MyAikenCheeks - 20-1-2014 at 02:13 AM
Michael and I have been waiting for a good day to get some ripstop in the air. And we finally had a good day to fly Sunday.
It's either been raining, too cold, ground to wet, or no wind for the last 45 days. But today it was in the 50's, sunny and wind at about 15 mph all
day long from the West.
We started to check out our fields close in town and it was iffy wind at most or they were playing polo. Stopped by a local horse racing track and
talked to the owner if we could use the infield to buggy and was given the green light after the end of May, so we headed to a grass field I used to
fly stunters at. Behind the coffee bar.
The wind was solid for the most part and I estimated the speed at 12/15. Flags were full out and not waving much. West wind.
We parked at the end of the field and pulled out gear. Michael unrolled a 7m de-power and I unfolded my 2.5m Zebra foil on 15m lines.
Michael got launched and it was scud city for him. He was getting some good pulls across the grass but he was fighting the kite. I was his kite
monkey.
We determined he had a depower issue because his arms were short and had to attach a shorter chicken loop to allow him more stroke. With the new loop
and a harness adjustment he was back in the air with the control he needed. I was impressed with his 7.1m Advanced Offroad. Well built and a good
performer. Good looking kite. First time I ever saw one.
We pulled my Ivanpah off the rack and Michael got seated. He got some up and down wind runs till the wind got gusty and that wore him out.
So now I grabbed the handles of the Z-2 2.5m and launched to a spinning mess. A bridle line was tangled up. Re launched the rocket ship and had a good
fight. It was like a 2.5m was too much kite. I'm a big man and it was pulling me like a freight train. Probably should have used 20, 25 or 30m lines.
Might have slowed it down some.
The buggy was about half way down the field and I apexed the Zebra, handed it to Mike so I could get the buggy back up field. I turned around and he
was having a good scud. Said, come here.
I went back to him and he said to hold him so I grabbed the back of his harness.
The kite was so powered up that it pulled us both several feet and I lost my footing and went to my knees still being pulled while Michael was still
standing.
Then Michael did a nose dive, hit the grass face first, I was still holding the harness but it made me eat grass and both of us were pulled several
yards on the ground, both laded out flat.
Michael was really flying the striped pony for all it was worth and finally grounded it and the both of us came to a stop. Mike was on his belly and
I had made a twist and was on by back.
We must have laughed for 5 minutes laying on our backs in the grass. The sun was warming us, the wind was blowing over us and all the world was just
right for a brief moment. What a hoot. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/images/smilies/lol.gif
It's too bad we didn't have a camera running and if anyone saw us being pulled across that field like a lawn mower they would have thought we were
crazy!
And yes, we are a little crazy! Were power kiters and kite buggy pilots. This is our kind of fun.
Michael Gaylan - 20-1-2014 at 04:26 AM
Great description of how our day at that field went. You didn't leave out anything to wonder. I have to say being pulled by a pony like that with you
in tow was a mild wonder at best. I never thought those would have that much power even though they are the very ones I learned on. They are great
kites and super quick.
I think we may have had a loss of time while laughing our arses off after that. It seems as though the time just stood still for a moment. Since we're
not getting any younger, I think it could have been a laps in our mental faculties for one reason... we didn't wanna let go of it.
We did have a blast bro! Oh and the smoothie/scons at that coffee shop afterwards was the topper.
I tips me hat to a great time mate...
cheers
abkayak - 20-1-2014 at 06:34 AM
sounds like a perfect afternoon, good clean fun...too bad next wkend is so far away
soliver - 20-1-2014 at 10:35 AM
Sounds like an awesome time Davis... I'll have to live vicariously through you as I have much to finish up at the house before I can get back out on
the buggy... The last time I was out riding was the day we met at OOBE 
It's like an itch I can't scratch.
I have had lots of static time though on my lunch breaks, I was likely out flying at the exact same time (on a late lunch break yesterday) and
enjoying the same wind only 3 hours northwest of you.