Wing Foiling Session - 8/13/2022

 The thermals kicked in yesterday afternoon (when the forecast called for nothing).  Despite my arms screaming at me for a solid rest, I was compelled to head out.  Roland and Brian were already out - Roland on his 4.0 Score and Brian out on his 5.2 Score.  The wind didn't look that strong - so I pumped up my RS 6.1 and bolted on the Kujira 1440.  I didn't want to jump or get frustrated trying to get up on the board - so I used the wide wing foiling board - perfect call on everything!!!

There were waves coming in every 15 minutes or so.  This day something else clicked - I was able to luff the RS wing without any issue.  Whenever I had tried to do that before, the wing would start to push down in an ugly way.  Maybe it was the wind direction - maybe it was the wing material breaking in - whatever it was this wing is now one of the top 3 I've ever used!

Marlon was flying the drone for a bit, but he had to leave - at which time I proceeded to catch a monster wave on the outside.  I luffed the wing and rode it going right all the way to the inside of where the surfers were lined up past Fenceline.  I was up high on the foil and the wave was still a few feet overhead.  I only saw three of these sized waves come through - and I got the biggest one.  Luffing was key to being able to ride that wave so long - everything came together for this one (the wave pictured below was not the monster I'm describing - it's just one of the pictures Marlon was able to take while he was there). 

Brian was ripping as usual.  Roland had a harder time with the 4.0 wing.  They said when they got there earlier, the wind was nuking - lots of whitecaps and the trees were pegged.

My watch died halfway through the session - so I don't think any of this data caught the big wave ride.

The wind direct was good for WPB winging - runs were straight in and straight back out with the more easterly pattern.

Yesterday was a magical session that will be burned in my brain forever!

W:85/F:68/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 8/12/2022

Knowing the waves were headed down in size, and that the wind would be iffy - I headed to Hickam after work.  The mission today was to get the Kujira 1440 dialed in on No.25.  The last time I took this setup out, it didn't feel right.  It was drifty and the foil didn't feel like it was engaging properly.

I set the mast back a little further, and I took off the plastic rear stabilizer shim.  Well - that did the trick!

This setup works perfectly now!

There was a lot of north in the wind today - made for a lot of up wind hauling to get close to the launch point.  Besides trying to dial in the lower set, the other objective I wanted to hit was some inbound, toe to heel tacks.  I tried three times and half landed one.

There were some significant lulls in all of this wind.

For a testing day, the conditions were great.  But with just tiny waves at Firsts and the lulls throughout, I'll credit this day with getting the Stringy direct mount fuselage all dialed in!

This was probably the last day with wind - time to rest my arms....

W:84/F:67/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 8/8/2022

Hit WPB after work.  Wind was up when I got there, but it had an element of off and on.  To negate that concern, I bolted on the Kujira 1440 and used the RS 5.1.  I also was trying out a direct mount (onto the Cedrus mast) Stringy fuselage.

Marlon also came out - he brought his Seaside but later said it would have been better had he brought his longboard.

Roland and Derek were synchronized foiling.

I was not feeling it today - my left elbow has been giving me a little trouble and taking new gear out to WPB is never really a good idea (Hickam is a better trial and adjust place).  The 1440 didn't feel settled - probably need to adjust the stabilizer AOA... still had fun (when the wind field didn't slack off)

Marlon broke out the drone and started filming - you can see his drone following me in this picture.

It wasn't a bad session - I just felt I was not one with the foil and the elements.

You can see the wind was a little shifty - actually had some north in it.

The wind was on the lighter side of fun - I was out from 5pm to 6pm

And for me this is telling.  I've been able to get this front going faster on different fuselages.  I need to adjust something (like I said earlier I'm going to start with the stabilizer angle).

W:80/F:67/S:18

Wing Foiling Session - 7/15/2022

Afternoon winging session at Hickam after work.  I picked up Kalani at the NEX parking lot and we were setting up around 3pm.  The wind was steadier than it had been, but lighter also.  I opted for the Kujira 1440 and the RS 6.1

Correct call on the gear (finally).

Kalani used his 6.0 SW2 - but should have opted for the bigger front foil.

The tide was really full again so I went over the reef instead of through the channel.  There were some waves coming through - but not from the epic sized swell that is supposed to be on it's way.  

Even though it was on the light side, this has been the best wind all week (ENE and relatively steady).

Most of the knock downs I had were while I was trying to figure out how I had tacked this wing before.  Where it had been super easy before, I was back winding a lot the past few days.  Eventually I re-figured it out (gotta get the front of the wing up higher).

