Evening Session - 4/20/2023

This afternoon Kalani picked up his ART999 that I patched up.  Roland wanted to try out the Progression 170, so Kalani took me to the beach.

The tide was super high at 1.9'.  The wind was almost non-existent.  This should have been excellent foiling conditions (like the last session) - except that the waves were tiny (or drowned out).

Since I was loaning Roland the Progression 170, I figured it would be a good time to do a back to back with the Eagle 1090.

Here's Kalani's setup with the repaired ART999

And Duke was out as well.  Dennis setup his HPS 980/400P/5'0" KT board - with the Foil Drive.  I actually was close enough to watch him use the remote and takeoff on several waves - he is not even paddling in anymore.

I watched Roland takeoff on his first wave - and he did a 5x recycle - RIDICULOUS!!!!  That was pretty much the rest of the session for him - 3s, 4s, 5 time recycles.

I cemented in my mind the differences between the Eagle and the Progression.  The Eagle is faster and has more glide.  The Progression carves really nice, pumps easier and feels more like surfing a shortboard (with the ease of a longboard).  The Eagle works incredibly well for me winging - the glide really helping me tack both ways and hard onto breaking waves.  I believe its design criteria was more for downwinding - but it still does really well in the surf.

fThe Progression is a surfing/carving foil that pumps extraordinarily well.  So I'll be surfing shoulder/chest high waves and under with the Progression 170, and when the waves get to be head high and larger, I'll use the Vyper 170.  Both of these foils work great with the flex rear stabilizer I made a while back.

Even though today was small, it was fun foiling with the crew!

W:34/F:24/S:26

Wing Foiling Session - 4/11/2023

Good winds blowing through today!  The tide was a little lower compared to yesterday.  The waves were about the same as yesterday.

There is a dot on the horizon - that is Kalani winging.

I guess the good thing about smaller waves is the paddle out is way easier.

I pumped up the SW2 4.7 again today - this is probably my favorite wing of all time.  It is just where I want it, when I want it - super predictable and stable while luffing.

And to complete the comparison circle from yesterday - the Eagle 1090 got bolted on.

I hate to admit it, but the Eagle does everything better than the Kujira 1095.  I easily tacked full speed onto waves.  I surfed without any sudden power surges, and cut through turbulence without much drama (this is actually one area where the Kujira does work better than the Eagle).

I got in 21.8 miles today.  The wind certainly made that easy and enjoyable.  I pulled the inside wave riding line again today - less people to weave between (since the wind was up, more surfers did not partake).

Here is where I'm a little surprised - I thought I would have hit over 20 mph.  At least it felt like I was going faster than the logged 18.6.

Time to put some Kujira's up for sale (too bad the market is saturated with the K1 foils...)

W:34/F:21/S:23

Wing Foiling Session - 4/7/2023

Kalani helped me out and took me to the beach yesterday afternoon.  The wind was blowing marginally.  I setup the Eagle 1090 with the KD 15" stabilizer on No.25.  I pumped up the RS 6.1

Eli was out when we got there, but came in as I was headed out.

I had a decent session because I stayed up around Fenceline, but Kalani and Roland were down a lot (and even had to paddle in).

I didn't bring my watch so I didn't take and data - but on some of the breakers that I picked up, I felt like I was getting speed limited by the stabilizer and pushing the 1090.

The wind will likely be thermals (if any - depends on the cloud cover) for the next couple of days before trade flow establishes itself again.

W:32/F:20/S:22

Wing Foiling Session - 4/4/2023

I hit Hickam after work because the tradewinds returned today!!!!

And everybody came out to break the wind fast - there were probably 10 wingers out at the peak.

No.25 with no rear strap, 85cm Project Cedrus mast, the KD15" stabilizer and the RS 5.1

The wind was slightly up and down, but I was good with the equipment that I put together.  I had a blast tacking into drops at Firsts.  The waves were a good size to play with and get my groove back.  The wind was a bit fluky and I went down a few times.  On the last run, I ended up on the inside of Seconds, and ended up over the reef where I normally fish at extreme low tides.  Lucky for me it was high tide and I didn't touch bottom.

