Wing Foiling Session - 6/1/2024

Testing day at Hickam.  I brought this stuff out to see where it lined up on No.36

Lots of folks out today - even Mark the lifeguard was at Hickam.  He had a Neilpryde Fly 4.0 - I've never seen one of these up close.

Miles, Harris, Jim, Jesse, Arvin, Anson, Matt and Kalani were all out at one point

Up first for me was the Triton.  I ended up adjusting this a few times before getting the foot pressure mostly balanced.  If I were to use this more frequently, I would likely move the front footstraps back a couple of holes.

I couldn't pull a tack comfortably on this foil today - the wind was too up and down.  I brought this out because I am interested in the Triton X-1 Pro that is supposed to be coming out.

The wind was up and down and fluctuated direction a lot.  Made for really hard conditions.

Here's the track with the Triton.

Not bad for being on a wing a half meter too small for the predominant wind.

I went in a swapped out to the Axis ART Pro 1001 with the KD DW Race rear stabilizer.  I did make some adjustments as I was getting a bucking takeoff sequence.

If I had a bigger wing I think I could have gotten better feedback with this foil.

You can see I got in a few heelside tacks on the outside.

I know I can go faster on this foil - goes to show you how weird the wind was today.

And last but not least, I switched out to the Cabrinha H800 with the KD 14" Marlin.  At this point I also switched out the wing to the 5.5

I did make a few adjustments to get the foot pressure balanced.  I did end up venting a couple of times - which means I was starting to push the foil - but it could also have been the fluky winds.

Again with better conditions I'm pretty sure I can push this foil much faster.

Tomorrow I'm going to just focus on wave riding.

W:65/FD:40/F:4/S:12

Wing Foiling Session - 9/16/2023

I ran some errands with La today (and the wind kept getting stronger throughout the day).  When we got home, I packed the truck and headed to the beach.

The wind was producing white caps and periodically a chest high set would roll through.  Launching wasn't too bad with the high tide.

Eagle 890 -

I opted for No.25 to make sure I wouldn't get stuck outside if the wind dropped.

And likewise I pumped up the SW2 5.2 to make sure I had adequate power.

Super fun session today!  Mark, Roland, Derek and I were all out.

I tried to execute tacks on to incoming waves - but my completion rate was not so good today.  I'm thinking the smaller front wing, longer fuse and different rear stabilizer made for a less turny setup with less glide.  I did nail a few though. 

I never felt overpowered today - bigger wings paired with smaller foils helps on the marginal days where you go with the bigger wing.

Lots of tripping on the botched tack attempts.

Fun thermal session!!!

W:93/F:89/S:35

Wing Foiling Session - 8/30/2023

Good winds this afternoon (but still a little up and down).  Also good waves -

the Eagle 890And the tide was super fat!  Easy launch, easy recovery.

I used the Eagle 890 today (with the 14" KD Marlin) and the SW2 4.7

Quick session - just over an hour

Direction was consistent - velocity would go up and down.  If I knew that would be the prevailing conditions, I think I would have put the 1090 on.  But it all worked out.

Most waves were chest high - but there were some overhead sets that came every once in a while.

I never felt overpowered on 4.7 today.  In fact I did feel a little underpowered at times.

Not a bad top end speed!

Roland, Prayot and Norm were out today.

I rode one wave pretty far in and had to find a hole through the lineup to get back out.

Super fun day!!!

W:88/F:82/S:32

Wing Foiling Session - 8/21/2023

The wind picked up after lunch.  I headed out around 2pm - 

Rising tide, whitecaps outside and some small-ish surf (weird how the size at Campgrounds was not present at WPB).

In preparation for the race on Saturday, I decided to start using smaller foils.  Today I brought out the F One Eagle 890 (with the KD Marlin 14" on the "short" length fuselage).

With the wind still up and down (but doable) I opted for the SW2 5.2 to make sure I didn't have power - because I wanted to practice pulling upwind.

Prayot was at the beach, but didn't go out (but he did take this picture).

Pretty good stats today.

Mostly a consistent ENE wind today.

When I wasn't pulling upwind-downwind, I was taking advantage of the surf (the surfers were way inside today, which gave me more room to ride).

