So it's coming up quick and before you know it we'll all be standing at the top of the stairs or ramp at Dunes Park ready to descend on kite beach and ride until the wind dies. (Or standing around the kite fort eating cookies and talking about going down to the beach and riding until the wind dies.) I've been thinking a lot about it and I know that last year I showed up with an agenda full of all the things I wanted to try and all the things I wanted to do. In hindsight I think this made it such that I didn't have as good a time as I could have, had I just showed up and enjoyed riding.

With that in mind, I've decided NOT to try a bunch of stuff, but to just ride and maybe try 1 or 2 things. I'm thinking I would maybe like to try A. to beat my old PB and get moving a little faster. And B. figure out the Deadman's Turn... Or at least give it a try. Markite said on a previous post he would be willing to help with that one, hopefully he still will be in a week and a half. I will only be on JI for 1 day, but I'll have the rest of the week for practice close by on SSI.

With that in mind, what do you want to try at JIBE that you maybe haven't done before? Or what are you going to practice while you're there amongst those who might be willing to help?

I thought this might be a good discussion because maybe some of the experiences guys could chime in and offer advice to those of us less experienced.

Or maybe you don't want to do anything but just ride... That's always a good answer.

Lets see....
A: I would like to get more familiar with my "new to me" 10m Access so I can potentially buggy Jekyll at least once with it before the weeS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s end (wind permitting).
B: I Would really like to be able to buggy with Black Betty (Toxic 8m). Still need to get used to that monster though:o.
C: To be able to walk away from any kite that may be for sale LMAO

Above all, I just want to ride and meet all the great peeps I've come to know here at PKF.

getting caught up in just riding, usually is the dominant feature.

tide , wind , crowds ....navigating the later can consume alot of novice skill and offset stepping up to something new or the navigating IS the step up!

winds start creeping in light 1-2 (pray for heat!)

weekdays is wide open, when you get breeze, get to it, most want harnessed ride time , may very well be the longest rides and session some may have experienced.

and if it really fires, 15+, gear changes and flyers can get frantic at base area. SPREAD out at base along dune line. give room YOU NEED and ALLOW ROOM for gear switch. Too many gear switches will eat time and sometimes foul time for skill development on favorite stuff.

TRY NOT TO DROP/PARK stuff out in traffic lanes ..secure on hard sand , drop kite in soft sand.

get out early as tide pushes back to tune your junk and set up...THATS THE BEST TIME TO ASK FOR HELP. its light, no one is amped to ride yet, theres no rush, great time to sponge on advice and get a reasonable plan for things you want to do. like launch and land tips

of course things get exciting and plans change...go early, stay late and get it all!

Indeed Phree, crowd navigation can be an issue for those less experienced. Going north of the tidal warning pole past where Chris sets up the HQ tent or south of the main beach access toward the southern limit for the event (the water tower) gets you more open space with less people. Usually when I come to JI I set up on the northern end and rarely go far south. This year I think I'm going to head south and see if I can get more room to run and try stuff.

Also the reason I'm thinking of coming Wednesday or Thursday as my one day. Those days pose less likelihood of beach goers.

Good advice too on setting up closer to the dunes. I hadn't thought of that. Last year Scott totally wiped out when he ran over the lines of my parked kite. I was prob a little too close to the water. That makes better sense and I'll take that under advisement.

I hope this is not taken the wrong way, but I will be at JIBE from Wednesday afternoon until Friday night. I have been buggying for 20yrs and have raced with the PKA in the UK for over 10yrs. If I can be of any help to anyone with regards to racing turns and techniques, then I'll be glad to help out. I'm visiting because I've always wanted to visit JIBE, and I've also been to El Mirage and NABX.
I currently use Ozone Access depowers but I used to race with Ozone Razors, so I'm looking forward to meeting you all on the beach for a cruise.

Steve Walt Webb K741

Walts an Ozone man............great choice mi amigo

There won't be any Racing Walt, but I'm sure we'll all benefit from your wealth of knowledge... Thanks!

Walt your resume looks very impressive. Any advise tips pointers do and donts will be well accepted. I lived in the UK for five yrs and look forward to swapping a few stories........Go Gunners............

unfortunately I can't make it, but If I were going, my main objective would be to learn how to navigate around other beach goers and kiters. I'm normally by myself so kiting with others would be both cool and intimidating. Beyond that, I would just want to try out some other kites and learn various things about riding and kiting from the more experienced.

I want to open up on smooth hard pack and go as fast as possible, and make huge power slides. I have been close to 40mph on rough bumpy sand at my local beach, but only have 33.7 on record as a personal best. I want to break 40. I will be flying Black Betty in anything under 15mph of wind for that purpose. The charger will see some action as well as that has been my go to kite the past six months.

More than anything, I want to take off in one direction and just cruise for a while with a friend or two. I might give landboarding another shot, but I will not be focusing much on that as I really just prefer to sit and go fast

Oh yeah, and coyotes! I want to try someone's coyotes on my Charger. I promise to replace any tubes I pop :evil:

ThanS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s for your replies. Knowing what some beaches can be like, I appreciate that Jekyll Isl doesen't really lend itself to holding races, and JIBE isn't a race meet. I'm really comming for beach cruising, and meeting up with you crazy powerkite people.

See you soon :D

A. Water & Self Rescue & Body drag upwind
B. A bit of air on my land board
C. More riding. Last year I spent a lot of time just sitting around talking, gear switching, detangling, etc. I really intend to put some time in, this go 'round.

