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In the spring of 2005 I decided that my newest passion, sea kayaking, was a perfect subject of my other new passion, creating video documentaries. I was planning to learn to roll a sea kayak as soon as posible. At the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in 2004 I saw a Greenland rolling exhibition and knew this was the way to go. In a rolling class at the WCSKS I learned the first half of a roll, the capsize part. I was determined to find my first roll at SSTIKS 05 (the South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium, sponsored by local members of Qajaq USA.)
I emailed the SSTIKS organizers about my interest in rolling, building a SOF kayak and volunteering to try to make a documentary of SSTIKS 05. After some discussion I think it was Shawn Baker who said, to everyone, this guy has the cool camera equipment and is willing to do the filming, what could be wrong with that, and warmly welcomed me to SSTIKS.
I heard the organizers talking about this guy Dubside who had competed at the Greenland Championships in 2004, and won several medals rolling a “25 inch wide, folding” kayak. This Dubside fellow was also an expert at the esoteric Greenland Rope Gymnastics. I had no concept of what would follow the next 6 months, but I hoped for some great footage. Dubside showed up at SSTIKS on June 3rd and shortly started to assemble his new Wisper from Feathercraft. He was also checking out all the great trees to hang ropes in here in the Pacific Northwest. I realized that there were many interesting events at STTIKS, from paddle carving to first roll classes and demonstrations of extraordinary rolling skills from Pavia Lumholt and Dubside. The amazing rolling skills of many talented instructors and even Freye’s headstands in her kayak were very special. But the rope gymnastics by Dubside were the kayakers equivalent of, Chinese acrobats and Cirque du Soleil. It was the beginning of a new chapter in the adventure Dubside and I have shared for the last 9 months.
Since meeting at SSTIKS we have produced two new videos, “Qajaasaarneq” Greenland Rope Gymnastics, Volume 1 and Greenland Rolling with Dubside, Volume 1. We have enough projects on the “to-do” list to take us through the next couple of years. The Ropes Volume 2 and Rolling Volume 2 will be out in late 2006. We are scheduled for a trip to Greenland to compete and film the National Kayaking Championships this July.
DSharp Video Productions and Dubside.net have come into existence because of our passions and the serendipity of events leading up to SSTIKS 05. We have come this far because we both wanted to do what made the most sense to us as individuals, kayakers and business partners. We felt compelled to make these videos and have been very pleased with the results and the fans of traditional Greenland kayaking skills. When you read the credits on our DVD’s you will see how many people we are thankful to for their support. There are not enough words to fully show appreciation to the pioneers of kayaking in the USA like John Heath and many others that laid the foundation for us to build upon. I have a special appreciation for the Greenlanders who have recognized the unique heritage of their parents and grandparents. I hope to thank them in person for preserving and honoring their ancient skills and art of the Greenlandic Qajaq culture.
Tom Sharp / DSharp Video
Dubside.net |
