Simply put “Modern Greenland Kayaking” by Dsharp Video Productions should be required viewing by every sea kayaking coach, shop owner and sales staff member and certainly belongs in any paddlers home video collection. That’s not something you can honestly say about every paddling DVD that comes along, but certainly true in this case.

Released just this year, “Modern Greenland Kayaking” fills a gaping hole in currently available sea kayaking information by taking us through the history of traditional paddling through it’s modern renaissance. MGK brings us into the world of skin-boats & sticks without any hint that “traditional” is somehow separate from sea kayaking as a whole. In fact the video does a wonderful job of making traditional kayaking accessible to anyone interested in paddling.

The video is shot in 4:3 ratio combining footage from a variety of sources and is not the Hi-Def, rock anthem video candy we’ve come to expect (and enjoy too by the way) these days. In fact that would probably feel out of place here. “Modern Greenland Kayaking” is a documentary that introduces us to traditional paddling through a collection of interviews with top names in the sport including; Delmarva co-founder Cindy Cole, Greg Stamer, Dubside, Robin Snow, Maliqiaq Padilla, Kamp Absalonsen and others. Tom Sharp also takes us along to the 2006 National Championships in Greenland where we are immersed in the warm (or chilly depending on what you’re wearing) atmosphere of the event.  We are taken through the competition events including of course all those amazing rolls and their Greenlandic names. We also get a look at the thousand year old rope gymnastics that keep paddlers strong & flexible when the water is less agreeable. In addition we travel back here to the States to see how the sport has been growing outside of Greenland, visiting the South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium (SSTIKS) and Delmarva along the way. Another great nugget of this DVD is a short instructional piece featuring Greg Stamer on how to properly use a traditional paddle, something “worth the ticket price” to anyone who may not have easy access to traditional instructors or symposia.

As I watched the video I recalled the many conversations I’ve had while working to introduce traditional paddles in our part of the world. To some there is still a bit of mysticism and a demarcation line between traditional and “Euro” paddling. One would hope that in time, at the very least a Greenland paddle would be introduced to students along with touring blades and wings equally as nothing more than another option. These days though many instructors have never yet held a traditional paddle in their hands, and don’t feel qualified to talk to students about them. While it would be the best option that coaches are taught “traditional” properly as part of their training, at the very least viewing “Modern Greenland Kayaking” would give them a good overview. It’s a start.

My impression is that “Modern Greenland Kayaking” will be seen as an important contribution to the continued growth of traditional paddling. Maybe more importantly it will also offer recreational paddlers a wider view of what sea kayaking is all about. (oh, and by the way, did I see a Rockpool this video?!)

To purchase “Modern Greenland Kayaking” you can visit Dubside.net. A video clip is also available here. (The clip that finally answers timeless question; “What gets Greg Stamer excited?”. . .  )

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More?  Well, I was pretty impressed with Dsharp’s “Greenlandic Rolling with Dubside” as well. You can read that review here.

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4. 3 Ways of Many
5. Dubside.net Rolls