Hassan Esufally makes HISTORY by completing the Antarctic Ice Marathon

Adventure marathoner Hassan Esufally goes down in history books as the first Sri Lankan in history to run a marathon on all of the seven continents by completing the arduous Antarctic Ice Marathon with a time of 8 hours 35 minutes. The champion marathoner endured the 42.2 km marathon event under tough conditions with falling snow and poor visibility which required a superhuman effort. Previous multiple-times winner of both the Antarctic Ice Marathon and 100 km events who participated in the event were quoted as saying that this was one of the toughest years in the competition. Due to the weather forecast and conditions on race day, the 10-hour time limit imposed had been taken off for all the competitors. 

This is the only official marathon run on mainland Antarctica, taking place at 80° South, just a few hundred miles from the South Pole in the interior of Antarctica. Having successfully completed the marathon, Hassan is now relaxing and enjoying his feeling of triumph. He underwent grueling training sessions to prepare for the event. 

Commenting on his latest milestone, Hassan said, “It is an amazing feeling to complete the Antarctic Ice Marathon within a reasonable timing as it is the one of the toughest marathons in the world! During the race, I had to maintain a tough mental outlook as visibility was almost zero and heavy snow was falling through the race. Luckily, my previous experience in marathon running coupled with rigorous physical preparation helped me complete the race successfully. I feel blessed to be one of a handful of marathoners to have completed the Antarctic marathon.”

However, Hassan does not want to rest on his laurels and will undoubtedly challenge himself with yet another ambitious goal in the future. Before the Antarctic Ice Marathon he was also the first Sri Lankan in history to complete the world’s hardest marathon, the Inca Trail Marathon. For the other five continents, he has completed marathons in Europe (Stockholm Marathon in June 2017), Asia (Colombo Marathon in October 2017), Australia (Melbourne Marathon in 2014 and 2016) and in 2018 he completed in the Boston Marathon in USA (April) and the Big Five Marathon in South Africa (June) – putting Sri Lanka on the marathon map.

All The Speed And Power You Need

Darin Weerasinghe, a renowned racing driver and powerlifting champion, has a lot to look forward to in the next few years. Despite his busy schedule, he graciously took time off to talk to us about his passion for and breaking records in both the sports he pursues, and his charity work involving water which we will find out more about as we read on…

EM: Tell us how your racing career began

DW: My father, Bandula Weerasinghe was one of the best motor racers of his time and naturally I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I started racing at 16, beginning as a novice and won second place in my first race which was at the Katukurunda track. That’s when I knew racing was in my blood, but I had to complete my studies, so I went on to the University Of Warwick, UK, where I obtained my BEng. and Masters in Engineering. Once I returned to Sri Lanka, I started pursuing motor racing more intensely; I went on to the Super Car category which all the best drivers in Sri Lanka race in and I’ve been racing in that category for about 7 years. I’m proud to say that I’ve achieved quite a bit of what I wanted to; I have won a lot of major races and I also have the lap record at Katukurunda track. I also possess the Mahagastota Speed Hill Climb record; that’s where racing first started in Sri Lanka. I have also raced in almost every class possible and now I race in the highest class.

EM: When did you develop a passion for powerlifting?

DW: I got into that during my time in university; I had always wanted to be strong, so I started working out with people much stronger than me. I took part in a university weight lifting competition which I won and this was an encouragement to pursue this sport as well. I started doing powerlifting competitively alongside racing when I returned to the island. At my first event in 2010, I came third, so I went on to compete in the 105kg class and I’ve set up 7 national records over the course of the years. Last year I won a bronze at the Asian Championship in India; I also have the highest bench-press record in Sri Lanka and I’m the only person to pass 200kgs. I took part in the Singapore powerlifting competition and won a gold medal from 2014 to 2016. I captained the national team this year to Indonesia and we performed well; my hope to win a place on the podium at the world championship in Brazil next year and compete in the 2020 Olympics.

EM: Do you feel that the training you do for powerlifting affects your racing performance?

