Evening Session - 9/15/2020

Marlon and I did an evening run yesterday to WPB.  He was longboarding in the middle of the pack (insanity...).  I had the wide 4'10" with the HS1850/232 out.  Too many "Bobs" out initially - had to abort several waves so no one would get hurt...  Eventually the crowd thinned out and I got some good rides. 

Next time I take this setup out, I'm going to move the foil up in the tracks - I seem to have to use more back foot pressure lately, it would be nice to be balanced.  I think it is because I'll losing a little weight (in the water too much???)

Winging Session 7 - 9/13/2020

I was watching the wind reports until after lunch - the wind turned SE and jumped up above 15 kts.  I could not resist and packed up the truck.  Marlon came along (he was the photographer) to get out of the house.  I met Randy (the other Duotone rider) and Arvin (Naish) in the parking lot.  We all reflected on the fact that it is rare to get winds from the SE.  I finished setting up and headed out.

The wind was good - and the direction gave me tons of confidence since botching up meant blowing back to the launch.  I even got out to the break on two runs and started to play in the waves.  I've surfed out there plenty of times, but winging on a 32.5" mast gives you a totally different perspective.  The water was super clear and there were huge turtles every where.

I got in a few jibes and tacks without getting wet (none on foil today).  As good as everything else was, the frustrating thing about today was a bunch of stalling.  On a few of my runs, I had plenty of power in the wing, but I couldn't get the foil to lift and I would just schlogg along.  I'm not sure if the foil would hang on to air bubbles or if I was stalling the foil - I'm going to have to figure this problem out.

I called it a day after a bunch of sailboats came out and started racing.  Really good winging today!!!

Double Duty - 9/12/2020

I got two sessions in yesterday.  The first was a solo run a little after dawn.  GLASSY!!!! Shoulder high to head high on the sets.  I brought the wide 4'10" out with the Armstrong HS1850 - but I swapped the 232 rear stab for a 13" KD G10 rear stab.  I caught 4 waves on it and paddled back in to swap it for the 232.  I need to shim the KD tail - it wasn't producing enough force to trim the big front wing.  On the rides, it is much looser (as expected - it has a 13" span verses the 15" span on the 232).  I think I'll bolt it on when I use the HS1550 and the swell is at least head high.

Once I got the 232 back on, I got a 574' ride (according to my watch).  This setup is hard to beat - I could do everything from taking off on the head high waves, compressing off the bottom turn and launch down the line to ride for 300' +.  The takeoff is definitely harder with the big front wing - but the rest of the ride makes it totally worth it.  The same happens when I use the Go Foil GL180 - I've just been learning to takeoff with the bigger winds to be able to milk more energy from the rest of the wave.

Marlon and I went back out in the evening.  The wind had picked up a bunch - Eli was way on the outside riding bumps.  The swell was still chest high and fun.  Marlon was experimenting with his small fin - took off his side bites and pushed the center fin back in the box.  He had some fun rides.  I got a long 2 for 1, and was trying for a third but my right leg was done.

Evening Session - 9/11/2020

Marlon and I had a very special guest join us on our evening session - Noe!!!  Though she really didn't come to be with us (she had two friends meet her there).  She decided to use the Mach 7-7. 

I had the skinny 4'10" with the GL140 (switched back), and Marlon brought his longboard.  The swell was a righteous shoulder high with plus sizes every now and then.  There was some wind - and I especially noticed it going right, but it was not bad at all.

Marlon was having a ball.

Noe told me after the session she caught one where there was no white water and it was smooth and glassy from the drop through to the end of the ride.  I had some long ones, but I think I could have gotten much longer rides if I left the GL180 on.  I ate it on a bunch of takeoffs so it didn't seem like I was taking advantage of the GL140 anyways.  I'm not complaining - the GL140 is a super fun wing - just over analyzing.

Winging Session 6 and the Anointment of No.19

Today's forecast called for steady tradewinds in the 10 to 20 mph range.  I finished work early today and was heading home to pickup Noe to take her to sailing - but the class got canceled due to stronger winds.  She blamed the new students lack of skills - which is true - and then started to look for something else to do.  I stuck to my plan and headed to Hickam to try out the new board.

