California Coast sea kayaking

Meet the Rangers – Steven El Rey King!

Editor’s note: This post introduces Steven “El Rey” King, one of our most enthusiastic Rangers. Here is Steve telling the story of how he first met the Rangers. Thanks to Admiral of Vice Jim Kakuk, Capt. Deb Volturno, and Paula Renouf for their contributions!

Steve surfing at Microwave, Pillar Point

El Rey: I, like many of my fellow Rangers, found my way into the Tsunami Rangers tribe by being in the wake of Don Diego Cien Fuegos Eric Soares, and Admiral Jim Kakuk.

I met Don Diego in Half Moon Bay in the early 1990’s. Later when my wife Melinda and I moved to Moss Beach, he used to drop by on the way back from hot tubbing at the Youth Hostel (on his way home just about dinner time) and we would hail him and his partner in to share one of the delicious meals that Melinda had prepared. Jim Kakuk sold me a beautiful red prototype of a Tsunami X-0 kayak. I then moved around the corner to a home above the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and would watch Eric, Jim and other Rangers frolicking among the rocks and waves off the bluffs by my house. I wanted in.

I had spent time paddling canoes on whitewater in Ozarks, Maine; West Virginia; and small rivers in the Amazon among other places; sailed a 36′ sloop across the Atlantic with three other people years before; and had also been a captain of a Maine lobster style boat for a person who owned a home on an island in Frenchmen Bay, Maine for several summers in college. I liked being on the water.

So Eric and Jim invited me to join them and some other Rangers to paddle my X-0 on a fairly big day at Mushroom Rock outside of Princeton Harbor. I was in over my head, got creamed a few times trying to ride waves that were way out of my skill set and I was hooked.

Steve surfs the Mushroom in his Tsunami X-15

Melinda and I had the good fortune to become friends with Don Diego over the years. I had watched the annual Reef Madness Race from the rocks on shore and it was time to jump in. I wrote a letter to Don Diego sharing my water experience and told him I wanted to become a Tsunami Ranger if they would give me a shot. I had to paddle in Reef Madness as part of my “qualifications” and nobody told me paddling an X-0, a boat without a rudder, was probably not a smart idea but I had a plan. In the end I came in 31st out of 32 paddlers and when I sent the race stats to my father who was a lifelong competitive runner and pole vaulter into his 80’s he said, “I can’t believe you beat that other guy”. Fast forward a number of years after becoming a Ranger with my Tsunami brother Compadre Scott Becklund, I paddled a Tsunami double with Scott and we came in first place. It is true that Honorary Ranger Kenny Howell and Ranger Dandy Don Kiesling, who usually won that race by up to 45 minutes or more, were in San Francisco Bay at another race that day but showing up is what counts!

I have to say I deeply respect and love the X-15, X-0 and all the boats that Admiral Kakuk designs and builds. After multi-day retreats like the one on the Sea of Cortez in November I feel a deep connection to and gratitude for these kayaks!

In my day job as an ethnobotanist I have spent the last 30 years researching and working on the development of new drug based on field research with traditional healers, men and women in the tropical forest regions of Latin America, Africa, and South East Asia. Working with medical doctors I and other ethnobotanists had the great privilege to learn about plant medicine used to treat a variety of medical conditions. I helped start Shaman Pharmaceuticals and after a long and winding road (with a few companies formed) we did manage to get the first FDA approval for an oral drug called Mytesi which treats diarrhea that is associated with HIV/AIDS. We have also produced non-pharma products for humans and animals. The past 10 years I have been working with local people and communities in the Peruvian rain forest on the sustainable harvest and reforestation of the Croton lechleri tree from which our current company, Jaguar Health, extracts and purifies the active compound in the drug Mytesi called crofelemer.

Capt. Deb congratulates El Rey at his promotion to Lt. Commander – Sea of Cortez

Admiral Kuk: Thrashing about in the surf and rocks along the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach sometime during the mid 90’s, Eric and I met Steve King who was observing us in the surf. Steve became curious and was interested in joining us in our dance with the waves and rocks. Steve and Eric both lived next to the Reserve and Eric introduced Steve to the sport and the rest of the Rangers and the story continues.

Steve did not have a kayaking background and as I recall it took some time for him to acquire the skills of handling his boat. He stuck with it and over the years has become confident and proficient. Steve is now an integral part of the team and holds the respectable rank of Lt. Commander.

El Rey the Abalone Hunter - all the abs you can eat... — El Rey the Abalone Hunter – all the abs you can eat… Mendo coast

The Rangers are more than a kayaking team and we share a mutual love of the ocean and the natural environment. Steve is the perfect example of that. Abalone diving with Scott Becklund and myself, the three of us were always going into the wild blue yonder in search of the gastropods along the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts. Diving out of our kayaks in remote areas we found the best places to pluck the tasty snails, back when we could still harvest them.

El Rey, as he is called by the Rangers, has become an important part of the natural order of the tribe. Steve is thoughtful, considerate, smart and funny. Behavioral contagion is the influence one has on a group of people and El Rey is a good example of that.

Oh, and he likes tequila, good tequila.

Steve and Eric mixing it up in Big Sur 2010

Lt. JG Nancy: Eric introduced me to El Rey in autumn of ’95. Steve and his wife Melinda were in Moss Beach, where they still live on the edge of the continent overlooking Sniveler’s Row where many of the Rangers’ adventures took place back in the day.

I immediately liked Steve and Melinda. They’re both super smart, well-read, interesting people. I also learned to love their home, where I’ve always been welcome both before and after Eric died, especially the hot tub where you can soak in the protection of the secluded back yard and listen to the waves beat against the shore just a few yards away. Peaceful, if you know what I mean.

He's so chill! Steve and Jim on retreat in 2006 — He’s so chill! Steve and Jim on retreat in 2006

That brings me to how I feel about Steve. He’s had a very full life, and not always easy, but when I’m around him I have a sense of peace, of home, that I cherish. Very few people make me feel that way. The Rangers are among the few who do, and it’s no wonder that Eric and Jim made Steve a Ranger. He fits in so well.

Steve and Scott Becklund took a tandem test in 2007 — El Rey and Scott Becklund took a tandem test in 2007

Words that describe El Rey: compassionate, enthusiastic, positive, intelligent, curious, dedicated, competent, honorable. His kindness and loyalty know no bounds. He gives unselfishly to his family, his friends, and his work. As busy as he is flying around the world researching indigenous plants and their uses, he still carves out time to hang with the Rangers, host our parties, and go on retreats. I know it was difficult for him to get out of his responsibilities so he could go on retreat to Baja in November last year (it was a 3-week endeavor right before Thanksgiving) but he was an indispensable member of our group and contributed hugely to the experience.

Another thing I’d like to say about Steve: he can go anywhere and do anything and handle it. Maybe that’s partly the result of his global travels, where he’s had plenty of Interesting Experiences, but when we’re out and about nothing ever seems to rattle him… much. Maybe getting chomped by a whale that one time, but even then he just popped a beer and kept on paddling.

Positive vibes - El Rey in San Francisco Bay 2008 — Positive vibes – El Rey in San Francisco Bay 2008

Although he’s never to my knowledge had a conventional introduction to kayaking (like many of us, he just got in a boat and went for it) he’s a very strong paddler. I admire his sang froid. Actually, it’s not really cold blood, it’s more of a casualness, a relaxed approach of hey, no big deal that I strive to emulate. I’m pretty good under stress, but if I don’t have enough to eat or to sleep or it’s just been one damn thing after another for a long period of time I start feeling stretched a bit too thin and it comes out in various ways. El Rey always has an easy, relaxed vibe that reminds me to calm down. Somewhere along the line we started calling him El Rey, the King, and it fits. There is a nobility about him that is truly admirable. I consider him one of my staunchest friends. Love you, Tsunami Brother!

Steve and a key hole on retreat in Big Sur 2008

Paula: Oh what to say about dear Steve! A gem of kindness, those twinkly eyes, so even keeled, generous .. a delight on and off the water!

Did we mention how good he is with a knife?

Another Tsunami Introduction in the bag. We hope you enjoyed our post on our honored and beloved Steven El Rey King. If you have questions or comments, please let us know by clicking below. We love to hear from you!

Meet the Rangers – Captain Debrah Volturno!

Deb on retreat on the wild Northern California coast 2015

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 their contributions to this story!

There’s a lot to say about Deb. In fact, we could write a book about her kayaking life. Maybe one day we will. But for the purposes of this post we can’t do better than quote from Eric’s book Confessions of a Wave Warrior:

“Debrah, a high school science and math teacher, formerly a geologist, is a kayak surfing champion and ACA Instructor Trainer who also teaches kayak classes and leads sea kayak expeditions. Deb took her Tsunami Ranger officer test at Pillar Point in 1996 and was awarded the rank of lieutenant. Her test is featured in The Tsunami Rangers’ Greatest Hits video…

“Volturno has paddled extensively in Alaska, the west coast of the U.S. and Canada, in Baja Mexico, Italy, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Recently she helped start a kayak club in Port Angeles, Washington, and helped develop the Hobuck Hoedown Pacific North Coast Surf Kayak Festival, now a nationally-sanctioned surf competition.”

This quote was written in 2010 and Deb has done a lot more since then. For one thing, she’s been promoted in the ranks of the Tsunami Rangers until she is now our fearless leader, and we were unanimously happy to welcome her as Captain on our annual retreat last year. If you’d like to see her TR officer test, check it out on our Greatest Hits video. It’s worth a watch.

I’m going to let the Rangers themselves tell her story. Vice Admiral Kuk goes first:

Vice Admiral Jim Kakuk: Deb Volturno joined the Tsunami Rangers in 1996, 23 years ago. She was introduced to Eric and me by John Lull through the Half Moon Bay paddling community. Kayaking along the exposed and dynamic San Mateo coast, Deb was a natural. Surfing the break at Pillar Point or dancing through the rock gardens along Sniveler’s Row, Eric and I were impressed and could see that she was a very skilled paddler; smooth and seamless in all conditions.

Cathedral Cave: Deb in God Rays. Smooth in all conditions, with TR John Lull on retreat in Oregon.

She has good balance and is nimble and quick with great awareness and good decision making. Easygoing and a natural in the water, Deb is the ideal paddling companion. Most important she is easy to be with and lots of fun on the waves or in the white water clapotis zone. Deb is also an expert wilderness camper and cook, and as a bonus she likes tequila, really good tequila! Blending well with the small team of Rangers we had back then, we all liked her and agreed to invite her to join us, and fortunately for us, she accepted.

Deb and the gang on retreat at Thunder Cove

CAPTAIN TORTUGA

The Tsunami Rangers are a team of kayakers and each of us has a position or rank that makes the team work. Primarily, we are friends and a sea tribe family, a close knit gang sharing a mutual love of ocean adventuring in paddle craft.

Deb exploring caves with the team on retreat 2014 — Deb on retreat exploring caves with the team in 2014

Rank explained: The Tsunami Rangers use the standard naval ranking system and apply it to our positions on the water for decision making. Rank is awarded by skill and how a person fits with the team. Basic levels are: Lieutenant – a skilled paddler who can take care of themselves in most conditions. Commander – mission leader, does recon, leads missions and explorations. Captain – in charge of the team, makes decisions on overall actions. Admiral – retired and only here to give advice… or just vice.

Deb presents newly-minted Admiral/Shaman Michael Powers with his official prayer stick, retreat 2018

On our annual retreats we award rank and it is usually a big fun party. Deb’s was always a good one as she rose up through the ranks quickly. My favorite was when she made Commander at Cape Flattery. It was an amazing week of rock gardening in Mordor, entering the dark realm of interlacing caves and delving deep into the nether realms below the menacing ragged cliffs, while above us the gargoyles looked down with sharp eyes. The raucous party around the fire went late into the mystic night. Oh, and there was tequila. Lots of tequila.

Speaking of vice... Deb with TRs Jeff Laxier and Steve El Rey King. And of course, tequila. — Speaking of vice… Deb with TRs Jeff Laxier and Steve El Rey King. And of course, tequila.

Some more highlights from my log with Captain Tortuga: in 2008 surfing through the caves on Tatoosh Island in the straights of San Juan De Fuca, crisscrossing each other as the waves came from both directions. All this while dodging pillars of basalt that hung from the ceiling and plunged down into the green water inside the tunnels.

Deb at Tokomaru Bay, NZ 2014 — Deb having a quiet moment at Tokomaru Bay, NZ 2014

And in New Zealand on our first trip in 2008, under a pohutukawa tree in a crowded tepee tent with Mark Hutson telling stories in the pitch dark night while the driving rain from the tail end of a typhoon raged outside. Oh, and there was rum. Or, on our many adventures in dramatic conditions along the ragged headlands of our own Mendocino “Rivendell” with the rat pack of unusual suspects.

Captain Tortuga has continued to build connections throughout the international sea kayaking community. With her writing, symposium presentations and on water instruction, Deb has expanded the depth and range of the Tsunami Rangers. The future of our sea tribe will depend on how well we evolve as a team with Captain Tortuga being the next generation. I am sure she will keep the team on the right paddling path.

Capt. Kuk passes the cutlass - Deb on her promotion to Captain. — Capt. Kuk passes the cutlass – Deb on her promotion to Captain.

Commander John Lull: I first started paddling with Debrah Volturno back in the early ‘90s when she and I ran the California Canoe & Kayak outpost in Half Moon Bay. We conducted countless American Canoe Association Instructor Training & Certification Workshops out on the open coast and on San Francisco Bay. Deb’s kayaking and teaching skills are top notch as she demonstrated during these workshops in surf and rough water on the coast and in strong tide rips on the Bay and at the Golden Gate. Her sense of adventure and sheer joy on the water is always on display. She is a fearless paddler, but not reckless. It soon became apparent that she would be a perfect candidate for the Tsunami Rangers, especially after numerous kayak surfing sessions out at Pillar Point with Eric Soares and me. And no, Michael, not at Maverick’s, but at the wraparound break near “Mushroom Rock,” a short ways inside Maverick’s. It’s not a 40-50 foot, crushing wall of water like Maverick’s, but can easily reach 10 feet at times! Eric and I both agreed that Deb was Tsunami Ranger material, so we scheduled her Tsunami Officer test to be held in the ocean rock gardens at Pillar Point and Ross’s Cove.

Deb with TRs John Lull, Eric Soares, and pals — Deb with TRs John Lull, Eric Soares, Jeff Laxier, and some pals

Deb aced the test of course, showing off her kayaking skills and ability to judge the waves and handle whitewater surge in the rocks. One highlight of the test was the feast she served us for lunch on the beach at Ross’s Cove. I recall a large white tablecloth spread out on the sand, loaded with goodies. The only thing missing was the silver cutlery. Luckily the test was mostly completed because we all gorged ourselves. This was in stark contrast to the Spartan lunch of canned anchovies on crackers that I served Eric and Jim during my test at Dreamer’s Island on the Oregon coast many years ago. They were not impressed; my excuse was the fact that we were on a kayak camping excursion and I travel light. All that aside, after her test Deb has joined us on many Tsunami Ranger excursions, played an important role in the instructional Kayaking Ocean Rock Gardens video Eric and I produced some years back, and has been a great paddling companion.

Always upbeat! Our Captain... — Always upbeat! Our Captain…

Lt. JG Nancy Soares: I’ve known Capt. Deb since she took her Tsunami Ranger test in 1996. TR John Lull was her sponsor and she did him proud. I didn’t paddle much with her back in the day and then she moved north to Port Angeles, but she’s always stayed connected to the team and to my life. As far as I know she’s gone on every retreat with the team since her induction and she represented the Rangers at the Coastbusters Sea Kayak Symposium and International Kayak Workshop in New Zealand in 2008 along with Capt. Jim. She also led the first Tsunami retreat to Cape Flattery and was promoted to Commander on that trip.

Deb with her trusty Coaster on the beach in the PNW

Now that Eric is gone and I am a Tsunami Ranger I have more contact with Capt. Deb. One of the things that brings us together is the Surf Sirens kayak clinic which is held every year on the third weekend of September at Hobuck Beach. Deb and some instructor pals started this event in 2016 and it’s hot! Three days on the water, with a rock garden adventure on Friday, formal surf instruction on Saturday, and free play day in the surf on Sunday. I’ve attended the last three years and it’s been a great experience every time. Capt. Deb suggested I lead the Blessing to the Sea to start the official day of instruction as well as help out with drills and I obeyed. Oh so gently she forces me to participate and overcome my inherent laziness and in the process plays to my strengths and helps me develop my skills.

Knives on the beach! Deb on retreat with the Rangers, 2016

There is so much to admire about Deb. She is pure, noble, and true. She is compassionate, inclusive, and humble. Her kindness knows no bounds. She encourages me to expand my kayaking horizon, improve as a paddler, and travel. By signing me up to lead the Blessing at Surf Sirens and to lead a “movement drill” from my knife fighting skills each year, she A. included me in the event, B. drew on my skills outside kayaking, and C. forced me to step up and drive the two days to Hobuck and perform. As I say to myself, “There she goes making me do stuff again!”

Pull that rope! Deb ropes me in, literally, for a backpaddling drill in surf at Surf Sirens — Pull that rope! Deb, seated on the back deck, literally ropes me in for a backpaddling drill at Surf Sirens 2018

This is the sign of a true leader. Those gentle nudges, like skilled paddle strokes that look like nothing but have a powerful effect, move me outside my comfort zone and make me stronger and better as a paddler and a person, and I’m grateful. Because of Deb and Surf Sirens I decided to check out whitewater kayaking the last couple of years, thus bumping up my skills and introducing me to the people at Cali Collective in Northern California and Sundance here in Oregon. And I rolled my first kayak. So yeah, Deb’s been a great influence on me. I owe her a lot.

Deb and new Ranger Cate Hawthorne after Cate's test — Deb and new Ranger Cate Hawthorne after Cate’s test

Lt. Commander Jeff Laxier: Deb and I first met at a kayak event up near her home in Washington. I thought, “WOW what a ball of positive energy!” It wasn’t until years later that we put on the water together. This was an instructional event and the tribe was on stage. Here Deb’s leadership, organization, and ease of encouraging students to push their limits was exposed. She excels in boat control and her ability to read the water knows no boundaries. Now when it comes to laying out camp, wow this lady has got some skills. As we live our lives in harmony with nature Deb works hard but Easy, Efficient, Effective, and Encouraging as a community leader.

Lieutenant Steve El Rey King: Captain Deb Tortuga Volturno is a gift from Ocean goddess and gods to all of us who have the pleasure to paddle with her. Deb has an amazing infectious enthusiasm for life, the sea, exploration, nature and fine sipping tequila! It is wonderful to paddle with her, to witness the skill, ease, fluidity, agility and mastery of her paddling. She is a patient and excellent teacher who I always learn from anytime I have the joy to be on the water with her. In fact Capt. Tortuga is an extraordinary teacher and mentor to many, many people around the world. She continues to cultivate and certify highly skilled kayak instructors to help expand the number of people who can, like herself, teach other people to wander safely in the rocks, waves, sunsets and currents of the water planet. She is also a very skilled and enthusiastic knife and hatchet thrower, hitting her mark frequently.

Deb and her lovely partner Paula, Tsunami Ranger and champion knife and hatchet thrower — Deb and her lovely partner Paula, Tsunami Ranger and also champion knife and hatchet thrower

Deb shares her awe and love of marine mammals, fish, birds, and creatures large and small like a wide-eyed child who has only recently been introduced to these magical marine inhabitants but in fact she has been paddling with and among them for decades. It always so wonderful to be exploring the Ocean with her and I am grateful for each opportunity to be with her on retreats or anywhere on the sea. Deb is an Ocean warrior and goddess of kayaking; she is a core element of the Tsunami Rangers and we would not be who we are without her joi de vivre. Gracias a Deb for being who she is!

Deb and the blowhole: balance and flexibility

Lt. JG Nancy Soares: Well, folks, that’s it for our paean to our courageous Captain Deb Volturno. You can clearly see how much we all love and admire her. Stay tuned for our next Meet the Rangers post coming in 2020.

Questions? Comments? Want to know more about Deb, Surf Sirens, or the Hobuck Hoedown? Let us know by clicking below!

Tsunami Surf Session at Pillar Point

Rangers on a wave - Lull drops in — Rangers on a wave – Lull drops in

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 Capt. Kakuk and his lovely gal Patti. Super fun!

Could get sporty! Capt. Kuk and Commander Powers ride the swell.

We had a Plan: meet at 10:00 the next day (early for the Rangers but we’ll miss the wind) to catch the surf at Pillar Point, or Microwave as we used to call it because of the old radar scope. The microwave tower is gone and in its place is a large golf ball-like object. Regardless, the lagoon, the point, the reef, and Mushroom Rock are still there offering us kayakers an ideal playground.

As you get older you start getting your shit together and so amazingly, when John Lull and I pulled up to the put in at Princeton Jim and Patti were already there with El Rey and TR Commander Michael Powers as well as TR John Dixon, boat designer extraordinaire.

Design consult with Dixon. *Photo credit – Steve King*

These days Dixon does mostly downwind surf ski paddling in between doing mysterious things with lasers and 3D printers for his work, but he was down to check out the new X-Caliber aka the X-C recently designed by Jim. Dixon surfed the X-C on some small waves that were coming in to the beach and then Lull and I took off for the point. We portaged over the berm and launched.

As per our buddy Paul McHugh’s rehash on FB the next day, the conditions were as follows: 4′ at 19 seconds predicted, 4′ at 15 seconds recorded as main swell on the Monterey buoy. The tide was dropping and as Paul wrote the swell was developing two and sometimes three peaks. Certainly not coming in with machine-like precision, but then it rarely does in my experience out there. It was a great day anyway.

Pretty soon there were five of us messing around in the active surf. Everyone caught some nice waves, so a good time was had by all. Our buddy Paul McHugh went outside on his surf ski for the walls, and Honorary Ranger Kenny Howell blew by in his surf ski on his way to parts unknown, so there were lots of us out there and a feeling of hail-fellow-well-met was in the air. There were also about five paddleboarders with those Laird Hamilton foils out surfing by Mushroom Rock. Even Jeff Clark showed up to take a few rides. Check out the photo above. See the guy standing up on the outside? It was really weird to see those guys so high above the water. One of them got a really long ride and came way inside. He was pumping that board like a skateboard to eke every bit out of his wave.

80 years old and still paddling fit to kill — Commander Powers – 78 years old and still paddling fit to kill

My first ride was a really good one, but I wanted to take some photos so I set up where I could observe without getting in the way. But managing boat, paddle, and camera together in the chaotic conditions was too hard so I beached the Princess and waded out to about chest high in the surf to see if I could capture some shots. It was actually super fun trying to keep my balance on the reef with one hand held high to keep the camera dry (as if! and yes, it’s waterproof) and not get tumbled in the pummeling surf. With the help of the kelp wrapping around my ankles in the surge I could anchor myself pretty well, but the next day I felt like I’d done two hours of low tai chi stances, or about 500 squats.

While I was taking face enemas and getting pushed around by waves, the guys were catching some pretty good rides inside. After a couple of hours the tide ebbed and the waves flattened so we packed up and paddled back along the jetty and across the harbor to the take out. As we made the turn by the foghorn we saw three seal pups high up above the tide line, waiting for their moms to return. The wind never manifested as it usually does in the afternoon and we paddled leisurely back to the take out. A perfect day!

In my happy place. Seal pups too. *Photo credit – Steve King*

We’ve all been to Microwave a million times but the Point never disappoints. I’ve paddled there in every condition imaginable and there’s always something to do. This day, however, was a highlight. Having so many buddies out on the water together was totally cool. Everyone got good rides and the weather could not have been better. We’ll be back!

Questions? Comments? Get hold of us by clicking below.

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, and TR pals Paul McHugh, Bob Stender, and Will Nordby, plus a few from the archives. A true team effort! Thanks everyone for contributing to this post!

Michael rockin' the reef on retreat with the Rangers. hoto by TR Capt. Deb Volturno — Michael rockin’ the reef on retreat with the Rangers in 2017. Photo by TR Capt. Deb Volturno

Eric Soares: Michael Powers was raised near the lakes and rivers of wild Idaho during the 1940s. As an adult he eventually made his way to Half Moon Bay, California, where he hand built a Viking-style house on Miramar Beach, which serves today as Tsunami Ranger headquarters. From Confessions of a Wave Warrior.

Michael's hand built home — Michael’s hand built home. Photo by Will Nordby

True stories and lessons learned from 30 years of paddling with the Tsunami Rangers

Michael Powers: “The ocean is like a cathedral, a place of worship!” Eric Soares, a commander in the Tsunami Rangers, an “extreme conditions” sea kayaking team – was expounding from his favorite pulpit, the cockpit of a sleek Tsunami X-1 Rocket Boat.

Michael and his buddy Jon Wittenberg on retreat in Mendocino. Photo by Steve King

Right on cue, a squadron of brown pelicans sailed down through a turquoise sky above Mavericks Reef, a few miles south of San Francisco. They leveled off inches above the water and began surfing the invisible air currents generated by the powerful swells. A pair of California sea lions burst suddenly to the surface at the top of a wave and surfed effortlessly down twenty feet of cascading water. They were the masters here, and we were the students. Even Soares seemed temporarily humbled.

Michael riding the waves at Pillar Point. Photo by Steve King

A palpable, unspoken tribalism has always prevailed among the Rangers, empowering us to greater heights of bravado and derring do than any of us would ever dream of attempting alone. Together we have paddled out into storm surf conditions with giant waves breaking over rocks, shrieking winds whipping the sea into a witch’s cauldron, probing through dense fog along wild and unknown coasts seeking a hidden beach or protected cove where we could find refuge – all things that would be overwhelmingly scary if faced alone. After all, we always thought… if one of us capsizes and our kayak is swept away by the wind, if we became exhausted or otherwise got into serious trouble… the other Rangers would always be there to help us out… right?

Foraging for food on the exposed coast. Photo by Steve King

This underlying sense of security is further enhanced by the Ranger’s system of assigning rank to each member of the team. There are humble entry-level interns and somewhat more experienced lieutenants, lieutenant commanders and commanders like myself and Eric Soares, as well as one admiral (Jim Kakuk, a co-founder of the Rangers, and so far our longest-surviving member).

Cmdr. Powers, flanked by Cmdr. Soares and Capt. Kuk. Photo by Steve King

As the years passed it became increasingly apparent that the Rangers and their cohorts… were not immortal. Oddly enough, however, none of us died while actually kayaking. Legendary Steve Sinclair, a barrel-chested giant and the leader of a rival group of storm surf paddlers known as Force Ten, collapsed and died while running around a schoolyard track with his young son. Wild, courageous young Misha Dynnikov, who came from Russia and brought bold new blood to the Rangers, was the next to go – he vanished without a trace while free diving alone off the big island of Hawaii. Then Eric Soares, one of the original founding partners of the Tsunami Rangers and an amazing waterman in his own right… ultimately responded to Neptune’s irresistible siren call.

One wild winter day while paddling down a rugged, exposed stretch of the California coast with the Rangers, I surf-landed my kayak on an exposed sea reef, disembarked from my boat and stepped away with a video camera to record the other Rangers surfing the big waves that surrounded my vantage point. Seconds later, a giant wave swept over the reef and washed my kayak away into the wind-swept open sea. Eric, a champion swimmer in his high school days who ever since has relished swimming in storm surf and breaking waves, quickly assessed the situation from his position out in the surf zone. He powered through the breaking waves to overtake my fast escaping kayak, without hesitation abandoned his own craft – and grasping the bow of my kayak in one hand, swam all the way back to the reef where I stood helpless and waiting anxiously. It was a truly astounding athletic accomplishment to witness.

The photojournalist with his camera. By Steve King

A couple years later on a multi-day expedition further north along the spectacular Mendocino coast, we once again found ourselves surrounded by big surf and strong winds. Sea conditions were truly crazy, even for the Rangers – we tumbled end over end through breaking waves and rocks, boats got damaged, and my waterproof camera got swept away when I capsized. Yet we laughed and celebrated, for this is what we loved to do.

One of Michael's many captioned photos. By Paul McHugh — One of Michael’s many captioned photos. By Paul McHugh

Only after returning home to his home in El Granada on the Northern California coast did Eric complain to his wife Nancy that he felt something was wrong with his body. The doctors at the local Medical Center became alarmed and immediately had him ambulanced to Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. The specialists there found Eric’s aorta was hemorrhaging badly and performed emergency surgery that saved his life.

This photo of Eric was dubbed the "Hand of God" — This photo of Eric by Will Nordby was dubbed the “Hand of God”

When the other Rangers heard the news, they were grateful that Eric had survived the aquatic carnage we had all just endured. Then we shuddered to think that if Eric had expired when we were still out there bashing around on the Mendocino coast… we would have faced the grim task of towing our dead companion back to civilization, strapped down on his beloved Tsunami X-15 kayak. But much to everyone’s joy and amazement, Eric recovered and went on to paddle on many Tsunami adventures again, even competing in our annual experts-only “extreme conditions” sea kayak races.

Michael and his lovely wife Nani at the Sea Gypsy race in 2011. Photo by Bob Stender

Ultimately, Eric was blessed with a true warrior’s death. Following his annual ski trip to the mountains with Nancy, he was air-lifted from Oregon to Stanford Hospital. Yet being the high-spirited athlete that Eric always was, after a short time he appeared so strong to the doctors at Stanford that they transferred him out of intensive care. It was there in a regular hospital room while returning messages on his laptop that he died suddenly. The last transmission Eric reportedly sent out to someone read: “I’m upbeat!”

The logo of the Tsunami Rangers: trident and paddle, also known as the Fork and Spoon

If there is a secret to the Ranger’s power and vitality, perhaps it can be symbolized by Neptune’s trident, long a favorite icon of the Rangers that has appeared over the years on their race t-shirts and painted on the bows of their hand-crafted expedition kayaks. One point of the trident spear could be said to represent COMMUNITY, as tribalism has always been central to the Tsunami philosophy. A second might be PURPOSE, so closely allied to the warrior credo of the Rangers. A final essential element is GRATITUDE (which might surprise those who think of the Rangers as pagan, and somewhat irreverent in their high-testosterone approach to paddling and to life in general). Yet before launching on every expedition the Rangers always gather at the edge of the sea in solemn acknowledgement of its power and seek permission from that invisible Force they perceive so powerfully confronting them there.

Michael performing a blessing with his newly acquired prayer stick after being promoted to Shaman of the Rangers. Photo by Steve King

So the next time you go out paddling with your friends, heed the Tsunami Ranger’s advice and try working more closely together as a team. You too may discover something very ancient and primal awakening within yourself.

Oh that enthusiasm! Oh that love for life! Photo by Steve King

Nancy Soares: Michael is the elder statesman of the Rangers. At our last retreat we officially promoted him to Shaman. Michael is one of the most enthusiastic Rangers and is always up for anything. At 78 years old, he’s still tearing it up on the water and in life in general. Here’s what Eric said about his first encounter with Michael: “I was immediately impressed by his physical vigor and old-world attitude toward life. No doubt he was one of Beowulf’s fellow sea warriors in a past life.”

Some of Michael's amazing rock sculptures at his Viking compound — Some of Michael’s amazing rock sculptures at his Viking compound

Michael has been instrumental in helping the Rangers go public. He got us the film gig with National Geographic and landed a book contract for himself and Eric which resulted in Extreme Sea Kayaking. He has taken thousands of photos and videos of the Rangers over the years. He is a genius at carpentry and also creates beautiful rock sculptures which he sells and which adorn his Viking stronghold where he also runs the Miramar Beach Kayak Club.

His primary occupation is as an adventure photojournalist and he has traveled to Norway, New Guinea, Chile, Patagonia, Easter Island, Peru, Nepal, and Antarctica among other far away places. In 2009 at 69 years old he trekked near Everest at 18,000 feet. Michael really gets around!

Michael’s adventurous life continues as in September 2019, Tsunami Ranger officers Michael Powers, Tim Sullivan and Steven King will join an expedition bound for the remote Altai Mountains in western Mongolia to visit the indigenous Kazakh tribespeople, there to document their centuries-old practice of hunting on horseback with trained eagles.

