Book Description
Whether you're just starting to ski or you're a veteran water skier, Complete Guide to Water Skiing is your best source for skiing instruction. Let two of the world's top water skiing coaches, Ben Favret and Dave Benzel, teach you the skiing techniques and performance keys to get the most of your water skiing.Highlights include:

• 149 photos providing step-by-step instruction for slalom, trick skiing, jumping, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding;

• conditioning programs for recreational and competitive skiers;

• special tips on selecting the right equipment; and

• guidelines for competition and training.

With Complete Guide to Water Skiing you'll ski better and enjoy it more every time you're out on the water! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best book for all Waterskiers
This book will help everyone who wants to improve in waterskiing. From the first ride on two skis up to hints for professionals you will find everything in this book. It`s not the kind of book you just read and forget. You will take it again and again. You got to a certain point where you don't know how to solve the problem. Take the compleet guide and you will find an answer. No matter which level your skiing is on. It even shows you how to train best during off-seasons.And it is for sure a compleete guide showing you the different typs and the technic of skis and hints for finetuning your ski.
If waterskiing is your passion you will love this book.

finally a water skier's bible
Finally someone has written a book on the specifics of the proper way to teach a person how to ski from beginner to expert, especially for me a salom course. Now I don't have to go by hear say from people that might begood skiers, but don't know how to teach, and there is a difference. Stopwasting time with on individuals myths of how to ski . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great help overall
I recently purchased a late-90s SeaDoo and knew I'd be doing all of the maintenance and repair work myself. I bought this book hoping that it would get me through everything, and thus far it's done a fairly good job. I'm mechanically inclined but not extremely knowledgeable about engine repair and that sort of thing, but this book has enough information to get me through most things. I've picked up what small details it didn't include from pwctoday, a great forum. This book included clear directions on most any repair, with lots of pictures and illustrations, and only occasionally assumes that you know something already. The book is very similar in style and composition to a car repair manual like Haynes or Chilton. I'd definitely recommend it ... even if you're totally new to jetski repair you'll find a lot of helpful information, especially on routine maintenance and that sort of thing.

traduction française
ce livre est tres bien j'aurai aimer savoir si il existe aussi dans la langue française merçi à tres bientot ... Read more

Book Description
This fascinating title traces the evolution of competitive swimming from the first organized races in the 1830s to the present day. Controversies, such as the use of steroids by Olympic swimmers, are treated in depth. Prominent figures in the sport are also profiled. ... Read more

Book Description
Physiological and practical considerations of scuba diving in easy-to-read format. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

An excellent choice.
I wonder how many serious and dedicated scuba divers actually continue to put off their natural progression from recreational scuba diving to the more advanced techniques of technical diving? Personally, I delayed that progression for far too long. As a professional underwater photo-journalist who specialises in shipwreck research, however, I find myself being drawn more and more towards deeper and deeper wrecks - if only because these are the wrecks that divers want to know more about.

My first choice in books when commencing that transition to more technical expertise, was this book by John Lippmann. A number of people have commented that it is out-of-date - but it is only out-of-date if your own expertise has already progressed beyond the level which this book seeks to teach.

Any diver who is seriously thinking about technical diving but who has yet to make the first move in that direction should read this book. Yes, things have moved on since this book first appeared in 1992 - but that does not make the information inaccurate. It simply allows the modern diver to regard this book as the first step towards an exciting extension of their diving career.

Other books (including other books by this author) will then take that diver even further into the realms and complexities of serious deep technical diving.

NM

GREAT Book!
I don't write a whole lot of reviews but noticed a few negative ones about this very informative book. This text is a simpler to understand and less costly alternative to John's "Deeper Into Diving", but is still a MUST read in my opinion. This text was recommended reading for my Divemaster course and should be considered as a MUST read for any serious sport diver. It indroduces you to and explains in plain English some additional risks to diving deeper. After reading this text I sought out other titles by John due to his writing style. This text makes no claims to being a TECH diver's bible, only that it informs the SPORT diver of the additional risks of deep diving. I can't say this enough, a MUST read. This text is timeless and with ANY text, product reviews and dive tables should be taken for what they are, examples. I still gain valuable information from diving books written in the 50s and 60s but am making no plans to dive those Navy tables on a double hose regulator. This was not a buyer's guide for dive computers and made no claim to being a guide for decompression diving. I think we as divers can all agree that specialties require specific training. John's book simply opens the door to many avenues. Did I mention it's a MUST read in my book, lol...

a bit out of date
when I bought this book (some years back) I would have given it 5 stars, but all deco info is now very out of date, check dive computers reviewed on index page! otherwise a very god book that is an easy read. For more up to date info check Technical Diving in Depth (Bruce R Weinke) this has every thing you might want to know but is very technical and not (I find) an easy read.

