Morning Fewbie Plus Desert Drive - Skill Drive Series - Criss Cross Country (CCC) - Nahel - Abu Dhabi - 13 Sep 2025

[GauravSoni]

DRIVE DESCRIPTION

The drives are for Fewbie Plus and above only as we believe at this level you are well aware of your car, your driving style in sync with your car for these drives to learn, challenge and improve albeit safely. Please watch out for the subsequent parts in coming weeks and join in as per your availability.

We will be driving in the long range dunes as much as possible and finding paths to go over them.

We will be taking the clean dunes behind the Nahel ADNOC station and eventually looking back 

Drive Time is expected to be 3.5 hours . 

Make sure you come with a full tank, Car in good conditions, recovery gear for this level (Radio, Flag, Deflator, Compressor, Kinetic rope and Soft shackles). Recovery points should be checked and in good conditions.

It is preferable for the cars to have a front bash plate (6mm or more) to keep the radiator protected, if not, it is at your own risk to join.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Offroad Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquette's
• Emergency details for all off-roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities

DRIVE DETAILS

Level:  Fewbie Plus & Above

When:  13th Sept 2025

Meeting time:  5:45 AM - Start Time: 6.00 AM (without any exception)

Meeting Point:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/FpswfwqdxYX4z3Bh7

Approximate finish time: 9:45 AM

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.

 

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

• This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on Friday - 1 PM.
• If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list.
• RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy list.
• Latecomers will be returned back - Without any exceptions.
• Members without RSVP will be returned back - Without any exceptions.
• Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others.
• Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month.

Please RSVP on below calendar:

 

[GauravSoni]

Dune Surfers!

@khlief @B.K.  @nithish468 @Jose Luis Campos @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Sam Selim @Cesar Chacon @Sunstreaker

RSVP is now closed!

Welcome to the criss cross country!

Our drive plan is simple yet demanding.. at the FB+ you are expected to take our skills one step higher — and this drive is designed exactly for that. The theme of this ride is crisscrossing over high desert sand ridges with confidence and control.

We will begin by building up slowly, practicing controlled approaches to ridge climbs, getting onto the ridge, and crossing over to the other side at reasonable speeds. As we progress, the pace will gradually increase, testing both your skill and focus.

This is going to be a high-paced drive, demanding clear attention and quick decision-making from every driver. The aim is to make you not just comfortable, but also confident in handling ridge crossings as a natural part of your desert driving journey.

what you should expect: 

1. Step-by-step buildup to ridge crossing techniques.

2. Multiple crisscross attempts over high mounts.

3. Gradual transition into a fast-paced, demanding drive.

4. On-the-spot discussions and learning during the briefing.

Our meeting point is : https://maps.app.goo.gl/FpswfwqdxYX4z3Bh7 just behind the NAHEL ADNOC station.

you can reach me on 0585827986 for any urgent matters.

 

I completely understand that plans can change, but I do request everyone to sign up only when you are reasonably sure about joining. Last-minute dropouts affect convoy planning and the overall drive dynamics.

Let’s try to keep our commitments strong so that the spirit of the group and the flow of the drive remain intact. Looking forward to seeing you on the sand tomorrow morning!

I will post the convoy early morning with one certainty!.. @Jose Luis Campos you are my second lead!

[Sunstreaker]

My sincerest apologies that I have to drop out so late! Hopefully next time. Was so looking forward to drive with you again @GauravSoni

[GauravSoni]

Trip Report – SDS : Criss Cross Country

@B.K.  @nithish468 @Jose Luis Campos @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Sam Selim @Cesar Chacon 

We kicked off the drive sharp at 6:00 a.m. under perfect desert weather. Having camped the night before, I got to enjoy the cool late-night breeze at the starting point – a refreshing way to begin the day.

After a quick pre-drive briefing to explain the theme and objectives, we set off with a short warm-up session. The dunes had no existing tracks, and the ridges were sharp, so we started small, practicing ridge approaches and getting a feel for the terrain.

About 45 minutes in, we paused for a quick review session. Here, we revisited the basics of ridge crossing: analyzing the ridge, planning the approach, maintaining the right speed, and executing the crisscross. This helped align everyone before we moved on to the more demanding sections.

Soon after, we found a perfect practice area with beautifully curved ridges, ideal for multiple crisscross attempts. we  experimented with different speeds and entry points, and while there were a few refusals and mis attempts, everyone eventually got it right. This was the highlight of the drive – watching confidence build with every successful crossing.

From there, we advanced to higher ridges for more challenging ridge riding. The convoy handled it well, and once we had our fill of ridge play, we faced a choice: head towards Nagra Dunes or take a straight-line route back. With about an hour left, we opted for the direct return path through the least resistance, making steady progress back to our starting point.

A big thanks to @Zulfikhar Naiyar for his support, Rock solid in the sweep, and to @Cesar Chacon for holding the convoy strong at the back, stepping in with guidance during a few refusals and keeping the line intact.

Congratulations to @Jose Luis Campos for an excellent second lead – following tracks precisely, maintaining perfect distance, and handling the role impressively.

There were a couple of moments where both Luis and I got stuck, but quick and effective self-recoveries got us moving again. Impressively, we never had to use a rope or shovel at all for the entire drive.  Very well driven by @Sam Selim and @B.K.with no hesitations and smooth lines. it was pleasure to watch you guys make those moves!

Kudos to @nithish468 for keeping his spirits and confidence up. He deserves a special mention. In previous drives, he was hesitant with the throttle, but today we saw him really push himself. At first, there were some fishtails and re-attempts, but with strong support from the convoy and his own determination, he managed clean ridge crossings. It was great to see his confidence grow – an important step towards handling higher-paced intermediate drives where these maneuvers become second nature.

All in all, it was a brilliant crisscrossing session – a balance of learning, fun, and teamwork. Ridge crossing is one of the most essential skills for progressing into higher-level drives, and today’s practice was a solid foundation for that journey. Proud of the entire convoy and looking forward to the next Skill Drive!! 

[Jose Luis Campos]

It was an absolute pleasure to participate in this drive!

A beautiful place with clean dunes, some technical, some big, beautiful lines. But what I liked most was your focus on teaching and improving our skills in crisscrossing. Your attention to everyone, your corrections and coments in almost each manouver we did, the technical explanations with different scenarios, that part was the best part of the drive.

You told everyone exactly what to do and how to improve in each dune we crossed. Really enjoyable drive and precious lessons learned.

Thank you all the convoy for the amazing support to everyone. 

Hope to see you all soon, and I'm waiting for the next skill drive of @GauravSoni!

[Cesar Chacon]

Thank you very much , it was  a fantastic drive from the beginning till the end. Everyone was enjoying the drive with great spirit. 
 

thank you for all the detail explanation and support.