Parawing Sessions - 5/23/2026

Got in a double session at Hickam.

Initially the rain clouds were stalling the wind, but the clouds did clear and the wind filled in.

Kalani, Stu, Ken, Prayot, the other Ken, Harris, Naomi, Zach and a few others I didn't know all came out at some point.

I used to different setups.  First out the gate was the Cabrinha Prestige setup.  Then I came back in and swapped to the AFS Ultra HA/UGlide 41

The winds were really shifty and gusty - pretty hard to nail anything when the wind is like this.

The more I use the Cabrinha Prestige, the more I love it - the AFS foils are so high performance they demand attention and expect you to be focused.  The Cabrinha is just so easy to use and is just plain fun.

There are a few tacks buried in the red spaghetti.

The end of this session saw wind speeds that exceeded the BRM S3 5.3's upper limit.  That's when I went in and swapped setups.

Lots of up and downs with the gusts.

I actually did a middle session where I had the BRM Maliko 2.9 parawing out.  I did get up on foil, but mostly I was riding the struggle bus.  I thought the blasting wind from the end of the previous session would hold - 

It didn't.  At least I didn't paddle in.  I swapped the 2.9 for the 5.3

I got a tack in somewhere in this track.

The wind flopped - and it was tough even with the S3

Again - a demanding race horse -

Super fun session!

PF:8/W:2/PW:51/FD:37/S:17

Parawing Session - 5/22/2026

The wind looked steadier today - but it was actually more challenging than yesterday.  Twisting wind, getting stuck in no man's land in large chop, and not having the right parawing up when it was needed were the things to deal with.

I opted for the AFS Enduro 1100 and associated equipment.

I brought the BRM Maliko 2.9 and 4.0.  They both fit in the larger NSI stash bag.

I had a lot of down time today.  Mainly having one parawing up and needing to wait for the conditions to use it.  Or the chop in front of the cabins was bad and I couldn't maintain balance.

Early in the session, I was getting back-to-back retract and ride waves.  But that evaporated relatively quickly.

Then the wind shifts started.  And I got blown into the dead zone...

I eventually made in back to the area above Fenceline.  With the smoother water in this area (where I normally wing), it was way easier to get up on foil and move where I wanted to.

Way more holes than last week.

It's Memorial Day weekend - lots of crowds to maneuver through...

PF:8/W:2/PW:49/FD:37/S:17

Parawing Session - 5/21/2026

Zach was finishing up when I got to the parking lot.  He put in two hours windsurfing.

Conditions were similar to yesterday - but the tide was a little lower, and the wind a bit less gusty.

Gear was all the same except the board (went up to No.34) and the mast - the Evolution Cedrus Surf 77.5 (plus 4).

And the riding was similar to yesterday also.

The retract and ride waves were far and few between - but I snagged a handful.  Bigger faced wave, maneuvering to stay close to the pocket - perfection!

Kalani was out on the Triple Seven PT Hybrid 4.3

Prayot and Norm came out later on 4.0 wings.

The Maliko 4.0 was powered up nicely at times and overpowered on multiple occasions.  

Good correlation between the two charts.

Tomorrow is looking to be similar - I'll take it!!!

PF:8/W:2/PW:48/FD:37/S:17

Garage Works - 5/20/2026

Some interesting things garage wise happened today.

First I donated 3 of 4 boards and my two GoFoil sets to the KYC wing foiling group.  I wasn't using these boards so I figured, if someone is using them then that is better than them sitting in my office.

I need to fix the big one (loose track), and I'll donate that one as well.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Kalani is going to buy my Triple Seven PT Hybrid - I figure if I keep moving the parawings I have, I'll continue to be able to get new foiling gear.  With the proceeds from this, I'll be able to pick up another BRM S3 -

And back to garage specific information - 

I sanded the window patch on Tim's board down to 400 and put a clear coat on the modified spot.  I'll get this back to him tomorrow.

I'll probably work on the big board's track replacement next - then I can donate that board to KYC also.  That'll really clear up the garage.

Parawing Session - 5/20/2026

Stronger winds started to fill in today.  Tide wasn't as high as it has been (and it gets higher the later it gets) so the paddle out is getting a bit longer.  Waves started to come down.  Also the wind had more north in it than the previous days.

With the stronger winds I wanted to try out this combo - No.40 with the Cabrinha Prestige setup.

I also let Kalani use the Triple Seven PT Hybrid 4.3 as he is contemplating buying it from me.  I used the BRM Maliko 4.0

So with this, I finally got to see the shape of the PT Hybrid while it was flying (a perspective I never get as I'm always flying it).  You can see the double skin section doing its magic!!!

