Crossing Off the To Do List

Fixed the port wing tip on the Infinity 76.

This was just the rough sanding.  I got it through the 120 and 220.  Going to sand this with wet-dry, then paint.

Satruday Dawn Patrol - 21 September

Hit the pre-crowded surf just after dawn.  Waist to chest high swell, rising tide (+1.3' to 1.7').  Some wind, especially as a squall came through, but not so much that it changed my foiling.  I took out the same setup from the previous session - Slingshot Infinity 76 on the 24" mast and the 5'2" prone foilboard.  I was focusing on steeper takeoffs - using my front hand as a third foot keeping more pressure up front to keep the nose down.  These past two sessions I've been using the old "prime" setting that I had identified prior to me taking the 5'2" from rotation to fix the pinhole leaks.  I think I need to push the foil forward to get more lift now.

 
There was an old couple out - she was on a Slingshot H2, and he was on an Armstrong 1200.  They paddled to the far right on the outside.  I saw her on a few, but I didn't see any of his rides.  I really like those Armstrongs (but I don't like the price tag - I'll try and sell off what I currently use, then maybe get the 1550).

Thursday Evening Foiling - 19 September

Late evening session - Marlon on his longboard and me on the 5'2" prone foil board and the Slingshot Infinity 76.

The waves were waist to chest high, the wind was on the low side (still a little texture on the surface), and the tide was a small high tide at 1.0' - the primary reason I had the Slingshot out - 24" mast.

It took a while for me to get my bearings on this foil again - I caught several, but it wasn't until the end of the session where I was able to ride a wave all the way from the main break in the middle all the way back to the beach.  This is definitely a fun foil once you get it dialed in.

Switching from the Gamma to the Iwa to the Infinity 76, makes riding challenging as all of these ride differently.  That said, what I give up on instantaneous gratification, I gain in a deeper understanding of flying the different foils (so if I get a chance to try out other foils, I can do it faster than if all I surfed was a single foil).

Marlon did a cannonball launch dismount and loved it.  4' above the back of the wave as it passed.

Two Fer Saturday - 10 August (And Sunday Evening also)

Dawn Patrol on Saturday - just to mix things up a little bit.  Tide was low at 0.3', very little wind and a decent swell pushing chest high energy.  To keep mixing things up (cross training) I took out the longboard.  Too much fun!!!  I started out on the outside, caught a few bombs and then spent the rest of the session riding all the inside waves (as most people were on the outside trying to compete for the bigger ones).

Then the twofer - La's nephew who recently moved into town has been asking to go surfing - so I got permission to skip out on one party and take him surfing.  The tide was a little on the higher side at 1.4' (by 6pm).  Marlon finally agreed to put a GoPro on the board he was surfing - we scraped the port side of the nose clean and got the camera mounted - now he is hooked!!!  Here are three of his favorites:

I went out on the foil - Slingshot Infinity 76 on the 24" mast.  I got a few good rides, but the whole first half I had trouble getting the foil to lift clear - the foil was almost pegged to the front... I did get some longer rides toward the end of the session to make up for it.

We also got an evening session in on Sunday.  There was a new, similar sized swell in - the waves were a hair bigger than yesterday, but I kept the same setup on the foil-board.  I got another few good ones under my belt - but had the same issue with getting the foil to lift.  I'm starting to wonder if the bashed up starboard front wingtip has something to do with this...

Marlon was better setup for this evening - he caught a bunch, but noted it was really crowded where he was.

Sunday Evening Foiling - June 21, 2019

The forecast called for miniscule surf, but I headed out anyways.  Marlon came along, but just to swim (and take pictures of me to get paid).  I caught a few waves and got some decent rides, but it was small.  I breached on the first wave, but was able to correct on the follow on ones.  Before I headed out, I pushed the foil forward in the box - way forward.

Coupled with the 5'6", I could catch and ride less than thigh high (didn't I say that in the last post).

Getting wet is better than staying dry!

Friday Evening Foiling - July 19, 2019

Washing away the week (it was a busy one - but that seems to be the m=norm now).  The swell from earlier in the week had pushed through so thigh high waves were on tap.  The full moon was still gibbous, but it was waning - the tide was high at +2.0'.  I figured I'd be better off using the 5'6" foilboard and the Slingshot FSurf (Infinity 76).

I set the foil where I had last set it on this board (it's been a while since I last used it - in fact I thought I would never use it again but though the past several sessions and yesterday's rides, this board is great for catching smaller waves - the tanker of prone foiling).  I think pushing it just a hair more forward would have been perfect.  Of note, I also installed the Wizardhat Hardware.  It made setup a little bit easier that the conventional M8 25mm bolts and brass T nuts.

