Power Kite Forum

buggiers in San Francisco bay area

gilligan - 14-3-2004 at 01:53 AM

Hi... just recently got a buggy and was wondering where people go to buggy in this area... I am familiar with Cesar Chavez park in Berkeley, but was wondering if there were any other spots nearby( I live in Dublin). Thanks in advance!

doomwheels - 7-4-2004 at 01:36 PM

Cesar Chavez park is probably the best park in the area. Good for ATB as well and has both groomed and wild areas. But there are a few beaches to that I have heard is available to buggying. Problem is, I don't know their names.

I suggest asking local kitesurfing groups about kite beaches. Sometimes they are also good for buggying. Prob is, the beaches in the central calif are mostly soft sand beaches. You may find the best buggying is done inland.

The absolute best places to buggy in calif are of course in the desert. There are several dry lakes in the Mojave that are perfect and well worth the drive. The SBBB is a yearly event on Ivanpah Dry Lake near Vegas and just ended last week. More info: www.sbbb.net. There are other events later in the summer at El Mirage just north of Victorsville (check the PKF calendar).

Too far you say? I was so quickly spoiled by the massive dry lakes that I regularly drove 13 hours just to get to one rather than buggying locally in Colorado.

KYTE SLINGER - 8-4-2004 at 05:45 PM

Pismo Beach just So. of Paso Robles has about the best beach to buggy and only about 4hrs away from S.F

Ocean Beach by the Golden gate isn't all that bad but you have to play with the tides and here in Monterey,Ca you'll find me and a couple of others riders OTB (on the beach)
one other place I haven't been to yet is Shoreline park So. of S.F in the parking lot w/ LIGHT POLLs about an hr or less away with some other kite slingers flying duellys and SLKs

drop me an e-mail if you happen to come down this way or if you head out to Pismo let me know I could hook up with and head So. for a week end

Nor Cal

TangledStrings - 8-4-2004 at 07:57 PM

Im up here in Petaluma Ca. And not far, from Doran Beach. It's a great beach at low tide, About 150 Yards wide, with hard packed sand. inland, its soft sand with dunes. Also Ocean Beach In SF. But there's Lots of people on the beach, so try and hit it in the off hours. I have a tide chart, If your up for a beach Run~~

zloty - 30-9-2005 at 09:43 AM

HI You all.

I just join your group.
So far the best place for buggy in SF area is SF Ocean Beach,I go very often -whenever wind and tide is right.here are some links i use to find out about condition;
http://funston.appweb.org/webcam.htm
fort funston have also phone machine you can call with curent condition
415 5849891
I buggy often with Elton and sometime with Loren but mostly I buggy with Jay(ATB)
Looking foward to see you on beach.

Slawek

Flexifoil;
buggy freestyle
blade III 3.0
Ozone;
Little devil 2.1
Samurai 4.0
Razor 4.5
Razor 5.5

Bobo - 1-10-2005 at 02:48 AM

Hi,

is there a certain time where you guys meet and go buggy on ocean beach or somewhere around SF bay (only weekends or weekdays after work... ) ?

I'm pretty new to all that kiting stuff, but I really enjoy it and I like to get in touch with people doing the same around SF bay. I mostly fly my kite(s) in Berkeley after work or after sailing and I've been a few times to ocean beach/crissy field on weekends so far.

I'm thinking about buying a buggy or atb soon, and would like to get some advice on buying such a thing (which fits in my small trunk) and how to get started.

Greetings,

Bobo

zloty - 1-10-2005 at 10:16 AM

Best time?
I go only when condition are good.You will get that only few times a month and that is when wind speed is above 11 mph ,W - (270),244-290 is fine but you will deal with up and dowm winds and tide(very important)have to be below 4f.
http://funston.appweb.org/webcam.htm -this link have all info,when I don't have internet accses I call 415 5849891 this will give you only curent wind condition and temp.
So like you see we don't have much choice.Sometimes you have to go to work or have fun :yes: .There are good and bad months.I always call my friends when I'm on my way to the beach.
It will be hadr to fit byggy to your trank but you can always take off rear wheels and axel (5min)or get rack on back or top of your car.Atb is izzy to transport but it's harder to learn. If you surf or snowboarding you will get it fast.

Greetings

Slawek

TangledStrings - 5-10-2005 at 07:09 PM

Check it out Bro;

Get off the beach, and drive half hour north to Marin County. The city of Novato Ca. There we have an old Air Force base, by the name of Hamilition Field. Dude the main runway is 9000 ft. There is much concrete out there. An primitter road with aircraft parking. a few weeks ago me and, gilligan, did close to 22 miles. Dont for get all the dirt thats out there. The only bummer is, A good walk, with a climb over a pile of choped up Cement. But well worth it!!
E-my Mail and we will hook up for a session!!!

