Wing Foiling Session - 6/23/2024

Hit Hickam with Kalani today.

There was wind - and it was more consistent and stronger than yesterday.  But there were some epic lulls.

I set up the Ezzy Flight 4.0, and No.36 with the 90cm Aluminum PC mast, ART Pro 1001 and the 350P.  This setup was great when the wind was coming through - but sucked in the lulls.

I was hesitant early on to tack this setup - trying some tacks on the inside to work up, I would drop off foiling speed and had to start over.

But outside in the ridiculously strong wind, I would throw tacks on incoming waves, and tack on the inside of the channel marker to head back out.

I ended up catching a few of the better sized waves - super fun stalling just in front of the breaking section, swooping around and hooking a turn, then cracking a turn back in front to repeat it all over again.

Out running whitewater -

Not as bad as yesterday, but when the downs were around - nothing to do but sit and wait.  I think with the Spitfire 840 it wouldn't have been an issue.

When the wind was up, the lower foil set was making a lot of noise.  I'm going to have to tune these to get rid of the vibrations.

When the wind wasn't up, I was just drifting around.  Looks like I spent about a third of the time drifting.

W:76/FD:44/F:4/S:12

Wing Foiling Session - 4/2/2024

Pure chaos on the wing today!!!!  Nuking gusts - 

I thought I was rigging in the slot - nope, way over powered.  ART Pro 1001/350P, Reeding SW2 4.2 - all high wind stuff - but still not small enough!!!

I started out by doing speed runs on the inside.  It was hard to control the foil because of the chop coming off the water - the wind was so strong it was generating swell from inside the harbor.

After a few runs, tacks, jibes and getting used to the strong wind, Prayot launched and headed out Firsts.  I followed him out and proceeded to play in lala land.

The wind was so strong at times that I was getting blown back off the wave faces.  And then the gusts would go through and the 4.2 was perfect for the background wind.  The waves were standing up, but they needed a bit more energy to push a foil against the wind.

Eventually the group (me, Prayot and Matt) headed back in and I went back to trying to top my speed record.  With the surface chop, I knew I wasn't going to hit it today, but it was still fun pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

While Prayot and I were out, the gusts were touching 40 mph (according to the HNL sensors).  Times like this, the ocean shows a much different face.

I think I could have gone faster if the wind direction would have promoted smooth water.  I'm thinking I also need a Skinny 360/45 rear stabilizer to get the ART Pro 1001 and the Spitfire 840 to go faster.

This guy (Prayot) needs to practice switching his feet - then he'll be pretty unstoppable.

W:43/FD:20/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 4/1/2024

It was windy today!!!  Proper whitecaps abound!!!

Norm was there and launching by the time I showed up.  The tide was LOW - I needed to swim out a considerable distance before clearing the high points of the reef.  Periodically a decent sized set would pull through.

Used the Spitfire 840/325P setup today - and on the V1 Project Cedrus 85cm mast.  Pumped up the SW2 4.7 (but probably could have gotten away with the 4.2)

With the wind strong and really consistent, today was really fun!

The Spitfire 840/325P made for challenging conditions - but as Roland says - if you are comfortable, you aren't learning.

Amidst all these rides, I did got a slamming tack straight onto a wave that made a run for it.  I got to fully flagged, took an awesome drop and carved turn after turn while the wave kept going and going.  If the swell was a foot bigger....

I had the wind at its best!!!

And this was a pleasant surprise - 20.3 mph while winging in choppy side shore conditions, 

I'm glad I winged today!

W:42/FD:20/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 3/24/2024

As part of juggling two vehicles among several family members, I wing foiled at Kailua this morning so I could pick up La after I was done.

The wind was up, and then it was down - common theme...

I wanted to use the ART Pro 1001 again, so I opted to go on the big side with the wing - the Mode Pro 5.5.  These wings supposedly like to be overpowered.

ART Pro 1001 - so efficient!!!

No.34 was a little rough today - the conventional shape seems to work better in choppy, surfy conditions (like today).

But after I got dialed in, all was good.  I even got a few really long wave only rides (the ones drifting off to the left).  I think the mast needs to be pushed forward just a hair (had a bit of bucking) in choppy conditions (I think it can go right on the mark over at Hickam).

For a lot of the session, the 5.5 was more wing than I needed.  But it never flapped (like the Takuma RS did) or deformed (like regular dacron wings do).

After using the ART Pro 1001 now for a couple of sessions, I don't think the foil is best used in unruly chop and turbulence.  The Spitfire 840 has demonstrated it cuts through that stuff with ease.  The 1001 is an amazing foil, but it seems more race horse than clydesdale.

