Parawing Session - 9/5/2025

This picture was taken at the end of the session (driven back to WPB after the DW run).  The wind had dropped off like it normally does in the afternoon.

But the waves were largely the same - small 

The wind was a different story.  Driving in the whitecaps were everywhere and the wind was hard from the SE.  I picked up Stu and Norm from PV to do a DW from WPB.  By the time I launched, I could see the wind evaporating AGAIN!!!!

I had to paddle to chase the wind line.  And I even contemplated paddling back in and aborting.  But then I said fuck it - I'm out with two Foil Drive-rs and worst case is I can ask for a tow.  Luckily for me the clouds parted and the wind came back strong enough to get a good session.

Same gear as usual

Pretty good stats considering the first 1/3 SUCKED!!!

Once I got past the CG wind shadow, I was up on foil for the remainder of the session.

I even rode several waves - and jibed straight onto the ride (jibed onto inbound rising waves).

This is Hickam's chart - but the Kalaeloa one was way off.

I didn't want to come off foil or even risk it - so I would just fly the PW in neutral while riding waves.  The Maliko does drift well while I was riding.

I'm glad I stuck it out!  Going DW definitely takes the pressure (to hold the line) off.

W:56/FD:111/PW:31/S:7

Evening Parawing Session - 9/3/2025

Wind was up when I got to the beach.

But I literally watched the wind evaporate as I was just getting to deep water to flip the foil over.

No.34 and the AFS Enduro 1300/HA43

When I first got a look at the conditions, I thought I had brought too big a parawing (Maliko 5.1).

But shortly after, the lulls were super deep.

I got up on foil. made some turns and then the wind was done.

I paddled back upwind and waited for steadier wind.  I did get up again - and managed to get myself even further out.

I had to paddle in and beached at the far cottages.

Wind was coming in from the SE - thermals

And the drop off -

The last spike in speed on the chart is me catching my first prone foiling wave on this board.

There were four monk seals chilling on the beach today.  This pair at Fenceline, and a second pair at the twin cabins.

Even though I got stuck in a trap, there were a lot of good things at WP today.

W:56/FD:111/PW:30/S:7

Parawing Session - 8/27/2025

There was wind while I was setting up - and it was windy enough as I was paddling out.  I even got up on foil - but the entire session felt more like a survival session and not anything like yesterday.

Everything was the same gear wise as yesterday, except for switching out the lower foil set out for the Enduro 1100/HA40 on the Standard fuselage.

First off - when there was wind, the Enduro 1100 is wonderful.  Gets up almost as easily as the Enduro 1300 - but a lot faster and smoother.

The unfortunate thing about the Enduro 1100 is there are times when I am foiling WPB that I can use the extra low end of the 1300.

Today was definitely one of them.

I got up several times - but the wind came in bands and if you were outside of it, you dropped off foil.

I got greedy when I saw Marvin and Robby out on FD.  I figured I could get a tow back in if I needed it, so after actually getting close to the launch point, I headed back out to get another run in.

The unfortunate thing was I never got back up on foil and I drifted way out towards Campgrounds.

The meter readings are usually about 5 mph slower that what's at the beach.  But that means it was still below 15 mph.

If anything, I got in a bunch of light wind starting practice.  Five starts - not bad.

I'm actually not sure if things would have been different with the Enduro 1300 - it was pretty light out there.

Tomorrow will be a Foil Drive day -

W:56/FD:106/PW:29/S:6

Parawing Session - 8/26/2025

The Surfline forecast has been doing much better than Iwindsurf.com

This afternoon had solid wind in the 15-20 mph range.

This monk seal was chillaxing on the beach.  It had a bunch of algae growing on its fur.

AFS Enduro 1300/HA43 on the 85cm UHM mast all on No.34 - standard equipment now for parawinging.  And I only brought the Maliko 5.1 - which was pretty spot on considering the wind speed

This was pretty much statistically an inflated wing session - you really wouldn't have been able to tell the difference if you just saw the charts.

And this just took the distance record for parawinging (my record).

Tracked just like a wing -

I stayed hooked in for most of the session - and I jibed hooked in as well.

I also stashed the parawing and rode a few waves with nothing in the way.

The Kalaeloa meter is wacky.  Probably a good 5 mph low.

Everything just came together well today!

I tried takeoff regular footed (headed back in) - and I stood up... but didn't have much success launching.

Super fun session!!!

W:56/FD:106/PW:28/S:6

Parawing Session - 8/24/2025

I got a second foiling session in today (but coupled it with grocery shopping).  The wind stayed up - so parawinging Hickam it was!!!

I forgot my watch at home so no session statistics (but that's ok).

I opted for the BRM Maliko 5.1

There were a few gusts where it felt like too much wing, but for the majority of the session it was actually perfect.  If there is one thing I've learned its go bigger than you think you need.

And I brought No.34 out for a second session.  Bolted on this time was the Enduro 1300/HA43

I held my line for most of the session, and really was way upwind (for Hickam).  In the middle of the session I did drift down by the channel markers - but I was able to get back upwind and stay there.

The highlight of this session was nailing not one, but two toe-side tacks (inbound).  I got the wing and the board through the transition both times, but I lost my momentum and came off foil.  I'll keep working on these -

I did multiple jibes.  One from outbound to inbound ended up with a bridle line going over the handle.  But I felt it happening and just pulled it back off - all good. 

Lots of the regulars out - Harris, Zach, Naomi, Ken (Red Jeep), Matt and others.  Prayot was out parawinging also.  He got back to the launch without having to paddle back.