I caught a bunch of waves - some were really long rides with more gliding than pumping.  Made me feel like I know what I'm doing (even though I do know what I'm doing, some sessions of late have made me feel like I'm a beginner again).

Marlon came out and took pictures with the GoPro.  Let the weekend begin!!!

Catch Up Post - 12 to 14 July

I've been slacking again on maintaining this blog.  I'll try and catch up this evening.  First off I went foiling with an old friend who was in town visiting (and eloping).  Jason and I go back to 1997.  We met up at White Plains and spent the afternoon surfing (I was on the Slingshot Infinity 76 and I brought out the Starboard Element for Jason to use).  It was a bit choppy as the trades were starting to fill back in and a new swell was starting to show.  I got up a few times but it was actually a little tough to get the balance point just right.  I had the foil set where I placed the mark - but lifting still felt like work and not natural.  Jason set up a SoloShot 3 and I wore the transponder.  Its a cool device and it tracks pretty solid.  I'll set it up and use it again another day - but I didn't take any pictures on Friday.  I ended up talking to Gary (big green board and Cloud IX foil) and also James (ex-UCT and EOD tech).  We finished the day by heading back to my house for slow smoked pulled pork sliders (SOOOO GOOOD) and beer.

Next day was Saturday and Marlon had a presentation in the morning to finish off his summer internship.  We celebrated by eating plate lunches from Liz's BBQ and napping.  Since this is summer, post nap we still had plenty of light and went out for a surf session.  I had the foil out again (this time bringing it forward a little) and Marlon brought his longboard out.  The foil flew a little easier, but still not effort less.  The swell was picking up for sure.

On Sunday we picked La and Noe up at the airport (Noe participated in a Laser regatta in the San Francisco area).  Evening came around and the swell was hitting full on.  I brought out the Greedy Beaver and Marlon brought his shorter board (the Squirrel).  The swell was well overhead and the drops were epic!  I only got a few waves that stayed open, but all the rides were awesome.

I actually had a loose fin (starboard).  On my first wave I felt some chatter, but for the rest of the session it was stable.  What an awesome surfing weekend!!!

Shallow Water Scars

Here is the Infinity 76 getting all patched up.  One wingtip was hacked up.  There were deep gouges on the same side as the broken wingtip.  And the other side had a couple of significant scratches.

Some sanding, some epoxy fill, a little (not - a lot) of filler/primer, and a bunch of delicate sanding and it is just about as good as new.

At least I can say it has authentic battle damage ;)

Getting Better

Marlon and I hit the surf yesterday afternoon.  The swell was good sized on the outside and Marlon got some good rides.

I brought the foil without changing anything on the setup.  I had probably the best day so far out on the foil.  I was able to consistently get long rides, pump through the flats and catch the reform on the inside.  On a few I even was riding the standup section on the inside.  I was able to drop off the back of two waves - the start of pumping back out.  And on my last wave I was able to crank a hard 180 turn.

I've marked this position on the board so I can set the foil back here.  This is the point where I can balance easily between the front and back foot - this makes popping up the foil and dropping the nose before breeching easier.

4th of July Surf

Another reinforcing swell hit today (close period on the sets).  Chest to head high on the outside and still a king tide in the late afternoon when Marlon and I went out.

Marlon got a bunch of rides, and two Cheater 5s.

I got several rides and all but one were really long (for me).  With the King tide I don't have to worry about grounding and I can pump the foil through the flat section and into the inside reform.  I even attempted to pump back out (didn't get far).  I did breech once, but it was during a steep take off. I really should bolt up the Gamma and try to make these steep, green wave takeoffs.

I really need to figure out a way to take pictures while on the foil board.  These "boards in the vehicle" pictures are getting old.

Celestial Activity Day

I went foiling on Tuesday.  Apparently there was a total solar eclipse somewhere on Earth on Tuesday, and it was also one of the first summer King Tides.  With those events going on, who could not get in the water?

There was actually a decent swell in (could have done some damage on the outside with a conventional surfboard - I didn't paddle out there because I had the Infinity 76 - I should swap it out for the Gamma).  I had several rides - and I could feel the foil reacting to the energy in the waves, or when I got into a good pumping rhythm.  Definitely able to control lift better now - back foot pressure is a thing in foiling.  I didn't use my rash guard and my stomach skin got some good deck pad rash.  I'm definitely a convert.

Properly Adjusted

After finishing a bunch of requirements, I got a quick session in before dusk.  The swell was up (overhead on the outside), but the tide was high so I could foil the middle and inner breaks.

I set the foil forward from yesterday and just like previously, the foiling became second nature.

Actually looks like is a bit more forward than the second to last session on this foil, but I could apply backfoot pressure and pop the foil up and balance it out with front foot pressure to get to stable flight.  I had several long rides - and that is what keeps bringing me back to this.  I could have surfed a shortboard today - but the wind was chopping up the water - the foil negates all of that.

