Extreme Sea Kayaking: A Survival Guide

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!

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!