Having never flown at a NABX, are the winds mainly clean or dirty lumpy stuff. Need to know please as I will pack kites according, race kites for clean stuff and the rest for lumpy stuff. Any clues on average wind or just bring all the kite sizes.

Cheers
D

bring em all!

I noticed and have been confirmed by others with more experience that a 3m kite could be your most used. The space is so wide open, winds are generally smooth, but there can be some gusty stuff if weather is changing. Race kites generally get along fine. Depower is nice because you have some variability as your speed/apparent winds increase. Also, the kite that barely gets you rolling out of camp can become a monster out in the middle of the lake. Many say to size down probably 2 sizes for what you would ride in the same winds at home. Even the hard fast sand at Jekyll Island, Georgia is softer and much more compliant than the lakebed surface. At Jekyll, you at least make tracks (just marks, not impressions) where your tires roll over the surface. You don't make any mark on the playa surface at all, unless you go fast enough to blow up some dust behind you.

But yes, since I'm driving in a large car and bringing my son too, I'll bring virtually every kite except maybe the 18 and 19m arcs

Typically, unless a weather system is moving through, early afternoon winds can be bumpy, evening winds are very smooth.

Be aware of dust devils creeping up on you at any time. If you see one you have 2 options get your kite down and avoid it or get ahead of it and go for speed. 3m and smaller are good for this.

Also be ready for some period of on again , off again winds.

There often seems to be a chance to play with really big stuff but it's short lived.

Bottom line. If you leave it at home it will be the kite that you need!

I want to give buggying a shot, can't wait to fly out there. Would it be better to ride on depower for my first bug experience or FB?

Adam best bet first off is a fixed bridle

i say fix too.

Quote:

Originally posted by flyjump I want to give buggying a shot, can't wait to fly out there. Would it be better to ride on depower for my first bug experience or FB?

i could use some new Vapors, so you can use mine. you break it you buy it. =)

hehehe, see you in the PL Tent.

if you fall asleep first in the PL RV, just dont look at the mirror in the morning ~ courtesy of Kitebuggy Mama.

as for kite sizes, bring it all. IMO, race kites all the way = speed. who cares about gusty, its just like turbo for kites. when the dust devil comes just be infront of it for the extra speed boost.

Twin skin? Oh yeah. You will see a lot of twin skins on the lake bed. Been on them since the Phantom came out, love those kites. Riding with a bar just takes a little practice to not hit the rear wheel.

Wish they'd make a Phantom ll!

That said, I'll repeat what I've said before about slowing down on the lake.

It is almost always better to fly your kite as low as possible to slow down, not overhead. This way you avoid OBE.

Here's how. Simply head upwind until you stop, kite low to the ground and under control.

When your kite is high and you are trying to stop, it can lift you even though your ground speed may be very low. All it can do when it is low is pull you. Huge difference. OBE's on the playa are quite different than any other place as the surface is hard, and then if you slide, it is like a giant grinding wheel.

Respect is called for. Read the Ivanpah Dry Lake Learning Curve for lots of input.

aoxo~soon~!~

Quote:

Originally posted by flyjump I want to give buggying a shot, can't wait to fly out there. Would it be better to ride on depower for my first bug experience or FB?

To touch on what Dean said...it is definately like a grinding wheel or sand paper if you get dragged across the dry lake. Try to avoid this. As he said keepin the kite low and turning upwind is your best cance of aoiding an OBE. But if you do have an unfortunate event like a OBE or you get dragged across the surface. Be sure to clean any scapes or cuts immediately! Otherwise infections can be brutal and in some cases will mean a hospital visit.