Perfect Evening for Foiling - August 29

I took the Noi Matter plate mount off because I didn't have time to get it tweaked (I wanted to go foiling).  I mounted the Iwa forward of the Slingshot Infinity 76 mark - and this thing rode so well.  The swell was a little bigger than yesterday and the tide was also a little higher (probably +1.6' and dropping while we were out).  Just about every wave I caught resulted in really long rides, with cutbacks and pumping to get across flat spots.  I even pumped out on one of two waves where I rode out the back of the wave.  I could not do anything wrong this session.

The foil was mounted forward of the Infinity 76 mark (center of the mast).  Definitely the best day of foiling so far!!!

Did not touch bottom today either.  You can't ask for better conditions than what was out there today!

Marlon took the GoPro out - once he sorts through the pictures he has, then we'll post some of the cool pictures.

Wednesday Evening Surfcapades - August 28

I've been back in Jacksonville, Florida visiting my parents, Auntie, sister, and cousin.  I just got back yesterday and to fight the urge to go to sleep (east coast time), Marlon asked to go surfing (and La thought it would be good for me to go and wash off the travel).  I had the Go Foil Iwa and the 5'6" prone foil board - had several long rides and even popped out the back of a few.  I did hit bottom a few times despite the really high tide (which turns out wasn't so high while we were out - dropped from a mid afternoon high of 2.5' down to just over 1' in the late afternoon).

Marlon was catching his fill of waves as he had not been out since our last session (about a week).

I did try out a new mounting plate - the Noir Matter Universal Mounting Plate - to try and make removing the foil for transport easier.  I am going to have to play with this mount a little bit - if you lock down all the base mount screws, you cannot slide on the pedestal plate (not enough clearance between the board and the base mount).

This thing does have potential, but perhaps the 5'6" deck around the track mounts aren't perfectly flat either (this is a rhetorical statement - it isn't perfectly flat).  Lots of potential - just got to get the base plate mounting positioning dialed in - perhaps a shim of some sort???).

Skipped Saturday - Super Sunday - 18 August

Marlon and I hit the surf in the early evening.  Tide was just at 1.8' - back side of the full moon.  The wind backed of and the swell - well it was perfect for foiling!  Waist high waves that were less steep - breaking without pitching.

I had the Go Foil Iwa set to slightly back of the Slingshot infinity spot and it was perfect - I did not have to work to get the foil to lift and I only breached twice (out of 10 waves or so - that the breach happened after riding a fair bit, just bad foot placement).  I got several really long waves - with a few of them having multiple turns to stay in the power center of the waves.

Marlon was having a good time launching from his longboard (???).  From looking around, I was getting really long rides from waves that the longboarders couldn't stay on.  Hydrofoil surfing is here to stay!

It really doesn't get much better than days like today :)

Friday Evening Surf - 16 August

The tide was high Friday evening - 2.1' and there was a waist high swell running with a slight side-on breeze.  Perfect conditions for the 5'6" prone foil board and the Go Foil Iwa on the 24.5" mast (with 3" track adaptor).  Marlon brought his longboard and Marlon's cousin Damion asked to come along so we brought the Wavestorm.

This was one of the few times that nearly every ride was long, stable and high.  I did have a couple of takeoffs where my foot position was off - but other than that this was a great foiling day.  I also started pumping differently.  Previously I was just using my feet like getting through a flat section - but that would only work sometimes.  This session I started swinging my arms and the lift was more progressive.  I even dropped out the back of a couple of waves and was able to point back out (I think the board length became a factor in coming off foil).  I have to keep practicing this.

Marlon was practicing his helicopter takeoffs and getting some good rides.

La Goes Surfing on Her Own

Yup La went surfing without me - but with a friend from sailing.

She used the SUP.  Pinch me - I'm still contemplating what just happened...

Two Fer Saturday - 10 August (And Sunday Evening also)

Dawn Patrol on Saturday - just to mix things up a little bit.  Tide was low at 0.3', very little wind and a decent swell pushing chest high energy.  To keep mixing things up (cross training) I took out the longboard.  Too much fun!!!  I started out on the outside, caught a few bombs and then spent the rest of the session riding all the inside waves (as most people were on the outside trying to compete for the bigger ones).

