Via DreamRide

These guys wrote a great how-to on sand riding. I only posted a small part of it, so check out their site for the rest.

Getting started: Before you attempt relentless sand stretches deflate your tires to around 25 lbs, lower if you have wide tires. Best to start on a hardpacked section, but if you can’t find anything hard: To start in deep sand stand on your pedals and mash the bike down into the sand, sort of like you are on a pogo stick shoving the rear wheel in for grip in time to a rock ballad. “I don’t care if it rains or freezes, long as I got my plastic jesus.” In deep sand you must be able to do the “Moab Track Stand,” clipped in and upright, but stationary. Now, jump up and down and as you come down on each bounce put power to the rear wheel so that as it digs in deeper, harder, dense, below-the-surface hardpack to move forward. Once you get rolling smooth out your pedal stroke to an even spin. Maintain speed and float. It is a very strenuous thing to do, so sometimes it may be best to just get off and walk to conserve energy.

Check out the rest of the how-to here.