No snow? No passport? No downside.
Okay, so it’s summer season and also you’re sick of listening to us stress you to drop a bunch of cash on airline tickets to the Southern Hemisphere. Plus, you don’t need snow anyway. Imagine it or not, we get it.
However true to type, we’ve nonetheless received a approach so that you can ski throughout the offseason. On sand! A pal of the store and a present staffer have chased sand snowboarding to Colorado’s Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park within the final couple summers. So, we requested them to some highlights and suggestions from their adventures.
From Scott Wilkins, Loveland freeride coach and retail store supervisor:
So I’m a little bit of a ski nerd. It doesn’t matter what time of 12 months it’s I at all times carry my skis and boots in my truck. This journey was no completely different. I used to be getting back from a pal’s marriage ceremony in Taos and the route residence takes you fairly near the Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park. I’ve by no means skied sand earlier than and the chance referred to as to me. Whereas mountain climbing up the dunes I had loads of time to benefit from the views and the way surreal it was to be climbing sand in the course of Colorado. As I reached the highest of the almost 600 vertical toes of sand I took time to absorb the solitude and sweetness as I slipped my ski boots on to arrange for the enjoyable half. As I put my Elan powder skis on, the thrill grew as I spotted this was going to be a really completely different expertise. At first you suppose you’re not going to maneuver because of the friction of the sand beneath your skis, however as you edge your approach onto the pitch you begin to acquire pace and understand this feels a bit like snowboarding recent powder. The sound of the sand being moved from beneath the skis is surreal and the turns are unbelievable. The way in which the skis floated within the sand and effortlessly turned down the hill was shocking and welcome. You’re on the backside earlier than you already know it and able to do all of it once more.
For these of you desirous to expertise this, there are some things I might advocate. It will likely be hotter than you suppose because the sand absorbs warmth rapidly. Your toes can burn rapidly in case you are sporting sandals, so carry an honest pair of footwear and a spare set of socks as the whole lot might be stuffed with sand. I might advocate bringing wider skis as they transfer by means of the sand extra simply than narrower skis. With regards to skis, the sand will truly buff out your bases and make them look fairly good. Ie, you’re not going to wreck them. Nevertheless, bear in mind the sand will get all over the place and you will have to do some cleansing and upkeep in your bindings whenever you’re accomplished to verify they maintain working.
To assist with glide I might carry a bar of graphite based mostly wax as it’ll assist with the static build-up inflicting you to decelerate (be certain to rub extra on after every run, it wears off quick). Deliver loads of water and snacks to take pleasure in on the dunes, I’m certain you’ll need to spend a while up there. Snowboarding is a tremendous sport that may be loved by so many individuals and sand snowboarding isn’t any completely different. In the event you don’t really feel like snowboarding, there are locations in Alamosa to lease sand boards. You could possibly additionally carry your snowboard with you. Regardless of the way you determine to go, take pleasure in your self and permit your self to develop into immersed within the expertise and have enjoyable!
From staffer Matt McDonald:
My Dunes snowboarding journey occurred due to a photographer’s imaginative and prescient. A gifted pal schemed up a photograph mission to seize skiers at Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park. He introduced the inspiration, the expertise, and the artist’s eye. I and our two different “athletes” introduced beat-up skis and loads of skepticism over how effectively they might truly slide.
The primary couple laps had been trudges. Everyone knows that sand will get all over the place, however in some way you’re shocked every time it occurs. In your eyelashes, your ears, your scalp, your soul. Add the warmth and the skis in your again, and it could possibly be a recipe for a sufferfest. Fortunately, we packed loads of water and took our time. Our mad-scientist photog additionally cherished capturing epic ridge pictures of the ascent, so among the stress to make respectable turns was alleviated as we struggled to choose up pace throughout our first two drop-ins.
We cracked the code (ie, made actual turns!) as soon as we discovered a steep slope the place the sand had stayed cool and packed beneath its unfastened floor. Shocker: It was north-facing. After straightlining 1 / 4 of the pitch, we constructed up sufficient pace to truly make arcs. Dare I say, we even scored some sand slashes!
Scott nailed it in his feedback above, but when I’m going so as to add or reiterate any pointers for these of you hoping to shred sand yourselves, right here’s what I’d say:
Reapply your wax. As soon as we began taking the time to meticulously reapply that graphite-based wax, the snowboarding received higher.
Keep gentle. Very like snowboarding skinny, early season snow (with rock sharks all over the place), you don’t need to edge too onerous. The stability on sand generally is a little bizarre, and it’s simple to catch edges and dump your self ahead. Edging an excessive amount of additionally kills pace, and pace is your very best pal when making an attempt to ski sand.
Consider it as an journey. Sand snowboarding can legitimately really feel like snow snowboarding. Good snow snowboarding, even. However you’ll max-out your expertise when you make it about greater than that. Hold across the Dunes and benefit from the ridiculousness of your journey. Set expectations low, push for some cardio, and take 1,000,000 images. Go to close by Zapata Falls. Catch sundown on Excessive Dune. Save the powder fever for winter. Nobody goes to poach your sand line, I promise. They’re not as bizarre as you’re.
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