Arctic Sports

All categories

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday

From a sitting position, the athlete uses one hand to grasp the opposite foot, while the other foot and hand remain on the floor. The athlete then thrusts the supporting foot off the floor to kick a suspended ball, such that the only part of the body that remains in contact with the floor is a single hand. The athlete must complete the kick with a controlled landing on the kicking foot. 

Things to know or watch for:

• The athlete chooses the kicking foot. No alternation is required. 
• The “foot” is considered any part of the foot below the ankle. 
• The athlete’s supporting hand may be placed flat on the floor, bridged with fingers, or with knuckles in a fist. 
• The athlete may not let go of the grasped foot at any time.
• The athlete is permitted to hop around while establishing the controlled landing.
• The athlete’s buttocks may not contact the floor in the landing.
• Some athletes may “go vertical”—but they may not do so in a sweeping or “cartwheeling” fashion, such that they land on the side of the target ball opposite from where they took off.

Traditionally, the Alaskan high kick was a game played in confined “interior” spaces during the winter. After dipping a toe into the remnants of a fire, competitors would perform a kick with the goal of marking the highest point with ash.

‍Open Male, Open Female‍

Tuesday morning

Initially using both arms to support and balance their entire body off the floor, with one elbow tucked into the body, the athlete lifts one hand off the floor and reaches to touch a suspended ball. The athlete must then return their reaching hand to the floor, re-establishing balance on both hands without any other part of their body contacting the floor. 

Things to know or watch for:

• The athlete chooses the reaching hand. No alternation is required. 
• The athlete’s supporting hand may be placed flat on the floor, bridged with fingers, or with knuckles in a fist. 
• It is not an attempt unless the reaching/striking hand is lifted towards the target and crosses the elbow of the balancing arm, or the shoulder of the reaching arm is raised as if to reach.   
• Some athletes have used a so-called “pike” (V-legged sitting) position.
• Officials on the field-of-play may see that the hand touches or brushes the target in a way that subtly affects its spin but may not be visible to an observer located further away. 

Traditionally, the one-hand reach was played inside during the winter as a way to build and maintain strength, balance, agility and concentration.

‍Open Male

Friday afternoon

The athlete lies face down on the floor with his legs and feet together, arms outstretched at right angles to his legs. He must maintain this rigid position as four officials who act as “carriers” (two for the legs, one for each arm) lift his body several feet off the floor and “fly” him over a pre-set course at a steady pace. The carriers at the feet use a leather strap to lift the competitor. The winner is determined by the longest time “in flight.”

Things to know or watch for:

• Athletes are carried at a height of between two and three feet above the floor.
• The athlete’s arms must remain in a locked position with the torso not sinking below the level of the wrists. 
• In the locked position, the angle between the shoulders, elbows and fists cannot exceed 45 degrees.
• The same carriers are used for each athlete, along with the same “pacer” to ensure the carriers maintain a consistent pace throughout each attempt and among competitors. 
• The head official will stop the attempt if the athlete fails to maintain the requisite form.

Along with the knuckle hop, this may be the ultimate test of strength, endurance, resolve and pain tolerance in traditional Inuit games. There’s a reason it’s the final event in the Arctic sports competition schedule.

‍Open Male

Wednesday afternoon

The athlete assumes the lower push-up position, with his bare-fisted knuckles against the floor. He then raises his body into the higher push-up position and uses his toes and fisted-hands to propel his body forward across the floor while maintaining a planked push-up position. 

Things to know or watch for:

• The athlete’s shoulders are lined up with the start line.
• The athlete’s hands must be clenched into a fist, resting on the knuckles with thumbs placed over the top of the fingers. His arms and elbows must be tight to his body—not angled away. 
• The athlete’s buttocks must not rise above the plane of his body as he propels himself forward using only his knuckles and toes. 
• The head official will stop the attempt if the athlete fails to maintain the requisite form. 
• The distance is measured from the start line to the position of the athlete’s shoulders when his attempt is complete.

Along with the airplane, this may be the ultimate test of strength, endurance, resolve and pain tolerance in traditional Inuit games. It appears to imitate the motion of a seal on the ice. 

Open Female, U17 Male and U17 Female

‍Thursday afternoon

Sitting face-to-face on the floor, two opposing athletes interlock their legs such that each has one leg outstretched and the other bent with the foot flat on the floor. Next, the opponents take the arms corresponding to their bent legs and lock them at the elbow, while the hand of the unlocked arm holds the ankle of the opponent’s bent leg. Each athlete then tries to pull straight and steadily back, without twisting, until their opponent is pulled on top of them, has their arm pulled straight, or touches their chest with their hand. Each match is best-of-three.

Things to know or watch for:

• Arms are alternated for the first two pulls. If a tie-breaking pull is required, the winner of a coin toss chooses the arm.
• Competitors must be in short sleeves and remove watches, bracelets, bands or anything else that might interfere with a pull. 
• Competitors may not grab their opponent’s arm during the initial locking. If the opponents fail to assume the correct starting position after two attempts, the officials will do it for them.
• Contact between the knee and elbow is not allowed.
• Officials may issue an athlete three warnings for various infractions (pulling too soon, jerking, twisting etc) before the pull is awarded to their opponent.
• If a competitor falls sideways, regrips with the pulling arm, or releases their grip on their opponent’s foot, they lose the pull. 
• The officials may call for a re-pull, with the same arm, if there is a failed pull with no clear winner. 

Traditionally, the arm pull was another game that helped hunters to develop strength, endurance and pain tolerance. It could be played over multiple days to determine the strongest person in the village.