Parawing Session - 9/11/2026

We are in between storms and the wind and surf are also somewhere in-between...

On the drive home the wind looked like it would be good for a parawinging session.

At the beach, it did look like the wind line was a bit further out, but it was there.

Nice higher tide and mellow waves -

Made for a good day to try out the new BRM L1 6.5m!

Paired it with the AFS Enduro 1300/HA43 on No.44

I probably should have taken out No.42 instead of No.44 - not really the board's issue, just shitty wind.

In fact, this inaugural run of the L1 6.5m was originally headed for stinky skunk.

But, the wind did gust up a few times and I salvaged the run

But despite getting up, it kinda felt like I was really just bobbing around.

When the wind did pick up, pumping the L1 felt more like using a paddle to power up.  There was a rhythmic pumping which was pretty different than how the S3 powers up (more the wing developing pressure and pulling you up onto foil).

Obviously being the first time out, there is a lot to learn - and this is going to be fun!

I'm going to be paying a lot of attention to the wind range of this particular parawing.

And all through the session, I never felt overpowered.  I'd say this was a great start!

Waves and wind are going to be small and light for the next several days...

PF:11/W:3/PW:107/FD:63/S:25

Moving West - Day Three

Looking at the forecasts on Monday morning, the wind had turned easterly, and their was hope that on the western side of the gorge there would be rideable conditions.

We stopped at Viento State Park (Oregon) - and there was wind.

There was also a bunch of other people all looking for the same thing - on a Monday morning!  There were a lot of wind-foilers and more kiters than I thought could launch from such a small takeoff spot.

And the wind and current were aligned - so conventional wisdom took over (stay up wind).

Last session (for a while) on No.34

I used the Silk 1050 and BRM S3 5.3 to make sure I didn't drift downwind.

This was a surprisingly fun session.  Not much wave action, but being surrounded by a bunch of like minded individuals was pretty cool.

This is Nick's GoPro shot of me (upper right hand corner).

The gorge walls were much steeper here - no real downwind recovery - so no margin for error.

The wind had a bit of up and down - but it was good fun.

The guys said it was time to keep moving west -

And they were right as the wind started to drop

PF:11/W:3/PW:98/FD:61/S:25

We drove through Portland to head over to Manzanita Beach out on the Oregon Coast.

The drive over was nice (tight winding road - not so good for dragging a camper trailer through, but beautiful old growth pine trees).

When we got to the beach, the wind was strong and side onshore from the NW.  But the water was cold - too cold for my 3/2.  And I didn't necessarily want to get the gear all salty again so I passed on this session.

This is Kevin on a 7m Cabrinha Drifter, and Nick and Dennis on 5.5 wings.  They both said they should have been on 4.2 wings and Kevin said he was good.

This made me want to kite on a directional in surf again...

Nice group to foil with!!!

At this point La and Teresa picked me up and we headed back north!

Awesome first trip to the Gorge and the Oregon Coast!!!!

Late August Gorge Trip - Day Two

This was the beginning of Day Two.

Wind was still up from the previous day, but it was forecasted to drop off.

Dennis and Kevin checking the conditions -

I took out the same setup from yesterday as the wind was still up.  And again the BRM S3 3.4 was perfectly powered.

Headed downwind a bit more than yesterday afternoon - but honestly the waves were best up towards the campsite.

I didn't stash the parawing much this session - the waves were too short and only in the couple of spots today that it didn't make sense to take it down.

Dennis mid-tack.

The wind got really strong so I went in for a break.  The launch-landing spot was so easy (not as easy as Hickam - but pretty close).

After snacks, I headed back out but switched to the Silk 1050/152.

I got up and had some rides, but the wind started to fall off so I went in - twice - to size up the parawing.  But in both cases (4.2 then the 5.3), it was too little too late.

We broke down camp and prepared to head off west in the morning.

Pretty incredible that the wind can be nuking in the morning, then glassy a few hours later.

The camp site was really nice - clean bath house, no bugs, nice quiet location - made me really miss the Trail Manor.

PF:11/W:3/PW:97/FD:61/S:25

Late August Gorge Trip - Day One

La and I took a trip up to the PNW.  First stop was dropping me off at the eastern part of the Gorge.  Nick was camping with some other friends from San Diego - and he said crashing was not a problem!

Driving through the Gorge was pretty cool - lots of beautiful scenery and the wind on the water looked nuclear!

And the water was not that cold (at this time of year).

We pulled up to the campsite, offloaded my stuff and I was assembling the parawinging stuff.

