Power Kite Forum

Buggying Beginner

SamW - 2-1-2015 at 04:14 PM

Hi,

First post on here.

I was given a Flexifoil Buggy as a Christmas present. I've been flying kites for a good few years but never had a go on a buggy.

I've got a 4m HQ Crossfire, I'm assuming that's good enough for buggying? Also any other kit I need to or should get?

Anybody able to recommend somewhere to go in West Sussex for the first go?


Thanks
Sam

riffclown - 2-1-2015 at 04:31 PM

First Welcome to PKF..
The 4M HQ Crossfire is one of my personal favorites and an awesome kite to buggy with.. in the right conditions..

You'll want a smaller kite for conditions the 4M would be just too dangerous in.. I'd suggest a 2M or 3M kite as well. The 4M can quickly get unmanageable when the wind picks up even a little..

Keep in mind the Crossfire is also a higher aspect kite and you'll want to fly static a lot until you get used to the flying characteristics of it.. It's not a kite that likes to sit still.. Keep it moving and turn it before it reaches a stall point..

It's not a beginner kite by any stretch of the imagination because it can teach you a lesson the hard way very easily..
That being said, give it more respect than you think it deserves and you CAN INDEED learn on that kite. (I'm an example of it personally.) 4M Crossfire was one of my first real powerkites and I don't think I'll ever get rid of mine...

Here's a good example of a bit of power it can generate in even moderate winds..


Video of Chris from HQ with a bit of scudding action on a 4M Crossfire..
http://youtu.be/feJBAfaDekw


RedSky - 2-1-2015 at 04:44 PM

I'm in East Grinstead. Small world. Unfortunately there's very few decent places large enough to fly a kite let alone buggy. I go to either Camber sands in East Sussex or Purley Way Croydon. Yeah, that second one sounds unlikely but it has a fairly good open space amongst the gleaming towers. Here's my video of the place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DnGDWg3MKU

Edenbridge in Kent also has a nice little rec to practice on. That's where I first started to buggy. West Sussex is a big place, West Wittering has a good beach although I believe you have to be a member of SEKA to ride there (weekdays only! and only during the winter!), where abouts are you from ?

soliver - 2-1-2015 at 04:48 PM

A good group of buggy kites will typically include a 3m range and a 5m range kite, those 2 will cover a large segment of wind ranges. Your 4m Crossfire is a good buggy engines but possibly a little advanced for a beginner, though it sounds like you have a few years flying it already... Just know adding momentum to the equation changes things more than you will realize.

Tell us about your typical wind conditions and we can tell you what we might recommend. Likey a good 3m first.

SamW - 2-1-2015 at 04:57 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies!

I'm in Horsham and usually go to West Wittering, aware of the limitations there with boards and buggies. I work in London so drive past Purley Way most days, and now you've mentioned it I do remember seeing buggies on there a couple of times... Might stop next time if I have the time

I've had the Crossfire for about 8 years so well used to it but will definitely look into something smaller.

Looking forward to getting out and having a go

riffclown - 2-1-2015 at 06:10 PM

If you know your kite that well then just about any day you'd fly the Crossfire is a great day to buggy with it. You'll be surprised that the area where you are used to having to turn the Crossfire to keep it from luffing will take a little adjustment once you're in the buggy due to apparent wind. The power zone will actually seem a bit larger to you than you normally fly in... Great Buggy and a Great Kite to ride with.. :D

Know your conditions and take into account that some wind directions may have dangers in some areas.. For instance if the kite could drag you into a ravine or thistle patch then you might want to defer to a different wind direction for that particular location..

Demoknight - 9-1-2015 at 10:25 AM

Redsky, that location looks amazing! The area looks pretty well populated, but the buildings all seem pretty low so I bet it isn't too janky. What are typical wind conditions there? That looks nearly ideal for a grass park besides perhaps a beachfront grass park.

RedSky - 9-1-2015 at 05:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Demoknight  
Redsky, that location looks amazing! The area looks pretty well populated, but the buildings all seem pretty low so I bet it isn't too janky. What are typical wind conditions there? That looks nearly ideal for a grass park besides perhaps a beachfront grass park.


Hey Demoknight,

Yeah, it's a surprisingly wide open space amongst the southernmost limit of London's suburban sprawl.

The prevailing wind direction is westerly and the buildings to the west of the field have a fairly low profile but that helps little. The place is plagued with low winds, drop-out lulls, a large wind directional swing range. Jankiness all round. You can be flying along nicely one minute and the next minute your kite is falling out of the sky, hence why my kite became caught in the trees in the video. I have become a master at freeing kites from trees.

The place seems to have its own micro climate that defies any predicted weather forecast.
Occasionally the right conditions will come along to make it a great place to ride. The grass is always trimmed and the drainage is very good.

If you ever make it over here, I'll drive you there and also the beach, buggy's supplied. :)