Evening "Foiling" Session - 6/29/2021

I got home from work and asked Marlon if he had time to get an afternoon session in - he said he was finishing up his math studies and had a few minutes on another assignment, but that after he could go.  I told him to take his time because I wanted to put stickers on the 4'8" and also needed to get it setup with the foil.  He asked if today would be a good day to learn to foil - and I figured it was so I setup up the 5'2" for him.  The tide was super full.  The waves were around belly to chest high,  The wind was up - not enough for winging, but enough to churn up the surface.

I put him on the Iwa - since he was able to handle it last time we were on Prayot's boat.  I put the HS1532CS front foil on and got the foiling wingnuts on - I figured I could get the adjustment of this front foil down faster if I could change the position without getting out of the water.

Marlon did well for his first time.  He was falling properly (away from the foil), catching waves and popping up.  When he was up and riding, he would get over powered.  I reminded him to put a lot of front foot pressure since that foil was thick.  

I caught a bunch and after every other wave, I made an adjustment to get the position dialed in.  The waves were funny today - duck diving, you'd feel a secondary drop/push as the wave rolled over.  This same effect made riding really challenging today.  I guessed that the shims needed to go back on since that was what made the HS1250 sing, but I took them off towards the end of the session - there was just way too many waves where I was fighting the board on takeoff.  I had to put too much rear foot pressure to get the nose up - rear foot pressure means the front wasn't generating enough lift - but with the forward adjustments I had already made, I wondered if it was the shims.

I took those off (and got hit by a few waves in the process - thank goodness I didn't lose any hardware) - and the board came to life!!!  I got a double dip early on, but after I took the shims off, I got a triple dip!!!  I still felt a little rear foot pressure - made one more forward adjustment and then I felt the board-foil was perfectly balanced.

Too much fun getting board-foils dialed in.  Makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing with regards to trimming and adjusting to maximize performance and efficiency!!!

Wednesday Evening Session - 3/11/2020

Based on the previous days of surf, I thought there was going to be similar conditions - but when Marlon and I got to the beach, the surf was really small.  We were out anyways so off we went.  The wind was coming out of the west (odd), but it did not impact the surface much.  The tide was at 1.6' - I could have brought out the Armstrong with this depth, but I kept with the previous setup for expediency (5'2" Foilboard and the Maliko 200).

I caught five - the first I came off early due to foot placement, and every wave got progressively better from there.  My last wave was sweet - lots of glide and got in some hard turns but as I rode it all the way in, my dismount got twisted and my right shin caught the underside rail of the board.  Now I have a ding repair to knock out (and since I'll be working on the board, I'll switch the vent to an auto).

Marlon came in earlier than I did.  When it gets this small, it actually starts to get a little frustrating because some people feel they have to surf every wave.  Add to that the takeoff spots condense down and it could make you want to just pack it up for the day which is the opposite effect you are looking for in surfing.  The swell is supposed to be down for the next several days - good time to catch up on the garage projects.

Tuesday Evening Session - 3/10/2020

Marlon and I hit the beach for an evening session.  Initially I had the 5'2" setup with the Iwa on the 24.5" mast + 3" adaptor.

As we drove up to the parking lot, it looked small - and after going down and checking on it, I decided to swap out the Iwa and Kai tail for the Maliko 200.

The swell was about waist high on the sets, but predominantly thigh high.  There was barely any wind and the tide was good and high at 1.5' (which is why I brought the foil instead of the Viking).  This was my first foil session in a while - really since I got the Viking.  I paddled for a wave and ejected because of bad foot placement, but after that I pretty much had long rides.  I was at Fenceline for a while because the crowd at Sand Lots was really dense.  After riding a several all the way back to the beach, I went ahead and paddled over to Fenceline.  I had to bypass a few because they were too steep for the Maliko.  I did catch a bunch and I got the feeling for this foil again - by the last few waves, I was cranking hard turns (fun G-Forces!!!).  Morale of this story - don't be shy about bringing the extra wings to the beach.

Marlon caught a bunch on his longboard so all was right with the universe.

Evening Session - 2/13/2020

Got home today from work and headed to the beach - been working late all this week so I needed to paddle around.  The tide was a rising high - I got in at 0.5' and got out at 0.9'.  The swell was thigh high with occasional belly high sets.  There was some wind, but not enough to blow out the surf.

I had the 5'2" and the Maliko 200 out again - the foil setting is perfect so I'll mark this position and start surfing a different combo next time.

