Planking North Shore

This sounds like an ad for timber.

Actually, Planking is a crazy activity that seems to have hit a small pocket in Birkdale, Auckland.

My niece started posting photos of the planking she was doing in various locations around North Auckland.  I thought it was an interesting activity.  Pointless, but interesting.

I presumed that this was some activity dreamed up by today’s youth to pass the time when their high tech toys get boring.  

Not till I Googled planking did I discover that it is a worldwide phenomenon, with participants of all ages and backgrounds finding different and more exciting places to plank. 

 In case you’re as ignorant as I was of what planking is, apart from looking like a good muscle workout for the abdomen, it’s basically the practice of lying as straight as possible (plank like) in weird locations.  To prove a plank someone should be available with a camera. 

 Why is planking on my blog?

 For two reasons – Firstly, it is possible on your journeys around Auckland’s North Shore (because that’s where my niece lives) that you will come across someone lying between two park benches. Ask if they are related to Jana.  Secondly, she asked me to do a write up.  I agreed if she provided a little background on the locations and reasons for their selection.

 Here is what she sent (just slightly edited).

D's First Plank
This is D’s first plank on Birkdale Road, outside a dairy on a post box after his league training.

(It’s not known why he chose to plank there – perhaps he’d had a rush of blood after training).

Z's Plank

On his couch.
He is three.  He was showing his cousins and his mum that he could plank. 

My Plank

In T’s room, on three rugby balls.
I thought it would be a good idea coz I like rugby balls.

D’s Plank

Between two benches.
North Shore Events Centre Changing Rooms.
I reckon he planked there because he wanted to show off his core strength.

Me and two friends Planking

The basketball court, Court 1, North Shore events centre
We planked there because D told us too. My whole team was gonna plank if we won but we didn’t - we lost by 1.

Me planking

On airport trolleys
Auckland Airport, International terminal
Planked here because I wanted to get out of an awkward conversation

Me planking

A bargain bin Good Guys, Wairau park
Because we were waiting for mum to finish work and I wanted to plank at mums work