Wing Foiling Session - 7/26/2022

Hit WPB after work.  The wind was whipping when I pulled up - but it came down a bit while I was rigging.  There was also a swell starting to show.  Lastly - the tide was nice and high.

I used the same setup as the past several sessions - 5.1/1210 & 178/85cm Cedrus/No.25

I took my time setting up today - I took the mast off and placed the footstraps back on.  I got the spacing spot on this time around.

Middle is on the fifth hole back

Front of the front straps are on the fourth hole back

They are perfectly spaced and balanced now.

The wind was pretty much perfect for the RS 5.1 - I pretty much winged all over the place.  I jumped three times - with each one better than the last.  The third one was pretty high - and I had enough hangtime that I felt like I could even rotate.

There were some good-sized sets that came through.  I had a couple where I stayed regular stance after the jibe, then dropped the wing and didn't have to wrestle with it. 

There were some runs where the RS was starting to get unruly - these wings do not like to be overpowered.  But in the lulls, this was the wing to have today (compared to the SWX - which would have eaten the gusts, but not done so well in the lulls).

On the bigger waves, I felt like I was going faster than this - but the watch has spoken.

Also - I saw a bunch of wildlife today - multiple turtles, lots of fish and one pretty big hammerhead.  Lots of action!

The wind is forecasted to weaken for the next few days.  I can actually use the rest (but there is always prone foiling!!!)

W:76/F:61/S:17

Wing Foiling Session - 2/16/2022

And as luck would have it, there was a small window where the wind picked up enough for me to wing.  I got to the parking lot at Hickam by 1:30 and rigged up and in the water by 2.

When I drove up, the wind was actually dead.  But recently I've been paying more attention to the Surfline forecast and it has been better than the rest at predicting wind.  They said 3pm it should be 17mph.  I went ahead and bolted on the Kujira 1210 that I used in the dawn patrol since the wind was questionable, especially since I had the 4'8" Wing Board (I wanted to dial in the footstrap positions).

When I got into the water, I could see the wind starting to fill in and then everything in the universe was right.

This board is magic and despite it's propensity to sink if I don't have forward momentum, it gets off the water faster than any board I've ever used (flat tail and square rails).  After a few runs to get my bearings and to knock out some transitions, I went ahead and made my way out to Firsts (which I haven't actually done in quite some time).  

The wind was stronger out there so I only went down three times in 45 minutes.  I was able to ride several waves and I tacked and jibed without issue.  So much fun!!!

I went back in and adjusted the footstraps (pulled them back a notch) and headed back out to make sure they were set.  I had a couple more runs and called it good.

One of the other things I did this session was switch out the wing leash.  I had the Dakine bodyboarding one on previously, but put on the second Kaohi 5' double coil.  I do like these better.  If they get twisted, all you have to do is stretch it out and it resets.  It also gets around the harness line easier also.

These little strings are part of the bladder replacement repair job I got done at Airtime Kites.  The past two sessions were perfect and having a fully inflated wing that you can count on is a huge part of that!

W:7/F:15/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 6/10/2021

Hit the beach for a third day straight - but today was special... NUKING WINDS ABOUND!!!!

I was out from 3 to 6 - but I did go in a few times to make adjustments - had closer to two hours on the water.  I changed it up a bit today - brought out the Narrow Wing Foiling Board and bolted on the Go Foil GL210.  I also put on a pair of One by One foot straps to start jumping.

My first runs were not good - footstraps were not in the right place (too far back) and with the wind so strong, I was getting destroyed - full speed drops.  Good thing I was wearing a Gath helmet - even though I didn't get airborne, I did get body slammed.  My first trip in I put the front strap as far forward and towards the rail as I could.  That made all the difference and I could control the foil again.  The GL210 had a weird starting pattern - it would wheelie up and seemed like it was stalling - then if I pumped through that mess, the flow cleared up and I was flying normally.  I went in a second time to push the foil forward - and that cured the occurrence of the wheelie.

Harris came out and he made a beeline for Firsts.  I would have joined him, but I had to work through all the issues with getting back on different gear.  He came in by the time I was going out from the second adjustment.  Prayot and Roland came out and we were going back and forth.

 

I absolutely love nuking winds!!!  I got the GL210 up past 15.5 kts and got in a total of 12.55 nm.  I was nailing my inside jibes and holding on for dear life on the outside tacks.  With the strong wind, I was able to jibe on the outside without switching feet and rode for whole runs.  The Ensis 4.5 is an awesome wing and it was perfect for today's insanity!!!!

So I wore my helmet and bolted on the Go Foil and footstraps so I could jump today.  I made five attempts, but they all ended badly.  My body wanted to jump the wing and foil like a kiteboard - but I'm sure that is the wrong way to jump.  Going to have to work on this...