We head out to the Bedouin Oasis in Ras Al Khaimah for the weekend with sand boarding high on the list of activities. The boys are excited and so are we! The weather is still nice, we have a group of friends and some fun things lined up – quad biking, camel rides and dinner under the stars, plus a marshmallow or two around the campfire.
First things first though. You have to get to the top! The boys take off with the boards and race up the hill. I hold back, preferring to watch from the bottom. It isn’t long before they’re on their way down, with only a few hiccups getting started.
Less dangerous than snow skiing and a whole lot more effort, sand boarding is not for the faint hearted – or the unfit! There are no chairlifts here and the sand is not as slippery as it may seem.
After a while the children look like they’re just having too much fun. So one by one, the adults brave the climb to the top. I possibly get lapped by the kids more than once on the way up and waiting my turn for the board gives me a chance to catch my breath and take in the spectacular view.
Nervously I find my courage and hop on. No need to have been so hesitant, I’m more likely to sink than surf! The sand engulfs the front of the board and I am going nowhere fast.
I wriggle and heave my way down the slope. What will happen if I go too fast? No such luck – I never get the chance to find out! In the end it seems to be a mixture of board (not great), slope (not steep enough) and weight (I put this down to the marshmallows last night).
The kids do seem to enjoy it a whole lot more. It must be at least partly due to them being less likely to get sand logged – they can actually get up a bit of speed. They also have no fear of what might happen to them if they do take off.
After a couple of tries I decide not to risk it anymore and leave it to the kids and kids at heart. I wander off along the top of the dune to take photos of the desert instead. At least the climb to the top was worth it!
Good To Know
Most organized desert trips whether it be for the afternoon or overnight will include sand boarding. For most people one or two tries will be enough as it’s rather hard work so don’t feel like you’ll miss out if there are only a couple of boards to share. I do recall a trip to the desert with grandad a couple of years ago where the children lasted over an hour at it though. They slept well that night!
Would I Return?
Yes. Just not for the sand boarding.
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