Wing Foiling Session - 3/9/2025

Fun session today.  Went out later - the weather was not conducive to winging earlier (rain) and La, Marlon and I went up to the North Shore for a change of pace - so later was fine.

The wind was decent for the 5.0 m

The tide was low (so longer paddle out).

And the waves were on the small side.

Prayot and Roland were partaking today as well.

Based on the testing I did yesterday - I originally wanted to go to Hickam today and figure out where the Cabrinha H800 and the Axis Spitfire 840 would line up (and recalibrate the positioning of SK8 950).  I was a little tired from driving around today, so I opted to hit WPB despite the low tide, and just get the SK8 950 adjusted. 

For most of the session, the wind was up enough to keep on foil.  There were a few times I went down due to a botched maneuver, and I had to wait for a gust to get back up - but that was not the norm. 

The tide kept the waves rideable in front of the cabins (which is also the "dead zone" wind wise on lighter days).  The arc that is seen in the chart below is me riding goofy foot and carving up the standing wave faces - SO MUCH FUN!!!

I also got several tacks on to inbound waves - and kept whittling away at the horizontal angle of these turns at their apex. 

Decent wind - you can see where the waiting time frames were (dropped below 15mph)

This was a really good session - until the end where I had a couple of reef touches to the foil just after splash down.  Nothing that a little wet-dry sandpaper couldn't address.

Tuesday is shaping up to be a nuking day with some waves.

W:18/FD:39/PW:1/S:3

Wing Foiling Session - 3/3/2025

The winds came back today!!!

Norm and I launched from Pavilions (he was out an hour earlier).  I had to paddle out a bit before I felt comfortable launching (the tide was pretty low - primarily why we decided to go to Pavilions in the first place).

I didn't want to risk having to paddle in so I setup the North Nova Pro 5.0

And today was also the inaugural run of No.40 under wing power!!!

I set up the F One SK8 950/Carve 195 - this is where it balanced out (and it was spot on). 

The wind was up and down - but it was always enough for me to stay up on foil.

When I took off I saw Norm out at Campgrounds so I made a beeline out.

Then I figured I'd keep on going and see how the waves were at WPB.  I surfed a few waves and headed back downwind.  I had to pay attention to where the wind channels were to stay powered.

I surfed the waves that were breaking along the way back down.  With the wind swell, Campgrounds and the reefs in front of Nimitz Beach were standing up nicely.

I ended the session surfing in front of Pavilions - the wind was filled in nicely close in and got several really fun rides.

Most of my transitions were jibes - mainly because I felt rusty winging in strong winds.  Towards the end of the session I did throw some tacks (and I nailed them). 

This was the graph from Hickam (the Kalaeloa meter gets goofy on normal trade directions).  And it looks like it fell apart around 1pm today.

That kinda feels like what was blowing while I was out.

And this graph shows a few of things.  

First - I did not go down the entire session.  Solid blue the whole way!

Second - the thin black line around :15 is me touching down and pumping back up.

Third - the three black lines around :38 minutes to :50 was me throwing my tacks.

The board performed flawlessly!  No speed records broken, no epic turns - just some mellow action (with hints of mega potential without the drama).

The wind is forecasted to be strong for at least 2 weeks - I have to pace myself so I don't get hurt along the way.   I'm glad to be winging again!

W:12/FD:39/PW:1/S:3

Wing Foiling Session - 1/7/2025

SSW winds were blowing at levels to drive whitecaps for pretty much the entire day.

I got off work, went home to grab my winging gear, then headed to Pavilions (as the tide was really low - WPB would have been a really long paddle to get enough depth to not ground the foil while having to aim back towards shore to take off).

Norm also came out -

The wind was strong and steady when I got there - but I could feel it dropping even as I was getting my equipment setup. 

I opted for the North Mode Pro 4.8 - I figured there was plenty of wind, and I balanced the smaller wing with a bigger foil - the F One SK8 950/C195 

At the onset, I was having a good session - decently powered, but having to navigate through some really choppy surface conditions.  It was still pretty fun when you looked immediately in front of you and focused on what was going on there, the rides were good.

Then the wind dropped.   The Mode Pros don't like underpowered conditions.  From that point I tried my best to get back up on foil - but to no avail.