A good Intro to deeper sport diving
This book was a useful introduction, actually a great deal more detail than in an introduction, to deeper rec. diving. Very useful technical information.

One of the best books about deep diving
Everything you need to know in basic deep diving about tables, procedures, equipment, setings, planning, decompression techniques and decompression illness, a mut read book for every diver (especially novices) who wants to know more about deep diving.

Marcelo Moorea ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Christian Propoganda - Know What Your are Getting
Be aware, this is not a surfing book, but a Christian Surfing Book. I would have no problem with this book if it was marketed or reviewed as a Christian book. I am upset that I was duped by a book that promised to talk about the spiritual side of surfing and instead using surfing as a way to preach the gospel. It is replete with biblical quotes and refernces to god's plan. Lest you think I am kidding, in a section on "Passing up Partying", we read: "Man, this can't be all that life is. It's all kind of meaningless, like Soloman said in Ecclesiaastes."

Great book!! Great Stories!!
Walking on Water challenged me to take my faith more seriously. I was stoked to know the stories behind many of the people I see involved in the surfing industry.I was even more stoked to hear God's story and to realize that God is a dominant yet subtle force touching people throughout the world.

This is a great book for those who love surf and who want to better understand their relationship with God.Jeremy Jones does an outstanding job helping the reader to understand that God is working in everyone's life and that we've all got a story to tell.

Riding with the King
While aimed at a generation much younger and hipper than myself, this book is a wonderful read for anyone with even a passing interest in surfing, the ocean, or the incredible power of God to heal and save.

Jones does a fabulous job of crafting the sport of surfing in such a way that even a haolie kook like myself can feel the surge of power from the wave beneath me.The book is arranged so that chapters alternate between different aspects of surfing (waves, shaping, industry, etc.) and conversational biographies of the featured surfers, with vignettes of ocean-related topics dispersed throughout.This gives the book an easy-going feel that mimics the culture it discusses - offering readable "sets" between chill sessions.

As a Christian and huge fan of surfing this book is very inspiring in its content.It is such a blessing to read about the amazing ways God has moved in the lives of so many of the world's top surfers.Hearing them say in their own words how they have struggled in life, how God has changed them, and where He is taking them now, is just epic.It is so encouraging to read these transformations and to have them presented in such an open and honest way.After reading this book I feel like if C.J. Hobgood walked by I could just start chatting with him - it is that personal, that true.

If you want to be encouraged in your walk or in your ride, I definitely recommend picking up this modern testament to God working not just to shape the waves, but the lives of those on them.

Mahalo.

Know Thyself
A lot of people still have this old notion that surfers are synonomous with bums; they have no real ambition but to be in the water and surf all day but what most people don't seem to understand is that the ocean is about transformation/baptism/renewal and riding waves is equivalent to resurrection/transcendence/empowerment.

I am not a board surfer, but I do body surf, and whereas I have tried board surfing (and failed miserably) body surfing still gives me that rush that surfers call "being stoked". Being stoked is a high, an enthusiasm, an energy where you are called from the depths of your soul to get back into the "womb of creation". Most surfers are incredibly humble people. They actually will laugh if you tell them that they're going to "tame the wild sea"...you can't tame the ocean, all you can do is humble yourself enough to respect its magnificence. There have been a few times where I've been caught in a riptide and the worst thing you can ever do is try to fight your way out, you literally have to surrender yourself to this power and only when you have completely surrendered to the power, you will be restored to the state of flow.

Tell me that's not a spiritual experience.

