Wing Foiling Session - 8/2/2025

The wind forecast called for nuking winds today - and by all accounts it looked like that was going to be the case.  With that - Mark, Norm and I planned to do a downwind run from Sand Island to Pavilions.

Mark had wing issues before launching.  He was the lucky one.

Norm and I made it out past the inside breakers (which were not small)

Then the wind dropped off and we had to bob around out in deep water.

We eventually got up and into some good wind.

There were even some good opportunities to catch and ride some well overhead swell pushing through.

Out around Hau Bush, Norm said his wing was losing air.  I told him I was going to make a beeline for PV and I can drive up and get him.

Getting in at PV turned out to be a mini ordeal for me - I went down for no good reason near the cabins and it took me forever to get back up and finish the run. 

This distance is not a straight line count.

Lots of North in the wind today.  Definitely stronger wind at the outlets of the valleys.

I had fun with the Silk 850 - especially on the big surf parts of the run, but I think the Enduro 900 would have helped me carry through some soft wind spots a little better.

Despite the challenges - this adventure was pretty cool.

W:54/FD:97/PW:18/S:4

ParaWinging Session - 6/18/2025

Waves were definitely up this afternoon.

The wind was blowing on the outside - but on the inside it was swirly again.

The tide was high enough not to easily foil a foil.

Today's session was a downwinder from WPB to PV.  Marvin and Norm were on Foil Drive.  I went on parawing.

AFS Enduro 1300/HA43/Evolution Cedrus Surf 77.5cm foil all bolted on No.34 (I wanted to start getting used to riding smaller boards)

Power provided by the BRM Ka'a 4.8m 

This was a fun run - but the wind was way up and down.

There was wind at the start - in fact I was able to get up pretty quick.  Then the wind lost its punch and I had to drift for a while (all while trying to get back up).

I'm trying to force myself to get up at least once each session going goofy.

Out in front of Campgrounds I got back into stronger wind and was able to get back up.

I made sure to try out the harness hook on the V2 bar - it did make it easier to manage a fully lit PW.

Looks like I covered more ground on foil.

I also made a beeline for the landing spot - I didn't want to get caught outside and have to paddle in.  I got greedy, pulled a jibe and headed back out.  I didn't make it too far because the wind died.

At least the paddle was relatively short.

You can see the shifty wind - both direction and strength.

So based on this chart and the track above, it looks like the beeline was quick (I spent more time lollygagging off foil. and what time I was up on foil I was booking).

There were two wingers making their way down - they were on Unifoil wings.  When I was up on the beach rising down, they were drifting on through to No Man's Land...  there is a reason why the WPB foilers say "If you can foil here, you can foil anywhere" 

W:47/FD:84/PW:11/S:4

Evening FD DW WP-PV Session - 5/23/2025

The wind was blowing similar to yesterday - but it definitely had more holes/lulls.  With a solid high tide, launching/landing would be nice and easy.

The waves were where the biggest disparity from the forecast lay - 

Surfline said it would be twice as big as yesterday - but it was a touch smaller (if you ask me).

That was all fine - Norm and I were going to do a downwind run anyways.

No.40, AFS 80cm UHM mast, Enduro 900/HA40

Kalani was also on FD.  Zach, Prayot and Roland were on wing.

It was pretty fun catching waves all the way down from WP over to PV.

The area before Campgrounds was pretty jumbled (and hard to catch any waves).

And from Campgrounds on to PV, the waves were fat so you had to get out in front of them if you were going to catch it - especially in the strong winds. 

I'll call this 15 rides - I know I got left behind on some of them.  If I got out in front, I could ride the waves for a long ways.

The waves were way easier to catch at WP.

I think Bill is going to let me try the Amos Trench board, and I'm going to let Kalani try out No.39, and I might be helping Mark tune in his new Foil Drive - Hickam run in the morning (it's also a -0.3' tide...)

W:42/FD:72/PW:6/S:4

Evening DW Parawing Session - 5/21/2025

Decent winds today, relatively smaller waves - another day of good conditions for parawing training.

And to get more time on foil, Norm and I did a downwinder from WP to PV.

The start was kinda slow for me - hard to line up good wind with relatively smooth water for easy takeoff.  But eventually I got up and today ended up being long runs up on foil.

And out past Campgrounds, the wind was steadier and I was able to get the longest runs I've had so far with a parawing.  Jibes and stance switches throughout.

No.34 was easier to ride in the stronger winds - but I think in the lighter stuff the Dragonfly took off faster.

No.34 was easier to takeoff goofy foot (but it was not easy)

By the end of this session, I was actually getting up on foil pretty quickly.

I can see using a harness in the future (as this starts to become second nature).  My arms feel pretty stretched out.

But it was all worth it - 

I am going to need to get better at taking off goofy foot - maybe some sessions at Kailua...

W:41/FD:71/PW:6/S:4