Sandsurfing
Sandsurfing, also commonly known as Desertsurfing, is a recently invented extreme sport. It is similar to waterskiing, in which riders surf on the sand; mostly in deserts, as they are being pulled on by a vehicle. The sport was invented by Joey Manalis and was accepted as an extreme sport in March of 2006.
As in waterskiing where riders ride on boards holding on to a rope attached to a jet ski, sandsurfers ride on a skateboard holding on to a towline that is attached to the back of an ATV or other similar vehicles.
Sandsurfing is mostly done in the deserts where there is an abundance of sandunes which makes it extremely suitable for unlimited riding. The sport is currently practiced mostly at a recreational level by thrill seekers, where riders attempt to perform various tricks like jumps and spins as they surf.
Since the sport involves riding at high speeds, athletes wear helmets, goggles and various other protective gears while practicing the sport.
Though mostly practiced as a recreational sport, there are some regional level tournaments that are also conducted for sandsurfing, like the annual tournament conducted in the deserts of Malibu which is sponsored by a couple of skateboard magazines.
Similar Sports
- Sandboarding — involves sliding on sand while standing on a board.
- Water Skiing — riders are pulled along behind a boat skimming atop the water wearing one or two skis.
- Kneeboarding — a participants are pulled along while kneeling on a convex board.
- Barefoot Skiing — involves skiing barefoot on water without the use of water skis.
Related Pages
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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