I setup pretty quick since No.19 fits in the truck bed with the foil bolted on.  The wind seemed a little light and coming from the NE.  Every now and then it would blow from the E and pick up.  The new board obviously has less volume when compared to the Hypernut, but I distributed what volume it does have to support the actions required to get the board up and going.  I could get up on my knees to start without much issue.  On this board I could also pump onto foil - I wasn't able to do that on the Hypernut.  On the first run out, I was even able to almost complete a foiling tack.  I ended up getting several tacks, but they were all wet tacks.  I even got a few wet jibes.  I just need more practice. I did come in once to pull the foil forward in the tracks - about an inch forward as it was pretty far back.  I think I still need to pull it up a little more to optimize.

I met and talked with Harrison today.  He is the best foiler out at this break.  He was encouraging me to go ahead and venture out into the break.  I told him I want to get better on the turns and I have to get the feel of this new board first - but soon enough.  I'm glad I went ahead and brought this board out!  I'd say it has been properly anointed.  Oh - and Marlon said I am allowed to put stickers on it now.

Evening Session - 9/9/2020

Marlon and I hit PTs yesterday evening.  The swell was mostly background in the thigh to waist high range.  Every now and a forerunner of a new swell would show in the chest high level.  The wind was a bit up and it was chopping up the surface - enough that on a wave where I was just cruising, I ended up breaching - I think it was the rear stab poking out from the chop.  The tide was dropping, but PTs is deep enough to handle that.  Marlon was catching a bunch as usual.

I brought out the skinny 4'10", and the Go Foil setup but swapped out the front wing for the GL180 and moved up the mast back in the tracks.  I had to get my footing with the change.  I also know better that this board does not work as well in choppy surf.  I did manage to get some fun rides towards the end of the session.  I'll be honest - the whole time I was out, I kept wondering if it was windy enough to wing...

Cover for No.19

La indulged me this afternoon by making a day cover for the new wing foiling board.  Two towels, some description of what was in my head and BAM!!!  Two hours later and there is a custom board cover where there wasn't one before!!!!

Perfect fit!!!  Super practical with the slot - helps to take off the cover and also accommodates the foil mast.  Mucho Mahalos La!!!

Dawn Patrol - 9/7/2020

Another good day of sizable surf - smaller than yesterday but less wind.

I had several fast, super long waves - my watch said I got to 13.8mph.  Over chest high - the GL140 is the bomb!!!  This has been a great swell!!!

Fifth Winging Session

And to make an already great day even better, the wind came up.  I figured I should get it while it's here (forecasted to fall below 15 mph for the next several days).

I stayed out for nearly two hours.  The wind was up and down, but when it was on to had more east to it and that made for worry free riding.  Fun long runs back and forth.  At the end of each, I would try transitions - out to back I'd throw a tack.  I was very close to getting one without coming down from foil.  I got several tacks without falling off and often it was back up on foil quickly (as long as the wind was up).

At the end of the return leg, I would try jibing.  I got a few non-foiling jibes completed, but coming in at speed and trying to stay on foil while switching my stance proved to be a lot to ask.  Still -  practice makes perfect.  I may try to setup the 5'1" next session...

Dawn Patrol - 9/6/2020

Dawn patrolled this morning.  Pulled up before first light and the lot was already packed. 

Zero wind, carryover swell that hit yesterday and a high tide.  Same setup as yesterday.

Today was absolutely perfect - head high peaks, made the drops on foil and rode forever.  I even got two for ones on two of my bigger ones - mind you this is on the GL140.  According to my watch, I got to 14 mph.  Taking off on steep faces and making it on a foil is about as awesome as this sport can get.  And doing it on a board you made - nothing better!

I didn't even see Marlon again today - but he said he was on the outside break towards the middle and was taking off on some bombs.  Can't really ask for more than what this session delivered!!!

Windsurfing Lessons for Marlon and Winging Session #4

The wind was supposed to be up, and from the East just like the last time I went out. 

