May 1: The Wind was Supposed to Hit… — A Day of Dodging Massive Waves

May 1st. Day 3 of Golden Week. It was pouring rain all morning. But according to the forecast, the moment the rain stopped in the afternoon— A south wind of 6–8m/s was supposed to just blow up out of nowhere. "This is it. It’s gonna be epic." Totally convinced, I timed it perfectly with the clearing weather and headed straight to Enoshima.

Forecast vs. Reality

Got there around 1:00 PM. But the ocean was... Basically dead calm. Zero wind. Still, something was totally different today. The waves. They were massive. Even though the south wind hadn't even started blowing yet, these crazy-sized swells were already rolling in. I’d never seen anything like it here. Plus, they were breaking hard way out offshore. Surfers were crowding spots they usually never even go to. "Whoa... this is insane," I thought. But at the same time, a bit of anxiety crept in: "Wait, can I even get out there in this...?"

Playing the Waiting Game

The forecast said the wind would spike any minute. So for today, I geared up with a slightly smaller 5m² wing. Got my setup ready and headed to the launch area. But yep, still no wind. The waves, though? Perfect. So I made a quick executive decision: "While I’m waiting for the wind, I'll just go out on the SUP."

Heavy Swell SUP & Brand New Vibes

I paddled out on my SUP, but man, it was no joke. The waves were so big that I kept getting pushed back over and over before I could even clear the inside. But I managed to fight my way out offshore. And what I saw out there was... Massive, 2-to-3-meter class swells. Super long periods, just huge, slow-moving walls of pure energy. "If I could catch this on a wingfoil... it would be an absolute dream." A vivid picture of my future riding these waves flashed through my mind.

SUP Surfing: Pure Good Times

Once I got used to the rhythm, I tried catching some waves. And honestly? It was the best decision.

• Super long rides
• Carving left and right
• Working on my line-reading Because the waves were so big, I could ride them forever. "This is such good practice." Seriously, I had a blast.

Things Get Heavy

But as time went on, the waves got even bigger. On top of that, the shape started closing out and getting messy. The difficulty level instantly shot through the roof. "Okay, this is getting sketchy." I headed back to the beach for a bit.

Waiting, and Waiting...

One windsurfer launched and headed out. I kept my eyes glued to him, watching his movement. But... His sail was completely V-shaped. Translation: basically zero wind. 30 minutes passed. An hour passed... I waited and waited, but nothing changed. Before I knew it, it was 4:00 PM.

Only the Waves Kept Growing

No wind at all, yet the waves just kept getting bigger and wilder. This is where I had to be real with myself and think:

• Can I even launch in these waves?
• Can I punch through this shorebreak while carrying a hydrofoil (which is basically a giant blade)?
• What's the worst-case scenario if I wipe out? The answer was crystal clear. "This is not a situation where I should be pushing my luck."

The Final Call

I tried paddling out on the SUP one more time just to see. But I got absolutely slammed and pushed back 10, 20 times. "Yeah, even SUP is a no-go now." Which meant wingfoiling would be a straight-up suicide mission. I called it a day. It was 4:30 PM.

The Ultimate Irony

Right after I finished changing into my normal clothes, I looked out at the ocean. ...And of course, it was blowing. Like, a solid 7–8m/s. The windsurf wave-riders were out there absolutely shredding, having the time of their lives. "Are you kidding me? NOW it blows?" I couldn't help but laugh at the irony. But at the same time, I realized something: You need that exact wind to even clear those massive waves in the first place. My decision to call it earlier was 100% the right move.

What Today Realized

In the end, I couldn't get any wingfoiling in today. Honestly, it sucks. I'm bummed. But...

• Gained experience on a SUP in heavy swells
• Got some great long-ride practice
• Got a clear vision of my future wave-riding goals
• Sharpened my risk-assessment skills I actually walked away with a lot.

Onto the Next One

Golden Week isn't over yet. Still got 1 or maybe 2 more sessions left in this holiday. The perfect window will come. I just have to stay ready. Today, the stars didn't quite align. But— Every single wave today was a stepping stone for the next session. We keep moving!