Evening Foil Drive Session - 8/8/2025

Today was the first showing of this big south swell.  It was big -

I setup No.41 with the same setup as I have been using but swapped out the Enduro 900/HA40 for the Silk 650/HA38

I wanted to get the mast position dialed in using this foil on No.41 - and initially I felt I needed a bigger day to do this.

Turns out that needing to be on the throttle longer to lift a smaller foil starts to position you in a more critical takeoff position.  Something I've gotten away from since I started Foil Drive-ing.

But I kept trying to take waves - and after three waves and three adjustments, I think I have found the sweet spot.

It was nearly double overhead on the big sets breaking outside.  The problem was there was too much water moving all over the place.  There was plenty of wind - enough to have gone winging comfortably - and that put a lot of chop on the surface.

That in turn made catching waves harder.

Picking the right wave was everything today.

An issue made even more challenging by using a different foil for the first time on a shorter board - factors that individually make for longer takeoffs.

Despite the challenges, I did manage to catch a few notable waves.  And the Silk 650 is tremendously nimble.  It just needs a lot of energy to move it through the water.

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I think the perfect conditions for the Silk 650 would be a glassy head to head and a half high day, with a lower tide to get the waves running 

By the data sets, I count 12 waves ridden - with multiple attempts that ended up with the waves leaving me behind, or me pulling out of a bottom dropper. 

I need to spend more time on the Silk 650 to get it past the twitchy stage (me, not the foil).

But tomorrow morning, as this swell peaks, I am going to use the Silk 850/HA40 and No.40 to be able to get up onto a rising wave faster so I have the ability to get onto the section where I want to be (and not where I find myself due to the late takeoff).

W:55/FD:101/PW:19/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 6/21/2025

Kailua was the only spot that was projected to have wingable wind in the morning.

I wanted to get the AFS Enduro 900/HA40 dialed in on the KT Dragonfly - so I could use this setup for parawinging in better conditions (as the 1300 can be a handful when the waves are up).

I ended up staying out until the wind got questionable.  But that was enough time to get the foil position dialed in and I got several really fun waves to boot!

Lots of carving turns on the inside of Jump City.

I had a couple of drama-free switch starts.  I'm trying to develop better muscle memory for doing this on narrower boards without issue.  Just need to keep forcing myself to takeoff goofy...

There weren't a lot of people out first thing.  One guy on a Dragonfly was learning, a kitefoiler took off before me, and a couple of others after I took off.  The wind was on the lighter side, but it was consistent.

I ended up changing the foil position three times - the last was just passed the optimum point.

And on my last run, I did a tack-jibe-jibe-tack.  I don't know why these are easier to do here at Kailua Beach Park... must be something to do with the wind direction.

Super fun session!!!

W:48/FD:86/PW:11/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 5/4/2025

I went to get a haircut and then got in a session to determine the foil position for the AFS Enduro 1300 and No.34

I had enough wind to get up on this set of equipment.  I have been using No.40 a lot lately - so much so that I forget how fun No.34 is.

Here's where I started off the mast.  This position balanced the setup nicely, but when I was out foiling, I noticed it was a tad sticky.  I moved it back a 1/4" and it opened up nicely.  I didn't put it back further - but really should have to make sure this was the spot.  It did have progressive lift and I never really felt the stickiness again - but I should have done it to make sure.

And I left my watch in the garage - which forced me to try out a new Android version of the Waterspeed app.

I finger fumbled the app (not even realizing it) so it stopped short of recording the whole session.  I'm still playing with it, but it does have a lot of water speed data. 

Miles was out the second half of my session - but I didn't see him up on foil that much.  Prayot, Zach, Naomi and Harris came out when I was done.  Harris turned around - Prayot was already out at Seconds when I was putting the wing away.  The wave out there was barreling when I was out.

The wind is supposed to get stronger in the coming days and the waves are going to get smaller... might be time to put the parawing up.

W:35/FD:66/PW:1/S:4

Dawn Patrol Foil Drive-ing - 4/28/2025

Two battery dawn patrol at Hickam this morning!!!

First session - super glassy conditions and the swell was pushing good energy into Firsts!!!

I used the same setup as yesterday, but swapped out the Silk 142 rear stabilizer for the HA40.  I left the mast where I had marked it from yesterday.

And what a difference!!!  This setup was perfect in every way!!!  Super hard turns and fluid transitions.

After yesterday's adjustments, I was a little puzzled by the position the Silk 850 ended up being in (further back than the Enduro 900).  I stuck with it and with the HA40, it was spot on target!

You can see all the turning I was doing and even that they were tight.  It is amazing what changing one small detail can do!

13 rides by speed and distance measures.

And while I was in for a battery change out, I went ahead and switched out the foil to the Enduro 900 (with the HA40 rear stabilizer).

I originally set the mast where I had it marked off for the E900 previously.

I ended up changing it multiple times - pretty much after every couple of waves.

