Power Kite Forum

The POWER SLIDE!!!

soliver - 21-12-2012 at 07:45 PM

I've been thinking of trying this,... But I'm not sure of the how to's

How do you power slide????,... See 2:12 and or 3:00 in Todd's last JIBE vid, but I'm sure you all know what I mean...

http://vimeo.com/44169577

Tips? Tricks? Methodologies? Anyone?:puzzled::puzzled:

RedSky - 21-12-2012 at 08:28 PM

Ideally you need a surface that breaks away easy. Hard sand is the best. Damp grass is okay too. A dry lake bed, dry grass and earth especially on skinny tyres can flip you if you're too aggressive.

Tyre choice is also a factor. A flat profile tyre such as midi or beach racers will be a bit easier to slide than barrows.

Get some speed up, 25-30mph+ and kick the front wheel sharply upwind and the back end should break away and come around. Once the bug is pointed upwind then straighten the front wheel. Tiny adjustments may be needed to keep the buggy pointed upwind.

Leave the kite alone. You don't need to think about the kite or do anything with it other than keep it flying. The kite will automatically come around to the edge of the window.

If you're flying depower then push the bar away just before the slide but not all the way as you want to maintain some power in the kite to stabilise the buggy. Stops the downwind rear wheel digging in too much. The more power you hold the longer the slide.

If you're riding discs, beware soft sand, it can flip you. Best to keep some power if riding thin tyres.

If you don't have enough speed in the buggy to pull off a slide but you have good wind then a low speed slide is possible, just use the kite to give yourself a boost by keeping it in the power.

I'm a fan of depower when it comes to powersliding as you can steer the slide backwards and forwards quiet easily.

soliver - 21-12-2012 at 08:54 PM

Ok,... That all sounds good.

I always ride on barrows, and about 90% of the time I'm on grass. I'm not overly concerned about flipping the bug,... I have the seat set low and a PL Bigfoot extra wide back axle.

I've pulled off some impromptu/unintentional slides in the past, but this is just a cool looking move, and I want to be more intentional with it.

I'm headed out tomorrow to my favorite park, and the cold front that has finally brought winter to GA after 2 years has brought some killer wind, so I'll see what I can do.

So from what you're saying it seems as though the trick is to turn upwind and whip the back around while correcting with the front wheel. Does that sound about right?

Any more suggestions?

RedSky - 21-12-2012 at 09:13 PM

Yeah, it's very simple. It takes some confidence the first time but after that you will be an addict. Just kick that wheel sharply up wind (don't turn it) and if you have the momentum then the rear should swing around. Hold the wheel in that same position. Forget correcting with the front wheel for now or straightening up. That's for high wind, high speed and dodging underlations in the sand and balancing against a furious overpowered kite.

Just kick and grin. :D

AviN - 21-12-2012 at 10:26 PM

A very recommended site to see "How to's", at list for me, when I started, was RideLikeAGirlKite.com
Check their YouTube channel, very nice too....

soliver - 21-12-2012 at 11:11 PM

Thanks Avi,... I'll check that out

MDK - 21-12-2012 at 11:30 PM

RedSky the king of the power slide!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Y1KTAIouw

Mainekite - 22-12-2012 at 03:39 AM

Go fast, turn hard upwind, slide, correct, grin and repeat

soliver - 22-12-2012 at 08:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MDK
RedSky the king of the power slide!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Y1KTAIouw


SWEEEEEEEEET :singing:

Excited to try

soliver - 22-12-2012 at 04:59 PM

Well gave it angry today, but with only minimal success,... Don't think I was on an ideal surface,.... But slid a little bit.

I did get to ride the bug with my new 6.8m Viper S, which was sweet,... Just an awesome kite!!
:singing::singing::singing:

andy666 - 22-12-2012 at 07:07 PM

Yeah, power slides are easiest on sand, but still possible on grass.
The problem that you are having is most likely that you are flying underpowered. Because a power slide is also how you slow a buggy down, to do a long slide up the beach or across a park you need to fly a bit over powered so that you don't actually stop the buggy.
Try dropping the kite nice and low in the wind window for max power or try a bigger kite then you would normally fly for the wind conditions.

ChrisH - 23-12-2012 at 03:36 PM

Just......do it lol. Get some speed up and commit. Powersliding is one of my favorite things to do when buggying. Some people say to try to go fast instead of sliding but it's just too much fun! I think when I get new tires I won't be sliding as much though lol.