Harpoon Throwing

I bought a Greenland harpoon from Tuktu Paddles shortly after my first Qajaq competition. I wanted to learn to throw well enough to compete. My first attempt at Cooper’s Bayou sent the harpoon and the norsaq flying together, ending in a big splash just off my bow. There was room for improvement.
Practicing from my Necky Chatham 17, I increased the distance from about twenty feet to about sixty feet and began getting a more consistent flight. An unintended capsize during a later outing with Sean Fitzgibbon gave me another lesson: the throwing board already in my hand could help bring me upright.
This collection records my learning, the equipment, and the relationship between throwing, balance, and recovery. I have not yet entered a harpoon throwing competition. One I planned to enter was canceled during the COVID shutdown. Explore the related norsaq and Greenland kayaking collections for more of that story.

Background reading: the kayak and the recovery
The published material below explores related skills and history. My dedicated harpoon throwing account is still being prepared.
The Liquid Rhythm Kayaking video archives: The throwing stick recording demonstrates a norsaq recovery, giving context for the tool that remains in hand after a throw.
What the Water Taught Us to Remember, at FloridaOATS: A reflection on Greenland recovery skills, working boats, and knowledge passed from one paddler to another.