• Welcome to the home of the Tsunami Rangers!

    The Tsunami Rangers have been kayaking the exposed coastlines of northern California and southern Oregon for nearly three decades. In 1985, Eric Soares and best friend Jim Kakuk formed the Tsunami Rangers ocean adventure kayak team to play in surf, negotiate complex ocean rock gardens, and explore mysterious sea caves.

    Search through this site to learn more about the Tsunami Rangers, see fantastic action photos, read about their fantabulous adventures, and purchase authentic Tsunami Ranger DVDs and Eric's new book, Confessions Of A Wave Warrior.

Tsunami Retreat 2017 Part One – The Wave in the Cave

November 6, 2017

Editor’s Note: So much happened during this retreat we’ve decide to make it a triplicity. This is Part One, The Wave in the Cave! From the Captain’s Log: The plan was to do about a 3 mile paddle in and set up camp before dark. Scott was in the lead; close behind came Don, Steve […]

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SCRS – The Sea Conditions Rating System

October 2, 2017

My good friend Moulton Avery of the National Center for Cold Water Safety mentioned recently that perhaps it was time to revisit the Sea Conditions Rating System (SCRS) on this website. Since the sea is dangerous and unpredictable, I think he’s right, so here’s a post introducing the Sea Conditions Rating System. River kayakers have […]

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Extreme Smoke – The Getaway

September 4, 2017

As many of you know, Southern Oregon is on fire. For nearly the entire month of August, the Rogue Valley has been filled with smoke from multiple forest fires in the surrounding areas. Even the coast has been smoky because of the fire in Brookings. And like many of my fellow Oregonians, I don’t have […]

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Balance, Momentum, and Leverage: How to Get a 25’ Kayak Off A Truck By Yourself

August 7, 2017

Naturally I was devastated when my late husband died, but one of the things that really had me exercised was how the heck I was going to get kayaks on and off the truck by myself. It might sound silly to some, but I’m short, the rack is high, and the Kevlar boats are long […]

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Sea Kayaker’s Mind, Beginner’s Mind

July 3, 2017

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.  Shunryu Suzuki The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence. Jiddu Krishnamurti Everything you know is wrong. Firesign Theater The ocean can change in a moment, especially in a rock garden, and when the shit hits […]

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Why Do We Test New Rangers?

June 5, 2017

by Captain Jim Kakuk Why do we test new Rangers? I remember as a young scruffy kid hanging out with my friends down by the river in a tree fort. We were always coming up with big plans and scheming on who would get to join in our gang as there was always a need […]

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Bird Watching From a Kayak: Princeton Harbor in Spring

May 1, 2017

I recently paddled around Princeton Harbor for the first time. I know it sounds crazy, but even after living and kayaking there for 12 years I never did that. I was always en route to the outside, to the swells along the jetty, to the surf in and around the lagoon, to Mushroom Rock, to […]

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Meet Michael Powers, Tsunami Ranger and Amazing Captioned Photo Creator!

April 3, 2017

At 76 Michael Powers is the oldest Tsunami Ranger. He became a Ranger in 1990. For almost 30 years he has been the unofficial Tsunami Ranger photojournalist, filming and photographing the Rangers and their adventures all over the world. He’s had his own share of adventures as well. Michael enhances many of his photos using […]

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Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage by Susan Marie Conrad

March 6, 2017

Review by Nancy Soares Editor’s note: Susan is an adventurer, writer, educator, and speaker. Her tenacious exploration by sea kayak has fueled her stories and images of the natural world for decades. Her articles and photographs have appeared in Sea Kayaker, Canoe and Kayak, Adventures Northwest, and Figure magazines. Magic and gratitude. That’s what comes […]

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In Memorium Eric Soares August 1, 1953 – February 1, 2012

February 1, 2017

Editor’s note: This is our annual tribute to one of the founders of the Tsunami Rangers. This year we reflect on how we do nothing of ourselves alone; without the earth, air, and water to support our physical bodies and the people we encounter in our lives who support our souls we could not be.  […]

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