first runs in a buggy...

hiya, had the chance to have a couple runs in a buggy and meet other kiters for the first time a little while back, and it was quite the learning experience, as well as humbling...

I'd felt pretty hot as a kiter, you know, a couple strong kites, some long scuds... but really I'd just been picking stuff up from the forums and having fun at the very bottom of a learning curve while feeling I was a ways further up than that!

The stuff to do with kites:

It is actually really hard to fly a kite blind! for every minute i spent in the buggy seat I spent ten minutes trying to sit down! And I simply couldn't keep track of what was in front of me and the direction I was going while looking at my kite! This after several hundred hours of beach scudding...

The good guys make it look easy, but it isn't... I should have known that from my climbing days...

Dealing with frustration was harder, I was well within my comfort zone and made more stupid mistakes than I knew were possible, sloppy reverse launches with other folS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s kites, tangling my lines about a dozen different ways while trying to sort out a simple crash, and in general totally failing to keep my cool...

Raw power while scudding is one thing, using that power while the apparent wind kicks in is completely another...

I've always liked the learning curve to kiting, one of my favorite things about the sport, but adding wheels and movement sure kicks it into a different dimension...

Anyways, I've posted lots of stuff in recent months, and I have learned a little bit about flying these things, but I have a strong renewed respect for the guys who make it easy...

So two last things: Thanks to all the guys (esp scudley and bladerunner) who have given me their time and energy to help me out, and

if you're like I was, scudding strong and comfy with it, get on something that helps you hold an edge against the wind -- skis, wheels, boards, whatever -- and take it to the next dimension, that's where it's really at!

cheers, all, hope to meet and learn from more of you soon...

Furbs

It can be a handful I know . What kite were you using? You were not using one of your ACES or your BLADE WERE ya? If so you need to get a buggy engine , some thing w/ less lift and more stability. You shouldn't have to watch the kite all the time or get pulled out of the seat. I never use my ACES when on wheels , they need to much input. Flexifoil RAGE is the bomb! in a buggy and if you add a AAA kit they are even Better! Glad ya had fun and did not get hurt.

what angus said gotta learn to hold the proper line in relation to the wind, if the kite starts to lose it steer into the wind a little to keep tension on the lines, when it's powerin like hell ,go with it some.soon you'll be haulin azzz! When you get to where you wanna turn ,turn the kite first , then turn the buggy. Try not to turn too quick or you'll stop cold. when ya get it right it's like ya got a motor on that bad boy!
I had nobody to teach me when I started, I just scoured the I-net for info. And the rest was trial and error. My biggest prob is my beach is so narrow the wind has to be just right for me to buggy, but it helps me keep track of the"line". Now ,if you took me out on a dry lake ,I would have to learn to keep the line in my head. like angus said it's not easy sometimes. choice of kites is essential too, one that can fly strong at the edge of the window and go upwind well is what gives ya the easiest time. And YES it's gonna get expensive AGAIN!

Corey ,That reminds me of the guy who taught me to mirror weld(welding with a mirror to see around obstacles) ,He taught me to think through my hands. Not through my eyes. Your eyes will betray you cause everything is ass backwards ( it's harder than you can imagine). Your hand already knows what to do but your eyes are tellin your brain your doin it wrong. This is one of the many talents that make me the weldngod. For all you naysayers , get a piece of paper and a pencil. stand a book or something in front of you so you can't see the paper, now fetch a mirror from your girls purse( her compact would be great cause you can angle it the way you need it) Set it to the side of obstacle where you can see the paper through the mirror. Now draw a five pointed star ,looking only through the mirror! You should try welding like that ,it's worse cause you have to feed the rod into the puddle , and move side to side ,and travel along the weld seam. Oh yeah, and not mess anything up! :alien:

That would take practice. You musta been at this a week or two. ;-)