At some point I figured I'd have a much easier time beaching at Campgrounds and just walk it back.

It was super shallow on the way in - and most of the sand was washed out (bare shelf rock was mega exposed).

Norm saw what was happening and drove over to pick me up.

On the graph below, you can see the dip in the wind - and at that wind strength - it's no wonder than I couldn't get back up.

I think if I had taken the time to attach the boom on to the North Nova Pro 5.0, I would have been able to foil back to the launching point.

At least my gear was intact (considering the super low tide and the shallow exit).

You win some, and you lose some.

W:2/FD:4/PW:1

Wing Foiling Session - 11/13/2024

Another great day of winging!  Strong winds, slightly lower tide (I think), and fun sized waves (still) - but I think yesterday was slightly better overall.

That's Zach windsurfing (he is one of the only guys I know that still windsurfs). 

Same gear as yesterday.

But I probably could have gotten by with the Ezzy Flight 4.0 (definitely the North Mode Pro 4.8)

Check out the average speed!!!  5 mile splits were sub 20's

So many fun rides - are really long.  Tacks galore!!!

Nice wind levels - never really wanting for wind at all.

I actually fell 3x - the rest was powered ripping!!!

Today is the last of the warm up sessions...

Starting tomorrow the wind goes nuclear -

I'm going to see about moving the footstraps forward on No.36 to accommodate the SK8 750 and the Eagle 690 (and even the AFS Pure HA 560) - hold on to your hats!!!

W:141/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:20

Wing Foiling Session - 11/12/2024

Phenomenal session today!

Wind was up and there were waves!!!  Tide was a mid high - so getting out wasn't too bad.

I pumped up the North Nova Pro 5.0 - since I didn't necessarily trust the wind consistency.

And here is No.32 with the Evolution Cedrus Wind Mast and the SK8 950/C195.

This setup delivered today!  Carves galore!!!

The wind was so consistent - I actually spent most of my time in the dead zone in front of Cabins.

Pretty good stats for not being out 2 hours -

Tons of tacks going both ways.

This is one of the best days I've had out at WPB - bigger surf would be the only way to make today better.

Up on foil for the vast majority of the session

The wind is forecasted to keep getting stronger going into next week.  It's going to get nuts!!!

W:140/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:20

Wing Foiling Session - 11/10/2024

Marlon and I hit WPB for a mid-day foiling session.  He went prone foiling again - he caught a handful, with two good ones, then he put the drone up.

Prayot went out earlier and was back to swap out foils.  Kalani initially set up the Dragonfly - but had swapped out to the higher volume drifter.

Anticipating conditions similar to yesterday, I brought No.36 and the SK8 950/C195 - to be better prepared for surfing.

I pumped up the same wing I've been using for the past several sessions.

That said - the session started out phenomenal!!!  Turns and carves galore!!!  Plenty of power in the wing and everything was dialed in - the SK8 950/C195 were the right foils for today.

That is until it wasn't - 

I ended up going down on the outside and the wind dropped off.  It was a really long lull and I drifted pretty far down wind.  Eventually the wind came back and I was able to get back up on foil.

I beat feet back to the area by Fenceline and was back in play. 

These were taken after I came back from the dead zone

Drifting for that long and that far over is not a confidence inspiring act.

At least I didn't have to swim back.

Those are some deep lulls... the forecasts called for stronger, steadier winds - basically you get what you get and you just have to deal with the conditions you have.

Looks like I was down more than I was up.

Despite the bobbing - this was still a really fun session.  I cranked out some really fun craving turns - give me more of that!!!!

W:139/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:19

Taking a Break

I've been working late the past few days - I actually wanted to get a winging session in, BUT it was a really low tide and by the time I got to the beach I knew I wouldn't have much time out on the water.

I figured I'd just sit and watch Norm and Roland get some good turns in.

Norm was out on No.38 - first time winging with it and he said it was doing well for him.

I hung out to ask them how the session was - then I went home to finish the SK8 950 repair.

I rough sanded it with 40 grit using the random orbital sander.  Then I used 220, then used the solid paint marker, then redid the 220.

I finished with 320-400-600-1000-1500

It feels as strong as the original (same sound produced as the other side when tapped).

This is smoother than it looks

Sucks that the wingtip got crushed to begin with - but pretty darn satisfying to get something repaired well.

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