Evening DW Parawing Session - 5/21/2025

Decent winds today, relatively smaller waves - another day of good conditions for parawing training.

And to get more time on foil, Norm and I did a downwinder from WP to PV.

The start was kinda slow for me - hard to line up good wind with relatively smooth water for easy takeoff.  But eventually I got up and today ended up being long runs up on foil.

And out past Campgrounds, the wind was steadier and I was able to get the longest runs I've had so far with a parawing.  Jibes and stance switches throughout.

No.34 was easier to ride in the stronger winds - but I think in the lighter stuff the Dragonfly took off faster.

No.34 was easier to takeoff goofy foot (but it was not easy)

By the end of this session, I was actually getting up on foil pretty quickly.

I can see using a harness in the future (as this starts to become second nature).  My arms feel pretty stretched out.

But it was all worth it - 

I am going to need to get better at taking off goofy foot - maybe some sessions at Kailua...

W:41/FD:71/PW:6/S:4

Evening Parawing Session - 5/20/2025

There was a lighter wind this afternoon when I got to the beach.  Norm was out on a bigger wing and Roland was launching with his 4.0

The waves were not too big - so the conditions were good for parawinging.

I wanted to try the Dragonfly and see what a difference positive volume makes.  Also kept with the training wheels (AFS Enduro 1300/HA43 on a shorter mast).

Each time I go out now, I feel like things are getting a little easier.  This is totally an effort to develop muscle memory and understand how the parawings power up.

To me at this point, these feel a lot closer to kitesurfing than it does winging. 

I made some good runs on regular stance and even made almost all my jibes.  But I did have a hard time keeping the parawing filled and pressurized going toeside.  And hard as I tried, I could not get up on foil on my goofy stance 

On my last run, the wind came up to the point where the Ka'a 4.8 was getting overpowered.  It would have been ok if I could turn downwind and bleed off the pressure - but I did not have a ride over at PV.  I went ahead and packed away the PW and paddled in (yes - from way outside).  At least through this whole learning curve I am staying in surfing shape. 

Looks like I was up on foil 8 times during this session

Same count using the distance metric.

It really is invigorating to go through a difficult learning curve again!

W:41/FD:71/PW:5/S:4

Parawing Session - 5/9/2025

Another WP-PV DW run this afternoon!!!

The wind was stronger than yesterday - but still a bit on the gusty side.

The tide was nice a full and the waves were still mostly down (but a few longer period sets did come through).

The DW crew was Robby on FD, Norm and Stu on wing, and me on PW.

This was the third consecutive day on PW and I'm not going to say it is now easy - but I am gaining more experience and things are getting "easier".

Takeoffs are basically "tractor pulls" - where the PW pulls you up onto foil.  The trick here is to do whatever it takes to allow the board to develop forward speed - which is way easier said than done at this coast - so much chop to deal with... but if you can learn and do it here, you can do it anywhere (seriously).

I was able to switch to goofy foot at least three times today - and once was right in front of Norm while he was finishing his run (when I should have finished...).  Switching is just the same as when on wing, but you cannot lean on the PW as much.  This was more akin to switching while prone foiling (super hard) - but the muscle memory from doing this on wing helped out a lot.

I haven't kite foiled yet, but from what videos I have studied, and from talking with people that do kitefoil (Phil and Nick), to jibe you move the kite and follow it with the board carving the foil.  Jibing on PW is pretty much the same thing - move the wing then follow.  Which is completely different than jibing while winging - which is it's own thing like nothing else. 

More red than blue is a good thing.  The stronger wind helped a lot with being able to takeoff more consistently - also repetition and developing muscle memory.  The shifting wind direction did not help at all - it kept throwing my sense of direction off. 

I never felt overpowered - the Flow D Wing has a high top end (but the low end like I felt yesterday is around 17mph).

The pinnacle of today's session was switching from goofy to regular and blasting a jibe in front of Norm.  I should have stopped there, but I got greedy and wanted more.

