Dawn Patrol - 8/12/2023

Dawn Patrol conditions were good this morning.  Decent sized swell running - you had to wait a little, but when the sets came in they were head high (while I was on foil).  The wind would eventually come up, but the for the first hour it was really light.  If the tide were a touch lower, more wave would have broken on the outside - but overall the session was really good!

I have been wanting to test more of the different foils that I have - today the Vyper 170 was bolted on.  It performed the way I thought it would - great roll when I wanted to bank off a shoulder, not so great pump back out, predictable lift on takeoff.

I had several really good waves - the foil just wants to flow.  I think I can drop a size on the stabilizer and that may help to regain some speed and carry during a recycle attempt.

I also noticed I needed more throttle on takeoff attempts - less surface area on the foil means less lift generated for a given speed compared to the larger foils I've used.  Basically I get up faster on the HPS980 and that foil being larger can provide more carry - and I can get takeoff using less battery power (which means I can stay out longer).

If you look at the picture above, you can see that Unifoil positioned the mast pocket closer to the front foil (as compared to the standard Axis mast positioning) - that means I needed to push the mast more forward using this foil.  I adjusted it once while I was out today and here is where it ended up (pretty much as far forward as it could go in the boxes).

Great session today!!!

Tomorrow the surf is forecasted to be slightly bigger - I'll either bolt on the 980/375, or use the Vyper 170 again but change the stab to the Kujira 218....

W:77/F:74/S:31

Evening Session - 8/9/2023

Yesterday afternoon I had originally set out to wing.  There was good wind, there was some pumping swell, and the tide was decently high.

I set up the Eagle 890/Marlin 14" and pumped up the SW2 4.2

Well - while paddling out, the ocean said "Nope" - I kept drifting downwind and did not have enough wind to get up.  On one beating (of many), I saw the rear stabilizer graze the strut and "pop"

I paddled in and waited for Marlon to come back (he had went home to grab a board).

He came back and I packed up.  I went home to grab a board also - but while at the house, I debated about bring a surfboard or a prone foilboard.

I ended up with the Vyper 170 on No.21

I had three really good rides, despite the pitching lip close out waves that were coming through.

Marlon on the other hand was able to generate enough board speed and paddled into some really good waves.

This was a tough week for the WPB crew - wings torn and deep cuts...

Sometimes you win - sometimes you lose.

W:77/F:72/S:31

Fine Tuning the Vyper 170

I let Roland borrow this foil yesterday.  He wanted to see if the additional 20 square inches of surface would make a difference in low end.

When turning it over to him, I saw some scratches (I did buy this one used).  When I picked it up today, I figured I should clean this one up and get it back to top performance shape.

I used the solid paint pen, filled in the scratches and let the paint dry.

And I actually just finished sanding the foil.  I went with 600-1000-1500 on both sides to get an even surface finish.

Better than new!!!

This is one of my favorite front foils for prone surf foiling in sizable waves.  It carves like no other and I can even pump it back out.  Super progressive lift so I can takeoff in critical sections without having to worry about a blow up.

I want to see if this will translate over to Foil Drive prone surf foiling... unfortunately for that plan, the wind is forecasted to get stronger over the next several days - wing, wing, wing!!!

Evening Session - 5/2/2023

Surf was way cleaner and way bigger than yesterday.  I paddled out pretty late - I think 5:20 - but I was focused on quality, not quantity.

Same setup as yesterday.

I caught five or six waves - was able to pump back out on a few, and the repeats were awesome.

My last wave was epic - huge drop, went right and the wall was overhead (and I was up pretty high up on the foil).

I do think on bigger days I need to use a stiffer rear stabilizer.

I pegged the foil as far forward as they can go on this board.

Tomorrow the surf will likely be too big to foil - time to break out the shortboards!!!

W:37/F:32/S:26

Evening Session - 5/1/2023

South swell is starting to show.  I bolted on the Vyper 170.  For most of the waves I caught, this was the perfect foil.  There were a handful though where I could not get the nose up (and I wrecked).

My better rides were at the beginning of the session - had the opportunity to wack the crap out of an oncoming breaking section.

I'm thinking if the waves are the same size tomorrow, that I'll bring the Kujira 980.  If it is bigger, I'll bring the Cymatic or the Hypto Krypto.

W:37/F:31/S:26

Dawn Patrol - 4/23/2023

Dawn patrol this morning saw light and variable winds, a 0.6' tide, and a much cleaner swell than yesterday.

Kaylani came out to take pictures.

Based on the issues yesterday, I switched out the Progression 170 for the Vyper 170.