This book will give you a glimpse into the psyche/the soul of surfers and even if you don't surf, you just may find yourself relating to their experiences. Y'see, I see God, the Living Spirit as an all encompassing ocean of energy, and the waves that rise up in the ocean are God's Holy Manifestations. The wave can never be separate from the ocean just as creation can never be separate from the Creator. In other words, we are the Spirit of God manifesting Itself as who and what we are right here and right now.

Surfers must be passionate and yet grounded and centered at the same time. When a huge wave comes, you don't have time to be thinking about yesterday or tomorrow, you must become 110% present in the moment. This repetition of being in the moment...being in the moment...being in the moment is the ultimate in meditation. I've skydived, too, same principle. You must become aware of what is in front of you and when we are totally present with that which is, one cannot help but feel an incredible sense of joy for life. All fear is imagined...all doubt is of the past or of the future...there is no fear in the moment, all there is, is Love. Not sentimental Love, not Romantic Love, but Regenerative, Restorative Love...you can also read that as 'Grace'...

Grace keeps us getting back up and trying again and if there is one thing I admire about surfers is their tenacity and their determination to not let anything weigh them down. That girl that got her arm ripped off by a shark...guess what...she's surfing again. I even saw a guy who was paralyzed from the waist down, get back in the water with the help of his friends'.

All I can say is that this book is long overdue. It paints a beautiful picture of the athlete and makes me respect and appreciate them all the more. When I watch ESPN and I see Laird Hamilton riding an 80' wave, I don't think he's nuts, I think to myself, there is a man who knows exactly who he is and what he is about. That's God Realization...that Self Realization and isn't that the real quest to all of life, to know thyself?

Lose yourself in the ocean of Life and you will find your-SELF in the sea of Everpresent Love.

Peace and Blessings, everyone...

... Read more

Book Description
WHEN THEIR PARENTS are killed in a car accident, Scott and his brother Gregg are sent to live with an uncle they never knew they had. Hurt, angry, and confused, they leave a comfortable life in the California suburbs and head to the remote Colorado Rockies, where their uncle runs a white-ater rafting company. Scott, forced to confront his loss and face an uncertain future, determines to make the best of a difficult situation. But his brother Gregg, burying his grief deep inside, begins to drift away from the only family he has left. As they become acquainted with the power and unpredictability of the river and begin to learn the skills of maneuvering the rapids, the brothers discover that it is harder than they ever dreamed to master the art of survival--both on an off the water. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Awesome Book
I recommend this book to any teenager or adult. It is generally a good book that teaches good morals. There are many conflicts and solutions in this book that make it fun to read simply because of the way the characters have different ways of handling them. You could also say that it is somewhat educational, as the author really knows what he's talking about when it comes to rafting. This reinforces the story and makes it more interesting than if the author didn't know anything about it. For example, "Well that's a matter of opinion. One reason people really enjoy paddle boats is because they're directly involved with the rafting. They help control where the raft goes. The success of the trip depends on each paddler doing his or her best. It's more of a personal challenge." Many people should like this book since it doesn't really have any boring spots like other books do. Itproves to be a really a very fun book to read. For example there are some obnoxious things that the characters do to each other during the story, which can prove to be quite funny. "Hey Scotty, wake up!", "Get off me" Scott shouted to his brother. Also, you will be very surprised with the outcome of the story at the end of the book.

Absoluting Moving!!
Great book!It, too me, was by far S.L. Rottman's best books that I have read so far!Scott was lost and confused and seemed unwanted by both his Uncle and his brother Gregg but he finds himself and love at the end.This is a powerful novel and the ending will take you for a loop.I love this book and the S.L. Rottman for writing it.This is a MUST READ!

Rough Waters Review
I read Rough Waters; it is an ok book, but not the best that I have read.I would highly recommend this book to any one that enjoys adventure.The book starts out with the main characters, Scott and his older brother Gregg; have to move to Colorado to live with an uncle they never new they had.Their uncle owns his own rafting company on the Arkansas River.At first life is a little rough because they are still trying to get over their parents death.As it goes most things get better in life, this story gets better for the most part.Scott is left out by his brother because he is a lot younger than Gregg.One day during the summer Scott goes exploring in the back yard.He finds an old bike in a shed.Scott decides to go into town on the rickety old bike.In town he goes to the library because he is kind of a bookworm.At the library he meets a girl!!That is all I'm going to tell you about the book.If it sounds interesting to you, read it.I liked it; it takes a really good book to do that because I don't ever read.This is a really good book, ~ENJOY~!!!!!!!!

