Power Kite Forum - What did you do with your kite today?

What did you do with your kite today?

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Windstruck - 11-6-2017 at 05:11 AM

Got my first buggy riding in since IBX2017 yesterday! Woody, his son Jack, and I met for several fantastic hours of beach riding down on the shore of the Great Salt Lake. Great company and great riding Three firsts; first time beach riding (blast), first time using my new GPS (18.79 miles covered with a max speed of 25.7 mph), and first time flying my 7.5m LS3. Beach was pretty bumpy in places and I thought I might rattle a couple of fillings loose but luckily they all stayed in. Place is huge. I turned around after going straight for over a mile and I had only scratched the surface.

Speed was pretty tame. Early in the session winds were extremely light (sub 10) and I had my 12m P3 in the air. It sits deep in the wind window and speeds were limited due to side pull in the somewhat soft sand. Later as the winds built and I had the smaller kite up I was able to get moving better. I pussed out with putting the 7.5m in the air. Should have had the 9.5 up. Woody was sailing along with his 9m Chrono and hit a top speed around 39.

Great time had by all! The kicker was we met another kite buggy rider. Hopefully we'll cross paths again.

hiaguy - 11-6-2017 at 03:09 PM

Hey Ed, I don't know what you were doing in my mother-in-laws house, but it worked! (That looks like the dresser in her guest bedroom. :o )

Had lumpy/gusty wind today - 5mph gusting to 14mph - but its the best I've had without rain since the end of April. Threw the buggy and a bunch of kites into the car - at my park, I never know what's gonna work.

The grass has only been cut once this year, and only part of the park at that; half of the field was about 4 inches high, the rest almost a foot.
Tried the 9m Lynx - nope. That kite HATES lumpy wind; continual collapsing and snapping open - no fun at all. Took out the 11m - oops, the bar/lines were on my 15m; spent the next hour undoing, untangling, and switching them over. (It was so easy last time... thanks for the help Craig.)

Wound up doing 5 miles with a top end of 23.9mph - not bad considering the longest run (between the long grass and the trees) was 120 yards. In total, 75 turns.

With the gusts picking up I spent another hour of Rev and 2m flying in gusts peaking at 25mph. All in all, a great couple of hours of play time. :wee:
And, my kids? They were at the mall. :no:

Unk - 11-6-2017 at 11:52 PM

Ohh we got the wind over the weekend

Its a pity the rain was going side ways as well :barf: we would have 45min clear blue sky followed by torrential downpours, just not worth the effort.

abkayak - 12-6-2017 at 04:37 AM

i had 20mph dead onshore sat....
same on sunday but i passed to attend to some other matters
y'all need to move

Tumbleweed?

locomote - 12-6-2017 at 09:24 AM

Tumbleweed?

locomote - 12-6-2017 at 09:29 AM

Sorry guys, forum not allowing my posts to submit correctly. Cant get a title and text to jive in the same post.

Ed Cline - 13-6-2017 at 11:20 AM

Huh. Well I asked for good kite buggy weather, thanks Holy Mom. Next time I'll be more specific. Hiaguy tell your Mom in law I said Hey! We have the same decorator. :D

Another donation from an angry bumblebee flyer. Don't know when?
http://youtu.be/2psLzJTlpAg Solivers, Winstrucks, and my 5.5

Need new focus

Suds after thuds - 17-6-2017 at 03:23 PM

Bladerunner - 18-6-2017 at 07:22 PM

I had a most unusual day yesterday. The wind was almost imperceptible most of the time. Not even the single line kites could fly and so the usually busy park was empty on a Saturday. I decided to take my Speed out of the bag simply to exercise the zippers. It still had sand in it from last fall's SOBB. The wind was so low I didn't think I got much air in it at all after about 10 minutes of trying. I decided to go to the bar and try to force some air in from there. On the second pull it popped right up and seemed to fill faster than ever?

They have modified our park and now we have an open run from East to West for almost 1/2 kilometer! I had room to run on apparent wind and an empty park to allow me use of such a big kite for the 1st time EVER locally! I am sure I was running on nothing but apparent wind at times. At least at ground level the grass and leaves were not moving. Had many runs in that I hit low 20's when a breeze came up. Fast for our bumpy park.

I know my gear is getting old but I almost never get to use some of my kites and they all continue to impress me when they come out. On days like today, I ask myself why I need to worry about looking for another session saver. I am still in awe of the beauty of the Silver Arrow every time I get to fly it. The fact it is so huge and I am so little with a light buggy makes even mowing the lawn with it exciting when you have room to make it run.
:wee:

Windstruck - 19-6-2017 at 04:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner

I had a most unusual day yesterday. The wind was almost imperceptible most of the time. Not even the single line kites could fly and so the usually busy park was empty on a Saturday. I decided to take my Speed out of the bag simply to exercise the zippers. It still had sand in it from last fall's SOBB. The wind was so low I didn't think I got much air in it at all after about 10 minutes of trying. I decided to go to the bar and try to force some air in from there. On the second pull it popped right up and seemed to fill faster than ever?

