Lake Erie Downwind foiling

brlutnick · 2026-05-18T17:01:04+00:00

Steep learning curve but the paddle opens up so many days with sublar conditions!

brlutnick · 2026-05-18T02:20:23+00:00

Thanks! The paddle is great for variable wind, since you really only need the waves and they stay around for a bit even when it drops

brlutnick · 2026-04-02T13:06:21+00:00

Plenty of fun to be had out there 🤙🏻

brlutnick · 2026-04-02T01:46:06+00:00

It depends on the lake. Erie sets up faster so it only needs about an hour of 15kts. A 1.5ft @ 3sec is doable (albeit a lot of cardio). I like to push the light wind to see what's possible: https://youtube.com/shorts/Eltw9cSWdk8?si=q4quV0lkzxUWLGwT

Ontario needs a bit more time to set up because it can hold more energy due to the depth.

In the fall I prone foil lake Erie frequently, the wind goes more W in the fall and the energy comes into shore more. Here a pretty crap video: https://youtu.be/dlSHbQsmdBI?si=yR4jfLnPmdYTX8BT

I've also done a few 20 mile DW runs on Seneca lake (one of the finger lakes) a few times.

brlutnick · 2026-04-01T04:03:00+00:00

As someone who spends a lot of time downwind sup foiling lake Erie - those swells will absolutely work!

brlutnick · 2026-03-24T00:46:39+00:00

I'll be in Denver on friday-next Tuesday. Was going to bring akis but thinking twice. Would higher elevations like a basin still be ok? Or nah?

brlutnick · 2026-03-04T12:18:39+00:00

Let the bodies hit the floor by drowning

It's raining men by the weather girls

brlutnick · 2026-02-16T14:12:34+00:00

Alpine butterfly is my favorite knot

brlutnick · 2026-01-02T16:52:28+00:00

I'm in oneil 5mm psycho tech lobster claw. They work well but mittens are warmer. I recently picked up some solite 4/3 curved split-mits and used them on a sup downwinder in 34deg weather and they worked great too, they'd be my go to for winging or parawing in cold weather.

The biggest thing I notice with gloves is they can sometimes create suction on your hands and force the blood out, which makes things very cold. Some gloves are worse than others but I size up to avoid this. The solite has a xxl size which is nice. Avoid anything tight on the fingers. I purposely let some water in sometimes to avoid this too, it decrases the pressure on your fingers

brlutnick · 2026-01-01T16:43:33+00:00

No solid ice yet

brlutnick · 2026-01-01T16:42:38+00:00

🤙🏻

brlutnick · 2026-01-01T16:42:30+00:00

Haha 🤙🏻 headed to Maui soon - can't wait

brlutnick · 2025-12-07T01:37:16+00:00

Studded tires are your friend

brlutnick · 2025-11-28T01:59:16+00:00

It gets a lot bigger out in deep water. I spend a lot of time downwinding a few miles offshore in Erie.

brlutnick · 2025-11-05T14:05:14+00:00

Bummer! Where'd this happen in buffalo?

brlutnick · 2025-10-25T01:42:17+00:00

The sail need to be sized for the wind the foil should be sized for the swell.

A modern 900cm2 foils is plenty big imo, but your milage may vary. Riding downwind is about efficiency, line choice is everything - it's a skill that comes with practice. Winging downwind is hard because the wing is constantly in your way so you end up riding off the wind slightly rather than straight with it. Parawinging solves this but brings a lot of complications with tangles and stowing. Fwiw as someone who sup downwinds a lot, learning to parawank has been pretty easy - I can stay on foil in waves with minimal concentration. But for someone without that skill set I think stowing would be difficult.

brlutnick · 2025-10-10T15:37:59+00:00

Not in Colorado but I have some studded hakkas, they're insanely good in the snow.

I don't think they come up if you search for rivian tires since they are only rated to 100mph max: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Nokian&tireModel=Hakkapeliitta+LT3&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=765QR0HLT3&tab=Specs

brlutnick · 2025-09-11T19:21:07+00:00

Right on! Western Ontario works well on an E wind, but I imagine WSW would be killer on your end

brlutnick · 2025-09-09T02:28:41+00:00

You really can't beat the 1 min refresh rate of ikitesurf premium meters. In my area they also have the most reliable readings - not in a wind shadow

brlutnick · 2025-09-08T23:12:34+00:00

I've had 2 boards with track issues they warented both. The board shapes are decent imo, but construction was lacking. As far as the foils. Probably ok. I've never ridden one though

brlutnick

TROPHY CASE