Kayak: The New Frontier: The Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique (The William Nealy Collection)

I really enjoy this book. I had it on my shopping list for months and I was hesitant because the product description was more vague than desired. Wasn't sure if the book covered the same stuff all my other kayak books covered.To my surprise this book covers information none of my other books have plus the usual. The book is written in such a fun casual informal manner that it's like talking to your river mentor on the shore or rock looking over a rapid talking you through it pointing things out or drawing in the sand.What I truly appreciate is that this book covers in depth the characteristics of reading water that an intermediate to advanced boater should know for running class III and up. For example they explain the difference of bubbles or splashes water makes if the river is deep or shallow, which drop is likely more safe to run, etc.I'm only part way through the book but it's excellent and I wish I had bought it sooner.

The material in this book is hands down awesome. The only complaint, somehow the book arrived wet.

I just started whitewater kayaking with a class late last autumn and began paddling outside 2 1/2 months ago. So far I've put in about 90 hours boating in that time and the concepts in this book finally feel like they're starting to sink in.The explanations are really clear. The illustrations are (of course) fantastic. And humorous, which helps keep the topics interesting, for those of us who would prefer to be actually ON the water, rather than reading about it!Sometimes it really helps to experience physical visuals, too. Nealy describes eddy fences and boils in a way that really makes them seem like 3-D features. Which they are. But until I paddled the Ottawa River, the ones I encountered were so subtle that their shape wasn't clear. While there on the Ottawa, I really *saw* and *felt* them, and had my "Aha! This is what he means!" moment.I've read the book once, and I think it's time to read it again. I imagine I'll be reading it over and over as I progress, picking up different useful things at each stage of my development.

I learned a lot from Nealy's books and maps when I first started boating. I was lucky enough to meet him. He had such an imaginative way of looking at things and making them memorable. His art puts an easily remembered view to the way things work and what actually happens when your moves don't. In the lower corner of the pages he shows a roll in progress; as you let them flip by under your thumb. Even today "if you can't spit, don't run run it" still applies, unless you enjoy being severely thrashed. Even if you are a short boat hot dog, give it a read and get an idea of what it was like in a 13' 2" boat running stuff without seeing videos, reading blogs/forums, depending on the few books available and often Nealy's maps to get even a clue what was over the next drop or round the corner. Oh yeah, no cell phones, imagine that, no help coming, on your own.

This is still a great book, even if it doesn't have much instructional value anymore. The reality is that kayaking and river safety must be taught in person, on the river, by experienced instructors. However, I purchased this book for its entertainment value, and for this purpose Neely is awesome. The river running techniques are very basic and a little outdated in my opinion for modern boat designs and more difficult rivers. However, the illustrations and dialogue are simply hilarious, and I think all kayakers can relate to some of the predicaments Neely writes about. I think this helps remind even the most serious paddler how fun and ridiculous whitewater kayaking actually is.

Good book. A fun way to learn about white water.

If you own Nealy's original version of 'Kayak' then don't bother buying this book. There are very few differences. More of a collectors item than anything.

Amazing book. I'm not a reader at all but the illustrations and entertaining text make it a super fun read!

I bought this as I was replacing my lost copy of Nealy's KAYAK and spotted Amazon doing one of its many 'buy this with this and save this much' offers. Upon getting it I was a bit disappointed to discover that it is in fact just a re-hashed version of the old book with not a great deal of difference. The pictures of the kayaks have been updated to look a bit more like plastic `play-boats' and the paddlers are now sporting trendy new helmets, but fundamentally there's very little difference.There is a wee section on more up-to-date methods in there, but not really enough to justify a whole book.All that aside, it's still one of the best Kayak manuals around, with all of Nealy's original wisdom still being highly relevant today, and the cartoon/graphic style in which the books presented being excellent at describing the intricacies of fluid dynamics/hydrology...etc.If you've got Nealy's original KAYAK then I wouldn't bother if I were you. If you haven't and you're looking for an indispensable guide to help you understand everything from why you keep falling in at eddy-lines to how to run grade 5 (the rule of `spit' is brilliant!) then this is a must.3 stars because of my disappointment.

If you're planning on doing any kind of river running on anything more than an easy Grade 2 then I would suggest you obtain a copy of this book. The drawings are lucid and clearly explain many of the concepts. There are a number of good terms such as "body english" and "zone of funny water" that you will find yourself using.Best of all is the section called "The Joy of Flood", which I would call indispensible. I found myself swimming on one occasion, heading straight for a tree. I kicked myself off it, just as depicted by the drawing in the book. Having that knowledge in mind probably prevented me from getting into serious trouble.

I already love this book. It has so many tipps on each page, visualized so beautifully. After only going through the first pages, it has already changed my paddling style for the better. I will work through it slowly, so I can incorporate the info slowly. Absolutely love it.

Liked layout and huge amount of content. Used it to add new way of looking at skills I already have and to liven up my presentation for a new coaching assessment.

I actually SEA KAYAK, white water is something for the errrrr younger people. I read the reports on this book and just had to have it.I'm not what you would call an avid reader and have read only a small amount of it, but am impressed with it and have no doubts about recommending it. When time allows it will be picked up again.Bob