They have modified our park and now we have an open run from East to West for almost 1/2 kilometer! I had room to run on apparent wind and an empty park to allow me use of such a big kite for the 1st time EVER locally! I am sure I was running on nothing but apparent wind at times. At least at ground level the grass and leaves were not moving. Had many runs in that I hit low 20's when a breeze came up. Fast for our bumpy park.

I know my gear is getting old but I almost never get to use some of my kites and they all continue to impress me when they come out. On days like today, I ask myself why I need to worry about looking for another session saver. I am still in awe of the beauty of the Silver Arrow every time I get to fly it. The fact it is so huge and I am so little with a light buggy makes even mowing the lawn with it exciting when you have room to make it run.
:wee:

Great tale Ken(2)! It was a nice start to the morning in the whee light to read of your Silver Arrow thrill ride. Go get 'em! :karate:

adambweird - 20-6-2017 at 05:02 PM

Got my venom out for the first time today... reaaly dont.care for the fleifoil setup it cam with, but its gonna have to do for a while. Took an hour to finally get it off the ground, but only made it halfway to the zenith before i got drug across the ground, at least the safety on the bar works great, lol. Yes, i rode the edge of the widow on the way up and wind was 10-14 mph.

Bladerunner - 20-6-2017 at 06:42 PM

I am guessing you didn't get it filled enough? It also sound like your back lines on your bar may be tight? Trim strap mostly depowered? ( pulled in )

The arc should go to zenith and sit there. If it was struggling to get to zenith one of those 2 is likely. The back lines should go slack when you depower and push the bar out.

Don't be too discouraged. Ground handling is a gained skill. It will go better next time.

adambweird - 21-6-2017 at 01:54 AM

I had it filled up pretty good and yes, the trim strap was pulled all in. The bulk of my stuggle was just getting it off the ground without creating a folded and twisted mess, lol. First time arc flyer, lol.

Unk - 21-6-2017 at 02:47 AM

Ground handling on an arc :mad:

As a new arc user I feel your pain, but everyone has convinced me its just a practice thing so its a good job I am pig headed enough not to let it beat me :thumbup:

It all looks so simple in the manual LOL

ssayre - 21-6-2017 at 06:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by adambweird

I had it filled up pretty good and yes, the trim strap was pulled all in. The bulk of my stuggle was just getting it off the ground without creating a folded and twisted mess, lol. First time arc flyer, lol.

You have to fight the tendency to pull the bar in when launching if that's what you did to get dragged.

Also, I notice your in ohio. not exactly beach wind I'm guessing. When launching, reach out and give the front lines a tug or 2 while walking backwards if in lightish inconsistent winds while steering to keep it from the edge. Once up, it should fly fine in that wind as long as you don't overfly the edge of the window and keep it moving some. Pretty cool kite, always a show stopper flying static at the local park. Especially in the midwest where no-one sees kites.

adambweird - 21-6-2017 at 09:14 AM

I generally launch with my hand behind the bar when pulling on the power lines so it stays out. I live about 10 miles from lake erie, but the beaches we have are small and mostly private. But theres lots of open farm land around the spots i fly at so that helps a little bit, lol.

Bladerunner - 21-6-2017 at 03:51 PM

Here are things I do:

I make sure I have a pretty good pre-fill. I think the Venom still opened only in the middle? If so, I fill the bottom and close the zipper. Roll the air upwind and then then keep filling the bottom again.

I fold the bottom up a bit and put my weight as close the flopping off as wind will permit. I fold the top tip over and push a bit of air back downwind so it stays fold. ( newer arcs have handy tabs to help. ) I run my upwind lines down to the bottom of the kite. The amount of wind sort of dictates the angle I launch from. Lower the wind the lower the angle.

I walk back slowly until the lines are influenced. I then grab my front lines just below my ( depowered ) trim strap. I give a bit of an aggressive tug on the front line and take a small step back. THE KEY IS TO GET THE DOWN WIND TIP UP CATCHING AIR. If my tip didn't flip and start right I can hopeful stop and reset it before it has slipped my weight. If the tip has flipped and will catch air I continue with front line pull as it slips into shape.

If wind is strong I have to be aware it may overfly and be hard on the bar ( back lines ). If wind is light I keep holding the front lines and run upwind if need be to force fill.

If I have launched and can tell I am short on fill I often let it sit back down. Far better than trying to deal with an underinflated kite overhead. I the give it a good tug and drop again. Then revert to running like Forest Gump to top it off.

Another method that may work for you is the Clam. Fold the kite on itself. Tips upwind. Lightly weight close to the top if you need one at all. Walk almost 90' to the kite and aggressively tug the front lines. The kite should spin toward you with the nose into the wind. The bit of weight hopefully falls off and the kite should open. This is also how to re-launch.

adambweird - 21-6-2017 at 04:43 PM

Thanks for the tips, ill give em a try the next time wind and time allows.

riffclown - 24-6-2017 at 12:23 PM

Finished Construction on my latest stunt quad.. Believe it or not, every kite in the picture is made from Gomberg/G-Kites Kite Tails.