It wasn't that I didn't like the book...
...it's just that the book was kind of cliche. Gregg especially. His parents die and he reacts by drinking, smoking, using drugs, and keeping bad company. It reminded me of one of those sappy 1930s movies.

And the ending didn't ring true. Gregg put his entire family and his friends in mortal danger, and one of them is most likely dead as a result of his actions, and he showed not one iota of remorse or regret. Then his good old Uncle Rocky has a talk with him and suddenly he's normal again. It didn't make sense -- Rocky has tried to talk to Gregg many times and Gregg never listened before; why should he do so now?

Scott on the other hand was a little too good to be true. The only "bad" thing he did in the entire book was go to that party with his girlfriend and drink underage, and it was only about half a glass. I could definately see where Gregg was coming from when he called Scott a goody-goody.

But despite my criticisms here, I did like the book. The rafting scenes in particular were very good. I just with the author could have rounded out the characters a bit more.

Terrific Read!
I teach middle school L.A. and plan to use this as a read-aloud next year...IF my students haven't all read it!Have a reluctant reader at home?Hand them ANY of Rottman's books!The rafting scenes have you riding along with the crew.Have fun!Terrific read! ... Read more

Book Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Trailer Boats, published by Ehlert Publishing Group on June 1, 1999. The length of the article is 895 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: VENUS TOUCH.(products for water sports)(Brief Article)
Author: Zenon L. Bilas
Publication: Trailer Boats (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 1999
Publisher: Ehlert Publishing Group
Volume: 28Issue: 6Page: 36

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Far more than the usual adventure narrative
Doug Ammons' book, The Laugh of the Water Nymph, is anything but the usual adventure narrative.It is a collection of good stories, well-written, often hilarious, sometimes touching, always fun to read. As might be expected, many are narratives drawn from his experiences in the 1980s and `90s on the far edge of kayaking in such places as Agua Azul in Yucatan and the Stikine Canyon in British Columbia.Mixed among the adventure accounts are essays and some fiction.Although the focus is kayaking, Ammons shows awareness throughout that there is more to life than paddling down steep mountain canyons in small boats, fun though that may be.

Ammons' account of being busted running the forbidden Yellowstone Canyon is a farcical tale about the collision ofexuberant kayakers with intransigent bureaucrats.It has a posse of a dozen or more rangers pursuing rogue kayakers through the canyon on foot and by helicopter. The good guys win in this tale, more or less, but Ammons recognizes that the bad guys are not totally bad either, just doing their job with logic that's hard to follow.It reminded me, though, of why many people prefer to avoid the national parks.

"Revenge of the Killer Radical Extremes" is another very funny piece satirizing the cult and culture of extreme sports.It called to mind some of the stories by Donald Barthelme and others that I used to enjoy in the New Yorker, back when the New Yorker published things that actually made me laugh out loud (a long time ago, but that's another story).

Interspersed among the adventure narratives appear stories about people like Nara, the Nepalese porter, and Ammon's friend John Foss who died on a river in Peru. These well-drawn portraits give the book some balance.They help distance the reader from a simple chase after fun and adventure.Ammons' yearlong diary recounting the death of his father is a touching but balanced piece about things that matter, to use Ammons' phrase.

The low point of the book is a piece that ridicules the commercialization of whitewater kayaking and mourns the loss or dilution of the true and genuine.The store manager and salespeople in this story may deserve some ridicule, most people do, but in the end the story comes off as both uncharitable and unrealistic.If we want good stuff, somebody has to sell it.It is hard to reconcile the harsh view of this story with the very humane, balanced tone Ammons strikes elsewhere in this book.

That small criticism aside, Laugh of the Water Nymph is a wonderful book.Whether you fancy yourself flying down some impossible pitch upon the medium of your choice or prefer your adventures on the couch in front of the tube, it's a good read.I liked it, and I think others will too.

