Editor’s note: Will Nordby, the author of Seekers of the Horizon, began sea kayaking in 1971. He has written for Oceans, Explore, Canoe, Sea Kayaker, River Runner, Small Boat Journal, and Ocean Sports International. He was also the originator of the Sea Trek Paddle Float, a sea kayaking self-rescue device. He worked for KRON-TV in […]
Sea Kayaking Activities
Rangers’ Retreat – 30 Years On
By: Captain Jim Kakuk and Dandy Don Kiesling FIRST RETREAT In 1985 Eric and I were on our way to the Port Townsend Sea Kayaking Symposium to do our first presentation, ‘Ocean Survival Swimming‘. On the way we stopped in Southern Oregon at Boardman State Park, and went on a mini expedition to explore a […]
Spring Waters 2015 – A Sea Kayak in the Desert
Editor’s note: Thanks to Rebekah Kakuk and Robert Kendall for being my travel buddies and helping with the photos. Sometimes we deviate from sea kayaking and wander into the desert. As Tsunami Ranger Capt. Jim Kakuk heads off to Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada and the smoke from thousands of acres […]
Tsunami Rangers Go Inflatable
by Tsunami Ranger Commander Michael Powers Editor’s note: Thanks to photographers Rob Cala and Dave Norket, as well as our own Michael Powers, for the photos! TRs Steve “El Rey” King and Tim Sullivan breaking the wave barrier On a day with moderate winter surf conditions, three of the senior Rangers – Steven King, Tim […]
Opportunities Open Whenever You’re Ready -Kayak Touring the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia
by Joanne and Doug Schwartz Editor’s note: Always understanding kayaking as a place to be and a way to go, not a transport from here to there, Joanne and her husband Doug have paddled since the mid-1980’s and are still exploring the world, sometimes by kayak. They paddled with Eric, Jim and the Rangers a […]
Snake Bite Medicine – A Sea Kayaker’s Cure-all
by Tsunami Ranger Commander “Tortuga” Deb Volturno Editor’s note: ‘Tis the Season, and once again we address the engrossing subject of What to Drink When Kayaking! A celebratory toasting tradition is rooted in river kayaking for me, and has richly endured over the years. While toasting and celebrating the safe completion of a river run, […]
Paddle California 2014
by Barbara Kossy Editor’s note: Barbara Kossy is an artist and environmental activist. She lives in Moss Beach, California with her husband John Dixon, Tsunami Ranger and surfski paddler. She is a former president of Bay Area Sea Kayakers and has been organizing kayaking trips in Italy since 1996. See www.barbarakossy.com for current trips. Thanks to […]
Tsunami Ranger Retreat 2014: A New Ranger!
Captain Kuk: When Eric and I first came up with the idea of a kayaking team in 1984 we wanted to have a system for rating the skills of the paddlers that we planned on inviting to join us. Eric proposed that we use naval ranking. Having been in the U.S. Navy he was familiar […]
Tsunami Ranger Sea Cave Terms
Editor’s note: Thanks to Michael Powers, Eric Soares, and Jim Kakuk for these fabulous photos. One of the cool things about the Tsunami Rangers is the lexicon they invented to describe the marine environment. Some of these terms have probably become mainstream, but just for fun I thought I’d reproduce the Tsunami Ranger Sea Cave […]
Up a Hot Creek With a Paddle – Sea Kayaking in the Oregon Desert
On a cloudy day in April we headed east. Clear sailing until five hours out and a pronghorn played chicken with the truck so I had to cross into the opposite lane and take my foot off the gas so it could pass on the right and run in front of the truck at 60 […]
Put Yourself in the Picture! – The Armchair Sea Kayaker
Editor’s note: This is one of the topics Eric had lined up for 2012. Some of the featured pictures he picked out himself and he specifically suggested that you “Put YOURSELF in the picture”. I can’t look at a painting of a seascape without evaluating it in terms of my kayak. Could I survive in […]
Sea Kayaking Microwave – Surfin’ Tsunami Style
By Steve King and Scott Becklund Editor’s note: The Tsunami Rangers refer to the wave at Mushroom Rock as Microwave for two reasons: it’s a mini-version of Maverick’s and there’s a naval station with radio and radar on the bluff above the break. Thanks to TR Michael Powers for all the great photos! Steve: About a […]
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 […]