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Issaquah’s Kayak Academy hosts Greenland Week Festival

October 25, 2011

By Staff

The second annual Greenland Week Festival and Competition, sponsored by Issaquah’s Kayak Academy, is Oct. 26-30 at Lake Sammamish State Park.

The event features demonstrations, competitions, booths and food. Featured kayaking personalities will include Maligiaq Padilla from Greenland, Helen Wilson and well-known Greenland kayaker Dubside.

Clinics and training run Oct. 26-29, with competitions taking place Oct. 28-30. Competitions are to include racing, rolling, ropes and harpoon throwing. One race will pit Greenland-style paddles against modern rowing paddles.

Can a design 1,000 years old hold its own against scientifically designed paddles? The Kayak Academy invites you to come and find out.

Kayak-flipping techniques are another highlight of the event. Organizers say Greenland kayak hunters developed dozens of techniques for rolling kayaks long before the advent of white water kayaking.

Finally, Greenland rope exercises or techniques, also know as qajaasaarneq, are done on land using horizontally suspended ropes. From increasingly difficult positions, a competitor tries to rotate completely around without touching the ground.

Kayak celebrity Dubside said the event tries to preserve the traditional, cultural aspects of Greenland kayaking while acknowledging the appeal of modern influences on kayaking as a sport.

Online registration for competitors is $16 plus $18 for each event and includes a T-shirt and awards. First prize overall is a Kokatat Gore-Tex dry suit.

For more information, or to be a part of the event as a sponsor or booth exhibitor, email barb@kayakacademy.com or go to the Kayak Academy website at www.kayakacademy.com.

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Written by Staff · Filed Under Community, Community Features 

Copyright © 2012 by Issaquah Press Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Email editor@isspress.com.

Comments

One Response to “Issaquah’s Kayak Academy hosts Greenland Week Festival”

  1. Chris on October 26th, 2011 4:05 pm

    Sounds fun, ill let the readers of my Kayak site know.

    Thanks

    Chris

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