A life full of kayaking
I am not much of a paddler myself. But I am enough of a paddler to fully appreciate the dimension of some of the stories told in this book. There are some great kayaking adventures to be found, and they are told in a way that made it clear to me that Doug Ammons is completely aware of the depth and the profound nature of the experiences. This becomes all the more apparent in those lighter, somewhat fictional stories about those whose view of their sport is maybe not as grounded as Doug's.
What impressed me most about this book, though, were not the big epics and near death experiences also found in this book, but the understanding that all this outstanding paddling is embedded in a very full life as a father of five, as a son, a friend, as a professional. It became apparent to me that Doug's paddeling achievements cannot be viewed without all the other activities in his life, as well as his life as it shines through the pages isn't complete without the paddeling. In this, he is an inspiration to me, and I am genuinely thankful for this book.
And if that were not enough, there are some poetic gems hidden in this book as well, like the story that gave this book it's title, and my personal favorite, the simple description of floating soap bubbles into the misty dawn air along a river. Moments like these are what keeps us returning to the river again and again.

My Advice On Where To Shelf Laugh Of The Water Nymph
While a lot of other paddler's have been out courting sponsorship dollars with daring and sometimes shameful river stunts; another group of paddler's have been quietly running some of the most difficult and remote rivers on the planet. Although I don't know for sure, it's my best guess that most of the members of this loosely defined group live within a days drive of Stanley, Idaho.Very likely,their old beat-up fiberglass Holoforms, Mustangs, or Class VI kayaks hang in their garages or sheds...... testaments of their more than three decades of paddling together.They've made up no catchy name for themselves and carry on without hype, pretense, or the need for attention. Author Doug Ammons is a long time member of this elite group of friends and he has put together 22 stories that comprise;The Laugh Of The Water Nymph.

My take on the book is that it is refreshingly entertaining... adventure writing at it's best. However, I believe librarians or booksellers are going to have difficult time deciding upon which shelf The Laugh of the Water Nymph belongs.Although it is a collection of stories that will appeal to anyone with an affinity for white-water, it just wouldn't seem right to place it in the "adventure travel" section.Moving water is clearly a metaphor for Doug and his observations oblige the reader to look inward and assess themselves.As such, it could easily be shelved in the philosophy sectionor even alongside books relating to spiritual growth or psychology.No doubt, some readers who are paddler's will regard The Laugh Of The Water Nymph as a guidebook of sorts for the description, or preview, of the remote and difficult river on their "intend to run" list.

What I liked most about this book is Doug's ability to shift perspective.......In some passages of the book it's obvious Doug's narrative is rooted in the fact that his neoprene covered feet are firmly on the bedrock that embodies the river.In others; he's in his boat...gripped.... giving us that adrenaline charged, wide-eyed, white-knuckled, and tunnel-visioned perspective of what lies immediately downstream.And in other sections you'll find Doug philosophizing about the illusion of control....both on the water and in our day to day lives.....with only a half lung-ful of air remaining and hull presented skyward amidst churning rocky water. From these and other creative angles; Doug takes on a wide range of issues....wilderness ethics,ecology,river management, and the cycle of living, being, and dying.Subjects that are at the essence of paddling and that make his book difficult to catagorize.As for my wrinkled and worn copy; it's on my nightstand. --

Adventure writing at its best
In this collection of short stories, Doug Ammons takes the reader through his twenty years on the forefront of expedition paddling.If you are not familiar with him, Doug began paddling in the early 80s with many of the early big water paddling legends, like Rob Lesser and Bob McDougal.He has since pioneered a number of big descents, including the first self-supported descent and a solo descent of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine in British Columbia.

The book is a series of short stories that begins with his days as a new kayaker learning the ropes from those he looked up to, and ending with the year of his last big expedition, the Triple Crown.In between, there's some great fiction, giving Ammons a chance to have some fun and comment on the state of the sport in general.

The stories in this book come together very nicely in this layout, complete with a corresponding set of color photos from his experiences.Rather than feeling like a set of unrelated stories, this feels like one flowing narrative of a man's experiences with the sport.

Anyone who knows Doug would agree that he is a complex individual, and that sense certainly comes through in his stories.He displays a unique ability to write about the whitewater experience, describing in great detail the feeling of dropping into a huge rapid, or the satisfaction of paddling out of a deep, dark canyon.

