I'm heading out for my first buggy attempt tomorrow after several weeks of static flying NPWs. Anyone have some tips or lessons learned the hard way they'd like to share?

Wear a helmet please!

I couldn't find my snowboarding helmet, so I picked up a skateboarding helmet today. That's the one thing I always use.

I hope you can fly your kite without watching it ... now you need to watch where you are going in the buggy.

Here are a few clips of my first outing. I managed to not get pulled out at all, but came close when I attempted an upwind turn. Think I'll wait a while before I try that again. I managed to ride about 4 hours. I got a run in about 3 miles down the beach and managed to make it back to the car without walking. I'm hopelessly addicted already, too bad I can't make it back to the beach until Friday.

Good job :bigok: on the first run, looks like you have the basics down. Big plus for having video

yeah, your hooked.
Plus one for wearing a helmet. Now get at least some knee pads, elbow pads, cause sooner or later you WILL OBE. We all do it eventually:wee: , some more than others:wee:. Welcome to the sickness...

Nice Job !

Did you manage to stay upwind ? If you did that is pretty good ! Many people have trouble holding ground with the NPW's.

:cool2:

Pads are next on my list. They didn't have any that fit me yesterday, but I should make it up to Houston this week and I'll grab some. Also need to pad the side rails, my hips are killing me fighting to stay up wind with the NPW. I managed to do it, but I didn't really have a choice. The beach I was on only had an area about 20ft wide that was smooth. Then it was all washed up seaweed, wash outs, and soft sand downwind from the smooth area. I should be able to catch low tide on Friday, so hopefully it's a little smoother.

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but I should make it up to Houston this week and I'll grab some.

where abouts are you and where did you fly this week?

I'm in West Columbia and I was out at Surfside.

i (own) tried a few NPWs (5) and tend to agree with those that suggest upwind is very difficult with the kite(s).
get a new/used ram air foil (intermediate) and you'll love buggying even more. you don't need to get the $$$$ kites. should be lot's of decent kites 4 sale here or at the other 4 sale web sites for very low cost.
you'll get more forward pulling force with decent ram air instead of humongous lateral force from NPW.
keep NPW for trainer/loaner.

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Originally posted by sknnyftn Here are a few clips of my first outing. I managed to not get pulled out at all, but came close when I attempted an upwind turn. Think I'll wait a while before I try that again. I managed to ride about 4 hours. I got a run in about 3 miles down the beach and managed to make it back to the car without walking. I'm hopelessly addicted already, too bad I can't make it back to the beach until Friday.

i don't think many of us do or would suggest making upwind (tack) turn with kite/buggy to complete a 180 degree change of direction. unless you intent to jump, OBE, or heel a wheel make your turns downwinders.

I do it and suggest doing it. (But only after you can fly completely blind.)

The upwind turn

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If done properly, your skin will still be attached to your knees and elbows, the buggy will still have rubber side down with you on top of it (not the other way around), your kite will be flying with a twist in the lines but under control and you will have gained anywhere from 5 to 30+ feet upwind.