Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 8/10/2025

Uhhh - it was bigger today

Same gear

Uhhh - it was BIGGER today.

I was already way outside - but twice a set came through that was pitching lip 300 yards further outside.  I tried in vain to motor further inside - but got picked up and thrown anyways.  Probably the biggest I've ever seen WPB.

These were leash breaker sets - probably 6-8' on the back sides.  I think to catch those and ride them (instead of just being along for the ride), you'd need to tow in with a super small foil (Silk 650) and a jetski.

This was one of the medium sized waves I caught.  The big ones were double this. 

Duke and Prayot were out also -

I had a couple of really big rides and several what would normally be huge rides.  I was pretty much just trying not to get smashed.

After catching one and sharing the ride with Prayot (it was a bigger wave), I looked and my battery was getting low enough that I needed to start heading in.

I took that wave all the way in and just beyond where the shortboard line up was, I was in regular overhead.  The waves were so carveable at this point.  I caught a few and foiled in front of Roland (who was surfing).

10 rides this morning.  Today was definitely not about quantity - if you picked wrong you'd have paid the price.

A couple of the spikes around the 55 minute mark was me trying to motor at full throttle further inside to not get eaten by the white water.

Another EPIC day!!!

W:55/FD:103/PW:19/S:4

Epic Foil Drive Session - 8/9/2025

Well the anticipated big south swell hit and did not disappoint!!!

Prayot, Grant, Duke and I were out here.  From shore all you could see were huge pitching waves.

Medium tide so paddling out was not too bad (and I followed Andrew and Dean pretty closely through their secret channel).

The wind was super light through the dawn patrol.

Back on No.40

And to work with the bigger waves and not get into a critical takeoff situation, the AFS Silk 850/HA40 is on deck.

It took a couple of waves to get used to the different feel of the Silk 850 (compared to the Enduro 900/HA40), but after that it was full throttle!

Prayot was on the SUP he recently acquired (low ball special for a unicorn).  He caught a monster and almost got barreled.

Duke caught a couple of big ones, then got cleaned up by the second biggest set of the day.  Grant and I got his board back to him.

Then the biggest set of the day came through more towards Fenceline - Grant picked off one and was screaming for joy the whole ride!  The wave was closing in on triple overhead -

I got some good sized waves and as the session went on and I got refamiliarized with the Silk 850, I started getting some carves in.  But there were a few that were too big and I was going too fast to do anything but make sure I wasn't getting overtaken by a giant section.

11 waves and a few missed waves by both data sets.

Freaking EPIC!!!

W:55/FD:102/PW:19/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 5/2/2025

Similar conditions to yesterday - but today the wind was gustier and the waves slightly smaller.  The set waves were still really good.

I brought the same gear as yesterday - the only change was a slight adjustment bringing the mast back a hair.

Good stats

The pulled back mast lead to reduced lift with the largest difference being longer takeoffs - and a little more back leg pressure.  This tells me I had it optimized previously.

I got plenty of waves - hard not to when you are one of only a few to access the outer lineup.

Strong wind, but gusty - made for some challenging conditions.  We were all falling because the chop would vent the foils.

The Silk is an excellent foil!!!  I may try to get my hands on a Silk 650...

W:34/FD:65/PW:1/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 5/1/2025

I got a really late start this afternoon - had something more important to do (Noe had a concert that we were able to watch online).

The swell picked up significantly - and I wanted to use the Silk 850 with the HA40 rear stabilizer which I feel were made for days like this -

The wind was nice and strong and consistent (but I still didn't trust it and went slightly larger than I needed to - North Nova Pro 5.0)

Zach, Roland and Kalani were already out when I got there.  And Duke paddled out later on his DW board.

The waves were head and a half high and reeling when the sets rolled through.  From the chart below you can see the wind was straight on while riding the waves - PERFECT!!!

And this swell wasn't even pointed at Hawaii - we are outside the window of the main push.  Considering we have to paddle wings out through the white water, probably not a bad thing we aren't getting the full force of the swell energy.

I got in a bunch of critical tacks on both sides.

