Wing Foiling Session - 10/14/2024

Interesting session today -

Wind was blowing side on shore - at a good clip, then not, then even stronger, then not.

Pumped up the North Nova Pro 5.0

And setup the F One Eagle 1090/DW210, Evolution Cedrus Wind 87.5 cm mast on No.32

Stats are indicative of lots of time floating around in the long lulls.

When I first went out, the wind was strong and steady.  I got in a few runs and then hit the first lull.  Prayot and Zach were paddling out and the wind picked back up.  After a few more runs, another lull hit.

When the wind picked back up, it stayed up for a bit.  I was going further and further out towards 5-Os and on one run, I picked up one of the bigger waves of the day.  I jibed on to it and was riding back in, when I saw a shark fin pop up and we "shared" the wave for what seemed a really long time.  It was probably 25' away, but even that far it looked big.

I managed to stay up for quite some time after that. 

That is until I hit the last lull - the blue line drifting out to the west.  I got saved by one of the last gusts of the day and headed in.

Close correlation between the wind graph and my speed chart.  

Challenging but fun session!!!

W:125/PW:2/FD:73/F:4/S:19

Garage Works - 10/13/2024

Yesterday I got to spend a lot of time in the garage.

First up was sanding No.38

And sanding.  And more sanding.  I got the board through 40-80-120-180-220-320 grits.

Then I went ahead and got the vent and leash plugs installed.  I played with some different foot pad configurations - gotta let those settle out (too many variations).

Then I worked on these two - Kalani's new to him Drifter 72 and No.33

After Kalani brought this board home, he found a soft spot.  I filled it with milled fibers/epoxy, placed a small patch over the open ding, then placed this bigger cap patch.  Today I'll sand off the excess, place a fill coat and this one should be good.

This toe bar had come loose on No.33

I used rubber cement and it's as good as new.

It's amazing what happens when you get used to something and then it suddenly isn't there - I use the tactile feedback to know my front foot is at the sweet spot.

Today I'll sand down the plugs on No.38, give it a wash down to get the sanding dust off and spray a wear coat on it.  No.38 is going to be wicked good!!!!

Dawn Patrol - 10/13/2024

Conditions were a little worse than yesterday - initially.  It eventually cleared up a lot and was almost as good as yesterday - just not as big and consistent.

Kalani came back from family vacay.  He gave me a KT Drifter to patch up.  And no surprise - same gear for me (it's just that good).

Marvin was also out and he was catching waves much easier than Friday (cleaner conditions).

Super fun rides today - lots of technical moves (leaned over top and bottom turns, steeper drops, double dips).

17 rides in 2 hours - not the best wave count, but I did miss several others (flattened out).

It's late enough in the south swell season that this may be the last of the proper swells.  There will be west wraps and sessions to other spots - but there's nothing like catching good waves in your backyard.

W:124/PW:2/FD:73/F:4/S:19

Dawn Patrol - 10/12/2024

I had the intentions of waking up early, and getting in a longer dawn patrol before I had to come back and take La around on some errands.  I did wake up early, but went right back to sleep.  I woke up at 6:30 (which is when I wanted to be in the water) and bolted out to WPB to get a quick session in.

Same gear as yesterday. 

The waves and conditions were excellent this morning - of course they were, Mother Nature knew I only had a limited time.

I caught seven waves in about 40 minutes - not bad.

I missed a bunch today - they were either a bit too fast coming through, or they were fat enough to slip through and not peak up.

I'll wake up earlier tomorrow.

W:124/PW:2/FD:72/F:4/S:19

Evening Session - 10/11/2024

Got in an evening session with Marlon.

There were good sized waves when the sets were coming through.  The wind was onshore enough to mess with the wave quality (bumpy surface), but not really strong enough to get up on foil with a wing.

Marlon was out on his latest longboard.  I brought out the normal setup for Foil Drive-ing and No.33

Marvin was also out on Foil Drive, and Roland was setting up in the parking lot.  He said he wants to get a Foil Drive now, but needs to sell his dirt bikes first.  He was hustling Marlon and Marvin...

Marvin and I were more over towards Coves.  There were bigger waves breaking out towards 5-O's, but we mainly had Coves to ourselves.

The waves would get steep and fast on the inside, but outside they were actually pretty hard to catch.

I caught eleven rides (and probably missed just as many).

Fun session!!!

W:124/PW:2/FD:71/F:4/S:19

Garage Works - 10/10/2024

Yesterday I spent some time in the garage getting this project further towards the finish line.

I sanded the excess fill coat epoxy and got it super close to the finish depth.

Here's the bottom deck-

And here's the top deck

Then I opened up the tracks and applied the bottom logos.

After getting some other errands done in the afternoon, I added another layer of clear epoxy to cover the logos and correct any low/high points.

Today I'll lightly sand the rails and the top deck over lay, place the top deck logo on and then add the top deck clear coat.

After that, tomorrow will be more sanding and the plug installations.

Most likely final fine sanding on Sunday, spraying an enamel/acrylic wear coat, then the deck pads.

Getting real close!!!!  

Wing Foiling Session - 10/9/2024

La and I got back from our trip today.  We had to abort the second half of the trip as Hurricane Milton was causing cancelations (our lodging was first, then the airline also recommended not going to Florida).

