What exactly is koalaing?
Koalaing is when you climb onto something and wrap your arms and legs around the object so that you resemble a koala hanging out on a tree. The objects could be light poles, pillars, trees and even people.
How did you think of the idea?
It was actually a random, ‘in the moment’ kinda thing. I was walking home from the bars with some friends and for some reason I climbed onto a tree. I held myself up by wrapping my arms and legs around the trunk and just kinda stayed there. My friends got a good laugh out of it because they said that I looked like a koala. The term kinda stuck every time I latched onto something that way.
Were you into planking before you started koalaing? Do you see koalaing as an improvement to planking?
I planked. I didn’t really understand the point of planking though. Koalaing seems to amuse people and requires some fitness, so I think it’s an improvement to planking.
Do you think koalaing will ever have the same cult following as planking?
I think it will have a cult following, but definitely not to the extent that planking had. I think it’s because you can pretty much plank anything, but you’re kinda limited on what you can koala. Unless, of course, you get creative.
What’s the most memorable ‘koala’ you’ve ever done?
My most memorable koala would have to be when I snuck into Camp Randall with my roommates over the summer. I climbed up the field goal posts ended up koalaing one of the uprights.
What if people want to start koalaing after reading this article – any tips?
You definitely want to start off koalaing something that you can wrap your arms and legs around entirely. Wear long sleeves when koalaing trees because the bark tears up the skin on your forearms. If and when you koala another person, make sure they know it’s coming.