I got several tacks in today - so the 890 can huck them also (just not as easily as the 1090).

The chart was from Hickam - I think the wind was more steady and consistent at WPB.

I only went down a handful of times today - felt really good to be up on foil for as long as I was.

Teh forecast calls for good winds (until this weekend...)

W:82/F:80/S:32

Evening Session - 8/9/2023

Yesterday afternoon I had originally set out to wing.  There was good wind, there was some pumping swell, and the tide was decently high.

I set up the Eagle 890/Marlin 14" and pumped up the SW2 4.2

Well - while paddling out, the ocean said "Nope" - I kept drifting downwind and did not have enough wind to get up.  On one beating (of many), I saw the rear stabilizer graze the strut and "pop"

I paddled in and waited for Marlon to come back (he had went home to grab a board).

He came back and I packed up.  I went home to grab a board also - but while at the house, I debated about bring a surfboard or a prone foilboard.

I ended up with the Vyper 170 on No.21

I had three really good rides, despite the pitching lip close out waves that were coming through.

Marlon on the other hand was able to generate enough board speed and paddled into some really good waves.

This was a tough week for the WPB crew - wings torn and deep cuts...

Sometimes you win - sometimes you lose.

W:77/F:72/S:31

Wing Foiling Session - 7/26/2023

Winged yesterday afternoon.  The wind and waves were slightly better than the day before (Tuesday).  Roland came out - he wanted to sampo the Vyper 170 for lighter wind winging.  Kalani also came out (and so did Gary much later).

I used the SW2 5.2, No.25 and the Eagle 890/Marlin 14"

I have been hesitant to commit to the Eagle 890 - but honestly, unless the wind is really light, the foil is completely doable.  In earlier sessions with this foil, I felt like it didn't have enough carry to get me through a tack.  I was completely wrong as the next few pictures show.  Heel - toe and toe - heel - as long as there was enough wind to pressurize the wing, I could make the tack.

I purposely pushed the camera low to get this shot.

And here is the toe - heel tack (SUP dude on the left took my wave - I guess he didn't like my wave count).

Not bad for an hour and a quarter.

Still more North in the wind than I prefer - but at least there is good wind.

The 5.2 was the call for this wind.  Even with the 5.2, there were a few lulls that I had to sit and wait for the gusts.  The 1090 would have helped here.

You can see the sitting sessions.

Fun session!!!!!

W:71/F:68/S:30

Wing Foiling Session - 7/18/2023

Wing foiling yesterday was on a rising tide with blustery winds.  The waves were really small, but every now and then a waist high set would pull through.

Considering the gusts, I downsized the normal gear - Eagle 890/Marlin 14" for the foils and the SW2 4.2 for the wing.

Launching and landing were not issues with the big tide.  I found myself even riding further inside than normally possible (without even thinking of hitting bottom).

The wind direction was tough - at times there was a lot of north in the wind.  Then it would drop in strength and shift back to trades.  Then fall off completely only to start the cycle over again.  There were a lot of dead zones also.

There were also lots of "fish" swimming around - smaller ones, but I've seen enough to know they were "fish".

When the gusts came through, it was victory at sea - I could have easily been comfortably powered on the Mantis 2.5.  For most of the time, I was good on the 4.2

It was hard reading the wind - there were plenty of times I would get blown off the board.  And others when even with the gusts I couldn't power up the wing (pretty much when the direction was changing).

I thought for sure I was going faster than this...

I kept my eye open for opportunities to tack on to waves - periods of stronger wind lining up with waves standing up.  I got a bunch in, but with the reduced glide of the Eagle 890 (relative to the Eagle 1090), some of the tacks ended up in wipes - that's totally acceptable due to the challenging conditions.

What the 890 gives up in glide it more than makes up for in speed and maneuverability.

Roland came out about 40 minutes after I did.  He was jumping like crazy!

Eli was going out as I was coming in - I had to go into town with La and Noe.

In the hours before Tropical Calvin starts to influence our weather, this was a challenging but fun session.  As I've been getting used to the Foil Drive, I have been winging less - this was a good day to get back into it!

W:67/F:66/S:30