Wing Foiling Session - 11/1/2024

Got in an afternoon winging session.  Wind was nice and strong.  There were still some waves coming through.

Same board - but back on the SK8 950/C200

And pumped up the North Nova Pro 5.0 (such a good wing in the waves).

When I got to the beach, there were whitecaps.  But I didn't trust them to stay up, and that's why I setup the medium sized gear.

I stayed out just over an hour - and the wind collapsed just after I got in.

I was ripping today (if I do say so myself).  Big difference over yesterday - but I think the wind was a bit stronger and more direct today.

The waves were still super fun - so many carves!!!

It was good until it wasn't.

Eli, Roland, Zach and Kalani were all out.

Eli and Zach headed in right after I did - I could feel the pressure drop off.

Roland and Kalani didn't head in

I was up on foil for most of the session.

When I was at the shower I noticed this - a pretty good ding on the SK8 950.  Man am I ever paying dues right now... 

W:134/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/30/2024

I thought the winds would stronger today - they weren't.  Still good wind, just not nuking.

The tide was good and high, and there were still waves coming through.

Same board/foil - but anticipating the stronger winds, I pumped up the Mode Pro 4.8

I also opted to use the Ion/Wingman chest harness.

I forgot my Garmin watch at home so I used Strava on my phone to track the session stats.

I wanted to run to Costco to grab some groceries, so I had a shorter session today.  Also with the smaller wing (this 4.8 really behaves more like a 4.2), I didn't want to risk getting caught outside when the wind slacked.

Lots of squiggly lines on the tracks today - which means lots of carving!

The waves were working nicely with the tide - they were standing up and running the distance.  Made from really fun rides!!!

I guess looking at this chart you could say the wind was more consistent today (less gusty), but overall it wasn't blowing as hard as it was yesterday.

I got tacks in both sides (in and out) - and ended up recovering from some sloppy inside tacks.  So maneuver wise today was pretty good.

Tomorrow is supposed to be nuking - we'll see.  That and Donnel has a new Ezzy 5.0 he is asking if I want to test (oh yeah!).

W:132/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/29/2024

The wind came back today!!!  I rigged for good conditions, but we ended up with nuking winds!!!

Nice high tide and some fun waves still rolling in -

I pumped up the North Nova Pro 5.0 - but truthfully save a few lulls (one of which I went down on even with the 5.0) I could have easily used a 4.2 or smaller.

And going for a change today, I set up No.36 with the SK8 950/C200

Typical tradewind day - ENE winds.  Good direction for nailing outbound tacks onto waves - of which this picture is a screen shot from Roland's video taking this afternoon.

Apex of an outbound tack onto a wave 

For most of the session the 5.0 was slightly overpowered - I was thinking I should have pumped up the Mode Pro 4.8

Decent stats today - 

With the strength of the wind, I was able to drop back towards Cabins and take advantage of the waves breaking over there.

You can see on the chart that I pretty much left the waves before hitting the inside (where the surfers were lined up).

Of note - I did get two goofy footed jibes in (back to back at that) today.  I thought Roland got video of that, but he didn't (or didn't send that one).

With the power in the wind, I think I could have easily used the Ezzy 4.0 and the SK8 750/C195

Tomorrow should be close to today's conditions.  And Thursday is now the nuking day.

I think I'll use the above equipment tomorrow and drop down to the Reedin SW2 3.6 on Thursday.

W:131/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/9/2024

La and I got back from our trip today.  We had to abort the second half of the trip as Hurricane Milton was causing cancelations (our lodging was first, then the airline also recommended not going to Florida).

Conditions today were good for getting back on the saddle.  High-ish tide, swell when the sets pushed through and some decent (although more offshore) wind.  And getting back out in the water to get a session in helped get rid of the packed in a sardine can feeling from flying back.

Same gear as the last session winging (North Nova Pro 5.0, No. 32, F One SK8 950/Carve 200, Evolution Wind 87.5 mast).

Roland was also out - I was able to return his board to him - crossing our fingers that the leaks were all identified and resolved.

Not bad for a first session back.

While the wind was up, I opted to hit the break out in front of the Cabins.  When it got lighter I stayed out in front of Fenceline.

Nice correlation between the wind speed/direction chart and my speed chart.

Duke came out as I was finishing.  He and Roland said the wind was hit and miss while I was gone (but mostly the latter).

Higher degree of North in the wind - but the angle of the surf drove the lines more than the wind today.

I'm glad I brought the Nova Pro 5.0 - I had been contemplating bringing smaller wings.

Seems like the wind is going to back down a bit for the next several days - time to charge up the Foil Drive

W:124/PW:2/FD:70/F:4/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/2/2024

I was hoping this afternoon would be a repeat of yesterday... it wasn't.

