Wing Foiling Session - 2/25/2025

I was contemplating using the Foil Drive this afternoon, but Norm couldn't go today.  Then Prayot texted that there was wind and he was launching.

I packed the light wind gear (not the uber light wind though...)

No.34/North Nova Pro 5.0/F One Eagle 1090/DW210/ Project Cedrus Carbon 85cm mast

These two were chillaxing on the beach (and they've been doing that for a bit now - nice to know they trust this area and the people around them; not sure I do...)

Most of the session was just floating around.  While I was driving up, I saw Prayot up on foil, and he was buzzing around while I was setting up.

As soon as I got out to deep enough water, the wind just died.  

I spent a bunch of time floating and thinking I didn't want to have to swim in (like Harris did on Sunday).  But as I was a bit too optimistic with the gear selection for today, the possibility of having to swim in was real.

Eventually I picked up a gust while pointing towards shore, and I was able to jibe multiple times to get back to the launch point.

I think if I brought out the uber light wind stuff, I could have been up more.  I'm just glad I didn't have to swim back!!!

And when I was up, I was doing a good job of moving at a decent clip.

I may wait for the return of solid wind (next Tuesday) before trying to wing again.

W:11/FD:33/PW:1/S:3

Wing Foiling Session - 10/21/2024

Today was the day I turned over No.38 to Norm.  We were both going to Foil Drive, but when we got there the wind was cranking - thermals.

Eli was rigging and was saying the winds were going to die off any time and it would be sudden.  He rigged big and headed out.

I rigged what winging stuff I brought - Ezzy Flight 5.5 (c), No.34 with the Eagle 1090/DW210

Eli was literally in the water 5 minutes before I was - but that short time span was everything.

I almost never got up on foil.  There was a bubble of wind and it seemed to be following Eli.

About this time I saw Norm taking out No.38 with the Foil Drive.

I spent over an hour trying to get up with the little wind that remained.  Talk about a trap -

I eventually did manage to catch a swell and pumped the wing to get enough speed to get up on foil.  I rode that wave in as far as I could - which saved me from a long paddle back in.

I saw Norm with plenty of long rides.  Looks like that board is going to be good for him (whew!!!)

This session was totally shaping up to be a total skunk!!!  Last second save!

W:130/PW:2/FD:74/F:5/S:19

Wing Foiling Session - 11/19/2023

The wind was blowing pretty hard at my housing this morning.  I skipped the dawn patrol surf session and opted to wing.  With the high tide and current swell, the conditions were pretty good when I drove up.

I setup my current light wind lineup (because I didn't trust to wind to stay up).

And as soon as I paddled out, the wind shifted towards the SSW - so pretty much directly onshore.  And that began the odyssey.  I actually reset the watch 4x because I was getting blown downwind (without being able to get up on foil).

Because of the wind direction (had shifted to onshore), the sun starts to play games with your mind - you think there is wind, but there isn't.  But I knew in order to get enough pressure built up in the wing I would need to head back towards shore - and if that took too long, then I'd end up in the impact zone.

After what seemed an eternity, I did get up and stayed up (I had gotten up twice prior, but the wind dwindled below wingable strength).  I got in about 25 minutes of foiling and figured I should quit while I was ahead.

Even with the Eagle 1090/No.25/SW2 5.2 - this was one of the harder sessions I've had in recent months.

There is a 19.7 mph buried in this data set somewhere.  The early spike was likely getting caught in the impact zone and pushed around.

Eddy was wise and didn't bother going out.  Koa was SUP foiling.  Prayot tried and said enough is enough.  Derek went out and made it look easy.

Some days you win - some days you lose - some days you don't know what happened....

W:115/F:101/S:54

Wing Foiling Session - 6/7/2023

When I pulled up to the parking lot, I could see Eli out on wing.  There were whitecaps and some surf.

I had planned for light wind - No.30, the Eagle 1090 and the SW2 5.2

What I didn't plan for was the wind turning offshore and then dying when I was far out trying to work my way back upwind.

I did get up twice and got in a couple of turns, so technically this session counts.  But really I felt liek I was eating humble pie.  If I had just brought prone gear, I think I would have actually passed (Roland did - he went home and worked on his roofing project).

Pretty much dead wind while I was out.

I think I am definitely staying home tomorrow.  I'm going to cut out a bunch of templates I have sitting around.  Friday and Saturday look good for winging.

W:48/F:52/S:28

Almost Skunked - 3/25/2023

Marlon and I went to the beach yesterday morning - but the waves were a little sloppy.  We actually decided to go back home and do other things (partially because Marlon was still a little sick).

Then I got a text sent from someone selling foiling gear that I could meet them in Kailua and try out a new foil.  La and I headed over but by the time we got there, the wind had droppped off significantly.

That didn't stop this guy and a few others.

This 10m Reedin Supermodel was powering a mastless Hobie Wave.

So at this point I was skunked (but I didn't set up any gear and go out - so technically I wasn't skunked).