Wing Foiling Session - 10/31/2022

Afternoon session at WPB.  Tide was lower than I'd like - but you have to take the highs with the lows right.  When I was rigging up, there were whitecaps - but by the time I was out riding, the wind had dropped a notch.  The Reedin SW2 4.7 was probably a hair small, but man this wing can surf!!!

I was on the Kujira 1210/178/85cm PC mast/No.25

I took off my rear footstrap so my back foot is free to roam - I just sacrifice the ability to jump.  But I'd rather just carve these moving faces...

Almost perfect side shore wind!!!  I really love wing foiling this spot!

I was up on foil for the majority of this shorter session (needed to get home for a family dinner date).  The 1210 is such a great foil - it really does it all and I can depend on it when the conditions are variable.

W:104/F:93/S:34

Wing Foiling Session - 10/30/2022

The winds came up - but it was either way up (small wing like a 4.2) or way down (like my 6.1 wouldn't get me up).  I had actually pumped up the RS 5.1, but after watching Ryan schlog on his 5.8 I decided to go big.

I launched and was up pretty quick - and after doing a couple of warm up runs, I headed back and was going to switch over to the SWX 5.2 - but knowing that would take time away from riding, I just stuck with the 6.1

I headed out to Firsts and caught some really good, clean, long left rides.  Top to bottom carves (both regular and goofy footed) on head high set waves - doesn't get much better than this.

Then you could feel the wind starting to drop.  I made my way in but touched down at the first channel marker (the dead wind zone).  I spent a while waiting for a gust to get back up - and finally got one.  I headed out towards Firsts again to get some speed up to punch through the channel area.  It took some time to get back to the launch area (but I did without swimming).  I had to adjust to the wind direction shifting north.

High highs and low lows.

Got the 1095 up past 20mph!!!

There will be some wind tomorrow - but the day to tune in to is Tuesday -

W:103/F:93/S:34

Dawn Patrol - 10/30/2022

Marlon and I got to the parking lot as first light was cracking.  The waves were actually breaking bigger than they have in the past few days but the tide was really high and there was significant backwash.

So much backwash that I didn't even get one ride.  I had to get out of the water to make a call for work - and I figured I'd just drone for the rest of the session (and save my energy for the possibility of a winging session).

Marlon got to surf.  I think I should have brought a surfboard today (but I wasn't expecting the size that was coming through).

I'm not counting this session for me today.

Garage Works Part 2 - 10/29/2022

And to clear the garage and get rid of distractions (so I can start shaping Prayot's wing board), I went ahead and sanded down the repair on Tim's Greedy Beaver (if this board looks familiar, I sold it to him).

Here it is sanded down to 320 grit.

Nice and smooth.  The repair is flush with the surrounding area.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but here it is with the clear coat on.

Good as new!!!  It's ready to go back to Tim tomorrow morning.

Wing Foiling Session - 10/29/2022

My phone started making a lot of noise around 11 - the Hickam crew were buzzing that there was some good wind filling in.  I got there at 12:30 and the wind was strong.

I brought No.25, the 85cm PC mast, the 1095/178 on the Stringy direct bolt fuselage.  With the wind, I pumped up the Reedin SWX 5.2 - this was a change from the normal equipment (but the wind seemed steadier and stronger than normal).

Lots of people winging today - Jesse had come and gone, Ryan, Bill, Ken, Jim, Harris and others.

By the time I got out (ended up talking with Ryan about where power comes from in wings, stabilizer size with Harris, and board attributes with Bill), the wind was in a lull so I had to schlog out for a bit before I got up on foil.

I usually warm up on the inside, but I just made my way out to Firsts.

The surf was fun sized, and with the steady wind, the 1095 was in its prime!  I got several waves getting to carve up and down open face - and I even got a full speed tack onto a wave (rare here at Hickam because of the wind direction.

The SWX 5.2 was a good wing to have up today - until towards the end of the session.  The wind fell off for an extended period of time, and I got stuck for a bit until I picked up a gust and got to head in.

The wing tip hit 3x today when I was on a starboard tack - I lost the wing since it twisted out of my hands (and I'd have to reset and takeoff again).  I don't recall having that happen that many times in one session before.  It may be that I haven't used this wing in a while.

