Sooooo, I have been sitting at a stand still for a while, only buggying at WBB, a lot because of my work schedule, but even more because I had not been happy buggying because my progress had pretty much stalled. I had even considered getting out of the sport for a bit.

Fast forward to last week, I saw an opportunity and I debated it, was this the missing link I needed to get my enthusiasm back up, is this what was going to help catapult me to the next level. I had tried many times to go faster, ride longer, and really just plain have a blast. Was this the ticket to happiness in the buggy that I was looking for. After hours of consideration I pulled the trigger, sold my other buggy and anxiously awaited its arrival before the event. Yes I was the one who ended up with the GT I didn't t buy the wheels as I already have a set of Sysmic 17" wheels and tires and they provided much needed support in my quest.

Well it ended up being my missing link, the ride that quickly set my new personal best and left me with the desire to ride harder, faster and continue to set more personal best and keep pushing my envelope. The first day I set my best recorded personal best at 43.6mph on the sands of Wildwood,my previous was 40.6mph, then after a quick lunch break went back at it and set another persons best in the same day of 44.9mph . I will be going back and trying for more. Having the right ride, the right kite, and the right combination really makes a huge difference.

This was my missing link that has been found and now is keeping me rolling with a huge smile and an even deeper desire than when I first got into the sport almost 8 years ago.

Share your missing link, what do you think will push you to the next level if that is what you desire. Not all want speed, but in this case, it was what I needed as in all other aspects of my life have always been about pushing the envelope when it comes to big boy toys.

Awesome to hear you found your bliss and are riding again! Buggy being available has definitely changed my marginal wind days for when the mountainboard wasn't working well for me (our winds and lack of sandy locations to fly don't help)

For me on the Mountain board it was the Peak that to me from frustration to "Hey, maybe I'll keep this board after all!".

On the water it was the Flydoor Matrixx 2 19 that got the job done. Mostly due to the nature of the Matrixx 2 and its uber smooth power delivery.

On the ice chasing speed, much like the buggy I assume, there are a lot of variables in gear and conditions that make it work. Usually I pick the right stuff. Sometimes things work that you wouldn't expect and sometimes things I think will push me to a better PB, fall short. For example the 8m Charger 1 is outrunning kites like the Chrono. For me grunt counts as much if not more than speed of the kite design.

But it took a while to figure that out.

For me it WILL be wind... when I get some on a day that I can go out and ride, I'll let you know how it works out

Rich, seeing you standing on the back axle holding on to your walk of shame strap steering your bug pass me down the street after a long day on the beach was one thing, the grin and yelling "yeah who" told all of us you have a great ride.
Enjoy.

Congrats on the stoke Rich! I was thrilled to get your good reports on how you were getting along with the buggy.

I know money can be an issue sometimes and this isn't an easy sport to dip your toe in slowly because you need so much right out of the gates. But many just don't understand the difference a high performance piece of gear can make to your happiness.

As I progressed in this sport, my skill level had to increase. For that to happen, you can't have equipment that is the weak link and doesn't inspire confidence. I've never been at the limit of my buggy. When at MY mental limit, my buggy has never been a factor in holding me back. Folks, if you get a chance to take a ride in a high performance buggy that fits you, don't miss the chance to see what it's like. You spend hundreds or thousands on kites, and travel to get to use them. Get the best gear you can make use of where you ride. Don't short change the progression, fun, confidence, and safety you could be enjoying next time out. Then ride it like you stole it. :duh::duh:

For me it was the NPW (NS2 5.5) kite on short lines that made the difference between getting nowhere and getting going on my ATB. That and finding a decent parking lot.

