I've been enjoying flying my quad line Rev this summer and I have messed around with a 1.4 dual line foil but the power kites and idea of buggying has been seeping into my imagination.

I have the wonderful opportunity to learn about power kiting from a very skilled and helpful local kiter. Ken (bladerunner) has already given me some really interesting insights into his sport of rollerblade kiting and yet a few questions are in my mind.

Why don't I see more women in this sport? Is it too high risk perhaps? Or does it require too much upper body strength? Are they edged out by the more enthusiastic male kiters?

I often see the girlfriends help their male pals set up a new foil and then the boys zoom it back and forth while the girl sits on her butt in the grass patiently watching. Or sometimes the gal gets a turn while the boys and the girls all have a laugh as the kite tugs her across the grass. Its all in good fun and everyone seems to enjoy themselves but makes me wonder whether there is a place for a woman, and I have to be open about my age, an 'older' woman, who wants to join in the sport of power kiting in general and buggying in particular.

We're always willing to welcome everyone. Women may need a slightly smaller kite, though that does depend on the individuals in question.
I hope you find you can enjoy yourself with the hobby to which we're all addicted.

i think power kiting is a very individual sport. it's you and the kite and wind and not much else, really.

there's a big display factor, i know i groove on it at times when i do a nice jump at the local beach and look up to see the volleyball game dead because all the players are watching the kite. so yes males like to display and dare i say it a big kite on long tight lines makes a phine fallic symbol, if you know what i mean.

but the best kiting is when there's nobody around to get in the way.

you and the kite and the wind, never mind the social aspect, whatever that may be.

so at the end of the day the male / female stuff is pretty much just so much rubbish by the wayside.

this wind stuff runs deep if you get into it.

try asking ken why he really flies...

just my 0.02 cents...

There are women doing this, just not as many.
I am trying to get my wife involved, but its slow going.
As with most sports that tend towards the extreme spectrum, there are fewer women out there doing them. Just sort of the way things go.

If you are on the East Coast, come on out to the Wildwood Buggy Bash this coming weekend and have a hand at riding in a buggy...

It's a shame you didn't make it down for SOBB. Not a lot of women in the sport of buggyin, but we do have a few down here. And then you will definitely find even more at NABX. Good luck and enjoy, there may be a lot more men than women in this sport, but it is NOT a mans sport by any means.

Airin, you do not have to go across the continent to Wildwood or south to Sunset Beach. We have a number of female buggiers right here at Garry Point. My girl friend, aka Dusty, and Solaris are both often found there. Dusty is a fairly accomplished buggier and no stranger to speed. Solaris is at Garry Point less often than Dusty because of her paragliding, but if there is too much wind gliding she will be at GP. I am sure either would be glad to help you start power kiting.
Dusty has a twenty year old daughter. Solaris has two sons, aged twelve and six. So I do not think age is not a factor. Just because Solaris is a paragliding instructor don't think you have to be a super athlete to participate; Dusty's other hobbies are a variety of fibre arts.
Come out to GP, we look forward to seeing you out there.

S

Thanks for your insights and perspective guys.

And thanks for the invite Scudley. I enjoyed seeing your Reflex when you flew it down at Vanier last week, by the way. Ken has offered to get me going on some quad line foils at Vanier in the next little while. I think I'll try the power kiting on my familiar home turf and once I think I've got a few basics down, then venture over to GP and the land of buggys.

If you can fly a Rev, you pretty much have the skills fly a fixed bridle foil. Maybe not a large one, but a small one will be a cinch in light wind. You just have to get used to the extra pull.
S

you have a great bunch of people up there to teach you and show you the ropes. They will all take good care of you

I will make a comment on the why not too many women question. In my case my wife doesn't like the wind. I've had her flying a few times and she enjoys it, but just really doesn't like the wind blowing on her. So thats like a being a surfer but hate the water
Its definitely not a size or strength thing. Anyone can do it! Just be prepared to be addicted after your first buggy run.

Airin,

We met briefly at Vanier, i arrived a few minutes before Ken. Listen to Sudley and Ken and you will be fine...both of them have the skills and the knowledge to help you out.

Just so you know my 12 year old daughter flies my SkyCountry Escape 3meter [earlier version of the Reflex] without problem in light wind.....you will be fine!!!

Helpful info and encouraging words guys, you're pretty quickly putting my mind at ease and fueling my interest in the power kites.

thanks,
Erin

I have been flying power kites and buggying now for at least 10 years. I wish I had discovered this sport when I was younger but age has not slowed me down.

Susan (npw goddess)

Quote:

Originally posted by airin Helpful info and encouraging words guys, you're pretty quickly putting my mind at ease and fueling my interest in the power kites.

This is how this addiction starts. Welcome to the forum Airin. I wish I had a bunch of guys to show me the ropes when I got started in this rodeo.

Just a few rules to remember:

#1 - Have Fun
#2 - Always think safety
#3 - Have Fun !!!


:wee:

like furbowski said--kiting is a personal thing , just you and the wind......ive never really thought about the man v woman thing........its all about enjoying yourself and having a good time with good friends--anyone can do it,all ages,all sizes--all you need is a little enthusiasm......

taught my wife everything i knew and flew (static stunters/Revs) together until she admitted that she really wasn't interested in kiting.
i imagine most women simply prefer to persue other interests.
Paul

I guess we didn't have the Grrrls on foils talk yet !

