Evening Session - 9/29/2020

I picked Marlon up from one of his Mid-term exams after work.  I asked him how he did - he said pretty good.  I then asked if he wanted to go surf and he said yes - so off we went to get an evening session in.

The swell from this past weekend was still lingering - head high on the sets, but mostly in the chest high range (SUPER FUN).  The tide was dropping and the wind was super light.  Made for having to paddle the foil upside down a bit more than usual (so I wouldn't have to fix more scratches).  

Marlon brought his trusty longboard.  I brought out the skinny 4'10" with the GL140 - same setup as the past few sessions.  I caught several waves that I was able to ride for really long distances.  My watch said my longest wave was 474' and I got up to 12.8mph.  There were some real gems in the mix - a long left looking at the sun setting the whole way.  I had another where I got an infinity turn in (infinity symbol is a horizontal figure 8... and it sounds cooler).

What a great day!!!!

Dawn Patrol - 9/27/2020

We hit the dawn patrol again - the swell was supposed to be bigger than yesterday (but it didn't seem like it - more like the same).  There was some choppiness on the surface even though the wind was low. 

Marlon went for the outside more towards Fenceline and Middles.  I headed for the break in front of the two cabins.  I would catch a wave, ride it forever and have to paddle all the way back out (totally worth it).  The longest wave I rode was 364' and the fastest I went was 16.8mph (both according to my watch).  The waves weren't as steep as they were yesterday - so it was pick up, get lined up and ride the wall as it ran to shore. 

I did lose lift on a few rides - not positive, but again I think it was the rear wing ventilating through the chop.  Despite the few setbacks, this was another perfect day for foiling with the GL140 (so fast and turny!!!!).

Dawn Patrol - 9/26/2020

Marlon and I went on the dawn patrol this morning.  No wind at all (perfect for surfing).  The tide was low (so I had to paddle the foil upside down for a bit longer than normal).  The swell - yes the swell - nice rollers on the sets.  Head high perfection.  I brought the skinny 4'10" out and took the time to swap out the GL140 for the 180 (and moved the foil back in the tracks.  I did this because the forecast was calling for the waves to be smaller than yesterday - mistake since the swell was bigger. 

I paddled out with the GL180 and caught a few, but I was having trouble keeping the foil down (since the drops were epic - too steep for the 180).  I decided to ride one in and swap the front wings back out.  I got 446 feet on the one I rode in.  I was making the drops once I paddled back out and had the GL140 on.  Epic rides - big drop followed by long lined up walls that I would swoop up and down the whole face - my watch said I got to 13.5mph.  I saw Marlon take off on an overhead wave - this morning was perfect!!!

Evening Session - 9/25/2020

Marlon and I hit WPB this evening.  On the sets the waves got to head high.  The tide was low - so low that I did not venture to the inside - even on my really long rides.  The wind was manageable (I'm glad I didn't go winging today like I had been tempted to).  I brought out the skinny 4'10" with the GL140 and a 16" tail - perfect for today's conditions.  I was also dealing with a pulled muscle on the left side of my neck - it got looser the longer I was out.

According to my watch, I got a 515' ride and my top speed today was 12.1 mph.  I was able to get four waves that I recall that I picked up on the outside (big cojones drops) and got to glide along a head high wall - so perfect!!!

Marlon was surfing over by the thick crowd (I can't foil over there - too many obstacles) so I didn't see many of his rides.  Noe was crewing on a friend's sailboat and they were moving the boat from Haleiwa to Iroquois Point.  The white triangle is the boat on their beat upwind to the channel. 

Nice way to end the work week!

Wing Foiling Session 9 - 9/24/2020

The wind forecast called for stronger easterly winds for today, but La wasn't feeling so well - so I headed home, picked up Noe, dropped her off at sailing practice and headed to Hickam Harbor with my winging gear.  I didn't see straight east winds when I got there - in fact it was shifting around all over the place.  By the time I got the wing pumped up, the wind settled out from the NE.  It was straight out of the east for the entire day - then when I show up....

Anyways - go out and be thankful for what you have is what I try to say.  I did make some adjustments to the gear before heading out.  I shifted the foil up in the boxes by another 1/4".  I also changed out the rear stabilizer for the chopped down 16".  These adjustments were totally worth it - way less breaching today, and the couple of times I did breach, it was more like a fast lowering instead of a body slam.   And the foil was more balanced and easier to get flying - like way easier than yesterday.  I felt really confident on the setup today and even got close several times to a flying tack (just short touchdowns and right back up on foil).  I think next time I'll push the foil up another 1/8" to see if the ride gets even better - I did pay attention to where my feet were - my back foot is forward of the arch bump on the back foot pad.  I'm thinking with the foil a hair more forward, my back foot can go further back.  We'll see.  The wind did shut down after 4:30, and I eventually shlogged back to the launch - just in time to pick Noe up from sailing.  Fun day!!!!

Wing Foiling Session 8 - 9/23/2020

The wind was forecasted to be up and from the ENE, so I brought the winging gear to work with me.  The wind was up - but it was more NE than ENE.  The tide was lower (and this plays into the discussion...).  I switched the M200 and Maliko tail out for the GL210 and a P18W.  This combo doesn't lift as easily as the M200, but it does go faster when it is up and with that extra speed it seems like I can pull upwind a little more.  The wind was a bit up and down.  I was out from 3 to 5pm.



I had to fight to get back upwind during the gusts - everything would have been easier if the wind were more ENE.  I tried to make it out to the surf, but got stuck on a shallow spot with a lull.  Couple of scratches on the GL210 (grrrrrr).  I tried to make turns but on the GL210, I wasn't having any luck.  I was able to wing back in to the launch.  I made 8.88nm and got up to 13.1kts. On the beach I ended up talking with Ken - got to see how much grunt the Slingshot V2 6.4m2 wing had (lots).  After my 10th session, I'll stop posting what session I'm on - just an FYI.

Actually - Marlon went surfing at WPB and La and Noe went to Haleiwa to sail on a friend's new (to her) boat - so we were all out on the water on different parts of the island!!!