Unlike most riders, 27-year-old Rachel Steinmetz tried sandboarding before snowboarding. Trekking along the Oregon coast, Rachel quickly caught on to the excitement and won the women’s championship at the 2007 Xwest Huck Fest in Florence, Oregon. “Being out there in the ocean air, hiking around the dunes with my board, and finding fun, new lines and building jumps was what summer soon became all about for me,” she says. Now a resident of Breckenridge, Colorado, Rachel offers these tips for riding the sand.
Learning the Skills
Sandboarding in Dubai (credit: Steven J. Weber)
Although experience on a skateboard or snowboard will give you a leg up in sandboarding, you don’t have to be an experienced rider to learn. Sandboarding is similar to snowboarding in how you plant both feet on a board to turn and jump. “Sandboarding is more laid back than snowboarding because there are no lifts to carry you to the top,” says Rachel.
Turning
Because you steer with your shoulders, understanding the proper way to turn and position them is important. First you need to learn the difference between a toe-side turn and a heel-side turn. A toe-side turn is when you rotate your shoulders in the direction of your toes. To do this, point your front arm in the direction of your toes. You will feel your upper body and your board move in that direction, turning back uphill. In a heel-side turn, rotate your shoulders in the direction of your heels. To do a heel-side turn, “Sit back and lean into the turn,” says Rachel. “It’s a little harder to learn, though, because you can’t see behind you.” Keeping your arms tucked into your body is important as is using your upper body and torso to control the direction. “The biggest mistake you can make is to use your feet or knees [instead of your torso] to turn because you’re probably going to fall,” she says.
Even though pieces of cardboard, car hoods, snow discs, and surfboards have been used to ride the sand, specially designed sandboards do a better job at carving the dunes.
There are two main styles of sandboards:
- A full-sized board is the same size as a snowboard and is equipped with bindings and boots. It’s especially good for jumps and big spins.
- A terrain board is 4 to 5 inches shorter and has Velcro straps for your heels and toes. This is the best board for beginners. Rachel uses a Venomous terrain board. “I prefer to wear socks or go barefoot because I get a better feel for the board.” Of course, you do get sand between your toes, but, Rachel says, “You kind of get used to it. It’s more of a hassle to hike with shoes in the sand.”
- Sandboards should glide over the sand and have a smooth base for board wax to be applied before each run.
- Beginners should try several styles of sandboards to find one that works best.
- Always wear a helmet for protection.
- Clothing should be comfortable.
Jumping
Once you’ve got the hang of turning, you can learn how to jump. Most people build their own jumps by shoveling and packing the sand, but you can also use a skateboard ramp and cover it with sand. According to Rachel, the most important thing is to make sure your landing is solid and level. When setting up for a jump, control your speed by carving back and forth. Carving is done through a series of toe- and heel-side turns to create an S shape on the dune. “Carving comes after you have mastered the transitions of turning in both directions,” says Rachel. “Speed depends on your comfort level and how big the jump is.” As you approach a jump, bend your knees and keep your center of gravity over the board. Lean back a little on both takeoff and landing and keep your arms tucked to your sides. As you jump, pop the board up like you are jumping on a trampoline. Rachel says a trampoline is good for learning jumps because it teaches you how to keep your legs in the air and spot your landing.
Falling
Falling on a sandboard is inevitable. Fortunately, you have a relatively cushy landing. It is important that you don’t get scared and tense up because that can result in injury. Learning how to fall properly can help you avoid injury if and when you do take a tumble. “On my first time, I didn’t really know what to expect, and I was really scared of falling,” says Rachel. “Now I pretend I’m a rag doll and fall loosely.” Landing on your butt is best.
Becoming Fit for Boarding
Having a good center of gravity, a strong back, and muscular thighs are important to being a good sandboarder. “You’ll definitely need upper-body strength to steer the direction of the board, but you’ll build muscles as you hike,” says Rachel. Doing squats in your spare time can help you get in shape. Aerobic workouts will also prepare you. Rachel prefers running because it’s a great all-around exercise that keeps your stamina up.
Choosing a Dune
Look for a dune that is smooth and doesn’t have much grass. It should have natural curves and enough downhill slope. Rachel says beginner dunes are like small rolling hills, and midsized dunes are around 200 feet. Some destinations like Great Sand Dunes National Park (www.nps.gov/grsa) in southwest Colorado beckon sandboarders with dunes as tall as 700 feet. Also check out Lake Michigan’s favorite—Silver Lake Dunes near Mears—which offers fast, clean sand. Along the East Coast, check out Jockey’s Ridge State Park in North Carolina (www.jockeysridgestatepark.com). Sand quality is also important in choosing a dune. If it’s large and rocky, it will diminish your experience. “The best sand to board on is really fine and clean, kind of like powder,” says Rachel.
Reaching the Next Level
With practice you’ll be ready to tackle amateur or professional competitions in which you can show your skills. Riders are judged on style and technical abilities in categories that include speed and big air. As a comprehensive source for sandboarding information, www.sandboard.com offers a list of competitions. Also be sure to check out Sand Master Park (www.sandmasterpark.com), the world’s first sandboarding park, located in Florence, Oregon. —Kristi Ritter
Firsthand
I’d never heard of sandboarding and had never been on a board, but watching my friend inspired me to try. I was nervous about hurting myself, with my bad ankles and poor sense of balance. The fear of falling overwhelmed me, but watching the kids next to me fall helped as I strapped on the board. My friend gave me some pointers and explained that my stance from playing volleyball was similar to that of sandboarding. “Just remember to keep your feet flat for control,” she said. The first time I sailed down the dune, I wanted to do it again. It was a very different experience than anything I had ever tried. Although there were a lot of falls, with each ride I learned to lean, shift my weight, and control the board. It was surprisingly easy and a lot of fun. I went back the following weekend, and now I go as often as I can. I love that it’s a sport that can be done as an individual or in a group. And in any run my dog is right there with me, chasing me down the sand.
—Jessica Hall, on learning to sandboard
As a 22-year-old Oregon native who lives near Eugene, Jessica took her first ride down a sand dune in the summer of 2007. Now she’s addicted.
