SSTIKS diehards worth a second glance

by Jeanette Rogers

Ninjas in kayaks? And is that a stick they’re paddling with? Just what are those people doing out there dressed like that?

There are plenty of curious onlookers when the South Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium (SSTIKS) occurs at Twanoh State Park each year. What the spectators are actually seeing is a family-friendly kayaking event celebrating traditional kayaking.

Many of the kayaks seen at SSTIKS are skin-on-frame (SoF) kayaks, or qajaqs if you use the traditional spelling. The paddlers often use traditional gear, including a tuilik (a full body spray skirt that can give the appearance of a weeble in a kayak) and a paddle made of wood, referred to as a ‘stick.’ The three-day SSTIKS event, taking place June 18-20, is a perfect opportunity to try these interesting kayaks and learn more about the vibrant traditional culture.

Some who enjoy the culture talk passionately about multiple ways to roll a kayak. While SSTIKS is conducive to learning one or more of the 40 types of Greenland rolls, this event is more than just rolling a kayak. Over the course of three days, through hands-on and demonstration opportunities, participants will learn both on and off the water. A group of experienced instructors teach about basic and advanced kayaking strokes, rescues, building paddles and kayaks, and even harpoon throwing and constructing outfits from neoprene.

The event isn’t just for the adults. A kids track is specifically designed to get young kids started kayaking. Watching this program, you’ll see that the kids are having a delightfully chaotic time with the variety of games, including barge building and kayak polo, which expose them to core kayaking skills in a fun way.

SSTIKS, a Qajaq USA event with no corporate sponsors, is about a community of paddlers. This follows from the Qajaq USA mission to “study and promote the traditions and techniques of Greenland kayaking while seeking to further the appreciation and development of Greenland-style kayaking in the United States.”

Learn more about SSTIKS at www.qajaqpnw.org. By participating in this family-friendly event you’ll leave Twanoh State Park with many new skills as well as multiple new friends who are passionate about traditional kayaking.