I love statistics- keeping track of things and analyzing the data to see what I can learn. For the past few years, I've tracked all my kiting, windsurfing and winging sessions via twitter to see how many times I get on the water, what gear I use most, and where and when I sailed.
Sometimes I got skunked.
Oftentimes, it becomes the best session ever.
2020, despite it all, was one of the best years yet. I got on the water an amazing 202 times or 54% of all possible days. At its peak in July, I sailed 27 out of 31 possible days. At the trough, in January, it was only 5 out of 31 days.
Compared to previous years, I'm up almost 30% in terms of time on the water, breaking 200+ days on the water this year.
Previous years saw a switch from windsurfing to kiting, planing boards to foiling boards and now the trend from kiting to winging.
It was the first year for the wing, but the new endeavor took up nearly 60% of all my time on the water with 124 sessions compared to 78 sessions on the kite.
Foiling dominated the year with 86% or 174 sessions on the kite and wing foils. The remaining 14% of the time was devoted to kiting with the surfboard or winging with the land board.
My quiver has changed over the years from one design sails, formula rigs, slalom rigs, foil kites, carbon race foils, pocket foil boards, no strut kites and most recently to wings. This year I used 7 foils, 5 boards, 5 kites and 4 wings.
The 2 5m wings were the most used in the quiver with 104 sessions or 50% of all time on the water. It was my 'go to' wing from 10-22 knots of breeze.
While I haven't given up kiting completely, all 78 kite sessions came in the first 7 months of the year before winging completely took over. The 6m single strut kite and pocket board still remain the most used combination in the kite quiver while the remaining foil kites get used a few times throughout the lighter winter months. This season I switched up the kite foils from the Moses 550 & 590 to the Moses 683S. Despite not having the overall top end speed, it's way easier in the transitions as it gives you time to shuffle your feet around.
Windsurfing never stood a chance this year. It was the first year in 35 years that I missed out.
But on the flip side, I gained so much more.
I let go of that which defined me and welcomed in a whole new world.
It was also the first year of no racing in more than 30 years competing on the water.
In a weird sort of way, it took a pandemic year to make me realize I had already had everything I needed. No competition to compare myself against others. No podium. No ego. Just pure stoke.
I started off the season with the wing, the land board and an empty parking lot. The Crissy Field parking was restricted so that meant endless asphalt runs learning how to handle the new wing and making transitions on the land board.
The first few sessions on the water were character building to say the least. If I fell 100 times, I got back up 101. The extra large Moses 1100 (2200 cm2) front foil wing was key to getting up early with a slow stall speed and lots of pumping glide in lighter winds. Having a big board also helped. I started with a 29" wide x 6'-0"/120l Camet board.
But after a few sessions, I was starting to make foiling gybes and could see how this might be really additive just like windsurfing and kiting had been before this. The learning curve was steep and fast and I was hooked.
By June, most of my sessions were on the wing with even kiting beginning to take a back seat. As I got more comfortable on the wing foil in, especially in the breeze, I switched up to the Moses 790 (1500 cm2) front foil with far more responsive & tighter turns compared to the bigger 1100 foil.
By July, we did a road trip up to the Columbia River Gorge- the mecca of wind sports in North America. It had been several years since my last visit and the first with the wing. I managed 18 sessions over 12 days buried deep in river swell making big dreamy foiling turns with the wing. There were moments I was just suspended between the swell and the wind, carving big S's into the water surface.
If I wasn't hooked already, this was it.
To top it off, I got some amazing kite sessions with the surfboard and foilboard in the swell with the big breeze.
I added a 4m wing to the quiver at the end of July when it became apparent kiting was cancelled and winging had taken over completely.
August and September were spent chasing container ship wake under the golden gate with the foil board and wing. The huge inbound freighters made the perfect setup for getting into the flow. Once you're hooked in and riding off the side of these 10-story giants, you no longer need the power from the wind or the wing. Everything you need is generated from the foil and the wave as you coast along effortlessly down the bay.
Pure stoke from the golden gate bridge all the way down to Alcatraz. At the peak, I managed to get 4 incoming freighters in one afternoon.
