Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson travel the world teaching traditional Greenland kayaking skills, and they are coming back to Vancouver Island this summer to share those skills.
Perry and Wilson believe that the traditional kayaking skills and tools of the Inuit seal catchers offer valuable lessons for the modern-day recreational kayaker.
Interest in these skills is growing.
Have you ever seen anyone out paddling with what looks like a skinny stick? Rolling their kayak underwater and back up again, just for the fun of it?
There are 35 different ways of rolling a kayak on the competition list at the Greenland National Kayaking Championships and many more not on the list. Once you master one, you want to learn them all.
Perry and Wilson have both competed in the Greenland National Kayaking Championships, bringing home many gold medals.
They have both taught at many kayak symposiums around the world, and Perry is widely regarded as the world's best Greenland roller.
In addition, Perry is a talented yoga instructor, and Wilson designs and builds custom skin-on-frame kayaks, paddles and norsaqs.
Perry and Turner will be offering a Greenland Skills Clinic here in the Comox Valley July 23 and in Campbell River Aug. 20. They will also be making a special appearance at the Campbell River Boat Rodeo Aug. 21.
Private lessons can be scheduled.
More information — plus video footage of different rolls — can be found at their website: www.kayakways.net. Anyone who would like to know more about the clinics or lessons can contact tmgr@telus.net.