The wind did come up again and then I worked my way back up wind - even though at times it felt like I was moving in slow motion back up.  It was almost as if the wind was bending in from the North.  Ah whatevers - I made it back.

The wind graph from the airport didn't show any bending, but you can see a slight difference in the track above.

The big black area in the graph below was when I couldn't figure out where I was after ending up over the reef.  Other than that, the Eagle 1090 did a great job keeping me up on foil.

Forgot to mention - I saw a decent sized manta hanging around the inside.

Fun day!!!

W:30/F:20/S:22

Evening Session - 3/24/2023

The surf report called for similar conditions to the past couple of days.  I really didn't believe the report so I brought out 2 foil setups.  I definitely am looking for more of the same surfy feeling that the Vyper 170 has been delivering, but I also didn't want to have to wait for the bigger set waves and for that I thought the Eagle 1090 would be the right foil.

Well - with the bigger tide, the same swell was a little less energetic - so I bolted on the Eagle 1090.  I had also wanted to change more things up so I used the 75cm Project Cedrus mast.

What another fun setup!  I took the DW210 off and used the KD 15" - and it was spectacular!  I am constantly amazed at how well this foil glides and at the same time it can carve hard turns on fast moving sections.  

I caught multiple waves and most were at least doubles (if not triples).

These past few days have been incredibly fun!

W:28/F:20/S:17

Evening Session - 3/22/2023

Yesterday the surf definitely came up - head high and walling up!!!  Marlon was under the weather so I went solo.

The tide was high and the wind was down - so I rigged up the 4'8" (for paddling power), the 68cm Cedrus mast, and the UniFoil Vyper 170/KD Maui 15" rear stabilizer.

Takeoffs were steep and so much fun!!!  The Vyper 170 came alive with all the energy available to tap from the swell.  The foil has super progressive lift and it turns as hard as you care to push it.

I caught multiple waves and had some really long rides.  I was able to pump back out, but it definitely didn't happen carefree - the Vyper obviously doesn't have the glide and carry of the higher aspect ratio front foils - but when there is energy in the waves, I'd rather have the maneuverability of a front foil like the Vyper and sacrifice the carry.

What an excellent day of foiling!!!

W:28/F:18/S:17

Evening Session - 3/10/2023

I hit WPB to go prone foiling today - Roland said yesterday was really good - chest to head high and clean.  Today was probably belly high and clean.  This picture is of Roland and Duke splitting a wave.

I bolted this foil on - the Uni Vyper 170.  Accompanying the front foil was the medium (33cm) fuse and the 15" KD Maui rear stabilizer.

This foil rocks!  For as small as it is, it has some carry, but even in the small waves, I could throw this thing around.  On one turn, I got the foil half out of the water.  On another wave, I was bouncing between two sections - and the board was coming around hard and fast.  This foil is going to be my go to when the waves get chest to well overhead.

I started out with the foil mounted halfway in the tracks.  I moved it twice and ended up with it jammed as far forward as it would go.  This is the second front foil I've used that has pegged the tracks... I'm going to have to shape another board now - longer length like this one for smaller days, but thinner and with the tracks mounted 2" forward from this position (looking at the markings, I don't use foils that go that far back - funny how quick foils and skills have changed).

Looking forward to using this in higher winds also.

W:27/F:15/S:13

Prone Foiling Session - 12/14/2022

I took the Eagle 1090 for a prone session.  Tide was high, swell was waist high and the wind was pretty light.

I started with the foil further back than this but adjusted it twice out on the water to end up in this spot.

I caught a few sloppy ones up front, but by the end of the session I had some really long ones.  It still lost lift as I tried pumping back out - I'm going to have to experiment with the cadence and my foot positioning on this one.  I should also try out the 17" pumper rear stabilizer from Foilparts.com

The 1090 definitely has some good glide.  But I'm going to have to figure out how to unlock this one.

I did hear the foil vibrating on a couple of rides where I had some speed.  I'm thinking I'm going to need to tune the front foil.

No rides out of the ordinary today - but it felt good to get out on the water again!

