Evening Session - 3/15/2020

We double dipped today!!!  Second session I brought out the 5'6" foilboard and the Maliko 200 on the short mast.  The tide was somewhere between 0.9' to 1.2' - deep enough that I didn't really have to worry about grounding.  The wind was coming from the SE and you could see squalls riding the visible horizon.

Marlon was trying tricks again.  I definitely had the correct equipment out - this setup was perfect from the get go.  I caught ten in an hour and a half - long rides with minimal pumping, just gliding along and when a section showed or I got close to the beach, I'd crank a carving turn and dismount.  Too much fun!!!

I also got a couple of pump returns as a bonus - I could have taken the first return wave for a 2 for 1, but I just took the ride back out.  One of the squalls finally caught us and we called it!  Really fun session that proved the right gear makes all the difference. 

Dawn Patrol - 2/22/2020

Marlon and I hit it early today - we were out in the water well before the sun came out.  The swell was a little bigger than I thought it was going to be - solid waist high.  The tide was a lowering high at 1.4' and there was zero wind.

I had expected it to be knee high so I had brought the 5'6" and the Maliko 200.  I took this out for a bit since it was already setup, despite the less than optimal (for this setup) conditions.  First wave confirmed it - waves were too big.  I was still able to control the foil and got some fun rides, but I was surfing less and wrestling with the lift more.  After several waves, I rode one in and headed back to the van.  I had brought the Iwa and the Kai tail and swapped them in and adjusted the mast forward.  I paddled back out and all was right in the universe.  Takeoffs were easy with no fear of breaching from too much lift; long rides with minimal pumping; torquey turns to go from section to section - what more can you ask for.


Marlon was catching everything, but got cold after I had paddled back out.  He was back on the beach and took these pictures.

Totally fun session!!!  Will hit it again tomorrow morning!!!

Dawn Patrol - Microwaves - 28 December

Hit the dawn patrol solo this morning (good thing - Marlon would have been frustrated at how small it was and the fullness of the tide).

Knee high waves when it did break.  Tide was high at 2.2'.  Wind was negligible.

I used the same setup I had out yesterday and managed to catch six.  The Maliko 200 makes tiny waves ridable and fun.  If I had to use a longboard this morning, I would have been able to catch the same waves I caught, but the ride beyond the pickup would have been drastically different - going straight and just trying to keep up speed instead of gliding and even speeding up by turning.  Definitely had to work for the waves this morning but it was worth it to see what the lower end of possible was.

Friday Afternoon Session - 27 December

We all headed out to the beach again this afternoon.  Waves were almost no existent.  Tide was high at 0.7' (low high - the high high is before dawn - while I'm at work...).  And the wind was light - easterly trades.

The small waves tend to focus everyone to the same takeoff point, so days like this can be a little frustrating - unless you are on a foil (then you can just ride the energy from an unbroken wave).

La and Noe came again - but this time they didn't jump in the water.  That meant Marlon and I had a personal photographer on the beach (thanks La!).

Marlon is light enough still that he can pick off the small ones without bogging down.

I brought out the 5'6" because I figured the waves would be tiny.  And to that effect, I also setup the Maliko 200.  I got lucky with the placement - balanced on the first try.  Paddling this setup, I could feel the drag - but for these conditions, this really was spot on.

This was actually a kick out - I didn't want to run aground.  I got bolder as the session went on - I "nudged" the bottom twice while paddling out, but did ride the waves almost all the way in.

This is an awesome feeling - riding high and flowing with a bump.

Look at the suction the Maliko is drawing down - this foil saved the day!

I ended up catching six waves.  I breached on one - I was trying to stay high up on a glide and pushed it too far.  On my last wave, I was actually able to pump back out - way out.  If there was an incoming wave, I would have had a solid 2 for 1.  I was stoked just to keep the momentum going.  Pumping on the Maliko is much slower than any of the other wings - there is good resistance and once I found a good slow pace, it all just flowed.

This has definitely been a great year learning to foil and gaining a deeper understanding of making the most of the energy moving through waves.

Modern Vent Plug

Yesterday I also ground down the top of the old manual vent plug, drilled out the guts and placed one of the gortex vents in the hole.

I need to place a bead of epoxy around the lip of the vent plug body, just to make sure it is all sealed.

Dawn Patrol Day 3 - 3 November

I did a third straight dawn patrol this morning.  I told Marlon he missed it yesterday so he woke up and came with me this morning.

Tide was coming up (maxed out at 1.9') but was pretty shallow (I could stand up with my arms and head high and dry).  I paddled the foil upside down to avoid the bottom scrapes.  The swell on the sets was chest high - awesome to be getting southern hemisphere energy this late in the season.  Zero wind.