I got three really fun rides right off the bat.  All glide and not much pumping - magic of the Maliko.  But after a couple more, the swell seemed to double up and I did not want to take off on a wave that was too steep (while using the Maliko).  I figured I had my fair share and took one last one in.  Hopefully I can do it all again tomorrow!

Stealth Mission (Dawn Patrol) - 2/9/2020

In an effort to get around the issues from yesterday (CROWD), Marlon and I hit the surf really early today.  It was so early when we got there that the full moon was still out (so technically this was a stealth mission).

The thermometer on the Odyssey said it was 54F outside - we think it was probably closer to 60F - but regardless it was COLD.  The waves were really small - smaller than yesterday and with the high tide, they were barely breaking.

Marlon got three pretty quickly and then went it.  It took me a lot longer to get my three - I had the 5'2" out again and the Maliko 200.

Last night I adjusted the foil back further - almost to the end and it seemed to be better in the surf (less tendency to want to lift right away as I was paddling for a wave - easier to control while riding).  I would have had an easier time catching more waves if I brought out the 5'6" - but getting the foil position dialed was worth the extra paddling.

It is days like this morning that make me think I need a Firewire Viking in my life...

Dawn Patrol - 2/8/2020

Marlon and I hit it this morning - it was cold - 61F air temp.

It was tiny - maybe knee-thigh high on the sets, and it was crowded.  When it gets like this, the takeoff points consolidate and everyone starts tripping all over each other.

I caught three (Marlon might have caught more) then we called it.  There were some "visitors" that were hogging the waves - I don't like surfing around people like that - BLAH.

I used the Maliko 200 on the 5'2".  I had the foil mounted back about 3/4" from where I had the Iwa.  It felt like it had a tad too much lift at takeoff and it didn't want to set a line.  I should have taken out the 5'6" for the paddling power, but I want to get the foil position dialed in with this combo.  If I go out tomorrow, it'll be even earlier to get a jump on the crowd.

Foiling Friday Evening Session - 2/7/2020

I went for an evening session yesterday just to wash the week off.  It was small, crowded and a low tide.  The wind was from the North so it cold (but clean - did I mention it was small...).  I brought out the same rig I've been using lately - 5'2" Foilboard and the Iwa on the 24.5"+3" Mast.  Despite the shallowness of the tide, I didn't hit the bottom this session.

I did catch three, but the wave energy would back down and I'd have to pump through the flats to catch the reform - I'm not complaining because I wouldn't have been able to do that on a longboard.  I'll take what I can get - winter on the south shore...

Dawn Patrol - 2/2/2020

Marlon and I hit the beach again this morning.

The size came down a notch, but it was cleaner than yesterday.  The tide was lower at 1.0'.  We stayed out for a couple of hours and we really didn't have to wait for waves.

Marlon was working on his helicopter takeoffs - he nailed three!

All trimmed up and running at a good clip along a breaking wall - this is foiling bliss!

These blurry pictures don't capture the speed that foiling occurs at - way faster than surfboards because there is way less friction to overcome.  

I was happy to just catch waves and ride them all the way back to the beach (not all the way - just to where the water was still deep enough to not ground the foil).  I had my fill of waves after a couple of hours - we had it best early on when the crowd was less of a factor - dawn patrols rule!

Dawn Patrol - 2/1/2020

Some days are definitely better than others - this one was awesome from the get go.  Marlon and I hit the dawn patrol - there was some wind so the surface had a texture to it - minor, not super chop or anything like that.  The tide was around 1.2' on the morning high tide.  And lastly the swell... ah yes - the swell - just a hair bigger than yesterday but when we first got out it was pretty darn good.

With the lower tide, I brought out the 5'2" and the Iwa (on the 24.5" + 3" mast).  Now for the good part - Marlon and I took off on the same wave and while I was cruising on the foil, he was pulling a helicopter.  The shortly after that, Marlon was watching while I took off on an unbroken peaking wave and dropped along the breaking section - the foil was almost pegged (wings just under the surface), and I was standing straight up in perfect trim and the wave was still taller than I was!  Too bad we didn't have the Go Pros out...

I had a bunch of long rides on running walls, and Marlon had some really cool takeoffs - but then the waves kinda shutdown.  Take it when you can get it (and it is February - the south shore is supposed to be flat yet were getting epic rides!)!!!  Oh and to make a good day better, this gal was running around ;)

Evening Session - 1/28/2020

Marlon and I hit the beach yesterday afternoon.  Almost the same conditions are previous afternoon sessions - upcoming high (the smaller of the daily high tides) at 0.9', some wind from the S, a waist high swell and a mellow crowd.  Marlon bumped into a friend so he was mainly on the inside, but I kept getting drawn outside to stay away from the shallow takeoffs inside, and to try and get more practice taking off at the peak.

