Wing Foiling Session - 1/29/2024

I hit Hickam after work and got in a quick session so I could still get on the road before traffic got too bad.  With the current run of SW winds and a lower tide in the afternoon, I didn't want to get beat up trying to get to deep enough water to launch without grounding over at WPB - it's good to have options. 

I setup small gear today - the SW2 4.2, No.32, the Spitfire 840/350P combo and to crown it all off - the Evolution Wind mast (I love this thing!!!).

Easy launch today - I was up pretty quick.

I made my way out to Firsts expeditiously and got to surf the wind swell.

This is actually really good considering the short duration I was out.

There was no one around and the wind was pretty strong.  I figured I'd call it while the session was good (and also to make it off base before the traffic thickened).

On the way in, there was still swell pushing through all the way to the beach.  I stayed out and surfed the inside and it was actually almost as fun as the waves outside.  Hickam is a totally different place on SW winds (I actually prefer this - MAHALO EL NINO!!!)

I'll just post the pictures and let them tell the story -

The wind is going to slack until the weekend (when the trades return with a vengence!!!).

I may try surfing tomorrow afternoon before the west swell totally fades away.

W:8/F:13/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 1/27/2024

The wind was forecasted to come up to brisk levels from the SW starting around noon.  It was actually blowing at wingable strength from early in the morning.

I picked up Roland and we headed to Hickam to meet up with Prayot (Kalani was on a plane with his family for a trip to Vegas).

When we got to the beach around noon, Arvin was out and he was coming in to switch out to a larger wing.  I took that que and pumped up the SW2 4.7 (it was still blowing hard - just from the SW and that has different flow patterns - usually stronger on the outside). 

I got in two separate runs.

The first was to try winging with the AFS Silk 850.

I set the mast forward of where I would have had the Spitfire 840 (with the Advance + Crazy Short fuselage).  And I actually didn't have to adjust it.

Getting started was a bit tough - I hadn't winged at Hickam for a while and certainly not during these SW wind runs that we've been having - so figuring out the lines took a little bit initially.

After I got up on foil, the Silk 850 was just like its name - smooth, plenty of lift and rips turns hard.  Looking at the track below, there was a lot of consistency in it as well.

I threw in a heel-toe tack in (one of the first since the SW wind run begun - I've been reluctant to do these because everything looks backwards and I didn't want to have to deal with getting back up in breaking swell).  The tack is the furthest out to the left of the image.

I headed out to Firsts to see what the Silk could do.  Super fun turns in pretty chaotic conditions - and the pattern was pretty tight.

I didn't want to hog that foil so I headed back in and swapped out to the Spitfire 960/375P and the Cedrus Wind mast.

This setup was perfect for the conditions out at First.  With the length in this mast (87.5cm + 4cm) I didn't have to worry about breaching.  And the design criteria held up again - no ventilation.  

Even though it doesn't look like it, there was some consistency in the Firsts runs also.  The wobbles in the tracks are me surfing the non-breaking wind swells.

I caught tons of waves and with the Spitfire 960 I was destroying them!  The Silk, the SK8, the Kujira 980 - the all surf really well and they are great foils in their own right - but the Spitfire is the most visceral surfing foil for winging in waves that I have used to date.  Turning this foil is just too much fun!!!

I have some errands to run tomorrow - but I'll try to get a session in.  Winds should be good again.

W:7/F:13/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 1/24/2024

Winging conditions today!!!  Strong SSW winds, medium tide and some good wind swell - 

And I got to try out the Evolution Cedrus Wind mast!!!

No.32, Spitfire 840/350P on the Advance + Crazy Short fuselage all powered by the Reedin SW2 4.2m

Today's conditions were really challenging - but that made trying out the new mast even more satisfying.  With as much cross-chop, turbulence and with trying to hold a high line to the onshore wind, I would have ventilated my Project Cedrus masts for sure.  As hard as I pushed the system (board, mast, foil) I couldn't get it to ventilate!!!

