Arctic sports
Traditional athletic disciplines rooted in Arctic indigenous hunting and recreation.
Arctic sports, also known as Inuit games or anaktaqtuat, are a collection of athletic disciplines traditionally practiced by indigenous peoples of the Arctic, including the Inuit. These sports are notable for their origins in hunting, fishing, and camp life, and are now featured in events such as the Arctic Winter Games and the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.
Quick Facts
- Highest alaskan high kick
- 2.39 meters (7 feet 10 inches) by Jesse Frankson at the 2002 Arctic Winter Games
- First arctic winter games
- 1970
- First native youth olympics
- 1972
Facts from the source article.
History
Some disciplines developed from camp life and recreation, serving as entertainment. Historically, friendly competitions occurred between tribes and communities. The introduction of the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in 1961 and the Arctic Winter Games in 1970 elevated these activities from recreational to a more professional level.
Disciplines
The one foot high kick involves jumping with both feet, kicking a suspended target with one foot, and landing on that foot without losing balance. It originated from Inuit hunting, where a high kick signaled a successful hunt. The highest recorded one foot high kick is 2.92 meters, set by Stuart Towarak at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. In the two foot high kick, the athlete jumps with both feet together, strikes the target with both feet, and lands on both feet. The highest recorded two foot high kick is 2.64 meters, set by Brian Randazzo at the 1988 Arctic Winter Games. The Alaskan high kick is performed sitting on the floor, balancing on one foot while holding the other foot, then jumping up on one hand to hit a suspended target and landing on the kicking foot. Its highest recorded height is 2.39 meters by Jesse Frankson at the 2002 Arctic Winter Games. In one hand reach, the athlete balances on one hand with elbow tucked, reaches up to strike a target, and the striking hand must touch the ground first. The world record is 1.78 meters by Bernard Clark at the 2015 World Eskimo Indian Olympics. The toe kick involves jumping over a stick, tapping it with the toes, and landing on both feet.
Competitions
The first Arctic Winter Games in 1970 included Arctic sports only as a demonstration, as did the 1972 edition. In 1974, Arctic sports officially joined the program with six disciplines: kneel jump, two foot high kick, one foot high kick, one hand reach, back bend, and rope gymnastics. Since then, Arctic sports have been in every edition, expanding to 11 disciplines and one all-around competition, totaling 35 medal events. Dene games were added in 1990, initially categorized with Arctic sports, and became a separate sport in 1998. Modern Arctic Winter Games disciplines include one foot high kick, two foot high kick, Alaskan high kick, kneel jump, airplane, one hand reach, head pull, knuckle hop, sledge jump, triple jump, and arm pull. Dene games include finger pull, hand games, snow snake, stick pull, and pole push. The World Eskimo Indian Olympics began in 1961 in Fairbanks with three sports and cultural events; it was renamed in 1973. Modern editions feature around twenty disciplines. The Greenlandic championships, Nunatsinni Unammersuarneq, are organized by Arctic Sports Greenland and broadcast live by KNR, including high kicks, kneel jump, triple jump, one hand reach, and angakkuusaarneq. The Native Youth Olympics started in 1972 as a local Alaska contest.
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