While attending the Laureus Sports Awards festivities in Abu Dhabi this past week, ITU stars Emma Snowsill (AUS) and Jan Frodeno (GER) hit the desert sand dunes with skateboard legend Tony Hawk. 

In addition to Hawk, triathlon’s Olympic gold medallists were joined by 7-time surfing world champion Layne Beachley, retired track star Dame Kelly Holmes and pro inline skater Taig Khris in the Liwa Desert, Rub Al Khali for the Laureus Sandboarding Experience.

Frodeno’s surf skills seemed to transfer over pretty well in the desert as the Olympic champion was soon carving up a storm with Hawk, a Laureus Sports Academy Member. Beachley is a member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme and helped launch ITU’s partnership with Laureus last year in Sydney. 

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the charitable arm of the Laureus World Sports Academy, is the official Global Charity Partner of ITU. Funds raised will go to projects bringing sport to hundreds of thousands of young people around the world.

(L-R) Jan Frodeno with Laureus Sports Academy Member Tony Hawk, Taig Khris, Laureus Ambassador Layne Beachley, Dame Kelly Holmes and Emma Snowsill during the Laureus Sandboarding Experience

Tony Hawk films Jan Frodeno sandboarding in Abu Dhabi

Layne Beachley looks on as Emma Snowsill tries out sandboarding

All photos: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images for Laureus