Photo: over_kind_man / Feature: jonrawlinson
I’m not really into the whole extreme sports thing. So how did I end up strapped to a piece of wood on top of a 750-foot-high dune?
Despite having North America’s tallest sand dunes, Colorado’s Great Dunes are relatively unknown outside the state. Located at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, about 4 hours south of Denver, the Great Dunes cover more than 30 square miles and contain over 170 billion cubic feet of sand. They look out of place, like someone dropped the Sahara at the foot of the Rockies.
While the dunes, the most recent addition to America’s national park system, see some 270,000 visitors each year, few come for the sandboarding.
Although there’s evidence of this pastime in ancient Egypt and China, it’s only really been in the past 10 years that it’s become a recognized sport. In terms of technique and equipment, sandboarding is very similar to snowboarding, but much cheaper and arguably less risky.
Photo: whatleydude
Sandboarding is still a niche sport, for a few reasons. The locations are remote, and trudging up to the top of the dune after every run (there are no sand lifts) requires a reasonable degree of fitness.
We were headed for Star Dune, one of the tallest in the park. Getting there is a journey in itself; in between the 3-mile hike from the parking lot and the park’s location at 8,000 feet above sea level, you have to be committed to the cause.
I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun while exercising, although my legs and butt really paid for it the day after. Compared to busy ski slopes, it was a joy to be somewhere so quiet and empty.
As a complete beginner, I was at liberty to make a complete fool of myself without getting in anyone else’s way or having to worry about what I looked like.
Gear
If you’re looking for a smooth, fast ride, you’ll want a board that has a slick base. Modern sandboards are made from a combination of wood, Formica, or glass fiber and resin. There are 3 basic types; freestyle, freeride, and speed.
The cheapest boards retail for about $150 (good online vendors include www.venomousboards.com and www.oceanculture.com) while rentals range from $10-50 a day. If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of tips online about making your own.
Photo: Harriet Potter
Technique
Place your board pointing downhill, without letting it run away from you. Strap yourself in while sitting down on the sand.
Stand up with both knees bent and your head facing the direction you are going, keeping your weight over the center of the board. Holding your arms out for balance, shift your weight to your back foot and take off.
Where to go
While most sand dunes are open parks with free access, it is important to keep conservation in mind, as dunes can be fragile ecosystems. Before heading out to a particular location, do some research on acceptable use and designated areas.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, USA
Monte Kaolino, Germany
Great Sea of Sand, Egypt
Namib Desert, Namibia
Fish Hoek Dunes, South Africa
South and Western Australia
Cerro Blanco, Peru
Huacachina, Peru
Cerro Iman, Chile
Taklamakan Desert, China
Community Connection
Break into dune country with California’s Most Spectacular Deserts, on Matador Trips.
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13 Comments... join the discussion!
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My nephew did this while in Egypt, he had a blast!! Can’t recall off hand exactly where, but it was near an oasis west of Cairo…I can’t wait to try someday!!
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I’ve been to CO’s dunes so many times, just not recently enough to have seen people doing this, I guess. Looks like a good time.
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This is definitely being added to the list of ‘must do’s’!
I’m wondering how similar this is to snowboarding? Didn’t see any mention of that in the post.
Let me know! Thanks.
Cheers,
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Hey Ryan,
I’ve never tried it, but from what I’m told, it’s much like snowboarding, with a slight difference in feel (sand is a hell of a lot heavier than snow).
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Hi Ryan
Adam’s right – the technique for both sports is very similar but you’ll definitely notice the difference (as I did) when you come down on your backside!
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Another location with amazing sandboarding is Florianopolis, Brazil. The dunes there are enormous and look out over the open Atlantic, Ilha Campeche, and the dune complex that surrounds the enormous dunes of Joaquina. The sand is pure and white and you can rent a board. Great place to sandboard!
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Don’t forget the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. There are some phenomenal spots for sandboarding in this area. And when you’re finished you can cool off in Lake Michigan.
http://www.sleepingbeardunes.com/info/parkinfo.php
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I did this in NZ up at the Northern Tip – so much fun! I would recommend wearing sunglasses to keep the sand out of your eyes!
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Huacachina, Peru is amazing. Its like this little oasis in the middle of nowhere where you sandboard all day then hang at night. Nothing around but the stars and your fellow travellers.
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Apparently it’s more like surfing or deep powder off piste boarding as you position your weight over your back foot.
Does anyone know where the stepest sand dunes in the world, and then in Europe are?
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So I will be trudging out to do this today as part of my training for a marathon….might as well make it fun right. I live on the Oregon coast where dunes access is everywhere. The nice thing about this sport is it only costs $15 to rent a board for 24 hours. The best part is you can make it a family time activity. Like today I also rented a sand sled so my 15 month old can go for a ride too
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