ssayre - 17-2-2015 at 03:12 PM
I got out for an hour today for some streetkite (short lines) buggy on snow. I was using the streetkite bar and not hooked in. I opted not to use
the kite killer this time and was enjoying the freedom of one handed flying and not having one arm tethered to the kite. This worked well until the
wind picked up and dragged me too close to the road to let go of the kite. Luckily I was able to land it short of the road and flag out before it
became a hood ornament. I guess I'll have to stick to the kite killer when in close quarters.
soliver - 17-2-2015 at 04:25 PM
Cool beans... Glad you could get out Sean!
3shot - 17-2-2015 at 05:17 PM
I still want to do this. Last year I was bogged down in like 4". I was hoping for a bunch of slip and slide, but it ending up feeling like soft
sand...
ssayre - 17-2-2015 at 05:50 PM
Jason, that's a rough parking lot with an inch of snow. It provided a good balance between traction and sliding. It was more on the slippery side, I
couldn't power slide because if I cranked the wheel hard it would just slide and not turn. I could fish tail pretty good as I was moving along. Last
year we had so much snow that I couldn't buggy at all for a few months. I need to hit the field with long lines now.
sadsack - 17-2-2015 at 05:59 PM
How long are you street lines?
ssayre - 17-2-2015 at 06:03 PM
I was using 5 meter lines. I would like to have a set of 10 meter lines as well to be between my 5 and 20 meter lines.
John Holgate - 18-2-2015 at 02:46 AM
Cool picture! I've never even thought about buggying on snow. Nice!
Demoknight - 18-2-2015 at 11:15 AM
I have only tried to buggy in snow once. The snow was only about 2-3 inches at the time, but I could literally do nothing but slide sideways
downwind. There was no traction. It was like trying to run across ice in tennis shoes. Since then, if there is snow on the ground, I don't even
consider getting the buggy out.
ssayre - 18-2-2015 at 11:37 AM
I've done it a few times. I don't attempt it if there is more than 2". However, with 2" or less I can usually be successful. You have to get going
slowly and try to avoid side slip but once moving I can usually hold a line especially on a field. A light snow that forms a crust is even better. I
suppose getting skis would be smarter but I just like the buggy too much.
ssayre - 19-2-2015 at 02:56 PM
More tracks at the same location but in the field. This is a relatively new spot I've found that I haven't made any videos at.
Today was 11 mph gusting 20 mph. Precisely the conditions that I wanted the Peak for. I couldn't have asked for anything more, it did perfectly.
Plenty of low end and stability during the lulls and great depower and handling during the gusts. I can't imagine a better kite in these conditions,
although I am far from having tried all kites.
soliver - 19-2-2015 at 04:54 PM
Sounds awesome Sean, was this your first chance to use the peak in the buggy?
ssayre - 19-2-2015 at 05:45 PM
I've used it one other time, but I was not as well powered as I was today. It really is a great design. My nasa's are my goto kites, but there are
days when it's very useful to have a kite with a huge wind range like the peak.
Edit: By the way, it was 4 degrees with negative wind chill today. I lasted about an hour and a half with just jeans, coat, hat, gloves, and tennis
shoes (in other words, I was not properly dressed for the temperature). A word of caution: Don't wait until you cant feel your fingers or toes
before it's time to pack up. I had to walk back to the truck to get warmed up before I could even think about packing my stuff up.
3shot - 19-2-2015 at 06:08 PM
I really envy your outings! Soooo looking forward to getting a chance to fly again soon!
ssayre - 19-2-2015 at 06:45 PM
I've probably only been kiting 4 times in the last 2 months but I'm starting to get the urge to take advantage of my soccer field areas before spring
season starts. I'll try and get some video with the peak if conditions are right, but it's a little more difficult since 2 hands are usually required
with the peak. :D She takes a little more piloting than the nasa's
Demoknight - 20-2-2015 at 02:29 PM
I haven't been on my buggy since before snow started falling. I have been jonesing so bad it hurts. Every time the wind is good enough to blow the
beach clean and give me a good direction to ride, I have been out of town. Every time the wind blows hard enough to have fun, it has been the wrong
direction. Every other time the wind blows, it is gusting over 35mph. I don't have kites for that wind speed on my beach. I would consider putting
up the 3.5m Reactor in that speed on a dry lake, with AQR of course, but not on my local beach that is only 150 yards wide and barely over a quarter
mile long.
I need to hurry and get some ripstop in the air before I go insane.
soliver - 20-2-2015 at 02:49 PM
Find a 2.6m Viper S... Bad little kite fo sho
ssayre - 20-2-2015 at 03:29 PM
Or a 2.5 ns3. It wouldn't have quite the scare factor and has the potential to go high 30's (buggy speed) at least.
A 4 meter peak would probably make a wicked high wind kite also
Here's a couple more pics from today. Too much snow and not enough wind but I gave it a shot.
