Egypt on skis

American Fitness, Nov-Dec, 1990 by Sharon Geltner

EGYPT ON SKIS

It's not exactly Aspen, but these sandy slopes offer thrills without FROSTBITE.

At last? A fitness trend that doesn't come from California! Sand skiing is the latest sport for those in the know. But, for a change, it didn't originate anywhere near the West Coast.

It all started with an ingenious Finnish embassy staffer detailed to Cairo in 1984. Instead of being homesick for his country's favorite sport, he exported it to the desert. Imagine showing up at the Helsinki airport to board a flight to Egypt with snow skis in hand!

But once he tried it, Seppo Kokkonen loved skiing on the sandy dunes, and the sport's popularity spread to other embassy staffers--who spread the word around. Sand skiing works much like snow skiing, except skiers don't have to worry about frostbite and moguls. Falling is also a lot less painful. But sunscreen is necessary.

The equipment required is the same--downhill skis, boots and poles. It's best to us beat-up equipment because it tends to slide better. Some skiers have the sharp edges of their skis filed to make them rounder. Dark goggles are crucial to protect your eyes against glare and fine grains of sand.

The best skiing dunes are said to be about 10 miles from the Cairo-Ismailia road, about an hour west of the pyramids. The dunes are steep and the sand is fine--loose and powdery.

People also ski with parasails and with both feet strapped to one board. They also "water" ski, towed by jeeps. Some hotdoggers have tried sand surfing down the dunes. But, the snow surfing boards flew so quickly that even the more serious athletes had to drop it. However, some bold types enjoy stunt skiing, similar to the snow sport which is trying to enter Olympic competition.

Remember, snowbunnies stay home. This is a remote area -- there's no hot chocolate at the lodge, although the tour operator is providing refreshments. There are no chairlifts--skiers have to hike. The climb takes about 15 minutes, including two breaks. Some have made it in six minutes. One fanatic is considering designing a portable ski lift which would adapt to shifting sands. It's debatable whether skiers should wear their boots or carry them. Some skiers say the boots support their ankles and keep them from sinking into the sand.

DFW tours in Dallas is the only American operator developing a sand skiing package which is scheduled to start this year. This collaboration with Egypt's Travel Mark Tours is Egypt's first organized sand skiing program. For more details on equipment and transportation, call Susan Smith at 1-800-527-2589.

Sharon Geltner is a freelance writer living in Boca Raton, Florida.