Me at La Bufadora, Baja
Photos by Jake Stachovac

Here's a couple RG paddles that slipped through the cracks.

Back in March, 2015, I competed at the Santa Cruz Paddle Fest--well, I entered, not sure how much I competed! Anyway, I finally got the chance to surf at Steamer Lane, which I really wanted to do for several years. I surfed in the intermediate Cowells event the year before and was happy to take second, so this year I moved up to the big league! And Big League it was with Sean Morely in my first heat!
Thanks to Jeff Laxier for taking these photos of me!

Read the whole story at: Best Laid Plans

Visit Jeff's Website Liquid Fusion Kayaking

Went out for an RG day out of El Moro today with friends Lenora and Jack. I'd received a PaddleCam to try out a while back and this was my first time taking it out in the rocks. It is a small, well made mount to attach your camera to your paddle! For years I'd used one of my own design, because I've always felt the most important aspect of photography is having your camera handy! Having your camera attached to your paddle also helps keep it stable and keeps your hands on your paddle when your working in challenging conditions!
Check out my photos from the day and check out the PaddleCam link!

Icing on the Cake

PaddleCam Camera Mount

When I'm not kayaking, my friends drag me out to look at birds! Here are some of my best bird photos
My Birds

Rock Gardening in Palos Verdes

The Luna Tics A Night RG Paddle

Montana de Oro Circle of Life

Rock Gardening in Newport Beach

Black Canyon

Woe is Me A Blue Whale Tale

Check out my Baja Kayak Fest photos!

Baja Kayak Fest, 2013




Ever since I first started kayaking, I heard about these strange creatures called "Rock Gardeners!" It was a term that seemed appropriate for Tsunami Rangers and other daring elites of the kayaking world. Now, as I play about near the rocks and the waves, I'm still not sure that I've earned the title. So I've coined a new term for people who feel drawn to paddle where the sea meets the land, Mineral Spirits! If you want to know if you are one, check out my song and video to see if you agree with me!




To see my videos, go to the
'Kayaking with SandMarks'
show on YouTube



Duane Strosaker at T.A.K.S. 2009
In the Surf at TAKS
On the Shore at TAKS
On the Water at TAKS
On the Brinck

Santa Barbara Photos

Steve Wilson Sings Shark Bait

South of France

Kayak Angst Song

Wave-Ra Takes Me On a Journey

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Chocolate Brain!

The Holiday Road

Pier Pressure

The BARcuzzi

Surfin' Turf

Steve Sinclair

Past Day Paddle Reports

Doug Lloyd's Fat Kayakers

Los Angeles River

Ship's Log:100 Days of 2008

Photo by Duane Strosaker
This is my usual haunt, Big Arch rock between Corona del Mar beach and Cameo Shores. It's usually protected from large surf, but the swells that curve around the rock and pass through the arch to meet in the middle make for some fun action.
I like to paddle through, but I've got a few scratches and scrapes from an unplanned meeting with the rocks and waves on the other side.

Whale Huntin'

On July 9th, I joined Duane Strosaker and 5 other hardy paddlers for my first whale hunt, out of Dana Point, CA. It turned out to be my most incredible day in a kayak. We shared the ocean with Sea Lions, a Sunfish, a flotilla of Dolphin and best of all Blue Whales! To read more go to:
A Most Incredible Day

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Sometimes it's good to have the Blues!




Check out my Dehydrated Rock Gardening!
Squaw Peakish
DRG



Newport Beach, CA
Not a horrible place to be forced to paddle!

Here you can see my pump mounted behind the seat. I'm trying to figure out the best position for the Water Witch switch so that it turns off when the pump has removed as much water as it can. Right now I'm using a ten pack of rechargable NiMH batteries in a Pelican case. You can also see my high-tech back-flow preventer!



Here you can see one of my proudest moments as a kayaker, where I play the part of
a capsized kayaker in a demonstration on how not to aid a fellow paddler!
Photo by Duane Strosaker

My Other Pages
Big Water at Big Arch

Traditional Arctic Kayak Symposium, 2007
More T.A.K.S. '07
Brass T.A.K.S.
Duane Strosaker at T.A.K.S.
Traditional Arctic Kayak Symposium 2006
More T.A.K.S. '06

The Rogue Otters
Big Island Piddle Paddle

Surf n Turf
Surf n Turf II
Surf n Turf III

Crescent Bay Paddle
Whoa Nellie
Kayaking 2006, Year in Review
Kayaking the Elk Coast with Force Ten
My First 20 Miler



My Kayaks

The Lollygagger is my sea kayak, a QCC XL500 in Kevlar, my first real boat.
For surfing, I have a Necky Jive 810, a Necky Groovy and a Mega Scarab.
For Rock Gardening, I have a Wilderness Systems Zephyr and RPM Max.


My Gear
I loved my Onno paddles, but I broke too many! Now I use whatever I can get my hands on, mostly a FG Werner paddle.
I also have a Redondo Ridgeback, one of Duane Strosaker's handmade spruce and carbon paddles.
My Paddle Float
My Camera
On the water, I use a Canon S95 in a waterproof housing. On land I have a Canon 70~D with a 70-300mm Ultrasonic zoom.
Check out my camera/paddle cradle
To see my video set up check out:
The Captain's Mast


My Kayaking Philosophy



"Always be a Gootleman"


Good Links

California Kayaking Friends



marksanders at sandmarks dot net