Garage Works - 8/25/2025

Monday is rest day - but that doesn't mean stuff slows down.

I got the tracks cleaned up on Marlon's foil board.

And I got the carbon applied.  I'll let this harden for a couple of days then route open the slots.

And I got the chipped wing tip filled in on the Enduro 900.

Same thing - I'll let this harden up a bit, then sand/file down to shape, then foil and fine sand.

And then I took No.34 and the KT Dragonfly and got some ratios defined for the mast track placement on No.42

Ratios!!!

If the wind doesn't come up tomorrow, I'll likely be rough shaping No.42

Evening Foil Drive Session - 5/19/2025

The forecasted wind didn't really show up this afternoon - so the FD crew came out for a last session before the wind comes back with a vengeance (for the next 10 days it's supposed to blow at or close to nuking).

Norm and Marvin were both out on their Code foils today.

I setup the same equipment I've been using lately. 

There were two squalls that pushed through - made for challenging conditions.  But when the sections jacked up from shoaling, it was so great to wrench turns at the peaks!!!

Roland, Zach and Duke were out winging -

14 rides on both metrics.

I did get a double dip around 44 minutes

And after I broke down my gear, I went to watch Marlon catch a few rides on prone.

Tons of fun!!!

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

Dawn Patrol - 1/5/2025

Hit the dawn patrol today to see if there was any West Wrap coming in to WPB.

There was - but the Kona winds made for excessively choppy conditions.

Marlon and I were there - so we figured we might as well go out.

Same gear as yesterday.

This was one of the hardest days to get decent rides.

The chop made catching waves difficult - and riding any length after you got up (if you got up) was hard with all the disturbances.

I did manage to get some rides - but I came in a little earlier than I could have because I really wasn't in tune with the ocean this morning (it really was chaotic).  I figured I should quit before I got hurt.

Marlon said he was also having a hard time on the inside.

I'll give myself credit for 10 rides in the chart below.

Might be time to rest up a bit... I've been going non-stop for a long stretch -

W:1/FD:4/PW:1

Dawn Patrol - 1/4/2025

Hit the dawn patrol at WPB with Marlon this morning,

Nice conditions!  High tide, low wind and fun sized swell.

Marlon opted to foil this morning!  He said he got several rides!

Same as what I've been setting up as of late - but moved it up a notch - which ended up being perfect!!!  Time to mark this setting for the Spitfire 960.

These conditions are really good for working out mast positioning.

When the water is this smooth - I get more battery life.  I actually got out of the water with 40% after this longer session.

Zero pattern - I was just chasing the swell where the high tide would allow it to develop a pocket.

18 rides this morning - good fun!!!

There may be a chance of west wrap coming through tomorrow...  I may bring a surfboard in addition to the Foil Drive just in case it is that good.

W:1/FD:3/PW:1

Dawn Patrol - 11/23/2024

Dawn patrolled WPB with Marlon.  There were small waves coming through - good enough to ride and keep a smile on your face!

Wind was light, and the tide was favorable for foiling (even though I did touch bottom once kicking out of a long ride).

Marlon foiled - and I saw a couple of his rides - he's definitely getting better!

I rigged the same gear.

Dean, Kalani, Andrew were all out on SUP foils.  Marlon said a guy named Vince was also SUP foiling - and Regan was out also.  I saw Makana prone foiling. 

Takeoff spot was pretty defined.

25 waves in less than an hour and a half!!!!

Calm water helps a lot with that.

Most were not super long - I opted to kick out if the wave was petering out - but the long ones were really long.

I already fixed my stabilizer - and as I'm writing this I just finished placing some epoxy to fix Roland's boards.  I'm going to get a surf session in - and then I'll document the ding repairs and surf session.

W:145/PW:2/FD:82/F:5/S:21

Wing Foiling Session - 11/10/2024

Marlon and I hit WPB for a mid-day foiling session.  He went prone foiling again - he caught a handful, with two good ones, then he put the drone up.

Prayot went out earlier and was back to swap out foils.  Kalani initially set up the Dragonfly - but had swapped out to the higher volume drifter.

Anticipating conditions similar to yesterday, I brought No.36 and the SK8 950/C195 - to be better prepared for surfing.

I pumped up the same wing I've been using for the past several sessions.

That said - the session started out phenomenal!!!  Turns and carves galore!!!  Plenty of power in the wing and everything was dialed in - the SK8 950/C195 were the right foils for today.

