Arctic sports
Arctic sports or Inuit games refer to a number of sports disciplines popularly practiced in the Arctic, primarily by the indigenous peoples of the region, such as the Inuit. Arctic sports often refer to the sports of Yamal, Alaska, Greenland and parts of Canada, while sports of the First Nations are referred to as Dene games. Traditional Greenlandic sports are referred to as Kalaallit Pinnguaataat. Many of the sports and disciplines are largely athletic in nature, while others lean more towards martial arts or gymnastics.
Arctic sports are practiced on a semi-professional level locally around the Arctic, as well as in the Arctic Winter Games, World Eskimo Indian Olympics, and Native Youth Olympics.
History
Most sports originating from the Arctic have their roots in the hunting and fishing traditions of the indigenous peoples of the region. Hunting and fishing were an essential part of life in the Arctic, and training and practicing for the necessary skills was vital. As a result, many methods of training were developed to train strength, endurance and agility. Some Arctic sport disciplines originate from camp life and general recreation, having served as entertainment for the tribe. Many of these traditional training methods and recreational activities have become sports disciplines practiced widely around the region, and in places even outside the region. Throughout history, the disciplines were mainly practiced in friendly competitions between tribes and communities. With the introduction of the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in 1961 and the Arctic Winter Games in 1970, the sport disciplines went from being played on a recreational level to a higher and more professional level.Disciplines
One foot high kick
The one foot high kick discipline has its origins in Inuit hunting, where the high kick was used to signal a successful hunt over larger distances. In the one foot high kick, the athlete will jump with both feet and attempt to kick a suspended target with one foot, then land on that foot without losing balance. In competitions, the target will be raised after successful attempts, with the greatest height with a successful strike determining the winner.The high kicks are disciplines in the Arctic Winter Games, where three attempts at each height is allowed. Athletes unable to strike the target after three attempts are eliminated from the contest. In the Arctic Winter Games, a running start is permitted.
The highest recorded one foot high kick is 2.92 meters, set by Stuart Towarak at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games.
Two foot high kick
The two foot high kick discipline will have the athlete jump with both foot close together, and attempt to strike a suspended target with both feet. The athlete then has to land on both feet without losing balance.The highest recorded two foot high kick was set at the 1988 Arctic Winter Games by Brian Randazzo. The recorded height was 2.64 meters.
Alaskan high kick
When performing the Alaskan high kick, the athlete sits on the floor, balancing on one foot and holding on to the other foot. Their free hand is placed on the floor and the athlete then jumps up, balancing on just their hand. The athlete attempts to hit a suspended target. The athlete will have to land on the kicking foot without losing balance.The highest recorded Alaskan high kick is measured at 2.39 meters, set by Jesse Frankson at the 2002 Arctic Winter Games.
One hand reach
In one hand reach, the athlete balances on one hand, with their elbow tucked into their body. While balancing on their hand, the athlete reaches up to strike a suspended target. After making a successful strike, the striking hand must be the first part of the athlete's body to touch the ground.The world record of one hand reach is held by Bernard Clark, reaching 1.78 meters. The record was set at the 2015 World Eskimo Indian Olympics.
Toe kick
The toe kick discipline consists of an athlete jumping over a stick, then tapping that stick with their toes and land on both feet.Kneel jump
The kneel jump's originates from Inuit hunting culture, though exact origins differ. Some mention the kneel jump as an escape, as hunters had to be able to swiftly escape predators or breaking ice while ice fishing, while others mention it as training in order to strengthen the legs to allow the hunters to jump between ice floes. When performing a kneel jump, the athlete begins on their knees with hands resting on their knees. From this kneeling position, the athlete jumps up and forward as far as possible, landing on their feet without losing balance. When landing, the feet must be within shoulder width apart.The world record in kneel jump was recorded at the 2013 Native Youth Olympics, set by Dylan Magnusen with 1.72 meters.
Triple jump
The Arctic triple jump is a variant of the classic athletic triple jump discipline. In the Arctic triple jump, the athlete will jump forward as far as possible, with their feet within shoulder width apart. The athlete jumps two more times, with their feet remaining within shoulder width apart.The longest recorded Arctic triple jump is 11.49 meters, set by Drew Bell at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.
Scissor broad jump
The scissor broad jump is similar to the triple jump, though with the exception that the athlete will jump four times and the athlete will cross and uncross their legs after each jump. The jumps must be performed without losing balance.The world record in scissor broad jump was set by Nick Hanson at the 2016 World Eskimo Indian Olympics. His distance was 11.4 meters.
Sledge jump
In the sledge jump, athletes consecutively jump over ten sledges, one at a time. After jumping over all ten sledges, the athlete has a brief rest period of 5-10 ten seconds, then turn around and repeat the process. The attempt continues until the athlete displaces or hits a sledge, at which point their attempt ends.The record at sledge jump is 830 jumps, set by Rodin Roaldovich Taligin at the 2006 Arctic Winter Games.
Knuckle hop
For the knuckle hop, the athlete enters a pushup position on their fists and toes. The athlete then jumps forward in this position, remaining off the floor at all times.The knuckle hop world record is held by Chris Stipdonk, marking 61.2 meters at Arctic Winter Games tryouts in 2020.
Seal hop
The seal hop discipline is similar to the knuckle hop. The athlete will be in a pushup position on their palms and toes, then jump forward in the same fashion as in the knuckle hop. The discipline has its origins from hunting, where the hunter would perform seal hops to sneak up on seals.The seal hop record is held by SigFurd Dock, with 57.3 meters. The record was set at the 2015 Native Youth Olympics.
Airplane
The airplane discipline consists of the athlete lying on the floor face down, with arms outstretched. Three assistants lift the athlete and carry them forward. The athlete must remain in the outstretched position, their attempt ending if they fail to maintain the position. The discipline is also known as "drop the bomb".In the Arctic Winter Games, the discipline was measured by distance until 2016 where it was changed to a timed event. The record for longest distance made in airplane was set by Makabe Nartok in the 1986 Arctic Winter Games, with 48.98 meters. The record for longest time is held by Tittu Wille, making it 46.69 seconds. That record was set at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games.