Τελευταία ενημέρωση τον Σεπτέμβριο 9, 2023
Skiing is a winter sport that usually happens on snow-covered mountains. But some skiers are not afraid to try new things, even if it means skiing on sand.
This takes the name of σκι στην άμμο – a variation of sandboarding that uses skis. As with sandboards, skis can be modified to glide on sand by adding a laminate layer like Formica to their base, and by applying generous amounts of wax before each ride.
Early Pioneers of Sand Skiing
Sand skiing has a long history that dates back to the early 20th century. One of the pioneers of this sport was Marie Marvingt, a French athlete, ορειβάτης, αεροπόρος, and journalist. Σε 1927, she created aluminum skis to land on Saharan sands in Morocco and Algeria. This was a major breakthrough, as it made sand skiing much easier and more efficient.
Marvingt was a pioneering aviator and mountaineer, and she was always looking for new challenges. She was also a skilled skier, and she saw the potential for sand skiing as a new and exciting sport.
Marvingt’s experiments with sand skiing inspired others to try the sport, and it soon began to catch on in other parts of the world. Στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, sand skiing was first introduced in the 1930s on the sand dunes of Cape Cod, Μασαχουσέτη.
Sand Skiing in the Namib Desert
One of the most famous sand skiing destinations is the Namib Desert in Namibia. This desert has some of the world’s largest dunes, and it’s a great place to go sand skiing.
German-born Henrik May has been at the forefront of sand skiing in Namibia for over two decades. His company, Σκι Ναμίμπια, offers guided sand skiing experiences.
Χένρικ Μέι, who has lived in Namibia for over 10 χρόνια, made sand skiing more popular in the country by setting a new Guinness World Record for speed while skiing down a dune in 2010.
Sand Skiing in the United States
Sand skiing in the US has a long and storied history. It dates back to at least 1937, when skiers in Cape Cod, Μασαχουσέτη, began sliding down the dunes on wooden skis. In the decades that followed, sand skiing became popular in other parts of the country, including Prince George, Βρετανική Κολούμπια, και Καλιφόρνια.
In Florida, sand skiing was introduced to Polk County in the early 1900s by Norwegian immigrants. Sand Mountain, a large sand dune created near Fort Meade as a byproduct of the phosphate mining industry, quickly became a popular spot for sand skiing.
The International Sand Ski Tournament was held at Sand Mountain in 1951 και 1952, drawing skiers from all over the world.
Ωστόσο, new technology in the 1960s made it possible for the phosphate companies to extract more phosphate from the sand dunes, leading to the leveling of Sand Mountain and the end of the era of sand skiing in Polk County.
One of the most famous sand skiing competitions in the US was the Sandblast, which was held annually in Prince George from 1971 προς την 2003. The competition attracted thousands of spectators and featured a dual slalom race among the best sand skiers in the world.
Τα τελευταία χρόνια, sand skiing has become increasingly popular in the US. This is due in part to the growing popularity of dry slopes, which are artificial slopes that are made of plastic. Dry slopes offer a year-round opportunity to sand ski, even when there is no snow.
Sand Skiing Today and Beyond
Σήμερα, sand skiing is still a popular sport, and it’s becoming more and more popular. In Europe, where snow can be scarce, dry slopes made of plastics are becoming a popular alternative. These slopes offer a skiing experience without the need for natural snow.
Monte Kaolino in Germany is one of the leading destinations for sand-skiing and the only sport facility dedicated to the sport which is also equipped with a lift. Once a year, the SandSpirit competition is held there, attracting sand-skiers from all over the continent.
In Peru, where sandboarding is extremely popular due to the presence of large steep dunes all over the country, sand skiing is also practiced. Many athlethes who practice regular ski decide to put their skills to the test by switching snow for sand in Huacachina’s popular sand dunes ή Λευκός Λόφος, one of the world’s largest sand dunes.
Διαβάστε επίσης: Κατεβάστε ενεργά ηφαίστεια σε αυτούς τους συναρπαστικούς προορισμούς σε όλο τον κόσμο
Η νούμερο 1 πηγή πληροφοριών σας για τον κόσμο των αμμοαθλημάτων και τα ταξίδια περιπέτειας στην έρημο. Τα άρθρα μας είναι αποτέλεσμα εκτενούς έρευνας, προσωπική εμπειρία, και ανταλλαγή γνώσεων στην παγκόσμια κοινότητα sandboarding.
