Dawn Patrol - 3/21/2025

Dawn patrol on a surfboard this morning!!!

Got some fun rides on the Pigfish - once I got through the initial paddling adjustment (winging and Foil Drive-ing I frog kick the gear out, not paddle).

Next outing I am going to switch out the Machado Quads for an upright twin and a tiny trailer.

W:22/FD:44/PW:1/S:4

Dawn Patrol - 12/2/2024

Had to dawn patrol today - the swell was peaking.  I bumped into Tim - he has been surfing up North.

Surf was really consistent, and it still had some size.

I took the Revo Max out for another run with the Vernor Magic Twins to better quantify their performance.

After catching several good rides, I came the following conclusion - these fins have great hold and drive.  They feel great when doing a bottom turn, but they don't release easily (which is not a surprise).

This board is super fun!!!  I'm going to be cycling twins through this as long as the waves are good to try and get the board to do the Travis Vargas turn (that I saw on the youtube video).

W:145/PW:2/FD:87/F:5/S:25

Evening Session - 10/18/2023

Late afternoon session with Marlon yesterday.  There was some wind blowing around - so the waves weren't as clean as Tuesday.  The waves were bigger than Tuesday - but not as well formed.

Marlon and I both caught some fun ones.

I absolutely love the Pigfish!

W:103/F:95/S:49

Evening Session - 10/17/2023

I got home from work a little bit later than normal.  When I got home, I grabbed Marlon and we headed out to the beach.  He brought his Seaside and I brought the Pigfish.

The last time I used this board, I had in the Hess Noriega Keel and the Machado Quads - I figured that would be a good starting point.

The waves were around head high on the sets and with no wind - and they were staying open for the most part.  I caught several and rode for long periods, pulling turns galore and trying to get covered up.

Roland deliberately dropped in on me once - saying he was "sharing" the wave.

The Pigfish performed flawlessly!!!!

W:103/F:95/S:48

Dawn Patrol - 10/9/2023

Dawn patrolled this morning with Marlon.  Nice lines coming through on a low tide with minimal wind.

Marlon brought his longboard and was nabbing plenty of waves.

As a part of my continuing experimentation with the fins I have in my garage, I swapped out the Hess Noriegas for these Wayne Rich Nightmare keels/twins.

I was floored by how good these fins are!!!

Drive and release are hard to balance, but that was not an issue here at all.  I got multiple waves in the short time frame we had.

Down the line speed (which these fins actually enhanced - speed builders with the concaves in the upper portion of the fin), and release when cranking turns.

It's like every set of fins I put on the Sweet Potato is better than the last...

W:102/F:93/S:42

Evening Session - 10/3/2023

I did some work in the garage when I got home (that's the next post) - but after that and after Marlon woke up from a nap, we headed to get some surf in.

Marlon got to try out his new board bag - and he got plenty of waves on his longboard.

Super light, offshore winds, low tide and small waves were the conditions.

I brought the Sweet Potato with the Mackie Fish Keels - I LOVE THIS COMBO!!!

I got plenty of waves - and they just got better as the session went on.

My last wave was bottom turn, carving top turn 4X over - incredible!!!

It's hard to take out fins that work really well - but I do want to try out the Hess Noriega keels.

Super fun session!!!

W:101/F:92/S:37

Evening Session - 9/6/2023

I was tired when I got home today so I took a short nap.  I woke up at 4:30 and asked Marlon if he wanted to go (he said yes).

The swell was still pushing through!!!

I had debated which board to take - the Hypto Krypto with the Grennan fins, or the Cymatic with the Glenn Pang fins.

I opted for the Cymatic - and I was not disappointed!!!

I caught several waves and each was fun for different reasons - but it was my last wave where I got to carve full top to bottom turns on a slightly overhead wave and stayed with the pocket for a really long ride!!!  Plenty of projection and drive from this combo!

I decided to end the session on the great wave!  This board and fin set are perfect!!!

W:90/F:84/S:35

Evening Session - 9/5/2023

Today the biggest swell of the summer hit - 4'-6'

Marlon and I hit it with shortboards - he took his Seaside....

And I took out the Hydronaut

I put in the Billy Kemper quads - good flow on these fins (but on a few waves I was actually looking for more drive).

I caught some mackers today - felt really good to catch waves on a surfboard that rarely comes out (and this year has been mostly on the small side for surf on glassy days).

Marlon and Kaylani also got their share of waves.

W:90/F:84/S:34

Dawn Patrol - 8/21/2023

I took Marlon to his surf instructor job this morning.  He had been saying that whenever he goes to work, the waves are better than where we normally go and that there is hardly any people surfing.  That had intrigued me and since I was taking him there, I brought a board.

It was no joke - the waves looked really good.

I wanted to try these new fins out - Mackie Sidecut Fish Keels

I first went out on the NVS Ono Convertibles.  These are versatile and feel good.

After three waves I went in and switched out the Onos to the Mackies.  These fins are next level!!!  Great drive and projection - and they still release on top turns!

So good!!!  I think these are going to stay in the boxes for quite some time ;)

I met Marlon's boss Anthony and a guy out in the surf, Derek.  Both foil and we had some cool discussions on equipment.

W:81/F:80/S:32