DW: Not that much. It’s true that racing drivers are normally expected to be fit and agile, while powerlifting is a strength sport and demands a different type of training in order to lift heavy as most of the weight we move around is between 250-300kgs. However, I’ve managed to maintain myself adequately enough to pursue both sports, simply by training to bring my weight down when I’m focused on racing and work on gains when I have any powerlifting meets coming up. I still have my agility because I do a lot of functional training not just with weights. In all the races I’ve won, I feel that I’ve been ahead of the pack due to my fitness so that I can keep focusing on my concentration no matter how harsh the condition is. Training for powerlifting has brought a lot of discipline into my life. Even with racing, you need to have focus and tunnel vision, so this discipline has really helped me tremendously. I don’t think my training for powerlifting has affected my racing performance, because I still keep winning races and I’m known as one of the drivers to beat at racing events.

EM: Is there any particular eating plan you follow for both your sports?

DW: Not exactly for racing, but for powerlifting, yes there is an eating plan I stick to. I rarely drink or do much partying due to my training, since every time you go out and drink with your friends, that sets you back a month in training so I have to miss out on a lot of get-togethers and stuff. It is a big sacrifice to make, but at the end, it’s worth it. The time I have I use it to spend time with my kids. My wife and family is very supportive and I’m lucky to have their encouragement.

EM: Which sport do you find more challenging?

DW: Winning at powerlifting is much more challenging and difficult than racing because winning at racing depends a lot on your machine, but winning at powerlifting is basically all you. You need to train 4-5 months ahead of a powerlifting event just to lift a few kilos more. However racing is still a very difficult sport which puts a lot of mental pressure. So I enjoy and I take my learning from both to help improve myself.

EM: Is it true that most racing drivers actually drive more responsibly than non-racers?

DW: Yes definitely. I drive slowly on the road. Actually it’s a very good idea for people who like to drive fast to get into motor sports to get rid of that eagerness on the track and you actually end up respecting speed because you put yourself through a lot by competing with other drivers; the last thing you want to do is drive recklessly on the road.

EM: Have there been any dangerous incidents that occurred during racing?

DW: I have been blessed with not having anything big, but I have had a few incidents during practice and been saved by some unknown Power. There was a time I was practising in Radella and I should have gone down a 200ft precipice, but the car got stuck in a tea bush and I came out alive. So that has been my closest experience.

 EM: Are there such hazards in powerlifting?

DW: Yes, when you do a maximum lift, you’re putting your body under tremendous pressure. Preparing yourself to lift 200-300kgs, your blood pressure goes up and it’s a big strain on your heart. You are prone to injury, particularly the lower back. I’ve had my fair share of injuries; at one time, it was so bad, doctors thought I won’t be able to walk, but two weeks later with the right amount of training and physiotherapy, I broke a Sri Lanka record. Powerlifting is as dangerous and strenuous sport as racing. I’ve seen people get injuries that have been very significant, but I take a lot of precaution in my training and I’m very well planned building up to a competition.

EM: Tell us more about Lifesaver

DW: My sister and I both studied in the United Kingdom and when we returned to Sri Lanka, we both wanted to do something for the country and we realised that is still a great need for clean drinking water. We also saw that 1 ½ million people are affected with this chronic kidney disease because they don’t have access to fresh drinking water, so we tied up with a British company called Lifesaver. The technology is in a can where you can put any kind of water into it and you can get pure drinking water and this doesn’t require any electricity. So we got the agency for that product and we’ve been bringing it down to Sri Lanka and doing a lot of social projects to provide clean drinking water to individuals who have no access to it. I have worked with over 200 farmers in Mahiyangana and what we hope to do in the future is get this product out to lower income folk, so that we can help out these people.

Written by Michelle Alles

Hellibees Racing shines with their Formula Mclarens drivers at Katukurunda

Hellibees Racing stole the show with their team of well-known Formula drivers in Sri Lanka. The Formula team comprising of Andrew Choksy, Chandima Gooneratne and Dhanushka Suraweera commanded both races with podium finishes. The Sri Lanka Super Series at Katukurunda is a premier circuit meet for the year and a highlight of the national championship with a record number of entries and participants.

The Formula Mclarens 4 event is a very competitive class comprising of the best open-wheel competitors in the Island. Hellibees Racing has dominated this event for many years with 2017 being no different. Chandima Gooneratne topped the timings on Qualifying and claimed pole position. Andrew Choksy qualified in 4th where the top 4 starters were split between hundredths of a second.

