Ding Repair... Never Ends Does it???

This is the latest ding repair job I got asked to do.  Two foilers I know collided - the board lost to the foil.

These boards are made with almost no laminate.  This one has a single layer of carbon.  The paint (maybe gelcoat) layer is way thicker than the carbon.  On to the repair...

After a couple of days of drying, I cut out the uneven laminate areas.

Then I grafted on some EPS with Gorilla Glue.

This afternoon I used the planer to remove the bulk.  Then the surform to get it dialed in.

I had enough daylight so I went ahead and laminated the carbon and fiberglass cap sheets on to the new foam.

I'll let this cure overnight then sand down the lap and fair it all in.

Solo Thursday Full Moon Session - 12 September

The moon is full for the next few days - that means really high tides, which means foiling without the fear of scraping the bottom.  Marlon was busy so I went on a solo mission.  The tide was high at +2.1', the wind was marginal but not enough to blow me around while up on foil, and the swell was waist high (maybe a little bigger on the sets) - perfect conditions for foiling!

I felt like I was ripping!  Got some nice hard turns in and even snugged up to a breaking wall - so much fun!  I noticed the longboarders fading off waves, that I would then pick up and ride all the way to the beach.  Where have these surf foils been all my life???...

I've had the foil in the same setting for the past several sessions now - dialed in for sure.  Just to mix things up again, I may have to start using the Slingshot again, or drop down to the 5'2" (or maybe both of those).

I'm a total convert now - I'm glad I didn't have a huge quiver of surfboards that I'd have to sell off now (and I will still cross train on the two boards that I do have in the active lineup - and I'll try to get the other two boards in the mix as well...).  Sheer perfection this thing is!

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.

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...

Saturday and Sunday Surfing

Marlon and I hit the beach on Saturday evening.  I was using the 5'2" and the Go Foil Iwa (on the 29.5" mast).  If you are shopping for a foil - the Go Foils wings are buoyant and float - this is good for some reasons (it you ever lose the foil, weight, and paddling on non-choppy days) and bad for others (paddling on choppy days - the board/foil go wherever it wants and not where you want it).

I got a few really fun rides, but the water was really choppy.  That really didn't matter once up on foil, but while paddling for a wave it made all the difference.  Marlon found another ding on La's board (after we just finished fixing the rest of them) so he went in early.  I do like this foil and it has a different feeling than the Slingshot - a little livelier... but not sure if that is due to the wing, or the mast height, the difference in buoyancy, or all of the above.

Today, we went out again and I used the Slingshot Infinity 76 on the 24" mast.  I had the foil jammed to the back of the tracks on the 5'2".

The water was way choppier than yesterday.  Stronger trades and a really close period on the swell made for a lot of paddling.  The Slingshot setup does not float and is considerably heavier than the Go Foil.  I got several waves, had a few steeper takeoffs (a relative term) and even took a couple to the beach.  Wave choice is definitely a large part of successful surf foiling - pick the ones that aren't so vertical but still have enough energy to get you moving.  Whitewater mush is not a bad thing...

At first I though the foil might be too far back as I wasn't lifting easily.  Then on my third wave I had my feet further back and I unweighted my front foot a bit (contrary to everything I've been trying to unlearn from surfing) and not only was I up - I was able to pump through the flat section and continue on the reform.  I got a few more rides just like that, but called it quits (as my belly had gotten rubbed raw from the front foot pad, and we had an old friend with us at the beach so I didn't want to stay out too long).  So I have gotten to the point where I'm exerting active pitch control (unweight front foot to pitch up, weight front foot to pitch down - maintain once you're where you want to be).

I bribed Marlon to take pictures from the water.  He got the settings misaligned but I was able to get a few photos (although he missed my bigger waves ;)

Thursday Evening Surf - 5/9/2019

We hit the surf again this afternoon because we've got an event to attend tomorrow night.  The swell picked up a bit, but the really high tide made it difficult to pick up a lot of waves on the foil.  Marlon on the other hand was having a blast!

I caught some good ones, but I felt off today (I didn't get much sleep last night).  I was batting 50 again.  It was still good to get in the water!

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!!!

Friday Evening - April 26

Near repeat of Thursday - swell was the same but the wind was light and on shore.  I used the short mast again and I moved the foil back a notch.  That cut the breaching in half (but still had some - I'm crediting those with not enough front foot pressure - too much surfer in me...).  I took a couple of waves from the mid lineup all the way to the shoreline (with some margin for not grounding) so I would call today a move forward day for sure.

Marlon was rocking the Wavestorm again - he's been knee paddling it so when I glass his board, I'll reinforce the deck area so he can knee paddle that board (I really need to spend some time on that project).

And the resident peacock was large and in charge - it let me take a few pictures before running off to address another part of its territorial obligations.

Thursday Evening Surfing/Foiling - 25 April

Marlon and I went surfing this evening - swell was waist to shoulder high and pretty consistent.  The tide was supposed to be +0.7' so I opted for an 18" mast on the Slingshot to avoid any issues.  I had set up the foil to just forward of center on the 5'6" - I was able to foil on every wave I paddled for, but on about half, I would lighten up on my front foot pressure while trimming and I'd breach.  I caught 10 in the hour and a half we were out and as usual I was up on longer rides on half.