Then the twofer - La's nephew who recently moved into town has been asking to go surfing - so I got permission to skip out on one party and take him surfing.  The tide was a little on the higher side at 1.4' (by 6pm).  Marlon finally agreed to put a GoPro on the board he was surfing - we scraped the port side of the nose clean and got the camera mounted - now he is hooked!!!  Here are three of his favorites:

I went out on the foil - Slingshot Infinity 76 on the 24" mast.  I got a few good rides, but the whole first half I had trouble getting the foil to lift clear - the foil was almost pegged to the front... I did get some longer rides toward the end of the session to make up for it.

We also got an evening session in on Sunday.  There was a new, similar sized swell in - the waves were a hair bigger than yesterday, but I kept the same setup on the foil-board.  I got another few good ones under my belt - but had the same issue with getting the foil to lift.  I'm starting to wonder if the bashed up starboard front wingtip has something to do with this...

Marlon was better setup for this evening - he caught a bunch, but noted it was really crowded where he was.

Foiling Thursday - 8 August

With a 0.7' tide during the evening window, it was still a bit shallow, but I set up the Slingshot FSurf (Infinity 76) on the 24" mast.

I did touch bottom twice, but only picked up one scratch.  This wing is for sure my beater.  I still need to fix the port wingtip with some thickened epoxy - maybe this weekend.

I had the foil set to the mark - but I paddled in after a few waves to adjust the foil.  I pulled it up almost to the front most position.  I didn't get bucked off and the lift was easier to pick up.

Marlon got some fin first takeoffs - super fun day!

Longboard Cross Training - 7 August

The tide on Wednesday evening was at 0.5' - so I opted to take the longboard out and spare the foil from grounding.  Marlon was having a good time - here he is ejecting.

As much as I have become addicted to prone foiling, every time I jump on the longboard I remember how much fun it is and can't stop smiling.  So much fun!

Catch Up Posts - Tuesday Template Making

I need to get these templates transferred and trimmed.  Primarily to clean up the garage again, but equally to get the new blank cut up.

Trying to maximize the usage of the 4x8 sheet - in some cases I'm making full length half templates as well as spin templates from the same paper template.

Going to get a wide 4'6" and a stubby 4'10" out of this blank.  Both will have tapered rear rails and tails.  This is a difference from the first two boards - and is in direct response to getting bogged down after the aft portions of the boards contacted the water.  Not sure how dramatic I'll make the back end chamfers, but we'll see together over the next several weeks.

Sunday Evening Session - August 4

Swell from Erick was still present so Marlon and I hit it again in the late afternoon.  The wind was mostly down and the tide was at +1.9'  I had the foil set the same as yesterday.

I caught several and a few of them were pretty long.  The waves still had some size - actually caught a couple that propelled me at a clip (crash and burn).

Marlon was catching waves all over the place (made me think I should have brought a conventional surfboard - nah!!!).

Knocking Out the To Do List

It has been really hot outside - so I haven't been working out in the garage lately.  But I did grab this from the garage and worked on it in the kitchen -

Sanding barrel is installed.  If you happen to be installing one of these, the pulley on the barrel side comes off with a wrench.  Now I just have to find a proper vacuum hose attachment and this thing will be put to work.

Saturday Evening Session - 3 August

The remnants of Hurricane Erick have been passing to the south of the islands.  Swell from the SE has been hitting the South Shore, and the winds have dropped a notch (although it is kinda onshore).  The report said the swell height was around chest - I thought about rigging the 5'2" and the Slingshot Gamma - but I still need to grind down the edge of the repair I just did on the 5'2", and it has been stinking hot in my garage lately so I just grabbed what I used last - the 5'6" and the Go Foil Iwa (24.5" mast + 3" track adaptor).

This setup was super fun today.  I took it back a notch from the Wednesday so the lift was on demand (instead of demanding).  I had several rides where I rode from the second break all the way to the shore break.  I had two waves where I rode out the back of the wave and tried pumping  (didn't get far, but at least I got headed in the right direction for recycling).  Doesn't look like it from the picture - but the swell was chest high.  The tide was another King at +2.2'

The swell was up, but the surprise was the period wasn't scrunched up like normal close storm waves.  There was time to paddle out between sets and you could pick the wave you wanted.  Marlon   was hanging in the first break area in front of the MWR Board Shack.  He caught several (as always).

The cons of today - I landed on the rear wing at the end of one wave.  I've been lucky so far, but lately I've been getting bruised.  I also touched down a bit - I'm thinking about trimming the excess volume from the rear rails and tail on my next boards.

Awesome session!