The formula event had two races on the day with Race 1 being conducted in the morning and Race 2 in the afternoon. In Race 1, Gooneratne led from start to finish. Choksy managed to convert his 4th position grid start to a podium finish as he claimed 2nd place behind Gooneratne at the checkered flag. In Race 2, Gooneratne suffered a mechanical failure and did not move on the grid. Choksy managed to grab the lead and fought off fierce competition to win the final race of the day. Dhanushka Suraweera finished in 4th position. The Hellibees Formula team had a very successful outing claiming top times in Qualifying and a 3 podium placing’s on race day.

“It was a tough race in extreme heat at Katukurunda. We had to hold back a lot and drive smart in order to get a good result. I am delighted that I was able to bring home double podiums for Hellibees Racing and keep the team flag flying’’ said Andrew Choksy, Formula 4 EFi Driver.

The Sri Lanka Super Series at Katukurunda was the first tarmac race meet of the year for the Formula event and was seen as a widely successful weekend. Hellibees Racing hopes to continue their success in the Formula class and will be seen as a top contender with their drivers once again this year.

Andrew Choksy is also a competitior in the Honda SLH 1618 class where he drives a Honda EG6 VTEC for Hellibees Racing. Esteem Prime is a proud sponsor of Andrew’s car and look forward to his racing in tarmac events this year.

 

Photo Credits to Maryse Navaratne

Andrew Choksy pictured with his 1st place Formula 4 EFi trophy.

 

 

Rishan Kuruppu

Esteem was fortunate to catch Rishan Kuruppu for a quick yet comprehensive interview. A true mover and shaker who is a proud son of Sri Lanka, scour through this insightful article, and log onto www.rishankuruppu.com to get a perceptive look into an extraordinary life.

Why tennis and how did you fall in love with the game? Please plot out the journey to where you are today professionally?

When I was five years old I moved to Vancouver, Canada and for my sixth birthday I asked my parents for a tennis racquet. Tennis found me and I really enjoyed just hitting the ball against a wall. I never depended on anyone to play with me so the wall never let me down; it was three years of fun, challenges and patience. The love for tennis was ignited when I realized there was nothing else I rather do!

My tennis journey began at an early six years old playing for fun. When I was nine years old I took my first tennis lesson which was with a kind, patient, old school mentality coach who laid the foundational fundamentals for where I am today. From ten years on I started to play tournaments, which began with disappointments, but fueled my dedication to improvement and work ethic. Not too long after I became a Provincial Champion in every age group to top five ranking in Canada. I competed internationally and was among the top 300 juniors in world. I was fortunate to travel around the world at an early age and followed that up with a scholarship to Division 1 Middle Tennessee State University who at the time was ranked top 25 in the United States by the NCAA. After graduation with a bachelors in finance my decision was to become a professional coach and serve the game that has brought about meaning to my life.

Who is your favorite player of all time, and why?

My favorite player of all time is Roger Federer. His consistency, passion, professionalism and artistic style of play embody the beauty and grace of his exceptional talents.

I also admire that regardless of all the trophies and achievements in his career; he plays the game for sheer love, fun and continuous improvement to perfect his craft.

What’s the best court you’ve played on and/or wish to play on one day?

I have been fortunate to play on all surfaces and great courts. Monte Carlo Masters series center court was one of my highlights as it encompasses pristine landscape and scenic views. I would love to one day play on center court at Wimbledon.

List your achievements thus far; and your hopes and dreams for the future.

Some of my career achievements:

– Director of Tennis: Roton Point Club ( Connecticut, USA )

– Director at Proform Tennis Academy ( New York, USA )

– Principal: Reevent LLC ( Management / Leadership Services )

– Author and contributor for New York Tennis magazine

– Tennis Lifestyle Creator for Equinox ( Greenwich, Connecticut)

– Nationally recognized and featured on USTA magazine 2010

The future has me creating a leadership and tennis foundation to help those who may not have the resources. I also plan on writing a book detailing my coaching philosophy. My passion is to help people develop their real potential.

What advice would you give youngsters who are wondering whether a sporting life is a rewarding endeavor (noting the fact that many generations have opted for the proverbial corporate life because sports was not rewarding).

My advice to youngsters is that all things are rewarding if you give your time and heart especially in sports. Making an impact and helping others in sport or corporate life and being mindful of your personal journey is winning! I truly believe that time well spent on others is a life well lived.

