GREENLAND- STYLE GEAR


While you can’t argue with the traditional practicality of sealskin garments, a Reed Tuiliq ($260 US) made with phocid-friendly


Chillcheater Aquatherm fabric is the most comfortable watertight jacket- hood-spraydeck combo we’ve ever worn. Waterproof, breathable and fast-drying,


it’s stretchy and less than a millimeter thick for


unrestricted movement. Layer underneath or enjoy the soft lining all on its own. All Reed tuiliqs are made to measure.


REED CHILLCHEATER www.chillcheater.com / www.reednorthamerica.com


Keep your feet warm and dry in Arctic waters with Kokatat’s Nomad Boots ($126 US), a clever fu- sion of three-mil neoprene booties and waterproof/


breathable gaiters. Adjust the covered lacing system with one hand to easily dial the fit on these nearly knee-high headturners.


KOKATAT WATERSPORTS WEAR www.kokatat.com


For an in-depth look at the construction, design and evolution of the traditional kayak within the cultural context of Greenland, Harvey Golden’s Kayaks of Greenland ($69 US) is a 580-page labor of love. This hefty tome includes scale diagrams of 104 kayaks and 79 paddles.


WHITE HOUSE GROCERY PRESS www.traditionalkayaks.com/KOG.html


Acclaimed filmmaker Justine Curgenven enters the arena of instructional films with This is the Roll ($30 US), a new 150-min- ute DVD featuring easy-to-follow progres- sions of the standard Greenland, reverse sweep and storm rolls.


CACKLE TV PRODUCTIONS www.cackletv.com


Full Immersion


THINK YOU HAVE A SHOT AT THE GREENLAND KAYAKING CHAMPIONSHIPS?


Less than 30 years ago, Greenland-style kayaking was on the verge of becoming a lost art. Then, a traveling museum exhibit brought a handful of centuries-old, sleek sealskin kayaks home to Greenland, reigniting the Inuit passion for paddling. Leading the revival was Manasse Mathaeussen, a septuagenarian who


still remembered when life in the Arctic depended on courageous hunters piloting kayaks on the open sea. Qaannat Kattuffiat, Greenland’s national sea kayaking body, was born in 1983 with the motto, “kayak—we are starting to use it again.” Under Mathaeussen’s tutelage, hundreds of young Greenlanders learned


how to paddle, roll and hunt in sea kayaks, as well as perform dryland train- ing maneuvers known as rope gymnastics. An annual national championship was created to celebrate Greenland’s kayaking heritage. Qaannat Kattuffiat membership swelled to 1,000 by the end of 1985, and a desire to share their newfound paddling skills with the world grew. “Greenlanders are very proud of their kayakers and they thought they


were the very best,” says Greg Stamer, the Florida-based founder of Qajaq USA, the American chapter of Qaannat Kattuffiat. “Someone said, ‘if we really are the best then we’ll have to invite the world to compete with us.’” Stamer was among the first outsiders to compete in the inaugural


worldwide competition in 2000 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. He borrowed a skin-on-frame kayak and won his age category in the weeklong festival that involves short- and long-distance races, individual and team rolling competi- tions, as well as rope gymnastics and harpoon-throwing events. “What I really admire is that it tests you in all areas,” says Stamer. “Some do


better in the races and smaller, more flexible people win the rope gymnastics and rolling. It’s like real life. You need to be an all-around kayaker to win.” Most memorable for Stamer, who returned to compete again in 2002,


was the warm Greenlandic culture, inclusiveness of the competition and spectacular surroundings. A lack of scheduling was frustrating at first, but something to which Stamer quickly adapted. “Immaqa, the Greenlandic word for maybe, is something you hear all


Paul Diener of Northern Light Paddles designed this three-piece Greenland Paddle ($375 US) with the traveler in mind. Two 36- inch blades are joined by a custom-length loom, and every paddle includes an additional short loom for quick conversion to a storm paddle. Full carbon construction is durable, featherlight and easy on the eyes, while the satin finish and rectangular-oval loom are just as easy in your hands.


NORTHERN LIGHT PADDLESPORTS www.northernlightpaddles.com


—VM


the time,” says Stamer, who refers prospective competitors to the Qajaq USA website for insight into the championships’ obscure scoring formulas and detailed explanations of each event. “My biggest tips are to relax and embrace uncertainty—and to get to the harbor first thing everyday to make sure you’re not missing anything.” For many international competitors, the biggest challenge is simply


getting to Greenland. California-based phenom Helen Wilson got a little help from her friends to attend her first national championships in 2008. They launched a website, www.greenlandorbust.org, to raise funds to cover her airfare. Like Stamer and many non-native competitors, she borrowed a kayak in Greenland. Both Stamer and Wilson agree that competing with Greenlanders in the


Mecca of sea kayaking is almost indescribable. “It really had a big impact on me,” says Stamer. “I would recommend it to anybody.”—Conor Mihell


™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ www.adventurekayakmag.com 39


A FILM BY JUSTINE


THIS IS THE ROLL


From the multiple award-winning filmmaker who brought you This is the Sea comes the most comprehensive DVD yet on learning the kayak roll.


Justine Curgenven’s This is the Roll introduces the key concepts needed to roll successfully. Each roll is clearly demonstrated with underwater footage, multiple angles, detailed analysis and easy-to-follow learning progressions from two of the world’s leading instructors.


The original kayakers of Greenland learned to roll first and they learned to roll well. Whether you are learning your first roll or developing a bombproof roll, building this powerful foundation into your own skill set will give you the confidence needed to recover in real water conditions.


Master the three most important Greenland-style rolls— the standard Greenland roll, reverse sweep roll and storm roll—and, no matter what blade you use or how you capsize, you will be able to roll up when you need to most.


SHOT IN: Canada (Vancouver Island, BC), Wales, Scotland and Italy.


BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:


» Troubleshooting sections for all three rolls help you identify problems and develop a bombproof roll


» Balance brace, Greenlandic balance brace and sculling for support


» Rolling with Greenland-style paddle and Euro blade » Stretching for paddling and rolling


“So inspiring you’ll be rolling on the living room floor with a broomstick.” —Scott MacGregor, Founder and Publisher Adventure Kayak magazine


“Cheri and Turner are dedicated and passionate instructors, with a gift for sharing their knowledge. — Monica Russell


CURGENVEN


LEARN TO ROLL IMPROVE YOUR ROLL


LEARN FORWARD FINISHING ROLLS


RUNNING TIME: 2.5 HOURS // PAL DVD // FILMED IN HIGH DEFINITION, 16:9 WIDESCREEN French, Spanish and Italian Subtitles. Sottitolato in italiano. Soutitré en Français. Subtitulado en español. Copyright Cackle TV 2012, www.cackletv.com


PHOTOS: JUSTINE CURGENVEN, CHERI TURNER. COVER DESIGN: BETH KENNEDY.


WARNING: THE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL ON THIS DVD AND PACKAGING ARTWORK HAS BEEN LICENSED FOR PRIVATE USE ONLY. ANY UNAUTHORISED COPYING, HIRING, LENDING, EXHIBITION, EDITING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, DIFFUSION, AND/OR BROADCASTING IS PROHIBITED.


PRESENTED BY


GREENLAND INSTRUCTORS


ROLLING WITH EXPERT


CHERI PERRY and TURNER WILSON


THIS IS THE ROLL


PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL


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