A New Wave: Land Paddling
by Anna Ferguson Hall, guest writer
AS A CHILD, David Box was inventive and active. The combination of his dual energetic qualities led him to develop an assortment of self-made products, his favorite of which was a broomstick with a tennis ball attached to the end.
"As a kid, I think everyone made their own version of this," Box says. "I made these all the time. I mean kids are creative. Who would have thought that, as an adult, this would still be such a cool thing?"
In essence, Box's recent design isn't so far off from his childhood self-made toy. The land paddle is a long stick made with either wood or fiberglass, with a soft cushion on one end. The second part is a long-board skateboard. Both are needed in order to make land paddling work.
"Basically, this is like paddle boarding in water, but on land," Box says. "I guess you could say it's like the perfect solution for a surfer who is afraid of water." Box admits, the paddle isn't a great scientific discovery. However, it is a master for building core power and helping novice skaters work on their own abilities.
"This is such a great exercise for building up those stomach and arm muscles," Box says. "While it is a ton of fun, it also really gives you this great work out. You have to stabilize, balance on the board, and push yourself side to side, pulling in your arms and stomach muscles. You'll be fit in no time. It's amazing!"
Since launching Beach Mountain - a name he developed from the two great loves of his life, surfing and skiing - the inventor has been met with an enthusiastic and welcoming crowd. Apparently, extreme sidewalk sports are a happening new trend, with athletes and skaters nationwide clamoring to the idea.
Box reports that he has been amazed at the response. "I just started the company, tapped into online marketing, and then people responded. With the ease of social networking, it made taking an idea to a successful business one step easier," Box said.
The inventor himself is a fan of any adventurous sport. For him, he has been skateboarding since his teens, and paddling and surfing just as long. Like any dutiful paddler, Box passed his skills and talents along to his family members. His 7-year-old son can often be found paddling on the streets near their neighborhood, a trait Box encourages. "Even my wife gets in on it," Box says.
Even more than passing his paddle-passion on to his family, Box is also active and passionate in relating his board-based bolstering to others. Equipment for the sport is sold around his own community and online. Box's equipment has been purchased from clients around the globe, including customers as far away as Canada, Denmark, and Australia.
Box's product is unique, and it has been a major seller in the shops he supplies. It is a trend, he says, that points to more positive growth in the coming years. "You know, as people start to try to find new ways to work out and fun ways to exercise, I think they become more willing to embrace original ideas like this," Box said. "It's fun, yes, but land paddling is such a great workout. Really, it's just the best of both worlds."
______
--This article first appeared in Thirty-A Review magazine, and is used by permission.
AS A CHILD, David Box was inventive and active. The combination of his dual energetic qualities led him to develop an assortment of self-made products, his favorite of which was a broomstick with a tennis ball attached to the end.
Some three decades later, Box has taken that simple idea and made it a career. Late in 2010, Box developed the Beach Mountain Land Paddle, a handcrafted tool used for both entertainment and exercise.
"As a kid, I think everyone made their own version of this," Box says. "I made these all the time. I mean kids are creative. Who would have thought that, as an adult, this would still be such a cool thing?"
In essence, Box's recent design isn't so far off from his childhood self-made toy. The land paddle is a long stick made with either wood or fiberglass, with a soft cushion on one end. The second part is a long-board skateboard. Both are needed in order to make land paddling work.
"Basically, this is like paddle boarding in water, but on land," Box says. "I guess you could say it's like the perfect solution for a surfer who is afraid of water." Box admits, the paddle isn't a great scientific discovery. However, it is a master for building core power and helping novice skaters work on their own abilities.
"This is such a great exercise for building up those stomach and arm muscles," Box says. "While it is a ton of fun, it also really gives you this great work out. You have to stabilize, balance on the board, and push yourself side to side, pulling in your arms and stomach muscles. You'll be fit in no time. It's amazing!"
Since launching Beach Mountain - a name he developed from the two great loves of his life, surfing and skiing - the inventor has been met with an enthusiastic and welcoming crowd. Apparently, extreme sidewalk sports are a happening new trend, with athletes and skaters nationwide clamoring to the idea.
Box reports that he has been amazed at the response. "I just started the company, tapped into online marketing, and then people responded. With the ease of social networking, it made taking an idea to a successful business one step easier," Box said.
The inventor himself is a fan of any adventurous sport. For him, he has been skateboarding since his teens, and paddling and surfing just as long. Like any dutiful paddler, Box passed his skills and talents along to his family members. His 7-year-old son can often be found paddling on the streets near their neighborhood, a trait Box encourages. "Even my wife gets in on it," Box says.
Even more than passing his paddle-passion on to his family, Box is also active and passionate in relating his board-based bolstering to others. Equipment for the sport is sold around his own community and online. Box's equipment has been purchased from clients around the globe, including customers as far away as Canada, Denmark, and Australia.
Box's product is unique, and it has been a major seller in the shops he supplies. It is a trend, he says, that points to more positive growth in the coming years. "You know, as people start to try to find new ways to work out and fun ways to exercise, I think they become more willing to embrace original ideas like this," Box said. "It's fun, yes, but land paddling is such a great workout. Really, it's just the best of both worlds."
______
--This article first appeared in Thirty-A Review magazine, and is used by permission.
posted by DrJ @ 9:18 AM
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