How do you chill out? Any favorite restaurants? Favorite hobbies besides tennis?

I like to relax by spending time with my wife Esmeralda and son Oliver. I love listening to music and walks in nature or anywhere near the ocean. Favorite food is Sri Lankan food I especially enjoy a little extra spice. Favorite restaurants are Tao in New York City and Barcelona in Connecticut. I am a huge hockey fan and follow the Vancouver Canucks with passion.

Tell us what a day in the life of Rishan Kuruppu is like.

A day in the life of Rishan Kuruppu starts with waking up at 6 am.

It is a very simply structured routine every day I call the big four:

  • Get my high intensity workout done
  • Read for 1 hour / Reflect 30 min
  • Eat and sleep well
  • All my appointments are like family I give them my undivided attention.

Everything above gets scheduled around my family and work but it always gets done. I look at everything with a positive perspective and lots of laughter.

Living a Dream

Motor racing is a passion that once ignited is revived every time you hear the rev of an engine. It is only those with a true passion like Abeeth Dangalla who would know the adrenaline rush that it brings. Though he had a passion for racing and all things automotive from a very young age, the stage wasn’t set for Abeeth to venture into motor sports until much later in his life. The liking towards the sport came naturally to him even as a child as he spent his time watching races and showed great interest towards vehicles. Being surrounded by friends involved in racing also helped to stir up his desire for racing even more. Persistence being his key strength, Abeeth made his dream come true when he competed in his first ever motor race.

Proving that he was quite a natural in the sport, Abeeth excelled with sensational performances to win the National Championship in the year 2006 and 2012. He was also the SLARDAR (Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders) champion in the year 2006 in which he placed 1st in every championship race of the year except one. His most recent best doing what he loves would be the 2012 Katukurunda Rotherham Championship, Multiple podiums at the Colombo Night Races, and also finishing on the podium in every SLGT race he competed since coming to the event.

Of all these great victories, winning the 2012 National Championship stands out as the most memorable for Abeeth. All set to take part in the SL-GT events, he was seeking to make a comeback at this competition after a hiatus of three years. Due to certain misfortunes, he couldn’t perform well at the timing trials and had to start his race from the back of the grid. Unwavered, Abeeth had his eyes on the ultimate goal. His persistence was rewarded when he was able to surpass the twenty racers who were before him to grab the chequered flag at the finish line and hence, be entitled to the Championship.

A big fan of Mika Hakkinen and Fernando Alonso, Abeeth was also able to take part in a state level race – Formula Ztech – while he was in Australia where he was exposed to the high level of competition and training that the drivers go through.

None of these victories come easy. Motor racing is generally considered ‘risky.’ It is not just another sport like cricket where your family would encourage you to participate. Especially when you are not from a racing background, it is quite difficult to convince your loved ones to let you do it. This was also the case with Abeeth’s family who at first, were very hesitant to give the green light. It was when he was a little older and more financially independent that he was finally able to step into the game. Even today, he says, his family gets quite worried and gets more nervous than he does before a race. But now, they have begun to come to terms with it, enjoy watching him race and are quite proud of his achievements on track. He is also thankful to his dad who is now at trackside for every race and mom and sister who is glued to the TV throughout the event. Abeeth also has a few close friends and an ardent fan following who have supported him right throughout.

As is to be expected, accidents and injuries are part of the sport. However, because of the high levels of safety precautions taken by the drivers and the authorities, so far, Abeeth has never faced any major nasty injuries. His worst memories while on the sport were never the injuries but the times when his car failed him at the very height of competition.  After months of preparation, Abeeth and his team were ready to compete at Foxhill. Everything had been well until it was time to get the car to the grid when his car just refused to budge. All attempts at fixing the problem failed, his anticipation of winning was avail as he could not take part. A similar incident took place at the start of the first Colombo Night Race. It is a horrible feeling, Abeeth recalled, when your vehicle fails you at the very peak of competition after months of preparation.

Months of preparation means endless days of hard work to gear up for the races both physically and mentally. Acquiring sufficient sleep to improve concentration and acquiring physical fitness to develop good reflexes is very important. Equally, the vehicle also goes on preparatory mode to suit the regulations of the race and to ensure it is of good condition – properly tuned, tested and ready. It is very time consuming and doesn’t come easy. Working as a director of companies involved in property development and investments and a consultant for the government sector, it is important to strike a balance between work, racing and other aspects of life. This has limited Abeeth’s time dedicated for racing and now he is more selective about the races he takes part in. If it fits the criteria of being enjoyable, he’s in.

