Liquid Rhythm Kayaking.com
ACA Intro to Traditional Qajaq Skills
COURSE OVERVIEW:
COURSE OVERVIEW: To have students become familiar with Inuit history,
hunting implements, and the skills associated with Traditional paddling. This
will include strokes, sculls, braces, and rolling techniques.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will:
    · Have a basic understanding of Arctic hunting techniques and tools.
    · Have a general knowledge of Arctic kayak construction.
    · Understand the theory behind a narrow-bladed paddle and its
    advantages and disadvantages.
    · Learn strokes with a Traditional-style paddle, including the canted
    forward stroke and the sliding stroke.
    · Work toward developing sculls, a balance brace and rolls.

PARTICIPANT QUALIFICATIONS: Completion of a Basic Coastal Kayak
Course or ability to demonstrate proficiency and experience with wet exit,
assisted, and self-rescues.

MINIMUM PERSONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE CLASS:
Properly sized and outfitted Kayak with front & Rear floatation. Standard gear
and safety equipment (traditional paddles, PFD’s, spray skirts, paddle floats,
bilge pumps, slings, and appropriate clothing for anticipated weather and
immersion).

COURSE DURATION: 1 Day

LOCATION: To be determined. Choice spot would be calm water, minimal
current, lunch and rest area, sandy or firm bottom on which to stand.


1) WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (30 minutes)
    - Names, student backgrounds and levels of proficiency
    - Student and Instructor expectations
    - Equipment – importance of fit
    - Popularity of kayaking
    - Discuss different types of kayaks and paddles

2) HISTORY (20 minutes)
    - Definition and different spellings of Kayak in literature
    - Importance of the kayak for survival
    - Kayaks and paddle evolution
    - How rolls and sculls are based on survival techniques
3) IMPLEMENTS (30 minutes)
    - Paddles: Double and single-bladed
    - Throwing Stick or Norsaq
    - Harpoon
    - Tuilik
    - Bladder bag, or avataq
    - Rope coil rack

4) TRADITIONAL KAYAK CONSTRUCTION (30 minutes)
    - Frames
    - Size
    - Skin

5) NARROW BLADE RATIONALE (30 minutes)
    - Describe how the paddle is customized to fit body measurements
    - Paddles used for centuries in severest conditions
    - Describe how the wide blade paddle used today came into use
    - Describe hydrodynamics and aerodynamics of narrow paddles
    - Dispel the common belief that paddles are narrow and unfeathered
    because the Inuit could not make them otherwise
    - Discuss feathered vs. unfeathered blades
    - Explain using the whole paddle for rolling, bracing and sculling
    - Describe and demonstrate the canted and Sliding Strokes
    - Describe and demonstrate bracing with the Traditional paddle

6) USE OF THE PADDLE (45 minutes)
    - Taking advantage of Traditional-style paddle design:
    - How to hold the paddle: hand placement and canted position
    - How to slide hands to extend the paddle
    - On-water: strokes with the Traditional-style paddle
    - Sweep and reverse sweep
    - Sculling draws
    - High brace and Low brace, braced turns, sculling braces
    - Canted forward stroke
    - Sliding stroke
    - Demonstrate single-bladed paddle use

8) RESCUES (15 minutes) Discussion and Demonstration of:
    - Bow rescue
    - Explain the philosophy of not coming out of the kayak and why

9) WORKSHOP PRACTICE (45 minutes)

10) INSTRUCTOR GIVE ROLLING EXHIBITION (15 minutes)
11) SIDE SCULLS AND BALANCE BRACE (60 minutes)
    - Discussion and Workshop practice
    - Explain that the side scull sets the stage for further progress
    - Explain the importance of body position
    - Demonstrate a sculling motion from a near-upright position
    - Explain and demonstrate the, side scull and chest scull
    - Explain and demonstrate the balance brace
    - On water practice

12) ROLLING DISCUSSION (10 minutes)
    - Emphasize the advantages of having a good rolling repertoire
    - Describe the Greenland National Rolling Championship

13) ROLLING WORKSHOP (100 minutes)

14) AFT-LEANING (“LAYBACK”), OR HIGH BRACEBASED ROLLS
    − Elbow Crook Roll
    - Behind the Head Roll
    - Under Arm Roll
    - Parallel Roll
    - Avataq Roll
    - Throwing Stick Roll
    - Hand Roll

15) FORWARD-FINISHING, LOW BRACE-BASED ROLLS Palms stay
oriented down (toward the kayak) throughout
    - Reverse Sweep Roll
    - Storm Roll
    - Cross Arm Roll

16) CONCLUSION (10 minutes)
    - What we have learned
    - Feedback to students and also to instructors

Equipment required or recommended:
    - Properly outfitted and sized kayaks, preferably low volume,
    narrow, with low back deck.
    - Proper safety gear (i.e. PFD, spray skirt, tuilik, akuilisaq)
    - Greenland-style and other Traditional Arctic paddles
    - Throwing Sticks
    - Nose plugs

Feb 2006 Traditional Skills
7432 Alban Station Blvd, Suite B-232 Springfield, VA 22150
Phone: (703) 451-0141 / Fax: (703) 451-2245 www.americancanoe.org
The School of Liquid Rhythm Kayaking is a unique kayaking school that offers kayak and qajaq classes, kayak surfing classes, kayak trips, and kayak instruction clinics, to all people regardless of age,
limited flexibility, or disability, in Tampa Bay Clearwater FL.

Copyright © 2006   The School of Liquid Rhythm Kayaking, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ACA American Canoe Association