Dawn Patrol - 8/22/2023

Pulled a dawn patrol with Nick and Lance.

I decided to prone foil - and setup the normal gear - Progression 170/Flex Rear Stabilizer/68cm Project Cedrus mast/4'8" Prone Foil Board

The wind was actually on the surf pretty early... and it turned the surf into a choppy mess.  I actually could have been winging.

I did get some rides in - I just couldn't turn upwind, otherwise I'd get slowed down to stall speed.

Despite the challenging/choppy conditions - it was really good hanging out with Lance and Nick!

W:82/F:81/S:32

Evening Session - 7/14/2023

I had gotten home from a long week at work and was prepared to just rest, but Roland texted and said we needed to prone foil WPB.  

I loaded up and got to the beach - I saw Roland's van in the parking lot.  I assumed (ass out of you and me) that he was out already.  I paddled out and didn't see him.  Then I remembered he takes naps in his van.

I was out and gotten gun shy about overtightening the bolts on the Cedrus - and actually didn't tighten them up enough.  With the cross currents in the water, I could feel the mast wobbling.  I caught one and paddled in to tighten up the bolts.

And Roland's van was gone.  Woke up from his nap and went home.

I got squared away and paddled back out.  I caught some fun ones, but the tide was high enough that the backwash started up and I would get thrown off the board without even seeing the bump that caused it.

I especially got to get some roll into the waves that were breaking with some shape/steepness to them.

Fun session and a great way to get back into prone foiling.

Weekend Foil Drive session tomorrow!!!!

W:66/F:64/S:30

Evening Session - 7/6/2023

This was the yesterday after work session.  I brought wing gear thinking the wind would be steady and enough to wing.  When I pulled up, Roland was sitting on the picnic table and said the beach was closed - shark sighting.

He also said Marc said they'll be opening it all back up in 20 minutes.  I said I'd go back home and grab my prone gear.

By the time I got back, Roland, Duke, Tim and another guy were all out.

The waves were being impacted by the high tide - lots of backwash in the water and cross currents.  Made foiling pretty difficult.

I took the standard gear.

I did get some fun rides despite the challenges.

Roland has been using the Progression 140 pretty much every session now.

And Tim asked me to fix another board.

W:63/F:63/S:28

Evening Session - 7/3/2023

This is what the surf looked like when Roland and I got to the parking lot.  There were waves breaking in the waist high range and the wind was just shy of being wingable.  The tide was super high - so I let Roland check out the Progression 140.

I took out what I thought would make the most of smaller, waist high and less waves - Progression 170, my flex rear stabilizer, the 68(72)cm Project Cedrus mast and my higher volume 4'8".

Well - after 30 minutes of catching the waist high waves and getting my paddle-in prone bearings again, the waves doubled in size.  That mixed with the uber high tide backwash made for some really challenging conditions (which makes things more fun).

I was probably pushing the limits of takeoff with the P170 once the waves picked up - but that made for some epic drops!!!

It took Roland a few waves to get adjusted to the Progression 140 - but he liked it so much he is buying off me (like he said he would when I bought it off Craigslist for him).

Tomorrow is America's birthday - for all our faults, there is still no place like it - take some time to appreciate our freedom, our liberty, and our collective way of life - and strive to make us better, more compassionate, and the best foilers in the universe!!!

W:62/F:61/S:28

Evening Session - 6/29/2023

Headed out to WPB for an after work prone foiling session with Marlon.

Waves were small, and the wind would often reach winging speeds - but today was a day for Marlon to progress.

And progress he did - catching several waves and getting up on foil (although I think the mast could have come forward a notch so he would have been up higher on foil - but it's best to let each rider mae the call for when they are ready to take the next step).

I caught a bunch, got several recycles, some really sharp carving turns, and some fast downwind down-the-line runs.  The Progression 170 is such a great foil!