Most of his racing is self-funded while Nitro Racing also sponsors some of his events. However, when he was a full-time competitor, there was a high need for sponsors as motor sport is generally more expensive, which was difficult to fulfil. This was because though the corporate sector does come forward to provide finances as they do not see much benefit that they could gain from sponsoring drivers. Sri Lanka has great potential in the sport – great talent and enthusiastic spectators which, in Abeeth’s opinion, has not been rightfully exploited. “Like SLCC has branded cricket, motor racing in Sri Lanka needs to create an image for itself – make itself a brand.  Sri Lankan authorities need to take more steps to establish the sport and bring it up to professional standards from every aspect even the organisers and regulators who at present, work on a voluntary basis. The authorities also need to build dedicated tracks, develop infrastructure, and make doors for more financial support at least by providing duty concessions for racing vehicle equipment for drivers. If this is done, the corporate sector would be more willing to offer sponsorships and motor racing can be taken to the next level”, he says.

This year, Abeeth who has a strong liking towards gravel racing hopes to take part in more races than he did last year, and hopes to reach more podiums and create greater memories on a track he has always wanted to dominate.

Written by Tabitha Abraham
Photography: Suren Nimalan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala: First Lankan to surmount Everest

A young woman with a passion for adventure sports, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala broke barriers and put women in the forefront of this country’s sports by her historic ascent of Mount Everest on 21 May 2016. A Bishopian, she gained a Journalism and Communication Diploma from the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Delhi University. Committed to women’s rights, with a Graduate diploma in Women’s studies from Colombo University, and winning a Gender Studies MA scholarship at Sussex University,  she worked with the Women and Media Collective; and as a Gender Specialist with CARE International Sri Lanka.

 

“It’s all about the power of the mind, which can go beyond the physical pain and that’s what endurance is about.”

 

In your opinion, what is the significance of Everest?

It’s been legendary, with Tenzing and Hilary’s climb. For me an almost mythical place, being the highest place on earth. Everest for some reason had inspired me since childhood. My school friends remember that even as a child I said that I would climb Everest.  I never thought I would get there. It’s been a dream and for me was almost like going to the moon.

I met my team mate Johann Peries in 2011 on an expedition climbing ‘Island Peak’ (6,200m) in Nepal— an opportunity to try out our bodies at high altitude. I mentioned to him I’d seen Everest, a dream ascent for me so far, and invited him to join me to climb it and he agreed. I realised then there was someone as crazy as me to think about it and consider this climb.

What were the challenges you faced achieving this feat?

The biggest hurdle was sponsorship. We needed Rs 10 Million each.  Sri Lankans seemed unaware of what an Everest climb meant —requiring days of climbing and the need to climb up, then come down to each camp and go up again – expecting  we’d climb up and down in a day, like Pidurutalagala!   Companies which usually sponsor sports events and others, who knew about mountaineering, didn’t step forward, which was disheartening. We did get sponsors, but not immediately or spontaneously.

Johann and I trained together. I had been training over the years, including basic and  advanced courses in mountaineering, gaining the required technical skills: rock climbing, ice climbing, crevice rescue, identifying mountain sicknesses –including Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

A close friend, Katherine Davis’ attempts to find a Sports psychologist, for mountaineering and mental strategising, failed and academic writers overseas didn’t respond; but, during those two months, I read chunks of academic articles on endurance Katherine sent me, helping prepare me mentally for such a big challenge – and for the high possibility of failure.

I understood about thinking positive: when the body says ‘no’, the mind can continue.  It’s all about the power of the mind, which can go beyond physical pain and that’s what endurance is about. Every day my boots would cut me and every step was painful, but I realised you just think beyond the pain – I have come to do this, I have to  do this –  talking to myself,  saying I’m not going to stop. There were days when back at Base Camp, you’d be completely depressed about the environment, difficulties, challenges; would we be able to make it, the summit was so far away. There were challenges daily, and every day was an exam.

Was it difficult to deal with ordinary, human, daily activities on the highest mountain?

