Evening Session - 9/27/2024

I am back from a business trip - it's been a week since I've been in the water.

The wind was up and down - but Marlon had the intent to go surfing, so I also went to surf.

He ended up taking pictures instead. 

I had heard there was a swell in place - so I brought the Seaside and Beyond.  I should have brought the longboard.

But I did manage to get some decent rides!

I caught 5 and called it.  I didn't want to overexert myself the first day back.

Surfing is not easy -

Roland was out also on a surfboard.

Prayot and Duke came out later on prone foil gear.

It was really nice to get back in the water!

W:121/PW:2/FD:67/F:4/S:19

Evening Session - 8/1/2024, Part 2

And after foiling, I went home to pick up Marlon so we could go surfing.

The tide was really high, so the surf was a little drowned out (even compared to my earlier foiling session).

Marlon brought the longboard I built him way back when.

I brought the Seaside and Beyond!!!  And I switched out the Bessell Quads for the Ono Convertibles.

Every now and then a good set would pull through - I ended up catch a handful of ridable waves.  This board feels great as a twin!!!

Prayot and Zach were out foiling.  And towards the end I saw Gary out SUP foiling.

The swell is supposed to get bigger...

W:94/FD:54/F:4/S:15

Evening Session - 5/3/2023

Surf was definitely bigger today - but the wind came up and didn't back down (although it was wingable, the wind was up and down and with the surf as big it was I didn't really want to deal with that).

I opted to use the Seaside and Beyond -

The surf was really hard to catch - you were either in a super critical takeoff, or the waves would flatten out underneath you.

I did catch a handful that had some length to them - but nothing remarkable.  I think I would have done better if I brought the Hypto Krypto or the Cyatic and stayed in the critical takeoff zone.

The lineup was crowded - and full of assholes today.  I called it and opted to go home and make burritos for dinner.

Tomorrow I'll wing Hickam with my new foil - the Triton X-1

W:37/F:32/S:27

Evening Session - 3/31/2023

I went to grab Marlon at UH after I was done with work and after he was done with school/work.  I had a few minutes in between so I picked up the carbon fiber I need to finish off No.30 and 31.

Traffic was thick going home, but it was moving.  That got me home around 5:45 - it was late, but I wanted to get some exercise to try and shake some of the jammed up phlegm and cough it up.

The report were indicating the conditions would be similar to yesterdays conditions - so I went ahead and brought out the same board - the Seaside and Beyond equipped with the Bessell Quads.  Roland did the same thing - brought out the same shortboard he had out yesterday.

I caught some really fun waves - awesome drops followed by some rippable walls.  I think today would have been a good day for the Hypto Krypto - maybe tomorrow on the dawn patrol....

W:29/F:20/S:20

Evening Session - 3/30/2023

The sun is definitely starting to set later.  Marlon and I got a late start on our evening session - this was at 5:45pm

The thermals that had kicked up earlier got choked out by the clouds.  The tide was really low - so foiling was not in the forecast for me.

Marlon had already gone on the dawn patrol (said it was good), so this was a bonus session for him.  With that feedback, I was interested in using something different than the Sweet Potato.  I was thinking the Toots 7'4" Asymmetric, but I didn't have any fins in the boxes.  I then pulled out the Seaside and Beyond.  Perfect choice!

I caught a handful of waves - and the Seaside and Beyond just ate them up - this is another really fun board to use when there is some energy in the waves.

The cold I picked up seems to be peaking today - this session helped to rinse out my sinuses and got my blood flowing.

W:29/F:20/S:19

Evening Session - 11/3/2022

And after shaping, I went to the beach to wash off the sweat and dust.  The swell was supposed to be peaking this afternoon - so I brought the Seaside and Beyond.

The waves were a little better formed today, but they still were a little dumpy.  They stayed open faced long enough to take the drop, hook a turn and straighten out before the closeout.

I caught my fair share and headed in - take only what you need!

W:105/F:93/S:36

Dawn Patrol - 10/22/2022

Dawn patrolled with Marlon.  Based on the wave energy yesterday evening, I opted to bring the Seaside and Beyond.  Marlon brought his Seaside.

The waves were chest to head high.  The tide was low and the wind was light.  All the factors came together to make some really fun conditions.  I had some good runners and got to crank some fun turns.

When the surf is good, go surf!!!  Foil when the waves are crappy - 

W:97/F:90/S:34

Evening Session - 10/3/2022

I pulled an evening after work session.  The waves were supposed to be up, the tide down and who knows what the wind would be doing - I opted to take the Seaside and Beyond.

I wanted to mix it up so I took off the Machado Quads and placed the Tim Bessell set.

I caught several waves, riding them for surprisingly long distances (I really love this board!!! I never felt this way about the Sunday or the Greedy Beaver - I did have some moments with the Toots Asymmetric but I don't think I've found the right fin combo for me yet on that board to unlock its potential).  The Bessell fins were really fun.  When I was carving out bottom turns, I could feel the fins vibrating - they would emit a high frequency vibration (just like the Axis rear stabilizers) - SO COOL!