Marlon and I went out to Hickam and all along the drive there were signs the wind was not going to be like last time (Session 3).  We got there and the wind was blowing in more from the North.  I talked with the other wingers in the parking lot - they were mostly done and said the wind wasn't really good.  Marlon and I setup anyways (it looked promising).

Well - upon launching we both lost ground and spent the next hour trying to get it back so we didn't have to paddle upwind back in.  I ended up with some good runs the second half of the session.  I pulled of three moving tacks (touched down at the apex of the turn but got back up quickly) - hopefully I'll start nailing these sooner than later.  Would probably have made them if the wind had been coming from the East...

Marlon was out and sailing with almost no input from me.  At the beginning, I went through assembling everything again and discussed how to turn and uphaul.  He was suffering the issue that I was (lost a bunch of ground early and fought the whole session to get it back) - but got back to the launch spot with no drama!  Hopefully the winds will pull more east tomorrow.

Dawn Patrol - 9/5/2020

Marlon and I hit it early at WPB this morning.  The swell was up - head high on the sets, but with a full tide they were breaking soft.  There was no wind at the start of the session.  I brought out the skinny 4'10" and changed out the GL180 for the GL140.

Switching up equipment means I give up a few rides to get my footing and muscle memory back.  My first ride was awesome - long and fast - I forgot how much fun the GL140 is - sticking drops, emerging from white water, top and bottom turning - super fun!!!  Then I would weight the board differently and lose the tail (ventilation???) - ate it bad a few times.  I'd like to think I learn from mistakes and then the ventilating stopped (because I would try and find the correct balance point sooner).

My last wave was nearly 500ft long and I hit 15mph!!!  I didn't even see Marlon the whole session - he was near Fenceline and I was in front of the last cabins - extreme ends of WPB.  Super fun session today - always good when there is south shore energy pumping!!!

Evening Session - 9/3/2020

Another evening session - today was way better than yesterday.  I brought the same setup out - wide 4'10", Armstrong HS1850 with 232 tail stab.  Swell was chest high.  Wind was lower than yesterday.  Tide was high at 1.9'.  Crowd was dispersed - but I paddled out to the ghost break and there was only one person out.  It was one of those days where I would pick up a wave on the way outside and ride it all the way in.

I caught five epic waves - I broke 10mph on four of them and maxed out at 13.6mph.  This I know because of the Garmin Instinct Surf watch I've been using.  I barely saw Marlon as he was hanging with the crowd in the middle.  Awesome day foiling!!!

Evening Session - 9/2/2020

Marlon and I hit WPB this evening.  The tide was high at 2.0'.  The swell was mostly tiny - thigh high was pretty much the best that came along.  The wind was marginal (Eli was out on his Ozone Wasp 6m - and he was getting some good rides - until the wind then dropped way off - would have been better conditions if the wind was down for the whole session).

I had the wide 4'10" with the HS1850 and the 232 tail.  I caught 5 or 6 waves because the crowd was pretty dense - with lots of Bobs and wave hogs.  It was frustrating enough with the marginal conditions - when you add in the crowd factor, well let's say I just couldn't stop thinking about winging it.  Don't get me wrong - the waves I caught were fun, but having to eject from waves because the bobs were sitting in the lineup staring at surfers bearing down on them while not moving was pretty frustrating.

Marlon was surfing right in the middle of the pack.  That would have drove me nuts but he definitely takes after La (and loves to socialize).  Did I say I was thinking about winging????

Third Wing Foiling Session

Today was supposed to be the last day of brisker trade winds - so I brought my gear with me to work this morning.  I got off at 3pm (normal time) and drove over to the launch.  I was setup and running in a few minutes (would be faster if the foil could be transported mounted to the board - but the Hypernut is too long and so is the 29.5" + 3" track adaptor).

The wind was absolutely perfect!!!  More east and it was nice and strong.  I stayed out over an hour and was foiling all over the place - more than held my line and never felt overpowered (just flagged the wing).  I kept trying transitions and was getting tacks on the outbound run and jibes on the inside.  I was getting them, but not all the way on foil.  But heck - this is just my third session on the wing so I can't complain!!!  I love winging!!!