I'm not sure I believe the max speed from the runs today.

This weekend will see a supersized south swell hit and the remnants of Hurricane Darby pass to the south of us (bringing strong winds).

W:66/F:61/S:17

Evening Session - 6/16/2022

Yesterday afternoon I was driving home and paying particular attention to signs of wind.  Things were up and down a lot - to the point where I figured I should just prone foil.  What I didn't account for was the lack of surf.  With a full moon high tide, I went anyways.

Kalani and Roland had more faith and they launched their wings.  They were up in the gusts, down and resting during the lulls - pretty impressive actually.  Roland got in a few jumps and both were able to hold their lines and land where they launched.

I used the Kujira 1440 and the 218 rear stabilizer.  These were mounted on the Stringy fuselage.  Really nice ride, and only needed the two small circular shims.  I got three rides and figured I got my share.

Kalani was on his new Reedin SW2 6.0 - pretty powerful wing.  This day was definitely a technical winging day.

And here is one of Roland's many jumps.

W:50/F:60/S:17

Dawn Patrol - 5/28/2022

Dawn patrolled with Marlon this morning.  Tim and Kalani were there.  Surf was pretty big on the sets - it was breaking way outside - further than I was interested in paddling and it was barreling.  I stayed where the outside normally was.

I rigged the Kujira 980 with the 218 rear stabilizer and had the 4'8" prone board out.  Marlon brought his Firewire Seaside.

Waves were overhead - I got a few really solid rides - walls and great turns on the sections.  The current was pretty bad - stronger than yesterday - was dragging foilers faster than the surfers over towards Hau Bush.  

I eventually saw Marlon's drone towards the end of my session - I was already trying to get in.  He also got video of Kalani and his surfer friends.

Fun day!

W:44/F:51/S:16

Wing Foiling Session - 4/29/2022

The wind was questionable this afternoon.  The forecast had changed from dead to something - but I still wasn't confident in the wind.  I opted not to bring the Takuma RS 6.1 - but brought nearly everything else.

Based on the conditions I saw when I got to the beach, I settled on the SWX 5.2 and the Kujira 980.  I added more loctite - this outing was to be another test session (to see if the screws would give way - spoiler - they held just fine)

There were whitecaps when I was setting up (without the truck I have to dissemble the foil to transport it) - but by the time I was launching, the wind had back off.  Then when I made it outside the breakers, it pretty much died.  Eventually the gusts pulled through and I was able to get up on foil and start riding.

Roland was out on his 3.6m2 Spin (and a Hyper 190 foil) - and even with the lighter winds he was able to pull off some jumps.

I got stuck twice in wind drop offs.  I didn't want to push my luck - so I headed in.  Derek was just finishing setting up when I had finished showering.  He proceeded to rip everything up! 

You can see the low wind runs (sucked).  I had some fun unbreaking walls that I got to ride.

Take note of the three dips...

And compare that to the schlogging drop offs I had below.

Marlon is getting really good with his drones!  If you are looking for an aerial photographer, give him a shout!

Great day!

W:33/F:43/S:12

Evening Session - 4/28/2022

There was some wind this afternoon - and I had thought about winging, but I figured I'd keep things simple and prone.  Plus I wanted to test the 1440 on the shitty fuselage.  I didn't use anymore loctite - just recycled what was on there (good news - it held tight the whole session).

Marlon opted out, but came along to drone.  He was stoked because Eli, Paul and Derek were out winging.

Waves were maybe waist high - and the wind made it a little tough to pump after going right.

Going left though - felt like I could go forever with very little use of energy.

Eli and Derek were ripping (as usual).

Super fun session and reassuring to know that using the shitty fuselage for prone was good to go. 

W:32/F:43/S:12

 

Evening Session - 4/26/2022

I took the day off from work today to get a bunch of errands done - passport pictures, turning in truck to the body shop, rental car, passport applications for Noe and myself, and some other things.  I finished right around the time that I would normally hit the beach.

There was some significant energy still coming in from the south - so I decided to rig up the 4'8" prone foiling board, the 75cm PC mast and the Kujira 980.  I was still a little worried about the front foil screws not holding - but with the swell being close to overhead, it was time to throw caution to the wind...

Perfect front foil placement for the 980.

I caught plenty of epic waves over in front of the cabins - overhead takeoffs , a quick line up and then afterburners lit for the racetrack run!!!  By the time I was getting tired and had my fair share, it seemed that the swell was also starting to back down.

And I found Roland - he was riding the inside and filming with his GoPro.

I'm glad I didn't have any equipment faults!

W:32/F:42/S:12