We are blessed with a few girls that kite . As Sean mentioned His S.O. is a terrific rider and is out a lot but seems to take winter off. Tonya is gaining real skills. There are at least 3 other girls who show up at Garry Point that I can think of.

You can always catch a ride with me out to Garry Point. I'm just thrilled to have such a nice friend to share Vanier with!

You don't need Hooj Ballz to fly kites. There is nothing holding girls back from doing it all in power kiting

P.S. It looks like tomorrow should work for us. Call me and we can meet up :roll:

Again, many thanks for all your responses....its great to have such a warm welcoming perspective offered by all of you.

OK, Ken, we'd better get going...fingers crossed for a sesh at Vanier tomorrow then....

cheers,
Erin

Hey, welcome to the sport, if i remember correctly I'm guessing you're buying trancein1's 3m Little Devil.

It's a great kite for some higher winds, he's getting rid of it because we rarely get the chance to use it as much here.

Guess Chicago doesn't truly deserve the tittle of the Windy City, unless you're counting Obama being full of air too.

But its a great kite, we have trained many of our friends how to fly on that kite and they got the hang of things quickly, but even for a tiny kite I've gotten scuds on it provided the wind was right.

He should be sending the kite out tomorrow, he had to go open his bar after his regular job so he wasn't able to send it out today.

But good luck, and stay safe.

welcome ...

ken if you need a smaller size foil. I have Hornet 3m for ya to teach Airin on.

sign up to PowerKiteCanada.com so you have an idea where we may be on the weekend and my weekend wind reports.

Welcome to the site airin

Quote:

Originally posted by airin I think I'll try the power kiting on my familiar home turf and once I think I've got a few basics down, then venture over to GP and the land of buggys.

When you feel you might be ready, come out to GP and I will give you a tandom ride in my comp xr buggy being towed by my Apexx:wee:
I am usually out at GP on the weekends
I also have a 3 meter hornet that I keep with me that you are welcome to use.
Welcome again to the addiction.

Ken (K3)

Hey Ken, that sounds like fun! I'll definitely check in with you some time soon for a tandem ride.....wheeee....!

There are women in the sport... We just need more of them...

At Airboss we do free coacing for females every 1st and 3rd sunday of the month, so they can build up their confidence with the pressure of the bf shouting "LOOP IT YA WIMP!"

My GF Nicki Hammond is also ranked 2nd in the UK atm for female freestyle buggying at the national BKSA comps..

Hey Airin, when you get the Little Devil, let me and trancein1 know what you think of it. We had parapacked it, im sure bladerunner or someone else there can teach you how to do it. We left it ready to fly and just go.

"Why don't I see more women in this sport? Is it too high risk perhaps? Or does it require too much upper body strength? Are they edged out by the more enthusiastic male kiters?"

Hi Airin, I'm Karen, very pleased to meet you

I asked myself the same question only last year when I had some time out & only discovered then that I live in a fortunate part of N.Wales with plenty of women buggiers, but that seems to be quite unique across the UK & the world.

Firstly, don't worry about the body strength. When I started I couldn't have been any less strong. You use muscles you wouldn't normally use anyway so they'll grow. Then when you want more power you'll move to a harness & if you're anything like me, will then struggle to hold down the power of a little kite without one!!lol

Whilst looking for more female buggiers (particularly freestyle) I've noticed that those who've done some other kind of sport as a grown up are more likely to be more confident in the early days. I think one of the reasons more blokes kite than girls, is because most blokes went through school playing football etc, chucking themselves to the ground, whilst we were busy skipping! Then, when they left school, they pretty much carried on whilst we replaced skipping for shopping!

I was really lucky & skied/snowboarded with another girly buggy friend before discovering kiting & I think that really helps. Nicki does rock climbing etc & my friend Emma does down hill mountain biking, so none of us are scared to fall & get dirty. If you don't do anything like that it doesn't matter, just invest in some good pads while you get used to learning to fall & play again. I think the other reason there are less women than men is because women as a rule generally have more responsibility & can't just drop everything because the tide & winds are good. Again I'm really lucky & don't have that issue (or possibly just overly addicted!).

So yeh, go for your life & love every moment of it. There's absolutely no reason on this earth why you shouldn't! Don't forget to report back!



Ride Like a Girl!

Hey bartibat (Karen) thanks a lot for taking the time to compose your thoughts on this subject, I really appreciate it. Nice to be in such good company too, by the way!

What you said makes a lot of sense. I have had one weekend out buggying with the 'blokes' (nice word, we don't use that quite enough over here). The guys were ever so keen but careful and considerate as well. I also meet a few of the buggy gals in the area and was excited to see how well they rode.

So its all good! I'm pretty hooked on this sport already and with the info found in this forum and my experience, limited though that may be at this point, I feel confident that the opportunities seem quite equal for men and women when it comes to power kite fun.

cheers,
Erin

Ace! Where do you ride? I've some reles in Vancouver who'd really like to give it a go after the fun we've been having this year - all female too!:D

bartiebat, I ride at Vanier park right in the heart of Vancouver and also at Garry Point which is a great kiting spot in a nearby suburb. Get you relatives to check out the local buggy scene by posting here or over at the PowerKiteCanada forum.