Kayak Academy

Greenland Paddling Technique

George Gronseth is the only non-Eskimo to complete the Greenland Qajaq Club's two-week Kayak Training Camp (1990), and he earned their prestigious gold pin for demonstrating rolling expertise. Based on that experience George published an article in Sea Kayaker magazine called, "Learning To Paddle the Greenland Way". This article was controversial at the time because it was the first to point out many of the differences in the techniques for using a Greenland paddle vs. a Western paddle. George wrote about Greenland paddles generating lift for power, the forward tilt of the top of the blade in the forward stroke, and more...all of which was considered heresy at the time by most of the self-proclaimed Greenland kayak experts in America. Though recently other instructors have begun to catch on, no-one else outside of Greenland has as many years of experience teaching and using these techniques as George Gronseth.

There's a lot more to safely using a Greenland paddle than just learning the thirty plus "competition rolls". So regardless of whether you choose a Greenland or Western (aka Euro) style paddle and use a Skin-On-Freme kayak or hardshell rudder-free kayak, you need to learn the skills in our Paddling Strokes & Rescue Techniques Course, so we recommend starting with this course or our Five-Day Training Camp. Due to our semi-private (five students maximum) class size and George's unique experience teaching both Western and Greenland kayaking, we offer Greenland paddling technique in both of these courses.

Want more? Take our Greenland Paddle Carving and Paddling Technique. course.

Private lessons with George can also be arranged.

View the Course Schedule

Greenland Qajaq Klub

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