That is until it wasn't - 

I ended up going down on the outside and the wind dropped off.  It was a really long lull and I drifted pretty far down wind.  Eventually the wind came back and I was able to get back up on foil.

I beat feet back to the area by Fenceline and was back in play. 

These were taken after I came back from the dead zone

Drifting for that long and that far over is not a confidence inspiring act.

At least I didn't have to swim back.

Those are some deep lulls... the forecasts called for stronger, steadier winds - basically you get what you get and you just have to deal with the conditions you have.

Looks like I was down more than I was up.

Despite the bobbing - this was still a really fun session.  I cranked out some really fun craving turns - give me more of that!!!!

W:139/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:19

Dawn Patrol - 11/3/2024

I decided to Foil Drive this morning at WPB - Marlon indicated he was excited to use the Takuma foils  so I changed plans (Hickam).

There were fun sized waves still coming through.  Dean and Noel were out - 

I believe this is No.18 that Marlon is riding - and he was out on the Takuma Kujira 1210 (haven't said that in a minute...) 

I had the same gear out - I really love this setup (and the Spitfire 900 when it gets bigger).  No.34 just works so well to get up quick.  And it still turns super hard without touching - what more could you ask for?

I actually burned through half my battery in 30 minutes - the waves were that good (for Foil Drive-ing - the poor longboarders were just sitting around and fighting for the scraps_.

So many carves.... so much fun!!!!

I even got a few double dips buried in the track somewhere.

17 waves in the first hour - ridiculous!!!!  20 overall for today - no room for complaint.

Marlon said he caught several, and he was even starting to make turns!

And today was the first day winging/foiling didn't tax me (no blood drawn, no smashed foil, no torn wing - even keel today).  I like to think it might have been the plastic bag I picked up and put in the trash.  Whatever the factor - I'm glad I didn't have to pay today (for once). 

W:135/PW:2/FD:80/F:5/S:19

Dawn Patrol - 11/23/2023

Marlon asked to foil today on the dawn patrol.  The waves were on the smaller side, but nice clean conditions.

I set Marlon up with the Iwa today.  He said the Kai wasn't giving him enough lift.

He paddled out to Coves (I thought he was going to join me and the regular crew over at Cabins).  He said he wasn't getting up on foil initially so he moved the mast forward (he's pretty much got it at this point if he can to that conclusion on his own).

I took out what I probably used the last time I went prone foiling (without the Foil Drive).  I know I usually suck after switching back and forth from one discipline to another (in this case shortboarding to prone foiling) - but I sucked today.  The crew (Dean, Andrew, Rick and Matt) were asking about why I wasn't on the Foil Drive - I said because Marlon was foiling and I thought I'd be closer to him if I stayed regular prone.  Well - this session was definitely a reinforcement of if you want to be good at something you need to practice it.

I ended up catching three good ones, so at least I know it was the adjustment back. 

Matt was out - he was on the ART Pro 1201 (and gliding around like it was nothing).

I won't be able to go tomorrow morning because I have to work.  We'll see what the conditions are like (as I may want to just get No.33 laminated).

W:115/F:102/S:56

Evening Session - 10/13/2023

After work I got in a second session - this time prone foiling on the high tide.

The waves were a little smaller than this morning, but that was really attributed to the higher tide.

There was barely wind - but enough to put texture on the water.

Marlon came with and he foiled!!!  He was definitely showing he is more comfortable now.  I saw him get up on the board a lot, but the foil wasn't lifting as much as it should have been.  He did actually get up on foil several times - and after the session he said next time he'll move the mast more forward.

I brought out the setup I have been taking out on the days I do prone foil - Unifoil Progreesion 170/flex rear stabilizer/shorter Project Cedrus mast and No.21.

As much as I have been shortboard surfing lately, it showed on my prone foiling - I struggled for about half the session (but that always happens if I've changed gear).  Eventually it clicked again and I was getting my foil feet back under me.

Roland, Prayot, Duke and Marlon were the other foilers out.  The longboarders were being a little greedy/pissy today - and the newb crowd was thick on the inside - both making the conditions challenging.  But with patience - good waves were had.

Especially by Roland -

I got a few double dips and did pump back out to the lineup - so I guess you can say I shook off the rust pretty quick.

I'm still debating what to do on tomorrow's dawn patrol....

W:103/F:94/S:45