Power Kite Forum

Little talked about buggy engine

southpadreburt - 17-4-2016 at 09:04 AM

A few months ago I found it difficult to find information on the Ozone Summit as a buggy engine. After learning to buggy with Ozone Access kites I was ready to get into more advanced kites with increased performance. After using my 8M and 10M Summit with a buggy, I am very pleased with them. Great speed with much better upwind performance. Very stable and responsive. The Summit is a great buggy engine.

Windstruck - 17-4-2016 at 09:37 AM

Burt - that's cool to hear. Interesting that you went the route of the Summit for buggy riding, assuming here that you aren't into freestyling. I love my Ozone Access, Frenzy and Summit for snow kiting but I would be nervous to use either my Frenzy or Summit as buggy engines for fear of OBEs. Both Summit and Frenzy kites could really pluck you up in the air with some pilot error. I've flown my 6m Access from the buggy on Ivanpah but as you surely know it is far less of a boosting kite.

You might want to look at the Peak-2s for buggy engines since you seem to like to fly DP from the buggy (as do I). Superb buggy engines with tons of DP and not very lifty. A super nice feature of the Peak2s is a little ball you can slide down above the bar for holding it place for long runs. Fantastic feature for Park and Ride if you've got long straightaways like on a beach or playa.

I know with personal experience what a great high wind kite the 6m Access is. I plan to get a 4m later this year for even higher winds. I have heard, however, that the larger Access kites can get a little "dead in bed". Any thoughts on that?



Just out of curiosity, are any of your Access or Summit Ozone kites the newer versions with Re-Ride built in (V6 for Access, V3 for Summit)?

ssayre - 17-4-2016 at 02:38 PM

I'd be interested to know if you've used the xbow's in the buggy. I've always wanted to try lei out in the buggy in my area as the western division of the inland wind club seems to like them.

southpadreburt - 17-4-2016 at 04:40 PM

Windstruck, I buggy with ocean winds and have little concern about an OBE from higher aspect kites. I know that others with gusty or unsteady winds do worry about the lift of the Frenzy or the Summit. With our wind conditions I do not find them lifty unless you ask them to do so. Another factor is that I am not a speed person as beach and large dunes keep our speeds below 30mph. It is so nice to have the kite pulling you more forward than to the side. Both of my Summits and Frenzy have considerable depower giving a wide wind range or comfort zone. The larger Access kites turn more slowly but they are big and have a low AR design. The Access kites are a nice blend of performance, safety and price. I really enjoy my 4m Access when the wind allows. The 13M Ultralite Frenzy and 8M Summit are 2014 models and only have the fifth line release. I have had to use the release with both kites when the wind was strong. Tends to make a mess of the kite and lines but brings the kite down safely and depowered. The 2015 Summit has the new re-ride fifth line and I love it. A safe no fuse no muss landing in higher winds that keeps the kite ready to go again. Hope this answers your questions.

southpadreburt - 17-4-2016 at 06:36 PM

Ssayre, I don't use LEI kites on land as the possibility of damage is too great. I hate patching my LEI's bladders. Self launch and landing is more iffy than foils. Foils fly in lighter wind and require no pumping. If you find some advantages please pass them on!

Windstruck - 17-4-2016 at 07:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by southpadreburt  
Windstruck, I buggy with ocean winds and have little concern about an OBE from higher aspect kites. I know that others with gusty or unsteady winds do worry about the lift of the Frenzy or the Summit. With our wind conditions I do not find them lifty unless you ask them to do so. Another factor is that I am not a speed person as beach and large dunes keep our speeds below 30mph. It is so nice to have the kite pulling you more forward than to the side. Both of my Summits and Frenzy have considerable depower giving a wide wind range or comfort zone. The larger Access kites turn more slowly but they are big and have a low AR design. The Access kites are a nice blend of performance, safety and price. I really enjoy my 4m Access when the wind allows. The 13M Ultralite Frenzy and 8M Summit are 2014 models and only have the fifth line release. I have had to use the release with both kites when the wind was strong. Tends to make a mess of the kite and lines but brings the kite down safely and depowered. The 2015 Summit has the new re-ride fifth line and I love it. A safe no fuse no muss landing in higher winds that keeps the kite ready to go again. Hope this answers your questions.


Yes, and then some. Thanks for all that. I know exactly what you mean about the Frenzy and Summit tending to pull from a more forward position, most definitely a nice feeling. Sounds as if you have a nicely dialed in setting and setup. Good on ya.

ssayre - 18-4-2016 at 06:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by southpadreburt  
Ssayre, I don't use LEI kites on land as the possibility of damage is too great. I hate patching my LEI's bladders. Self launch and landing is more iffy than foils. Foils fly in lighter wind and require no pumping. If you find some advantages please pass them on!


Those are the same reasons that have held me back from getting one to try. Redsky looks like he has so much fun with his in crazy winds that it always makes me want to try one.

It doesn't surprise me that the summit is a good buggy engine and the added upwind performance would be great.