Garage Works - 11/2/2024

Here is the Ezzy all repaired (thanks La!!!)

That was fixed yesterday.

Today I reminded Marlon the Takuma foils are his now.  To make me feel better about him taking these out and using them without me around, I rounded off the shark teeth winglets.  I should have done this when I got these foils - now they are less likely to cut...

And I showed him how to set up the foil on the board - including the foil angle of incidence.

Then I went ahead and prepared the crushed wingtip on the SK8 950 for the carbon patch lamination.

I'll start laminating the different layers on to the wing tip tomorrow (when I also place epoxy into the longboard I'm fixing for Greg).

I don't mind doing this for other people - but I get frustrated when I have to do it on my own foils.

Anointment of No.32, Part 1

Today was the day No.32 touched water and saw action.

Good day for it - it was windy and shifty.  Swinging from the NE to E, at pretty good speeds.

I only brought the SW2 5.2 - but probably could have used the 4.7.

I had three separate mini sessions to get positions dialed in on the new board.

The picture below is in reverse order.  And the first entry was short by 10 minutes because I forgot to start the GPS tracking.

I'll also only post the wind chart on this entry - but it covers all three foil swaps.

First up was the legendary Takuma Kujira 1210.

The position I transferred from No.32 was spot on.

It's hard to see the individual tracks/transitions, but I actually pulled way more tacks than jibes today.  I need to keep on practicing the toe-heel tacks to make them smoother, but I'm making most of them now.

No surprise on the top speed on this foil -

Good ol' reliable foil!  Made the first turn a heel-toe tack (actually this turn) 

Turns out this board is a sinker.  What a difference an inch of length and 2 inches of waist makes on volume!

One of the many toe-heel tacks

This is going to be a great board!!!  It just needs good wind since it is a sinker.

Successful anointment!!!

W:91/F:85/S:35

Dawn Patrol - 8/5/2023

Dawn patrol this morning - nice conditions with mid tide, very little wind and decent sized waves.  Marlon was longboarding and Kaylani was the photographer.  I didn't see any pictures so I'm not sure how their session was.

I headed out to the outside break.  Wave were really inconsistent so when I did catch one, I would stay inside for a bit and ride the inside waves before making my way back outside.

Kalani and Dennis were on SUP Foil FD today and they were really killing it.

I'm going into a round of testing to figure out what equipment works best for FD Prone.  I know what I have with the Axis HPS980 - stability, progressive lift on takeoff, turns well, can pump back out but feels a little on the slow side.

Today I move on to the Kujira 1210.  This is a little faster, but has a little less pump.  Of note I did get a triple repeat and a few doubles - but this may have been more attributed to the set makeup and less the performance of the foil.  But then again, I have used this foil extensively and know how to use it to extract wave energy.

I got 3 hours and drove the battery down to 38%.

Tomorrow I'll likely use the 1095.  I have a Magic Hub that Kalani got for me - but I'm going limit this testing to see which foil gives the best performance, then see if the magic hub makes a difference for me.

W:75/F:70/S:31

Wing Foiling Session - 7/24/2023

Pulled an afternoon session at Hickam.  Wind was up and down, and there were hardly any waves.

Jim had been out on his 6.0, but came in and put up his 5.0.  Bill had been out on his 7.0 - both said the gusts were pretty brutal, but nothing mattered in the lulls.

I setup the Kujira 1210/178 - it's been a while since I had this bolted on...

When I pulled up to the parking lot, there was a good gust coming through - made me pump up the 4.7

My Garmin Instinct is failing me now - wouldn't hold a charge.  So I went out without the benefit of a GPS.  The wind was hard out of the North - 

The 1210 did a great job staying up in the lulls, but after using several different foils in a relatively short period of time, it is a tad bit slower than some of the others.

What I do love about the 1210 is its carry - I got in two toe-heel tacks without any drama, and this is one of the foils I can blind heel-toe tack.

Harris went out and headed to Firsts.  The wind filled in and I headed out also - it was way too offshore for my liking - and with hardly any waves - it was not worth the risk of having to make that paddle in.