W:61/F:58/S:28

Evening Session - 6/6/2023

These posts may seem like they are a single continuous loop - same thing every day - they have been lately.  But that's okay because its all really fun.

I brought the same setup.  The waves were a little smaller than yesterday.  The wind was stronger (I could have gone winging...).  The tide was really high again - so high as the session went on, it started to drown out the surf.

And like the previous days, I had some really fun waves.  Hard redirects with some lean going into the turns are my favorite move - high g forces!!!

Lots of foilers out today - Eddy (who went and winged - smartest one of us all), a SUP foiler named Milton, Gary, Roland and Kalani.

Kalani asked to borrow No.30

He ran into the same situation I found - the foil sizes we are currently using end up putting the mast at the box slots.

Back to No.21 - this positioning is optimum.  I've been making incremental adjustments to see if the changes made a difference - this one made the foil feel like it did on No.31

This is the way -

I think I might rest tomorrow... or at least get some work done on No.31 and 32 (wing/FD prone board).

W:47/F:52/S:28

Evening Session - 6/5/2023

The waves were bigger today.  The wind was almost wingable - and it was definitely chopping up the surface.  The tide was super high and rising to 2.5'.

Roland got his Progression 170 delivered today - a "must attend" event!

I rigged the same as yesterday, only swapping out the 68 for the 75cm Project Cedrus Mast - when it is a high tide above 2.0', it's time to bring out the tall masts!

Today was a slashing massacre - I carved hard onto section after section, and got progressively tighter patterns on the rebounds.  SO MUCH FUN!!!

Roland was getting used to the new foil - I think he needs to push the mast forward a bit to get to the sweet spot.  On one of a few waves we took off on, I pretty much mirrored what he did and even tried to run him down on the pump back out - I ran out of gas and he ended that wave with a backflip.

I could have used the Vyper 170 - especially since the chop made it hard to pump back out - but I'm glad I was on the Progression 170.

W:47/F:51/S:28

Dawn Patrol - 6/4/2023

Bigger surf today - light wind, but low tide and dropping to really low (2 out of 3 isn't bad).

All my muscles were tired from yesterday's SUP foiling.  I decided to take it easy today - I used the old reliable setup.  The crowd was not that bad - I was out in front of the cottages and only a few stray longboarders were hanging out.  

And I was carving it all up!!!  This front foil is as good as it gets for chest high waves and under (and it was perfect for today).  Triples, leaned over carves, top to bottom surfing - this foil is incredible!!!

I'm glad I kept it simple today (and I need to install footstrap inserts in the 4'10" FD prone board so I can tie down the FD box; I need to redo the box in No.31; Tim gave me the Greedy Beaver to fix a ding; and I need to rest a bit before trying to SUP foil again).

W:47/F:50/S:28

Evening Session - 6/2/2023

When I got home from work, the wind was kind of up.  I kept hopeful and packed up the winging gear.

I got to the beach and it was coming in from the NE - pretty hard offshore at WPB.  I could see the white caps offshore - but it was pretty glassy inside.  I figured I'd cut my losses, head home and swap out the winging gear for my prone equipment.

After the swap out, I paddled out over towards the cottages and foiled that side - there were fewer people and I could ride longer without having to fade off to avoid hitting people.

I caught plenty of waves, recycles and even a few wipes.

This weekend is going to be pretty wave and wind starved... take what you can get.

W:47/F:48/S:28

Evening Session - 6/1/2023

Got in a quick after work session.

Used the same setup I've been using for prone foiling for some time now - 4'8" prone foil board (No.21), 75cm Project Cedrus mast (this actually was a change - I've been using the 68cm mast), the Unifoil Progression 170 and the flexing rear stabilizer.

The wind was up, but not as strong as it was two days ago - strong enough to put a texture on the water.  The tide was really high (so no fear of grounding), and there were some waves (but nothing to write home about).

It was pretty technical foiling today - had to be in the right place at the right time - but good timing resulted in great rides.  My first was a triple and I pumped back out on pretty much every wave.  The crowd was pretty thin today so no issues on that front.