I'm going to take a break tomorrow.  Marlon gets back so he'll have stories and pictures he'll want to share.

W:36/FD:19/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 3/23/2024

I hit Hickam today - the winds were either way up, or way down.

I came here because I wanted to do some testing.

First up was the North Mode Pro 4.8 - this wing is so tight!!!  

And up next is the Axis ART Pro 1001

I did two runs - first was with No.34.  I wanted to feel this front foil out and No.34 gets to foiling speed faster.

Here are the stats for both runs and the wind.

The reservations I had about the ART Pro 1001 were unfounded - I got up to speed easy and this foil has tremendous glide.  Granted there was a lot of wind and the Mode Pro is very powerful (and doesn't get overpowered that easily).  I'd say it has the low end of the ART 999 and the upper end of the smaller ARTs without any of the blow up drama of the 899.

I even took it out to Firsts - it rides really well, and I had it set up on the standard Ultrashort black fuse (I can't imagine what the Advance and Advance + will enable).

The Evolution Wind mast did not even blink an eye - as fast as I was going, there was no hint of ventilation.  It's hard to go fast when you are worrying about a blow up - it's nice to have confidence in your gear so you can push the limits!!!

I saw Jim setting up on the beach so I went in - he had asked to try out No.34.  I caught him before he headed out and he swapped boards.  I moved the foil over to No.32.  I took the distance where the mast was placed from No.34 (uncanny I got it right the first time) and set it up the same on No.32.

And I was even more impressed with both the Mode Pro 4.8 and the ART Pro 1001.  I caught plenty of waves with this setup and it worked so well.

And after I went in to the harbor, I forced myself to make toe-side tacks.  Here are three I winged away from.

And I made an effort to see where the top end of the foil was - 24.1 with the Progressive 350 rear stabilizer.  I am pretty sure if I put a Skinny tail on, I'll be able to consistently break 25mph.

I could feel the wind getting shaky so I called it - I also needed to go pick up Noe and get her to Kaneohe.

I'm really pleased with both of these additions to the hanger!!!

W:35/FD:19/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 2/24/2024

Dawn patrol at Kailua!  Conditions were fantastic!

I setup the same gear as yesterday - primarily to get the sand off of it, but also because the wind was up and down and there would be benefit to having the 5.2 up instead of the 4.7 (or in some gusts even the 4.2)

Nice stats!

And there were some really good waves too.  I stayed out just shy of 2 hours, but staying upright in the strong winds and even stronger gusts and side chop took effort.  With the strong wind forecast across the next 10 days (at least), I didn't want to risk injury. 

The peak speeds were had coming down the faces of some of the bomber coming through.

As I was leaving, the winds got even stronger!

I got to talk with Rex on board building trends.  He said he's primarily on the Eagle 790.

I saw several SK8s setup also.  I got my Evolution Cedrus F One adapter in the mail today - tomorrow I think I'll mix it up with one of the F One foils (I have been on an Axis trip recently).

I needed the successes of today to shake off the ending of yesterday's walk of shame...

W:17/FD:13/F:4/S:8

Wing Foiling Session - 2/19/2024

I hit Hickam again today - I didn't want to deal with the low tide shenanigans that would have come with winging WPB.

I also wanted to give Jim a chance to try out the boards I use (as he is asking for a custom).

The wind forecasts were divergent - iwindsurf called a drop in wind speed while surfline was saying it would stay up.  When I got there, a whole crew was just coming in and they were saying it was dropping fast.  I figured that was the que to pump up the North Mode Pro 5.5

Board and foil was the same as yesterday - I wanted to see if the board would make a difference in the lighter wind.

And now I can say definitively that I can get up faster in lighter winds with this board.  The wind was up and down - but as gusts would come through, I would point downwind and after pumping both the wing and the foil, I'd be up within 5 board lengths.

At the beginning of my session, the wind was really light.  I was questioning my judgement in even paddling out.  But the wind did fill in, and there were numerous up and down cycles - perfect for testing the light wind capabilities of No.34

Arvin made a break for Firsts so I followed (and so did Bill eventually).  The waves were small, but fun.  I think I caught 2 breakers and the rest rolled on through.

Not sure what happened to the airport anemometer - but that was pretty much when I was out.

I really like the North wing - it has enough low end to get you going and it doesn't blink when the wind picks up.  Time will tell if the canopy material retains its current tension, or start to stretch (like the heavily used Reedins I have)

And after I came in, I ended up committing to Matt to make another No.34 and to Jim for either a No.25 or a No.34 (he still needs to ride No.34 to see if that is what he wants).

Looks like I'll be busy for a bit.

W:15/FD:13/F:4/S:8