Who Invented Sea Kayaks?

The Arctic Origins of the Qajaq

The decked kayak (qajaq, qayraq, iqyaq, qayaq, etc) and double-bladed paddle are inventions of arctic and subarctic peoples, particularly the Inuit, Yup’ik and Aleut of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. These kayaks, first created at least 4,000 years ago, consisted of wood or whalebone frames over which animal hides were stretched.

These vessels were designed to be extremely seaworthy – able to handle rough, exposed waters and be easily rolled. Subsistence hunters used their kayaks to get dangerously close to whales, seals, walruses, and narwhals. Archaeological evidence even suggests that Indigenous people may have used skin-on-frame boats to cross the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia. There’s at least one confirmed report from 1728 of an Inuit man landing in his kayak in Scotland, from Greenland.

Modern Greenland Style Kayaking

The rise of modern recreational sea kayaking in recent decades led to the mass production of kayaks that look fairly different from those used traditionally in the Arctic. But many of these kayak designs still have elements and features that are closely inspired by traditional kayaks, and some even directly aim to embody a “Greenland style.”  Traditional kayak making-skills and paddling styles also continue to be an important part of the cultures of many Arctic peoples, and they have also been embraced by many paddlers throughout the world.

Skinny, double-bladed paddles – as opposed to wider “Euro-blade” paddles – are a signature element of what is now widely known as “Greenland Style Kayaking.” These paddles are increasingly common. The narrow blade design may have evolved in part due to reliance on driftwood in the treeless Arctic, but it also offered practical advantages: reduced wind resistance, quieter strokes for hunting, and excellent leverage for rolling. Many paddlers still prefer this style of paddle for expeditions and daily use, and many find them especially useful for rolling. Today Greenland-style paddles are crafted from all kinds of wood and are even made with carbon fiber. 

Learn Greenland Style Skills

Portland Paddle is excited to partner with world-renowned instructors and competitive rollers, Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson, to provide an introduction to this traditional style of paddling in our two day Greenland Kayaking and Rolling Workshop this summer.