So, some of the best spots I've found to fly thus far are on astroturf fields where I can't just stick my stake into the ground. Are there any other options?

I was thinking I might be able to use a small dumbbell, has anyone tried something like this?

Sweet.. Id love to ride on some astroturf. I don't use one for open cell foils (never had a problem with them blowing away, yet).. but for closed cell stuff like arcs and the FS, i have a 1 gallon bag of sand duct taped closed, inside of another gallon ziplock bag also duct taped closed, all tossed in a pillow case. Works great! There are commercial solutions too, of course.

Quote: Originally posted by SpecialK

Sweet.. Id love to ride on some astroturf. I don't use one for open cell foils (never had a problem with them blowing away, yet).. but for closed cell stuff like arcs and the FS, i have a 1 gallon bag of sand duct taped closed, inside of another gallon ziplock bag also duct taped closed, all tossed in a pillow case. Works great! There are commercial solutions too, of course.

So you just plop that over the handles?

You can go to a dive shop...I have used small lead weights for BC's to hold an edge down in the winter when the ground is frozen and there is no snow....get like 3 or 4...They are usually coated in plastic and come in all different weights. Check out Craigslist too.

You can use sand on the beach or snow in the field when available.....I have used tennis balls too with pennies in them.

You can also look around at garage sales for huge screwdrivers for stakes...Cost is like a dollar and if you leave it in the field or beach (believe me...you will) you won't care...more where they came from...

Have fun and wear a helmet.

I use it to hold the inflated kite down by putting it on the kite itself. This is very useful for closed cell kites that stay inflated when they come down. For open cell kites, I've never had a problem with it wanting to blow away.. it always has just stayed down so I've never bothered staking it.

You can ride on astro turf? I can't even ride on some nice turf fields in my area. Are you just lucky or does the keeper not know?

I use the bags that come with folding lawn chairs filled with sand. Peter Lynn has similar bags commercially. I have never used them to anchor my handles ( or bar ) but suspect it would work? Put the bag through the handles and the fold it over? Less likely to twist and roll than a dumbbell.

I'm just on these fields with my kite. I've yet to try the board there, but I imagine I'd get kicked off if I did.