Greenland Week Competition Rules

The OFFICIAL RULES for Competitors, Judges and Fans

Schedule

Friday                                                      
Individual ropes competition in 15-minute time slots:    
3:00-3:15, 3:20-3:35, 3:40-3:55                                  
4:00-4:15, 4:20-4:35, 4:40-4:55                                  
5:00-5:15, 5:20-5:35, 5:40-5:44          
6:00-6:55 Dinner break
7:00-7:15, 7:20-7:35, 7:40-7:55                      
8:00-8:15, 8:20-8:35, 8:40-8:55          
9:00-9:15, 9:20-9:35, 9:40-9:55

Saturday
10 am Mandatory pre-race briefing. 
11am-4pm Race done as relay race in three segments
Harpoon for distance contest run simultaneously
6:00pm Salmon Dinner
7:30pm Announcement of score standings and Evening program

   Sunday
Individual rolling competition in 15-minute time slots:    
7:30-7:45, 7:50-8:05, 8:10-8:25
8:30-8:45, 8:50-9:05, 9:10-9:25                      
9:30-9:45, 9:50-10:05, 10:10-10:25
10:30-10:45, 10:50-11:05, 11:10-11:25
11:30-11:55     Lunch Break
12:00-12:15, 12:20-12:35, 12:40-12:55
1:00-1:15, 1:20-1:35, 1:40-1:55

2:00-2:25 Clear beach, sort equipment, dry off, etc.
2:30 Results announced, prizes awarded
3:30 End of Event

Equipment

1. A closed deck kayak, ½ cm minimum of Freeboard Rear Deck is required for the on-water events.
2. Surf skis, outrigger kayaks, and Olympic-style racing kayaks are prohibited.
3. There is no restriction on materials or construction of kayaks used.
4. The paddle must be a traditional Greenland design, narrow enough so that the paddler can comfortably grip the blade anywhere along its length. (Aleut paddles are okay.)
5.      

Prizes and Awards

1. The grand prize for the highest scoring competitor is planned to be a trip to the Greenland National Kayaking Championships in the summer of 2011. Other prizes will be given to the top scores in individual events and other categories as sponsors are available.
2. All entrants 8 years and above who achieve the minimum qualifying score in ropes and rolling will be recognized by Kayak Academy. Minimum scores to qualify: Ropes 20 points; Rolling 30 points.         
3. All competitors registered for the full weekend and eligible for the grand prize must be present at the 7:30pm Saturday night announcement of score standings.

Judges

1. Individual rolling and ropes routines will be scored by at least one judge per participant.
2. Judges will have a working knowledge of the standards and format of the discipline they are judging.
3. A judge may also compete but is not eligible for any prize.

 Time Allocation & Scheduling

1. For both the ropes and rolling events the time limit is 15 minutes.
2. A clock showing the official time will be visible to each competitor as they perform their routine.
3. Ropes and rolling will be done at more than one judging station with competitors in each timeslot starting simultaneously. Selection of which contestants are assigned to compete together is at the sole discretion of the competition officials. In general, those of similar skill level will be grouped.
4. Competitors will be assigned and notified beforehand of their scheduled timeslot. At each designated time the judge will start the clock. A competitor, who arrives late, without prior notification of extenuating circumstances, may use the remaining time but the clock will not be reset.

 Posting of Scores

1. Officially verified scores and standings are announced Saturday evening.
2. Final scores and standings are announced Sunday afternoon.
3. With the cooperation of the judges and their assistants, the event personnel may display a running score total as each participant competes during the ropes and rolling contests. However, these numbers do not become official until verified by the judging committee.