It was really hard. The first two weeks were ok, as we walked to get to Everest Base Camp, staying at guest houses with a bed for your sleeping bag, toilets and a shower. There was no heating but you could stand up in your room. But after Base Camp your room becomes your tent. I am 5’ 1.5” so I could kneel. Tall people can’t kneel and we would all have to crawl into the tent. Inside you’d be pretty much sitting down or lying down whatever you did.

Eating was difficult. You lose your appetite the higher you go. Above 7,500 metres (the “Death Zone”), the body does not consume food, it doesn’t digest food ; instead it just consumes itself and starts shutting down.

We had to drink at least 3-4 litres a day to avoid altitude sickness, but this was a challenge: when you take two gulps of water you just pant because there’s less oxygen in the atmosphere from Base Camp onwards. I couldn’t sleep, and often woke up out of breath. Some nights, I’d sit up all night. It’s uncomfortable, you can’t roll too much or you slide off your sleeping mat onto a floor of ice.

At Camp 1, I took my gloves off to brush teeth touching water for a few minutes, and my hands started freezing: it was painful, like a burn. I warmed my fingers on my water bottle into which I’d put hot water. After that I didn’t dare try to brush teeth.

The Camp 1 toilet was just a 1 ft-high ice wall, a semi-circle, which just about covers the basics. But “wetwipes” freeze and you must ensure toilet paper doesn’t fly in the wind. Your clothes being layered, you must make sure they don’t fall into the poo bucket. You have to pee in your bottle as only poo-ing is permitted in the toilets. We had a water bottle and another similar bottle with a wide mouth for pee which had with a band around so you don’t drink it accidentally in the middle of the night. You needed to focus on the pee bottle, where you keep it, how you keep it, always be sure to empty it and not leave it outside, as it freezes and can’t be opened.

My period was a problem, I took a pill to stop it, but it didn’t, perhaps it was the altitude. Blood is thicker the higher you go and blood loss makes you weaker. This was a disaster because there is a window of time to complete each climb and descent. One day I took 12 hours for a 7-hour climb and the following day, too, I failed my timing and had to turn back. I tried telling my Sherpa I had my period, but he said “No! Too slow, too slow. You won’t make the summit”. I was saying, ‘bleeding bleeding’, but it didn’t work. The guide said the mountain takes no excuses, you have to do it or you don’t do it – It is unforgiving, you have only one chance.

What life lessons can you learn from this experience?

Many, but the most important is mental strength. It’s all about telling yourself you can do it, that really changes how your body will work, how your body follows the mind, if your mind is strong enough. People would tell me, ‘you’re so tiny, how are you going to climb Everest?’ Although no one said so to my face I think my gender was an issue for some.  My motivation was that if I didn’t do it, what would people say about girls and adventure sports. Women and girls can really do anything; gender is not a barrier, nor is size.

Teamwork was also such a huge factor. Although , only I went to the top, Johann and I made it as a team for almost two months. Johann was really strong, mentally stronger than I.  We also had a team back home, friends supporting us, volunteering their time. They maintained our facebook page and we would see comments from people we did or didn’t know. When we were low and depressed, seeing these comments and people cheering us, realising there were so many people behind us, was encouraging: they were part of the bigger team that came up with us.

Facing fear, which is an underlying factor through the journey. The day I woke up to go to the airport I felt it. Before, the planning was so manic and when the day came to leave, I had cold feet, as I realised ”God I’m actually going to Kathmandu to climb Mount Everest”. I even wrote my last will, although I did not tell my mother at the time, knowing there was a chance of a fatality. My family was supportive. I knew my mother who encouraged me would have been praying for my safety.  My sister in law commented I could have bought a house and a car with the money we needed for this expedition. Mind you, I have neither a car nor a house!

The other time I felt fear was when they said the weather had cleared up and that the ‘Summit window was open:  ‘Tomorrow morning pack your bags, you’re climbing tomorrow’. This was the first time going up to that height. The fear you will have no contact, the fear of ‘Will I come back’, yet wanting to do it. You mitigate the risks. I did it and realised you can overcome fear. But there is luck in it too.

I also experienced spirituality.  I am not religious but the mountains are so powerful and you feel so tiny there as you see other climbers going up the mountain like ants. You have to keep going up and you know you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and you can have an avalanche and your life could just go.

