Sandboarding Thrills in Desert Dunes

Sandboarding transforms vast, sun-warmed dunes into thrilling playgrounds. This sport, akin to snowboarding, trades snowy mountains for expansive deserts. But unlike snowboarding, sandboarding’s grip is with sand — clear of snow’s slippery unpredictability, sand requires different techniques and equipment for maneuvering across a different terrain.

Gliding on sand: the joy of sandboarding

While snowboarding happens on snowy and icy mountains, sandboarding happens on tall sand dunes, in very different landscapes. Sometimes, sandboarding can be easier; the sand is more stable, leading to less injury and easier maneuvering. Riders stand on the board, moving their bodies to shift their cores. This board is a wider version of the standard snowboard, flat, and also includes a harness for easier control. Riders can reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour. What’s distinctive about the sport is this: the gear isn’t as expensive. It’s among the more accessible outdoor sports. You can find used boards for as little as $200-$400, while some new beginer boards start around half a thousand dollars. Without snow, the risk of injury is less, and more people will gladly take it up. Another fun difference is that the ease of sand makes tricks and jumps feel more exciting: if you get it right, you get a rush of adrenaline. And the experience comes with more joy, as you glide down a mountain. Imagine the silent world of a desert, with the only sound the wind blowing across your face. Sandboarding is a sensory experience.

The thrill of desert sports, minus the crowd

Crowding desks and traffic has left many people weary. And so naturally, they look for respite. Desert tourism, particularly dune sports, is growing, and sandboarding is a cornerstone. Deserts offer solitude. In dune sports, this means a lack of lift lines, parking hassles, or gate fees. One of the reasons this sport is rising as an alternative to skiing is because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (According to the Bureau of Land Management, public lands, including deserts, saw an increase in visitorship during the pandemic.) But desert sports have always offered the kind of relaxation and isolation. The outdoor recreation industry can’t ignore the appeal of getting away from it all. There is no skiing season, though. Sandboarding can be done year-round. You could go to Chile in the summer, or Morocco in the winter, depending on what you like better. With a quick adjustment for wind and weather, sandboarding in the summer still teaches you to appreciate the weather.

Dune pickin': where to sandboard

The best sandboarding dunes are in deserts, of course. The sand is fine in hot deserts, and coarser in cold deserts. Because coarse sand offers more friction, dunes in cold deserts are harder to ascend. Dunes in the Sahara, for example, are some of the best. High, massive slopes of sand — a true thrill, but a pretty serious climb, too. The smallest grains are found in the Namib Desert, in South Africa. Dunes rise from sandy soil. But the soil still must have tourism infrastructure. In the United States, Tule Deserts in Southern California and the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado offer stunning dunes. But few of these American destinations have the kinds of vertical dunes found in the Alps. For the thrill-seeker, the deserts of Dubai, Morocco, or Egypt offer a better match.

The thrill of sandboarding

The freedom is intoxicating. It’s the closest you can get to flying without wings. It’s physical. Your body is subjected to a range of sensations as you speed down a slope. You feel the sand racing beneath your feet and your board. The Antikythera shipwreck in Greece, shows sailors had sandboards. Archaeologists found the shipwreck about 120 years ago, now scientists realize ancient sailors used boards to travel over sand and sand-dunes. The most popular leisure spot and sandboarding enclave was Huaca del Sol. In northern Peru, people rode the dunes. While the dunes are gone, the sport remains.

Different styles to suit different riders

Sandboarding can be more accessible than snowboarding. It’s easier because sandboarders don’t tackle as many tricks. If you want to get the most out of this sport, you should try tricks. You might use a board with fewer bindings, or bind the bindings entirely to your shoes to have more control. The most popular sandboards are directional boards, because you get better control. Sandboards can work sideways or lengthwise. Some riders want to be able to pivot on top of the board, so the board is sometimes tapered for more twisted maneuvers.

How to do it: sandboarding setup

Picking the best board is half the battle, especially if you are a beginner. If you’re just trying it out, you could rent a board. However, once you decide to commit to the sport, buying your own board is the best way to do it. For beginners, a soft-tread sandboard is recommended. The softness allows the board to grip the sand a little more. The thicker the board, the better it will handle. Sandboarders need more than just the board. A helmet, safety glasses, and protective clothing are crucial. The primary goal is to avoid injury. After all, sandboarding can be hard on your body. You’ll need a harness to help control the board. That’s even more essential if you’ve never sandboarded before. You should purchase a sturdy waist harness. And your board. You can spend less on protective gear.

Sandboarding draws you into the heart

Sandboarding offers more than just a thrill. The experience of the sport and the stunning desert landscapes that surround it make it a refreshing change from the typical, weather permitting. If you’re considering taking up a new outdoor hobby, consider the sand.