I'll pull the foil back a notch and I should be good with the front foot pressure I'm applying, and hopefully get to the point where most waves will be long rides.

Marlon had the Wavestorm out again and he was having fun.

I'll try to go back out again tomorrow - the current swell is supposed to be similar to today.  The days are starting to get longer now so after work sessions will get longer!!!

Foiling/Surfing Easter Sunday - April 21

This weekend La and I got a lot of work done on our backyard project.  Yesterday I got the crossbeams cut for the deck, then we went to Geobunga and bought a bunch of paver stones, and we dug up the middle section of the yard to prepare it for the rock/pebble installation.  Today we got a bunch of sand bags to settle in the landscaping rocks and we pretty much took a huge leap forward in getting this project done.  I'll post pictures of the project - we've got about a 1/4 of the middle section to cover up yet (ran out of weed barrier).  This is relevant for two reasons - first we hung up an old Laser sail that La had laying around for material for bags.

When this deck gets finished, I'll have a place to do foil and board maintenance - I can't wait (but it'll be after this coming payday - need to buy the planks and the screw gun).

Second was after getting all sweaty and nasty, I took Marlon out for another late afternoon surf.  We brought out the same gear as yesterday, but the swell dropped a notch in size (which was fine by me on the foil).

We were out for only an hour - I caught several but two of them were really long and I was definitely turning and riding up and down the bump.  Wave selection is everything - pick the right wave that isn't going to give you too steep a drop , but is still just about to break and the ride will be long and super fun.  Pick the wave that does have that steep drop and keeping the foil from breaching will be your only priority (which you'll likely to fail since you are moving too fast).  There were a few other foilers out at the break - one was recycling two or even three waves - looked like he was on an Iwa and a cut down Firewire Sweet or Baked Potato (whichever has the least tail rocker because there wasn't any on his board).   Marlon was catching a bunch - don't underestimate those Wavestorms!  Great weekend!!!

Saturday Evening Surf/Foil - April 20

Busy day today - but Marlon and I hit the beach in the late afternoon to catch some of the bump up that is coming in to the south shore.

I had 5 rides up high and didn't breach.  I tried turning a few times - more deliberate turns and not a drift over - and I fell - and one was hard.  I actually haven't fallen this hard in a watersport for some time - humbling but makes you feel alive!  I had the 5'2" and the Slingshot Infinity 76 out.  The waves were actually almost too big to foil - almost.

Marlon brought out the Wavestorm and caught a bunch.  I actually like surfing the evenings - less crowd and you get to hang around for the glass-off.

This is What Too Small Looks Like

This past Saturday, Marlon and I went to get some small surf action.  It was so small, Marlon decided to stay on the beach...  I couldn't help myself and decided the 5'2" and Go Foil Maliko 200 needed to get wet.  Since the waves were super small, every wave seemed to be a party wave - not a good thing when you are on a foil

I ended up catching ten or so waves - but only rode two on foil.  The others ended up in humbling wipeouts and even a couple of close calls (falling safely is an art).  Of the two I did ride upright, one was decent (until a longboarder decided to turn towards me - I did not want anyone to get hurt so I bailed).  I did appreciate the very high mushy tide - but Friday evening was a better foiling day.

Pictures from the Beach

La and Noe came with Marlon and me to the beach!  And La brought her DLSR so I got a shot of me up on the foil in the surf.

She also got plenty of shots of me eating it - for some reason I was off... I'd either not get up on foil, or I would get up and breach (truth be told, I am in the process of breaching in this picture).  There is a fine line between not foiling (because of too much weight up front) and breaching (not enough weight up front).  I'm beginning to wonder if it is time for me to rig up the shorter board (5'2").

La also took a bunch of pictures of Marlon surfing - but that is the next post (and I'm going to make him post from his computer).

Mahalo La for being the photog!!!!

Up and Foiling

I was able to get an afternoon session in with the foil.  I did not change anything - used the same setup as last time.  Paddled out and was able to get up on foil for seven of ten rides.  I still ate it a few times - and badly.  One was a foil breach (not enough front foot pressure), another was bad foot placement when trying to stand up, and the last was a bad run when trying to turn.  All that said - today was a monumental session - getting up on foil was finally predictable and manageable.  

I think I'm going to go out again tomorrow ;)

Bracketing

Today I used the foil located just aft of center.

The waves were actually sizable - I could have rode the shortboard (and actually thought about bring out the Greedy Beaver - but like I said a few posts back - I really want to learn to prone foil).  Made taking off a little sketchy, but today was the first time I got consistent controllable rides.  I had a couple of rides where the foil did not lift - I'm thinking of moving the foil forward just a hair to get lift consistently (without the bucking bronco effect).

I started to feel a "shifting" in the foil - I thought it was the plate connection - so I decided to paddle in.  When I got back to the van, I took the foil off and checked the bolts - it was the plate to mast connection.  Lesson learned here is to tighten all bolts before heading out.  Second lesson learned is to actually listen to the designer/manufacturer and disassemble the foil after every use.  No corrosion - but why leave things to chance.