I had some really fun turns on sections, then pumped through the flats across to another building section.

This front foil is as good as the hype makes it out to be -

W:47/F:47/S:28

Evening Session - 5/30/2023

In between finishing off Jimmy's Downwind SUP repair and getting the board back to him, I got in a quick evening prone foiling session to wash of the carbon dust.

I was considering a winging session - but I knew I wouldn't have a whole lot of time.

The high was high at 1.5' but it was dropping fast.  There were some small waves around, but the wind - which was just below good winging and above tolerable prone foiling was the dominating factor... and it was making the session pretty frustrating.

I caught three really long waves where I got in a bunch of cutbacks and pretty much rode to the inside.  I think the Sweet Potato would have been a good call too - but those rides would have been shorter (although more frequent).

Don't get me wrong - even though the conditions were not epic - I still had a great time!

W:47/F:46/S:28

Evening Session - 5/26/2023

I got home yesterday from work and Marlon and I headed out to get some foiling in.

It was actually windy enough to wing (Brian had been winging for a couple of hours prior), but Marlon has been asking to foil so I obliged.

I brought out the Unifoil Progression 170 and he was on the Kai Go Foil.

Marlon was able to get up a handful of times.  A few more sessions and he should be turning.

I had some good rides, but the wind was adding turbulence to the water and riding was difficult.

I also nicked the bottom with the Progression... I'll wet sand out the scratches.

Definitely a different weather pattern setting up...

W:47/F:42/S:28

Dawn Patrol - 5/20/2023

Dawn patrol - no wind, smooth wave faces, low and dropping further tide - waist high waves with lulls in between.

I opted to not bring out the Foil Drive just yet - I'll get the mounts placed on the striped wing foiling board and then take it out.  I also didn't feel right taking it out if Kalani's board wasn't ready (I should be able to get it back to him tomorrow).  Although when I was in the lineup, I could not help but think about how many more waves I could have caught....

I setup up No.21 with the 68(72cm) Project Cedrus mast (low tide...)

My first several waves were not impressive - weird how just a few sessions can recalibrate your muscle memory.  I was wiping out because my feet were landing in the wrong spots.  The asymmetric foil board I have been using is a couple of inches shorter and narrower than No.21

I did eventually find my footing and got in some really fun rides.  Then the waves backed off - a lot.

Marlon had paddled over to Camp Grounds because the Saturday morning crowd was pretty thick (again - another reason to think about use of the Foil Drive...).

Fun session!

W:44/F:40/S:28

Evening Session - 5/16/2023

I had my first colonoscopy yesterday morning.  The prep was laborious and I adjusted my schedule around it - but the check is all done.  By the afternoon I felt better and went out to foil.  Marlon came with to longboard.

The wind was slightly less strong than Monday.  The tide was way up - not sure where that flip happened.  And the waves were definitely bigger.

Marlon was catching a bunch - but he went in halfway during my session because the tight lineup had a pretty aggressive crowd.

I setup No.21, but I couldn't remember where I had the Progression 170 set in the tracks.  I started with it mounted full forward, but I recall that's where I had the Vyper 170 situated.  I went ahead and brought a pocket sized Phillips screwdriver to make adjustments.

I was actually having a hard time catching waves at the front half of the session.  The waves would back down and flatten out in the middle.  And when I did catch a wave, I had to recalibrate where my feet went.  After I did catch my first real ride, I could tell the mast was too far forward and rode the wave all the way in.

I set the mast back and paddled out again.  I ended up catching plenty more waves and the foil/board performed as expected.

This is where the base ended up.

Fun rides in marginal conditions!

W:44/F:37/S:28

Dawn Patrol - 4/30/2023

I was late to the dawn patrol - got there about 6 am (and the sun is way up by that time).  The tide was low - but there were waves breaking outside.

