A spring break trip to Hawaii led one Omahan to ride the wild (concrete) surf back home.
Jordan Alvord, 24, went to Hawaii two years ago while on spring break from the University of Nebraska.
He went to the island state for rest and relaxation, but returned home with a sport called land paddling that combines fun, fitness and cheap transportation. Land paddlers use any skateboard that’s more than 50 inches long, along with a key element known as a Kahuna Big Stick.
During his Hawaiian vacation, Alvord tried land paddling and instantly fell in love with it, so much so that he bought a board and a paddle.
“Surfing was fun and challenging and I wanted to keep doing it. I was stoked when I realized I could combine the workout of paddling with the excitement of surfing whenever I wanted.”
Concrete paths like the Papio Creek Trail provide a prime spot for Alvord and his friends to take turns land paddling.
“People stop us every time we come out here. They want to know what we’re doing and where we got our paddle. What’s challenging is that using the paddle requires all your muscles and really provides a full-body workout.”
What began as a way to shed some pounds and get around the UNO campus affordably has become an everyday event for Alvord and his friends.
After a couple of years of owning a land paddle, Alvord has begun to see the advantages of the sport.
“I got my Kahuna Big Stick online for around $100. In two years’ time, proliferation of the sport has been slow, but the benefits to my fitness and the gas savings have returned that investment tenfold.”
Seamus Monaghan is a freelance writer based in Omaha.
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