W:124/F:97/S:40

Wing Foiling Session - 11/21/2022

Midday winging session at Hickam.  Jim was the only one out when I pulled up.  Lots of texture on the water - meant the wind was blowing steady up past 20mph.  Forecast called for more - but I was limited on time so I setup equipment to make sure I could make it back at will.

I ended up using the Reedin SW2 4.7 (rigging for the steady wind, not the gusts), the WWFB, and the F One Eagle 890/Foilparts.com Short F One fuselage/15" KD Maui Rear Stabilizer.

Small front gets set far forward in the mast tracks.  This was a good spot for this front foil.

Today was about testing the 890 - with all this wind, it did everything I thought it should.  It got up pretty quickly (I had plenty of power in the wing), it was fast (but I think I can go faster with a smaller stabilizer), and I was able jibe and tack both ways (although it obviously didn't have the glide/carry that bigger foils have).

I knew the 15" rear stabilizer was bigger than what I needed, but it was all I had in the truck that would bottom mount.  Part of today's run was to also see whether the DW210 was the culprit (in generating all the noise I experienced when I used the Eagle 1090).

This setup today was way quieter than the 1090/210/XXS setup I ran last time - the culprit has been identified (I'll sand the trailing edge of the DW210 to get it to quiet down).  There was still some singing going on, but it was much quieter.  I'm not sure the 15" rear stabilizer was meant to go as fast - that'll be another test.

I only had an hour - but some winging in nuking winds has been pretty rare.  I'll take what I can get!

I love it when the wind is nuking!!!!

W:115/F:94/S:38

Wing Foiling Session - 11/15/2022

The wind was forecasted to be light today - so I brought the wing foiling gear with me to work - with the express intent to put up the North Nova Light Wind 8.0

I setup the WWFB, with the Kujira 1210 and the 15" KD Maui rear stabilizer.

A wing this big requires different handling as compared to pretty much everything else I've used.  First off - the handle positions are totally different - with angle of attack into the wind being set with different leverage points (everything is magnified with the strut as long as it is).  I know this because I had some spectacular crashes where the wing backwinded with strong disregard to my ego/safety/humility.  The best way to handle this wing is go in slow motion and focus on keeping wind in the wing as you transition.

I also setup the leash and harness lines.  After using the wing leash hooked into the harness, I can't imagine going back to the wrist cuff.  Hooked to the waist is way cleaner and less hassle (until you crash).

Harris came out - he is demoing the Reedin foil.  He was up pretty much as much as I was (using his F One CWC 7.0).

I haven't seen a mid-aspect foil in quite some time.

No surprise - but these looked just like the G10 foils and stabilizers that Kane produces through Teutonics. 

The wind was light, mostly from the North and really swirly.

I got in 15 miles in almost 2 hours.

It seemed as if I needed at least low double digits to get up on foil, but could stay on foil in sub 10 mph.  I did not pump the wing all that much, mostly waited for it to pressurize, then pumped the board.  I wrote this earlier, but to avoid an uncontrolled wing scenario, it is best to keep wind in the wing while turning.

It's nice to know the lower end of the range on this wing.  At least I know I can go out in some light wind days, instead of having to drive up to country to extract energy from the ocean.

W:112/F:94/S:36

Wing Foiling Session - 11/11/2022

Yesterday was supposed to be nuking.  I had to go into work the whole day, but I brought my stuff with the plan to get out to Hickam when I got off work.  I picked Kalani up at the parking lot then headed over.  The trees were moving nicely the whole drive over.

When we got to the launch, it looked like the wind had pretty much died.  Jim came in and said rig big.  I had already pumped up the 5.1 and daylight was fading quick.  Matt was in and said it probably didn't matter since the wind was so up and down.

When there was wind it was really good - would have been too much for the NLW8.0, and maybe too much for the RS6.1 (at least with me babying my left elbow tendonitis).

But when it was down - it was really down.  And when you look at the overall session, it was down way more than it was up.

The wind was really offshore and swirly also.

When it was up - good times.  But that was less than more.

So here is what was forecasted...

This is what was actually at the beach.

I think if I had the NLW8.0, I would have been golden.

This was a narrowly missed skunk, but since I had some good runs, I'll claim it on the count.

W:110/F:93/S:36