SWAT - 12-8-2007 at 03:23 AM
I thought I would post this from across the pond in the UK, I hope this is the right place.
Remember we are professionals ..... just not at this ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNZvh4dRmIY
SWAT
BeamerBob - 12-9-2007 at 08:41 AM
OK, It's official now. I don't want one of those bat wings!
GulfSandEater - 12-9-2007 at 11:22 AM
I'm sure having a couple of dogs trying to bite your feet doesn't help!
Pablo - 12-9-2007 at 01:42 PM
Still looks like it'd be a hoot to try out. Unfortunately the dirt surfer didn't make it to SOBB. Still up for a try though.
Bladerunner - 12-9-2007 at 03:35 PM
Is there a reason that most folks using these are also riding dirtsurfers ?
Pablo - 12-9-2007 at 06:09 PM
Dirtsurfer=speed, kitewing looks like it has very little drag as well, should work together at speed quite nicely.
SWAT - 13-9-2007 at 04:43 AM
Yup, at speed the Dirtsurfers get more stable, as do the Kitewings. They combine perfectly at speed, and the wings are totally depowerable, so the
control is incredible.
The wings have very little drag, enormous upwind capability and no problems with overtaking it (like with a kite !!)
There are plenty of videos of us doing it properly, I felt that we ought to show ourselves getting it wrong to check the ego's !!!!!
PrairieWind - 13-9-2007 at 12:44 PM
SWAT and the gang at www.wingsurfer.co.uk have a great sense of humour. That is evident in the crash vid. They have plenty of videos of them doing very nice speed
runs - they are on the verge of breaking 50mph on the british beaches. Quite a feat.
The kitewing is very easy to use, much easier than a kite - especially in high winds. It is my high wind weapon of choice. If you check out the
instructional video on the www.kitewing.com website you'll see how easy it is.
BeamerBob - 14-9-2007 at 04:53 AM
I've seen guys doing it right. It's just that this video shows all the ways I could screw up learning how to do it. Something about your lower pivot
point being at your ankles and the power being supplied over your head. I'm 6'4 so the wing would have a ot of leverage on me. Put that in the mix
with learning at slow speeds where the dirt surfer isn't quite in it's element and I would be falling all over myself. I feel like I could learn the
dirt surfer on a down hill and then progress to a kite and then maybe to the wing. Big learning curve I imagine.
Pablo - 14-9-2007 at 08:51 AM
I'd probably combine it with an ATB until I got the wing figured out, then move on to a DS once I'm comfortable with the wing and starting to pick up
speed.
PS: passing with a kite is easy, simply wedge yourself in just down wind with the kite low, they've got no choice but to raise their sail and back out
of it.:evil:
SWAT - 15-9-2007 at 11:53 AM
That video was compiled over 2 years, it is actually a lot easier than you might think.
Best to learn the DS downhill first, then learn the wing on an ATB, then combine the two.
Pablo - "back out of it" - not in a Kitewingers vocabulary - sorry !!!!! - We'll just slice your lines :D:D:D
Pablo - 15-9-2007 at 06:47 PM
Gotta catch me first.:singing:
SWAT - 16-9-2007 at 08:57 AM
No problem, I'll stop and wait !!!
Pablo - 16-9-2007 at 03:56 PM
Your top speed with a dirt surfer/wing combo?
SWAT - 17-9-2007 at 02:32 AM
48.7 mph (78.4 kph) - in about 18 knots !! - More wind more speed !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbPhXdivAx8
It gets a bit exciting on two wheels on sand cos at that speed both wheels start sliding !!!
Lots of buggiers have gone over 50 on sand, we are the closest on two wheels.
Pablo - 17-9-2007 at 02:30 PM
Well, it'd be close then, so far my best to date is 45.6mph, that's with my Brooza. could have done more with a better wind angle on the beach though.
Still have to see what I can wring out of my race kites though. At 45mph the Libra feels rock solid, some slight vibration from the front tire with
the BF tires, dead smooth with the barrows on the playa. But no where near kicking out on me.
Then I made the mistake of riding JEllis's new buggy, avoid it at all costs, that thing is so stable and smooth it's just stupid. You completely lose
the "Oh Poop" factor and it leaves you craving more power. Once you ride it you'll be put off "normal buggies" for life.
SWAT - 18-9-2007 at 01:35 AM
Hey, BeamerBob - you could learn to dirtsurf on that lovely golf course where you live, I am sure they wouldn't mind !!!
If anyone is ever over in the UK - and would like a session with a DS and Kitewing - drop me a line.
Our beach has about a mile stretch of flat sand, but the wind has to be a perfect SSW for our speed attempts - a 20knot SW can only get us to just
over 40mph, an 18 knot SSW can get us to nearly 50 - so fingers crossed for a 30 knot SSW 
BeamerBob - 18-9-2007 at 02:51 AM
That's a great idea! I could entertain the rich and famous on the veranda under the big oak tree, while they sip their tea. The first hole has a
nice steady dropoff and the grass is so smooth. When I get better, I could ride from the green on 18. I need to pick up a board and pop over there
during lunch today. I'm excited already. I'll let you know how it goes.:D: I hope there aren't any golfers in the way. That would break my
concentration.::P