This is more than just a hair-raising, thrill-ride kayaking story, though.It's a thoughtful examination of the sport and the people who are involved with it.If you are involved in adventure sports long enough, you realize it's not just about the adrenaline and the excitement, but it also has a lot to do with friendship, camaraderie and accomplishment.This book is a reminder of what makes kayaking more than just a weekend hobby and why it is so meaningful to so many of us.

Doug Ammons "The Laugh of the Water Nymph"
It's a shame there are no pictures; as the pictures in this book tell so much.I discovered that Patagonia used the cover picture to advertise there products, the pictures are that good.
This is a book about extremes; and the beauty of the world and the music of the river.One mans attempts to conquer that which most would never even think of attempting to conquer.
This is the entertainment of a smart, hardworking man that needs to push the limits.Stories told take on a life of their own and see the events that happen in unexpected and entertaining ways.
... Read more

Book Description
Aflalo traveled some 11,000 miles from England to fish his way through the waters of Florida and the West Indies. Here, he reports what he calls "the practical and descriptive aspects of the increasingly popular holiday among leaping tarpon of the Florida passes." Originally piblished in 1907-when the Florida waters were just being explored. ... Read more

Download Description
OUR APPROACH

This report was created for strategic planners, international executives and import/export managers who are concerned with the market for water skis, surfboards, sailboards, and other water sport equipment. With the globalization of this market, managers can no longer be contented with a local view. Nor can managers be contented with out-of-date statistics that appear several years after the fact. I have developed a methodology, based on macroeconomic and trade models, to estimate the market for water skis, surfboards, sailboards, and other water sport equipment for those countries serving the world market via exports or supplying from various countries via imports. I do so for the current year based on a variety of key historical indicators and econometric models.

On the demand side, exporters and strategic planners approaching the world market face a number of questions. Which countries are supplying water skis, surfboards, sailboards, and other water sport equipment? What is the dollar value of these imports? How much do the imports of water skis, surfboards, sailboards, and other water sport equipment vary from one country to another? Do exporters serving the world market have similar market shares across the importing countries? Which countries supply the most exports of water skis, surfboards, sailboards, and other water sport equipment? Which countries are buying their exports? What is the value of these exports and which countries are the largest buyers?

In what follows, Chapter 2 begins by summarizing the regional markets for imported and exported water skis, surfboards, sailboards, and other water sport equipment. The total level of imports and exports on a worldwide basis, and those for each region, is based on a model which aggregates across country markets and projects these to the current year. From there, each country represents a percent of the world market. This market is served from a nu ... Read more

Product Description
Author Shari Aber leads the reader on thirty-three guided paddles in the heart of the Hudson River Valley--Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Putnam, Westchester, & Sullivan counties--through such magnificent waterways as Tivoli Bays, Constitution Marsh, RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary, the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, the Delaware, Wallkill, Tenmile, Croton, & Neversink rivers, and the Esopus, Wappinger, Otter Kill, Black, Stockport, Catskill, Bashakill, DuBois, Fishkill & Rondout creeks, plus thirty-seven Hudson Valley lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Meet bald eagles, blue heron, swans, and beavers on the "quieter waters" far from the noise, the traffic, and the madding crowds.Includes maps, photographs, tips on safety, and directories of outfitters and environmental organizations offering equipment, instructions, or guided tours. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wow!All in one book.
In Shari Aber's guide you discover a personal odyssey combined with extraordinarily complete information on kayaking on the rivers, ponds, and lakes in this region of New YOrk.This book is formatted to allow you to plan your trip from your easy chair.Every area in six counties is mapped for you.Each entry includes route, mileage, difficulty level(from easy to challenging), setting, hazards, remarks and a narrative of the author's kayak journey in the specic spot.
She also includes types of kayaks, necessary supplies, and helpful web sites.The appendices expand your knowledge of local events and tours and include a list of outfitters. Land directions get you right to the easiest spot for your excursion to begin.
Each entry closes with "The Paddle", the author's description
of her voyage on the waters indicated.Her personal tales include local history and her unique observations on the water and natural environs.Ms. Aber's interest in the birds, especially the herons, hawks, and eagles
in each district is evident.
Photographs of the bodies of water and their inhabitants help in the trip planning, for we all know we want to go where we just might see otters and muskrats and the baby deer hiding in the weeds at the water's edge.
This is not just a guide to where and how; it is a call to adventure and the pleasures of becoming part of "the harmony of seemingly disparate forces." ... Read more