By September, I had upgraded my board from a 6'-0"/120l giant to a smaller 5'-4"/90l nimble whip. The swing weight was noticeable but the OMFG moment came when I plugged in a Mikes Lab foil into the wing board. It was like going from a Ford 150 to a Maserati. The ML fat 90+ foil has an increased chord which gives it more pumping range without giving up the top end speed you'd expect from a carbon race foil.
The fall of the year saw the swell come alive with several epic sessions at Fort Point in the ebb tide and big breeze with what seemed like endless Pacific sleigh rides under the golden gate. After having windsurf foiled, kite foiled and now wing foiled, I can say, the latter is the most well matched for the swell. The wing is the easiest to turn on and off and not outrun yourself like that on a kite. Once you get on the wave, you can simply flog the wing out and rely on the foil for power.
Some of the final sessions of the year came on the flip side of the king’s tide with the negative tide - opening up a big playground on the hard packed beach for the wing and the land board. We did runs from Kelly's cove down to the Zoo carving in and out of the foam that washed up along the waters edge.
2020 bought some of the bet sessions to date.
In hindsight, I don’t think I’d do it any other way.
Some of the years' highlights.
Went from omfg to OMFG. New 683S front wing adds a whole new level to foiling. Like walking on water. pic.twitter.com/gkqqlhSuY2
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) January 27, 2020
Winging it on the land foiler. pic.twitter.com/8Yu2J5DXnZ
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) February 10, 2020
Pleasantries in the tide line on 6m kite & foil as late afternoon seabreeze delights. pic.twitter.com/QVeEF3uJB3
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) February 29, 2020
It's a way of looking at that wave and saying, "hey bud, let's party!" pic.twitter.com/ejHoaWOFOJ
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) March 11, 2020
Found the flow, at least for a few moments. Pleasantly wound on 12m kite & foil in 14-16k pic.twitter.com/z4HfyebzMT
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) March 21, 2020
It's all about finding the enjoyment of here and now. Pleasantly wound on 6m kite & foil. Thanks @dude1bry pic.twitter.com/mJgslqwMAG
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 2, 2020
As if I need 1 more hobby. Land foiling the wing on the extra low Crissy field tide. pic.twitter.com/MgdS0aeW8G
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 4, 2020
25 knot seabreeze is like giving an old friend a long hug. I didn't want to let go. pic.twitter.com/woKE2fDD1s
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 11, 2020
That feeling you get after a good session on the water. Keep smiling friends pic.twitter.com/6d8hEGOGY1
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 13, 2020
Best day ever. Spastically lit on 8m kite & surfboard in 3k ebb, standing wave & 20-25k westerlies at Ft. Point. pic.twitter.com/7BWGAOQ7ec
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 21, 2020
When your friends check in on you while your self isolating under the Golden gate. pic.twitter.com/tZyMLz3Wms
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 24, 2020
Day 1 on the wing foil. Spastically lit in 20-25k. Must have fallen 100x but got up 101x. pic.twitter.com/AOMlRnBuF7
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) April 26, 2020
Found that flow state where time turns elastic. Endless turns with the 4m kite & foil in 25-35k as spring seabreeze comes alive. pic.twitter.com/kIlQG3Vhxv
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) May 1, 2020
Finally making some solid turns on the wing. It's like falling in love again. Enthusiastically lit on the 5m wing & foil in 18-24k as ebb tide envigorates pic.twitter.com/dVnJam9Amu
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) May 8, 2020
And it begins again...#windsports pic.twitter.com/VmMTJlDWt5
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) May 8, 2020
Best day ever. Gonna take a while to get this smile off my face. Spastically lit on 6m kite & foil in 20-30k as ebb tide delights under the golden gate. pic.twitter.com/8sVD3uDLsI
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) May 20, 2020
Stopping by to say hi. #enjoytheride pic.twitter.com/KoX8hzQGic
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) May 24, 2020
The wind gods were smiling upon me today. Best session ever. Enthusiastically wound on 6m kite & surfboard in 25-40k as ebb tide delights. pic.twitter.com/3gCG5b8zZ5
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) June 6, 2020
Got @brezina out in his first foiling tanker wake today. Smiles abound. pic.twitter.com/PKJuvX5kJl
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) June 17, 2020
The very bestest type of wonderful. Spastically lit on 4m kite & foil in 25-35k & soltice ebb. pic.twitter.com/Ok86mByCp5
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) June 21, 2020
Chasing bumps, where ever they may be.#wingsurfing #loyaltothefoil pic.twitter.com/wLUS2PHtf5
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) June 26, 2020
Road trip with the full quiver & family in tow. #gorgebound pic.twitter.com/NXLQZuyhEI
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) July 4, 2020
Buried deep in river swell with the 5m wing & foil. Big floaty dreamy turns with the Camet 6'-0" & Moses 1100 front wing in 10-20k pic.twitter.com/aXr7FcXgXF
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) July 8, 2020
If it looks like a cult and smells like a cult. It's probably a cult. Drinking the #boardridingmaui Kool aid today with the 4m wing. pic.twitter.com/8rDqGrOFFy
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) July 9, 2020
Best session ever.