Marlon brought out his new longboard again and he said he is getting used to it.  He said it catches waves easier than La's board, and he is able to perch up on the nose easier.  

Marlon's Longboard Finally Finished

Besides mowing the lawn, I spent the majority of today finishing Marlon's longboard.  Lots of painting, marking, applying acrylic and fine tuning the boxes (still need to work on the middle one - too tight).

I like how the stencil logo came out.

We got the board out to the beach in the really late afternoon - Marlon got plenty of rides and from what I saw, he was not stalling as much as he would when using La's board.

We didn't take out the GoPro, but I did stop to watch him on his first wave - looks like a fun board!

Also - I took out the Slingshot Infinity 76.  I made the mistake of leaving the foil pushed all the way to the rear of the tracks.  I was anticipating a bigger swell, but I should have paid attention to my previous notes on using this foil - an inch or so up from the back of the tracks and the foil will pop up easy.  All the way back like today and I'm having to get my weigh back to pop the foil up, but it requires a lot more effort to keep the foil balanced.  I need to remember this...

And lastly, I took some hits from the foil - tail hit me in the gut on a wipeout, and the main wing hit my ankle.  Even with the setbacks, I did get some decent rides.

End of the Work Week Surf

This was a long week - I've been taking Marlon to a summer program he has and after I pick him up in the evenings, we've had to do battle with the other commuters on H1 West.  When we got home today, I did a quick turnaround and got to the beach by 6:30pm to get in an hour of foiling.

This afternoon saw the beginning of a new south swell hitting - but I brought the foil anyways (which I see as a divergence from surfing... I really only want to foil now).  After the last session, I've actually been looking forward to getting into some larger waves (where I would just begin to short board).  I've been dealing with the excess speed from the steeper takeoffs (that used to throw me off the board because of too much lift - not enough time and front foot weight to control the foil) by paddling at a 45 degree angle to the wave direction.  This has really helped and I'm getting longer rides by taking off further out.

There is so much potential in foiling and so much to learn - it's like getting to start all over again knowing all the fun and amazing things to come!

I still used the 18" mast with the Infinity 76 wing since the tide was ebbing down to 0.4' - didn't ground so all is good.  I moved the foil forward another 1/2" thinking the swell would be the same size as yesterday -  It was almost twice as big.

I ended up catching a bunch (including some of the bigger ones at an angle at takeoff).  I lost a few of the steeper ones (epic crash and burn), but I had three really long rides.  Awesome way to wash of the work week!

Wednesday Evening Foiling - June 12

I went out for some foiling this evening.  The tide was going low - the time band I was out it was hovering around +0.5' - so I put the 18" mast on the Infinity 76.

I also felt that with the waves around waist high and the shorter mast (less ability to pump), I could use some extra lift so I moved the foil up in the tracks.

This was a pretty good setting for the conditions.  I only had one breach and several good rides.  The force seemed more balanced between both feet (kinda why I breached on that one wave - got too relaxed).  I felt good paddling for waves I would normally have used my longboard or SUP to catch before this setup.  I even caught a few green waves (unbroken) - as little as a month ago, I was a little leery about paddling for greenies - I felt like I couldn't control the extra lift that came with moving faster on a steeper takeoff.  Now it's just more fun to catch greenies that are ready to be ridden.  

Super fun session!

Foil (crunching) Sunday Afternoon

Just after I fixed the main wing, I take the Slingshot out to foiling and in between a couple of waves, I hear "crunch - crunch".  My old friend Jimmy was out shooting video with his drone but had to leave early.  I went it to say bye, and I took a look at the main wing to see what all the crunching was about.  "HOLY SH!T" - some front to back scratches, tip damage and a fairly deep gouge.  The tide was not even that low...

Oh well - a good session other than that.  Had a few long rides and no getting bucked.  I moved the foil forward 3/4" in the tracks to get more lift.  Next time I go out I may move it forward again to get even more lift - a front wing this big should be lift faster and sooner.  The waves were about the same as Saturday, but they were easier to catch.  The tide was at 0.9' - shouldn't have hit anything with the 24" mast...  oh well - I guess I needed more practice patching gouges in solid carbon fiber...

Front Wing Touch Up

These are the two front wings that I've been using the most.  And they had some scratches from touchdown while waiting for waves.  I swear there are three high spots in the bottom where I'm foiling and even after coming off the board to physically ensure I am in deep water, as soon as I hop back on the board I hear a 'crunch'.


Oh well - solid carbon fiber is pretty resilient - but I am also super OCD (though I am getting better).

Here are the wings after some corrective cosmetic attention.