YEAH BABY!!! Rip it up!!!

zloty - 6-10-2005 at 09:33 AM

So far best is SF Ocean Beach.Beat every location. it is 3 miles of perfect surface from Clif House to Fort Funston.On Sunday I have Made 78 miles Av 24mph MAx 41.3mph.Sorry not to see You guys there.Worst part for me is to get there 30 to 1h 20min - trafic :( . It is true that you can have lots of people on the baech, but only on weekend and if it is windy thay are mostly gone :singing: .Anyway south part starting from end of big parking is always good to ride.Everybody's welcome.We were making movie last Monday 3 buggy pilots and one atb.I will be there tonight if wind will be over 10mph and it will :D.Also you can see us at night doing night fly :yes:
TangledStrings -Have We meet if not join us.
See You there

goreo95033 - 6-10-2005 at 04:37 PM

There are a few buggiers at Shoreline Park in Mountain View. Its a bit technical there with the varied terrain and the kite-eating light poles, but the ground squirrels are fun to chase.

And if you are ever in the Monterey Bay area, Sunset State Beach in the little town of La Selva Beach is nice (have to pay to park). Its almost as good as Pismo Beach as far as terrain goes. Though I have been asked by the ranger not to buggy on one busier weekend.

And there is Seaside, home of Cristoph Riddle and Dave Sabilino of NABX freestyle buggy and ATB fame.

DON321 - 27-6-2006 at 09:05 PM

ME AND 4 OTHER GUYS GO TO THE SHORLINE AMPITHEATERE PARKING LOT !!!! BIG PACKED DIRT AREA LOTS OF WIND, IM NOT SURE IF ITS OKAY TO BUGGY THERE, BUT I HAVENT BEEN STOPPED YET, THE RANGERS DROVE BY A FEW TIMES AND TOLD US IF PEOPLE SHOW UP GIVE THEM THE RIGHT OF WAY.... FINE WITH US....

zloty - 27-6-2006 at 11:05 PM

How to get there from Oakland or city,Does wind direction is a problem if so, what direction is best for us?When do You go there so we can meet up.
Any curent wind links for this location?
Cheers

DON321 - 29-6-2006 at 11:24 AM

TAKE 101 SOUTH FROM CITY ( I SEE YOUR AT OCEAN BEACH ALOT ) EXIT SHORLINE AMPITHEATRE PARKWAY FOLOW SIGNS (CANT MISS THEM ) TO AMPITHEATRE, ONCE IN AMPITHEATER FOLLOW PARKING SIGNS UNTIL YOU FIND THE BIG DIRT LOT....
WIND IS BEST WHEN FLOWING WEST BUT EAST WINDS ARE OKAY AS WELL I USUALLY RUN MY 5.0M HQ BEAMER UP THERE , PLENTY TO MOVE ME AND BUGGY.....AVERAGER WINDS ARE 11-18 MPH WEST FROM MY WIND METER WE ALL GO ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOON

goreo95033 - 29-6-2006 at 05:36 PM

I usually don't make it to Shoreline during the week. Be sure to talk to Vince, he'll be the silver haired guy flying Rev's with his headphones on. He's a very nice guy, and a buggier too. He knows the lay of the land, and most of the rangers know of him also.

Watch out for the light polls, they will eat your kite. Watch out for the id10t's with the $1 single-line kites. They rarely have any common sense.

Again, listen to what Vince says. Especially his launching and parking techniques as it is a bit different that what you're used to at the beach.

Have fun!

goreo95033 - 29-6-2006 at 05:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zloty
How to get there from Oakland or city,Does wind direction is a problem if so, what direction is best for us?When do You go there so we can meet up.
Any curent wind links for this location?
Cheers


Check www.wunderground.com for the city of Mountain View. N winds are best.

zloty - 29-6-2006 at 10:34 PM

Tks Greg,
Just get back from beach and shoreline.I've meet Vince and with Don We had a blast.Fist thing I did I've climb highest hill over office district and Don made me laugh saying that no one was brave enough to try it yet,but they where thinking about it ;).It is great location only problem You can have is in land gusty wind and rotors produced by trees and hills.To bad it is so far away from Oakland but definitly worth driving 1 hour in traffic when tide is high on Ocean Beach:yes:

DON321 - 2-7-2006 at 07:53 AM

is hamilton field still around in novato ? heard they were doing construction for a while..... would like to check this place out.......

boom - 5-7-2006 at 05:53 PM

DON321 - I'm in Sacramento and would love to meet up with someone at Hamilton as well for a bit of buggying...maybe this weekend... I think there are a few other guys here in Sacto that may want to trek out there as well. Anyone in...I haven't been there before but have read all the posts and it sounds like a blast?

sboom@surewest.net
916-217-9096

DON321 - 5-7-2006 at 06:05 PM

BOOM,

I would love to go to Hamilton this weekend, But im heading up to Pyramid Lake in Nevada on Friday Night for the whole weekend to buggy in the desert, it is awsome up there......

miles of flat dirt, and lots of dunes for okay jumps.... just watch out for the cactus and very hard weeds out there......

maybe the following weekend???

