Elqui Sandboard: Entrepreneurs spread discipline and care for dune systems
The business is about to celebrate three years of existence and is developed in the Dunes of Morrillos in Coquimbo.
To bring the professional practice of the “Sandboarding” is the goal of Elqui Sandboard, a startup founded by Franco Araya and Bárbara Veliz. who have designed a complete service with the necessary implementation, guidance from professional instructors and a complete message around the responsibility of practicing sports in natural settings.
According to them, the discipline is quick to learn, can be done from the age of eight, requires no previous experience and can be practiced throughout the year.
Each session has a theoretical induction where the implements are presented, i.e. board, helmets, boots and wax, as well as the basic techniques to slide correctly. This is followed by the practical part, where beginners can experience their first descents on slopes of low slope until they reach those of greater inclination and length.
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Franco Araya, co-founder of Elqui Sandboard, stated that “We seek to provide a comprehensive practice around this sport and the place where it takes place. Each session has the professional implementation and induction so that our visitors have a safe experience but also understanding how important dune ecosystems are and why we must protect them“.
BEWARE OF DUNE SYSTEMS
In this sense, the entrepreneur pointed out how important it is to protect these natural spaces that are home not only to native flora but also to the reproductive activity of many birds and other species, which are seriously damaged by human activity.
One of the main risk agents is the irruption of 4×4 and high-traction vehicles that circulate at high speeds, destroying all forms of life in their path. That’s why the team at Elqui Sandboard He wanted not only to spread the importance of taking care of these ecosystems but also to establish authorized passages and routes that do not disturb this natural balance.
In this regard, the businessman added that “Protecting biodiversity is the responsibility of all of us who practice any outdoor sport. Each experience must be respectful of the life that lives there and that is why we emphasize and teach our visitors daily, whether in the dune, the sea, the snow or any other ecosystem“.
During 2022, these entrepreneurs were awarded a Bee Entrepreneurship Capital from Sercotec, which allowed them to boost their business. On the occasion, Bárbara Veliz, co-founder of Elqui Sandboard, said that “We needed this support very much, especially because the implementation of this sport is very expensive, as is the case of sports boards or cameras, so it will help us to optimize our service and get more people to know this beautiful discipline“.
Since this award, these entrepreneurs have continued with the support of the institution, but this time through the Sercotec Coquimbo Business Center, where they have recently begun a work plan to continue promoting this service.
In this regard, Jorge Donoso, director of the agency, explained that “We had the opportunity to live this experience and I can say that it is very entertaining, adrenaline-pumping and above all very connected to the environment where it takes place. It is a great pleasure to see how the allocated capital allows the implementation of businesses like this that promote sports, healthy living and the care of biodiversity. In addition, it is necessary to say that this location has truly privileged dunes for the practice of this discipline, so it is a must-see for the inhabitants of the area“.
For those who want to know more about Elqui Sandboard’s services, it is possible to visit their website and social networks, where they can be found on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok .
Meanwhile, for those who want to access the free services of the Sercotec Coquimbo Business Center, they can contact through their social networks or in person, at the address George Washington 922, Coquimbo.