Editor’s Note: This is the second in a 4-part series about tools and techniques to develop and maintain optimum balance and stability for paddlesports at any age. We recently talked about the wobble board in our July post. This month we’re introducing the stability ball. The stability ball, or balance ball, was invented by Aqulino […]
sea kayaking fitness
Balance and Stability for Effective Paddle Sports
Editor’s note: In his recent article for Epic Kayaks In Search of Stability: Aging Gracefully With a Wider Surfski Honorary Tsunami Ranger Kenny Howell emphasized balance and stability as two things critical for paddling, especially in a surf ski. These are two things that can fade as we age. As a fitness trainer I’ve seen the impacts […]
The Outdoor Gym – Kayak Fitness That’s Free and Wild!
Editor’s Note: A big shout out to Melissa DeMarie and Liz Meheve of California Women’s Watersport Collective for some of the photos featured in this post! You guys are awesome! The Tsunami Rangers have a tradition of training in the trees. One of our videos shows the team running through the cypress forest at Fitzgerald […]
Ocean Survival Swimming – Part 2
Editor’s note: After a short break to talk about the TR retreat and the newest Ranger, we return to the subject of Ocean Survival Swimming. This essay by Eric Soares is published as is. It’s opinionated, funny, and informative. Enjoy. STAY WITH THE BOAT An old mariner’s maxim. This rule is true in most boat […]
Ocean Survival Swimming – A Sea Kayaker’s Guide to Staying Alive in the Water
Editor’s Note: One from the archives: Eric Soares wrote this essay illustrating the Tsunami Rangers’ approach to sea kayaking emphasizing ocean swimming as a key skill for sea kayakers. We’ll publish his thesis in five parts. This first part is the outline for Ocean Survival Swimming. Note that Eric refers to buoyancy compensators instead of […]
Fitness for Sea Kayakers – Hips
Have you ever exited your kayak after a long paddle to find your first steps stiff and awkward until you find your “land legs”? When we kayak our hips are mostly stationary at about a 90-degree angle. Apart from getting in and out of the boat there’s not a lot of movement in those joints. […]
Fitness for Sea Kayakers 3 – 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 […]
Fitness for Sea Kayakers Part 1: Wrists
Editor’s note: This is the first part of an occasional series on kayak fitness. And thanks to Barbara Kossy for being our model for this post! Fitness for kayakers is a hot topic. As we age it becomes quite important to spend some time keeping our bodies fit and prepared for activity with warm-ups and fitness regimes. As […]
Surfski Racing, part one
(Special blog post from Don Kiesling, Tsunami Rangers officer) Racing is a fun and effective way to improve your paddling skills. In order to go fast, you must hone both your technique and your fitness. Your improved stroke and athleticism will carry over to all of your paddling endeavors. Additionally, you may want to improve […]