Wing Foiling Session - 6/1/2024

Testing day at Hickam.  I brought this stuff out to see where it lined up on No.36

Lots of folks out today - even Mark the lifeguard was at Hickam.  He had a Neilpryde Fly 4.0 - I've never seen one of these up close.

Miles, Harris, Jim, Jesse, Arvin, Anson, Matt and Kalani were all out at one point

Up first for me was the Triton.  I ended up adjusting this a few times before getting the foot pressure mostly balanced.  If I were to use this more frequently, I would likely move the front footstraps back a couple of holes.

I couldn't pull a tack comfortably on this foil today - the wind was too up and down.  I brought this out because I am interested in the Triton X-1 Pro that is supposed to be coming out.

The wind was up and down and fluctuated direction a lot.  Made for really hard conditions.

Here's the track with the Triton.

Not bad for being on a wing a half meter too small for the predominant wind.

I went in a swapped out to the Axis ART Pro 1001 with the KD DW Race rear stabilizer.  I did make some adjustments as I was getting a bucking takeoff sequence.

If I had a bigger wing I think I could have gotten better feedback with this foil.

You can see I got in a few heelside tacks on the outside.

I know I can go faster on this foil - goes to show you how weird the wind was today.

And last but not least, I switched out to the Cabrinha H800 with the KD 14" Marlin.  At this point I also switched out the wing to the 5.5

I did make a few adjustments to get the foot pressure balanced.  I did end up venting a couple of times - which means I was starting to push the foil - but it could also have been the fluky winds.

Again with better conditions I'm pretty sure I can push this foil much faster.

Tomorrow I'm going to just focus on wave riding.

W:65/FD:40/F:4/S:12

Wing Foiling Session - 8/3/2023

Stronger wind today.  Equally super high tide (great for launching and recovery).  And the set waves were bigger than yesterday.  Can't really ask for more!

With the great conditions, I pumped up the 4.7 again and setup the X-1 to mix it up.

Spent an hour winging - not too bad stats 

When the wind and the set waves lined up, awesome rides were had - near overhead waves (while up on foil).  I had one really long one - but the others mainly peaked, walled, then backed off as they made their way to the inside.

Winging is so much better when the wind is over 20mph.

I have to remember (NOTE) that the footstraps need to come way back (or be removed) when using the X-1.  I can totally see the relation between the center of lift of the foil and where the straps should be positioned (or where your feet should be placed).   One day when there isn't any wind, I'll bolt on the different foils and try to mark where the CoL is lined up to the bottom deck.  Takumas are a little back on the current footstrap setup; F One is just right; I can't remember how the Axis felt.  I think the Vyper was back.

W:89/F:82/S:32

Wing Foiling Session - 6/25/2023

Lots of wingers out today at Hickam -

Wind was up and down (surpisingly).

I wanted to have a different experience today, so I setup the Triton X-1.  The Stringy adapter worked perfectly!!!  I'm going to need to shape a new board and place the boxes further forward (I had the mast pegged all the way forward and it felt like it could use more lift still).

I thought it was going to be nuking - so much so I didn't even bring the 5.2

The X-1 definitely makes sure you are awake and paying attention.

Today was definitely a mellow day - when the wind backed off, I ended up just waiting for the next gust.

Though if I knew the wind was going to be this up and down, I would have bolted on the Eagle 1090.

Quick session - but got what I was looking for!!!

W:60/F:57/S:28

Garage Works - 6/12/2023

I got the repair area sanding down

Sitckers, fill coat and sanding... lots of sanding...

And I got my Stringy adpater for the Triton X-1 to mount on the Project Cedrus masts.

Nice fit!

The front screw is a 40mm, and the back screw is a 35mm

Now I'm obligated to use this again tomorrow...

Wing Foiling Session - 6/12/2023

Hit WPB after work.  Wind was good, tide was high dropping down, and there was some wave energy.

I think Berto and Scotty were out (I don't know too many people with DLab Units).  Roland came out 40 minute after I went.

Almost a carbon copy of yesterday.  

I could have used the 4.7 today, but I used the 5.2 to make sure I minimized getting stuck on the lulls.