After I put the board/foil away, I went back to the groin and flew the Maliko 5.1 to dry it off.  Good after about 8 minutes.  I like doing this to make sure the PW doesn't get stored wet, and it is also a good opportunity for more ground handling.

I did the same with the Paia 6.1 - definitely handles differently.  On another day with consistent wind I'll finally bring this PW out on the water.

Fun session!!!!

W:56/FD:106/PW:27/S:6

Parawing Session - 8/21/2025

Today has really good wind.  Not nuking, but solid and more (than less) consistent.

I want to test the upwind ability of the BRM Ka'a 4.8 - and I was originally going to go to WP to keep the location parameter the same as yesterday.  But Norm said he was going to wing PV so I figured I'd take the breaking waves out of the equation and join him.

I brought the same board-foil combo out, but like I said earlier - packed the Ka'a 4.8

With the super high tide and stronger winds, launching was easy.

I had paddled over towards CG a bit more to launch - wanted to give myself a head start and not start with a deficit and have to paddle in against the wind.

The Ka'a did go upwind.  But where I usually pick up the wind if I go down and drift at CG, I could break through that section.  PWs have a smaller range and once you go below that you drop off foil (if you aren't willing to pump around).

That happened a few times - and I'd have to drift a bit (once way out to blue water) to pick up the wind line.

You can see from the track I progressively went upwind - and I really didn't give up any ground.  So that tell me as long as you have sufficient wind, even lower aspect ratio, short lined PWs can go upwind.  It would be nice to get my hands on a Kanaha and do a back to back with the Ka'a to see how different they perform. 

This graph was the wind at Hickam - it was a notch less than this at PV, but this relation is shown better on this graph as opposed to the Kalaeloa graph.

So for me at my current skill level and body weight, with the board-foil combo - I need about 20 mph to takeoff with the Ka'a 4.8 (and I think it tops out at the comfortable level at 27+ mph which it was gusting to today). 

I happy that I was able to get upwind with the Ka'a!

W:56/FD:104/PW:26/S:6

Wing Foiling Session - 8/17/2025

I actually went to Kailua this morning to try and get a repeat parawing session - but I got totally skunked.

I went home and got some forward progress on the garage projects (next post) - but I did keep an eye on the wind.  Around 3pm the wind filled in nicely and I decided to head over to WPB.

There were whitecaps outside and fun sized waves.

North Nova Pro 5.0, No.40, AFS Enduro 900/HA40/85 UHM mast.

Having been parawinging a lot recently, winging when powered and with waves does remain one of my favorite activities - primarily cranking turns.

I kinda forgot how fun winging in good conditions can be.

With the wind being as good as it was, I got to go everywhere - 

I think I did more tacks than jibes

The blacks spots are me tripping over my foil - I needed to get the muscle memory developed again.

Roland came out.  So did Duke (but he was only out for a little bit).

Fun session!!!

W:56/FD:103/PW:22/S:6

Parawing Session - 8/16/2025

I grabbed Mark's Enduro 1100 from Prayot and got a second session in at Hickam.

The wind was up and down - way up and down.

I used the HA40 on the Standard fuselage to mount the 1100.

And splitting the distance between the E900 and the E1300, I mounted the E1100 just forward of the E900 on FD setting.

This turned out to be perfect! 

I also wanted to test out harness line I made out of an old surfboard leash and the T9 harness.  The only real issue here is how to carry the stash belt (I ended up slinging it cross-shoulder).

There was a sailboat parked right where I normally do my top turn - that sucked.  And with the up-down wind, I figured I got what I wanted out of this session.

The Enduro 1100 does takeoff nicely.  Almost as easy as the Enduro 1300 - but I didn't get to test them back to back in the same session.

I tried multiple jibes, but the Maliko 5.1 had a hard time rolling over from one tack to the other.  I did get a few executed, but it was a crap shoot with the wind. 

The harness-harness line worked well - definitely easier to get in than the Stringy hook.  But the long loop seemed a tad long (and it also would stretch under load).  I'll shorten it up.

I had also wanted to test out the Wingman Chest Harness - but honestly I was tired and thirsty (DECA run).

Same speed as the Enduro 1300... hmmmm.

I'll try and test this foil out again tomorrow morning at Kailua.  From the forecast it looks like a BRM 4.8m Ka'a kinda day.

W:55/FD:103/PW:22/S:6

Parawing Dawn Patrol - 8/6/2025

I hit Kailua early this morning.

The wind was blowing, but you could see the ups and downs.

I met Mike in the parking lot - he was on his 5th session.  He was on the big Starboard DW setup and the Flow 5.5 D-wing

I opted for the Enduro 1300/HA43 on the 85cm UHM mast bolted to No.34

I went up one of the hills and tested the Maliko 5.1 and the Ka'a 4.8 - the 5.1 felt like it was needed based on the up/down wind.

To get up, I initially tried getting up regular with the PW on port.  And although I was making progress, I figured I'd just turn the board towards shore, pump the board and foil to get up and do a quick jibe.

My watch wasn't recording the first couple of runs.  And I came down after a jibe as the wind to the left of the beach was way weaker.  I did something I had not done in a while - the walk of shame.  But it was short and with the PW in the stash bag - it was not an issue (unlike dragging a wind or kite).

From there - I was up on foil for most of the session.

I can say parawing really makes a strong argument for not winging anymore...

And I got a bigger than the background surf wave and I doused the PW - not gracefully, but it was a bona fided stash!!!

So here's my threshold for the Maliko 5.1 - I felt perfectly powered.

Parawinging Kailua - check!!!

W:55/FD:103/PW:21/S:6