Randy - 24-6-2017 at 02:29 PM

Cool! Nice job riff.

I'm always a day late. Yesterday I had my best day yet on my kiteboat and probably best day on the water with a kite! All thanks to Cindy. Unfortunately, one of my worst days with the action cams, so not much to show for it.

IndestructibleYoungMan - 28-6-2017 at 08:04 PM

I took my 3.1 prism and trampa to Cape Canaveral beach this past Sunday. It was just after low-tide and the wind was mostly on-shore about 15mph.

I had an absolute blast! Best kiting day I have had since JIBE. The beach was pretty empty and I was able to pour on the speed and must have hit 20mph. :o I don't know how the rest of you guys have hit 30-40 mph... 20 felt terrifying!

I was able to practice tacking again, and made a lot of progress. I had roughly a mile all to myself and tacked all the way back to where I had started after my first run. No more walks-of-shame for me. :D On my second run the beach was more crowded after turning around and I had to walk to avoid upsetting mothers with their children.

Although I love the direct-drive feel I can't believe how exhausted I get after just a few miles back and fourth using a FB. My forearms were killing me afterwards. I can't wait until I can afford a depower + harness. Hopefully before the end of the year.

Windstruck - 29-6-2017 at 05:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by IndestructibleYoungMan

I took my 3.1 prism and trampa to Cape Canaveral beach this past Sunday. It was just after low-tide and the wind was mostly on-shore about 15mph.

I had an absolute blast! Best kiting day I have had since JIBE. The beach was pretty empty and I was able to pour on the speed and must have hit 20mph. :o I don't know how the rest of you guys have hit 30-40 mph... 20 felt terrifying!

I was able to practice tacking again, and made a lot of progress. I had roughly a mile all to myself and tacked all the way back to where I had started after my first run. No more walks-of-shame for me. :D On my second run the beach was more crowded after turning around and I had to walk to avoid upsetting mothers with their children.

Although I love the direct-drive feel I can't believe how exhausted I get after just a few miles back and fourth using a FB. My forearms were killing me afterwards. I can't wait until I can afford a depower + harness. Hopefully before the end of the year.

Really great to read about your journey and that you made it to JIBE. Great advice BTW in the other thread to slow down a bit. Don't feel wimpy, riding a board on a beach at 20 mph while holding onto a 3.1 Tensor barehanded is pretty studly. There are of course board riders going over 40 mph, but I suspect 40+ is more common in buggies or skiing on Hardwater. I like how you lead off in your quiver list with a helmet. The way you're proceeding gives me renewed hope that you may eventually get as old as most of us on here.

abkayak - 29-6-2017 at 08:19 AM

IYM...time to hook in, get a harness
I got 3 of the last 4 days of onshores on the landboard...its nice to be back standing w/ a kite
i have 4 more days of onshores in the forcast and will be getting them all :thumbup:

hiaguy - 29-6-2017 at 09:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

i have 4 more days of onshores in the forcast and will be getting them all :thumbup:

:flaming:Am I the only one here that hates this guy? :smilegrin:

abkayak - 29-6-2017 at 10:37 AM

Quote: Originally posted by hiaguy

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

i have 4 more days of onshores in the forcast and will be getting them all :thumbup:

:flaming:Am I the only one here that hates this guy? :smilegrin:

many do...but none as much as you
move here...pblm solved:D

Windstruck - 29-6-2017 at 02:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by hiaguy

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

i have 4 more days of onshores in the forcast and will be getting them all :thumbup:

:flaming:Am I the only one here that hates this guy? :smilegrin:

Come on now Howard, don't be hatin'. He's represent'n, which is a hell of a lot more than I can say I've done as of late. One freakin' buggy session since IBX. :D

hiaguy - 29-6-2017 at 06:54 PM

Represent'n indeed. I keep threatening to drive down to join him, but life keeps getting in the way.

We've had lots of wind, but it's been accompanied by torrential rains all spring, followed by an occasionally sunny but calm day. And repeat the rain. Ines captured my weak efforts last weekend as I came out of a hub-deep puddle in our water-logged field.

102 days 'till WBB :wee:

Blitzhound - 2-7-2017 at 05:37 PM

Got to play with my Century's today. Started on a 6.0m finish on a 4.5m

Randy - 4-7-2017 at 03:41 PM

I experimented with a DIY Keystone Kitebar made from an old windsurfing boom tail piece and some other stuff I have around. This is sort of an unusual setup but I think I like it. The idea is to get some of the advantages of handles, with a bar. I used it with a couple of my 4 line kites, mainly my 2.5 M NPW 21. It turned out pretty well - it was pretty easy to get used to it. The biggest advantage is you can steer with the brake lines, instead of the usual bar set up where you steer with the wing. Also, it was fairly easy to use hooked in (which I have little experience with.) It is pretty intuitive to use. With my NPW's I usually use a 3 line setup, to provide for safety when I need it. However, with this you can control the brake tension, and instantly de-power and re-power the kite. Reverse launch is also much better than with my usual 3 line setup for an NPW.

