18th Annual Sand Sports Super Show Highlights

Sep. 20, 2016 By Jaime Hernandez

This year marked the 18th year for the largest gathering of sand aficionados on the West Coast. The Sand Sports Super Show returned to the OC Fair & Event Center in Orange County, California September 16 – 18, 2016.  Show promoter Don Murphy and wife Robin have grown this event into the largest of its kind, with close to 300 vendors tailoring to the sand sports community.  The event showcases the newest sand sports products, vehicles, and lifestyle trends. You can experience the latest sand cars, UTVs, toyhaulers and more--all in one place!

This year’s show was packed all weekend long with enthusiasts celebrating their sport and lifestyle.  For many, the Sand Sports Super Show kicks off their desert season in SoCal.  Various agencies and clubs were on site with information for exploring various sand boxes around California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon.  OHV vehicle manufacturers also find the event to be a great opportunity to connect with their core customers and showcase their latest technology.

4 Wheel Parts debut their new UTV Garage, in partnership with UTV Underground.  The massive floorplan featured UTV parts and accessories for sale, manufacturer information booths, DJ mixing, a large movie screen with UTV action videos, and even an M.C. to keep the crowd jumping and winning all weekend long.

The event has had a strong partnership with the American Sand Association (ASA) since its early days, and continues to advocate safe duning while ensuring recreational access on OHV land.  Places like the Imperial Sand Dunes have been under attack by various environmental groups who continue to threaten the closure of popular areas like Glamis and the Imperial Sand Dunes.  Learn more about the ASA at https://americansandassociation.org/.

Can-Am is raising the bar in the UTV market with their new Maverick X3 lineup.  They came out big to the show and showcased the Maverick X3 X rs TurboR.  It’s a beast out of the box!

Read more about the 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3 First Drive

It’s without a doubt that the Sand Sports Super Show continues to be a great event for the sand sports community.  In August it was announced that Bonnier Corporation (with its Family Events Company division running the show) had acquired the show from promoter Don Murphy. Family Events also puts on the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, CA and Scottsdale, AZ.  “I can assure you it’s in good hands and will continue to grow and prosper,” commended Murphy. “It’s been a great ride!”

MORE: Robby Gordon Wins Stadium Super Trucks Race at Sand Sports SS

We attended this year’s show and there was definitely a lot of excitement for the upcoming season and the evolution of the sport. The UTV segment continues to show a promising future, with new sports models being released by OHV manufacturers like Can-Am, Polaris, Yamaha and Honda.

Here’s a taste of what we found at the 18th Annual Sand Sports Super Show.  Hope you enjoy it.

Rugged Radios made a splash at the Sand Sports Super Show with their latest race radios and on-board communication systems.  This year they also brought along a custom made beach buggy with fiberglass body—reminiscent of the Meyer’s Manx.  The best part, it’s sitting on top of a Polaris 1000 RZR.

Old school, new school duner with a twist.  Got to love these VW creations.

This Sand Sports Super Show has gone full tilt into the UTV market.  Just 10 years ago the LS-powered sand car was all the craze. Today, these lighter, more nibble UTV models fill a gap for families and individuals that can’t stomach paying $100k+ for a modern sand car.

Enclosed trailers and toyhaulers have been a big part of the duning lifestyle. They offer a safe shelter when camping and a great way to transport and store your sand toys. Today’s toyhauler manufacturers keep innovating with new features like back and side decks for entertaining a party.

The excitement of the sand market appears to be growing again, and we're happy to see this segment of the off-road nation thriving again.

For 2017 dates and more information on the Sand Sports Super Show, check out http://www.sandsportssupershow.com/


Off-Road.com Newsletter
Join our Weekly Newsletter to get the latest off-road news, reviews, events, and alerts!