Wing Foiling Session - 3/20/2025

Hit the beach after waking up from a nice nap.

I was waiting for the tide to come up a bit before heading out.  It was still on the low side when I got there.

The wind was steady and good strength.

The waves were somewhat bigger than the previous days.

I got No.40 out for a wing session!!!  BLUF - the foot strap worked perfectly to keep the foil from dipping when I landed at the end of the session.  And I got in pretty close.  I've done this plenty of times before this - but the issue I was working through was "where" the foot strap needed to be.

AFS mast, 850 Silk and HA40 today.

And the workhorse - the North Nova Pro 5.0

Pretty good stats today.

Was riding from Coves back down to Cabins -

There were a few sizable waves that came through.

I probably could have used the North Mode Pro 4.8 - but I didn't want to chance it.  And there were some lulls that the 5.0 helped get me out of.

The Silk delivered also!

Roland - always the last in!

W:22/FD:44/PW:1/S:3

Evening Session - 6/13/2024

I finally felt well enough to get back in the water.  The wind signs were not looking good, and after yesterday I figured I should just cut my losses and bring the Foil Drive.

Spitfire 900 - everything else is standard Foil Drive equipment.

Marvin came out also - JS Black Eagle and the Kujira 980

And the ever faithful Roland did put together his winging gear - Vyper 150

And his Ensis Top Spin 4.1

Roland made the right call - there was enough wind to wing.  And enough wind to put some good chop on the water.  It was actually really challenging to ride today.  Just goes to show you how much we all lean on the wings when we are out in these conditions.

When I did catch a wave and didn't eat shit, I was able to get some long rides.

I know I didn't ride this many... and I'm guessing at least half of these were wipes.  Still - pretty good stats!

And I almost brought out Bill's Portal board.... 

I'll probably give it a spin at lunch tomorrow.

W:68/FD:44/F:4/S:12

Wing Foiling Session - 9/26/2023

The forecast is calling for a gradual decline in wind speed moving through the week - I figured I should get in some good winging while it is still here.  Waves were smaller than yesterday (not always a bad thing - definitely makes the paddle out less death defying).  The tide was really high (also makes paddling out easier).  And the wind was strong on the outside, but lighter and swirly on the inside.

I pumped up the 5.2 knowing I was going to use a smaller board (No.32) and a smaller foil (Spitfire 840).

BTW - if I haven't said it already - THIS FOIL IS SICK!!!!!!  And so is this board!!!

Marlon came out and flew the drones.  Roland was also out.

The wind was a little on the soft side, but I was able to stay up on foil for the most part.

The wind was strong enough at times to tack on to the incoming waves -

And this front foil slices and dices so well - it is not as smooth and flowy as the SK8 950, but it is way more dynamic.  I'm betting if I get a smaller Progressive stabilizer, I'll be able to drive roundhouse cutbacks on this thing.

I caught some bigger waves on the outside, but Marlon was following Roland during those waves.  Overhead while I was up on foil - some much fun!!!!

Lots of tracks today - 

Those dips kept me on the surface (not enough power to liftoff with the equipment I had).  But most of the session was perfectly powered.

There was an errant reading on the graph (probably a crash), but looking through data, I did get a 19.7mph top speed.

Really fun session today!!!

I'm probably going to take tomorrow off and get some errands done.

W:100/F:89/S:36

Garage Works - 9/19/2023

I took another lay day today - even though the wind was up, I really want to get this board modification/repair done before the weekend.

I cleaned up the epoxy job from yesterday (with the planers).

Then I routed out the slots for the inserts.  I wiped down all the surfaces that were going to touch epoxy.

I measured out 1.4 ounces of aluzine and added three scoops of milled fibers.  Then I set the inserts in place. 

I also added a cap sheet of carbon over the inserts.

Turned out nice!  The delamination under the lower strap position is total fixed.  and with the insert sandwiched between carbon/innegra-carbon and divynicell, this strap is going nowhere.

Tomorrow I'll get the mast track cracks coated in a thin layer of epoxy (to seal it).  I figure this is worth a try before just going in and placing new boxes.

After that, I grab a deck pad, install it and let the epoxy harden in my autoclave (garage).

I also sanded down the repair on Roland's Unifoil Hyper 190.  I don't have pictures, but I started with 40 grit on the electric sander.  I got through 220, then I shifted to hand wet sanding through 1000 grit.

There were some really awkward gouges on the foil, but I think I got most of them sanded out.

Garage Works - 9/18/2023

Yesterday I decided to focus on getting Roland's board closer to being finished.  I also figured my body needed some recuperation time from all the winging/foiling I have been doing - so it really was a good time to get Roland's board furthered down the path to completion.

I routed out the reinforcement block slots.  Then I fitted the patches - these are the innegra/carbon fabric.

This step provides another way to help disburse the impact loads.

And I epoxied the blocks in place.

Next step is getting the inserts in place.

Roland's New Wing Foiling Board

Roland brought out his new board today - the Freedom Foil Boards Nugget.

At 40 liters, this was a really small board - but not for Roland.

Instead of the normal FFB nose (deep double concave), this was barely concave.

Flat is fast!!!

Wing Foiling Session - 9/1/2022

Hit WPB for a winging session today.  The thermals were light, but they were there - so I pumped up the RS 6.1.  I figured if I bolted on the 1210/178, I could also handle more wind if it filled in.  85cm mast (the 96cm is going to be a Hickam or a downwinder mast).

Roland and Eli were also setting up.

The waves were not really breaking, so this was more or less a mowing the lawn session.  The start of the session saw me trying to get out to the wind line, and there was more north in the wind, I ended up drifting down to in front of the cabins.  I went ahead and pinched to get back in front of Fenceline, then just rode the swell there.  The wind did level up in the gusts - and I was up on foil for most of the session (without touching down at all).

The 6.1 RS really saved this session.  I don't know how Roland does it - but he was out on his Ensis Score 4.0

I forgot my watch - but I brought the phone out and used Strava.  Not sure how to read this chart exactly - but it kinda looks like I was matching wind speed (which I never really do...).

After the session, Eli showed Roland and I what new front foils he got in Maui - RS 875 and RS 1025 - really high aspect foils!

Good fun today!

W:88/F:72/S:19

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