I really enjoy using the 1095 - it has great lift and it carves exceptionally well.  As with all the Kujiras, it cuts through white water and turbulence and maintains lift (where other foils would drop).  The wind was just shy of being able to jump, so I didn't bother.  My left elbow and my right wrist aren't 100% either - so the rear foot strap was pretty much just in the way.  I eventually worked it out that my right foot while sailing out would just sit in front of the foot strap - when riding regular foot stance on a wave (I nabbed three waves where I was able to pull it off today), I'd have my foot in the strap and pushed towards the back.

I actually prefer to have the ability to move my back foot around as needed.  It is also one less thing to worry about while tacking/jibing.  After I got back to the parking lot, I just took it off.  FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, THE FOOT STRAP WAS ON THE FIRST HOLE (COULD POSSIBLE GO ON THE SECOND HOLE TO BE MORE NEUTRAL).

I've been riding shorter boards than I normally would lately - lots of reworking muscle memory and foot placement, but in the end, this extra work should give me more options.  I have now been contemplating converting No.26 into a high wind sinker wing foiling board...

Really fun session!!!

W:102/F:93/S:34

Garage Works - 10/29/2022

After we got back from the dawn patrol, I sanded down the fill on Tim's Greedy Beaver repair.

I got it pretty flat but depressed the area over the repair so the fiberglass would become part of the repair (instead of sitting proud).

And here is the fiberglass patch

And here it is set for the cure.

After this, I took a nap.  I love lazy Saturdays!!!

Dawn Patrol - 10/29/2022

Dawn patrol - Marlon brought his longboard.  I brought the same setup as yesterday - No.27/68cm PC mast/ART999/400P/Crazy Short fuselage.

There was no wind, but the super high tide made the waves really backwashy.  The swell was chest high - so fun rides to be had (but a bit challenging).

After more aborted takeoffs, I started getting my footing on this shorter board (No.27 is a 4'5" - 3" shorter than the 4'8" I normally ride - so my normal muscle memory for planting my feet on quick takeoffs puts my feet in spots that aren't quite correct for balancing the board).  Despite the challenges from the surf and working through getting a new board setup, I got plenty of fun rides with good hard turns and long runs.

After foiling with Marvin (who has been studying the cadence and foot position of the foiling influencers) I've been more conscientious of my back foot positioning.  I'll drop it back over the top of the mast when riding a wave, then pull it forward to just in front of the mast when pumping back out.  I only got one pump back out today because of the surge and the new board factor - but it was a good one and I could feel the foil working more efficiently (than when I've been recycling).

It got crowded so I figured I go in and fly the drone for a bit.  I haven't flown it consistently, so my flying was pretty rusty.

Fun dawn patrol!

W:101/F:93/S:34

The Anointment of No.27

And hot on the heels of trying out No.26, I brought No.27 out for the first time today.

The waves were a little bigger than yesterday (but not by much).  The tide was lower and the wind was still up and down.

I used the same foil as yesterday - ART999/400P/68cm Project Cedrus Mast

I started off with the foil mounted dead center in the tracks.  After two waves, I moved it back a little and here is where it ended up.

This will be a good point to really start trying to get the sweet spot defined.

This board is easier to paddle, takeoff with and pump.  Not as easy as the 4'8" - but this also is lighter and moves faster.  I had a hand full of waves that I was able to ride and carve on - but I wasn't able to pump out on any of them.  I'll credit that to getting used to the board.

Overall I can tell this is going to be a good board (for me and my riding style).  I'll spend more time on this and No.26 (although as I am thinking right now - No.26 may be outfitted to be a sinker winging board) - so I can get used to the shorter dimensions.  I do not think I need a board shorter than this one - and perhaps the goldilocks zone for me is 4'8" to 4'6" for prone, and 4'10" to 5'0" for winging.

One bad thing did happen today.  A longboarder took off and aimed right at me as I was paddling out.  He never even tried to move out of a collision.  I had the foil up because I was paddling back out... he hit the foil.  I didn't see any dings on No.27 or the foil.  He was physically ok - but I gave him a scolding for not watching where he was going.  As long as nobody got hurt and my stuff wasn't damaged, I'm letting this go so I can reject the negative energy.

Dawn patrol tomorrow....

W:101/F:92/S:34

Ding Repair - Foil Comparisons

This board should look familiar - it's the Greedy Beaver  I had for years.  I recently sold it to Tim - and he quickly put a ding in the top deck.

Here is the ding all prepared for filling

And the fill is down (to close the gap that forms the ding).

Tomorrow I'll sand the repaired area flat.  Then apply fiberglass, and finally place the fill coat and sand.  Should be fine.

