Wing Foiling Session - 2/25/2025

I was contemplating using the Foil Drive this afternoon, but Norm couldn't go today.  Then Prayot texted that there was wind and he was launching.

I packed the light wind gear (not the uber light wind though...)

No.34/North Nova Pro 5.0/F One Eagle 1090/DW210/ Project Cedrus Carbon 85cm mast

These two were chillaxing on the beach (and they've been doing that for a bit now - nice to know they trust this area and the people around them; not sure I do...)

Most of the session was just floating around.  While I was driving up, I saw Prayot up on foil, and he was buzzing around while I was setting up.

As soon as I got out to deep enough water, the wind just died.  

I spent a bunch of time floating and thinking I didn't want to have to swim in (like Harris did on Sunday).  But as I was a bit too optimistic with the gear selection for today, the possibility of having to swim in was real.

Eventually I picked up a gust while pointing towards shore, and I was able to jibe multiple times to get back to the launch point.

I think if I brought out the uber light wind stuff, I could have been up more.  I'm just glad I didn't have to swim back!!!

And when I was up, I was doing a good job of moving at a decent clip.

I may wait for the return of solid wind (next Tuesday) before trying to wing again.

W:11/FD:33/PW:1/S:3

Wing Foiling Session - 12/29/2024

The wind was forecasted to fill in today.  The forecast has also downshifted from nuking winds to comfortably wingable.  It's still wind so you take what you are given and you are grateful.

When I got there I checked the conditions and Matt walked up.  After catching up a bit, Zack and Naomi also arrived so there was a quorum.  By the time everyone had chatted up, the wind had filled in nicely.

I specifically came to Hickam to get the Eagle 1090/DW210 setup on No.39.

From my experience on the KT Dragonfly, The F One Eagle 1090 sits a notch further back than the AFS Enduro 1300 - which on this board is getting critical (as the 1090 is sitting almost at the very back of the tracks).  This is where the board-foil balanced out, and I did not change it during the run.

This wing is quickly becoming my go to daily driver - light wind (with floaty board and big front foil) all the way to just under nuking, the Nova Pro handles it all!

And today I brought out the GoPro Hero 13 that I got for Christmas!  This is such a small action camera - I haven't used it much (this is the first time) but I love it already.

The take-away from today's session is I don't need the footstraps on this board - which is a shame because of all the extra work that went into placing the inserts into the build.

I may still place them on the board if I'm going to be using the tiny foils (as they usually get a little twitchy).

The waves were tiny - wasn't worth being out at Firsts when I could do the same stuff (transition practice) on the inside.  I did get to ride some of the micro waves - always fun!

The rest of the time I was just working on getting the feel of the Eagle 1090 on No.39

Some correlation - but not exact today.

After I got back home, Mark called me asnd asked if I would like to borrow his AFS stuff - I said yes and headed over to pick it up.  I really only needed the Enduro 700 - but we were both pressed for time so I just took everything.

Tomorrow may see the Enduro 700 in motion....

W:155/PW:2/FD:102/F:5/S:29

Wing Foiling Session - 12/9/2024

The wind was blowing a bit today - and having read the forecasts I packed the big stuff.

My 8 hours at work started early, so I was at Hickam Beach at 1pm.

Eagle 1090/DW210, Mode Pro 5.5 and No.34 (such a versatile board!!!)

Really good session to get refamiliarized with winging (I checked and I think the last time I went winging was 11/17/24).

There weren't any real waves breaking on the outside, so I figured I'd stay inside to avoid getting stuck (if the wind died).

I did run through about every transition I've done - tacks and jibes both ways, Heineken and duck jibes.

Looks like I caught the wind at its peak.

And surprisingly I got a decent top end speed from the equipment today.

Super fun, low key and I still got off base before the zoo let out (but the gauntlet and beyond was a little thick).

W:146/PW:2/FD:89/F:5/S:29

Wing Foiing Session - 11/8/2023

Hit WPB again after work.  Norm was already finishing up.  He said it was really North...

I ended up setting up the same exact gear as yesterday (since the conditions were pretty much the same).

I'm really getting to like this board!  I don't think I would want a longer one - but at 7' this is about as long as I would prefer to use.

The wind was pretty much a carbon copy of yesterday - but it did seem to lighten up before normal weather patterns

Longer runs today.

I was out on the Nova Pro 5.0 - a little small for the really light winds - but good to know I could use it to get up on foil.  Beyond that, it was big enough to keep me going (just not as efficiently as the Mode Pros or even the Ezzy's I've been testing).

Despite the light offshore winds - today was actually fun!

Hoping to get some more wind tomorrow.

W:137/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 11/7/2024

The winds were forecasted to come back today.  They were actually back at WPB yesterday - but today was the forecasted arrival.

I think everywhere else was cloudy and rainy.  At work the wind really wasn't blowing and there were no moving trees along my route home.