Disciplines

Race:

1. A course of between six to nine miles will be laid out on Lake Sammamish.
2. Competitors will do the race in teams. It is up to each relay team to provide the names of the individuals on their team to the competition officials at least half an hour before the race begins. Three teammates form a team, each taking a separate leg of the race. Race times will be recorded both individually for each lap of the race and for the team’s collective result. Scores will be determined both for the winning teams and the winning individual racers.  
3. Before the race starts, all members of a team must be in their kayaks and on the water ready to either race or throw a harpoon.
4. At the start of the race the each participant doing the first leg should maneuver their kayak so that their torso is even with the starting line. The race will commence by a race official informing the participants at the 10-second mark. When only 5 seconds are left, he/she will count backwards: “5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - GO!”
5. If a false start occurs due to a racer crossing the starting line early, that racer is disqualified and his/her teammates may only race for individual scores. Alternatively the race officials may declare a false start for other reasons, in which case the racers are called back and the race is started again.
6. Participants who arrive more than five minutes too late to the starting line forfeit the race for themselves. Their teammates may still race for individual times.
7. Racers will carry an assigned norsaq (throwing stick) to be passed between team members within a designated exchange zone at least 20 meters long.
8. If the norsaq exchange is done incorrectly (i.e. dropped, not handed off, or done outside the exchange zone) both paddlers must return to the proper area and repeat their hand-off.
9. The scored time for each individual racer is recorded when their body crosses the exchange zone border. For the last racer the finish time is calculated from when the participant's body reaches the finish-line.
10. If a participant drops out of a race, he/she should inform an official about this as soon as possible. But it is preferable that a participant returns to the official start-area to inform the officials.
11. Every racer must aid and assist any other racer who requires help when no chase boat is nearby. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the race. Race officials will determine the commensurate adjustment of race results, taking into account all available witness observations.

Harpoon:

1. In the harpoon discipline, the harpoon will be thrown for distance.
2. Harpoon must be thrown with the kayak moving forwards. The distance to get up to speed will be in a designated zone 10-15 meters long and the throw must be completed before the competitor’s body crosses the throwing line.  
3. Kayaks should have the appropriate deck rigging and/or asagiikkut (harpoon holder) to prevent the harpoon from falling off while the kayak is being paddled.
4. The harpoon shall be thrown with a norsaq (throwing board).
5. The harpoon throws count only if the harpoon point lands first. The distance will be measured at the spot where the point first hits.
6. Harpoons can be borrowed from Kayak Academy or competitors may bring their own but they must weigh a minimum of one kilogram (2.2 lbs). Harpoons with metal ends or bladed points attached are not allowed.
7. Competitors are allowed two attempts; the better of the two tries will be used for scoring.
8. It is the responsibility of all participants to ensure that no one is hit by a harpoon. Anyone may call a halt to the activity so as to correct an unsafe situation.

Rolling:

1. The thirty-five rolling maneuvers done in the Greenland National Championships (see link below) will be followed with the exception of:

#17 Pallortillugu assakaaneq (storm rolls done for speed)
#19 Avataqami isserfiup taqqaanut (roll with hunting float)
#34 Pusilluni paarneq (paddling upside down)
#35 Nusutsinneq iluarisamut (the walrus pull).
These rolls will be omitted, shortening the list to thirty-one moves.

1. #’s 29-31 Ujaqqamik tigumisserluni (the brick rolls) will use a masonry brick weighing approximately 3.5 kilos (about 8 pounds).
2. #’s 26-28 Assak peqillugu (rolls with closed fist) will be performed with a ping pong ball or similar object.
3. Rolls are to be performed in the order of the list, on both sides. A competitor can skip any roll or side desired but forfeits the opportunity to attempt it later.
4. Only one attempt per move is allowed.
5. The clock does not stop while a competitor is getting the brick or ping pong ball.
6. The point values are the same as used in the Greenland National Championships. Judges may score rolls done successfully but poorly executed at the “lower” value (one point less).
7. The judge may call the names of the rolls in Greenlandic. However, it is not necessary to wait for each maneuver to be called out. A competitor may memorize the list order and link each move to the next in rapid sequence. Competitors may also arrange for someone to give translations in English or any other language.
8. Nose plugs may be used for the rolling competition.
9. Gloves or mittens are allowed but must be worn the same way for all the rolls in a person’s routine.
10. If, during a competitor’s routine, the tuilik or spray skirt comes off or is removed from the coaming, their point score at that moment becomes their final score. 

