No snow? No passport? No problem.
Okay, so it’s summer and you’re sick of hearing us pressure you to drop a bunch of money on airline tickets to the Southern Hemisphere. Plus, you don’t want snow anyway. Believe it or not, we get it.
But true to form, we’ve still got a way for you to ski during the offseason. On sand! A friend of the shop and a current staffer have chased sand skiing to Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park in the last couple summers. So, we asked them to some highlights and tips from their adventures.
From Scott Wilkins, Loveland freeride coach and retail shop manager:
So I am a bit of a ski nerd. No matter what time of year it is I always carry my skis and boots in my truck. This trip was no different. I was coming back from a friend’s wedding in Taos and the route home takes you pretty close to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I have never skied sand before and the opportunity called to me. While hiking up the dunes I had plenty of time to enjoy the views and how surreal it was to be climbing sand in the middle of Colorado. As I reached the top of the nearly 600 vertical feet of sand I took time to take in the solitude and beauty as I slipped my ski boots on to prepare for the fun part. As I put my Elan powder skis on, the excitement grew as I realized this was going to be a very different experience. At first you think you’re not going to move due to the friction of the sand under your skis, but as you edge your way onto the pitch you start to gain speed and realize this feels a little like skiing fresh powder. The sound of the sand being moved from under the skis is surreal and the turns are incredible. The way the skis floated in the sand and effortlessly turned down the hill was surprising and welcome. You’re at the bottom before you know it and ready to do it all again.
For those of you wanting to experience this, there are a few things I would recommend. It will be hotter than you think as the sand absorbs heat quickly. Your feet can burn quickly if you are wearing sandals, so bring a decent pair of shoes and a spare set of socks as everything will be filled with sand. I would recommend bringing wider skis as they move through the sand more easily than narrower skis. On the subject of skis, the sand will actually buff out your bases and make them look pretty good. Ie, you’re not going to ruin them. However, be aware the sand gets everywhere and you will need to do some cleaning and maintenance on your bindings when you’re done to make sure they keep working.
To help with glide I would bring a bar of graphite based wax as it will help with the static build-up causing you to slow down (make sure to rub more on after each run, it wears off fast). Bring plenty of water and snacks to enjoy on the dunes, I’m sure you’ll want to spend some time up there. Skiing is an amazing sport that can be enjoyed by so many people and sand skiing is no different. If you don’t feel like skiing, there are places in Alamosa to rent sand boards. You could also bring your snowboard with you. No matter how you decide to go, enjoy yourself and allow yourself to become immersed in the experience and have fun!
From staffer Matt McDonald:
My Dunes skiing trip happened thanks to a photographer’s vision. A talented friend schemed up a photo mission to capture skiers at Great Sand Dunes National Park. He brought the inspiration, the talent, and the artist’s eye. I and our two other “athletes” brought beat-up skis and plenty of skepticism over how well they would actually slide.
The first couple laps were trudges. We all know that sand gets everywhere, but somehow you’re surprised each time it happens. In your eyelashes, your ears, your scalp, your soul. Add the heat and the skis on your back, and it could be a recipe for a sufferfest. Thankfully, we packed plenty of water and took our time. Our mad-scientist photog also loved capturing epic ridge shots of the ascent, so some of the pressure to make decent turns was alleviated as we struggled to pick up speed during our first two drop-ins.
We cracked the code (ie, made real turns!) once we found a steep slope where the sand had stayed cool and packed beneath its loose surface. Shocker: It was north-facing. After straightlining a quarter of the pitch, we built up enough speed to actually make arcs. Dare I say, we even scored some sand slashes!
Scott nailed it in his comments above, but if I’m going to add or reiterate any pointers for those of you hoping to shred sand yourselves, here’s what I’d say:
Reapply your wax. Once we started taking the time to meticulously reapply that graphite-based wax, the skiing got better.
Stay light. Much like skiing thin, early season snow (with rock sharks everywhere), you don’t want to edge too hard. The balance on sand can be a little weird, and it’s easy to catch edges and dump yourself forward. Edging too much also kills speed, and speed is your absolute best friend when trying to ski sand.
Think of it as an adventure. Sand skiing can legitimately feel like snow skiing. Good snow skiing, even. But you’ll max-out your experience if you make it about more than that. Hang around the Dunes and enjoy the ridiculousness of your adventure. Set expectations low, push for some cardio, and take a million photos. Visit nearby Zapata Falls. Catch sunset on High Dune. Save the powder fever for winter. No one is going to poach your sand line, I promise. They’re not as weird as you are.
Not sold? Book a trip to the Southern Hemisphere!