Where abouts near Pyramid Lake?

goreo95033 - 8-7-2006 at 01:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DON321
BOOM,

I would love to go to Hamilton this weekend, But im heading up to Pyramid Lake in Nevada on Friday Night for the whole weekend to buggy in the desert, it is awsome up there......

miles of flat dirt, and lots of dunes for okay jumps.... just watch out for the cactus and very hard weeds out there......

maybe the following weekend???


DON321 -

I'm headed to the Reno area Tues or Weds of this week. I'll be buggying at Misfit Flats down in Stagecoach/Dayton area. I'm interested in other places in the area too.

Where, exactly? Do you buggy on the beach at Pyramid Lake, or is there a dry lake near there?

TIA for the info.

KYTE SLINGER - 8-7-2006 at 05:44 PM

you guys need to start thinking about big foots to prolong the buggy season..
I got to buggy all day long with the P.L big foot race on the beach. sunny day after the fog burn off nice 12 to 14 mph on shore winds and it took me all of 2 miles to get there from home

goreo95033 - 10-7-2006 at 02:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by KYTE SLINGER
you guys need to start thinking about big foots to prolong the buggy season..
I got to buggy all day long with the P.L big foot race on the beach. sunny day after the fog burn off nice 12 to 14 mph on shore winds and it took me all of 2 miles to get there from home


You're killing me Dave... How about a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it while you're at it? :lol:

DON321 - 11-7-2006 at 06:50 PM

GOREO95033-
I usually buggy in Palomino Valley (spelling?) in Reno, Its about 20-30 mins from Pyramid Lake, Im bad with giving directions.. I know how to get there from memory, But I could get you directions if interested..........
Its fun but you do need big foot type buggys out there because the sand can get thick at times, I usually bring my Libre because the buggy takes the beating instead of your back, The only thing you have to watch out for is passing into somebodys land up there, its hard to tell where one persons backyard is and state property is.... The wind is pretty steady out ther, you would be fine for the weekend with 3.5 to 5.0 meter kites... just make sure to bring lots of water and sun block, it gets hot as hell out there......

goreo95033 - 18-7-2006 at 09:05 PM

Palomino Valley, eh? I'll look for it on the map.

Misfits Flat is sure nice though. Small (4 miles²), but real close to civilization, so its easy for for the kids to tollerate the ride to the destination. And no motor vehicles, pedestians, or LEO's to get in the way of a good time in the buggy.

The kids had a great time again in the bike trailer behind my Libre. Though this will probably be the last season they'll both be able to fit in there. I'll post some pics soon.

DON321 - 21-7-2006 at 05:34 PM

BOOM-
Heading to hamilton this weekend, I heard it was still open.... we shall find out..... email me if you want to meet up.

DSIMMONS321@hotmail.com

DON321 - 21-7-2006 at 05:38 PM

I need to find somwhere new to buggy, The beach is great but packing all the stuff in the sand sucks, shorline is great but 20 mins from my house and there has been many times I have shown up out there and theres a concert going on and the lot is full of cars.......

I need to win the lotto so I can buy like 30+ acres of flat land to buggy....:tumble::cool:

gilligan - 22-7-2006 at 07:35 PM

Hey Don, before you go make sure there's going to be some wind in the north bay... if there isn't much wind anywhere else it'll really suck at Hamiton due to the hills directly west of the field. On good days it's great but on bad days you'll curse the place... it's a miserable hot place to sit in the buggy with your biggest kites limp on the concrete!

DON321 - 22-7-2006 at 09:07 PM

GILLIGAN-
Do you know what the zip code is over there at hamillton ??
Or where do you view weather information for that location ??
Really dont want to spend the day with my kite on the ground:mad: and the wife pushing me around on the buggy.....:no:

gilligan - 23-7-2006 at 04:08 PM

search 'bay area streaklines' and that site'll show you the current winds there... Hamiton is the northwest corner of san rafael bay

gilligan - 23-7-2006 at 04:09 PM

By the way it sucks right now... Sunday @ 4pm

DON321 - 23-7-2006 at 05:35 PM

Thanks for the info Gilligan..

Yeah I didnt end up going, wind report sucked....... Went to shorline instead wind sucked there too,
O'well maybe next time......