Evening Session - 3/1/2025

And back again for the evening session.  Dennis, Norm and I hit the first session (and Marvin came out for the second evening session - with Norm burning a second battery).

The waves seemed even smaller than this morning - but I needed to check if the foam strips would solve the signal cut out issue...

Same gear as this morning - although No.34 would have made things way easier.

Norm punished himself as well by setting up the Cloud IX FS850

Hard times in the quest for foil knowledge. 

The foam plugs worked - almost - perfectly.  When I really pushed the situation, I would still get cut outs.  But it only really happened a few times.

What is notable is being able to get up on No.31 on the micro waves that were coming through.  I had to dolphin kick to get over the hump - but it actually got ridiculous how small a wave I could get up on.

Dennis brought his 4'10" out and was ruling the place on efoil and whipping into outside waves.  That made me try more to stay on foil after coming off the back of a wave.  I made a few successful runs, but I also had several attempts that had the board bog down.  It was definitely easier with No.29 and 31.

And I did get a few double dips also - which are visible in the "distance" data plot.

By this count I got 18 rides.

By this count using "time" I also got 18 rides (I know I had a few missed waves - so I don't count every line - just the wider ones).  But the distance plot seems easier to read.

I'm going to go ahead and install signal windows in No.31.  If I'm going to use it on bigger wave days, I'm going to have to be sure it won't cut out when I am trying to catch a wave.

No.29 will stay as is - the innegra is really good at transmitting signal.

And tomorrow morning may be the last FD session for a while - if the forecast comes true and we get roaring trades back!!!! 

W:11/FD:38/PW:1/S:3

Dawn Patrol - 3/1/2025

Small wave Saturday - but it is the weekend so you have to go.

Tide was on the higher side.  Not much if any wind.  And microwaves.  But on Foil Drive - you just start thinking "how small can I go?"

And to make it harder on myself, I brought out No.31

This series of boards I've been bringing out of long term storage never really got a fair shake.  Shortly after I built them, I picked up the Foil Drive Assist Plus - and that changed everything for me.  These boards went into hibernation and I went in a different direction with boards - these look almost nothing like No.40

And this one in particular had the tracks changed out early on - so I wanted to see if the signal connectivity would be an issue.

A common factor with all three of the shorties I've been rigging the past few days is they are super tail heavy now while paddling out.

As I look back at this board, these are refreshing numbers

And this board rides nice with the Foil Drive!

I just had some cutout issues when trying to pick up more speed after just standing up - its actually funny when that happens as I come to dead stop and "go over the handlebars".  Testing these boards is actually better on smaller wave days as consequences from issues are not consequential.

And for a small, sub-5' board I quickly learned how to build speed running to intercept a rising wave (relative term today) and then banking to catch it.  I also worked on the "pop tart" start.

Eddy and Dennis were out Foil Drive-ing also.  It was almost comical trying to catch some of the bumps coming through.

I found this other set of data when going through my recent runs - progress shown in Distance.  The wider peaks are definitely longer runs - i.e. rides.

And comparing it to the traditional data set I pulled - time - the rides stick out but in a different way.

Using "time" below, I would say I had 14 rides today.  

Using "distance" above, I would say I had 12 rides.

I think when the waves return and I pick up waves from way outside, the distance view will be more telling.

I went out for a second session this afternoon to test No.31 with foam filled tracks (to negate the sudden signal loss).

W:11/FD:37/PW:1/S:3

Dawn Patrol - 3/19/2023

Another micro wave day.

I used the Viking again.  The crowd was definitely thicker today - but with that board I can catch ripples.

Kalani was out on his foil.  Tim brought his longboard out.

I caught my fill and headed home.

The Viking is truly a session saver.

W:28/F:16/S:17

Evening Session - 3/17/2023

Friday evening session to wash off the work week.  I checked the report and knew it was going to be tiny - so I brought the Mightly Viking!!!

This board catches ripples and makes them great fun to surf.  I ended up with more than a couple of handfuls of waves.

Kalani and Roland brought out their foils - they had a harder time with the lower tide and microwaves.

Looks like a bit of a spell coming up where we'll have micro waves...

W:28/F:16/S:16

Evening Session - 1/29/2023

It was raining this morning and the winds did not shift away from straight north - so I figured I'd just sleep in (or do some internet research).  The wind was more than strong enough to wing, but I am not a fan of winging in offshore winds.

Noe had a performance today so we went into Manoa to support her.  On the way back I stopped into HIC Ala Moana and grabbed a 2mm thermal wetsuit top.  We got back home with plenty of sunlight left, so I went to the beach to test the new long sleeve wetsuit top.

I brought the Viking having low expectations of the wave energy coming in.

The wetsuit top worked great - nice and snug, not too tight on the shoulders so I can paddle well, and a cool key pocket.  I was toasty warm the whole time (68F air temp, 76F water temp).  We've got a several weeks worth of cool mornings and north winds, so this top will see a lot of use.

I caught five really fun waves - the Viking can catch anything and stalling, cranking turns, and trimming are so much fun on this board.  This board is definitely a session saver.

It is going to be pretty small for the next couple of days.  The wind is also forecasted to die back as this front passes over us.  I have a board repair I have to get done for Jim... I might be doing some board surgery while the small conditions are present.

W:6/F:6/S:9

Evening Session - 3/7/2022

Pulled an evening session after work today.  Waves were really small and far and few between.  Tide was rising from 0.8' to 1.2' while I was out.  And there was zero wind - zero.

I brought the 4'8" prone foil board with the Axis setup again.  I wanted to confirm the mast placement and shim were good to go before changing things up again.

I caught a handful of really long waves.  The ART 999 is definitely a glider.  I got some 3 for 1s in all of this - but I definitely wasn't able to crank my turns around when trying to bounce off whitewater.  I think it is more me and not the foil - but only time will tell.

Roland was out and launching back flips like he had a new foil (but probably just trying to finally break apart his Uni).

Not a bad session considering the microwaves.

I'm going to take some measurements and swap out the 3 bolt Axis adapter for the 4 bolt, make the estimated mast adjustments and try everything out again.

W:11/F:26/S:9

Dawn Patrol - Microwaves - 28 December

Hit the dawn patrol solo this morning (good thing - Marlon would have been frustrated at how small it was and the fullness of the tide).

Knee high waves when it did break.  Tide was high at 2.2'.  Wind was negligible.

I used the same setup I had out yesterday and managed to catch six.  The Maliko 200 makes tiny waves ridable and fun.  If I had to use a longboard this morning, I would have been able to catch the same waves I caught, but the ride beyond the pickup would have been drastically different - going straight and just trying to keep up speed instead of gliding and even speeding up by turning.  Definitely had to work for the waves this morning but it was worth it to see what the lower end of possible was.