A couple of people asked me about the picture at the top of the blog this week. It shows me performing a static or balance brace, otherwise known as QASUERSAARTOQ, meaning “the one resting”. Apparently this move was used originally to stretch out the lower back and legs during long paddle trips, it certainly makes me feel like I was run through a mangle afterwards!
It gave me an immense feeling of satisfaction to achieve this position, I had tried it many times this winter with my NDK Explorer without much luck, in fact it was a great way to involuntarily roll upside down. According to the documents I read the Greenland’s hard chines help to make the kayak rest in this position, I also feel the Greenland paddle’s buoyancy helped me substantially. The ultimate version of this position involves sustaining it without a paddle at all, and getting into this using a hand roll.
