I suspect he already had gotten out of there at least once - unless the photographer walked in!
There's no telling what's behind the camera. He might have made that spectacular landing just to show off, and the sand bar is long and level behind him.
It's also quite possible to get those Super Cubs off in very little distance by using ground effect. You can horse it off the ground below flying speed, then ride in the cushion of ground effect (particularly over a flat surface like water) no more than a foot or so above the ground. Without the rolling friction of the tires, speed then builds quickly until true flying speed.
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