Sand can make even a confident motorcycle rider feel like they’ve forgotten how to ride. The front wheel moves around, your arms get tired and, before you know it, you’re digging a hole instead of going anywhere. But a few changes to your technique can make a huge difference.

I filmed this guide on the beaches and dunes of Tasmania during a trip with Ultimate Cape Escape. After sharing a few pointers with riders in our group and seeing the difference it made, I got the camera out to share them with you too.

Watch: how to ride a motorcycle in sand

These are the techniques that have worked for me through hundreds of kilometres of sand, desert races and riding a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro at 1000 Dunas. I’m a relatively light rider, so body position makes a massive difference to my ability to control the bike. Different riders, bikes and types of sand need different approaches; watch the demonstrations alongside the written tips.

1. Avoid constantly slipping the clutch

My big lesson from desert racing is to stop relying on feathering the clutch once you’re moving in sand. I’ve burnt a clutch out and ended up stranded in the desert, so this is something I feel strongly about.

In the video, I demonstrate pulling away in second gear, engaging the clutch and getting moving rather than continually slipping it. Listen to your engine and change gear as needed: wheelspin means engine speed and ground speed can feel very different in sand.

2. Keep the front wheel light with your body position

The front wheel naturally wants to dig in and gets pushed around by the sand. Once I’m moving, I bring my weight back to help keep the front light, with my elbows up and my eyes looking ahead.

Support yourself through your legs and feet rather than hanging all your weight through your hands. I demonstrate how I use the footpegs and my body to give me more control, which matters particularly when the bike is much heavier than I am. Body position needs to keep changing with the terrain; pulling away from a hole is different from riding along.

3. Use your feet and body to turn

Turning in sand involves more than moving the handlebars. In the video, I show how dropping my heel and turning my hips into the direction I want to go helps the bike lean and turn.

Look through the corner and let your feet, hips and body work together. Sand can let you bank the bike into a turn in a way that feels very different from riding over rocks or mud.

4. Read the sand and choose your line

Existing tracks can pull your front wheel around. I often choose fresh sand because it gives me a more consistent surface, without the ridges and compacted patches left by other vehicles.

That doesn’t mean fresh sand is always the answer. Sometimes a firmer, established track is useful. The point is to read what’s in front of you and choose deliberately, rather than automatically following someone else’s wheel marks.

5. Keep your momentum

Crawling through soft sand can make balancing and staying on top of it harder. With momentum and drive, the bike starts to feel as though it’s floating across the surface. I compare it to snowboarding through fresh powder.

I also explain why suddenly shutting the throttle can make the front dig in, including on descents. This is about controlled momentum appropriate to the terrain and your ability, rather than a target speed.

6. Stop digging when you’re stuck

If the rear wheel is buried, more throttle can simply dig a deeper hole. To pull away, I demonstrate moving my weight forwards to unload the rear wheel and helping the bike move out.

When that isn’t enough, I show how laying the bike onto its side allows sand to fill the hole beneath the rear wheel. Picking it back up then brings the wheel closer to the surface. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt, but it can save a lot of wasted effort compared with spinning the wheel deeper.

You’ll also see how I park the bike in soft sand, where a side stand will sink. Watch the video for the full demonstrations: the changes in body position are much easier to understand when you can see them.

Build your riding foundations

Sand riding builds on your basic bike skills. For more exercises covering body position, balance, braking and picking up your bike, see my easy tips to improve your motorcycle riding. You can also read about the Tunisia Desert Challenge and the lessons that come from racing in the desert.

Have you ridden in sand, or is it something you’re hoping to try? Head over to the video on YouTube and tell me in the comments which tip helped you most. Subscribe for more riding tips and adventures from me, Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike.