Everything changes, and to both survive and thrive, adaptation is imperative. In 2020, Covid 19 brought changes to the Tsunami Rangers, not least in that for the first time in over 30 years, we didn’t hold our annual retreat. That was a bummer, but we adapted. In 2021 a fully vaccinated Ranger crew met in […]
California Coast sea kayaking
Meet the Rangers! – Jeff Laxier
Editor’s note: This is the next in our Meet the Rangers series. Enjoy! And thanks to all the Rangers who contributed photos to this post. Vice Admiral Jim Kakuk: Jeff is a blend of kayaker, explorer, teacher and great camping companion. A natural in his kayak and a good diver and fisherman, you can count on Jeff […]
A Sea Gypsy Extreme Sea Kayak Race Retrospective
Editor’s note: For 30 years the Tsunami Rangers hosted an Extreme Sea Kayak race every spring. The first race was held at Rodeo Beach near San Francisco, California but the event eventually ended up with a permanent home at Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay. A great big shout out to our friends who took […]
Caves Are People Too
by TR Steve “El Rey” King Editor’s note: This post is a lyrical tribute to sea caves. Included are many photos of sea caves we have known over the years. Each cave has its own personality. We hope you enjoy this post as much as we’ve enjoyed meeting our friends, the caves. Many Tsunami journeys […]
Meet the Rangers! – Cate Hawthorne
Editor’s Note: Thanks so much to all the Rangers who participated in writing this post. Another team effort in the bag! Happy New Year, everyone! Lt. JG Nancy Soares: For years there were no women Rangers. Then John Lull sponsored Deb Volturno, who took her test in 1996. For a long time after that, no […]
Salute the Sea! Propitiating the Ocean for Enhanced Sea Kayaking
Sailors are notoriously superstitious. Just as there are no atheists in the trenches of war, there are no atheists in the storm troughs of the sea. Something about the ocean, its vastness, its depths, its many unknowns, cues an ancient, ancestral response in the human breast. In a way, when we launch our boats it’s […]
September Love – A Tsunami Retreat Retrospective
Editor’s note: Thanks to Michael Powers, Steven King, and Jim Kakuk for their photos of past retreats! Thanks also to Dave, Don, Eric, Misha, Steve, Deb, Paula, Scott, Jeff, Cate, Dennis, Michael, Gordon, and Jim who are all represented in these photographs. What a team! The Rogue Valley was blazing and whole neighborhoods vanishing in […]
Meet the Rangers! – Scott Becklund
Editor’s note: This is the fifth in our Meet the Rangers! series. Previously we’ve introduced Tsunami Ranger Admiral and Shaman Michael Powers, Vice Admiral Jim Kakuk, Commander Deb Tortuga Volturno, and Lieutenant Commander Steven El Rey King. A great big shout out to all the Rangers who contribute to this series with text and photos! […]
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! El Rey: I, like many of my fellow Rangers, found my […]
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 […]
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 Tsunami Captain Jim Kakuk and Lt. JG Nancy Soares 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 […]