is this for people with only one leg?
Yes, this is kind of taking-the-piss, but I honestly don't understand why someone would want to weigh themselves down with a stick to propel themselves on a board that has been used without one for decades. Honest question -- why the stick? What practical use does it perform that your foot can not?
Select to expand quoteDeMari said..
is this for people with only one leg?
Yes, this is kind of taking-the-piss, but I honestly don't understand why someone would want to weigh themselves down with a stick to propel themselves on a board that has been used without one for decades. Honest question -- why the stick? What practical use does it perform that your foot can not?
Well, it's easier on the thigh muscles, it gives an upper body workout, you don't have to keep changing foot position, it's probably easier/more efficient to cover long distances. I'm sure I can think of other reasons.
Not sure why anyone would pay a lot of money for the stick though (unless they have a lot of money) - my $5 broomstick from Bunnings does just fine.
Is this a question from someone who only uses one side of their Brain?
Yes, I am sort of taking the piss, but honestly why do people criticize that which they have not tried? For the record land SUP is just another variation of long boarding. It is also a good way for people with knee injuries to continue to cruise on a long board. Get a stick and give it a go (or sit at your computer and ask silly questions so you can get your post count up). 
I'm pretty sure I've done it at least a dozen times, back in the day (when I was around 12?) my friend and I used to play what we called "skateball" in a carpark near my house, in which we would play soccer, on boards with brooms to hit the ball into the opposing goal... We would also use it to propel ourselves around. Amidst my light-hearted fun-making, were legitimate questions. To me it seemed like just another hipsterish fad that had no real practical use, I wanted to educate myself further and find out any special things that made "streetsup" so great. I still wont refer to it as "streetsup" and call it skateboarding with sticks, but I can see some (if only small) usefulness for those select few who get into it.
First there were just swimmers.
Then there was the mal and the two had to stay apart.
Then someone made boards short, and surfers split into two.
Then someone came up with the boogey board and now 3 groups hate each other.
Then there was the surf ski / goat boat that they could all equally pour scorn on.
Then came the windsurfer and later the kitesurfer.
Then came the SUP guy who's even worse (currently) even tho he's just as likely done any 3 of the above.
Your question is exactly the same as asking the SUP guy why he stands up and holds a paddle when he could just lie down and paddle like a surfer.
The answer to both questions is:
It's different and therefore fun if you're bored with the other things
It uses different muscles, gives a better core workout maybe
It suits some situations better than any other combo - there's a set of conditions where each sub-sport is perfect
and of course - Don't knock it until you've tried it.
I'm not necessarily knocking it, I legitimately wanted to know why people were doing it rather than just skating, and now I have aforementioned reasons. My intent was not to troll or cause offence, I was personally hoping to find some amazing reasons as to why it was so good, and from there give it more of a go, which I did not -- perhaps I could have worded it better, my humor obviously did not translate.
Personally I don't think it's the same as asking a SUP rider that question, I can think of plenty of reasons why you'd choose to ride a SUP board. Not necessarily for riding waves, but to explore the ocean from a different perspective -- the idea of SUP boarding over a nice reef on a nice, clear, sunny day and admiring the wildlife entices me to eventually pick one up -- something you can't do anywhere near as well lying down on a surfboard. Riding a skateboard with a stick doesn't give you a new perspective, just a new way to propel yourself, but limits the things you can do with your hands and seems like it would add extra danger to those around you if skating in public -- not for me, personally.
The name is what bugs me the most, I guess, it's not really paddling, is it? Nor is it differentiated from other skateboarding by standing up. Should be called Skateboard Punting if you ask me, as it emulates the use of a stick i.e. a punt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punt(boat). Regardless, I apologise for being misconstrued.
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." - Aleister Crowley
Ok, so since you are being seriouse. Street sup is ideally suited in allowing old, young, inexperienced, handicapped or injured to participate in longboarding. I am not talking about skating because many people that street sup will never pump a bowl or grind a rail. I enjoy all aspects of longboarding as I enjoy all varieties of water sports. I don't street sup exclusively but when I do I really dig the feeling of driving the pole in the middle of the carve. When you have this rythem up it creates a pumping type carve that eats up the miles with little effort. Combine this with the Cairns Esplanade (Google it) and some mates, and you have a relaxed fun day. So if you want to at least explore an answer to your question you should get a nice carving board, make a pole and have a go. It may not be for you. Let us know how you go.
Hi! Demari: you did learning surfing because your father or elder show you the way to have fun in the waves with a single 7' foot board then he push the envelop going on a 6' board with 3fins before you was born. Now you do it yourself on technically perfect shortboard like your elder won't imagine it was going to be so finely shaped, this is great.
So now this is your turn to push the envelop of surfing, jump on a shorSUP and go out with a short paddle, bend your whole youth body on it and you will be able to do some late take off way out line up and carve further down bottom turn or doing higher off the lip as you never do it on your usual sb.
Go and enjoy your time life with performances and fun which this new wonderful toy allows you. You are an happy son .
I have given it a go borrowing a mates kahoona stick (I think thats the name) and I paddled around 20kms.
I honestly think its far easier to normally longboard. I find that after 3 pushes I can hold my speed by pumping and I can travel 20kms without touching the ground or using that stick. I can do this up slight hills and then i just normally carve downhills.
I found that with the stick i needed to be careful around people on the boardwalks and it was difficult to weave through crowds.
What do you guys usually do?
I added a stick a few years ago for a month or so then gave it up. I found it cumbersome and didn't really need the extra distance it added.
Select to expand quoteDeMari said..
is this for people with only one leg?
Yes, this is kind of taking-the-piss, but I honestly don't understand why someone would want to weigh themselves down with a stick to propel themselves on a board that has been used without one for decades. Honest question -- why the stick? What practical use does it perform that your foot can not?
But a whole forumfor street SUP, Somebody is taking the piss.
