A Greenlandic hunter prepares his harpoon, circa 1961. Note the sealskin avataq on his back deck and the harpoon rope
coiling rack on his front deck. PHOTO: JETTE BANG
LEFT TO RIGHT:
GREENLAND 17’10” BLACK PEARL 18’4” VALKYRIE 17’
Beyond the Blade
HARPOONS, THROWING STICKS AND OTHER GREENLAND HUNTING TOOLS
While most modern Greenland-style aficionados stick to mastering traditional rolls, touring and maybe even surfing, the truly devout also embrace kayaking’s hunting roots. Traditional prey included birds and sea mammals ranging from seals to walruses and even whales. Outside of the Arctic, today’s “hunters” mostly settle for rings, floats and other dummy targets, but the tools remain the same.
QAJAQ Traditional hunters built prey- and environment-specific kayaks. West Greenland boats have higher foredecks with upswept ends, hard chines and a V hull that make these sporty craft initially unstable but ideal for tracking in open, choppy water. Boats used in the more pro- tected, ice-laden bays of Greenland’s East Coast reveal less rocker from bow to stern and are built with flat bottoms.
UNAAQ’ Carried on the deck, the harpoon—or unaaq’—is armed with either barbed heads or spear points for seals and walrus, or tri-tips for birds. Typically made of bone, ivory or metal, the tip is attached to a tethered ironwood or bone insert that joins it to the harpoon and detaches when the tip becomes imbedded in the prey. Some harpoon points are tethered to a line—attached to the kayak and stored in a tray on the front deck—that is used to retrieve the game. A blunt, tapered tip is used on a practice unaaq’, called a mamagoq.
NORSAQ The throwing stick—also called a norsaq or atlatl— provides additional leverage and power when hurling a harpoon within the limited confines and range of movement available from a kayak. Made of wood, it is crafted in a variety of shapes about two feet long and two-to-three inches wide. The thrower cradles a six-to-eight-foot spear in a groove down the long center axis of the norsaq, with the end of the spear held against a peg or notch at the end of the norsaq. The throwing stick can also be used like a miniature paddle to assist with rolling a capsized kayak.
AVATAQ An inflated sealskin float—or avataq—is often tied to the end of a harpoon line to serve as a buoy to mark a kill or tire the prey and keep it from sinking. The avataq can also be used for stability in rough seas, or as a training device when learning to roll.
Traditional hunting techniques are an important part of the annual Greenland National Kayaking Championship, where young and old compete in harpoon tosses for distance and accuracy. But you don’t have to travel to Greenland to try hurling a harpoon—a growing num- ber of Greenland-style events in North America offer demos, clinics and contests. Visit
www.qajaqusa.org for a listing of U.S. events. Tom Watson is a freelance writer and former kayak guide and tour
operator from Kodiak Island. He was involved in several Native kayak projects while in Alaska.
38 ADVENTURE KAYAK | EARLY SUMMER 2012 G
MATERIALS TRADITIONAL DESIGNS
MODERN
reenland-inspired kayaks strike a winning balance between tradi- tional ultra-low volume hunting craft and tubby touring boats. Until
recently, however, those who wanted an uncompromisingly authentic Greenland-specific design had to build their own. The emergence of European builders like Tahe Marine and Seabird Designs in the North American market has introduced a new niche: Traditional designs reimag- ined in trendy, modern materials. These daring craft closely replicate the experience of paddling a skin-on-frame, Greenland hunting kayak, while offering the durability and accessibility of composite construction.
TAHE MARINE
GREENLAND Based in Estonia, Tahe Marine has been producing kayaks for the Scandinavian market since 1989. The Greenland is their flagship design, with true to classic lines, full-length hard chines, a V-hull, low decks and exceptionally low volume. Tahe offers a variety of hatch and cockpit sizes. Choose the tight-fitting Greenland OC for total control, or opt for the T model if you prefer a bit more volume for tripping. $2,942–$3,072 US,
www.tahemarine.com.
SEABIRD DESIGNS
BLACK PEARL Available to North American consumers since last summer, Norway’s Seabird Designs specialize in Greenland-style kayaks. The Black Pearl is an uber-re- sponsive, super low volume (deck to hull measures just nine inches) kayak of East Greenland ancestry. Seabird has purchased exclusive rights to produce the Pearl from Swedish designer Björn Thomasson, whose renderings of Greenlandic kayaks are world-renowned. Expert Greenlandphiles have a choice of two sizes, while aspiring traditional paddlers should check out the more forgiving Sea Pearl. $1,538–$2,892 US,
www.seabirddesigns.com.
BETSIE BAY KAYAK
VALKYRIE Geographically and physically unique from the other boats on this list, Bet- sie Bays are constructed of wood/epoxy/fiberglass in Frankfort, Michigan. Al and Betsie Anderson have been building southwest Greenland-style kayaks since 1984, and now offer six eye-catching models. The Valkyrie strikes a nice balance between dedicated Greenland rolling kayak and light touring. $4,000 US,
www.bbkayak.com.
—VM
DIGITAL EXTRA: To see previews of the Tahe and Seabird, go to
Adventurekayakmag.com/0055 or download the Adventure Kayak app.
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