AFS Silk 850/USurf 135/Standard fuselage on the Cedrus Evolution Surf mast all bolted on to No.34

I had the BRM Maliko 2.9 and S3 3.4 in th3 pouch.

This has been on my bucket list for quite some time - and having Nick as a guide made the learning curve go quick.  With current opposing wind in a narrow channel, there were some things to work out.

The front half was really cool - after getting my bearings, I followed the other guys downwind.  Waist high swell in a river headed up current.  Normally you'd want to go upwind to develop your margin of safety (and not have to walk back) - here the current will take you back upwind if you have issues getting up on foil.

Riding swell in a river with the parawing put away is definitely a different experience - especially with uber nuking winds at your back driving everything.

The back half of this first session was super challenging - the wind was shifting and trying to get up in short period chop is not the easiest thing.  But I eventually made it back to the launch.

The swell bumps were not evenly distributed across the river - on this run the rides were better on the Washington side 

Admittedly I spent most of this session trying to get back to the launch - the winds were really strong and towards the Rufus side they were shifting.  I broke out the Maliko 2.9 but even that was a little too big.  I left the Flysurfer POW V1 1.7 and 2.5 back home (not thinking I would need them due to the declining wind forecast).  But the real issue was the shifting direction and not the parawing size.

This time of year it stays light until around 2030 - so after resting, catching up and waiting for the wind to settle, we went back out for a second session.  I took the same gear and used the BRM S3 3.4

With the wind more consistent, this was a much better session.  I still got some retracted parawing rides in, but the swell wasn't as ride focused.  In fact I didn't see the need to go far downwind and was happy just doing the run in front of Maryhill.

The S3 3.4 was perfect as was the Silk 850/USurf 135

The wind was up all night - no glass off.

What a Saturday!!!

PF:11/W:3/PW:95/FD:61/S:25

Foil Drive Session - 7/21/2026

Wind was supposed to be down and surf was supposed to be up - but it was opposite.

Same gear as yesterday

Waves were breaking steeper yesterday -

The chop seemed to be a little more/bigger today

But when the right wave came through - it was still good fun!

Sixteen rides with a few missed waves

I think the wind is supposed to come back tomorrow -

PF:9/W:3/PW:81/FD:55/S:20

Foil Drive Session - 7/20/2026

The south swell showed up today!

Waves at the middle break were overhead. 

I setup No.40 with the Evolution Surf mast, the AFS Silk 850/Usurf 135.

I used the black props to have the best chance to pick up the waves.

I started the session out at Fenceline, catching waves and riding to the left.  And throughout the session I kept hopping left until I was out in front of the Cabins.

I picked up a few well overhead waves - and the Silk 850 kept me in the pocket the entire time!!!  V1 for me!

The last wave I picked up from way on the outside - I was able to ride it all the way in -

21.7mph on the Silk 850 - definitely some energy in the waves (386kJ on surfline).

16 rides today - and I came in at 45% battery.

Depending on the wind, I'll either Foil Drive again, or I may surf.

PF:9/W:3/PW:81/FD:54/S:20

Garage Works - 7/15/2026

I didn't feel like going to the beach today -

Having had plenty of marginal days, I figured I should wait for better conditions and rest up in the meantime.  Plus I had to pull some creeping lavender weeds from my lawn and La needed to run some errands.

I did get into the garage for a bit - 

I got this setup - the Foil Drive Mini Pod on the Foil Cedrus Evolution Surf mast.  It fits really secure.  I also got it fitted onto the Cabrinha Apex mast - really nice fit on that mast.  

And I got the mast track box all measured out on No.44

I decided to not touch No.45 until this parawing board (No.44) is finished.  It's better to focus on one board at a time.

I also received the Cabrinha Tweaker 160 Rear Stabilizer in the mail today - this will allow me to play around with different shims to change up the feel of the setup.  More positive shim will mean a little more front foot pressure (perceived "more lift").

Evening Foil Drive Session - 7/2/2026

Had debated parawinging, but decided to take a nap.  Woke up then assessed the wind - it was up and down and side offshore.  Figured I should use the Foil Drive.   

I was also thinking the waves would be bigger today than yesterday - so I brought the Silk 850/USurf 135

Norm was already out when I got to the parking lot.  Roland was just about to launch.  And Kalani had finished a 12 mile parawing session.

This was a quick session.

The waves were pretty fun - chest high.  They weren't as punchy as yesterday.

Got 12 rides in 38 minutes

The wind is forecasted to blow, but lately the reality is it isn't nearly as strong as what is predicted.  Gonna need to keep the Foil Drive batteries charged and the parawings close hold.

PF:8/W:3/PW:67/FD:53/S:20