Customer Reviews

Extreme Sea Kayaking: A Survival Guide

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the Tsunami Rangers at their best--telling hair-raising tales, describing scenarios in easy-to-visualize detail, making us laugh at their antics and bravado. And there's a lot of great information here as well. What I liked best about the book was its infectious enthusiasm. The writers (especially Eric) have a knack for tapping into the child in themselves and others. That kind of "let's go play!" energy is so revitalizing. And when you combine it with a heartfelt reverence and awe for the ocean and all of nature's places and experiences, you have a solid base from which to launch into a life of adventure, exploration, and introspection.

Extreme Sea Kayaking first lays out the differences between extreme-condition and normal-condition kayaking, and discusses boats, paddles, and other equipment. The authors stress the importance of cross-training: 1) so you don't tire of the sport, 2) for the physiological benefits of variety, and 3) to avoid repetitive-motion injuries. There is information on psychological preparation, necessary skills to develop and hone, and dangers to be aware of. Then begins the real meat of the book: the surf zone, exposed coast and open ocean paddling, expeditioning, and paddling/playing in rock gardens. The final two topics were the most fascinating to me: sea caves and the concept of the tribe or team. John Lull's analysis of the differences between a kayaking team and a kayaking group are illuminating and convincing. The hand signals chart on page 99 deserves memorizing.

The book is filled with incredible photographs by Michael Powers, Jim Kakuk, Eric Soares and others. The layout is two-column and very interesting graphically. Short stories are sprinkled throughout, providing distraction, parallel storylines, and intrigue. The Rangers are not embarrassed to describe mistakes they've made (and they've made their share!), in hopes that it may save readers from similar lessons or fates.

One of my favorite lines from the book: "For to go to sea in a lithesome, silent kayak is, in a very real way, to become wild and free again."

This extreme book provides a well presented and informative guide to paddling under extreme conditions. I could not put it down as it was both informative and exciting. The stories mentioned throughout the book complement the clear and concise instruction given. Even if you never intend kayaking under extreme conditions, the book is well worth a read just simply for the amazing stories and photos

As a developing ocean kayaker, I found this book to contain a wealth of valuable information about an aspect of the sport which is rarely represented in the literature. I have long been aware of the Tsunami Rangers' reputation and products, having seen their work on television and having purchased their rock garden techniques video. This book is a continuation of the quality educational tools they are producing. Anyone who kayaks, whether a beginner or an advanced boater, will find something to learn. I found the section on essential skills especially useful, and the discussion of "subjective naviagation" in the chapter entitled "The Mighty Sea" confirmed what I have long believed--true understanding of ocean conditions is developed only through long periods spent on the water, until within us we carry the rhythms of the sea. The Tsunami Rangers obviously do.

Reading the book is a like taking a reckless ride through the savage surf zone strapped into the front of a Tsunami X-2 double, careening down monster waves, dodging through treacherous rock gardens, and ducking into scarey sea caves-with the kayak under the expert control of Soares, Powers or one of the other Tsunami Rangers. This book equals the Tsunami Rangers' videos in excitement, intensity and frightening realism. The book's most significant contribution to sea kayaking may be the Sea Condition Rating System (SCRS) introduced in Chapter 4. With this system kayakers finally have a uniform method for rating seas and making prudential judgements about ocean paddling conditions. From beginning to end the authors excite, cajole, challenge and seduce sea-loving readers to overcome their physical and mental shortcomings and begin a training program that will enable them to embrace the sea more fully and experience the wonders of this wild wet paradise.

I found the book excellent. This was the first time I've read a kayaking book that suggests that paddling in surf and through ocean rock gardens wasn't something to necessarily avoid. The photos were incredible! Soares and Powers offer very specific advice on equipment, technique, safety and even some spiritual aspects of this fantastic adventure pursuit. I could hardly put the book down but was disappointed when I was finished that it was over. Guess I'll have to read it again. I won't be loaning this book to anyone!

The book develops a healthy respect for the sea. Stories are thrilling, and excite one's imagination to possibly extend the limits of one's own exploration of the sea. It is not a textbook to teach how, but rather helps to decide whether to pursue the more extreme aspects of the sport.

This book made me feel liike I was a lumbering pelican dangling over the pristine cresting waves - these guys are pleasantly obsessed. They insist you live it to the fullest-works for me!! Do they ever make it home for dinner!

Having recently read "Confessions of a Wave Warrior" by Eric Soares I was keen to get this much earlier book by the same author. Despite appearing to be a "how to" guide to extreme ocean white-water kayaking, the book contains a myriad of stories and photos on some of the extreme sessions undertaken by the Tsunami Rangers on the wild rocky coastlines of California and Oregon. This is a wild ride with some of the sports craziest thrill seekers - a must for anyone who loves kayak surfing and rockgardening.

it contains very little practical info, and is primarily an ad for their own kayaks and videos, and a medium to broadcast what heroes they are - "commander soares" indeed! they dont go "paddling", they go on a "mission"! these guys are doubtless good paddlers, but they cant write. to class the concluding poem "kayak brother" as ... would suggest it has literary merit (ie pathos), but it is just the stuff of cringe. guys, try understatement as a style for your next book, and put some useful info in it.

Arrogant, condescending, uninformative. The only kayaking book I've ever read that I couldn't finish. The photography is great, but the text is horrid.