Subject: RE: baidarka Backrests
From: Greg Stamer (gstamer@magicnet.net)
Date: Wed Aug 30 2000 - 22:09:05 EDT
>Chuck Holst wrote:
SNIP
>>
>> Superior Outfitters pronounced it "Tizzy," possibly humorously). He said
>he
>> watched some of the contests, and mentioned you, Greg Stamer, and others.
>He
>> observed also that Maligiaq is just an ordinary person in Greenland, that
>> there are lots of good kayakers there, and that Greenlanders seem less
>> interested in technique or paddle finish than in results. What attracted
>him
>> to come over and chat was seeing our Greenland paddles. What a small world
>> this can be!
>>
>> Chuck Holst
Chuck,
I do agree that when it comes to the forward stroke the Greenlanders are
not very dogmatic, what works, works. Even so, their strokes tend to be
fluid and long with the paddle held quite high (for the races). The rolls
however, are judged very strictly, and if you don't exhibit proper form,
you will not win points. There are also strict stipulations on the kayaks,
no metal fasteners are allowed and no plastic componsents are allowed in
the framework. Plastic is allowed in place of bone, for paddle fittings,
rubstrips, etc. Originally we were told that deck lines must be sealskin,
but thankfully these restrictions were relaxed on kayaks used by
foreigners. Foreigners were also permitted to use neoprene tuiliqs while
all Greenlanders had to use sealskin.
I would like to clarify that I agree that there are many excellent paddlers
in Greenland, but even within Greenland, Maligiaq stands out. Lets not
forget that in 1998 he was the youngest kayaker ever to win the Greenland
National Championships and he swept the events. This accomplishment is even
more impressive when you consider that he was only 17 and competed against
20 - 34 year old paddlers. He missed the championships last year due to his
travels in the USA, and returned home to a hero's welcome and a feast in
his honor that included government dignitaries. Last month he reclaimed
his title with a victory in the National Championships again even though he
did not train much this year (ah, the perils of joining the work force and
finding a girlfriend ;^)
To his credit, Maligiaq is quite humble and non imposing, but he is an
ordinary kayaker in the same vein as Michael Jordan is an ordinary
basketball player.
Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida
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