But I only brought winging gear - and it looked like there was decent texture on the water outside (wind line was way out - lots of North in the wind).  Truthfully - as epic as it was yesterday for winging, today would have been perfect for Foil Drive-ing (and I got it completely backwards).

There was a skinny monk seal basking towards the fence.

And continuing the "it's been a minute" theme - I setup No.32

Evolution Wind Mast, F One SK8 950/Carve 200 rear stabilizer, and the North Nova Pro 5.0 rounded out the gear. 

I like the extra volume No.32 has over No.36

I knew the wind was light - but it was light and just under the easy pop up threshold.  I got up early and made several runs.  I tacked twice onto waves so the wind was enough to sustain flight (while moving).  Then I got greedy and tired to do a tack on the inside - that was the beginning of the eating of humble pie...

50 minutes later I picked up a gust and was able to get back up - thank goodness because I had drifted to the last cabin.

I did make it back upwind and decided to quit while I was ahead.

It's actually a miracle that I was even up and going in this light wind.  And from the graph, it looks like I came an hour too late.

Oh well - at least I didn't have to swim in and do the walk of shame.

This seal likes the wall -

W:123/PW:2/FD:69/F:4/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 9/12/2024

The wind started to blow again today.  While I was at work, I saw signs that the trades were coming back, but as I left work and was driving home, the wind signs started faltering.

The wind meters were even saying the wind was blowing from the west.

I wanted to get in the ocean, so I packed up my winging gear and headed out.

I wasn't sure what the wind would really be doing, so I brought out the beast - the North Mode Pro 6.8

Along with the big wing, I setup No.32 (more volume than No.36) with the F One SK8 950/C200 

The big wing is not the easiest wing to pump - so I usually just wait for it to pressurized with adequate wind.

Kalani was already out when I was launching.  He opted for the KT DW board and his Reedin SW2 5.2

Duke and Eli rounded out the winging crew (Eli had a 7.0 up).

You can see the wind shifts in the track.  You had to stay on your toes when the gusts hit as you didn't really know which direction it was coming in from

There were some fun waves that came along if you were patient.  I had a few head high running walls that I got to carve top to bottom!

I tacked more today than jibed - I didn't want to lose ground on a light wind day like today

I really like the way the Mode Pro tacks - pretty dependable!!!

The meter reads about 10 mph low when the winds are blowing trades. 

There were a few periods where I was schlogging along to get out to the wind line after dropping off foil.  But each time I was able to get back up on foil when I caught up to an inbound gust.

The wind will start to build over the next few days - 

W:116/PW:2/FD:66/F:4/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 8/29/2024

The wind was blowing at the house this afternoon so I figured I'd give winging a shot.  I actually thought I should have taken No.34, set it up with the Foil Drive, packed the parawing and taken that out to get the mast position worked out, and if the wind picked up go ahead and try out the parawing again.

I didn't listen to my instincts and instead setup No.32 with the F One SK8 950/C200 and pumped up the SW2 5.2

Koa had just come in and said it had been dropping off.  This was about the time I had considered packing everything up and going back home to grab the Foil Drive.

But instead I figured the wind would pick up - and I paddled out.

I did a lot of sitting on the board and resetting my GPS watch (since I wasn't really moving).  But after what seemed 30 minutes, I was able to pick up a gust and got up on foil

There was enough wind to get up and go, make a solid jibe, then make it back in.

The wind died again after that puff.

And with that, my shortest ever session came to a close!

Tomorrow I'll definitely bring out No.34 and the Foil Drive.

W:112/PW:1/FD:58/F:4/S:17

Wing Foiling Session - 8/21/2024

Pretty challenging today.  The wind had strength in it today, but it was gusty and shifty.

There were waves, but the bigger ones were scant and the ones that were prevalent had flatness as it ran through the outside riding lanes.

The crew was out - Kalani, Prayot, Roland and Duke.

I bolted on the F One SK8 950/C200 onto the Evolution Cedrus Wind mast and No.36

With the Reedin SW2 4.7, I was well powered.  There were some gusts that would have been overbearing on the 4.2.  And there were some lulls where the 5.2 would have been lacking.  Pretty much up and down.

Despite the gusty wind, it was a fun session.  I botched an inside tack early on, and after that I tended to favor jibes today (made it easier for some reason to get on the waves with the angle they were coming in).

The 950 felt slow today.  When I was running into the wind trying to keep up with a reeling wall, I would sometimes get left behind.  I would bear left and pick up speed again.  Realistically this is asking a lot from any foil...

Looking at this chart below, the SK8 wasn't that slow (it just felt like it).

Super fun session today!!!

W:106/FD:58/F:4/S:17