Dennis and Kalani were sitting at the pavilion -  Kalani was waiting for the wind - I told him I had to get the Safety Check done on my truck, so I'd be back to wing later.

I brought out my new favorite prone foil - the Uni Progression 170 (with the thin flexing rear stabilizer I made).

I caught six waves in an hour - each was a triple and I had multiple hard carving turns.  For most of the rides, I did zero pumping - this front foil is amazing!!!!

On one paddle back out, I hit bottom - it was the rear stabilizer that hit. When I got home, I wet sanded the bump out - my OCD can stop fretting about that now.

Super fun session!!!

W:36/F:30/S:26

Evening Session - 4/26/2023

I wanted to wash the sanding dust off me - so I grabbed Marlon and we headed out to WPB.

Marlon surfed with Lani for 30 minutes, then came in to fly his drone.

I brought out the new staple - 4'8"/Project Cedrus Mast/Unifoil Progression 170/the flex rear stabilizer.

The gear delivered!!!  This setup is so effortless to foil... almost no pumping while on the wave, and when you find the sweet spot, pumping back out is not laborious.

Roland and Marvin were also out.  Had to weave in between a bunch of kooks, but today was really fun!

W:35/F:28/S:26

Dawn Patrol - 4/23/2023

Dawn patrol this morning saw light and variable winds, a 0.6' tide, and a much cleaner swell than yesterday.

Kaylani came out to take pictures.

Based on the issues yesterday, I switched out the Progression 170 for the Vyper 170.

The swell was still hitting slightly overhead on the sets.  Marlon caught a bunch of good waves.

I love these steeper drops on foil.  And the subsequent bottom turn.  And lining up the run.  I don't like breaching the stabilizer and face planting.  I have to remember to use the longer mast when the waves come up.

W:35/F:27/S:26

Evening Session - 4/22/2023

Marlon and Noe were both napping while I was in the garage.  Eventually Marlon woke up and he wanted to head to the beach.  I had a bunch of foam dust all over me so I went along.

I used the same setup as yesterday.

The waves were much bigger than yesterday.  When I took off on some of the head high + waves, the speed I would reach was limiting and the foil behaved weird.  This isn't a surprise - foils that do well in smaller surf don't usually do well in larger surf.

I did catch several - but I wrecked on a bunch.  I wrecked like I haven't wrecked in a long time.  Were it not for the waves being overhead, I would have been cursing and yelling "look at me - I'm a kook!!!"

Marlon caught a bunch of good ones - but even he looked like he was challenged by the conditions today.  I'm not sure the chop was from the high tide reflecting the energy back out, the onshore winds, or the new swell sloppiness.

Dawn patrol tomorrow!

W:35/F:26/S:26

Evening Session - 4/21/2023

Early evening session (so I could go pick up Marlon).

The surf reports said the waves were supposed to come up a notch... I really didn't see it if it did.  The tide was even higher than yesterday - so the backwash was working.

I bolted on the Progression 170 (it will be hard not to) - and proceeded to catch, glide, crank and pump.  This front foil is pretty incredible.

The rides were still difficult because of the conditions - but this foil definitely helps make the most out of shitty waves!!!

W:34/F:25/S:26

Evening Session - 4/19/2023

Work sucked today so I really needed the evening session.  The tide was really full, the wind was dropping and side off, and there was still swell rolling in that was generated by the storm that just passed through - perfect foiling conditions!

I brought the same setup as last time, but I swapped out the KD Marlin 15" for my 14.875" flex rear stabilizer... what a freaking difference!!!!

What was already good went to stellar!!! I caught so many really good rides, carving turns all the way.  I could feel the stabilizer flex and return through the carves.

After today's session, I'm going to say the Progression 170 surfs better than the Eagle 1090...

I thought I was going to sell this foil because it was too similar to the Eagle... now I'm trying to figure out how to move all the other foils (Takuma, GoFoil) so I can just keep what works for me (and the kids even though they only rarely foil).

W:34/F:23/S:26