Good point Windstruck. I get old and grumpy as the years go by (and set in my ways) but I can see why it would be helpful in the snow. I kite in the snow occasionally as well and my solution was the same as it is at the beach. Kite is simply always connected to it's own handles or bar so all I do is put kite on ground, weight it if necessary, unwind lines, launch, and go. Its a 30 second process without even rushing. Never had a problem in 25 years. It also helps to channel you zen buddist powers :D. As a bonus it works exceptionally well in the winter for me because my fingers get cold easy and you have to take your gloves off to deal with the knots. No lines/knots to deal with and fingers stay happy :D. The downside is it's more expensive having to buy lines/handles/bar for every kite.

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Started to get it down a bit, but still screwed up a bunch of times; spinning the bar the wrong way, tugging on the wrong end (TWSS) and the like. Arg!

Position yourself and the kite accordingly and the bar will unspin itself . Making sure your working in harmony with the kite and buggy always creates the most rewarding experiences. :wee:

I have not seen or been around another kite buggy rider since I started (In a wheat field in NW OK). Now I am located at the beach and have better conditions. I don't want to get hurt or lose control so when I am going really fast (for me) and need to change directions I turn upwind a little bit and position the kite a little behind me to get pull while I turn the buggy almost to directly down wind. I quickly then lower the kite in the new direction and turn the buggy to follow the kite. It is a two step process and seems safe but clearly slows me down. Are you saying a down loop turn would be instead of putting the kite a little behind me, to do a full downward starting loop as I enter the turn in one step? If this is correct what if my setup does not allow me to spin the bar?

What could go wrong?

Jason

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what if my setup does not allow me to spin the bar?

You can fly your kite perfectly well with the lines twisted, just wait until you straighten out and unspin your lines when you have time. Like Windstruck, practice a bit before you do this at high speed :D The bigger your kite, the higher up you need to place it before turning, or you'll just plow it into the ground. Also, don't chicken out half way through, keep the kite turning the whole way through. I don't do this too often on my land board, but do it all the time on snowboard and water. The pull and speed you get as it goes through the wind window is sooooo fun.

Quote: Originally posted by Jason-G

I have not seen or been around another kite buggy rider since I started (In a wheat field in NW OK). Now I am located at the beach and have better conditions. I don't want to get hurt or lose control so when I am going really fast (for me) and need to change directions I turn upwind a little bit and position the kite a little behind me to get pull while I turn the buggy almost to directly down wind. I quickly then lower the kite in the new direction and turn the buggy to follow the kite. It is a two step process and seems safe but clearly slows me down. Are you saying a down loop turn would be instead of putting the kite a little behind me, to do a full downward starting loop as I enter the turn in one step? If this is correct what if my setup does not allow me to spin the bar? What could go wrong? Jason

Jason, here is an old video I made on Ivanpah. My turns weren't that great but I didn't slow down at all to set them up. In fact, they worked best when going over 35 mph.

https://youtu.be/bsNGx3rqMVY

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Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob

Quote: Originally posted by Jason-G   I have not seen or been around another kite buggy rider since I started (In a wheat field in NW OK). Now I am located at the beach and have better conditions. I don't want to get hurt or lose control so when I am going really fast (for me) and need to change directions I turn upwind a little bit and position the kite a little behind me to get pull while I turn the buggy almost to directly down wind. I quickly then lower the kite in the new direction and turn the buggy to follow the kite. It is a two step process and seems safe but clearly slows me down. Are you saying a down loop turn would be instead of putting the kite a little behind me, to do a full downward starting loop as I enter the turn in one step? If this is correct what if my setup does not allow me to spin the bar? What could go wrong? Jason Jason, here is an old video I made on Ivanpah. My turns weren't that great but I didn't slow down at all to set them up. In fact, they worked best when going over 35 mph. https://youtu.be/bsNGx3rqMVY

Beautiful job! I've had the chance to watch the master at play and your piloting skills are even more impressive in person. I hadn't considered the high speed long arching downwind turn but now I'm excited to try it. Not scrubbing off 35 mph would be awesome. I've gotten as fast as 48.8 on Ivanpah but mid 30s is a pretty standard speed for me out there when I'm cooking along. Thanks Bob!

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob   Quote: Originally posted by Jason-G   I have not seen or been around another kite buggy rider since I started (In a wheat field in NW OK). Now I am located at the beach and have better conditions. I don't want to get hurt or lose control so when I am going really fast (for me) and need to change directions I turn upwind a little bit and position the kite a little behind me to get pull while I turn the buggy almost to directly down wind. I quickly then lower the kite in the new direction and turn the buggy to follow the kite. It is a two step process and seems safe but clearly slows me down. Are you saying a down loop turn would be instead of putting the kite a little behind me, to do a full downward starting loop as I enter the turn in one step? If this is correct what if my setup does not allow me to spin the bar? What could go wrong? Jason Jason, here is an old video I made on Ivanpah. My turns weren't that great but I didn't slow down at all to set them up. In fact, they worked best when going over 35 mph. https://youtu.be/bsNGx3rqMVY Beautiful job! I've had the chance to watch the master at play and your piloting skills are even more impressive in person. I hadn't considered the high speed long arching downwind turn but now I'm excited to try it. Not scrubbing off 35 mph would be awesome. I've gotten as fast as 48.8 on Ivanpah but mid 30s is a pretty standard speed for me out there when I'm cooking along. Thanks Bob!

Thanks for the accolades! Many of the old timers said you'll learn more in a week at Ivanpah than in a year at home. I was lucky enough for it to be home for 6 years. There are many that make me look very elementary, and I watch them closely to learn from them.

I have taken the 3m and 4m out for some spirited static flying.

I had to add 6" to the brake lines on both.

I had the police visit and ask me all sorts of questions. So I decided to show them power and did the death spiral on the 4m. I scooted on my butt 1/2 across the football sized field in pretty good time. Once I hopped up and moved back to them I could see the smile.

"That looks very powerful!" was their response. Hehe

I hope to get the larger kites out today when the wind is peaking at 5mph.