If you’re standing on a sand dune in Swakopmund, Namibia and you’re in a George Mallory state of mind, what do you do? Yes! You put on a helmet, wax up a quarter-inch-thick piece of particle board, lay on it, and rocket down the slope at 80 kilometers per hour!
You think I’m kidding?
I’m not kidding.
Chris Jason and Beth Sarro were definitely channeling George when they founded Alter Action Sandboarding in 1996. In a country with a population density of 2.5 people per square kilometer, they found what they call “the perfect dune:” approximately five kilometers outside of Swakopmund, 100 meters high, and with six faces down which you can plummet.
In the beginning, the only method was face first and on your belly, but Jason and Sarro later introduced stand-up boarding, too—a tweaked version of snowboarding. A handful of other outfits are offering sandboarding in Namibia now, but when I went in 1997, it was Alter Action who took me out for a bit of high-speed insanity.
The trick to this extreme sport is simple: keep your feet up if you want to go fast, and keep the front of your board up if you want to stay on it. On my third or fourth run, in the midst of all my wheeeeeeee-ing, I let the front of my board drop. It hit the sand and stopped; I however, did not. A few sideways somersaults later, I got up and dusted myself off. Luckily, my worst injury was a couple of tablespoons of sand in my eyes, much of which remained stuck to my contact lenses (besides the helmet, we also had elbow pads and gloves). Once my eyes were clear, I climbed the hill again for the remaining runs, and dodged further disaster.
So what does 50 miles an hour feel like when you’re flat on the ground? Well, I’ll tell you. It feels like &*%^#%^%#%^ and %#%^^&*#@@(&%. You get going so fast that every last bit of adrenalin your endocrine system can possibly muster is flying through your body at the same speed or faster. You feel the bumps, and you get air time. You think, “Holy Mother of God, why am I doing this?” And then as soon as you get to the bottom, you want to do it again.
Have you ever tried any extreme sports? (Curling doesn’t count.) And would you try this?
Debbie Young says
Love that phrase “a George Mallory state of mind”, Laura!
And there was me thinking I was adventurous going on the helter-skelter…
Laura Zera says
Well, let’s just say that neither attraction was all that up on safety guidelines, hey?
Cindy says
Am thinking how much more fun and safe this would be than snowboarding or surfing oceans. I love that flying feeling in dreams but in RL I’m phobic. But not of sand dunes. I’d do it. Thanks for once again showing me a side of the world I’d never imagined existed.
Laura Zera says
Yay, happy to share, Cindy! And I know what you mean — with sand, there are no trees or other people to worry about (like on ski slopes), and I’m also a water chicken, so this is loads more comfortable in that respect.
jagoda says
Sounds so fun!
Laura Zera says
It was! 🙂
Lisa B says
Oh WOW! That must have been amazing. Yes I would definitely try that. Would a helmet with shield work for the sand?
Laura Zera says
Alright, Lisa! You’ve got a bit of daredevil in you! A helmet with a shield might work — you’d have to take your own, though!
Jeri says
Does the Alpine Slide in Jackson Hole count?
Laura Zera says
Haaa! I had to look that up — it looks fun! But judging by the amount of kids in the photos, I’m guessing it’s a little light on the “extreme.” 🙂
Jo-Anne Teal says
So cool. You are just amazing, Laura. What an adventure! I can just imagine the look on your face when you found out such a thing existed as sanddune boarding. The phrase “whoo hoo!” comes to mind!
You’re determined to see and experience everything in the world, aren’t you? Please please keep taking your camera, your spirit and your laptop. :)))
Laura Zera says
Haha! You’re absolutely right, when I heard about the dunes in Namibia, I was ecstatic, and immediately drawn in. The other half of the thrill rush of sandboarding was the south end of the country, and Sossusvlei. There, it was climbing dunes in the dark for a meditative sunrise. That’s for another post. And yes, I think I do want to experience everything in the world! 🙂 Thanks for reading, Jo-Anne. Love having you here.
Wendees says
I did this in Australia & Learned the hard way you keep your eyes shut!
Laura Zera says
If you wipe out, yes. But I wouldn’t shut my eyes going down those hills, no way!
Jodi from Heal Now and Forever says
Laughed so hard at the %#%^^&*#@@(&%. Wish I could have been there with you! Hot stuff!
Laura Zera says
The act of sandboarding is hot stuff, or I’m hot stuff? I will assume the latter. 🙂
Sala Sweet says
Are you in Namibia now? Coming through Ghana? I am back on African soil and will be here in Ghana until October
Laura Zera says
Hey Sala! No, unfortunately! That trip was a while ago, but I’d never blogged about it until now. Sorry I missed you when you were back over here, but look forward to getting your updates from Ghana.