These fins look to have slightly less surface area than the Machado quads. I'm still going to need to put a bunch of time in on them to find out for sure, but first impressions are these are faster and looser than the Machado fins.  The draw back to that is on the top turns - they weren't as deliberate with the Bessell's.  And the times that I looked down, my back foot was further forward than when using the Machado's - this is not so good, as the board turns way better when your back foot is closer to the tail.

This was probably the smallest day I've had the Seaside and Beyond out - and it still performed amazingly!!!  Probably chest to head high, so not really that small on the sets.

I'll ride this board with this setup for a few more sessions - then I'll switch back to the Machado's to compare/contrast.  Then I want to try this board as a twin - I have a pair of WR Nightmares waiting!!!

W:95/F:82/S:28

Dawn Patrol - 9/25/2022

Dawn patrol again this morning.  Got to the beach even earlier than normal - needed to bring the Greedy Beaver to the beach so I could sell it to Tim (even though he just got that Pyzel Ghost).  After the session, he said he loved the board (phew).

Marlon surfed for a bit, then went in to swim out and use his new water housing/camera.

I paddled the Seaside and Beyond - and was astounded yet again!!!  I was catching waves on the outside and gouging top to bottom turns.

After the sun started getting higher in the sky, I rode a few waves in and started surfing the inside.  The waves were smaller on the inside, but the Seaside and Beyond worked just as well.  The range on this board is really good.

So as much as I didn't want to sell the Greedy Beaver and the Sunday (and I'm still trying to sell the Toots Asymmetric) - those three boards had too much overlap among themselves, and none were as easy to ride as the Seaside and Beyond.

This has been a really great run of surf, and a great introduction to what is lining up to be an incredible surfboard!

W:94/F:80/S:25

Dawn Patrol - 9/24/2022

Dawn patrol this morning.  Marlon brought the Seaside, and I brought the Seaside and Beyond.  Swell was chest to just overhead on the sets.  There was minimal wind.  The tide was low and dropping - this was the reason for me bringing the surfboard; I didn't want to deal with scraping bottom with the foil.

I was super glad I did bring the S&B!

I surfed in front of the MWR Shack and I picked off several head high waves.  Marlon was in the same spot and we even rode a couple together (or maybe he dropped in on me and I was just a nice guy).

I had a few waves that rivaled distance rode while on a foil.  And the faces were nice a steep so I was able to stick to the face and huck some big turns.  I really like this board a lot - I never felt this connected to the Firewire Sunday (which sold already so I could get this), the Firewire Greedy Beaver (which I am close to selling), or the Toots Asymmetric (which I think I could still get used to, but would still rather sell so I can just focus with the Viking, the Everyday and the Seaside and Beyond).

I didn't see Tim out - but while packing up I did see him carrying his new Pyzel Ghost.  This was produced pretty quickly - I think he placed the order in just last month.  Nice shape, good volume - looks like a wave killer (if the waves have some energy in them).

The forecasts call for the current swell to stick around for a few days.  With little wind in the forecast, I think I'll be surfing the S&B some more!

W:94/F:80/S:24

Evening Session - 9/22/2022

Took the Seaside and Beyond out again.  The waves were slightly bigger than yesterday on the sets.  The tide was full again.  But the difference today was the wind - I could have gone out (I didn't deal with all the winging gear today, and I really wanted to spend more time getting this Seaside and Beyond all dialed in.

I had a handful of really good waves - largely because you have to pick and choose the correct waves.  This is a really great board - paddles in easily, holds in bigger surf and behaves like a board several inches shorter.  Goodbye Sunday and Hello Seaside and Beyond!!!

W:94/F:79/S:23

Evening Session - 9/21/2022

Evening session with Marlon and Roland.  There was a new longer period swell hitting - so time to break out the shorter boards.  Marlon brought out his trusty Firewire Seaside; I anointed the Firewire Seaside and Beyond...

I caught a handful of really great waves - top to bottom, fun drops (trying to get dialed in on my footing - too much foiling), hard leaning bottom turns and then lined up wall riding - SO MUCH FUN - I know I write this all the time, but it's always true!

Marlon and I even got to share some waves towards the end of the session - it really doesn't get much better than this!

W:94/F:79/S:22

Wing Repair and Board Prepping

Yesterday while I was using this wing (Takuma RS 6.1) the leading edge bladder popped.  Today I went ahead and fixed it.  You never know what you are going to find when you pull a bladder.  The pop sounded small and noncatastrophic - and it even took a little bit of time for the air to completely come out - so I figured I got lucky and this hole was small.

And small it was.  I had this patched in no time.

And I went ahead and inflated it and left it inflated.  It's at my office - I'll check on it in the morning.  I'm thinking it should be good to go.

I also decided to sell the surfboards I'm not currently using.  Those would be the Firewire Sunday (shown here), the Firewire Greedy Beaver, and the Toots 7'4" Asymmetric

The proceeds from selling these boards will go to the Ocean Rodeo Glide AX wings I'm saving up for and to pay off the Firewire Seaside and Beyond.

I'll post more pictures tomorrow of all the surfboards moving around (bought and sold).  There is also a swell that is inbound - surfing tomorrow!!!