I ended up with more rides and more practice, but I couldn't get in towards shore because of the northerly shift.  I ended up stranded on the outside where we normally Foil Drive.

It was only a 20 minute paddle into the wind today to get back.

8 different runs!  Definitely the best day on PW so far!!!

Based on what I've been experiencing with the D Wing, I think I need to get a Ka'a 4.8 so I can recover the bottom end (to get up earlier and stay up on foil longer).  Any bigger and I'm in FD coverage (so not worth it). 

W:37/FD:67/PW:4/S:4

Parawing Session - 5/8/2025

The winds today were lighter than yesterday - but I had committed to doing a DW run from WP to PV - and on a parawing at that.

Same gear as yesterday.  Need to develop muscle memory at this point - and consistency goes a long way towards that goal.

Norm was also going on the DW run - he was using his Elev8 5.0

From how this afternoon went and comparing it to yesterday, the Flow D Wing 4.2 needs about 17mph to have enough energy to pull me up on to foil.

The problem with that is the lulls and the subsequent floating around waiting for the next gust.

I did get up on to foil and made some longer runs, with integrated jibes.  I'm also getting better at balancing on the board while trying to power up.  I think with the lighter winds, there was also a degree of shifting - which would only make it more challenging.

I wasn't able to get to the inside on foil... I had another 30 minute paddle almost straight into the wind.  At least the parawing training is keeping me in surfing shape.

The ups and downs are not conducive to parawinging.  I didn't come off foil today by losing my balance - but rather running out of wind to keep the parawing flying.  Again - from the past two days I get the feel that the low end of the D Wing is at 17mph.

I also felt like I could go upwind with minimal issues.

What I didn't feel like I could do easily was switching stance to goofy.  With out constant pressure to lean against from the parawing, I didn't feel like I could make the foot change without falling in.

Being a kook again makes me feel invigorated!

W:37/FD:67/PW:3/S:4

Parawing Session - 5/7/2025

This afternoon the conditions were really good for trying out the parawing.

Small waves, strong, relatively steady winds, decent tide.

I thought with all the wind blowing, I should not have to take out the Dragonfly, and instead opted for No.34

To negate excuses for why I didn't get up on foil, I bolted on the Enduro 1300 (with the rear stabilizer moved back into the rear mounting position for a little more stability).

And this was the inaugural outing of the new (to me) Flow D Wing 4.2m parawing.  I actually waited to take it out because I had ordered a NSI parawing waist pouch.

I was determined to get up on foil today.  And I was able to three times!!!

Twice I got up headed out (port tack) and even got around on jibes (but lost my balance and dropped off).

And a third time going back in (starboard tack)

Outbound I actually felt like I was able to go upwind.  Heading back in I was hesitant in heading downwind to get up on foil.

I stopped the watch when I figured it was time to stop and start paddling back.

With the gust coming through, I felt like I would have used the North Mode Pro 4.8m wing again today (but not the Nova Pro 4.2) - so in winds where I would have used a 4.5 essentially is when I can use the D Wing.  I'm sure once you get the hang of it, the lower end of the wind range will drop a little.

The take aways for me today are - 

The parawing can be used one handed and your free hand can help you stand up.

The parawing isn't something you pump - the board/foil is what you manipulate to get up on foil.

When there is wind, you can point just a hair downwind and let the parawing pull you up on foil (I'm sure you'll have to pump the foil in lighter winds).

I think I can get up using a smaller foil (I'm going to go again tomorrow since the conditions will be similar to today) and I think I'm going to use the F One Eagle 1090.

This would be easiest to learn if you could let go of having to land were you launched, and just worked out the logistics to do a downwinder.

And this stuff packs down to nothing!

I'll call today a success!!!  You definitely need wind and small waves to be able to get this down.  So begins the journey -

W:37/FD:67/PW:2/S:4