If the wind dies, I really need to pick all of your brains on how to dump speed or turn at speed on a buggy.

Proletariat, If you just want to learn to scrub speed or make high speed turns, hardpack beach sand is THE best place to do it. It is very hard to flip a bug on smooth sand. The hard part is working the courage to just whip it once at speed and deal with the outcome by good kite control and steering into the skid to create a controlled slide instead of a spin. If you want to slow down, just turn away from the kite to slide sideways a little. If you need to make an emergency full stop, you don't even have to move the kite up; you can just jam the wheel towards the kite and point downwind in a slide. I have managed to go from full speed (30mph+) to a full stop in less than 20 feet on my beach. You need to be relatively powered to be able to do that without stalling and dropping the kite though.

Quote: Originally posted by Proletariat

....or turn at speed on a buggy.

Downturn baby... Downturn

Excited to see you again this year Dave... Maybe we can actually chat this go round!!

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

There won't be any Racing Walt, but I'm sure we'll all benefit from your wealth of knowledge... Thanks!

what? put out a couple cones or pool noodles and see what happens.

wish I was going this year, the warm water, the smooth off shore breeze, Angus, the cookies, the sneeky cop that hides back under the bridge as you speed down the other side as you leave the island, walking distance to dairy queen, oh my my, I remember last year there was a high school graduation thing at the convention center and there was these 2 girls in short white dresses with red high heals walking across the parking lot and i wasnt the only one watching.... er a the warm water, the smooth wind. think I need to book a flight for next year.

Quote: Originally posted by Proletariat

If the wind dies, I really need to pick all of your brains on how to dump speed or turn at speed on a buggy.

Just drive into the ocean. Works well for me.

Quote: Originally posted by acampbell

Quote: Originally posted by Proletariat   If the wind dies, I really need to pick all of your brains on how to dump speed or turn at speed on a buggy. Just drive into the ocean. Works well for me.

What seemed to work for me last year was to be lofted up a couple of feet out of the seat, land neatly behind the buggy as I watch THE BUGGY roll into the ocean.

Came to a dead stop that way

Hrm... I hadn't considered the downwind skid stop. I had turned downwind and ran out a gist, but never did an awesome big wheel slide to stop the bug while managing he kite in the window (which I think I can do). That's brilliant.

Um, now can I borrow someone's buggy while I'm down there so I can try it? . I'm only bringing a board.

Yep, downwind skid is how I come to a full stop almost instantly. You do not slide very far, because it unloads the lines of the kite, and you scrub all your speed so fast that the kite doesn't seem to mind much because the lines go tight again right when you stop. You can be fully lit with the kite down low and it doesn't really add any distance to your stop. If you turn upwind, you will just slide and slide and slide. You can slow down that way, but it is not the way to come to a quick stop.

Well I have a lot to learn coming from soccer field riding all the time. Just stick me at the most northern and southern part of the beach and I should be good to go LOL. Its been 5 months since I've rode with WELDNGOD and be able to really stretch out a few runs on a long beach, and that was in 20-25 mph winds with a bunch of 2 meter kites and a PL buggy.

Lets see... Since the last beach run,
New VTT buggy
New Toxics
Riding a harness now
First depower.... Yeah, I got plenty of sh#t to try.

Good Lord I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!
:bouncing: :bouncing:

Ditto kiddo,... I'm headed south this year, join me if you like!

It's a funny transition from fields to beach,... I'm so used to turning after moving about the length of one of my home fields that I have to fight the urge to turn and keep going strait

Quote: Originally posted by Demoknight

Yep, downwind skid is how I come to a full stop almost instantly. You do not slide very far, because it unloads the lines of the kite, and you scrub all your speed so fast that the kite doesn't seem to mind much because the lines go tight again right when you stop. You can be fully lit with the kite down low and it doesn't really add any distance to your stop. If you turn upwind, you will just slide and slide and slide. You can slow down that way, but it is not the way to come to a quick stop.

YUP. Well said. But there is still ocean. Just bring fast drying clothes.

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Ditto kiddo,... I'm headed south this year, join me if you like! It's a funny transition from fields to beach,... I'm so used to turning after moving about the length of one of my home fields that I have to fight the urge to turn and keep going strait

Yeah, I'm gonna try to stay clear of the high traffic areas until I get a better feel for some of my new gear.

Judging by the wind forecast I have seen so far, it looks like mostly Black Betty weather for me unless it gets above 13mph and stays there. That is when I will bring out the Charger. If the forecast is right, there will be some offshore stuff Friday that could get a little choppy, so perfect reason to have an arc on hand

typically off shore stuff is out of reach, very rough if present at all. beach front is usually dead

NW here is the worst , even on the inside. if its north its better.

after trying to ride NW here for years, i have come to the conclusion "NW" means NoWay

i hoping the forecast changes after the front stalls and we get anything else but NW.

front is HUGE but seems stalled and fragmenting...GO HIGH pressure!

next couple hours we'll see!..... looks to me like the H pressure is winning looks like we might get some decent South/ESE. man that would be indeed supreme!

I just checked and Wed. looks good for ESE... Nice dead onshore for me!!!

yeah wednesday is gonna be a champion day! thurs fri sat are subject to change! i hope

Today looks like rain all day. You coming out tomorrow, Chad? I need some flysurfer backup

Compiling YouTube material to pass the time. Rain Rain go away!!!