This is a work in progress as I only had some videos like this to go on.

ColinW - 4-7-2017 at 05:44 PM

Interesting system!
I wonder: is this type of rig how some manage to fly 2 revolutions at once?

Randy - 4-7-2017 at 05:45 PM

Probably not. I think they just put them in a train like this.

ColinW - 4-7-2017 at 05:57 PM

Thought I'd heard of people flying 2 revs Independently ( notice the July 4 Reference....BAM!)
Now I'll have to spend the whole night googling instead of doing my corporate year end taxes. Thank you. No seriously, Thank you

riffclown - 4-7-2017 at 06:39 PM

I fly stacks a lot.. To my knowledge, I I think I'm the only person THROW LAUNCHING one though..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_PUhj79pEI

Flying two at the same time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EUXHUMlh4U

And a MAJOR Stack flying..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv04Iu56Ub4

Randy - 4-7-2017 at 07:48 PM

Impressive stuff their riffclown! I think you found what ColinW is thinking of. Unfortunately, now he has no excuses to not finish his taxes.

riffclown - 5-7-2017 at 11:46 AM

There are a few people that even fly 2 dual lines at once. They're controlling the third kite with their body position and a harness of some sort.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp-BloNvsME

Windstruck - 7-7-2017 at 02:00 PM

I got my new Sysmic rims in the mail today and had some 6-ply trailer tires mounted on them. Great thanks extended to Paul (Jeepersjoey) for walking me through the specifics of my purchases. I've got the exact same rims with BigFoot tires already. The BigFoots for the "beach" of the Great Salt Lake and the Trailer tires for the playa. :thumbup:

Paul had given me the good advice to have these bad boys professionally mounted and I'm glad I follow his lead. My local tire shop did it by hand and needed to use something called a "Bead Bazooka" (see below; it's really called that!) to get the tires to sit correctly on the rims. They are absolute beauties if I may say so myself! :D

In other kite related news, I called up Jeepersjoey this afternoon as I was pulling out of the tire shop to share the stoke about the new setup and to put some more cement in the foundation of our Ivanpah Thanksgiving trip. Whupp! I caught Paul wandering the isles of some super store in Minnesota where he was discovering things by the minute that he never knew he absolutely positively needed until he just laid eyes on them for the very first time. :lol:

Sorry, no actual kiting to report. Why should this week be any different?

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soliver - 7-7-2017 at 03:57 PM

Wow Steve, those look HEAVY!

Windstruck - 7-7-2017 at 04:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Wow Steve, those look HEAVY!

Just a touch short of a metric ton I believe. Remember, my heart is pure, so I have the strength of 10 men.

jimbocz - 8-7-2017 at 02:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by riffclown

I fly stacks a lot.. To my knowledge, I I think I'm the only person THROW LAUNCHING one though..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_PUhj79pEI

That's incredible! If I hadn't seen the video, I never would have believed it.

soliver - 8-7-2017 at 04:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Wow Steve, those look HEAVY!

Just a touch short of a metric ton I believe. Remember, my heart is pure, so I have the strength of 10 men.

Windstruck - 8-7-2017 at 04:58 AM

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Wow Steve, those look HEAVY!

Just a touch short of a metric ton I believe. Remember, my heart is pure, so I have the strength of 10 men.

All joking aside, while I don't welcome the weight when it comes to hauling the buggy in and out of the back of my SUV, I will welcome the weight on the playa. I've had more than a few times when I've lifted my upwind back wheel off the playa (usually during acceleration coming out of a turn, but not always) and it always gives me a jolt. Fortunately, my brain is just smart enough to send a correction signal to my feet to steer out of it, but it spooks me nonetheless. As such, I'll take every ounce of perimeter weighting I can get out there! :karate:

riffclown - 8-7-2017 at 09:49 AM

Quote: Originally posted by jimbocz

Quote: Originally posted by riffclown

I fly stacks a lot.. To my knowledge, I I think I'm the only person THROW LAUNCHING one though..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_PUhj79pEI

That's incredible! If I hadn't seen the video, I never would have believed it.

Thank You.. it's kind of my spotlight move. I experimented with stack line lengths quite a bit before I settled on this configuration.. I don't think I've ever seen anyone else do it proficiently either.. I've successfully launched a stack of 6 this way several times.
FWIW, Since I made the video and practiced it more, I've settled on a 4 stack for this since I can hit that >90% of the time.. While the launch is impressive the fails are kind of epic too and I'd prefer not to make those in the public's eye..

adambweird - 8-7-2017 at 04:45 PM

Got a refund for a buggy seat ive been waiting to recieve for 2 months so i ordered another complete wheel and spacers from Kent. Just need a front wheel and a seat and ill be able to start learning to buggy! I did get out a few days ago in some light wind and saw a lil action on my board with the Crossfire. Had to work it, but it was a good time, actually stayed on the thing the whole time for once, lol.

rtz - 11-7-2017 at 03:42 PM

Hot. No Wind. Time to prepare for the good weather. Been wanting to make up some side rails for a long time now.