I botched a few takeoffs, but I'm sure they were spectacular to watch...  I did get a bunch of long rides also - standup walls where I could glide along until a section peeked - then lean into a cutback to keep running with the wave - couldn't do this on my longboard.  But I also don't have to worry about running aground on my longboard either.

Another great wave riding session!

Dawn Patrol - 1/27/2020

Took advantage of the inbound energy again this morning.  Marlon having heard how good it was yesterday decided to go this morning.  A hint of wind texturing the water, a high tide of 2.0' and a chest high break on the sets - I'll take it!  Air temp was a chilly 63F, but the water was warmer - probably hovering around 70F.

I wasn't catching as many waves as I would on a smaller swell - my foot placement didn't seem to be falling into place as well - ended up having to bail on four or so.  I also had one wave where the foil just stopped lifting just after takeoff - I really need to figure out how to stop those from happening.  The ones I did catch were epic - two off the peak - I feel like an eagle swooping down on its prey with waves like these; and a few that ran for a very long time with a wall pushing the foil.  Marlon caught some head high ones - he couldn't stop smiling!  Successful dawn patrol!

Dawn Patrol - 1/26/2020

I pulled a solo dawn patrol this morning - and boy was it worth it!!!  The swell was up, there was zero wind, the tide was high (2.0' - I stayed out long enough for it to drop to 0.5' - full moon tides swing wide) and the crowd was spread out.

I caught some long rides from clean takeoffs.  I also had more than a few botched takeoffs - I kept getting greedy and tried taking off on the head high sets coming in - the Iwa was a little big for handling the speed from those takeoffs.

The swell changed as the morning went on and I was also getting sloppy (which I tend to do when I get tired).  I have to work real late tomorrow - so I am going to go in later (and can make another dawn patrol and maybe even get a nap in!)

Late Afternoon Session - 1/25/2020

There is still ridable surf on the south shore - the swell was just a hair bigger than yesterday and that helped spread the crowd out.  There was a hint of wind on the water so there was a texture to the waves, but I'm not complaining.

I brought out the 5'2" and the Iwa again - the Go Foil wings are way easier to fix after bottom hits - and the lower tides in the afternoons make hit somewhat inevitable (but not today).

I got several fun rides, but could have had more if there weren't so many people blocking the takeoff zone.  I did get one straight off the peak (waist high albeit) - felt real good flowing down the face and sticking to the pocket.  I had a few more where I had to maneuver around people on the inside and I would outrun the wave - I'd pump a bit and pick up the wave again, but kick out before it got too shallow.

Marlon got a few good ones also.

No green flash tonight - too many clouds to get a clear view of the setting sun.  Another super fun evening in the surf!

Shrinking Swell - 1/24/2020

Marlon and I hit it again - the swell is definitely dying back - smaller and less consistent, but still super fun!  I brought the 5'2" and the Go Foil Iwa - this combo is so much fun!!!  There was zero wind and the tide was going down from a small high of 0.7'.  I'm glad I got the front wing collars on the 24.5" and the 29.5" masts synchronized (so the wings are interchangeable) - the Iwa on a 24.5" (+3" for the track mount adaptor) is just so much fun to ride.

Marlon and I were using the same GoPro - I think I did a better job ;)

And there was yet another Green Flash sunset (fourth one I've seen this week)

Another awesome session!

Foiling Afternoon - 1/22/2020

Went foiling this afternoon - brought out the 5'2" foil board and the Go Foil Iwa (on the 24.5" +3" mast).  The tide was pretty low at 0.4' when I was out.  Had to paddle the board upside down quite a ways out to get to a deep lineup.  Almost zero wind.

I had the foil set just forward of the mark where the Slingshot Infinity 76 was placed.  I guess I had never used this foil with the Go Foil before...  I caught a few with this setting, but it felt a little unstable.  I paddled in and moved the foil back in the tracks and it worked awesome afterwards - when in doubt, bring a screwdriver to the beach - don't settle for a suboptimal foil position...

After I made the adjustment, I was getting super long rides and pumping was a breeze.  I even headed back out on one - almost made it to a second wave but my legs were burning.  I forgot just how much fun the Go Foil Iwa is!

There were no clouds in the sky so I got to see a second green flash this week!  Thigh high waves - astronomical phenomenon and getting to hang out with Marlon (after he drove to the beach by himself - I came with an old friend Ky).  Awesome session!