Catch Up Post - 16 September

Marlon and I hit the evening surf - 2-3' swell (waist to chest high), light trades (side chop - textured surface), and a 1.7' tide.  I decided to try something different.  I brought the 5'2" and the SLingshot Gamma with the 24" mast.

I caught a bunch, but only on about a third of them did I fly the foil for any appreciable difference.  I brought this rig to see about being more stable on steeper takeoffs - it wasn't until near the end of the session where I was remembering how to takeoff on this shorter board.  I had to use my front hand like a third foot as I transitioned from prone to standing.  After I figured that out, things got better.  I also beached once and set the foil more forward in the tracks to get more lift - helped, but I still wasn't flying with ease.  Not sure how much the choppy conditions and constant rollers impacted the quality of the rides or the efficiency of the foil, but I think next time I'll set up the Infinity 76.

Marlon was getting rides all over the place - there is something to be said about having one board and sticking to it - but I can't help myself - if there is something to be learned, I'm there.  Even if it means feeling like a kook sometimes.

Tuesday Post Commute Session - July 9

Marlon and I hit the beach after our long, slow commute back home.  The surf was not as big as it was on Sunday, but the period was still just as crowded.  There was even a solid current pushing to the West.  Maybe chest high waves on the sets, but mostly waist high.  Tide was around +1.5' in the early evening.

I caught my share using the Slingshot Gamma, but when the waves get to belly high, it's time to bring the Infinity 76 out.

Marlon was catching everything.

It looks bigger than it seemed.

Sunday Solo Session with the Gamma - July 7

Marlon wanted to take a break today, so I flew a solo mission.  With yesterday's change up, I thought I should continue the mixing.  I rigged up the Gamma (as I am fixing the chips in the Infinity 76).

The charts on the website say this foil has about the same lift as the Infinity 76 so I figured I should try this setting first.

This setting proved to be a dud - I got the foil to lift, but it wasn't responsive and I was down more than I was up.  Trying to benefit from yesterday's lesson, I brought one of these out with me today - a stubby #3 screwdriver.

I paddled in and made an adjustment to the foil position, dropped the screwdriver back in my pocket and paddled back out.  The foil was performing better, but I still felt like I could get more response out of it.  After a few more waves, I paddled back in and ended up at this position.   I wish I had brought a screwdriver from the beginning of my foiling attempts.  Making changes on the beach really made me quickly appreciate this foil, where I would otherwise have spent a whole session sucking it up.

The foil was super responsive and pumping was very easy - makes me wish I had rigged this up a lot earlier.  I was able to catch waves at the middle break and ride it all the way to the beach.  At this point I'd say as long as the waves have some power behind them, the Gamma is the foil to rig.  If the swell is lower than belly high, then it'll be the Infinity 76.  The only weird thing about the Gamma was the way it responded to my turns - it wanted to "stick" so I had to shift my weight more so than on the Infinity.  Just something I'll probably have to get used to.  These last few rides today were the closest thing to riding a shortboard on a pumping day that I've had on a foilboard - pumping to gain speed, leaning to turn and extracting energy from the reform section - I have nothing to complain about the Gamma and it has opened my eyes to the possibilities.  From this ride, I'm a Gamma fan!!!!

Latest Foiling - Sunday 5/5/19 and Wednesday 5/8/19

I think these last two sessions marked another milestone for me.  This past Sunday, I was going to setup the Gamma front wing.  I thought I read somewhere that the surf was going to be bigger and I wanted to test out a smaller wing.

Well I checked out the report one last time before going out and decided to use the old reliable (and boy was I glad that I did).  I ended up catching five waves on a short evening session (full tide at +1.9).  Infinity 76 front wing on the 61cm mast - everything was perfect!  Long rides traveling down the line on a wave that I would have been struggling on if I had the TJ Everyday under foot. 5 of 5 - batted 100%!

Then there was this afternoon.  Same setup, with the foil moved forward just a hair of center.  Today was the first time I really did not pay attention to my foot position - and weighting back and front was more intuitive.  I caught seven and only had one bad ride (and three outside all the way to the beach rides).  On the bad rides I knew something was off just by the feedback the board and foil were giving and instead of crashing, I just rounded up hard and slipped into the wave (instead of getting thrown around like during the past several months).  Fat kitty was hanging around, and so was the peacock (who is the real White Plains mascot???)

Marlon had the Wavestorm out again and was trying helicopter takeoffs (same as last Sunday also).  We could only spend an hour at the beach today but it was so worth it!  Today was a great foiling day!!!