Windstruck - 12-7-2017 at 08:41 AM

I'm on a family vacation at Mission Beach, CA (San Diego). Yesterday in the evening light (and on a far more empty beach than during the day) I was able to static fly my z-bridled 3.2m NS3 from handles. As an inlander it is a true treat to be able to sink my toes in the sand and arc a SS back and forth in impossibly steady breezes. No wind meter but if I had to guess I'd say it was 5 knots, gusting to 6. Under these sorts of conditions the NASA flies like it has a ghost rider on board. Everything just happens smoothly and in super slo-mo.

No it wasn't flying in my buggy at 50 mph with my sphincter in full clamp but it was a little bit of alright and I'll take it.

riffclown - 15-7-2017 at 05:35 PM

Finally got a chance to fly my homemades that hadn't flown yet. Like my other home mades, these are made from Gomberg Kite tails.

Randy - 15-7-2017 at 05:43 PM

Very cool riffclown! I'm impressed. I found stacking just two kites difficult.

As for me, I started building my kite today, but cutting out some templates......

riffclown - 15-7-2017 at 05:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Very cool riffclown! I'm impressed. I found stacking just two kites difficult.

As for me, I started building my kite today, but cutting out some templates......

Without knowing what kites you are stacking a few fundamental items come to mind. First, not all kites can stack well. Some designs just don't support stacking geometry well. The main trick for those that can stack is all the stack lines have to be exactly the same length so the sails are exactly parallel to each other and will fly as one... Same connection points on each sail and so forth. There are a few other tricks to it but get those two basics down and you are pretty well set.. And personally, 3 kites will stack easier than 2 for some reason...

IIRC, You're making the Firecrest 2 Foil right?? I've never made a soft kite.. One of those sounds like a great adventure..

Randy - 15-7-2017 at 07:01 PM

I finished the Firecrest quite some time ago. It took me over a month from start to finish. It has been quite useful thought with my Buggy, SUP and Kiteboat.

Here is my attempt at stacking with two single skin prototypes. Worked pretty well, but tiring to fly in much wind since they pull really hard.

riffclown - 15-7-2017 at 07:28 PM

VERY cool work.. Nice Job..

adambweird - 16-7-2017 at 07:04 PM

Randy and Riff, you guys make me insanley jelous of your talents!!

That said, did a lil static flying with my NS3 today on full lines in some 4-12 mph wind and got to try its depower bar out as a depower setup for the first time. Flew it unhooked with the saftey connected to a d ring on a web strap from my bowflex that i ran my belt through. Worked great once i had my stop on the 3rd line adjusted correctly for full flag out.

As a strictly inland flyer (the beaches near my part of Lake Erie are pathetically small so i avoid them at all costs) i still prefer my fixed bridles to my depowers... oddly enough i feel safer with FB than i do with depower...

Randy - 22-7-2017 at 11:22 AM

"Finished"* my kite today and decided to try to fly it. Drove to the launch and it started raining on the way. But the rain was pretty light and my kite is pretty much waterproof anyway, so I went the rest of the way. Got it up in the air and suddenly heard thunder. So it looks like it will fly, and the bridles looked ok. Since the sky was still fairly bright I packed it up and went to a store to kill some time hoping to come back and try again. By the time I was leaving there was a full blown thunderstorm so I headed home.....Well, there is always tomorrow. I will post a picture or something once I get a real chance to fly it.

* (Got it ready to fly, but there is always some bridle trimming, etc after its test flights.)

rtz - 23-7-2017 at 01:48 PM

Just had to get a set of tires blasted with the Cheetah myself. The tire guy was cussing. He got the third one seated on the first shot.

I had the tires stretched for 4 days with wood blocks. Tried a ratchet strap and bicycle inner tube. No luck. Off the wheel the tire would sit at rest 5 inches wide. Once on the wheel; the beads would want to go back together. Almost like they took a cold set straight from the factory.

Randy - 27-7-2017 at 02:34 PM

In the summer I sometimes spend time building single line kites. This one, the Peter Lynn Pilot kite flew right out of the box. As usual, I am a few days behind the actual event, but I did edit the picture today at least. This thing is more than 4M^2. Once there is enough wind to fly it, it has a lot of pull.

Was not really hard to build, though 8 foot long seams are a bit of challenge. This thing is really designed to lift big inflatables for kite festivals and the like. I should think of something to lift with it now.

Randy - 31-7-2017 at 04:42 AM

Finally got enough wind from a good direction to make some runs with my PL Monohull Kiteboat.

hiaguy - 31-7-2017 at 11:28 AM

I spent most of my morning re-building the AQR that was basically torn apart last WBB. No fault of the AQR: Jeff showed me where the weak points were designed/stitched into it so that there were "sequential safeties" (my word not his). The good news is that they worked and my butt stayed exactly where it was supposed to. Unfortunately, I had to re-stitch a new strap and throw in a new 'biner. I also decided to put a stiffer brace under the seat since the original was getting a little too flexible.

