High kick

The high kick is a traditional Inuit event performed at the Arctic Winter Games, the World Eskimo Indian Olympics and other traditional events.

An athlete performing a two-foot high kick at the Arctic Winter Games

One foot high kick

The Inuit one-foot high kick is a traditional competition that is similar to the two foot high kick.

In this competition the competitor stands on one foot, jumps in the air and hits a ball or piece of seal such as a ringed seal, which is suspended from a gallows and then lands on the same foot.

The one foot high kick tests the strength and agility of a hunter. It was also used to signal a successful hunt in some communities.^[1]

A short film made by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver shows Arctic Winter Games champion Johnny Issaluk performing a one foot high kick.^[2]

Two foot high kick

The two-foot high kick (akratcheak) is a traditional Inuit jumping event that occurs at many Arctic sports competitions. In the two-foot high kick, athletes must jump using two feet, touch a hanging target with both feet, and land on both feet, maintaining balance.^[3] The event is often considered the most demanding Arctic sport.^[4]

The event has its origin in subsistence whale hunting: when a whale was taken, a messenger would run to the village and kick both feet in the air once within eyeshot.^[3][5] Villagers would then know to prepare to harvest the whale.^[3][5]

As of 2007, the men's record in the event was 2.64 m (8 ft 8 in); the women's record was 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in).^[5]

Alaskan high kick

Balance on one foot while holding the other. Kick a target straight above with the balancing foot to reach a target, then land on the balancing and kicking foot.^[6]