Objective of the Game

The Airplane is strictly a test of strength endurance. It is one of the few the Inuit traditional games that do not require well-developed technical and motor skills. The outcome is decided by the application of raw muscle strength, in particular in the upper arm, back and gluteal muscles, and the hamstrings.

The athlete places himself face-down on the floor. The arms are extended and placed on the floor palm-down and at right angles to the body. The legs are also fully extended and placed on the floor. Two carriers grasp one of the athlete's fists each, a third carrier grasps his ankles. They lift the competitor off the floor, and slowly carry him along a pre-set course.

The athlete has to maintain the absolutely rigid body position for as long as possible. As long as the competitor is able to stabilize his body, the carriers move along the course. The attempt ends when his body-usually the chest-begins to drop towards the ground. The competitor covering the greatest distance wins the round.

In a variation of the game played by female athletes, the elbows are flexed to an angle of 90 degrees horizontally. The carriers grasp the competitor by the hands, but do not support her at the elbows. The shortened leverage reduces the amount of strength necessary to maintain the required body position.

It is a sign of changed times that this game in earlier days was called the 'Eagle (Carry).' It shows that Inuit traditional games are now part of a way of life that sometimes differs from the way things were done in days past. The influence of the modern ways may even be seen in a new name given to a very old game.

Equipment

1. Assistants who act as carriers. Of course, the carriers are not really 'equip­ment,' but you cannot get the Airplane off the ground without a little help from your friends. Three carriers are needed to move the competitor along the course-one to support him at the ankles, and one each to support the left and right fists. Experienced carriers should be selected because they are more likely to avoid a change of pace from one competitor to the next.
2. A tape measure to measure the distance covered by each competitor.
3. It may also be sufficient to simply use masking tape to mark the distance cov­ered by the first participant in a competition. The other athletes will then sim­ply try to let themselves be carried past this line. If one succeeds, the tape will be moved to the point where he broke off his attempt.
4. Masking tape or something similar to mark the course on the floor. The mark­ings for basketball or volleyball courts found on a gym floor can be used to lay out a course for the Airplane.
5. A nylon rope to block off the playing area. Only competitors and judges should be inside the playing area.
6. A pacer with a stopwatch may be used during important competitions. He stands at the back of the playing area and checks the carriers' speed as they move along the course. Experience is important here, as well: The pacer should have carried out this task before.

Playing Area

The Airplane requires a sizeable playing area. The course should be free of sharp turns, although this is more important in the Knuckle Hop than in the Airplane. The best competitors at the Arctic Winter Games reach distances of 50 m (150 ft) and more. The size of the playing area should allow the layout of an appropriate course without too many turns.

Teams and Competitors

At the Arctic Winter Games, only participants from the group 'men/open' compete in the Airplane.

Safety Considerations

The Airplane is so physically demanding that the importance of a proper warm­-up and stretching routine cannot be over-emphasized. When working with beginners in particular, the instructor has to emphasize the importance of a proper breathing technique. Because the Airplane involves intense and prolonged contraction of antagonistic muscle pairs, beginning ath­letes may inadvertently revert to a Valsalva Maneuver, or holding their breath.

Despite the heavy physical demands it places on the athlete, the Airplane is a relatively safe game. It is unlikely to cause major injuries in experienced athletes. Beginners may experience sore shoulders and pectoral muscles after competition.