Then for good measure, I threw the barrows back on the buggy in hope that I'll have a decent day or two during what's left of the summer.

Then the wind picked up :-) Much like Adam last month, I finally got my new-to-me 13m Venom (thanks Scott) into the air yesterday and, in 5 gusting to 20, got in a couple of buggy miles.

Things learned:
- launching an arc is a bitc#
- 13m is a lot of ripstop to keep in the air with only 5mph breezes
- testing the safety results in a mess of inverted/twisted line that's easiest to sort out by disconnecting the lines
- bring a ground screw to anchor the kite to - the buggy isn't heavy enough
- ground handling an arc takes practice
- only pull the safety at the end of the day
- landing an arc is a bitc#

I can't wait to get out there again! :wee:

abkayak - 1-8-2017 at 08:37 AM

i'd write what i've been up to, but don't want to depress Howard any further

riffclown - 2-8-2017 at 10:16 AM

I unpacked my 3.5M Flexifoil Blurr from the Amazon Box.. :D

ssayre - 2-8-2017 at 12:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Finally got enough wind from a good direction to make some runs with my PL Monohull Kiteboat.

That's cool randy. have you thought about hooking the kite to the boat. or harness and lei maybe. That looks like a fun set up. I would be too lazy to hold the power with my arms.

Randy - 2-8-2017 at 02:12 PM

Thanks Sean. I am hooked into the kite in this case, and it is not very tiring. I've used some bigger NPW's w/o being hooked in and it didn't seem particularly tiring, though I was a little worried at times about OBE's (Out of Boat Experiences). Water OBE <Land OBE on the pain scale.

adambweird - 6-8-2017 at 10:45 AM

Didnt do any today, but got some runs in on my ATB with my ns3 on full lines yesterday. Could only go downwind with the space i had. Did have some fun though, put my ns3 on the street bar and got in my friends canoe and cruzed across her pond a few times, was quite fun!

Randy - 6-8-2017 at 11:35 AM

Flew static yesterday and did a lot of sewing yesterday and today.

Randy - 16-8-2017 at 04:55 PM

So a day behind as usual - rode kite boat yesterday and worked on my latest X kite

bobalooie57 - 20-8-2017 at 12:41 PM

Got about an hour static fly under my HQ 4.8M NPW5 in flukey (0-10mph) wind. First time since May or so. I had fun.

Randy - 20-8-2017 at 05:41 PM

More kiteboating (Friday, that is - I'm always behind schedule......)

Unk - 21-8-2017 at 01:55 AM

Watched it get trashed by a dog :mad:

adambweird - 24-8-2017 at 03:00 PM

Tried to get an ATB session in with my NS3 but the wind just straight DIED as soon as i stepped on my board, lol. Such is late summer life in Ohio, lol.

Randy - 24-8-2017 at 03:08 PM

Got my latest design to fly.

adambweird - 24-8-2017 at 05:36 PM

Nice! Video? or not quite ready to be shown to the world?

Randy - 24-8-2017 at 06:22 PM

Thanks for asking - it is real early in the game on this project. May have more before long.

adambweird - 25-8-2017 at 05:35 PM

Orderd the last bits i needed to finally have a complete kite buggy!

Windstruck - 26-8-2017 at 10:08 AM

I haven't been able to buggy in quite a while, but at long last this morning I took the time to put my second set of wheels on my ride. These are my wheels for Ivanpah, some 6-ply trailer tire beasts that should be able to withstand nuclear attack.

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Below is an older picture of my ride with my BigFoots, my preferred setup for the "beach" of the Great Salt Lake. Both sets of wheels have the exact same rims so I can use the same hardware for both and swapping between them is easy. Now I just need to find the time to actually ride!

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Randy - 26-8-2017 at 10:50 AM

Wow - impressive bug you have there Steve.

Been doing a lot lately. Flew static and kiteboat yesterday. Today, static.

Windstruck - 26-8-2017 at 11:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Wow - impressive bug you have there Steve.

Thanks Randy! Love the new Avatar pic BTW; instant classic!

As for my bug, it started as a lowly PL BigFoot+ bought on eBay out of Las Vegas for $500. Only original parts left on it are the front end, goose neck, and rear axle. Largest and best upgrade was a VTT seat and rail kit (thanks Van!); truly transformative. The Sysmic rims and tires take it a step farther (thanks Tami and Paul!), and the foot peg ends/heel straps take it the rest of the way (thanks John for the inspiration!). Harder to see in the photos but oh so important is a BigKid AQR (thanks Jeff!), a must in my post kite skating crash world. Oh yeah, must not forget the mounts for the water bottle, GPS, and phone (Thanks Paul!). Whupp! :karate:

Randy - 26-8-2017 at 11:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Oh yeah, must not forget the mounts for the water bottle, GPS, and phone (Thanks Paul!). Whupp! :karate:

Thanks. Just don't text and drive.

