One pandemic behind...

[PonoBill]

I finally got back onto my foil today, out with a 6M F one, Axis 101 with a 440 tail, 75CM mast and a Flying Dutchman magic carpet. One really great wing board. Things went well, once again I find the 6M to be my goto wing. The gusts were strong but the lulls were lullier, and I could get through them. I did find that I apparently have completely forgotten how to jibe. I've been set back one Pandemic worth. Totally gone, didn't even come close, hardly was able to jibe after touchdown. I did manage some really cool crashes though.

The social distancing was easy. There were four people on the river for as far as I could see in any direction.

I'm going to share Temira's (the reliable Gorge wind forecast queen) guidelines for water activity in the time of plague. This by way of assuaging my scofflaw conscience:

First, a public service announcement. All Oregon (Viento, Rowena) and Washington (Doug's, Hatchery) State Parks are closed at this time. All Port of Hood River waterfront access is closed at this time, although the walking path is open. The Army Corps has closed all parks (The Wall, Rufus, Roosevelt). They have also closed boat ramps. Swell City is closed. It's best not to go – especially if you don't live in the Gorge. Please follow legal guidance to stay home, save lives.. If you're local and getting on the water somehow, follow Maui rules: rig quickly, get in the water, and leave as soon as you are done. No hanging out. Maintain at least six feet space on land and on the water. Do not place yourself directly upwind or downwind of anyone. Don't go harder than 50%, and keep your focus at 100%. This is not the time to get injured.

That's what I did, I swear officer. I even drove home in my wetsuit and used my new outdoor shower. Keeping the neighbors entertained--or maybe horrified.

[RobM]

Hey PonoBill, did you get the Dutchman when on Maui? What's the dims and where's the pretty pictures please? Thanks! Rob

[Dwight (DW)]

Some of the lost skill, is just your choice of front wing. A front wing with arc to it, glides through a jibe with less skill, carrying speed like a windsurf wave fin does in a jibe.

Flat wings loose speed quicker when banked, than wings with arc.

[PonoBill]

I'll try the 1020 or 920 and see if that helps. I don't seem to have much trouble maintaining speed while turning the 101, but I'm not that sensitive to variations--too much going on in my pokey brain for anything subtle to get through. I still have a strong component of "whee, I'm flying!" going on that blocks out a lot of detail.

Rob, I'll shoot a pic, it's a pretty thing. Yes, I ordered it from Mark last winter and used it a little on Maui. As always, I found myself stuck on the Kalama board that I was used to--the very board that I didn't use much because the original huge Mr. Fugly was so comfortable, and now I view Little Fugly as my huge, comfortable board--so I didn't use it much. I purposely left Little Fugly on Maui to force myself to use the Flying Dutchman, and of course, now I love the thing. Like an idiot I compromised on the design, backing off from getting a wing-only board and asking that it be surfable too. And perhaps it should also double as a TV tray. As a result, it's a bit bigger than it needs to be. I think it's 6'6" X 32". But it's light, easy to get up on, and pumps great. Every inch of length I ditch turn out to be super valuable.