But once I got into Ewa, the signs changed.  Blowing trees and clearing skies -

I had planned to test this KT Dragonfly and get the foil settings dialed in.  Using the wing first is faster to do that, but ultimately the goal with this board is the parawing.

Kane's method actually worked perfectly on this board to balance out the foil. As this is generally a lighter wind board, I'll likely use larger foils - this is the F One Eagle 1090/DW210

With the low tide (it's that time of year where the afternoons will tend to be low tides) - I also opted to use the shorter Project Cedrus masts - this being the 78cm.

The winds were not what they were forecasted to be.  In fact, it was coming hard out of the north (NNE).  That made for unusual conditions - perfect for testing out light wind setups!

Normally I would have needed the North Mode Pro 6.8 to get along efficiently in the wind conditions present today - but with the 100 liter Dragonfly, the energy from the wing went straight into developing forward speed (and not having to get a sinker up and out of the water).  So I pumped up a smaller wing to test the postulate (and spoiler - it worked).

Today's focus was getting used to the Dragonfly - which didn't take too long.

If this doesn't say north winds, nothing will.  It isn't that often that I get to do runs out to Shark Country and back to WPB without a single transition.

With the wind being offshore, I'm not sure the magnitude is correct (this is the Kalaeloa tower) - regardless, it was challenging to ride today.

The Dragonfly definitely floated me, with extra capacity.  It was a joy to ride!  If the forecast calls for questionable winds - this will definitely be on the shortlist of boards to use.

And there were times I was waiting around for a gust to come along.

Kalani was out with his 8'2" Dragonfly.  Duke and Roland were out on wing also.  Zach got there later and opted to prone foil.

Good first session with the KT Dragonfly!

W:136/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 11/2/2024

The trades were forecasted to back down for a bit - but there was ridable wind forecasted for Kailua this morning.

Rex, Martin and Sandra were there - good sign

I went big on everything except the board (had No.36, but probably should have had No.34)

North Mode Pro 6.8 and the F One Eagle 1090.

It took me 30 minutes to get up on foil - but once I did I was able to stay up for all but one fall.

On my last 5.0 mile split, I got the run in under 20 minutes.  Were it not for the slow start, my average speed would have been closer to 15 mph.

Lots of carving today!  The waves weren't huge, but they were still fun.

I also got a ton of tacks in on the inside.

This was definitely the low end of everything -

Not bad for a light wind session

W:135/PW:2/FD:79/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/21/2024

Today was the day I turned over No.38 to Norm.  We were both going to Foil Drive, but when we got there the wind was cranking - thermals.

Eli was rigging and was saying the winds were going to die off any time and it would be sudden.  He rigged big and headed out.

I rigged what winging stuff I brought - Ezzy Flight 5.5 (c), No.34 with the Eagle 1090/DW210

Eli was literally in the water 5 minutes before I was - but that short time span was everything.

I almost never got up on foil.  There was a bubble of wind and it seemed to be following Eli.

About this time I saw Norm taking out No.38 with the Foil Drive.

I spent over an hour trying to get up with the little wind that remained.  Talk about a trap -

I eventually did manage to catch a swell and pumped the wing to get enough speed to get up on foil.  I rode that wave in as far as I could - which saved me from a long paddle back in.

I saw Norm with plenty of long rides.  Looks like that board is going to be good for him (whew!!!)

This session was totally shaping up to be a total skunk!!!  Last second save!

W:130/PW:2/FD:74/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 10/20/2024, Part 1

Ezzy wing testing day!  The wind was "there" - but it was challenging...

Starting on the left - Donnel labelled these "Molokai", "V2" and "first Blue"

I used first Blue first -

Since the texture on the water was not indicative of what was happening with the trees, I rigged big - No.34 with the F One Eagle 1090

first Blue was light in hand and seemed to luff the best.  It also pointed higher than the others.

Decent winds for the first run

That blue line at the bottom was my start - needed to head back towards shore to use swell to get up to foiling speed.  Other than the initial start, the Ezzy wings (all of them) are incredibly efficient.  I was staying up in the light trades (but most wingers couldn't get up).

Not bad considering the conditions.

I headed to shore and changed out the wings - next up was Molokai

The wind was even lighter this run.  Same "head towards shore and start using swell" - after that I didn't go down - I don't think I would have gotten back up.  This red wing did not point as high as the blue one.

It felt more powerful than the blue one.  And it luffed a little worse than the blue wing.

Despite the light wind, this wing performed well.

The wind was dropping off so I went in and gave Donnel a debrief of what I thought of each of the two wings I used.  The only negative I found with these wings is the lack of a "starting" grunt.  It takes the whole bag of tricks to get the foil to come up to speed - but in all other respects, this is a great wing.

I took the blue "V2" home to test that one as well.

W:128/PW:2/FD:74/F:5/S:19