Book Description
The premier access guide to Washington state's breathtaking waterways suggests hundreds of destinations for swimming, windsurfing, rafting, jet skiing, and more. It also has updated information on travel directions, access fees, facilities, boat rentals, and trip outfitters. ... Read more

Book Description
Expanded to include sections on seamanship, navigation, and health issues, the completely updated and redesigned new edition of David Seidman’s bestselling guide reaffirms its reputation as the best sea kayaking guide available. A top-to-bottom introduction for novice and mid-level kayakers, this highly visual handbook provides kayakers with the whole scoop on everything from gear, transportation, and paddling technique to the finer points of Eskimo rolling, rescue protocol, group and solo paddling. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A great basic guide to sea kayaking
I found this book before I bought my kayak, and I read it at least twice cover to cover before I got it. That said, I still rolled inverted in fifty-degree water within five minutes of getting in my new boat, but that's what I get for trying to explore the envelope too fast. I know where it is now.

This book helped me a lot. I used it to help understand the available boat choices, the basics of paddling, gear choices, and something about rescue techniques. The author is probably from a warm climate, based onhis teaching techinques, and some of that did not work for me, since I had to teach myself to paddle in 600-foot deep, cold salt water. If that's your situation, you should do like I did and seek instruction in reentry techniques instead of just reading the book and thinking you know how to get back in. If you never tried it, you don't.

That is not a criticism of the book, though, just a point about teaching emergency procedures. They need to be taught in a situation where a real emergency is not likely to develop.

The book does cover all the basics from buying a kayak, paddling, transporting, portaging, navigating and seamanship. I do recommend this book as a basic guide for anyone who is learning to paddle. There is a lot to know and the presentation and illustrations are clear and easy to understand. Paddling requires practice, though, so don't be like me. Practice in a safe place until you can really do it. And make sure you know for sure how to get the spray skirt off before you roll upside down the first time. That counting to three stuff is good, but you need more than that.

The Best on the Market
This is the best general kayaking book on the market today (2001). Covers the range of the activity. Enjoy.

Essential, though perhaps not complete
I don't know if I'd agree with the subtitle; Seidman's guide is by nomeans complete (for that, see Dowd's "Sea Kayaking") but itcertainly does cover the essentials of the sport, and as others have noted,it is certainly sufficient to introduce a newcomer to all the essentialtechniques needed to get started. While no book is a replcement for a goodteacher, Seidman gives you enough to get out and teach yourself basicstrokes, braces and perhaps even rolls- though that's something best seendemonstrated first.

The photos are one of the strongest parts of thebook, and a good argument for buying it- next to the "Perforamance SeaKayaking" video Seidman's book has the best illustrations of basicmoves to be found anywhere. If you were only going to buy one kayakingbook, this would not be a bad choice- but after working your way through ityou'd be well advised to move on to more detailed and specialized books aswell.

Very well written and informative
I got into sea kayaking after reading this book and it is all the author said and more. I've lent this book to a number of friends who are now also "hooked".This is an easy to read book, one that evokes thepossibilities of kayaking along with information necessary to develop theconfidence to make them happen. I highly recommend it to anyone consideringthis great sport.

Exactly the sort of basic kayaking book I was looking for
This book is exactly what I needed to guide me through the kayak shoppingand learning process.It begins with equipment basics to help you choosewhat's right for you and proceeds step by step through other basics ofkayak ownership, use and transportation.I recommend it to all beginningkayakers and to anyone who's considering buying a kayak. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Terrific first-hand accounts!
"Reading the Water" has long been on my fishing "books to read" list but I was not willing to put out the several hundred dollars collectors were looking for since the book became unavailable. Then, when I ran across this second edition, I purchased three copies, one for myself and two to pass along.

This work is full of fantastic stories of the Martha's Vineyard fishing derbies as well as useful information for fishing for striped bass and bluefish in the New England surf. A careful reader will pick up several tips he/she can employ - I know I did.

Whether you are an avid surf fisherman, a weekend angler, or simply looking for an enjoyable read, "Reading the Water" is sure to deliver.

"Tight Lines!"
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