Some people come to Florence, Ore., for the sea lions, and some come to tour the lighthouses. Lon Beale came for the sand and never left.

Beale knows a lot about sand. He displays samples he’s collected from around the world at Sand Master Park, where he’s spent the past 11 years introducing the Northwest to sandboarding.

What’s sandboarding? Picture snowboarding on sand. But instead of setting the alarm for 5 a.m. to get first tracks, you can sleep in because the dunes always look untouched.

“Imagine fresh powder every single run,” Beale said.

Beale fell in love with the sand growing up in the Mojave Desert, and he’s been sandboarding since 1972. He worked in the surf industry in the 1980s and was certain that sports like snowboarding and wakeboarding would never become popular.

When he was proved wrong, he became convinced sandboarding was next.

“I just didn’t think I’d have to be the guy to do it,” Beale said. “I never thought of myself as a pioneer, but necessity pushed me that way.”

In 2000, Beale opened Sand Master Park. He chose Florence because it was the only place where he could buy 40 acres of sand dunes. Throw in Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on the south side of town and he envisioned a sandboarding mecca.

That’s exactly what Florence has become. Today, Beale says, more than 25,000 people per year visit his park. The small coastal community is even the current home of four-time sandboarding world champ Josh Tenge, who is originally from Gig Harbor.

“There are a lot of reasons people come here,” said Beverly Morgan of the Florence Chamber of Commerce, “but I’d say it (sandboarding) is one of the most popular.”

Beale also manufactures boards and sells them worldwide for $189 for a basic set up to $265 for a pro-caliber board.

“We’ve sold a bunch to troops in the Middle East,” Beale said. “They can’t snowboard over there, but there is plenty of sand.”

Board rentals range from $10-$25, and for those who want something a little mellower, the park also rents sandsleds for $16. A large chain store on the other side of the dunes sells snow sled discs for $5, but Beale said this isn’t really a bargain.

“They are trash, and tourists don’t realize it,” Beale said. “The soft plastic grabs the sand. You need something hard. That’s why you need a wood board.”

The board rentals come with a bar of Dr. Dune Wax, which one Sand Master staffer recommended applying before every run.

The runs are short (most in Sand Master Park are less than 60 vertical feet), but Beale said you can find runs in the area with as much as 400 vertical feet – more vertical than some beginner ski runs around the Northwest.

“That’s plenty for most people,” said Beale, who has ridden dunes as tall as 3,000 feet during his world travels. “You bomb that and you’re going 60 mph.”

While you can ski, sled or even bike (the wheels are replaced with boards) on the sand, Beale said sandboards perform best.

And it’s not that hard to learn, Beale said.

“If you snowboard, you will pick it up quickly,” he said. It’s simply a matter of riding with your weight more on your front foot than your back.

“Surfers pick it up the fastest because it is almost the same,” Beale said. “And they love it because instead of paddling out and waiting for a set (of waves), here the waves wait for you.”

Beale enjoys all of these sports, but ask him to compare it to snowboarding and he’ll rattle off a list of reasons his sport his better: It’s warmer, it’s cheaper and dunes never melt.

Sandboarding is not entirely superior, of course. A good wipeout, for example, is likely going to result in you spending the rest of the afternoon with sand in your mouth, ears, pockets and undies, among other places.

But, Beale says, you’ll have so much fun you’ll barely notice.

Craig Hill: 253-597-8497
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure

Where to stay: There are several hotels overlooking the ocean in Florence including the Best Western Plus Pier Point Inn ($170-$200 per night) and the Overleaf Lodge ($130-$500). There are also less expensive options such as the Economy Inn ($70-90). There are a number of RV parks and campgrounds in and around Florence. For a listing, visit Florencechamber.com.

Where to eat: Florence’s Old Town district is packed with shopping and dining opportunities and more than a half dozen art galleries. For dining, Beverly Morgan of the Florence Chamber recommends any of the seafood restaurants. Mo’s brags about it’s “nationally famous” clam chowder. Restobar serves pizza and seafood, and Traveler’s Cove serves Mexican fare and offers deck seating with a view of the Siuslaw River.