Sandboarding consists of descending through dunes (although it is also practiced on sandy slopes), sliding on a board just like the snowboard or very similar to these, but with its own characteristics that adapt them to the terrain.
This sport is the son of frustration: its invention is attributed to surfers from Santa Caterina Island (Brazil) who, in the mid-1980s, sought entertainment for the days when sea and weather conditions did not allow them to enjoy waves, although some fans claim that this sandy slide was already practiced in the US in the 70s.
There are two ways to sandboard : lying on the board or standing . In the first modality, a specially polished board is used that allows reaching respectable speeds that some practitioners estimate at more than 80 km / h , in the case of daring large dunes such as those of Swakopmund, in Namibia.
The second can be carried out with the same snowboard equipment and is similar to surfing. And there are also those who launch with a simple cardboard … Experts advise that the base of the board be made of a plastic material called formica, which must be spread with wax or paraffin before each descent; This should always be done in the area of sand that shows the greatest firmness.
The most daring dare with a variant: slide holding on to a steering bar attached to a 4×4 off-road vehicle , which makes jumps and stunts possible. In Spain there are optimal places for sandboarding , including Cabo de Gata (Almería), the dunes of Guardamar del Segura (Alicante) or those of Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
