Greenland Paddling and Rolling Clinics, June 25, 2011 (Saturday) Gananoque, Ontario, Canada

July 03, 2010

Here's a HEAD'S UP for the 2011 Greenland paddle techniques and Greenland rolling clinics back by popular demand at 1000 Islands Kayaking, in Gananoque, Ontario, June 25, 2011. Contact www.1000islandskayaking.com for more info.

The Greenland paddle techniques clinic is from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m., and the Greenland rolling clinic runs from 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. The clinics are held outdoors on the beautiful St. Lawrence River, in the 1000 Islands region, just off the shore from the quaint little town of Gananoque, in the province of Ontario, Canada.

Greenland Rolling Video Feature with 1000 Islands Kayaking

This video was filmed April 2011 in an indoor pool in Kingston, Ontario. In this video, you can watch Tom Gartley and Alfred Cheung in his yellow Boreal Baffin do some awesome Greenland rolls! They'll be your teachers for this year's Greenland rolling clinics at 1000 Islands Kayaking PaddleFest 2011, June 25. ENJOY!

Now back to last year's report on the super event I attended:

Greenland Paddling Clinics, Sat, July 10, 2010, Gananoque, Ontario

Ottawa paddlers and instructors, Alfred Cheung and Tom Gartley teamed up to teach Greenland paddling techniques and rolling, Saturday, July 10 at 1000 Islands Kayaking Paddlefest 2010, in Gananoque, at picture perfect Joel Stone Beach.

This is Tom Gartley. Alfred Cheung is hanging out at the top of the page. Sideways is always a great place to be!

A variety of Greenland paddles were on hand for participants to try and experience first-hand. The connection that Greenland paddles can give you to the water and your boat can be incredible, and may surprise you. There were tons of spares. No one went without and everyone had the opportunity to try several different types.

The Greenland Techniques clinic from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. covered: Using the GP. What is it? Why use it? What makes it so special? Bracing, turning, moving forwards and backwards, sliding stroke, followed by a nice forward stroke paddle down the St. Lawrence and a little play in "big motor boat" wakes that are never big enough for me. It is surprising how quickly people catch on to the GP and how fast and fluidly they can move with one. Some students had made their own, others soon will. You just feel something special and intriguing when you discover Greenland paddles and the history behind Greenland paddling techniques. It is fun to see it happen with others for the very first time. I like being part of the quiet and steady movement to share Greenland paddles and paddling techniques. Someone will turn you on to it, then you will do the same.

The Greenland Rolling clinic from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. was the more popular of the two clinics, for intermediate to advanced paddlers to learn Greenland rolling techniques and other "Cool things you can do with a GP", like advanced forward stroke, sliding stroke, balance bracing (static brace), and how to adapt your regular spoon directional control strokes to a GP. Anyone who could already roll with a regular paddle, easily picked up rolling with the GP. Alf and Tom explained and demonstrated the different types of Greenland rolls and paddles, and why they were useful and necessary for the seal or walrus hunter. For those of us that don't live in the Arctic, these techniques have become not only a practical way to rescue yourself in diverse conditions, but also a fun way to amuse yourself on the water, and compete if you wish.
(And they thought I wasn't paying attention!)

Everyone knows GP means Greenland paddle, right?

Warm up for other upcoming Greenland clinics at other venues by having a peek at some videos of different stroke and rolling techniques at QAJAQ USA, the American Chapter of the Greenland Kayak Association, or Kayak Ways.

You can also follow Gnarlydog news. He's a stick paddler and posts great articles and videos about Aleut and Greenland paddles, Greenland paddling techniques, and how they perform in rough water and surf.