Parawing Session - 8/19/2025

Nice high tide today - with some doable wind.  There were waves and they were at the not intimidating level.

I setup the same board-foil combo.  This time I brought the Maliko 5.1

Norm brought his FD setup and his Pocket Rocket 5.0 - the first to try this combo at WP.

Once I got up, I had a great time!

It did take a bit longer than I would have preferred to get up onto foil.  There seemed to be slightly more wind and it was more consistent.  I was able to complete all my jibes without too much drama.  I really didn't try exceptionally hard, but I think if it did I could have held my line.

Had three periods where the wind lulled out below my foiling threshold.  But those periods are good for practicing takeoffs.

These readings from the Kalaeloa Airport wind meter are consistently off by 5mph.

A little more than half the session on foil with the PW!

If the wind is up again tomorrow, I think I may bring the FD setup and also the Ka'a 3.6

W:56/FD:103/PW:24/S:6

Parawing Session - 8/18/2025

Norm and I did a WP-PV run this afternoon.  While I was dropping off the board/foil at WP, I saw this guy chilling at the beach.  When we launched (I go to PV to pick up Norm and whoever else wants to go, and we leave Norm's truck at PV for the recovery) - there was as second seal also chillaxing.

The wind was whitecapping when I dropped off the board.  When I launched, it was one of those days where the wind line looked like it kept drifting further offshore.

When you wing/parawing in shitty-shifty winds, you got no choice but to learn how to make lemonade.

This was the view at the start -

Norm was trying out the Enduro 1100 on FD.

I setup the same gear I've been primarily running for PW.

I want to downsize the foil set - but whenever I do I regret it.  I need to just accept that the Enduro 1300 is fine.

And this is the PW I should have taken out - Maliko 5.1.  Instead I used the Ka'a 4.8 - not wanting to have to wrestle a PW.  But I was being optimistic with the wind strength.

And this is what the finish looks like.

While I was out, the wind was getting worse and worse.  I knew I brought the wrong PW almost immediately.

I did get up early - and I actually went a considerable distance, but when I tried to jibe the PW didn't have the wind to stay up and thus started the long drift across the Campgrounds area.  The wind across this stretch is usually weak - you either plow straight through to get across, or you drift and try not to get hammered by rogue sets. 

After CG, the wind does fill back in and I was able to get up twice.  The first post CG run was long with multiple jibes and lots of waves ridden.

I had one wave that had plenty of push so I retracted the PW and just surfed the wave.  And I even redeployed the PW successfully!!!!

Definitely made the session worth it!

I was perfectly powered at this point.  But I still think I should stop over-estimating the wind strength and go bigger.

Norm gelled with the Enduro 1100 right away.  He looked like he was going faster, turning harder and still running with plenty of glide.  He said he likes it!

W:56/FD:103/PW:23/S:6

Evening Foil Drive Session - 3/26/2025

Perfect conditions for Foil Drive-ing this afternoon!

Same gear as last time - in fact I hadn't taken the gear apart since the last session on Sunday morning.

Norm and Marvin came out also.

The waves had a distinct westerly flow to them.  And towards Campgrounds, long runners were stacking up vertically - in fact they would have been super fun on a shortboard.

I used the standard Max battery and easily got over an hour.  And I was practicing efoiling.

I was having trouble at the front end of the session on the break in front of the pavilions - there wasn't a lot of energy there so the rides were shorter.

Eventually Norm and I migrated over towards CG where the waves were breaking - and that's when the fun really began in the stacked up runners.

I got 16 rides in over the course of an hour.

Tomorrow should have similar conditions!

W:22/FD:47/PW:1/S:4

Evening Session - 2/28/2025

This one was too short.  It's hard to say for sure it's the lack of glide and the shape doesn't generate/carry speed since the waves were gutless - but I can say whichever factor is more influential, catching waves on this board with the Foil Drive was hard.

Definitely less of everything compared to No.29 - did I say No.26 is too small???

When I did catch a wave, I was able to ride it for some long distances.

I count 9 rides mixed in with a lot of missed waves.  Anyone want a slice of humble pie???  I've got plenty!

Tomorrow I'll try the recently made 4'8'

W:11/FD:36/PW:1/S:3

Evening Session - 2/27/2025

Norm and I hit WPB again this afternoon.  A little smaller than yesterday, and just about as windy.  The tide was a touch higher as well - but with the Foil Drive, it's all good!

These two were back at it - chillaxing in the sun!!!

So today was an eye opener - on top is No.40 - what I consider to be the pinnacle of my thoughts on what Foil Drive-ing (and winging) is - get up on to foil as quickly as possible.