Spastically lit on 5m wing & foil in mounds of liquid goodness. pic.twitter.com/MOkoAy0r4f
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) July 11, 2020
Been chasing a session like that since my last trip to the gorge 3 years ago. Spastically lit on 8m kite & surfboard as river swell comes alive and puffs hit like a freight train. pic.twitter.com/UJFM9CJxap
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) July 16, 2020
Salt water bumps under the golden gate. Spastically lit on 5m wing & foil in 15-25k. pic.twitter.com/RSRAN7QVz5
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) July 24, 2020
Coloring the bay red one foiling wave at a time with @markpicketts. pic.twitter.com/oD9VPIBVN2
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) August 2, 2020
Chasing tanker wakes in the flood tide. Golden gate bridge to Alcatraz with the 5m wing & foil. pic.twitter.com/alQeCewWj6
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) August 10, 2020
Never underestimate the wake off a 366mx48m containership. Incoming Maersk Emerald & 2 wing foilers off the starboard bow.
Thanks for the shot @goldendenizen pic.twitter.com/ILnwpuVK7e
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) August 11, 2020
And so it begins again.
New 5'-4" x 25" x 90l foil wing board in the works.#supportyourlocalboardbuilder pic.twitter.com/kRLQDcPbCh
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) September 12, 2020
Foggy afternoon ebb with mike g at the south tower. Sound up for the fog horns! pic.twitter.com/kdkUo5Vtx8
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) September 20, 2020
Best day ever.
Riding giants under the gate.
Comfortably wound on 5m wing & foil in 20-25k and OH NW swell pic.twitter.com/wTTqXAYTSH
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) September 25, 2020
The afterglow is real even after the peaks.
Oneness with the autumn swell. pic.twitter.com/OfehY3Uczu
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) September 27, 2020
Swelltober under the gate. #goldengatewingmen pic.twitter.com/jW1Uhod9ve
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) October 4, 2020
Best session yet.
Comfortably wound on 5m wing & foil chasing container ships downwind from the golden gate to alcatraz pic.twitter.com/WgBlfwAas9
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) October 8, 2020
Sunshine daydream pic.twitter.com/WeUlVoSnm4
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) October 17, 2020
Best day yet.
Tuned into the right frequency.
Enthusiastically lit on 4m wing & foil pic.twitter.com/FcePP6WEoX
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) October 21, 2020
Afternoon delight at the south tower.
Pleasantly wound on 4m wing & foil as fall swell flourishes pic.twitter.com/Dkkfw0HOs4
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) November 6, 2020
Pacific sleigh rides under the golden gate. Fukitsnukin sunday pic.twitter.com/uDr0b8v0U0
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) November 8, 2020
Sunday funday with the #duotone 5m wing & foil. pic.twitter.com/mH3p4G2O3e
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) November 23, 2020
Surf is where you find it. pic.twitter.com/8NBVP5gCeM
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) November 27, 2020
Surf is everywhere. You just gotta find it. pic.twitter.com/maOPPKttSz
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) December 13, 2020
Twilight session at ob on the low tide. #nevermissthelastset pic.twitter.com/JntqM197St
— usa4: steve bodner (@usa4) December 15, 2020
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