JimSSI - 28-8-2017 at 01:04 AM

Got my sweet new 4" Sysmic wheels, new seat (Thanks, Van!) tires mounted - by hand, what a beating. Heat gun and clamps widened the minibike fender to 10" width, attached mudflap to bottom.

Friday afternoon on JI, 12 kt E wind, steady, low tide 6 pm. Pulled three nine-mile round trips flying the 5.5 Reactor, averaged 20 mph. 38 mph max in the that run to the tower heading south. Man, I love dropping the hammer heading south towards the tower.

A total of six turns in 27 miles - ya gotta love it...Beach was wide open, clouding up. SO FEW PEOPLE - well, it did rain delay for thirty minutes. No real access point crowds to slow down for - a few walkers grinnin' and cheerin' and videoin'. Always rolling slow thru even the minimal access point clumpage, so to average 20 mph tells you how thin the crowds.

There's a new 'no dogs south of here sign' about 1/4 mile north of the tower. I'm guessing that's the real 'plover/turtle zone' line, so I'll start using THAT as the southern terminus. Park at the tower, and tow the bug up to the sign, why not. Only thing that would have improved the day would have been to have some of you maniacs along for the ride. Miss you guys!

Randy - 28-8-2017 at 04:05 PM

More kiteboating today. I'm getting better - having a lot wind doesn't hurt either. Still a long ways to go but I'm having fun.

Anthonyshopguy - 3-9-2017 at 11:34 AM

Went to lake Powell for the long weekend. Got up for almost a two hr session two evenings ago on my 15:D. It was magical with the lake Powell backgrounds. Still having problems figuring out up winds though. Using a 149 in light winds. At 225 lbs I think a bigger board would help any recommendations??

adambweird - 3-9-2017 at 03:14 PM

Flew my outlaw for a lil bit today, at least until i stepped on my board and the just DIED, lol. Now that im home grillin brats, guess what, WIND!! I think its time to add a gnat fart catcher tothe quiver for the low wind summer months, lol.

Windstruck - 3-9-2017 at 06:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by adambweird

I think its time to add a gnat fart catcher tothe quiver for the low wind summer months, lol.

12.5m Born LongStar2. Nuff said. :saint:

adambweird - 3-9-2017 at 06:50 PM

Thats kinda what i was thinking... or maybe a larger NS3... im waaay more comfy with fixed bridle, lol.

Randy - 4-9-2017 at 03:27 PM

I've wondered if the super-sized NPW kites would help much. By the time there is enough wind to fly do they become overpowered? Or become overpowered in the first small gust? What have others experienced?

Did fly static some today.

Windstruck - 5-9-2017 at 05:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

I've wondered if the super-sized NPW kites would help much. By the time there is enough wind to fly do they become overpowered? Or become overpowered in the first small gust? What have others experienced?

Did fly static some today.

I've owned, sold, or given away as gifts all of my former larger NS3. In janky winds the 10 and 12m NS3s can be a real challenge. As Randy speculated about, these kites have a fairly narrow band of winds where they are effective and safe. I've got a fair number of videos posted in the Born worship thread from the last couple of years that the truly interested could go back and take a look at. The 10 and 12m NS3s would be great choices for clean wind on the beach or playa but they stall and back fly a lot as they experience dips in wind strength below their optimum ranges. Above their optimum range? You've got a whole lot of ripstop up in the air with a fixed bridle system. Things can get a little bit, err, out of hand.

Bottom line, for a clean wind knat fart catcher the 10 or 12m NS3 will be completely serviceable, but for janky inland winds I for one would steer towards a 12.5m LS2 or a 12m Peak. That said I've watched Paul (Slapbasswoody) do wonderful work with a large cronos so clearly twin-skins are go-to as well.

Unk - 7-9-2017 at 10:20 PM

I took the 3mtr buster out for a trial fly after the repairs on it.
Fly's the same as previously so i'm one happy flyer :D

smiler8401 - 10-9-2017 at 10:28 AM

i had a change to fly my buddy peter lynn charger 2 10m2 recently at my local field . it under size for our average wind of the year .
but it could be few month high wind to fly it .
have to say it kind a bad purchase , but he snatch it for USD140 RTF for a super fresh kite and line , then i am really broke to be mine .
it were reluctant force sale by one australian kiter urgent return home .

i fly it back to back with Ozone manta 12m2 and LF elite 15m2 on landboard .
it bad comparison but we don't have other 10m foil size .

being in-land , it were shifty, gusty and on-ff . my guess more or less 3 to10 knt gust .
beside those ground handling , it really nice kite , a nice bar pressure and fast turning to make down loop . suprisingly the kite can fill-up in 6-7 knot wind and lift the ground and it light enough to pumping mid air when the wind drop .
Have to say it under power and need to working it to get going .
Eat gust just like that , when i have to deal overfly , stalling and bow tie for 12m and 15m kite .

there is video of it , can't go up-wind .
just cant wait to fly it in more stronger wind .

https://youtu.be/7Kvwt-CFDOc

bugymangp - 10-9-2017 at 01:53 PM

Today I flew my red white and blue 252 flow form single line for 9-11
Never forget

adambweird - 14-9-2017 at 10:16 AM

No flying as theres zero wind, but i did complete my buggy and made a few runs down the sledding hill at our local park to kinda dial in my seat, lol. Got some weird looks from people eating lunch and was asked by one if i was doing some next gen gravity racing, lol.

