[Paddlewise] Greenland Rolling Competition at Issaquah, WA

There has been an explosion in Greenland kayaking techniques and designs,
there is no doubt about it. I'd like to think I was a pioneer what with my
first sea kayak being a skin-on-frame (uh... an ancient - even then - 2
place Folbot) in about 1971. Ahem! But enough about me....

Last month George Gronseth's Kayak Academy in Issaquah, WA (about 15 miles
east of Seattle) held a Greenland competition. Judges included Dubside and
Maligiaq Padilla; both of whom are highly regarded in Greenland paddling
circles. The top award was a Golden Harpoon from Maligiaq's own personal
collection.

I did not attend despite my well-known prowess in the half-roll (a skill
notably - and inexplicably - missing from the competition, I might add) but
the Dash Point Pirate has (as usual) an excellent article covering the
competition (which he won, by the way) along with a video interview of
Dubside. The Pirate also discusses what the principals of this year's
competition would like to see the event mature into. Namely, a
fully-featured Greenland competition including rolling, races, harpoon
throwing and ropes; a-la Greenland itself. This sort of event could really
boost Greenland skill adoption, in my (occasionally humble) opinion. :)

Look at http://dashpointpirate.typepad.com/ for the complete story. The
Pirate's blog is so well done I hope for new articles every week. Sometimes
he obliges but not always. I guess there has to be time for paddling, too.
If you have not yet watched his video interview of Derek Hutchinson (into
which Matt Broze injected himself) you should. It's a classic.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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