Editor’s note: This topic arose during one of our Tarp Talks on the Tsunami Retreat in November, 2019, and we’d like to share our thoughts on this very important subject. In the past, the Rangers have been vilified as a bunch of chest-beaters, careless, crazy, dangerous, whatever. Nothing could be further from the truth. For […]
The Log of the Sea of Cortez – Tsunami Ranger Baja Retreat 2019
Meet the Rangers – Captain Debrah Volturno!
Editor’s note: This is number three in our Meet the Rangers series. Now that Captain Jim Kakuk has become Vice Admiral Kuk and stepped back, Deb is our Captain although the Admiral reserves the right to have the last word. Also a big thank you to all the Rangers who took the time to write […]
Surf Sirens Shred 2019!
What a great weekend! Three days on the water with a great group of badass women. I love this event for many reasons. One, it takes place on one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen, Hobuck Beach on the Makah Reservation at the tip of the northwest corner of Washington State. Two, it attracts […]
Whitewater of Jefferson State With CWWC Part Two
Editor’s note: A special shout out to Tsunami Ranger Capt. Jim Kakuk who was kind enough to go with me to the lake and take pics of me practicing skills since I was so busy practicing them during the clinic I didn’t get the photos I wanted. Thanks, Captain!!! This is the second part of […]
Whitewater of Jefferson State – Part One
In an effort to improve my ocean whitewater skills last year I got into whitewater paddling on the Rogue River with the California Women’s Watersports Collective. I had so much fun and learned so much that this year I continued the whitewater adventure by signing up for two clinics with CWWC, one on the Rogue […]
Tsunami Surf Session at Pillar Point
It’s a wonderful life. On May 13 I drove down to TR John Lull’s house on the Northern California coast in El Granada. Hung out for a few hours catching up and then headed over to TR El Rey’s place in Moss Beach. Had a great salmon dinner courtesy El Rey with his family and […]
Meet the Rangers! – Commander/Shaman Michael Powers
Editor’s note: This post was written mostly by Cmdr. Michael Powers with additional text from Confessions of a Wave Warrior by Cmdr. Eric Soares and a little bit extra from Lt. JG Nancy Soares. Also edited by Michael’s wife, Nani Venegas. Photos provided by Capt. Deb Volturno, TRs Steve El Rey King and Michael Powers, […]
Boats on the Brain
by Jim Kakuk and Nancy Soares Nancy: It was a celebratory weekend. I drove down to Guerneville on Friday to help with the setup. Capt. Jim and his lovely gal Patti were having a party, and what a bash it was! Jim and Patti had recently returned from an epic trip to Oaxaca only to […]
Waves and Beaches by Willard Bascom – A Review
Editor’s note: We decided to resurrect this best-selling classic because it’s just so damn good! A comprehensive description of how waves and beaches behave under all kinds of conditions, Waves and Beaches explains why ships sink, how rogue waves can split giant tankers in two, how surfers can ride waves with skill and dexterity and […]
Meet the Rangers: Captain Jim Kakuk!
By Captain Jim Kakuk and Lt. JG Nancy Soares Editor’s note: This post is first in a series of upcoming Meet the Rangers posts. The numbers of the Rangers have fluctuated over the years as people move in and out of the team due to time passages and life changes but there are usually about […]
In Memoriam – Commander Eric Soares, 1 August 1954 – 1 February 2012
Editor’s note: Sometimes I wonder why I keep running a memorial piece for Eric every year. He’s been gone 7 years. I guess it’s because this was his blog. When he died his last request was that it continue, so I carried it on, and it seems right to acknowledge him periodically since without him […]
Alert! Help the Paddling Community Save Lives With the COLD WATER SAFETY FUNDRAISING DRIVE
By Moulton Avery Editor’s note: Moulton Avery is an expert on heat and cold stress. He gave his first public lecture on hypothermia in 1974. He was executive director of the Center for Environmental Physiology in Washington, DC for ten years, and is the founder and director of the National Center for Cold Water Safety. He […]














