Activity: Sea Kayaking
£96 Book Now
Start Date | End Date | Duration |
Saturday 12th Oct, 2019 | Sunday 13th Oct 2019 | (Course Full) |
Thursday 1st Jan, 1970 |
There are no course pre-requisites for this weekend. It is aimed all all of those who have an interest in traditional Greenland kayaking and associated culture. It is a weekend of fun, workshops and learning.
Your course fee includes attendance at all workshops on Saturday and Sunday and dinner on Saturday evening.
If you wish to book either of these options, please call the centre (028 4372 2158) after you have booked your place on the weekend.
Bring a sense of humour and enthusiasm!
For 100s of years, the Inuit people of Greenland paddled to survive, to hunt and to travel. As a result, their kayaks, paddles, harpoons and other kit were all developed to a high standard and for a specific purpose. Kayaks were hard chined, long and narrow. They had to be easy to roll. Their unique Greenland paddles are narrow and diamond-shaped in cross-section, and one of their properties was the ability to paddle in almost complete silence. Rolling was a vital survival skill in icy arctic waters, so a large variety of different rolls were practiced, enabling a kayaker to roll up one handed or with the paddle well out of its proper place, even if its owner was injured or tangled with fishing line.
During the long Arctic winters, the Inuit stayed fit and practiced techniques by competing in various rope exercises and gymnastics. Their unique paddling style has spread across the world and is enthusiastically practiced by people in many countries. For one weekend Tollymore will become home to a range of coaching clinics, demo’s and competitions.
This weekend has become an annual fixture on the NI paddling calendar when it was run by Elaine ‘Shooter’ Alexander at the Share Centre. Unfortunately Share are unable to run the event this year and we are keen to see it continue and develop.
This weekend is a get together for those with an interest in all things ‘Greenland kayaking’! It will be a great place for folk to share ideas, learn new skills and polish existing techniques. The weekend is a day of coaching and trying out new ideas, plus a game of fun competition
The weekend commences on Saturday morning. Saturday will include a range of workshops which will include:
For those who choose to arrive on Friday evening, the rolling pool and Greenland ropes will be available to use.
Sunday will consist of a range of traditional competitions, such as harpoon throwing, rolling and kayak racing.
A range of DVDs will be shown on both Friday and Saturday evening.
An overall 2019 Greenland Games Champion will be declared and will include results from the Rope Gymnastics (Sat eve), Sprint and Long Distance Races, Harpoon throwing and Rolling (all on Sunday)
Tollymore has a range of more ‘traditional’ (i.e. hard-chine) sea kayaks, such as those from Tahe Marine, Pete Spence and Valley. Folks will have an opportunity to try these kayaks and feel how they differ from more familiar round chine sea kayaks.
The course is for anyone who has an interest in learning about traditional Greenland kayaking and its associated culture.
Day 1 |
Friday Evening The rolling pool and low ropes (indoors!) will be available for all who book accommodation with us on the Friday evening. |
Day 2 |
Saturday A number of workshops will be provided. All of the rolling workshops will include advice and tips on paddling technique with Greenland paddles (forward paddling, braces etc). Greenland Rolling (1) – for those who are new to rolling. This workshop will look at the basics of the layback roll and tips for progressing onto other rolls Greenland Rolling (2) – for those who can roll, but are looking to develop their roll and progress to looking at and trying other rolls during the day. Greenland Rolling (3) – for experienced rollers! An opportunity to try a range of rolls, with and without paddles or using a rolling stick (or not!) Greenland Gear – Greenland paddles and rolling sticks (harpoon throwing boards) are relatively simple things and are easily made at home. This workshop will look at the materials and skills required to make your own paddles and rolling sticks. We will also chat about Greenland Kayaks, their design and development and we hope to have some Greenland Kayaks at the centre for the weekend. Saturday evening – Greenland Games dinner, followed by opportunities to compete in Greenland Games Rope Gymnastics. There will be plenty of opportunities to try harpoon throwing on dry land at the centre, before heading to Castlewellan on Sunday for the competition. We will have a number of DVDs playing in various rooms and the pool will be available
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Day 3 |
Sunday – Greenland Games – all taking place on Castlewellan Lake Sunday will have a range of competitive events, including: Sprint race – the first event of the day, over a short, sprint course Long distance race – a longer distance race, taking approx 25 – 35 minutes Harpoon throwing – distance throwing and accuracy competition. Using a traditional norsaq (throwing stick) and harpoon, see what it is like to throw a harpoon from a moving kayak. We will provide the target, so no whales will be injured in this competition! We also provide harpoons and throwing boards. Rolling – try and complete as many of the ‘competition’ rolls as possible.
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Bring your personal kayaking kit – buoyancy aid, wetsuit / drysuit, cag etc.
If you have a Greenland paddle or any associated traditional kit (Greenland paddle, throwing / rolling stick, harpoon) please bring it along.
If you have a nose clip, bring it! Remember, you may be in the water a lot, so prepare well! Tollymore has additional wetsuits that can be used (and excellent drying rooms where you can dry your kit on Saturday evening)
Tollymore and other visiting paddlers will have a range of resources for you to peruse, such as books and DVDs.
Your course fee includes attendance at all workshops on Saturday and Sunday and dinner on Saturday evening.
If you wish to book either of these options, please call the centre (028 4372 2158) after you have booked your place on the weekend.
If you are interested in alternative accommodation, there are plenty of options locally. Tory Bush Cottages and Millar’s Close both offer self catering accommodation, Meelmore Lodge has a campsite and range of accommodation, Tollyrose B&B is the closest b&b to the centre and The Burrendale and Slieve Donard hotels are within 10 minutes drive.
Newcastle Visitor Information Centre will have additional accommodation options.
USEFUL LINKS – click on the title to go to the page
Qajaq USA – an excellent resource for Greenland Kayaking and other information.
Kayak hunting in Greenland in 1959 – an interesting article by Ken Taylor
CNC Kayaks – an excellent resource, including free plans, for building a hard chine plywood sea kayak.
Traditional Kayaks – Harvey Golden’s excellent online resource for those interested in the development of Greenland kayaks.
Rope Gymnastics Demo – Dubside demos some of rope gymnastics
This is the Roll – a chapter from This is the Roll 2, looking at hand rolling
Current situation
As you are probably aware the current advice from the Northern Ireland Executive, Health Promotion Agency NI and Health & Safety Executive NI, as well as our expert group within Sport NI is that we cannot deliver any face to face courses for our customers including use of the Hot Rock Climbing Wall.
We know that you and many others like minded folk are very keen to get back on track with your plans to attend and complete a range of personal skills training and qualifications in a range of disciplines.
Believe us when we say we are equally keen to get outside with you and help you reach your goals and complete that journey.
How do we know? Because every day we get emails and phone calls asking when will courses resume and with every NI Executive mention of easing of restrictions the emails and phone calls are more frequent……