Link to rolling maneuvers: Complete List of Competition Rolls for Championships in Greenland, courtesy of Qajaq USA

Ropes:

1. The Greenland National Championship list of seventy-five rope maneuvers will be used but only the twenty-seven low ropes moves (#’s 1-26 and 29).
2. The rope will be 5/8” (15.7mm) in diameter. Dimensions for the ropes uprights are between 3 to 5 meters wide, tied off two meters above the ground, and hanging down to not more than 1.2 meters without weight.
3. The maneuvers must be performed in the order they appear on the list. Skipping moves is permissible but doing so precludes the chance to attempt them later.
4. Only one attempt is allowed on each maneuver.
5. The backpack for the qajaasaarneq series (#’s 13-19) will have a working hip belt and weigh between 5 and 10 kilograms.
6. The clock does not stop while the backpack is put on, taken off, or adjusted to fit the competitor. Before starting to compete, a person may examine and adjust the backpack.
7. Gloves are not allowed for the ropes event.
8. A coach is allowed to assist and advise a competitor but cannot touch him/her or the ropes during each attempt.
9. List of Ropes Gymnastics Moves

Championship Scoring

1. To determine the overall winner, the standings in each event will earn championship points weighted according to finish rankings: first place = 21 points, second place = 18 points, third place = 15 points, fourth place = 12 points, fifth place = 9 points, sixth place = 6 points and seventh place = 3 points.
2. For the ropes and rolling disciplines if two competitors have equal point scores their percentage of successful moves will be used to break the tie. The success rate is calculated by the total point value of moves done successfully divided by the total point value of moves attempted. For example a person who only does the side scull (2 points), chest scull (2 points) and standard roll (2 points) on both sides would get a score of 12 with a success rate of 100%. Another person who did those same rolls but also tried a storm roll (3 points) and failed would get a score of 12 with a success rate of 80% (12 ÷ 15 = .80).
3. The individual race will be weighted double, earning 42 points for first place, 36 points for second place and so forth down to 6 points for seventh place.
4. Each competitor’s championship point total is calculated as the sum from each of the events: Rolling, Ropes, Harpoon, Individual race, and Team race. The highest championship point score is the overall winner of the competition.

Qualification/Disqualification

1. A participant is to be disqualified if in a judge’s opinion:
2. He/she has been physically assisted by others during a competition.
3. He/she has physically disturbed another participant during a competition.
4. He/she has used improper equipment in a competition.
5. He/she has taken a wrong route or has not been through all official posts.
6. Alleged incorrect actions beyond the limits drawn up here will be taken under consideration by the competition officials and a determination made as to the appropriate penalty or disqualification.

Complaints

1. If an official in a competition acts or makes decisions that violate the rules contained here, a complaint in written form should be delivered to one of the organizers as soon as possible, and not later than Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm.
2. Individuals affected by the complaints should be given a chance to explain themselves before any decision on the complaint is taken. After consulting on the matter the organizers may issue a decision on the spot or determine that further consideration is warranted. Rulings from the designated head competition official are final.

Disputed Results or Rulings

1. Any disagreement and/or dispute regarding rules, disqualification, judging, prizes, scheduling, etc. may be appealed to the designated head competition official whose ruling will be final.
2. In order to be taken into consideration, all disputes must be raised before 2pm Sunday afternoon.
3. Participants, spectators, volunteers, sponsors, and staff should bear in mind that the event is meant to be a fun, educational, and enjoyable celebration of Greenland kayaking culture. As they say in Greenland, “We train hard, we compete hard, but afterwards we are all friends.”

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