Sandboarding has a simple appeal: a board, a slope, no lift queue. It is also the activity most people underestimate, because sand behaves nothing like snow.
Sand is slow — until it is not
A snowboard glides. A sandboard drags. You need a steeper slope and more commitment to get moving, and once you are moving, the board tracks differently under each foot. The first run usually ends with a sit-down. That is normal and it is half the fun.
Standing up is the whole skill
Most beginners fall at the start, not the end. The trick is to keep your weight centred and your knees soft while the board settles into the sand, rather than leaning back the moment it moves. If you have skateboarded or snowboarded, you will recognise the feeling. If you have not, expect two or three runs before it makes sense.
What to wear
Closed shoes, not sandals — you need grip on the board. Clothes you do not mind getting sandy, and sunglasses if it is windy. Avoid loose pockets; sand finds them immediately.
The walk back up
This is the part nobody mentions. Walking up a dune is slow work, and it is why sandboarding is usually combined with something else rather than done on its own for hours. On our trips the quad or buggy carries the boards, so you are not hiking with equipment between runs.
Is it safe?
Falling on sand is forgiving, which is why it is a good activity for people who would not dream of snowboarding. The risks are the ordinary ones: a twisted ankle from an awkward landing, or sunburn because you are facing away from the wind. Ride within your comfort level and stop when your legs get tired — tired legs are what cause bad landings.
Combining it with a ride
The most efficient way to do this in Agadir is to combine sandboarding with a quad or buggy trip. You ride out to the dunes, board for as long as it stays fun, then carry on to the beach. It gives you variety without turning the day into a workout.
If you are booking for a group with mixed enthusiasm, this is the format that works best: the riders ride, the boarders board, and nobody is waiting around for long.
Written by Land of Sand Adventure
We run the trips we write about, from our base on Boulevard du 20 Aout in Agadir. If something in this article is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