Great subject and comments all around. I would echo all comments. The frustrating part for me is now knowing what I still need, but not being able to justify the expense with other more pressing household expenses. bigger buggy bigger tires would probably go a long way to handle more speed at my sites but I'm going to make do with trying to progress in a more freestyle type of riding by default of my current buggy.

so far the missing link for me has been moving to a hybrid depower / nasa / single skin quiver. Works great for inland riding.

i have no missing link...loved this addiction before i ever started....love the whole idea of it
when the wind blows my kite gets hard...or something like that

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

when the wind blows my kite gets hard...or something like that

For me the missing link to a personal best is the skillz and the nerve to push myself. I have the equipment and the wind to make it happen, I just need to push myself harder and go for it a little more each time the opportunity arises. As Feyd has said many times, the kite doesn't make the kiter, the kiter makes the kite. I want to be able to go faster but also remain in control and be safe about it. Confidence in your equipment, skill and experience all add up to make that happen. My personal best is 42 mph on skis. Now that is a gentle cruising speed for some, but for my particular comfort level that day, it was fast enough. Was I using a Chrono? No, but I don't think using a Chrono would've made me any faster that day considering my skill level, IMHO. It's def more of a mental game for me......along with a sprinkling of luck:D

I've been in this sport from one end to the other with nothing I can think of that was the missing link. Even left for a while......
If it wouldn't have been for a quadriplegic who wanted to get into the sport I would have been gone some time ago. I found a new desire to promote the sport and it's all because of a guy, a motorcycle accident and a smile you couldn't remove with a crowbar. Teaching someone who wants to learn is my missing link. Besides a bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work.

Nothing much to add here other than this is a wonderful thread. I greatly enjoy reading about other's missing links and the small and large joys they get to experience. This is my first year going mobile under traction kites and it just feels like home to me. I've loved wind since I can remember so I'm just thrilled to have not only found this sport but also this wonderful family of fellow enthusiast on line. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the years to come at events.

Now go out there and get some!

I think it will be a while before I hit any plateau in my kiting. Like you Rich I don't buggy much outside of WildWood. I will say that I am becoming more and more comfortable under my Phannies. With that said I guess flying time is my missing link. Every time out I feel more confident to push harder, sine more instead of park and ride, etc... So with more fly time who knows...

Quote: Originally posted by cheezycheese

I think it will be a while before I hit any plateau in my kiting. Like you Rich I don't buggy much outside of WildWood. I will say that I am becoming more and more comfortable under my Phannies. With that said I guess flying time is my missing link. Every time out I feel more confident to push harder, sine more instead of park and ride, etc... So with more fly time who knows...

And yet park and ride and just cruising can be so nice sometimes. #@%$#!ty winds for a few days then a day with steady and it's like a dream to just park and ride to cruise for a bit.

Time and money.

I am not striving to hit a higher level anymore. I am just wanting to get out and enjoy the skills I have gained. Push it but come home safe.

My big problem is I live in an expensive city with no great locations to kite on land.

With more time and money I could travel to better locations and take what I do know to places that I can enjoy it most.

Reading this thread makes me appreciate even more the community we have. Such a diverse group, yet all looking for something similar, yet different. Some speed, some pleasure, some social fun and a little kiting as well. In the end we are all just looking to get out more it seems.

I still enjoy a good cruise and even park and ride days are much better than working on any day. But currently for me speed is definitely where it's at. The new ride combined with the tires I have and of course my phannies will take me a good bit further. Yes Ken I will do that safely and will even start wearing more protective gear than I usually do when I go out for speed runs. I now have a goal, one that may have been achievable in my old buggy that gave me many years of pleasure, but I still don't think I would be able to get where I really want to go with it. The new owner is very happy and even topped my best speed in it.

Keep on posting because this is a great read and thanks for sharing your stories and desires to find that missing link.

Thinking about it, I still have tons of missing links. Time and money to make the events, equipment, people locally to kite with. I don't know why I still tolerate this hobby when I think about it so I choose not to. I do what I can when the wind blows. :P

Congrats Rich !!!!.... Awesome buggy, nice set of wheels ..... and good personal best .... Can't wait to go back next year and push harder to get that challenge more exciting .... lol ...

very cool realizations!

knowledge AND understanding to discern "what is missing" just takes time.

the more relaxed you become, the mind allows greater insight, the inefficiencies begin to be revealed. helping whittle away at elements holding you back .. balance, posture, POS, tire pressure, sail drag, trim, current assessment, conditions, timing, kite position, complete window use, limits of equipment , skill of others around you, modeling other pilots , texture of your attitude, risk assessment ...all of it! everytime! squeezing out the difference is part of the piloting drive.