Gravityguy - 19-9-2017 at 10:59 AM

Not enough time lately to kite, so I took the dawn patrol opportunity today to get some buggy time in. Low tide, right wind and direct onshore, gray cooler foggy weather to drive most everyone else off the beach. Oh ya and it was my first opportunity to get out with my "New to me" Venom 10m I got from BlitzHound back in June! It has been a couple years since i flew a depower and first time with one in a buggy. The Venom is awesome! A couple of good hours on the beach!!!
Also I need to get/make a splash guard for the front wheel.

Ed Cline - 20-9-2017 at 07:24 AM

Ordered new clothes for my bug. I buy off the rack and on sale. My bug has a 250 quid tailor in Wales. No addiction here.

Randy - 20-9-2017 at 08:12 AM

Hey Ed, good to hear from you. Maybe the cooling season is about over?

Working on templates for my next kitexperiment.

Ed Cline - 20-9-2017 at 09:29 AM

Hey Randy, I can't speak about the 12.5 NASA, but when you stopped by with your 5m, I was flying the 10. It moves the bug when the 5 won't . Also, yes you slide when the wind puffs a little.
I'm comfortable enough with the 10 now to try a bigger one for summer next. Maybe I'll find one used , if not, I do like the DFO 7m I bought. Maybe I'll try the Dutch Flying Object. They will make you a thirty meter if you want it. I think they call it the Kevorkian. :P Not really, but I would have done.

adambweird - 22-9-2017 at 04:22 PM

Went for my very first buggy ride today!!! Wind was fairly light, not sure of exact speed as the battery died in my meter... could only go downwind while sining the daylights outta my Crossfire, but i did it! Got 3 600ft runs in before the wind said no more. Small victory and a step into a larger world!

JimSSI - 24-9-2017 at 04:16 AM

Cleaned the sand out of my ears, both Friday and Saturday night. Hurricane Irma report: SSI is improved, the dunes leveled, hard-pack (for now) from water to grass. About two feet higher sand level - the blue walkway mat is buried two feet. Gould's Inlet has some extra tidal pools and run off on the river side - makes the West->East runs, uh, interesting. JI is clean, some additional tide pools (for now), beach access points largely destroyed - so that's thinning the crowds nicely, especially from South Water Tower to Kite Beach, beach slightly wider (migration?). The north run, from Kite to Driftwood Beach is largely unchanged - two things: additional tidal pools and runoff channels (for now) - you will get wet. Second, the erosion up at Driftwood is noticeable - trees have moved, beach has narrowed significantly, again, migration. With JIBE still a few months away, not sure what y'all will see. I'll keep you posted.

Randy - 24-9-2017 at 04:37 AM

Thanks for the update. Could have been far, far worse.

Randy - 24-9-2017 at 11:59 AM

Rode the kiteboat again today. Sketchy wind, but tried to make the most of it.

adambweird - 24-9-2017 at 03:04 PM

Got out for a bug session today after the Browns game... 10mph wind but all i had was my Apex, was running late earlier and didnt have time to grab the Crossfire or Star (the ones i probably needed to have, lol). Did ok, i have problems keeping the kite in the sweet spots, but ill get there.

Randy - 8-10-2017 at 07:21 PM

As usual I'm way behind. Yesterday, I finished up a new 3.2 M kite, which I hope I can fly soon and at least put up some pictures.

We had several days with wind in a row a week ago which I took advantage of with my kite boat. I finally got a few videos done. Here's one. Others on my you tube page.

nate76 - 9-10-2017 at 07:33 PM

That kiteboating looks really fun, Randy.

Had my 1st snowkiting of the season today! A storm rolled through that put down just enough snow to make things do-able at the local soccer field. And my son snow-kited for the 1st time today, so it was a good day.

Supposed to be 65 degrees again by Wednesday - oh well, enjoy it while you can.

Randy - 10-10-2017 at 08:00 AM

Thanks nate76. It is fun but I've got a lot to learn.

Snow already! I'm amazed, but then I guess Colorado is a bit colder than Georgia.

Randy - 10-10-2017 at 05:00 PM

Finally had a few puffs of wind today, but enough to give my latest project a try. It flew, but until I get some real wind, can't say much more than that. But that is actually pretty important.

This one is 3.2 M and is a modification on another design (the Maeko on 2e5.com) which is a 4 line kite with limited bridles. I've built several versions of the Maeko, and I'm hoping this will be the best one. I've used the 2.25 M version I built to power my buggy and kite boat. This version should be more useful, given its great size and hopefully a bigger window. This type of kite is pretty unique being a high performance sled kite with some depower capability.

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