2019 Sand Sports Super Show…

Through The Eyes Of A Newbie

Flabbergasted… Amazed… Confound… Astonished…Mesmerized… I can’t think of a single word that can express the emotion ripped out of me while attending the 2019 Sand Sports Super Show. UTV’s, sandrails, trucks—you name it. Anything and everything that could throw sand were there, but before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s jump back a few pegs to where this feeling of excitement started to foster. Right from the get-go.

Let’s just start where I started—not knowing a damn thing. What is the Sand Sports Super Show? It’s an expo. “Sounds cool, but what is it,” you might ask. I’ll just put it this way, pure insanity. If you don’t want to end up at a place where every step you take, you feel you must pause to take in what your eyes are looking at, then this show isn’t the place for you. There’s so much to do, so many things to be seen, you would never guess you’d have enough time to see it all. Let me assure you, you do. This show was amazing. Even if you don’t know what the whole thing is or what it’s about… Even if you don’t know a single thing about off-road vehicles, this is the place to learn.

The first thing that just put me in awe was simply the sheer size of the show. I mean I had to drive a few blocks just to wrap around for some parking—this beckoned my excitement to come out. I thought for sure it was going to take forever just to get in, but thankfully I was wrong. The whole show was organized so well that I was through the gate in a matter of steps. Once inside, the little kid in me began to resurface after many years of dormancy. I was stoked. I didn’t know anything. Not what to expect, nothing of what I might encounter, nor who I might see; but after taking those first steps through the gate, I immediately stopped caring. I was compelled to stroll around and see it all for myself. Like something was tugging at me.

Walking around, I noticed the inside was more gnarly looking than I thought, and I already thought it was going to be rad as it was. The number of manufacturers, vendors, custom builds, and merchandise was overwhelming. Booths were everywhere. Each one with its own unique presentation. The setups alone were enough to catch the eye, but focus a little more on what each booth had to offer, and you soon realize the dynamic of the offroad industry.

Remember me mentioning the little kid in me coming out again? Well, imagine the tremendous amount of questions a seven-year-old would have. For a first-timer, anyone could have guessed there was no lack of curiosity in me, and you can bet I was asking about everything. What I noticed is how genuinely positive and approachable everybody was. Whether they were participants or working the event, everyone was ready to engage in conversation. The overall atmosphere had me feeling comfortable and at home. It’s as if the industry was a part of my life the entire time. Now, normally I’m a fairly reserved person. I’m not typically the type to initiate dialogue with a stranger. However, with all the excitement, I couldn’t help but be a little more proactive than usual in getting involved with each aspect of the show.

Diving deeper into the experience, I want to elaborate on the diversity of each booth because other than having a vehicle and merchandise to display, no two were alike. Typically, you may find a UTV or two posted in front of or inside the booths. Seems pretty monotonous right? Far from it. Just by glancing around, I quickly found out the versatility of motorsports. Literally every part can be customized. I didn’t have to know much to be able to tell these displays of state-of-the-art machinery had their own distinct look and functionality. It wasn’t just add-ons either. You could see the artistry these guys put into designing the whole build; all the way down to the nuts and bolts.

For those that are less about just looking at craftsmanship and more about getting their tires into the dirt as well, there was plenty of product to gander at and purchase. Lights, stereos, seats, tires, shocks: literally anything imaginable to equip your UTV with and then some. There were even rooftop tents for sale and racks to set them on—all this doesn’t even mention the clothing, accessories, and knick-knacks either.

I entered the 2019 Sand Sports Super Show knowing next to nothing. Honestly, with the unimaginable amount of information I was able to acquire just in the two days of me attending the event, I still have a lot to learn. Nevertheless, upon the show coming to a close, I not only feel a ton more confident about getting more involved with the industry, but I’m more excited than ever to delve further into the dynamics of the offroad scene. Sand Sports Super Show was the perfect place for my inception. It’s really just a great big family of people wanting to enjoy life and I’m more than down for the adventure. Until next year!