AUK in 2012 to pursue a degree in International Studies, and aspires to become a Police Officer after he graduates. Next, he will be competing in the UAE in January 2014.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 27th November 2013

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013