It was good to wing again!!!

Oh - note to self - the foot straps need to go back a notch or two when using the Kujira foils.

W:69/F:68/S:30

Dawn Patrol - 5/28/2023

Third session on the Foil Drive.  Things were much better today - I was taking off with more success.  With the advice I got from Dennis and Kalani (moving way forward on the board and stalling on getting up) I was able to ride move waves.

It was definitely crowded - this gear helps get me out of the frustration zone and tapping into energy that almost no other group of wave riders can use.

The swing weight is still something I have to learn to contend with.

I used the neck setup for the first half of the session (I put deck grip on the remote and have been biting down on this and using my tongue to actuate the throttle).  What I really liked about the neck strap was being able to let go and use both of my hands to push off and get to my feet.

The second half of the session, I used the wrist strap that Kalani made.  It also is good - but when paddling in I have to stash the remote somewhere so I can paddle efficiently through the break zone.

This is a totally different sport - almost like tow foiling, but not.  It is a ton of fun regardless.

W:47/F:44/S:28

Dawn Patrol - 5/27/2023

Second session on the Foil Drive Assist Plus.

With the smaller board, this was MUCH easier today.  Also - I have a ton of time on the Kujira 1210 - so I was able to dial in the correct mast setting pretty quickly.

Still have to work through some issues that are not sitting right with me (belt leash, handling the remote, timing of takeoff) - but I was up and riding on several waves and even pumped back out on a few.

This is definitely a good tool in the tool box.  Tapping into different energy and it is a different ride for sure - but it will fill those low tide, smaller waves breaking way outside days (like today).

W:47/F:43/S:28

Wing Foiling Session - 3/25/2023

But this is the real reason I didn't get skunked.

After coming home from Kailua, La and I checked out the Lineup Wave Pool at the end of the neighborhood access road.  It was crowded so we didn't get down, but behind it I could see the whitecaps out on the ocean.  No question what I did after that...

When I got to the parking lot, Eli was already breaking his gear down.  He said he was using his small wing, but that the wind had started dropping.  I walked over to the beach and the wind had almost gone calm at the beach - but you can see the texture outside.

I setup the Kujira 1210 on the 85cm Project Cedrus mast, the Stringy direct bolt fuselage and pumped up the RS 6.1.  There was a big cloud overhead so I figured the conditions would turn around.  The wind hadn't come up but I went ahead and paddled out.

It did come up and I had a great time for over an hour.

Derek came out (and like always was taking pictures - these came from his upload to a What's App group.

The waves were fun!  Rollers coming in, but not death defying.

I got almost 14 miles in during the 1.3 hours the wind was blowing.

I felt some shifting in the rig... turns out the front foil screws were loosening up.

Honestly the way the wind felt - this was a thermal.

I'll take it!  I can't complain about any of the water time activities I've been doing lately - but getting to wing is always special.

W:29/F:20/S:17

Skunked!!!!

The wind was blowing yesterday afternoon - that is until I got setup and paddled out.  Then it dropped off the map.

Oh well - you win some, you lose some.

Wing Foiling Session - 2/25/2023 - 2nd

After Kailua, I stopped off at Hawaiian Watersports and picked up some kite bladder valve traps so I can fix my kitesurfing kites - after being able to water start No.26 with a wing, I now have the inclination to kitefoil using that board.  With that long standing errand out of the way, I made a beeline to Hickam to get in a second session - on No.26.

I took the Stringy fuselage and placed it on the 85cm mast - I figured I'd give this setup a try and see if it was any harder to get up on foil.  I replaced the 980 I had on earlier with the 1210 - I didn't want to handicap myself too much.  I figured with the larger front foil, I could afford to go smaller on the wing - I pumped up the SW2 4.2 again. 

From my tracks, it looked like the wind over here was from the NE.  On the water I did notice I had to make runs that had me going side to side more than top to bottom (like on an East wind).