And when Marvin dropped me off after foiling, he wanted to compare his 990 to my 1090.  He had the F One aluminum mast.  He said he wasn't jiving with this foil (and I can easily understand that - one word - ARMSTRONG).

To the untrained eye - one might even think these foils are the same.  But the chord is a lot different.

Anointment of No.26 - 10/27/2022

Marvin picked me up from my house this afternoon to hit WPB for a prone foiling session.  Kalani and Roland were there getting ready to prone foil also.  Brian was there and decided to wing.

I brought out No.26 - a 4' 2.5" board that is 3.25" thick.  I haven't used the dunk tank on this yet, but I'd guess the volume is closer to 40 liters.  I can say this because while out waiting for a set, Marvin let me paddle around his new Majek-Appletree C@$h 31 liter board - and I'm comparing the float to that.  I was struggling for a little bit with a board this short - but by the third wave and beyond, I was able to get to my feet and enjoy the ride.  I didn't have any repeats (I did get out the back on one and was able to pump back out - but didn't recycle) - but I got in some good turns and long runs.  I can tell this is going to be a good wave board - pretty much shortboard takeoffs.

I ended up moving the mast from a forward position, back in the tracks, then forward again and finally - smack dab in the middle!  The board/foil felt balanced at this point.

The surf is supposed to be picking up - so I'll paddle this board out again soon to continue getting used to a shorter foil board.  Next decent chance at wind is Sunday evening - which just so happens to be when the surf will peak for this event.

W:101/F:91/S:34

Wing Foiling Session - 10/25/2022

La and Noe dropped me off at the beach this afternoon so they could go check out some places in Kapolei.

The wind was blowing well when I first got to the beach - I pumped up the SW2 4.7

The forecast had called for some really strong steady winds so I brought out No.25 and changed out the back footstrap for a Dakine Supremo.  I wasn't entirely confident in the wind (lots of clouds around) - so I bolted on the Kujira 1210/178.

The first hour was really good!  I even got in a few jumps.  The back strap was a little tight - after I fell on a jump, I reset the strap to be a touch looser - now it worked perfectly.

The back half of the session was more challenging as the wind was falling off.

If I had a bigger wing, I could have sailed through the lulls better - but I touched down and then had to wait for 20 minutes to pick up a gust and get back up on foil.

I fell more than usual today - No.25 is pretty narrow at 23.5" and it is also pretty short.  That makes this board more twitchy and I breached the front foil.

Marlon came to the beach after class - and he got some good footage of Derek and Roland. The wind had dropped by this point and I was struggling to stay aloft.

Derek wasn't struggling.

W:101/F:90/S:34

Wing Foiling Session - 10/24/2022

The wind was much stronger today.  The tide was high in the afternoon and there was a small swell - that all equaled winging at WPB.  I brought the SWX 5.2, the RS5.1 and the SW2 4.7 - I went with the red wing!

Marvin was out prone foiling on a demo Appletree foil board (27 liters...)

Paul was out.  Roland and Eli too.

This wing is so intuitive - it makes foiling easy.

Marlon only had one battery for the drone today.  He was trying out some new filming techniques - pretty buzzing the tower with a bounce back.

Nice wind direction and speed - 

There was one run where I came off foil, the wind seemed to slack and I was schlogging... turns out the wind shifted north for a little.

Only came off foil a few times.

More wind tomorrow!!!

W:100/F:90/S:34

Wing Foiling Session - 10/23/2022

The trades were back today!  I took Kalani to Hickam so he could get his new board dialed in (he was able to).

I pumped up the RS5.1 and bolted on the F One Eagle 1090.

This is a really great front foil - the glide is incredible - if you hit a lull you can actually pump through it without burning out.  It has really good speed for it's size.  And it turns without any issues.  The mast has some flex in it and the three M6 bolts that hold the lower section to the mast are a little questionable - but all taken into consideration, this is a winner!

I think I need to shim the base plate - but that'll have to wait for a bit.  I did use the levels to compare and there was some difference.  But I figured I should just ride it and if it was an issue I could come in and make the adjustments.

The wind was up and down - but I was mostly on foil today.  After warming up, I headed out to Firsts.  I picked up some really fun chest high (while up on foil so it was probably bigger) - the F One did not disappoint out here - same feedback - just makes the ride easier/faster/more fun.

Lots of wind - but it did have a lot of north in it - which always throws me off.

Fast foil - but I didn't go faster than the wind.

There will be wind for several days ahead - lots of winging in my future!

W:99/F:90/S:34