Conditions today were good for getting back on the saddle.  High-ish tide, swell when the sets pushed through and some decent (although more offshore) wind.  And getting back out in the water to get a session in helped get rid of the packed in a sardine can feeling from flying back.

Same gear as the last session winging (North Nova Pro 5.0, No. 32, F One SK8 950/Carve 200, Evolution Wind 87.5 mast).

Roland was also out - I was able to return his board to him - crossing our fingers that the leaks were all identified and resolved.

Not bad for a first session back.

While the wind was up, I opted to hit the break out in front of the Cabins.  When it got lighter I stayed out in front of Fenceline.

Nice correlation between the wind speed/direction chart and my speed chart.

Duke came out as I was finishing.  He and Roland said the wind was hit and miss while I was gone (but mostly the latter).

Higher degree of North in the wind - but the angle of the surf drove the lines more than the wind today.

I'm glad I brought the Nova Pro 5.0 - I had been contemplating bringing smaller wings.

Seems like the wind is going to back down a bit for the next several days - time to charge up the Foil Drive

W:124/PW:2/FD:70/F:4/S:19

Garage Works - 10/3/2024

And in an effort to clear the garage before I leave (so Marlon doesn't have to dodge too many things when trying to park), I did some epoxy work in the garage (after cleaning up the gear from the truck).

I did the last epoxy placement on Roland's board.  He jumps this board to the moon - but now it leaks like a sieve.  This is the second time I've had in the garage for repairs - but it keeps taking on water.

Hopefully this repair sticks...

And I got a second fill coat on the top deck of Norm's board.  He wanted it white (but I wasn't sure if that meant solid white, distressed white, or somewhere in between).

I'm not going to be able to sand this again before I leave - so the epoxy can now harden with time over the next several days.

I'm excited to get this board finished and over to Norm so he can get Foil Drive-ing on a proper FD board (and honestly I think this will make a superb wing foiling board also).

Evening Session - 10/3/2024

La and I are headed out to visit Noe and then my Dad - so this evening was my last session for a bit.  I was not hopeful for wind - but I went ahead and loaded both the wing gear and the Foil Drive stuff (since my track record has been not so good lately).

Roland was already in the water (pictured below) prone foiling.

Zach was also out, but I didn't see him.

Same setup as last the FD session (No.33, Spitfire 960/Skinny 365/Aluminum Cedrus)

I didn't want to track stats this session - and I didn't keep count of the rides.  I just enjoyed being out on the water today (and ripping!!!)

W:123/PW:2/FD:70/F:4/S:19

Garage Works - 10/2/2024

And when I got home, I spent some time sanding the first fill coat on No.38

I'll put another coat of epoxy/white pigment on the top and bottom and sand that.  Norm asked for this to be white - so I'll get it more white than distress white.

After that sanding I'll get the logos on, then put a clear layer of epoxy, and do a final sanding. 

I'll still have to drill holes and install the vent and leash plug.

So - I think I have about six days of work left on this one.

Wing Foiling Session - 10/2/2024

I was hoping this afternoon would be a repeat of yesterday... it wasn't.

But I only brought winging gear - and it looked like there was decent texture on the water outside (wind line was way out - lots of North in the wind).  Truthfully - as epic as it was yesterday for winging, today would have been perfect for Foil Drive-ing (and I got it completely backwards).

There was a skinny monk seal basking towards the fence.

And continuing the "it's been a minute" theme - I setup No.32

Evolution Wind Mast, F One SK8 950/Carve 200 rear stabilizer, and the North Nova Pro 5.0 rounded out the gear. 

I like the extra volume No.32 has over No.36

I knew the wind was light - but it was light and just under the easy pop up threshold.  I got up early and made several runs.  I tacked twice onto waves so the wind was enough to sustain flight (while moving).  Then I got greedy and tired to do a tack on the inside - that was the beginning of the eating of humble pie...

50 minutes later I picked up a gust and was able to get back up - thank goodness because I had drifted to the last cabin.

I did make it back upwind and decided to quit while I was ahead.

It's actually a miracle that I was even up and going in this light wind.  And from the graph, it looks like I came an hour too late.

Oh well - at least I didn't have to swim in and do the walk of shame.

This seal likes the wall -

W:123/PW:2/FD:69/F:4/S:19

Evening Session - 10/1/2024

I added some more epoxy to the bottom deck of No.38

While I was working in the garage, I kept an eye on the trees and they weren't really moving.  With that, I packed up the truck with the Foil Drive equipment and headed to the beach.

When I got there, I could see whitecaps and the trees were swaying.  No where else were there signs of wind - but there it was.

Prayot was out on his 6.0

The surf was up and the tide high.

Same foil and mast - but different board.  It's been a minute since I brought out No.33

With the wind, the surface was choppy.  It made riding a bit harder than it has been - some crashes due to the water height differentials and pop-up bumps.

Prayot and Duke scored on the wing.  And the wind never did die down - by all accounts that wind should not have been there...

Wide spread today.

18 rides - so roughly a wave every 5 minutes.

Hopefully this wind comes up again tomorrow....

W:122/PW:2/FD:69/F:4/S:19