There’s a bunch of adrenalin junkies heading off to the golden sands of Johannesburg’s mine dumps for a whole lot of thrills. It’s one of Jo’burg’s hottest activities right now - and apparently the conditions couldn’t be better.

Whether you know it as Jo’burg, Jozi or Joeys, Johannesburg is southern Africa’s largest city - and it’s a good 6 hours away from the ocean … and probably just as far to the nearest snow-skiing slopes (near the Lesotho border)- but what it does have in spades is old, disused mine dumps, which are proving to be ace for this new sport.

“There’s no other place like that in the world that runs like this sand does, because it’s so fine,” said Phil du Plessis, a web programmer and instructor for Pure Rush Industries, which organises weekend sandboarding.

“The sand has been treated, refined. It’s less grainy here - it’s like baby powder.”

Go to the dunes of the Eastern Cape … or Swakopmund in Namibia - and you’ll find the sand way coarser and you’ll need to wax your board.

The sand from these former gold mines is fine because it comes from rocks that have been ground to dust to squeeze out every grain of the precious metal. And the fine, powdery texture lets sandboarders speed downhill faster than on sandy beach-type sands.

Looking for a new kind of thrill? Get hold of the guys at Pure Rush - they’re fully trained, registered & qualified and they’re only too keen to take you on the ride of your life! Click on ‘Sports & Trips’ link …

Enjoy!