Did you ever wonder if skateboarders could propel them selves faster?

 

By David McClelland

 

When I was a youngster, I never heard of skateboarding. My current research informed me that the sport was probably started in the late 1940's or early 1950's.  It wasn't until the 1970's that I began to see kids skateboarding. They all rode their boards the same way; i.e., keeping one foot on the board and pushing themselves and their boards with the other foot, again and again. Until just last week, I didn't think there was any other way to propel a skateboard.

 

While vacationing on Anna Maria Island, Florida last week, we were in a beachwear store and I spotted some unusual looking, long, wooden poles that had a canoe paddle-type handle on one end and two small rubber wheels on the other. There were different lengths, but they all appeared to be long. I learned later that they were called "land paddles" and were made by Kahuna Creations and were to be used by skateboarders to push themselves along, much like a canoeist would if he were standing up while paddling. I asked how one would know how long a paddle they needed and was told that the rider stands on his skateboard, holds the paddle vertically so that the rubber end rests on the floor/street and the handle is at eye level. Actually, the rubber wheels don't turn, but are fixed and used to push off.

 

The last day of our vacation, we were in Holmes Beach, Florida and saw teenager fly by our car in a parking lot on his skateboard, propelling himself with a land paddle. He was moving far faster than I had ever seen a skateboarder move. What a concept!!! If you know a skateboarder, this might make a good Christmas gift.

 

If you would like to know more about Kahuna Creations' land paddles, you can go to:

www.kahunacreations.com/bigsticks.htm