4.5M BRM Pai'a feedback.
Ok, so second session in the bumps with the 4.5M Paia with a 2.4Knt ebb running around a corner into 20-28 mph and it was absolutely amazing. No drama getting on foil (55L 880 foil at 67kgs plus gear). Super easy. Started on a 4M Kanaha, then 4.5 Paia, then 3.2 Kanaha then back to the 4.5 paia. The amount of ground gained upwind and the ease of that gain was very noticeable. Just way more chill and efficient.
I blasted up wind for 11 minutes and earned a mile long six minute blissful DW run in groomed, yet dynamic shoulder high swell. It's nice to get a taste of the gorge over here on the East Coast Of the US. The Chesapeake Bay is definitely holding.
I was able to stow the wing in the ozone belt pretty well, although it wasn't Velcro'd shut most of the time. I repeated the same run four times and left with a huge grin. In conditions like this, you can just feel your skill leveling up. Personal bests for me DW distance wise and turn wise, As I don't do shuttle runs and the single skins typically have me going half the distance upwind.
I'm definitely a convert to the Pai'a After today's session. It definitely has a place in my quiver. If anyone's on the fence about buying one, do it, Especially if you can find one used And you have condition conditions that make it worthwhile.
One main drawback is if you get it wet and then go to Stow it shortly thereafter, it can feel like you have a load in your pants. Best to keep it dry!
Here's tracks for two of the runs. I don't switch stances.
My experience on the 4.5m paia (only 3 sessions so far, and unfortunately the season is about over here) is similar. When it's good, it's GREAT. Over 20 knots and it's a dream to ride because it absolutely slices upwind. In the sweet spot at ~22-27 knots it's a real weapon. I was easily dusting folks on single skin BRMs and Ozones and others on inflatables on upwind legs. I inadvertently caused a guy on an inflatable to crash because I surprised him so much cutting upwind in front of him (sorry!). Stowing is obviously way more of a bear compared to 2.9m maliko v1 I'd be riding in those conditions but I didn't find it to be too much of a downside to detract from the upside. Bar pressure is good and much lighter than a single skin. I rode my first session in 24-29knots with no harness and it was doable for about an hour before I got fatigued. I chalk the fatigue up to being out of shape from only riding single skins with harness lines all season and not touching my inflatables at all. With more consistent sessions I'm confident I could build back that grip strength.
The MAJOR issue with the paia is that is it completely gutless on the low-end, and the falloff is incredibly abrupt. 18-20 knots is very marginal for me. The wing becomes pretty technical to fly and gybe and punishes you for small mistakes. This can be fixed with more skill. However, below 18 knots, it completely gives up and has no power at all. With a lot of work you can limp back to shore without dropping the wing into the water, but getting back on foil is not going to happen.
I am going to keep mine, but it's definitely not a full season daily driver for me. I won't be giving up my single skins and will probably still end up upgrading my 2.9m BRM v1 to a v2 next season. I have no interest in getting the next size up paia because the 4.5m is already more fabric than I really care to deal with.
I had another great Paia day that started with the 3.1M and 4.5 in a waterproof backpack. Wind was in the 20-30 knt range and gusty. The 3.1 was surprisingly easy to get on foil, but the wind was honking. Swell was definitely up and a few relaunches with my semi sinker were challenging but totally doable with the help of the swell. Later on I swapped to the 4.5 when the wind dropped just outside the 3.1 range. It was game on again from there.
I really like this combo for sessions when I look upwind and see whitecaps for days. Gets me upwind quick and I ha a fallback in case the wind drops below the 3.1s range. For reference my buddy was winging a 3.5M and he said he was overpowered at times going upwind, but he was crushing it from my perspective.
I'm getting really efficient at getting back on foil after losing lift or a fall. Detangling a hasty stash isn't as bothersome as it used to be. A few moments to relax after a leg burning adrenaline spiked ride is not a bad thing!
My GPS said my fastest speed of the session was during a depower/pack up bombing into a set. Thankfully my muscle memory for the pack down has taken over, so I didn't yardage into oblivion. 
Only con was both sizes had one moment where they half depowered and re-engaged rather violently in the gusty conditions. Harness line was engaged and really helped save my shoulders. I'm not sure what caused it, may have been during a gybe and my wind shadow caused the turbulence.
I grabbed the 6.1m and it has the same basic range as my 4.2m Flow for my weight (110kg). I am getting up around 17/18knots and once up, can ride lower wind speeds. My comfortable range is 17 to 25 knots. I have now ridden about 100km.
I have found bearing slighly downwind makes it pretty easy to get good forward speed allowing a popup. I bounce the board for both forward speed and relesse
The handle is tiny in both diameter and length, but I had no issues riding one handed or two handed.
Gybing is super easy (the best I have experienced).
The paia handles gusts really well and is controllable in bigger overpowered gusts.
I am thinking I might be able to get away with the 6.1m and a future 4.2m.
