March 21 — A Light Wind Day, But the Foundation Got Stronger

Saturday, March 21. I was supposed to have a lesson with my instructor today.

The forecast looked weak, and my instructor even suggested switching to Sunday:
"Tomorrow looks a bit better," they said.
But family stuff was already booked for Sunday, so I had to pass.

"I’m sticking with Saturday," I decided.

The forecast said 4–5 m/s. For where I’m at right now—working on pumping a 6㎡ wing to get on foil and stay there—that should’ve been enough. "I can make this work," I thought, and made the drive from Saitama to Enoshima.

The classic "Forecast Fail" I got there, and... yep. Same old story.
It was dead. Felt like 1–2 m/s, maybe 3 m/s on a lucky gust.

My instructor called it immediately: "It’s gonna be tough to do a lesson today.

" The way we do lessons is cool—my instructor foils around me and gives real-time coaching over the radio.

But that only works if they can get on foil, too. So, today became a solo practice day.

The 30-minute pre-game struggle Even for a solo session, the setup is a whole workout.

• Assembling the foil wings
• Mounting it to the board
• Picking the right wing
• Pumping it up
• Life vest, leash, helmet
• Water, towel... the list goes on.

It takes about 30 minutes just to get ready. Plus, the weather’s getting nicer, so Enoshima was packed with tourists. Navigating through the crowds with all that gear is a mental game in itself. Finally, I hit the water.

Reality check: Light air The water was like glass. The wind was barely 2 m/s. In these conditions, a 6㎡ wing feels like lead. Unlike windsurfing where the mast holds the weight, with winging, it’s all on your arms. "This is gonna hurt," I thought. But I came here to work, so I pushed through.

Focusing on the pump It wasn't a total "no-wind" situation, so I could at least cruise. I decided to pivot my mindset: today was strictly for pumping practice. I went through my mental checklist:

• Make sure the wing is pumped to the right PSI.
• Stay centered on the board.
• Don’t lean the body too far.

One by one, I dialed them in. Even without the lift, my movements felt way cleaner. "If the wind picks up just a bit, I’m definitely flying," I could feel it.

The "Lefty vs. Righty" problem I did notice something new today: my sides are definitely not equal. On my starboard tack, everything feels locked in. But on the other side? Something’s off.

• Is it my hand placement?
• My footwork?
• How I’m hitting the chop? I couldn’t pinpoint it, but there’s a clear gap. I have a feeling this subtle imbalance is what's keeping me from sustained flight.

What a "No-Fly Day" actually means In the end, I didn’t get on foil once today. Last time I was flying, today I was stuck on the surface. Zero flight time. It’s a little frustrating, honestly. But looking at it rationally, it makes sense. There just wasn't enough wind. What matters is what I did get done:

• Sharper pumping technique.
• Double-checking the fundamentals.
• Spotting that left-right imbalance.

It wasn't a "flashy" day, but it was a solid one.

Moving forward On the days where it feels like you didn't "achieve" much, that’s usually when you’re building the foundation for the next big jump. Give me just 1 or 2 more meters of wind... And I’m up. No doubt about it. I’m ready. Fingers crossed for a good breeze next week. It was a quiet day on the water, but piece by piece, I’m putting it all together.