Two novice riders on motocross bikes got an unwelcome surprise when they both rode up a sand dune and collided with each other at the top yesterday.
The two males, 16 and 53, did not know one another, and were riding around the dunes at South Beach when the accident happened, Sergeant Kevin Smith said.
The younger male was taken to hospital by Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter with a fractured leg, and the older man, who had facial fractures, was taken by ambulance, St John Wanganui territory manager John Stretton said.
Mr Smith said it was important for anyone riding in the dunes to be on the lookout for other people.
The same conditions applied in the dunes as they did on the road in that riders needed to be in a position where they could stop quickly to avoid an accident.