Editor’s note: Our featured poet, Katie Whalen, age 14, is the daughter of Tsunami Ranger Dave Whalen. We are reprinting her poem with her permission. Thank you, Katie. Rhythm by Katie Whalen The warmth of the sun-beaten rock soaks into my skin. My legs dangle off the edge. Thirty feet below me I gaze upon the pebbles […]
Go For It!!! Commitment in Sea Kayaking
Commit by Eric Soares Be there Scope it out Wait for the opportune moment Commit Commit with abandon Ride the grooveline Go ballistic Stay tuned Ambient to change Sense the crash Save yourself Be there Without commitment There is no fulfillment The venture fails The flower bears no fruit The love fades away The wave […]
Of Cocktails and Kayak Trips
Editor’s note: We at the Tsunami Rangers website hope that you and yours have a very Merry Christmas! And a Whoopee, er, that’s Happy New Year! There may be teetotalling sea kayakers out there but I don’t know any. Booze and the sea just go together. Yo ho ho! and a bottle of rum! In […]
Sea Kayaker’s More Deep Trouble – Gotta Have It or Make It Stop!? – A Review
More Deep Trouble is another collection of death and disaster stories featuring sea kayakers, compiled by Sea Kayaker editor Chris Cunningham. More Deep Trouble is a follow up to Deep Trouble, and like the previous book includes the Lessons Learned from each event. I mentioned More Deep Trouble to Tsunami Ranger John Lull. John has years […]
Wild in Spirit – The Latest Tsunami Ranger Project
“What’s next for the Tsunami Rangers?” Eric always said. Right now, Tsunami Ranger Michael Powers is working on Wild in Spirit, a coffee table book of fabulous photographs from around the world highlighting inspirational quotes. One of my favorites this one from Rumi: Wild in Spirit is dedicated to Tsunami Rangers Eric Soares and Misha […]
The Combat Roll
by Tsunami Ranger John Lull While paddling south one day from Point Arena on the northern California coast, I spotted an inner passage through the sandstone cliffs, cut deep into the uplifted marine terrace. After exploring the passage for a considerable distance, it became obvious it would dead end up ahead, so I entered a […]
Sea Kayaking Na Pali Redux – Rolling With the Tao
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” -Lao Tzu, “Tao Te Ching” My experience on the Na Pali expedition was an exercise in how to roll when things don’t go as planned. I had misgivings as soon as I arrived on Kauai and discovered 26 people signed up for […]
Fitness for Kayakers – Back
Editor’s note: Thanks again so much to Barbara Kossy, our indefatigable model! You rock!!! Actually, these stretches are for the entire torso. As we know, torso rotation is super important for kayakers. Also, if you’re rolling or getting worked in white water, it’s very helpful to be strong and flexible in and around the spine […]
White Water Sea Kayaking With LiquidFusion
Editor’s note: Last October Tsunami Ranger Capt. Jim Kakuk suggested I take a white water class. To hear is to obey. I think he meant river, but it seemed auspicious to take White Water of the Sea I & II with LiquidFusion. This post is about that class. See also Take a Sea Kayaking Class and […]
Cold Water Safety – Golden Rule Number 5: Imagine the Worst That Can Happen and Plan for It
by Moulton Avery Editor’s note: Moulton Avery is founder and director of the National Center for Cold Water Safety. He started out paddling canoes in the early 70’s and transitioned to sea kayaking in 1984. His pioneering article Cold Shock appeared in the Spring 1991 issue of Sea Kayaker. “Risk assessment is a key safety […]
Sea Kayaking Na Pali – Tsunami Rangers in Paradise
by Tsunami Ranger Steve King After many months of planning and excited anticipation a group of 26 people from Norway, Australia, New Zealand, O’ahu, California and Serbia (by way of Australia) converged in Hanalei, Kauai to make final preparations for 6 nights and 7 days of kayaking and exploring the legendary Na Pali coast (no, not […]
The Rashomon Effect: Sea Kayaking Variables in Perception
“Rashomon” is a 1950 movie directed by Akira Kurosawa. It involves a rape and a murder allegedly committed by the bandit Tajomaru, played by Toshiro Mifune. There are four witnesses: the bandit, the wife, the samurai, and the woodcutter. Each witness has a different perception of events. Any cop will confirm this is often the case: everyone […]
The 8th Annual Reef Madness Extreme Sea Kayak Race July 2013
by Ed Anderson (Editor’s note: Ed Anderson has been addicted to kayaking since being introduced by Tsunami Ranger Michael Powers in 2004. In addition to working in executive protection, he is an avid kayak surfer, professional guide and instructor, and barbecue devotee.) The line of the swell was almost indistinguishable in the deeper water from […]