Just some buggy time in the park?

I had an experience at the local sports park the other day. Actually it is multiple soccer fields connected together (about 3-5). This is soccers off season at this location so the goals are moved and there are very few obstacles.

I'd recently got in the rear rack for my (new to me) vehicle done so it can hold my kite buggy. Before my buggy could only go on my wife's car so this was my first buggy after work time.

The date was approaching the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year). The winds were picking up on my drive home from work, around 3:30 p.m. When I drove home I told my daughter that I was heading into town to find a grassy field to "play" in and fly a kite and possiblybuggy. She did not want to come along.

I static flew at this spot a week ago. The sidelines were wet but the fields seemed dry.

It had been raining a fair amount that day. I got down to the park just after 4:00 p.m. At the driveway entrance to the park I saw a friend and her kids that live nearby. I unrolled my window and said that I was going to try to buggy at the sports field. I parked and got my buggy off of the rack and realized only my 9M and 12M have bars attached to them. I figure I'll try the 9M because I can depower the kite and with it getting dark I don't want to change lines onto a different kite, I would lose to much time and light.

Now remember 99.9% of my flying has been out at coastal beaches. I am used to smooth winds. I am also used to sand and don't have a good concept of how slippery water soaked (standing water) grass can be.

I layed out my 9M and hot launched it. I immediately got drug downwind, running across the wet, standing water soccer field. I went running, running, running trying to catch up with the kite and trying to finally steer the kite. I was fully depowered but it was still pulling. It hit again and pulls me hard upward and forward. I get my feet underneath me as I land and they slide out from under me. I land on my butt in the water. I was then sliding on my butt across the rain soaked grass. I grabbed for my the snap shackle that is part of my AQR when I'm in the buggy (not thinking about the standard chicken loop quick release) but could not grab any releases by hand while wearing a heavier jacket at that time and it being between my legs on the ground. I eventually tried pulling the release on my safety line but it was somehow already disconned, most likely as I slid on my butt across the grass. I tried the AQR again and got it to release. The kite blew away from me and luckily stopped before the overgrown bushes. I ball up the kite and get it part way into a bag. I wind up my lines and walk back towards my friend and my car. I was totally soaked on my backside from my waist down and on the front from the knee down. My friend said there was a rooster tail following behind me as I slid basically across the soccer field complex (several fields).

Not being a quitter, I got my 4M out, attached lines and put it up. I got into the buggy. While steering the quick 4M I could not find my attachment loop on my snap shackle (I later found that it had been pulled off during my previous release) . But I was in the buggy, moving and wanted some buggy time. The 4M wasn't quite enough most of the times but at other times it was too much (inland gusting problem). I believe the winds were dying down and it was getting dark very quickly. I was able to make multiple passes back and forth across the width of the complex.
I was also is having problems with the wet grass. It was so slippery that I was sliding sideways and couldn't really make upwind progress. It would have been interesting ride with the 6M (because the 4M was generally underpowered) but then it was getting very dark because it was approaching 5:00 p.m. which is dark up here during the solstice. I was drenched but had gotten a little bit of kite time. I learned a few things.

When I got home I definitely had to wash some dirt out of the seat of my buggy that was from the first falling down and sliding in the grass.

It was fun it's great to get out and get some buggy time during my usual "off season".

I was able to clean my seat back up with some resolve clothing laundry pre-treatment and a brush. I was worried that the grass and mud would stain the light colors on the seat.

I got off un-hurt other than a stiff shoulder for the evening

Things I learned:
Listen to your inner voice.
Check the wind speed.
Swap to an appropriate sized kite.
Don't hot launch in high (or inland) winds.
Grass is very slick.
In sand you can get some grip as your feet sink in, this does not work on grass.
After a crash take the time to check your safeties to make sure everything is there.
Don't let the darkness rush you. Do what is needed.


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Two thumbs up brother!

Quote: Originally posted by eric67m

The 4M wasn't quite enough most of the times but at other times it was too much (inland gusting problem).

On behalf of all the inland riders I say "Welcome to our world"

Welcome to what Spencer calls The Janky Wind Club. He's President you know.

Good thing you got out of that one with nothing but grass stains and some good old fashion soaking. A stray goal post or tall light pole could have taken this tale in quite a different direction. Good lessons learned BTW.

Your tale brought back several distinct memories involving oddly enough both wet grass and Peaks. :D. Another lesson I'm still trying to learn (in most walks of life, not just kiting) is to stop always trying to punch square pegs through round holes and just live to (in this case) fly another day. Not saying this was necessarily one of those days, but I've had more than a few I wish I had just walked away from (like my freak gasoline fight accident for example).

Thanks for the nice tale and for taking the time to chronicle it here for us!

Yeah - you did mention it was getting dark during your riding.