Two Foot High Kick and Ear Pull

July 22, 2008 | Tags: Alaska Native Culture, Photos

We had the privilege of attending and photographing two of the wonderful events at this past week’s World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks. We were audience to two of the most amazing and painful events, which you have to see to believe.

The two-foot high kick requires athletes to kick a ball suspended high in the air with both feet. Many of the finalists (demonstrated in images 3 and 4 above) end up successfully kicking above the length of their own outstretched arms!

The ear pull pits two competitors against one another, both having a single string placed behind their ear. The contest begins when both competitors begin pulling their heads straight back. The first person that either gives up, moves their head sideways, or has the string slip off their ear is the loser.