SUP Mag UK March 2015 issue 4 | Page 60

Concrete jungle land paddle UK When I first saw land paddling I was a bit sceptical. Middleaged men riding super-size skateboards propelled by wooden sticks looked suss to me. One step away from buying a Harley Davidson, my wife thought I was regressing back to my yoof upon announcing I was getting involved. And yet, as a cold weather, dark night or crossover training tool, land SUP really is a good option and it’s no wonder more people are literally getting on board. History lesson Land paddling comes from the States where a bunch of gliding enthusiasts wanted something to complement their everyday stand up paddle boarding and skate shenanigans. After a few beverages to free the mind (well, that’s what I assume anyhow), the idea of using a ‘stick’ to propel a skateboard was hit upon. In the blink of an eye land paddling was born and we now have a growing number of aficionados here in the UK. With our unpredictable and changeable weather, plus a whole raft of land locked paddlers who don’t/can’t always manage to get wet, land SUP is gaining fans fast. s t a n d u p p a d d l e m a g u k 60