Rating: 
Summary: Read the book cover to cover, then decide its merits.
Review: A reader from Santa Cruz gave our book one star, said it was uninformative, and claimed we were arrogant and condescending. I wish to address these criticisms. The book is the opposite of UNINFORMATIVE; it is chock full of crucial information not found in any other sea kayaking book. For example, we present a sea conditions rating system, on-water hand signals, swim rescues, and techniques needed to paddle safely in sea caves and rock gardens. Someone had to take the risk and go first. We did it. The reader claimed that we were ARROGANT. We never intended to come across that way, though we believe in telling it like it is and not spoon feeding our readers. I figured our detailed stories describing our many mistakes on the water show humility, rather than arrogance. In future editions, I will monitor our tone, so hopefully, we won't offend our readers. We never intended to CONDESCEND. Since ocean whitewater kayaking is dangerous, we intentionally took a prescriptive approach, so our readers might avoid some suffering. The reader from Santa Cruz is a common coward who took an easy, anonymous cheap shot in a very public medium. I invite this reader, and any reader who has read the book cover to cover, to address comments and questions directly to me, and I promise a frank and civil response. If you have yet to read the book, please do. You won't find misleading information such as "Kayaking's safe and easy, and you don't need a wetsuit in cold water or need to know how to swim in rip currents!" You WILL find unvarnished opinion based on years of experience in harsh marine conditions. If stark reality is what you seek, then this book is for you. For those of you who liked the book, Michael Powers and I would sure appreciate it if you would spread the word. Our goal in writing Extreme Sea Kayaking was to inspire paddlers to expand their limits as safely as possible--regardless of whether they like us or our work. We wish all our readers safe and rewarding sea kayaking adventures.
Rating: 
Summary: A real turkey
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Thorough, authoritative, practical, entertaining
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A definitive text about kayaking exposed coasts.
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: auto-hagiography
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Gets the juices going... makes you want to get out there!
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: all the fun w/o the danger!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: all the fun w/o the danger!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Extreme
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Extreme
Review: 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
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