Making it to the Summit of Everest entailed determination, a hard slog,  sacrifices, serious risk taking and central to my goal, mental strength to overcome fear and uncertainty.

The ATP Story: A Visual Wonder

40,000 Wheelchairs, 1400km, 35 Cyclists, 10 Days, 5 Land Rovers, 1 Nation.

Around the Pearl was built on the determination of 3 individuals over 3 years ago. It is now a roller coaster of success that is helping children in need. Land Rover is proud to be a part and more so a family with the ATP team. 10 days of gruelling and intensive riding culminated with well wishers and families welcoming the riders at the finale.

Land Rover was a part of history and of amazing feats accomplished during the ten days. Our vehicles endured the toughest terrains, water crossings, intense heat and difficult situations in order to protect and provide support to the ATP team. This is what Land Rover does. This is who we are. This is why we are not just a brand but a true family.

The Conundrum Of Murad Ismail…

I seriously need to sort out my own transport, I thought.

That was the one thought that swam through my mind as Andrew Choksy raced his Lexus in Sport Mode around tuks, buses, cars, trees, and dogs as I was trying to command my stomach with Jedi-like intent to not barf.

Next thing you know I’m in the middle of nowhere in what was Murad Ismail’s office.

Who in the world is Murad Ismail? That was the one question that hung in the air (almost like a humongous elephant in the room that just refused to shift its weight) as we sat around waiting.

Waiting apparently for me to ask something profound. Luckily, he spoke first, and I was quite content to keep my mouth shut. Just as a needle and thread starts out with simple intent, and has the power to create a rich cloth resplendent with sequins and whorls of artistry, so too did this particular conversation.

Murad Ismail threaded a story that was rich with achievement and the need to live life to the fullest. Having played 10 sports, he jumps from one hobby to the next with a sense of urgency that seems tiresome. His latest endeavor is motor racing where he’s investing in finding new talent to help put Sri Lanka on the map (refer Hellibees Racing on Facebook).

We spoke about everything except architecture, and when we did it was with reluctance. No one is born with talent, he quipped. What we are born with is ability, and we need to use this ability to do good work, he opined. As the conversation progressed, I realized that he had problems with everything.

He had a problem with how architecture was perceived (it’s not an art form, it’s a science!); a problem with clients who demand a huge and flamboyant house (they need to think about their lifestyle, and build a habitat based on it; cater to needs not wants!); a problem with parents who think their children are talented because they can draw (it’s ability and work ethic that makes you do well; no one is born with talent!); a problem with not understanding grassroot level problems and not giving a proper solution (how can you expect to preserve trees when people have no employment hence they will cut trees to eke out a living for their families?).

The conversation lasted close to two hours, and it’s impossible to write down a lifetime of achievement here. But it certainly was a conversation filled with a great deal of learning for those who listened. There’s more to Murad Ismail than just architecture and his love for minimalism. As a student of Geoffrey Bawa, he had embellished his own individual style of architecture, which he calls an elitist profession, into something that’s more invested with the social needs and lifestyle requirements of the people.

I finally understood that it’s his stubborn desire to see architecture as a science than an art form, which had led his creations to be realistic and functional yet stylistically inimitable. With his phone constantly ringing yet staying unaffected by the humdrum around him, Murad Ismail chugged along with verbal dexterity highlighting the fact that spatial progression is something that he likes; he talked about how Lankan architecture is the best tropical architecture around; and that a good architect is indispensable, but what is even more important is an architect who is honest with you and tells you what exactly you should invest in.

Just like how life is temporary, so too was this interview. Done and dusted, I endured another stomach-churning ride home in a Lexus that loved speed. Safely home, I began the arduous task of writing about someone I didn’t know much about.

Last night I was at Quik Thai digging into Red Curry Chicken and Green Curry Pork when I casually mentioned to my friend — an architect friend — that I interviewed Murad Ismail. He was impressed. You know why? Because Murad doesn’t like interviews. But it’s also because achievement speaks louder than a person’s name.

So next time if someone asks you who Murad Ismail is, just say that he’s the one who designed Jetwing Yala, Water’s Edge, Dutch Hospital, The Four Seasons Resort Landaa, and Centara Bentota.

Chances are they are sure to whisper in a respectful undertone — Oh. That Murad Ismail.