Would you like to enhance stand up paddle boarding by land paddling? As an avid land paddle rider for several years, I often get asked what it is and whether it truly mimics stand up paddleboarding. If you haven’t tried it yet, land paddling—or street SUP—is a rapidly growing sport that combines stand up paddle boarding, surfing, and skateboarding. Virtually every time we hit the streets or trails, people stop us to ask what we’re doing, if it’s a new sport, and where to buy the equipment. While we would all love to be on the water on our Three Brothers board as much as possible, sometimes schedules and weather can limit our water time. With that in mind, land paddling can help you cross-train in the following ways while off the water to enhance your experience on the water.
Balance
Avid stand up paddlers know the value of balance cannot be overstated. We strive to exert a positive force against a dynamic, ever-changing surface. Controlled balance and strength are what allow us to accelerate. Street SUP is no different, we use a pole to exert force to move us forward while maintaining balance. Land paddling uses and strengthens the same foot and calf muscles you engage while on a SUP.
Surfing
For stand up paddlers looking to make the transition from flat water paddling to SUP surfing, land paddling can help in many ways. SUP enthusiasts typically land paddle in a split or surfing stance, training themselves to move their footing and carve for better turns. Street SUP has a flow to it very similar to surfing, while the carving and leaning back on the pole can be very similar to the carving movement of surf SUP.
Endurance
Land paddling enhances the stand up paddleboard (SUP) experience by effectively training your endurance. Land paddling can be as aggressive or as easy as you want it to be. If you feel your SUP skills in the wind need work, try street SUP up some mild hills. You will involve the same muscle groups that enable you to paddle upwind. The benefit is that at any given time, you can simply stop without needing to be able to make it back to a launch point.
Just Plain Fun
We stand up paddle for fun, and land paddling is a great way to put a smile on your face while enjoying the outdoors. Three Brothers boards carries a complete line of bamboo and
exotic hardwood land paddle boards to complement your Three Brothers stand up paddle board.
So without a doubt, land paddling can enhance your stand up paddle experience.
