Re: [Paddlewise] FW: Skinboats of Greenland

Hi Michael,

You can peruse the results of the Greenland National Championships
International Class at
<http://www.magicnet.net/~gstamer/QU-2000_INTERNATIONAL_RESULTS.html>.

Maligiaq had a great come-from-behind finish. The weather in Nuuk was
extremely stormy for most of the week. During the short distance race,
while just behind the leader, a wave broke on Maligiaq's chest, imploded
his skirt and swamped his boat. His water-laden kayak was too heavy to be
competitive and after his legs began cramping from the cold, he was forced
to flag down the rescue boat. He made up for the lost points by a
second-place finish in the long-distance race, a strong showing in the team
and individual rolling and an incredible performance on the ropes.

The weather interfered with some of the competition and several events had
to be cancelled due to winds of 40 - 60 miles per hour. A number of whales
ventured into the harbor during the competition, one large whale surfaced
during the rolling competition and during the short-distance race a whale
surfaced between my kayak and the kayaker ahead of me.

This is the first year that the competition was opened to outsiders. The
American team consisted of only four paddlers but I'm happy to say that the
team performed well. Prior to the competition, while Harvey Golden surveyed
kayaks, Cindy Cole and myself had the pleasure of attending a week-long
training camp in Qoornoq, the birthplace of Manasse Matheussen, located in
a ice-filled fiord close to Nuuk. Here we were able to acclimate to the
water temperature, practice rolling, harpoon throwing and other skills with
Maligiaq and members of the Sisimiut and Nuuk teams. The entire trip and
competition was an incredible experience. 

If all goes well, both Maligiaq and Kaleraq Bech, president of the
Greenland Kayak Association, will be featured guests at the Delmarva
Paddler's Retreat, October 6 - 8. Maligiaq will be arriving earlier in
order to teach a qajaq building class. You can contact Robin Snow at
anorak_at_mail.comcat.com for details. FYI, this event tends to fill-up early.

Best Regards,

Greg Stamer
Now roasting in much-too-hot Florida with no icebergs in sight

At 08:55 PM 8/9/00 -0400, Michael Bradley wrote:
>Hello folks,
>
>There's news from Sisimiut!
>
>Greenland, that is... Maligiaq wrote recently saying he had  won in the
>international  Seakayaking Championship category  for 20-34 year olds. What a
>guy! Hopefully we will be hearing more from those who were able to go to Nuuk
>and take in the racing.
>
>He also mentioned that he will be going to Delaware in the middlele of
>September for the kayak building workshop to be held there.
>
>Other Sismiut news concerns a Norwegian kayaking 'champion' named Roy
Johansen
>who attempted to paddle across Baffin Bay to Baffin Island. Not surprisingly,
>he ran into trouble in the form of ice - again no surprise there, the east
>coast of Baffin is packed with ice. He was rescued with frozen feet and is
>planning to recuperate in Florida - hello Florideans!
>
>Back to paddling...
>
>Michael Bradley
>Hatley, Quebec

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