Funny thing with the X-1 today - a handful of times I would breach and lose it.  I never really figured out what was going on to cause that.

17 miles on the X-1 - yes I'm tired.

I got my Stringy adapter for the X-1 to fit on the Project Cedrus masts... yet another day on the X-1 in my future???  We shall see....

W:51/F:52/S:28

Wing Foiling Session - 6/11/2023

Really fun session today -

I got a late start because of some things we had going on at the house.  I was at WPB parking lot around 12 and the wind was blowing, but it was up and down.  The tide was rising but was already above 1'.  There were waves, but it seemed more background energy and not direct swell.

Since I already had the Triton mast on the board and the SW2 5.2 in the truck, I decided to stick with what I had.

I saw Kalani coming in from his winging session while I was headed out.  The wind looked like it was more east, and it was filled in over towards Coves/Hau Bush.  My first few runs took a bit of time to get to the wind line.

Today I got a much better recollection of the performance characteristics of the Triton X-1.  This foil surfs really well - cranking turns on a section is what this foil does best.  Getting up on foil is not too bad on this - just point a little further downwind than I normally do and up to goes.  I have this foil pegged up at the front of the tracks - I think I may have an easier time if I was able to get the foil further forward.  I need to get through the No.31 rebuild and helping Marlon glass his longboard, but after that I'm going to build another wing board that will also pull double duty as a Foil Drive prone board.  No.32 will have the track a lot further forward than No.25

This foil needs constant power input - so it is harder to use when the wind is up and down.  It floats - and it really wants to float.  During a wipeout, I always come up to the surface to find it floating.  This is actually a really good attribute for the landing cycle - when I pick a spot to drop, the fact that the foil floats helps keep it from hitting the bottom - I think I need to use this foil more often over here at WPB.

This wind graph below is from the airport sensor - obviously from the track above the wind had bent by the time it got to WPB.

The front end of the session had the wind lighter.  I got to work the low end of the foil - and it wasn't terrible - just not a competitor against the Eagle 1090.  I was working hard to get up wind, but when I did get there, the wind started to fill in and the rest of the session was well powered.

The pitch (in)stability of the X-1 really makes you have to pay more attention to what you are doing.  I actually get more tired using this foil - but that is one of the aspects I like most about it - it is challenging to use, and rewarding when the sections show themselves.

I think tomorrow I'll get the repair on No.31 finished.

W:51/F:52/S:28

Wing Foiling Session - 6/10/2023

Really fun session at Hickam yesterday!

The wind was up early - No.25, Eagle 1090/210, 85 cm Project Cedrus mast, SW2 5.2

And Jim was back!!!!

On the outside I could have been on the SW2 4.2 - but then the wind started to fluctuate - even dropping to the point where everyone would drop off foil.

The waves were small but if your timing was right, some gems would come through.  I saw Kalani on a couple and I nabbed a few myself.

The Eagle is such a great winging foil - I only went down when the wind dropped.

And before I went in, I made a few speed runs to see what I could get out of this gear combo - 22.7mph

I went it and was having a conversation with Jim and Bill about Foil Drives - and then swapped out the Eagle 1090 for the Triton X-1.  I ordered a Stringy adapter to bolt on the X-1 to a Cedrus mast and I wanted to get the feel of the OEM setup before switching.  The wind dropped off significantly when I did this (of course), but I did eek out some riding.

I quickly remembered the characteristics of this foil - need some wind for takeoff, there is some pitch instability, it doesn't pump through lulls, and it is really nimble.  Not bad speed either...

The wind was all over the place - strong easterly flow, then hard swing to the north (you can see this in the tracks above)

This only counts as one session.

W:50/F:52/S:28

Wing Foiling Session - 5/6/2023

Mid morning wing session at Hickam.  The wind was up (and down) but definitely on the stronger side.

I used the same setup as Friday - No.25 with the X-1, SW2 4.7

I didn't go outside because it looked gnarly - the tops were being blown off the waves - and I also wanted to focus on transitioning on the X-1.

I was able to get tacks both ways on this foil.  I think if I had the 1090 on, I would have had to use the SW2 4.2

Fun session!

W:40/F:32/S:27