Ommundson has kept a database on the success or failure of the various surfaces that have been used. She has observed that sand will compact and become too hard. Sand also freezes and does not break up easily. Frozen footprints in sand create a choppy surface. Wood chips placed on top of sand do not create a satisfactory surface.
Shredded rubber provides a resilient surface, but is unsatisfactory when placed over sand.
For a durable and safe surface that provides consistently good footing, Ommundson recommends using Geo Cloth to separate each layer of footing material. Geo Cloth is a non-porous, woven polypropylene erosion control fabric. It is non-biodegradable and is used in racetrack construction. After testing surfaces and observing the experience of others, she recommends the following procedure to establish a quality surface for exercise. A clay base is put down and graded for drainage to a slope of one degree for every eight feet of distance.