The western component of the wind didn't materialize while I was out on the water.  I had the SSW nearly straight onshore wind to contend with.  I had to paddle way out to get the foil out of grounding range.  Then with the chop it was pretty hard to get up and started.

There were some solid swell pulling through.

Chest to head high on the high points of the outer breaks - fast and lined up!!!

I was nicely powered on the 4.2 - not really wanting more or less area.

West is best - but you gotta take what you can get.

I love this mast and am looking forward to pushing boundaries this year (not having to worry about recovering from ventilations - I can push the pedal to the metal!!!)

W:6/F:11/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 10/23/2023

Shhhh - I snuck in a session during a long lunch break today.  The forecast called for winds from the SW at wingable strength - finally a break in the wind drought!!!  I can't complain about not getting to wing - I've either shortboarded, prone foiled or prone Foil Drived for days on end with the clean conditions and decent late season surf - but my shoulders have been screaming for a rest.

I did not want to get skunked so I brought out the bigger stuff - No.25, the F One Eagle 1090 and the North Mode Pro 6.8 (I got this to race with - this is the inaugural run and a good test of the high end).  I set up the wing with a harness line and a leash line pigtail.

The canopy material (Matrix) is really interesting - it is supposed to hold its shape for a very long time.  It is supposed to resist stretching so the wing will retain its shape for much longer.  The N-weave 45 also made for a stiffer wing.  And for half the cost of an Ocean Rodeo Aeris AA Glide series wing...

The Mode Pro has a flatter profile - so it is indicative of a wing with forward drive and less low-end grunt (which North advertises).  I found this to be true - I couldn't find the top end, it just kept wanting to go.  The bottom end was not horrible, but at times I thought I could get up in these winds with the SW2 5.2 (but the SW2 does have a much smaller wind range).

Honestly - I was just glad to be able to get in a lunch session to test out a new piece of equipment!!!

Different pattern today - pretty much the mirror image of normal South Shore. 

The Mode Pro handled the stronger winds without any issues (as they advertise).  It is definitely bigger than the Reedin SW2 5.2 (see the picture below), and I really didn't have to pump the wing much.  When I did pump it, I did notice the wingtips would get caught on the surface - probably because I'm short and the wing is big (not nearly as big as the Nova Light Wind 8.0m I sold to Nick - but definitely had to manage the wing placement; interesting I didn't feel like I had to do that when I was borrowing Kalani's SW2 6.0)

When the wind blows in from the SW (or even the W) small waves roll in to the inside of Hickam Harbor.  If you look on my track, you can see the wiggles on the inside where I was riding the bumps.  On one instance, I'm pretty sure I got the foil out of the water and on to a power slide - I recovered and am now curious about doing this at will.

I made it out to Firsts.  Same conditions outside - sloppy, disorganized bumps coming through.

This wind was definitely doable with the SW2 5.2 - but it is confidence building that I could take it out in this much wind and not feel overpowered.  This is a great characteristic for a racing wing.

I did a lot of transitions to test the Mode Pro's handling.  On the conventional jibes, I needed to swing the wing over to the new tack, and I had to keep it higher than my head to clear the handles.  This wing seems to require more user input than the SW2 or the RS - but I'm sure I'll get used to it.  I did get a duck jibe in successfully also.

Then towards the end of the session I tried both toe-heel and heel-switch tacks.  I nailed three sets back to back.  Not sure if it was the wing, the front foil, or a combination of both, but all 6 back to back were high and dry - more confidence building attributes!

I finished up trying to see how fast I could get this wing.  Comparing my speed with the wind graph, I'm seeing I matched wind speed - which I've only been able to do with the Ocean Rodeo Glide A Series. 

I need to figure out how to better fold the wing to get it back in its bag.

As I write this, I do feel the lower tendon in my left elbow is a little sore.  I had this bad and to a worse degree when using the RS wings.  It was worse with those wings as they did not like being overpowered at all.  I get a little concerned when I use a wing with hard handles for this reason.  Maybe this soreness is due to getting used to the wing - only time will tell.

Now back to surfing -

W:104/F:97/S:50