JEDDAH, 5 March 2004 - A Saudi champion, who has made waves in the air internationally, is now setting his eyes on breaking the global paramotoring standard record. "I'm currently preparing myself to take part in Europe's Championship for 2004," Capt. Ahmad Al-Zahrani told Arab News.
Known as the "Saudi Eagle," he is also gearing himself for participation in many world events. He has already won many accolades in paramotoring and parachuting championships.
Capt. Al-Zahrani, 35, started paramotoring in 1996 and became a professional in 2000. During his sports career, he recorded a number of achievements in paramotoring in the Kingdom, most importantly his trip on the Saudi National Day last year when he crossed a distance of 450 km over the desert nonstop between Dammam and Riyadh.
The year also saw Capt. Al-Zahrani participating in the Jeddah Championship for Parachuting and Prince Majid ibn Abdul Aziz Championship. He also participated in the Eastern Province Eid Festival as well as Riyadh Festival 2002-03, Jeddah Festival 2002 and Ministry of Interior activities in Jeddah, Riyadh and Qassim in 2002 and Qassim Festival in 2002.
Internationally, Capt. Al-Zahrani was ranked sixth out of 152 participants in Paramotoring Championship in Birmingham, England, last year. He was also ranked second in Europe championship in 2002 and participated along with 13 pilots from around the world in Japan in 2003, Morocco Telecom Festival in 2003 and in the inaugural ceremony of the biggest water elevator on the French-Belgium borders in 2001.
Capt. Al-Zahrani started his career in aeronautics when he joined the Saudi Air Force's aircraft engines department in 1985, following his graduation from King Faisal Secondary School for Riyadh in 1984. In 1987, he obtained his diploma in aircraft engines from Oxford University and rejoined the Saudi Air Force.
He joined Red Bull athletes in 2003. MBC TV is airing a detailed report on Capt. Al-Zahrani in its "On the Edge" program about non-traditional sports on MBC 2 at 4.30 p.m. today and on MBC Channel at 12.15 a.m. tomorrow.