Norm winged up from PVs.

There were a few rides where I doused the PW and got long rides prone foiling - the Cabrinha Prestige felt really good doing this - as long as there was a wave pushing.  One in particular was really good!

I attempted a few tacks today, but with the north wind, I got field stripped off the board.

Hard wind to rig for today - there were multiple times where I didn't quite have enough power to get up.  Some other times it was easy to get up because of the wind strength.

Kalani was flying the Hybrid really well.  So well that he said he'll buy it from me.  And that means I can order the BRM S3 4.2

I love the Triple Seven Hybrid - but the S3 is redefining parawinging in my opinion.

Lots of great wind coming over the next several days!!!!

PF:8/W:2/PW:47/FD:37/S:17

Garage Works - 5/19/2026

Window install on Tim's board got sanded -

And covered today.

I'll try and wake up early to sand this and get a clear coat sprayed on - then it can go back to Tim tomorrow afternoon (and I can get more working room back in the garage).

Parawing Session - 5/19/2026

Almost a repeat of yesterday.

Wind was good, but not as steady or strong as yesterday - and it was a bit swirly, especially on the back half of the course.

Nice high tide again.

And the waves had similar energy to yesterday.

Launch point -

Robby was on Foil Drive (testing out a tiny race stabilizer).

Norm had the same setup as yesterday.  And Kalani came out today - and tried the Code 985X (or whatever it was)

I bumped up the foil to the AFS Enduro 1100 - insurance with the slightly iffy winds.

And the landing -

The waves were really good up above Fenceline - got a few stashed parawing rides that reeled for quite some time.

I was pretty much holding my line while riding - then I looked for Norm and Robby and they were both almost at Campgrounds.  I started heading downwind at this point.

You can see at Campgrounds the wind was coming in from different directions.

The waves over here weren't as good for retracting the parawing, so I just had it in drift position.  I really love flying the BRM S3!

This is Hickam's wind chart - I think our run was a notch below this (pressure reduction from up there to PV is enough to make a difference).

Pretty much the same as yesterday on top speed.  I definitely pushed the Enduro 1100 -

Another fun session!!!

Wind should be stronger tomorrow - I'll likely setup the Cab P905 and the Maliko 4.0

PF:8/W:2/PW:46/FD:37/S:17

Garage Works - 5/18/2026

The projects have been piling up in the garage.  I just haven't been in the mood to tackle some of these (plus it has been warm and humid lately).

I got approached by Tim yesterday - he wanted another single window on his Amundson board.  I actually cut this hole yesterday - I thought I ran out of milled fibers and said I'd get some today.

I did get another container of milled fibers - but when I pulled out the epoxy bottles, I found the existing container of milled fibers....

I got the fill mixed up and placed.

And I had enough material leftover to get some onto Stu's mast repair.

I placed mold release on the fuselage, then added the epoxy.

Hopefully the parts release - if yes, then I'll shape the mast foot and even add more material to make the front section more hydrodynamic.

I'll likely be in the garage again tomorrow evening - trying to get these two projects completed.

Afternoon Parawing Session - 5/18/2026

Did a parawing downwind run with Norm this afternoon.

Wind was nice and strong.  Waves were filling in.  Tide was nice and high!

This was White Plains at launch.

BRM S3 5.3, No.34 with the Cabrinha Prestige (160 rear stabilizer and the 78cm Apex mast)

And this was Pavilions at recovery.

This was the inaugural BRM S3 5.3 and Cabrinha Prestige 905 session in waves and strong wind.  And the setup did not disappoint one iota -

Jibing was a breeze - including a down loop.  I even messed up a couple of times, but the glide from the Prestige 905 gave me time to correct the parawing handling and keep going.

I caught three waves from outside Cabins and 5-O's where I'd line up, retract the parawing and just carve up and down a 3' overhead wave that just reeled - this was pure magic!!!!  

The weird twists in the track were the rides.

I had several more rides, but didn't retract because the wave didn't seem like they'd give the same push as the big three.

Norm was up and riding on the Triple Seven PT Skin 7.3 - no problems getting up (actually he said he was overpowered about 50% of the session).  ANd on the back half of the session he was getting up, making the run, jibing, making it through and on to the opposite tack - then repeat.  He made the cycle a few times at least.

This chart was from the Kalaeloa Airport (which on east or NE winds, is usually off by about 5mph).

I hit 20mph on the Prestige - bombing down one of the big waves!!!!

The Prestige was really fun to parawing with - just easy!

Today was definitely one of the top 5 parawing sessions I've ever had!!!  And it is just the beginning of this wind event!

PF:8/W:2/PW:45/FD:37/S:17