Below is a blast from the past - No.29.  This is my first (on purpose) ay\symmetric foil board.  It was built two years ago and is the innegra on top - carbon on the bottom with a carbon hoop on the rails construction.  And it performed flawlessly today - challenging my preconceived notions of what foil assist surfing is and can be.

And I got the foil positioned perfectly on the first shot!  Splendid progressive lift.

This board requires me to move a bit forward from where I am accustomed to riding while prone.  But using the wave geometry to my advantage, it really didn't consume much more power to catch a wave than it does when I use the mid-lengths (34, 39 and 40).  I felt completely comfortable from wave one.  And on my last wave, I tried a "pop tart" takeoff where I sank the board, swung around and pulled the trigger to "pop" out of the water and get up to foiling speed faster.  I'm going to have to practice that some more. 

Riding waves once I picked them up was a joy - and this is where this board in particular is supposed to shine.  The asymmetry allows me to apply more leverage and have an advantage over symmetrical boards.  Turning was easier than it has been on other boards.  So basically - it seems as if the perfect board was hiding in my garage this whole time. 

Most of my rides were from all the way outside to all the way inside.  And I got a few double dips to boot!!!

15 rides in just over an hour - yet another ridiculous session!!!

Now I want to break out the other prone boards I had made before I picked up the Foil Drive Assist Plus (which is essentially the day my prone foil surfing days ended).  After today's "take a chance" move to No.29, I think there is some really good mojo sitting in the garage...

W:11/FD:35/PW:1/S:3

Evening Session - 2/26/2025

The winds were pushing onshore this afternoon - and not really at the strength to wing.

The tide was at a decent height and if you waited, some waves with decent energy would come through all the chop slop.

Same gear as the last Foil Drive-ing session - this shit is good!!!

Norm was out also.

This session was actually pretty fun.

The rides were actually pretty long - 

19 rides in an hour and 15 minutes - pretty ridiculous!!!

Lesson today - don't judge a book by it's cover -

W:11/FD:34/PW:1/S:3

Dawn Patrol 2/2/2025

Dawn patrolled WP this morning.  Tide was high (and eventually drowned out the small waves).  Minimal wind.

Norm and Marvin also came out.

Same gear - no surprises.

I did bring the GoPro 12 Black to test out angles and a new floating selfie stick.

Lining up shots was not easy.  And trying to get pics of other people if they are any more than 5' away is not really an option. 

When I FD with Marvin and Norm, I don't get a lot of mileage - they burn through their batteries too fast.  I'm used to foiling with Dennis and Kalani where I have to be thrifty with the throttle to stay out for 2 hours.

When in Rome...

Despite the waves being small, I got plenty of rides in - and there was a pattern (I like it when there are ride patterns).

Those longer rides towards the end of the session were recycles powered by the battery.  I'll call this 15 rides - not bad (and continuing the streak of increasing ride counts)

Fun session this morning!  I think it'll be rest day tomorrow.

W:8/FD:22/PW:1

Evening Sessions - 1/31/2025

This was yesterday afternoon's session.

Residual swell from the storm (but quickly dropping).

Decent tide - lightish winds.

Norm has FD'd Pavilions earlier - said it was not organized at all.  Fenceline looked much better - but smaller.

Same gear - 

The rides were much better than I would have thought looking at the waves on the beach.

The waves had energy in them - enough to crank really fun turns and make long runs.

I'll call this 16 rides which is ridiculous based on the hour I was out.  But as long as the wind is not creating chop, this is possible.

Foil Drive saves the session yet again!!!  And it didn't hurt that the waves were decent (for this time of year).

Rolad was out on his prone gear, and it looked like Prayot was also out (but the person I am presuming to be Prayot had a red board).

W:8/FD:20/PW:1

Evening Session - 1/29/2025

This was yesterday's session.  Hit WP with Norm.  FD.

It was pretty darn small...

And there was a building onshore breeze (front end of the cold front coming through)

At least the tide was above 0.7'  

Same gear - no surprise.

And the air temp and water seemed colder to me - likely the cloudy conditions.

I was heavy on the throttle - since I was out with Norm (he and Marvin efoiling makes their sessions last around 45 minutes - compared to Kalani and Dennis on their SUP foils lasting around 2 hours).

I only had a handful of good rides.  Most waves I caught would fizzle out with not much length to them.

I'd say I got six notable rides out on the lot shown below - looks are deceiving in this instance.

Storm's a coming - time to rest!

W:8/FD:19/PW:1