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Feel the need for speed?
Sandboarding
Sandboarding at Atlantis in the Western Cape.
© Peter Van Kersen
Did you know?
The fastest recorded sandboarding speed is 82km/h, by Erik Johnson.
Sandboarding is South Africa's answer to snowboarding. It requires the same skills set and produces roughly the same amount of adrenalin, the only difference is that you 'eat' sand instead of snow when you take a tumble.
Unlike snowboarding, however, very little specialised clothing and equipment is needed for sandboarding, especially in sunny South Africa.
Operators in the country generally use 4X4 vehicles to transport participants to the top of steep dunes and then wish them well as they depart on their speedy descent. Adventure sport enthusiasts can also opt to be pulled behind the vehicles to generate speed on flatter sections of sand.
The soft sands found in the Western Cape allow sandboarders to reach considerable speed and to perform a variety of tricks, including twists and jumps, depending on how skilled or adventurous they are.
Some of the better sandboarding locations are the dunes in Atlantis, the Silver Sands in Betty’s Bay, Dragon Dune in Vleesbaai, Lagoon Dunes at Langebaan, Nautilus Bay Dunes, as well as the Fish Hoek sand dunes.
Peter van Kersen, an extreme sports enthusiast from the Netherlands, tried out sandboarding at the dunes in Atlantis, arranged by Sidewinder Sandboards (www.sidewinderboards.com).
He said of the experience: 'I had done some snowboarding before, so I already had the balance, but some of my friends who came with me had never done anything like this before and they were able to get the hang of it within an hour.'
Other operators to consider in the Western Cape include Downhill Adventures (www.downhilladventures.com), Ladybird Sandboarding (www.sandboarder.biz) and Sandboarding Cape Town (www.sandboardingcapetown.com).
While sandboarding is most popular in the Western Cape, the activity is also offered on old mine dump slopes in Gauteng province, with Mount Mayhem in Benoni being the main location. Pure Adrenalin Industries provide equipment and lessons for beginners. Visit www.purerush.co.za for more information.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Downhill Adventures
Tel: +27 (0) 21 422 0388
Email: booking@downhilladventures.com
Sandboarding Cape Town
Tel: + 27 (0) 84 665 1314
Email: dylan@sandboardingcapetown.com
Pure Rush Industries
Tel: +27 (0) 82 605 1150
Email: marco@purerush.co.za
What will it cost
Sandboarding should cost around R600 per person for half a day, or pay approximately R750 for a full day experience, including lunch and transport.
What to pack
Shorts and a T-shirt are the most comfortable attire for sandboarding. Don't forget to pack plenty of sunscreen and a hat. All sandboarding equipment is provided.