The swell was still hitting slightly overhead on the sets.  Marlon caught a bunch of good waves.

I love these steeper drops on foil.  And the subsequent bottom turn.  And lining up the run.  I don't like breaching the stabilizer and face planting.  I have to remember to use the longer mast when the waves come up.

W:35/F:27/S:26

Wing Foiling Session - 4/5/2023

After work I picked up Noe from school and after I got home, I packed up and headed to WPB with Marlon.

The wind was up, the tide was pretty high and there was some surf!!!  Time to wing!!!

No. 25 with the Uni Vyper 170 and my thin rear stabilizer.

I pumped up the RS 5.1 - Kalani and Eli were on their 6's.

Roland was having a good session!!!

That's some long hang time!!!

I had a bunch of fun ones - no jumping, just surfing.  The Vyper turns really well, but doesn't have much glide (as to be expected from the plan form).  I did surf the shit out of some waves - but I missed that "floating yet locked in and carvy" all at the same time feeing of the Eagle 1090.

I did try to tack (outbound, heel to toe) - I wasn't able to pull it off.  Not enough glide.

Some part of my setup was singing... I'll probably fair the rear stabilizer.

Got in nearly 18 miles today.  ENE trades and a SW swell - so good together!!!

I felt like the wind was on the lower edge of the 5.1

Not a bad speed from a lower AR foil.  Looks like the peaks were from riding the larger waves.

So in conclusion - I've used the Vyper 170 in good waves prone foiling and now in marginal winds wing foiling.  This foil is an incredible maneuvering one - probably one of the best carvers - but you need energy behind it.  This will definitely be the foil of choice in the summer when the swells hit - but in conditions that are less than optimal, the ART 999 and the Eagle 1090 are going to be what I bolt on.

Fun session!!!

W:31/F:20/S:22

Evening Session - 3/23/2023

This afternoon La and Noe dropped me off at the beach so they could run errands.  I used the same setup as yesterday, but switched out the KD rear stabilizer for one of the thin ones I made.  This one was just under 15" (14.875") and it is one of the easier tails to flex.

The waves were cleaner, but a little smaller and less consistent than yesterday.

I was still able to grab a few handfuls of juicy waves - and ripped them apart with the Vyper 170.  I had an easier time despite the smaller conditions - and I attribute that to the swapped out rear stabilizer.  The flex really worked to bounce out of turns.

I'm beginning to wonder if I was able to move the mast forward, would I be able to pump easier... time to build another 4'8"/4'7" and get the track boxes further up.

I think the swell energy is going to start backing off - might be time to get the Eagle 1090 dialed in...

W:28/F:19/S:17

Evening Session - 3/22/2023

Yesterday the surf definitely came up - head high and walling up!!!  Marlon was under the weather so I went solo.

The tide was high and the wind was down - so I rigged up the 4'8" (for paddling power), the 68cm Cedrus mast, and the UniFoil Vyper 170/KD Maui 15" rear stabilizer.

Takeoffs were steep and so much fun!!!  The Vyper 170 came alive with all the energy available to tap from the swell.  The foil has super progressive lift and it turns as hard as you care to push it.

I caught multiple waves and had some really long rides.  I was able to pump back out, but it definitely didn't happen carefree - the Vyper obviously doesn't have the glide and carry of the higher aspect ratio front foils - but when there is energy in the waves, I'd rather have the maneuverability of a front foil like the Vyper and sacrifice the carry.

What an excellent day of foiling!!!

W:28/F:18/S:17

Evening Session - 3/10/2023

I hit WPB to go prone foiling today - Roland said yesterday was really good - chest to head high and clean.  Today was probably belly high and clean.  This picture is of Roland and Duke splitting a wave.

I bolted this foil on - the Uni Vyper 170.  Accompanying the front foil was the medium (33cm) fuse and the 15" KD Maui rear stabilizer.

This foil rocks!  For as small as it is, it has some carry, but even in the small waves, I could throw this thing around.  On one turn, I got the foil half out of the water.  On another wave, I was bouncing between two sections - and the board was coming around hard and fast.  This foil is going to be my go to when the waves get chest to well overhead.

I started out with the foil mounted halfway in the tracks.  I moved it twice and ended up with it jammed as far forward as it would go.  This is the second front foil I've used that has pegged the tracks... I'm going to have to shape another board now - longer length like this one for smaller days, but thinner and with the tracks mounted 2" forward from this position (looking at the markings, I don't use foils that go that far back - funny how quick foils and skills have changed).

Looking forward to using this in higher winds also.

W:27/F:15/S:13