Each athlete grabs the stick, position their hands so that one person's hands are on the inside, and the other's hands are on the outside. All hands must be touching. Using the legs, arms, back, and a sure grip, the contestants then attempt to pull the stick away from their opponent. The winner is that person who is either able to pull the opponent over, or who can pull the stick out of the opponent's hands, on tow out of three attempts. Each round, the athletes will alternate positioning of their hands.
Strength is an important commodity to have when bringing a seal in from the hole in the ice.
The contestant must land forward of the mark where the stick was. When all players accomplish this, the stick is moved another two inches forward for each round until a winner is determined. Each player is allowed three attempts at each distance in case of misses. This is another game of athletic prowess and balance. Balance is needed while negotiating the rotten ice during breakup.