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.
Harriet Potter
Harriet is a freelance writer living in London. She has a BA Hons in Comparative American Studies and has travelled extensively around the Americas. She loves cooking and writes about food as well as travel. Her favourite place is New Mexico and she makes a mean green chile stew.
Connect with Facebook
Pingback: Waypoint Namibia
Pingback: Photo Essay: 20 Overlooked National Landmarks in the U.S.