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Neil Thorne

@thorneneil

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New #foildrive travel batteries 🤩 Thanks to @foilflightschooluk for supplying these 👍 Should give me something to do on any windless days in Tenerife this month! by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Fantastic full moon last night at Teignmouth taken in Teignmouth Beach by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

More #downwindfoiling this time in bigger 20-30kt conditions SSE with chest to shoulder high bumps. #torbay headlands seem to bend both the wind and the swell quite a lot. The forecast SSE was more like SE and I ended up bailing half way at Paignton Harbour. According to wingman @remipickett this was a good idea as it was very big at Torre Abbey. It was really easy and safe to get in near Paignton harbour even though it was pretty dumpy further towards the pier.

The good news was I took my @sabfoil 1150 which was much nicer to handle on and off foil in the bigger conditions. I almost found it easier to paddle up the smaller wing as it wasn’t get pushed around by the swell, engaging and stalling hard off the back of waves like the 1350 does. These stalls would push the nose really high and then slam it back down, putting me off balance at the exact time I’d want to be paddling hard into the next bump.

With the smaller foil I still got stalls on my pre-paddle up bumps but they were easier to manage and then I could get power down. It felt like the board was catching the wave before the foil engaged for the first time today rather than me muscling up the foil. Also makes me think my @sabfoil #razor980 is now doable which should have way more speed and control on the bigger waves. #excited

The 1150 was so much better than the 1350 on a bump. Got the most controlled glides and bump links with paddle so far!! 🤩

But it’s too slow to keep up with the bigger and better bumps so I was having to fall off the back and pump. Hopefully the 980 will solve that.

But overall super happy to get out in bigger conditions and get some glides on a smaller foil and realise that smaller could actually be a lot better. Maybe @jon_.mann is right!

Conditions: 25kt SSE wind, 3-4ft@4s SE swell
Gear: @appletreesurfboards DW Skipper 7’3x21’5, @sabfoil 1150 front wing, 73P mast, 380 stab by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Two days, two #downwindfoil training runs. Happy with my solo Teign run yesterday as the W wind really kicked in just in time before HW. Sadly the bumps were tiny as the tide was really slacking off by the time the wind came in. Still got lots of foil time but my runs were limited mostly by my lack of aerobic fitness. I still managed to beat my run time and time on foil so can’t wait for better conditions on this run.

Today’s run in Torbay was great to try as it’s a new one for me. Sadly there was a random NNE long period swell rolling in which spoiled the NNW wind bumps which were great. Lots of wind in the bay and a pretty straight run down to Broadsands beach from Torre Abbey. I had a few decent runs but very hard to paddle up in the crossed up conditions and even harder to read the bumps once flying. At my beginner level it feels like #downwindfoiling is super condition dependent, making the difference between a great run and a slog fest. All good for the fitness and muscle memory bank though :)
Thanks to wingman @remipickett for the company and the shuttle logistics. by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

The first of two Teign #supdownwind runs this week on Tuesday and Weds. Wind was only around 10-15kts but bang W which made for organised bumps not quite as good as the last run I posted conditions wise. Probably smaller neap tides meaning less spiky bumps.

Pleased to get a few 150m rides again in sub optimal wind and a similar overall distance on foil albeit in more chunks.

Today’s run was windier around 20kts but NW direction actually made it harder than yesterday. Bumps were still heading pretty much W. I’m naturally turning hard left once I’ve paddled up (I’m regular) and it was taking me into wind slightly. But I still got plenty of paddle ups and shorter glides with some paddle pumping. Wind direction vs bumps definitely matters..

Although this was all relatively tame compared to the Stoke Bay to Mothecombe run I did on Tuesday after the first Teign run. Head high rolling swell and around 20-25kt winds dead W. After paddling up the next @sabfoil size down (Leviathan 1150) the day before I was feeling confident. 🤦

I found it very difficult on the @sabfoil 1150 at my level and those conditions. Spent most of the time trying to balance and get composed to put power down and managed one take off that I couldn’t convert into a glide as the next trough gobbled me up. #humbled Definitely not a beginner run in those conditions and thankful I had @reactive_watersports Dave to keep an eye on me 🙏

The good things about the Mothecombe run are the launch and landing were free of shore dump and once you’ve paddled out from Stoke Bay it’s a pretty straight run all the way.

I could see it being better for me if I was out earlier before the wind had time to generate too big a swell and maybe slightly less wind. 1h 20m of paddling mostly on my knees… #fitnessgoals 😂

So far I’ve had 0.5ft bumps @2s or 6ft bumps @5s. Feels like some 2ft @3s would be ideal for my level right now. @genericfoilingpodcast makes #hoodriveroregon look ideal! taken in River Teign by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Finally starting to get the hang of this #downwindfoil Was hungover this morning but glad I dragged myself out of bed - rewarded with the best wind vs tide bumps yet. 🌊

I can really recommend this safe and easy run from @thecoombecellars to Polly Steps slipway for beginners a couple of hours before HW in a W.

Need a big slow foil to match the slow river bumps. I was on a #sabfoil #leviathan1350 Starting to understand clean vs messy bumps make all the difference. Wind was around 15kts and the bumps were only around 1ft.

Really enjoying using @waterspeedapp in downwind mode to track my foiling flights. Got a couple of flights over 250m today. Gone from 400m total foiling time on Tuesday to 1km today on this 4km run.

Looking forward to the next one! 💪🏿😃 taken in River Teign by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Had a great time yesterday with @ianpopsup and @dansouthcombe making the most of small summer waves with @foildrive. by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Great day yesterday on the @foildrive with @ianpopsup riding and me filming on the drone. Is this the most fun you can have in 2ft swell ? by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Awesome time #winging with @remipickett in Medano. Great apartment courtesy of Maria and @hill.ewan. Sunset beers at @rocknhopz and best burgers ever at @madremiamedano. South swell and tides made for some interesting conditions 🌊 and always nice to see the locals @colin_dixonk99 @windsurferzara @windsurferpete Can’t wait for the next one… taken in El Medano Tenerife by @thorneneil

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2 years ago

Unforgettable trip to Boa with @edgewatersportsuk organised by @guy_bridge @clamp_ @stephbridgekite
Amazing conditions and great follow cam skills from @guy_bridge party wave with @tom_winterton 🥳🌊 by @thorneneil

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3 years ago

This is hard #flatwaterpaddleups #learningtodownwindpaddlefoil by @thorneneil

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3 years ago

Fun #wingsurf #downwinder from #edgewatersportsuk to #sidmouth by @thorneneil

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3 years ago