Riding the sand dunes can be one of the most enjoyable riding experiences a person ever has. Nothing can beat the thrill of carving your own lines through the rolling dunes, your paddles throwing a roost 50 feet behind you as you pick any line you want because there are no trails, trees or rocks in the dunes - just sand - and you can go anywhere you please. After a good wind the sand can be as smooth as glass and you feel like you're riding on air.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Well it is great for an experienced rider but for an inexperienced sand duner euphoria can quickly turn to tragedy. At the risk of being melodramatic, all of the things that make the sand dunes so much fun to ride are the same things that can lead to disaster. The simple fact that you can ride anywhere you want means there are no established trails to follow - your path could take you straight over a razorback and send you airborne for 100 feet or right in front of an oncoming dune buggy. The fact that there are no trees or rocks also means no landmarks or structure to define the terrain and that fresh smooth sand has no contrast and it can be extremely difficult to read the dunes. And don't think that sand makes for a soft landing, it doesn't - sand is unforgiving in a crash, just like dirt. Another thing that can make riding the sand dunes so tricky is that sand dunes move and change their shape constantly. A good windy day can turn a smooth rolling dune into a razorback that can eat you alive. The high noon sun can leave you almost snowblind in the sand because there is no contrast from one dune to another and the sun overhead leaves no shadows. At times you can't tell where one dune ends and another begins - it all looks the same. To top it all off, the sand dunes can play some other nasty tricks on you. Ever hear of a Witch's Eye? That's the term to describe a sharp steep hole that is generally the shape of an evil eye at the top of some dunes. If you come upon one of these and can't stop in time a crash is almost certain - or at the very least a very hard and abrupt stop as the front of your quad dives into the steep hole.

Ok, now that I've talked about some of the dangers let's talk about what you can do to be safe at the dunes:

1. Wear a PROPER FITTING helmet and preferably goggles, gloves, boots and a chest protector. If you don't know why a helmet is important you probably shouldn't be riding - it's to protect your most precious belonging.... your head. A proper fitting helmet should be snug but not so snug as to cause discomfort. When you shake your head the helmet should move with your head. Goggles will keep the sand out of your eyes. Trust me, you need eye protection in the dunes because other riders and wind will kick up plenty of sand into the air that you don't want in your eyes. If you can't see you can't ride. Gloves will help you keep a solid grip on the bars and help protect your hands in case you take a spill. Boots will help protect your ankles and feet and the chest protector will protect your chest and all the important organs contained therein.

2. Use a whip flag of the proper height (bright orange or red flag at least 8 feet off of the ground is best). Whether you are on a bike, buggy or quad a whip flag will help other people see you in the dunes. One of the most common and avoidable types of accidents is somebody coming over a dune and hitting another person. Whip flags will get you spotted sooner and provide more time for the other person to avoid hititng you.

3. Take it easy and learn the terrain. Think all dunes are the same? They aren't! You might know your local sandbox like the back of your hand but I can guarantee they are all different. When you go to a new area take the time to learn how the dunes flow, if there are many razorbacks, traffic patterns etc. If you are new to sand duning work your way up from the smaller dunes to the larger ones as your skills progress.

4. Never ride alone. Always have a partner to ride with you. Accidents happen and machines break down - be prepared and ride wth a buddy. It's also a good idea to have a length of rope with you in case you need a tow back to camp. Make sure you have at least the small tool kit that came with your quad or bike or bring a few common tools that fit your machine such as spark plug wrench, screwdriver, pliers, etc. I remmerb one time a friend had a wipeout and broke the frame on his quad. We were able to find some old barbed wire and with the few basic tools in my tool kit get his quad fixed good enough to get the 15 miles back to camp.

5. Don't ride above your abilities.

6. Think about where you are riding in relation to everybody else.

7. Going up and down steep or long hills.

8. Use a spotter if you are jumping.

9.