Greenland style Kayaking WHERE IT ALL STARTED

Several thousand years ago the inhabitants of Greenland knew more about kayaking than we can every dream of knowing. The origin of our paddlesport defined the life, and death, of generations of hunters who grew up along the shores of what is technically the world’s largest island -- Greenland. With the Inuit survival no longer dependent on the combined art of paddling and hunting, the traditions of the Greenland paddling culture are being preserved through a passionate worldwide community dedicated to passing on the legacy of knowledge and skills.

Words and photography: Christopher Crowhurst

Greenland is a beautiful barren wilderness, yet everything that makes it beautiful made it challenging for the inhabitants to eke out an existence. For many months of the year,the only available source of sustenance was sea life. To ensure their survival,over many generations the Greenland Inuit developed techniques and equipment that allowed them to become efficient hunters of mammalian sea life. It was through this process of development that the traditional Greenland kayak emerged as the preferred means to hunt. More than just a source of food, every part of the sea life the Inuit hunted was used. Whether it was blubber used to waterproof the clothes and craft, bones used to make harpoon tips, or meat used to feed the village, nothing was wasted. Only the available resources defined…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Paddle World 2015

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