I bolted on the HS1550 today - this thing is a race horse!  It was faster than the CF1600 and only had marginally less lift, with the difference mostly noticeable at takeoff.  Turning this wing was easier than the CF1600 - I felt like I was rolled over in the turns and not just barely leaning into it (CF1600) or yawing/pivoting the turn (Go Foil Iwa).  I caught plenty of waves - more green than white water and had one where I rode off the back of the wave and started pumping back out (didn't get too far - cardio...).  I did breach twice and lost it once on a harder turn.  The takeoffs were more makeable with this wing (less lift - makes me wonder what the CF1200 would be like) and did I say this turns like a jet fighter???  On another wave I did a three back to back roundhouse turns in a tight radius - the transitions were super fluid and I didn't lose speed at all (never would have done something like that on a shortboard - way too much surface friction and you loose too much speed in a turn).  Over all yesterday was a better wave quality day, but today was pretty similar.  With the only change being the wing swap, I did not breach on takeoff and my turns were way more fun.  So if the waves are belly or less, I'll bolt on the CF1600.  Bigger than that and its the HS1550.

Just when you think you're doing well, someone parks next to you and shows you you're not as far along as you think you might be... CF1200 with a 50cm??? fuselage - this thing must do continuous 360s.

Dawn Patrol Streak - 2 November

I did another dawn patrol this morning, this time even earlier (since it was Saturday and there will be plenty of people).  I was out by 5:45 and the stars were still visible.  I caught one and rode it all the way in (contemplating going back up on the beach until there was more light, or more people out) - the ride was too much fun so I headed back out.  I caught another two before the sky started to brighten.  Two longboarders paddled out and were surfing Fenceline.  I stayed out at Sand Lots.

The tide was a rising high going up to 2.1'.  There was zero wind and the swell was shoulder high on the sets (waist high otherwise).  I was able to catch a few green waves and it was awesome hanging close to the pitching lip, speeding by and getting turns in to do it again as the sections closed.

I had to leave to get back to take Marlon to an event - but in just over an hour I got my fill of stoke.  I felt like this guy -

This was probably one of the best foiling sessions I've had so far!

High Tide Shift - Dawn Patrol 1 November

Marlon and I hit it super early on Friday morning - even had to wait a few minutes on the back because it was still too dark.  I had the same setup out (5'6"/Armstrong CF1600) - and I had several great rides.  The swell was waist high and there was no wind.

This time of year the big high tide is in the early morning (in summer the big high is in the afternoon and the second high is almost as high as the big one).  I also wore the 2 mm vest for the first time this season (but it turned out to be warmer than I originally thought it would be).

My calf got wrapped up in the leash twice.  It's still sore.

Sunday Evening Session - 27 October

Marlon and I hit the surf during the afternoon high tide.  It was 1.5' at 3:30pm, some light tradewinds, minimal swell - smallest day yet this three day spell.  At the end of the session, there were some larger bumps showing up (front runners of the Tasman Sea swell???), but for the most part it was really small.  If I could catch the wave, the Armstrong CF1600 delivered rides all the way to the beach.  I paddled back out with the board inverted just to make sure I didn't hit bottom (even though I did once while waiting for waves - no noticeable damage).

Marlon was catching a few - and he even ended up talking to the cutest girl out there (she paddled up to him!).

The slightly bigger swell kept me out (I think the cute girl kept Marlon out) - but the sunset was really the best part.

Saturday High Tide Foiling - 26 October

I presented at the Lacy Veach Day of Discovery event earlier today - Noe had a regatta, and La and Marlon went to find a penguin suit (Marlon outgrew his old performance coat and slacks) - so after the event I came home and took a nap.  Then I woke up and remembered the high tide was at 2:41 pm peaking at 1.7'.  Everyone was still out so I drove out (holding my breath that it wasn't flat) - there was some energy - but you could barely call it knee high.  The wind was Easterly at 10 mph or so (side onshore at WPB).

I was still able to catch these waves and got several long rides to shore.  And as a bonus, with the CF1600 I was not even pumping - just making small corrections to stay with the bump, then turning when there was a surfer waiting for something they could ride or when the bump looked better the other way.

The 5'6" is just like a longboard (on foil scale).  Definitely a keeper (although if the filleted rails that I'm putting on the 4'10" work there, I may make a 5'4" with the new rail and that can be the all arounder).

I would have been completely frustrated longboarding on a day like this.  With the foil, this is still makeable even totally fun - I love foiling!!!

Thursday Tiny Surf Foiling - 24 October

The forecast said the South Shore surf was going to be really small for the foreseeable future, but that there was some leftover residual energy still lingering today.  I figured I should grab a few while they are still around.

The forecasters weren't kidding.  Maybe thigh high on the sets.  Super light southerly wind flow.  Dropping tide - probably 1.5' and dropping fast when I was out there between 3:30 and 4:30 pm.

I did pick up several waves - all I needed was a small concave section that didn't have a flat spot in front of it and off I went.  After I caught the wave, it was like any other time - milking energy from unbroken sections of the wave.  Of the eight or so I caught, I was able to take five of them to shore.  I mitigated touching bottom on the paddle outs by just paddling the board upside down.

I had fun and I think I've found the bottom end of the range for this board/foil combo.  Having the 5'6" and all the extra paddling power it has really helped - its the "longboard" equivalent (and the longboarders were even having a hard time catching anything rideable).  If the waves continue to diminish, I'll likely pick up windsurf wave foiling again - shorter drive to Hickam after work than trying to get to North Shore.