I forced myself to water start a lot today.  The blue in the tracks below are the waits I had to go through waiting for the gusts (or sucking at water starting - this is 100% an activity that the more you do it, the easier it gets...).  Strong side is ok - goofy is a little tougher.  I drew blood on my left shin at Kailua today - and the middle screw holding the front footstraps down on No.26 didn't help.  I'll pad those screws before taking No.25 or 26 out again.

I got in several heel to toe tacks, some of which were completely dry.  A few I even whipped into (grabbing the bottom handle earlier allows you to power through the tack and not just glide).  I got in a partial toe to heel tack - I leaned in too hard and lost it.

I had to pull the Kalaeloa data because the airport sensors are still out.

Using the 85cm mast was not any harder than the 75cm mast.

I'm going to need to fix the small ding on No.25 and cover the screw heads on both No. 25 and 26 - so tomorrow I'll setup the WWFB and hit Firsts.

W:20/F:12/S:12

Wing Foiling Session - 2/24/2023

I hit Hickam after work.  The wind was good - I pumped up the Reedin SW2 4.7.  For the board/foil I had brought No.25 and the Eagle 1090 - but I also brought No.26 and the Kujira 1210.  From the picture you can see what I setup.

I've been using the 75cm mast so I don't have to manage getting more mast out of the water while I'm learning how to get up using this sinker.

I purposely forced myself to start more than I needed to so I can figure out the best way to position the board/wing to minimize the energy I use to keep position and get up.  Nose aimed slightly downwind, front foot in the footstrap (which needs to be slightly loose so my foot can flex) and back leg shin down and foot on the rail (or even hanging off).  Some runs I'd stay in this position and manage the wing overhead to develop muscle memory.

Getting up was easy as long as a gust was blowing through.  I need to put a few more strips of deck pad in between the front pads and between the front and back pads.

I didn't head out to Firsts today - I didn't want to risk getting stuck out there.  Insteead I mowed the lawn on the inside, but focused on seeing what was different with this setup.  Once up, nothing was different at all.  I even got in some dry heel to toe tacks on the outside, and a toe to heel tack.

If I takes this out again tomorrow, I'm going to place the rear strap and try jumping this rig.

The anemometer was still messed up - but I was up when the gusts hit, and was riding until I forced myself to drop and start again (this is the only way to make starting a sinker easier).

I did pay some dues today... the GoPro 9 is gone and I lost yet another wingscrew...  hopefully I'm paid up for a while.

W:18/F:12/S:12

Dawn Patrol - 2/22/2023

Dawn patrolled - I thought the chop would have backed off, but it didn't.  Same gear - I think this is the last prone session for a while (as the wind is about to kick in to nuking conditions again).

I struggled today with the chop and confused water - felt like a kook.

I did manage to get several good rides - but my percentage was probably 20%

The wind was definitely coming up.  Tomorrow will be a winging day!!!

W:16/F:12/S:12

Evening Session - 2/21/2023

I got in a session after work and after picking Noe up from school.

There were waves, but they were really choppy - really hard to pick up waves with the shorter length/asymmetric board and I could feel the turbulence pushing on the foil.

I still caught several waves and got in some reallt fun turns.

I'm pretty sure this is where I'm going to mark the balance point.

Storm surf is tough...

W:16/F:11/S:12

Dawn Patrol - 2/20/2023

Dawn patrolled yesterday with Marlon.  The waves were a little bigger than Sunday and clean.  Marlon brought his longboard and I brought the same setup that I've been using lately.

I did bump the mast up a hair - I notice from the Sunday session that my back leg was having to exert some more pressure.

The bump up balanced the foil out better - so good that I was getting triples.  The 1210 is a great foil for my weight.  There were some rides where I was pumping back out effortlessly.

Using the asymmetric foil board more and more makes it easier to use.  It definitely has less volume than the 4'8" and the shorter length makes the takeoffs and transitions more challenging.  The more I use it - the easier it will become (I have to keep saying this).

I barely saw Marlon while we were out.  After the session he said the waves were harder to catch compared to Sunday.  The tide was a bit fuller - that may explain the difference.

Another good session!

W:16/F:10/S:12