is snow buggying worth the extra cost of skies an mounts i know to each his own Ive watched only one vid, where there was speed the rest of the vids seem to be just barley moving Lake Mushamush was the vid where speed an a lot of fun were present I have found the sites where the skies from snow mobils are but the cost are quiet high I would like to have future input other than being brutily cold it looks like fun It snows here 3 to 4 times a year we have huge areas of farm ground that could used an Kansas is known for wind many fields are a square mile:wee::wee:

i have buggied in light snow 1-3 inches and its good fun slippin and slidin all over Gods earth--any more than that, and it aint worth the trouble.....for even more excitement, try a nice wet,muddy field,wear some old clothes and remove the mud flaps from your buggy---sure, no one will recognize you or let you indoors, but the amazing time you have will be worth it......
BTW--i have skis, but i dont use them in snow, only for the frozen lake.....

If your in the mood to build ,check the gallery under skiing/snowboarding ,snowspider kitesled. Fully tested over hill and dale , commonly reaches ram bang crash speeds over 30mph , top recorded speed 47.8 mph (+or- .055) on relatively smooth ice. First versions were built out of wood and work nearly as well as the current all metal version.

Or you can just try your buggy as is, with wheels. If there is enough crust on the snow, you can 'grab' enough edge to go upwind. I posted some pics of me in my PL Std on Chaumont bay in upstate NY, in this thread. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=12644&p...

It is so condition dependent. We have a few guys that built using the snowmobile skins and yes the build gets pricey and they work good in some conditions. We get all kinds of variety and blades are awesome but not often that we get clean smooth ice. Then as you get into rough ice the blade still works better holding and edge but you are chattering on a washboard and that's hard on gear and edges and joints etc. Then a mix of snow and ice you need the ski with an edge (like the carbides on a snowmobile ski) or ski edge to hold the steering line. And you will find it's a speed up slow/down process going from ice to snow patches - and that changes depending on temperatures and if the snow is hard pack or dry etc. Then as soon as it's deeper snow or anything a bit mild and the skis can start to bog down. If it is slightly mild so you have packing snow then it's a bugger to go anywhere at all unless you have width like a snowboard and even that can bog down if it's damp snow.
You need good ski or blade alignment otherwise you'll just feel drag, you need a way to edge when powered otherwise you'll just slide etc (which is still fun).

So overall it's what conditions you think you'll be using it the most on that will help you decide on what to use. If you can get out where the snow has been packed down and frozen again then skis are great and fast. If you have clean ice - blades rule.
(but you need to scope out your route in advance to look for pressure cracks)

Wicked example of the photographer being in just the right place at the right time! I hope the buggier was O.K.!

that was a frame I captured off of Ozzy's famous catapult video from last winter.... time to find that post again ....


I think this was it:
http://vimeo.com/17496413

check at 1 minute into it - Ozzy is a big boy as well so check the distance and full points for style in the air.

There is a video of this OBE. I think it is one of the Dutchies. He was OK. Ice is hard but the reduced friction is kind of nice.

at eddie*
im thinking snowkiting with a snowboard. i have 2 boards if you fit one you can borrow it when i come up there this winter.
*

the video was awesome.

Guys the video of Ozzy "FLYING" is very impressive!! Check it out.
As for snow buggying, Give it a shot. Or used skiis. Or like Pat said check out his sight for his Snowspider rig.

Wow- just watched the video and that OBE at 1 minute was EPIC!: eekdrull:

I got ski for snow, and for ice ski with carbide insert (like snowmobile front ski). It will be my first winter buggying.