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Boats on the Brain

by Tsunami Captain Jim Kakuk and Lt. JG Nancy Soares

Capt. Kuk in the first working model of the X-C

Lt. JG 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 find the Russian River in flood phase. Although their home is on high ground and consequently unscathed the floodwaters made it impossible for them to get to the house and they had to stay one night with friends before taking the back roads in. Once reunited with their dwelling, they decided what was needed was a PAR-TAY! So in true Tsunami/Sonoma County fashion, they put together a Zapotec party, the Zapotecs being a major local Oaxacan tribe. Mezcal, the smoky Oaxacan answer to tequila, mole, two kinds of flan, tres leche, chile rellenos stuffed with chicken… it was fantastic.

But wait, there’s more! Capt. Jim has had a new kayak in the works for some time, and the pieces were coming together. The day after the party the plan was to take the new boat out on an inaugural paddle on Bodega Bay. The weather gods cooperated and it was a beautiful day. Having learned some self-restraint over the years, we weren’t too hung over and the water was flat as a board, so it was perfect. We hit Doran Beach before lunch and paddled out around the jetty to some little rock gardens below the bluffs.

Capt. Kuk: The spirit in the boat comes from the passion of the builder.

Small boat building predates written history. It is our connection to the sea and is an extension of the human experience. It also allows you to get to the best places on the water planet and is the purveyor of many adventures. A small boat can take you and your stuff to far away places. There are plenty of quotes about boats and the sea in literature and song. My favorite is “flotation is groovy” by Jimi Hendrix.

In the Berkeley shop in 1986 with the early X-1

A boat builder is a multi-dimensional artist. From the aboriginal carving a dugout canoe to the traditional Greenland skin on frame, not much has changed even with computer-aided design and fiberglass-reinforced plastics. Designs keep evolving but small boats are still mostly done by hand and trued with the eye. Like chefs discussing a fine dinner menu I never get tired of talking about the subtleties of boat design. Some of the people I have worked with and learned from include Tsunami Rangers Glenn Gilchrist, John Dixon and Don Kiesling.

Eric, Glenn and Jim: the original X-1 in 1985

My first flotation experience was an inner tube “groove’n down the river”. My first boat building experience was a wood frame covered with thin plywood when I was in grade school. Since then I have spent about ten thousand hours (I am guessing) on shaping river and sea kayaks, way more time than I have spent paddling them. On a beautiful spring day the perfect place for me is in the shop tooling out a new boat design, shaping and molding curves that will meet the water with the least resistance, in the end producing something that is functional and pleasing to the eye and touch is very satisfying.

One of Michael Powers' shots for the Extreme Sea Kayaking book: Jim on top, Eric in the middle and Misha — One of Michael Powers’ shots for the Extreme Sea Kayaking book: Jim on top, Eric in the middle and Misha: two X-15’s and an X-O

The hull displaces water by weight, the deck is effected by wind and waves, and ergonomics is the interaction with the paddler who also provides the horsepower. In my building experience I have had more failures than success. It takes at least three times to get it right and then more changes.The only limit to perfection is time.

Saluting the sea - on the Oregon coast, late 90's — Saluting the sea – on the Oregon coast, late 90’s: a rainbow of kayaks

My last quote is a perversion of a line from the Freak Brothers: “Designing boats will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of not designing boats”.

Eric mixing it up at Sniveler's in an X-O — Eric mixing it up at Sniveler’s in an X-O

Nancy: We’re calling the new boat the X-Caliber. It’s a great Tsunami name, calling up the legend of King Arthur and Merlin (we’re all about myths and legends) and continuing the tradition of naming the boats after legendary aircraft but also suggesting a certain quality, or caliber of performance. The lineage for Capt. Jim’s Tsunami boats is as follows: X-1, X-15, X-2, X-O Crossover, X-3 Trident and now the X-C aka X-Caliber.

The X-15 is the boat most of the Rangers paddle on a regular basis, although we all mess around with other types of kayaks. The X-15 is a great all-around kayak: suitable for surfing and rock gardens but with enough space and speed for expeditions. I have an X-15, an X-O, and an X-3. The X-O is a little rock garden kayak that turns on a dime and is quite fast as little boats go. The X-3 is a design that could include 3 cockpits for 3 paddlers but mine is for two paddlers with space to load gear on top as well as inside for long expeditions. I’m proud to say that I’ve actually surfed the X-3 successfully and done some nice surf landings with it as well. The X-3 Trident was the boat I paddled in the Sea Gypsy Extreme Sea Kayak Race with a buddy. One of the coolest things about the X-3 is that you can pierce through a truly massive wave if necessary as long as you’ve got up speed.

Coming in to Doran Beach after an easy day

The X-C is an ocean white water kayak. Capt. Jim built this model as a follow up to the X-15. It is both narrower and faster. Welcome to the Water World, little X-C!

Please note that all the earlier models are no longer built. Only the X-C is currently available for a limited time. For questions or comments, please click below. Thanks for reading about our boats!