Inside This Article:
1. Introduction to sandboarding
2. Sandboarding destinations
3. Sandboarding events
4. Sandboarding gear
5. Sandboards
As sandboarding has catapulted into the popular realm of adventure sports, a variety of competitions and events have followed. Sponsors gather together the sport’s best from around the world to find who can get the biggest air, who can nail the best 360° and who can ride down the dunes the fastest. In fact, many competitions are set up specifically for one element, such as rail sliding, slaloming, jumping or performing freestyle tricks. Other competitions have riders compete in every element in order to draw in the full range of sandboarding aficionados. Most of these events are accompanied by music and art festivals, which help to bring a unique flavor to the competitions while also giving patrons and spectators more on-site activities in which to participate. There are plenty of smaller events for sandboarders across the globe, but these competitions bring in the biggest names and provide the biggest thrills for sandboarding fans.
The Sand Master Jam is a major annual sandboarding event that takes place in Florence, Oregon at Sand Master Park. It was the first sand park of its kind because it commercialized the sport and gave sandboarders of all skill levels a chance to compete on a series of dunes with heights reaching up to 300 feet. The event occurs in late spring or early summer with an entry fee of $15, but spectators are granted free admission. It has been held since 1996, but only more recently became permanently affixed to Sand Master Park.
| Related Video: Will Gadd takes you to the Sahara desert as he prepares to sand ski in the dunes. |
The park has rail slide, slalom and freestyle facilities in place for competitions, so spectators get to see it all. Sand Master Park also plays host to the National Sandboarding League’s Rail Jam and the X West Huck Fest for Big Air and Jump contests.
The Sandboarding World Championships are held annually in Hirschau, Germany at Monte Kaolino, the site of Europe’s largest sand hill. This truly world class facility has made a name for itself by offering riders the opportunity to coast down dunes over 300 feet tall as they ride into the unique water landing site at the bottom of the hill. Sandboarders also enjoy the convenience of a sand lift—the only one of its kind in the world. Events include slalom and freestyle, plus Monte Kaolino is also host to a large water park for relaxation and fun during the festival.
The Pan-American Sandboarding Challenge takes place in July at Prainha’s Beach in beautiful Aquiraz, Ceara, Brazil. This event is the South American counterpart to the Sand Master Jam and features amateurs and professionals who wish to compete in freestyle and jump events. While it does not take place in a sand park per se, this event is just as legitimate as the other international sandboarding events and it displays the prominence of sandboarding throughout South America.
The Sand Sports Super Show is an annual outdoor event for fans of all sand sports, including sandboarding. While this event is not exclusive to the sandboarding community, it is often the showcase for new equipment and technology in the sport and famous sandboarders like Josh Tenge often show up to perform tricks and wow the crowd with the newest advancements in sandboarding. This three-day event takes place in September in Costa Mesa, California at the Orange County Fair & Expo Center and admission is only $10.