Dawn Patrol - 7/22/2023

Today's dawn patrol was supposed to have tiny waves.  With that forecast and the effort put in to getting the Shred Sled all set up, I went SUP Foiling with the Foil Drive.

Noel and Kalani setting up.

SUP foiling is hard.  SUP foiling with a Foil Drive is hard.  I don't spend enough time doing either to get good at it.  I thought the waves were going to be smaller than they were so I brought this setup out - ART1099/460F, 80cm aluminum Project Cedrus mast on the Slingshot Shred Sled.

I had multiple servings of humble pie.  I was falling like it was going out of style.  Amidst all the falling, I did manage to get 3 rides.

I have a lot more practice ahead of me if I want to actually be good at this.  I think I'd rather be good at kitefoiling.  I can save the Foil Drive sessions for prone foiling (which I can already do).  After I get a shorter paddle, and have much more practice, perhaps I'll get good at this.

I sucked today.  I'll go back to prone FD tomorrow to get my confidence back.

W:68/F:67/S:30

Dawn Patrol - 6/3/2023

Super low tide today.  Wind was negligible.  Surf was decent at the onset, but faded through the session.

Marlon used his longboard - and I brought the Shred Sled out for its inaugural run.

I used the Axis ART 1099 and the 460 rear stabilizer on the 68cm mast.

I caught five waves (which offered long rides) - but the rest of the time in between rides was struggling to get my balance on this board (5'9"x28.5"x4"+ at 110 liters).

This was actually easier to keep my balance on than the Starboard Hypernut that I had before.  When I was taking off on the waves I caught, the board felt big.  Same as when I was up and riding (it actually felt bigger then).  And when I held it up to compare with Dennis's Quatro, it also looked big.  

But when I was standing up, paddling around, and just kneeling on the board, it felt super small.

Funny how all this works out.

I'm going to get a few more sessions on this board goign standard SUP foiling mode - then I'll rig it with the Foil Drive.

W:47/F:49/S:28

Dawn Patrol - 4/29/2023

I brought the TJ Everyday and No.30 out this morning - depending on the conditions, I'd have options.

There were some small waves that were breaking on the outside - I setup the foilboard (despite the 0.0' low tide).

This being the first time I had No.30 out in the water, I figured I use the ART1099/460F combo.

The board paddled foil up nicely.  It also paddles with speed with the foil down.

I caught several waves that had not yet broken (so that design objective was met) - but when I got up on them, the foil would throw me.  I adjusted the foil back a few times, until I couldn't go any further back.

Kalani showed up in the break and I let him try out the board (while I used his normal setup).  He immediately caught a wave and pumped way back out.  Then he caught another and did huge circles around the Cabins break.  At least I know the board works....

I caught a wave with Kalani's board/foil - for me his setup was really front foot oriented (I had to weigh the nose down to balance it out) - but his setup glided nicely.

I had to get home to take La's parents to the airport.  As I paddled the board upside down across the shallower spots, I picked up a wave and got pushed in a considerable distance (which never happens on my normal setup).

Lesson learned from today - use a smaller foil for this board.  Also - tell dip-shits that hog the shower to get the hell out of the way and not socialize at the showers.

Next up... wing session???

W:35/F:29/S:26

Dawn Patrol - 4/9/2023

Smaller waves on the dawn patrol.  I should have foiled yesterday and surfed the Viking today.  Oh well -

I used the freshly waxed 4'8" prone foiling board, the 68 cm Project Cedrus mast, the ART 1099/460F, on the Ultra Short fuselage.

The tide was medium height.  The waves were waist and below for the most part.  That made the takeoff zone more tightly packed (I am not a fan of days like this).  I got in early to get some waves before the crowd set in.

I caught plenty of fun rides.  The glide on the 1099/460 is really good.  I haven't prone foiled for a bit, so I had to get my footing back.  By the second half of the session I had gotten some hard redirect turns in.  I also had a few triples.

The wind may come up this afternoon....  

W:32/F:21/S:23

Evening Session - 3/21/2023

Marlon and I headed to the beach in the late afternoon.  He brought his longboard and I brought the ART 1099/460 hydrofoil (thinking it was going to be smaller than it was).  Today was windier than yesterday - bigger than yesterday - and there was a ton of turbulence in the water.  NOT good conditions for the 1099/460.

That's the only foil I brought with me so I use it.  I did catch several long rides with some double dips.  This was a fun session!!!

W:28/F:17/S:17

Dawn Patrol - 3/11/2023

Dawn patrolled this morning.  There were waves, but it felt like it was going to get mega crowded.  I went ahead and got in early.  Marlon got some extra sleep.

I setup the Axis ART 1099 on the 68cm Project Cedrus mast with the Ultrashort fuselage.  To change it all up a bit, I used the 460 Flat rear stabilizer.

I got a couple of handful of waves - they started to back off a third of the way through my session.

This setup pumps the easiest of the Axis setups that I've foiled.  I think I may try to wing this setup and see how it tacks (extra glide from both the front foil and rear stabilizer.

Kalani had his 1099 out also.  I let him borrow the 400P rear stabilizer - he liked the 400P (and he had been using the 375P).

W:27/F:16/S:13