Trad Simp 4 Web

What’s with that skinny stick?
Traditional Paddling
Simplified
Answers to questions about

Greenland style kayaking

1 - The Paddle
A traditional paddle is usually made of wood,

has long narrow blades, and is unfeathered, i.e.
the blades are aligned in the same plane instead
of being offset.
Common reactions to trying one for the first
time: “It feels more user friendly.” “It’s easier
on my shoulders.” “I like the natural feel of
wood.” “It solves my wrist issues.”
If you are handy with simple woodworking
tools you can make your own traditional
paddle quite inexpensively.
Most beginners find that learning to roll a
kayak is easier with a traditional paddle. The
more limber and flexible you are the faster you
will learn because Greenland rolling techniques
rely more on finesse than muscle.
1
Each skin-on-frame kayak is built to fit its owner
2 Finishing the frame before the skin is put on

2 - The Kayak
A purely traditional Greenland kayak is much
narrower, much lower, and has a smaller
cockpit than most commercially available sea
kayaks.
Traditional kayaks are built using a skin-on-
frame construction method practiced for
centuries in the Arctic. Cloth or animal hides
are sewn around a handmade wooden
framework. Each kayak is custom built to fit its
owner, and is as snug and comfortable as an
article of clothing. With patience, dedication
and enough space you can build your own
skin-on-frame kayak for a few hundred dollars.
The influence of traditional design ideas can be
seen in the low back decks of many modern
kayaks. This makes them easier to roll. But you
can use a Greenland paddle enjoyably with any
sea kayak.
3
Rolling demonstration at Delmarva Paddler’s Retreat
4 South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium

3 - The Community
Whether you are drawn to building, rolling, or
simply paddling with a traditional paddle,
there’s an extensive network of similarly
minded people. Go to qajaqusa.org to see the
many resources available on the subject.
Many weekend gatherings are held annually in
various parts of the country where you can
meet, learn from, and share ideas with a wide
spectrum of traditional paddling enthusiasts.
These include:
Delmarva Paddlers Retreat – Oct. in Delaware
South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak
Symposium (SSTIKS) – June in Seattle area
Michigan Training Camp – Aug. in Michigan
Hudson River Greenland Festival – June in
New York
Ontario Greenland Camp – Sept. in Toronto
area
5
Racers at the starting line
6 Winning competitors

4 - The Games
Every year a National Kayaking

Championship is held in Greenland. The
weeklong contest has several races, a rolling
competition where contestants attempt
thirty-five different rolls of increasing
difficulty, a harpoon throwing event, and a
contest of traditional gymnastics done on
ropes. Foreigners are allowed to compete,
and several of the more passionate U.S.
traditional paddlers have made the
pilgrimage.
At some of the Greenland style gatherings in
the U.S. smaller scale versions of the games
are held. These are a great opportunity to
test your skills and measure your
improvement. On the other hand, if you
aren’t competitively minded, you will find
watching these contests entertaining and
educational.
7

Maligiaq Padilla
8
5 - The Personalities
The most influential and impressive athlete in

Greenland kayaking is Maligiaq Padilla, who
has taken the championship title nine times
starting in 1998 at the age of sixteen.
Maligiaq has appeared at kayak events all
over the world and is an expert on every
aspect of Greenland paddling: racing, rolling,
kayak building, harpoon throwing, ropes, the
Greenlandic language, and the Inuit culture.
He has a webpage at maligiaq.com
Some other notable people with professional

reputations in the traditional kayaking field
include: Harvey Golden, Brian Schulz,
Turner Wilson, Cheri Perry, Helen Wilson,
Don Beale, Chris Raab, and Dubside.
9

6 - The Culture
As the name implies, “traditional” kayaking has
a long history. It was developed out of necessity
as a means of obtaining food to survive the
harsh climate, and over many generations was
refined to a remarkably high degree. To this day
hunting seals from a kayak is woven into the
rich fabric of Greenland history. Changes
brought by modern technology have largely
replaced these old ways of life, but the tradition
continues with the recreational use of
Greenland kayaks and the practice of the
techniques that are associated with them.
The language spoken by seal hunters of old

times is alive and well. Bearing no resemblance
to root words and grammatical construction of
European languages, Greenlandic is a
fascinating repository of hunting terminology
and the Arctic outlook on life. The word ‘kayak’
comes from Greenlandic, although it is spelled
‘qajaq’ and uttered far back in the throat.
10
Hunter’s kayaks in the Greenland National Museum
Women in traditional Greenlandic dress 11

7 - The Future
The popularity of traditional paddles,

Greenland rolling, rope gymnastics, and
skin-on-frame kayak building continues to
grow year after year, spreading to places
around the world, far beyond Greenland’s
borders. Many exciting developments and
initiatives point to a continuation of this
trend.
Meanwhile as a country, Greenland is on
the path towards complete independence
and nationhood, ending a long relationship
as a protectorate of Denmark. Global
concerns regarding climate change, Arctic
mineral and oil production, the rights of
indigenous people, and the politics
associated with these issues ensure that
Greenland will continue to show up in
world news for many years to come.
12
Rope gymnastics at a New Jersey paddlesport show
The Greenland flag 13

8 - The Recommendations
A - You don’t have to take sides. While

zealous devotion to the skinny stick happens
a lot, there’s no rule that says you can’t carry
both a Greenland paddle and a Euro or wing
paddle with you and switch off whenever you
feel like it.
B - It’s not exclusively about rolling. Rolling
fanatics are often very obsessive. There are
plenty of other Greenland style paddlers who
don’t especially favor rolling but have found
an enjoyable experience with the many other
facets of traditional kayaking.
C - There’s no right and wrong. There are
shortcuts to faster results, techniques that are
more efficient, and things that generate a
positive emotional response. But each of
these varies widely from person to person.
You find your own path by traveling it
yourself.
14

Whichever paddle you use…
…it’s all good 15

9 – The way to get started
For the best hands-on introduction to

traditional Greenland paddling, all you
have to do is:
1 - Try one of the paddles.

2 - Ask the person you borrowed it from
what they like about it.
3 - As you experiment for yourself, pay
attention to what the paddle tells you.
And you’re on you way.
16
Happy Paddling!
©2011 Dubside – all photos by Dubside

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What’s with that skinny stick?

Answers to questions about

A traditional paddle is usually made of wood,

2 Finishing the frame before the skin is put on

4 South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium

Every year a National Kayaking

The most influential and impressive athlete in

Some other notable people with professional

The language spoken by seal hunters of old

Women in traditional Greenlandic dress 11

The popularity of traditional paddles,

The Greenland flag 13

A - You don’t have to take sides. While

…it’s all good 15

9 – The way to get started

For the best hands-on introduction to

1 - Try one of the paddles.

And you’re on you way.

©2011 Dubside – all photos by Dubside

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