Sand Skiing VS Snow Skiing

Snowboarding automatically springs to mind when you think about gliding down the slopes on a board or skis. But each year, more and more people take to the sand dunes to participate in sandboarding and sand skiing sports. It's a topic where no two people can have the same answer, so we're here to equate the two sports to help you figure out how they are distinct.

Boards and skis have been used for centuries to travel through both mountainous and sandy areas. However, even though snowboarding and snow skiing were acknowledged as official and admired winter sports, they still did not get much consideration, only becoming popular in recent decades.

While both sand skiing and snow skiing have their charm, and one can only decide it based upon their personal preferences. Here are some handpicked differences between them both that can help you decide which one is for you.

Sandboarding vs. Snowboarding

History of Sand skiing

Sand skiing is an activity and ski style in which the skier is skiing down a sand dune using ski poles. It was originated primarily in Namibia, where sandboarding can also be done in boardsport. On 6 June 2010, Henrik May, a German who has lived in Namibia for some 10 years, set a Guinness World Record in speed sand-skiing. His speed was 92.12 km / h.

History of Snow skiing

Traveling on skis over snow has at least eight thousand years of history. The oldest archeological reports of skis have been discovered in Russia and date back to 6000 BCE. Although modern skiing has developed from the beginning in Scandinavia, 5000-year-old wall drawings show the use of skis in the Xinjiang region of what is now China. Initially solely practical, skiing became a common recreational activity and sport starting in the mid-1800s, being performed in the snow-cove.

Now that we know about the difference between sand skiing and snow skiing, it’s time we dive into their distinct features:

1. Availability

Sandboarding is usually available throughout the year, unlike the seasonal ski resorts that allow snowboarding only in winters. Sandboarding is much more convenient than their snowy rivals.

So if you are someone who only likes to enjoy the snowy times of the year, then snow skiing is for you; however, if you like skiing all year round, then you can go for sandboarding.

2. Price

The equipment is less expensive for sandboarding than it is for snowboarding.

3. Clothing

Custom apparel is not needed for the rider -if you're sandboarding. A pair of skis, wax, goggles, and ski poles will be enough if you are sand skiing. However, if you're snowboarding, you'll need lots of clothing and preventive gadgets.

4. Quality of the board

Sandboard bases are much tougher than snowboard bases made of Formica or laminex. Before a ride, the base of both is typically waxed with paraffin-based wax so the rider may quickly slide down the sand or snow.

5. Size

The sandboards are much shorter; formed like a Magnum ice-cream stick about a meter long and a few centimeters thick as well. The shorter size decreases the tension on the surface, which makes it much easier for boards to glide down the dunes ' rough sand. They also have no metal finish; however, a snowboard does.

Difference between Sandboard and Snowboard

If sandboard looks remarkably similar to snow skis, it’s because the idea is almost identical. Strap a board to your feet or surf down a sandy mountain with a quick clip, pivot your body and move your weight from the toe to the heel to navigate the dunes as you make your way down.

1. Lifts

There will be no ski lifts available on sand dunes to assist the boarders in getting up and down the sandy slopes. The rider has to ride back up to the top after riding to the bottom of the dunes to do it again when bringing the board with them.

2. Dressing

If on a scorching hot day, you hit the slopes, dress properly by covering yourself with lightweight, breathable fabrics that will better protect your skin when you slip on the hot sand. Although the sand isn't as reflective as snow, you'll still be going to deal with extra sun glare.

3. Weight

A sandboard is much like the snowboard, except it is much smaller. The lightweight is essential because many sandboarding dunes don't have lifts, and each time you want to go down, you will have to take the board up with you. Do not use a snowboard on the sand because it can scrape off.

4. Fritction

Sand is highly friction-intensive—snow, however, is friction-free. When the snowboard is riding at its edge, it gets much smaller when the snow compresses momentarily into the ice with a thin layer of water on top.

Conclusion

Sandboarding was made just because it was important to do so. Since snow isn't an option in a few regions of the world, so those who wished to snowboard developed the idea of sandboarding on the desert's huge sandhills. Sandboard is still a sport, although you don't hear much about it.

The bottom line is that snowboards are designed for snow performance, and sandboards are made for performance on the sand. If you are looking forward to trying these things, then you must be riding the actual sandboard on the sand and the snowboard on the snow. Both are the amazing sports activities that allow you to have great time and happiness, and yes, you'll love it!