Earlier would have been perfect for the Nova Pro 4.2 - but while I was out, the 5.0 provided a stress free session (except for having to paddle way out to the wind line - the only side effect of the east wind).

Top speed was on a wave for sure - probably one of the bigger ones while taking the drop.

Roland was jumping really high - using the incoming waves as huge ramps.  I'm actively debating if No.41 will be a trench board or a winging board purpose built for jumping... probably the former - when I'm thinking straight I remember my joints are not young anymore.

Epic conditions today!!!

W:33/FD:65/PW:1/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 3/1/2024

Winging yesterday was EPIC!!!

As Kalanni and I drove up we both said "Holy Shit!!!" as we saw a pretty good set breaking outside.  There were steady whitecaps and not too many clouds (to suck out the wind).  The only downer was the low tide (but it would rise as the day went on).

Nick and his family were already there - I gave him a tutorial on how to get out before he went to take his daughters surfing. 

I pumped up the SW2 4.2 and used the same foil/board combo from the previous few sessions.

I forgot my watch, but did bring the GoPro

I think I was out for three hours - and I was up on foil for the majority of the session.  The winds ended up being up and down, and the waves were firing until the tide started to fill in.

It was Kalani and I for a bit.  Nick, Roland, Prayot and Duke eventually came out.  The waves had settled down by that time.

I went in ahead of the others (as I had already been out a while and got more than my fill - and the wind was dropping, not enough to reliably use the 4.2)

I have really taken to the SK8 950 - it just turns so well and even though it doesn't turn as hard as the Spitfires, it also doesn't have the pitch stability quirkiness (which in some cases isn't a negative). 

Epic!!!!

W:23/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 2/26/2024

Ridiculous conditions today!!!!

Rising tide (but I still hit bottom while launching), good sized swell on the outside, and really strong and consistent wind from the ENE - couldn't ask for better!

I figured with the SK8 950 I could use a slightly smaller wing.  I pumped up the Reedin SW2 3.6 - the wind on the outside was actually just a hair stronger, but I didn't feel grossly overpowered.  For most of the session, the 3.6 was actually perfect.  No.32 was well behaved today - recovered from a couple of tiny vents, bounced from a couple of touchdowns during big waves, and really balanced rides.

I had to borrow Noe's watch because I forgot mine at work.  Her battery died about halfway through my session.

Today was all about riding tall walls and carving - this gear helped me push my boundaries!  Steep waves made for big top to bottom carves and luffing abound - nothing short of EPIC!!!

Weird how Noe's watch thought I was going slow...

NUKING!!!

Almost solid blue!!!  My trunks were pretty dry for most of the session.  I did trip on the foil maybe twice - but with the wind it was easy to get back up.

It was Norm and I out for almost an hour.  Then Roland and Prayot showed up.  The Clinton and Derek made their way out.

The forecast is calling for even stronger conditions going 10 days out!!!  This is going to be an incredible run of wind and waves!!!

W:19/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 1/16/2024

Yesterday was incredible!!!

Nuking winds from the west, wind swell from the same - just had to paddle out further to launch on the low tide.

I think these conditions are my favorite!

I brought No.32, the Spitfire 840/350P, and the Reedin SW2 3.6

I met one-eyed Harold - and he, Prayot, and Norm were pumping up 5m wings.

There were 3 wingers (not sure who) out already when I was setting up.

I never had an issue getting up - and my arms weren't getting ripped out of their sockets.  The SW2 3.6 was perfect!

Roland, Duke and 3 others we didn't know also came out.

Waves were breaking in different spots than normal.  If we had a downwind pickup, the runners would have been awesome.  But I held my ground to avoid a paddle back to the launch (even with the nuking winds - there is always a chance of getting blown downwind with small gear).

Super fun rides!!!

SW winds - pretty locked in the whole time.  There were clouds for the most part, but the winds were on.

Because of the turbulence and cross chop, every one was falling a bunch.  Some of the guys brought out their tall masts, but they were still falling

El Nino has been delivering the goods!!!  Sessions like this get burned in my brain!

W:5/F:7/S:2