Power Kite Forum

180 / 360 Turns

AviN - 1-5-2012 at 09:16 PM

Hi All.
So I'm at the point of start doing some new tricks.
Since I'm pretty much the only buggier in my area, YouTube is my next best friend / teacher. I'm trying to do the 180 and probably followed by another one (to complete 360) while in motion.
Can anyone tip me up how / where should I start ? BTW, I'm using a bar not handles, if it matter, cause most of the clips I saw, they use handles, so I was just wondered if I can still do it...:puzzled:

If you know about a clip out there showing how to do so, even better.....kinda hard to learn without see it done first...especially when I can't really see the kite's position in the air...

Thanks

RedSky - 2-5-2012 at 02:42 AM

I understand that you need to hold the bar with both hands close to the center.

edit - kitesurf or buggy ?

AviN - 2-5-2012 at 05:36 AM

Sorry, forgot to mention, buggy

carltb - 2-5-2012 at 07:24 AM

can you do a power slide?. this is the first step in doing 180/360's

AviN - 2-5-2012 at 07:35 AM

If by saying 'power slide' you mean drifting, then yes.
Sorry, I'm not familiar with all the right definitions.
While in motion, I'm basically drifting while pointing the front upwind and sliding in the direction of travel (so again, drifting & leaving skids marks). The problem is that according to what I saw in those clips, is that ppl doing that 180 to the other direction, kinda like towards the kite and under the lines, and not away from them...unless It's not power slide or I'm doing it wrong all together...:dunno:

carltb - 2-5-2012 at 09:25 AM

basically you can do a 180 whatever way you want. towards the kite or away. if you can "drift" then all it takes is a flick of the hips to do the 180. once you get the bug around, lock your legs with equal pressure on your footpegs to keep the bug going in a straight line. also try doing a power slide without moving the kite.

carltb - 2-5-2012 at 09:25 AM

basically you can do a 180 whatever way you want. towards the kite or away. if you can "drift" then all it takes is a flick of the hips to do the 180. once you get the bug around, lock your legs with equal pressure on your footpegs to keep the bug going in a straight line. also try doing a power slide without moving the kite.

mougl - 2-5-2012 at 09:41 AM

http://www.ridelikeagirl.co.uk/

Some awesome tutorials here. This is how I learned to 2 wheel :)

Drewculous - 2-5-2012 at 09:53 AM

for me i drift/180s on a downloop.... lol sends you screaming! But really, if you are quick on the (buggy)turn the kite can stay parked in the window. On 360s i bring the kite up a bit, just so i can get by the lines without cutting my nose/head off :lol:

never knew about that site mougl... good stuff! :thumbup:

awindofchange - 2-5-2012 at 10:59 AM

Most of spinning the buggy has to do with throwing/adjusting your body weight in the buggy. By leaning forward, you move your center of gravity away from the rear axle and it allows you to throw the buggy around more. To flip a 180, just lean forward, throw your hips into the direction you want to go and then sit back into normal seat position when you want to stop the turn. You can also use the kite to pull up on your body weight a bit, making it easier to spin 180's / 360's. A 360 is just a series of 180's but you will turn the wheel to get the second spin. If you do it fast enough, it looks like one continuous spin.

Practice adjusting your body weight and "wiggling" your hips a little bit first. This will give you an idea of how the buggy goes and feels. Get into a "drift" and just shimmy a bit while adjusting your weight forward off the rear axle. Once you get comfortable with that, try throwing it around harder into the 180. You do NOT need a ton of speed when doing this - in fat, it is usually easier to do when going slower.

doddg - 2-5-2012 at 12:08 PM

sorry, bit late here but to answer the original question, i suggest to become very comfortable with going backwards first and to be able to turn backwards to forward (thus a backwards to forward 180) using both methods of either turning wheel down wind, and/or turning wheel upwind which will get you used to turning and not seeing the kite for a second or two. You will need these spins in your 360. You will also learn how much front wheel turn, hip shift, and at what speed to turn your wheel and then straighten it out again depending on your slide, you dont want the front wheel to initially slide, just turn.

Once I had those down, then I could start working on going from forward to backwards 180s which to me, is more hairy and scary. I do it the hard way right now, I scrub speed first with a very short up wind power slide and then do a down wind front wheel turn and shift my weight and it spins right around. I am trying to correct old habbits, it is the way I learned back in the mid 90's.
Once you are in the backwards position, immediately turn wheel down wind for the turn you have already been practicing during the backwards practice session, which will continue your rotation for a 360.

Normally through these tricks and learning, I would keep the kite in a higher position and try to keep it pointing up during the trick. I also use quad line and handles, and suggest coming out of the harness, going freehand in the beginning until you master the trick. It also makes it easier IMO for turning, keeping your hands in a higher position.
It also helps to learn these with a freestyle buggy, one where you sit closer to the back axle. I do these tricks with a PL Race with extended everything, so once you learn, you can pull them off with larger buggies too.
hope that helps.

AviN - 2-5-2012 at 12:24 PM

Mougl, golden site, tnx

To you all : thank you so much, very informative tips...I can't wait to hit the beach and try it.

AviN - 3-5-2012 at 10:27 AM

One thing I think nobody mentioned here, is what size of kite will consider to be safe to try make all those tricks/jumps ?
I'm using the Montana III 7m, so I know a lift will be fairly good, what I'm worry about is the lending, that part I think will be hard to make smooth....am I right on that ?
I'm trying to save some for a FS 12m-14m, since I know all the FS basically act a bit bigger then they actually are, and I'll be able to use it on water too.

Any thoughts about the kite size for use with a bit more advanced tricks ?

Thanks

Drewculous - 4-5-2012 at 09:36 AM

7 might be a bit small... What do you and your bug weigh?

For drifts and spins the 7 will work fine (or the twister in the right winds/surface) get your groundwork solid before you take on the jumps...

Ive popped jumps with my 15m phantom in the bug... Landings are sometimes a little more rough than I like :lol:

AviN - 4-5-2012 at 09:51 AM

Tnx Drew,
Not sure about my buggy weight, it's a Flexifoil buggy. My weight is about 170lb, so pretty much average.
I'm very comfortable on the ground, as far as cruzing, turning and a small trick here and there, but I see what you mean, I definitely don't want to brake a rib going down........braking a rib for me will be a pleasant compare to the "talk" I'll have with the wife later.....;)

Drewculous - 4-5-2012 at 10:33 AM

Well if your bug is say 50lbs... That puts you at about my weight.... id say in 30 mph winds you could get some air. Im not all that familiar with your monty, but id say once you get it lit up, you should have no problem getting off the ground.... like everything else, start in lighter winds, and send the kite with a little edge, and see how it goes... If its not enough, edge harder, and send the kite harder... Youll quickly get a feel for the power it takes to get up.

After a while you can push the windspeed and the jumps... I have a blast with my phantom in 30-35mph winds... But im a bit bigger, im on "plush" grass (speed stealing / high friction).... With you size on hardpack, it wouldnt take a whole lot to get some air... The 7m just wont have a lot of float... So start slow, and see how it works out for ya




Post video of it all :lol:

AviN - 4-5-2012 at 10:40 AM

Drew, that smile at the end of your post have some bed smell of bloopers in it........:bouncy:

Ill keep you update ;-)

carltb - 4-5-2012 at 10:46 AM

sorry avin, didnt know you were wanting advice on jumping.

this is my team mate karens website, have a look here im sure theres some tutorials, http://www.ridelikeagirl.co.uk/