(This week’s blog is written by Steve King, Tsunami Ranger lieutenant) As all sea kayakers know, a good roll and/or self rescue technique is core skill #1 for safe and fun adventure kayaking. Last weekend I had the good fortune to be taught the versatile and body friendly Greenland style roll by a wonderful and […]
Sea Kayaking Skills
Abalone Diving From Your Kayak
(This is a special blog post from Jim Kakuk, captain of the Tsunami Rangers) Abalone diving is a sport all to itself. Just ask any ab diver! Diving from a kayak combines the two sports—now you have a whole new ballgame! Here are a few basics to know before you get started. First, you must […]
Family Sea Kayaking Adventure
Can children safely kayak in surf and rocks? Sure they can! If you answer yes to the questions below, then your kids are ready to begin a lifetime of adventure on the sea: Do your kids love and respect the sea? Can they can swim or at least tread water? Will you and other competent […]
Sea Cave Safety (part two)
Last week, I answered a few questions Australian sea kayaker Tess Dodd posed about navigating a sea cave. This week we answer the rest of her important questions. Tess: “In the event of an unexpected large wave entering the sea cave, what is the best way to minimize injury from being pushed farther in or […]
Sea Cave Safety (part one)
Australian sea kayakers Tess Dodd and Damiano “Gnarlydog” Visocnik recently completed a long paddle in their native Australia. They passed through a series of beautiful caves, which seemed alluring but possibly dangerous to Tess. She asked me a few questions about technique and safety when paddling in a sea cave. Today, I’ll answer her first […]
Seize and Assist (and other paddling power words)
Word choice is important in sea kayaking just as it is in any activity, as a paddler’s use of words conjures an image in her mind that either helps or hinders. Let’s discuss empowering versus disempowering words a kayaking teacher can use to strengthen or weaken a student’s viewpoint of his skill in a trying […]