Sunday Dawn Patrol - 20 October

Marlon and I hit the beach at first light on Sunday.

The wind was light, the swell was up (chin high on the sets, if not higher) and tide was headed to a high of 2.0'.  Same equipment as the last few times.

I paddled out to the green waves to see if I could takeoff on these - I wanted to find the upper end of the CF1600's range.  Well - I found it.  The first three waves I took off on I was able to get to my feet, but the speed I was going was a bit much - I got thrown.  If I did make the drop and settle, I ended up breaching.  I figured I should stop beating myself up and stop trying to break my gear by going back towards shore and picking up the waves once they've dissipated some of their raw energy.  After that, I was getting some really long rides and cranking some turns.  I had one turn where the foil dropped out from underneath me again.  After that I tried leaning into the turn and anticipating the extra speed and the turns seemed to get better.  Further in the session, I had a mix of aborts (it got crowded and I had to stop or put the noobs at risk if I messed up the ride) and wipes (green waves again... can't help myself).  At this surf height, I should bolt on the HS1550.

I was using the Takuma coiled leash - I won't be doing that again - I never felt comfortable using it.

This was also the day of the Board Swap at Kalaeloa.  Lots of cool boards!

Saturday Mid Morning Session - 19 October

Marlon and I surfed/foiled for a bit this morning after 9am.  The wind was up and the surface was choppy - but we had a good time despite the conditions.  The tide was coming down from a high of 2.0' and the swell was consistently belly high.  I had the 5'6" and the Armstrong 1600 out (same setup as the last session).

I was able to get a bunch of long rides.  But I did have some issues - I breached the foil on a straight run (first time that happened); I dumped on a turn (breached while turning); and I had a few botched takeoffs.  I was trying to get some green wave takeoffs so that explains the last issue.  As for the other two, I'll attribute those to getting used to the foil.

Marlon went in before I did - the conditions were making it harder to get epic rides.  Had to do the grocery run so I called it around 10:30.  All the other foilers were mostly in by the time we paddled out.  Tomorrow we'll hit it earlier.

Foiling (and Longboarding) - 14 October

Marlon and I hit the beach again today (but La did not come out today, so no pictures from the beach out into the water).  I used the same setup - 5'6" Foilboard, Armstrong CF1600, same place in the track as the last adjustment from yesterday.  The waves were bigger than yesterday, and the wind was also stronger (trades are back).  The tide was peaking at 1.4' and we caught it an hour before and an hour after the peak.

The Armstrong performed flawlessly.  I had several long rides picking up the waves from the reform and riding them all the way in to the beach.  I could feel the 'mast flex' on the turns - and I'm finding myself repositioning my feet and leaning differently to compensate. This never happened on the Go Foil or the Slingshot (as they are both way stiffer) - but flex is a good thing.  I'll just need to figure out how to use this to my advantage.

I also almost lost it on a few waves by touching down, but the foil allowed me to correct the mistakes by pumping out of the bogs and I was able to take off again.  

This foil also did not breach - I felt like I was flying the foil just beneath the surface (based on how high I was up in the air) and it never dropped me (cavitation = loss of lift) once.  If this pans out to be the case every time, I'll be able to push this thing harder because I won't have to worry about surprise drops.

I tried a few takeoffs on steeper waves and  I never felt like I was going to lose it - I just popped up and applied back foot pressure and up went the foil whenever I was ready.  I'm still getting used to this - but this to me is more familar - closer to surfing takeoffs.  

I'm still planning to do the swaps back and forth with the other foils I have (until they sell on Craigslist), just to keep my riding skills sharp - but the Armstrong CF1600 is a really outstanding wing.  It'll be interesting to see if riding the Armstrong changes the way I ride the others...

More Learning Curves -

I got a chance to take the Armstrong out this afternoon at the high tide (+1.5').

There were some pulses of stronger wave energy coming in (maybe chest high), but the majority was waist or lower (which with the foil is perfect).

I paddled out with the foil nearly all the way to the front of the tracks.  I did this considering the position of the other foils I've been using - but in the back of my head, I knew the fuselage on the Armstrong was shorter that the others, changing the center of lift.

I paddled in after a few waves and adjusted the foil back, by a lot - way too much lift on the first setting.  After another few waves, I paddled back in and made another adjustment forward again - halfway back to where it initially was as I was not getting the lift I wanted as quickly as I needed it.  This setting proved to be more stable.  The lift produced by this foil is different that the Go Foil - it is more controllable and I noticed I had to put more back foot pressure to get the foil to lift.  And both my feet were back compared to the Go Foil.  In fact multiple times I could feel that my rear foot was jammed up to the tail kick on the rear pad.

The other thing I noticed is how quiet and vibration free this foil is - if I wasn't riding the foil and carving, I wouldn't have believed I was moving at all.  Here are some pictures (as La was on the beach with the camera!):

I am looking forward to many more sessions on this foil - but I still intend to use the Go Foil and the Slingshot - having to learn and re-learn to use each of these foils has made this pursuit so darn interesting!!!