I did cross over to Seconds and caught some fun bombs over there.  The rest of the time I was at Firsts replicating the first run.  There was also an onshore breeze kicking up early (so not as glassy as the first session).

I had originally thought the Enduro 900 setup where I had it was the best turning foil I've ever used.  And after the final adjust I would say the Enduro 900 properly setup is one of the most versatile foils I've ever used - it turns almost as hard as the Silk 850 (and not nearly as effortlessly), and it can glide through soft sections with very little effort.  I can also pump it out way better than the Silk 850, and by the data charts - given the same conditions, the Enduro is faster.  But the Silk 850 rolls so much better than the Enduro - so the Silk takes the carving crown!!!

15 rides by both metrics.

It was a full house today!  Dennis, myself, Bill, Jesse, Grant, and Arvin pretty much spent the entire time trading waves.  Super fun sessions today!!!

I'm counting this as two sessions today even though I was at the same spot.

W:31/FD:63/PW:1/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 4/20/2025

The wind came up early today - when I got to a stopping point on the garage work, I headed over to Hickam (since the tide was pretty low).  I also wanted to dial in the AFS Enduro 700 -

This is where the foil balanced out for me.  I had it set further forward for about half the session - but it seemed like I was having to exert some front foot pressure.  I didn't want to make the adjustment earlier because I didn't want to have to deal with the up and down shifty wind to get back up.  But eventually I did pull the mast back and what a difference!

Getting up on this foil did take a little more effort than the Enduro 900 - but that's to be expected.  As long as the wing was powered, it wasn't an issue.

I had actually wanted to cycle through the stabilizers to see what would work best for the E700 - but I just used the HA40 in the rear position.

The E700 surfs - no surprise and no complaints.  I think next time I'll push the stabilizer up to the short fuselage position to see if it loosens up. 

Pretty up and down.  But at least there is wind that is wingable.

I think with the HA38 I can get this foil over 25mph.

The 23.1mph came from the inside speed runs.

Fun session!!!

W:31/FD:58/PW:1/S:4

Wing Foiling Session - 6/16/2024

Kalani and I hit Hickam on this Father's Day afternoon.  When we pulled up, Zach was finishing up (Harris, Matt, Jesse were still out - Clinton was setting up and Norm had just pulled up - full house).

There was texture on the water so I stuck to my plan - testing the Ezzy Flight 5.0 (latest version), along with getting the F One SK8 750 dialed in on No.36

I had a hard time getting the Ezzy to lift me off the water and onto foil.  Was on the struggle bus for about 18 minutes - but then I was out in the wind line and caught a gust.  All was good after that (until later when I was trying to head in).

The waves were really good - I saw almost everyone catching some good sized rides.

I caught a monster from the outside (was heading out to stronger winds so I could turn - just so happens the turn coincided with nabbing a freight train).

I had plenty of great rides today!

The wind was perfect for a 5.0 - but the Ezzy and I were not gelling today.  I sent Donnel an email with the feedback - but basically it didn't have low end (which is something I believe designers based on Maui don't get - lighter wind wings need to have some draft).

I really enjoyed the session - the wing was fine as long as there was decent wind, and the SK8 750/Carve 195 were really solid in the waves.  I even got the whole setup to 22.6 mph

Good Father's Day session!!!

W:70/FD:44/F:4/S:12

Wing Foiling Session - 5/29/2024

Harris and I are contemplating trading Spitfires - my 840 for his 900.  He wants a smaller/faster foil and I'm looking for a smaller Foil Drive foil that doesn't eat a lot of battery on takeoff.

We've been trying to meet up, but today was the first time it worked out.

Since I was there... yup, I winged.  North Mode Pro 4.8, No.36, Eagle 890/DW190, Evolution Cedrus Wind - PERFECT gear for today's conditions.

I moved the foil while out on the water a couple of times - here's where it ended up.

Oh - and my new Mystic Wing Foil bag came in - sweet package to protect the new board! 

The wind was a little up and down, but the gear handled it all well.

And actually I spent today's session focusing on tacks - mainly my inside toe-side tacks.  The video I watched saying "roll that wing over" made all the difference.  Normally I get maybe 25% of this tack - after taking these small actions, I am now making 90% - and they are as much fun as the hee-side tacks!

I have never done as many tacks in a session as I did today - super breakthrough day!!! 

Jim was out when I pulled up to the parking lot - but was beaching when I was finishing setup.  He's getting eye surgery in a week, so he's trying to get in as much water time as he can.  Looks like he had the better wind.

After working on my tacks, I headed out to Firsts to sampo some of da' waves.  Small kine today - but good fo exercising my juicing skilz.  I had a few good ones, then headed back so I wouldn't get too far behind the power curve (on getting through the afternoon traffic).

On the inside, I wanted to do some speed runs - I got some speed!

Fun quick session - that will go down in history (mine own) as the session that cemented the elusive toe-side tack!

W:63/FD:40/F:4/S:12