Hello, i think i read somewhere that to make the buggy stop you use the kite. Is this like a parachute? Ive tried it like that but i can't do it so instead i put the kite high and turn sharp to make the from wheel skid.

Is there a proper/ better way to stop quickly?

Peter

I send the kite to 11 or 2 , in the opossite direction as I'm traveling and then brace myself. If the wind is strong I'll end up being lifted and pulled the other way + downwind a bit. Sometimes I can ride the landing out and head off the other way ! With the bug I try to get it turned so the pull in the opposite direction doesn't yank me backwards.

Meh that's the part that makes me most nervous. I've been liften out of the buggy a few times in strong wind, once where i had to change direction fast or crash into a bush and was pulled straight out and up.

I also wanted to ask someone about going backwards, when i try it i end up with my arms up and the kite behind me. There're video lessons online somewhere but i can't find them. Should i be looking backwards as i do it?

Pea


sounds like you let your wing get to far ahead of you going backwards .. during the transition in the 180{going from forward to backward} move your wing up 1 hour then after completing the move slowly drop the wing back into the window... spot your reach early before going backwards also helps if you have a mirror be it on the buggy or small convex mirrors {automotive types} on your gloves via dbl stick tape.

Also to reduce being abducted is to shift your weight as forward into the buggy for hard fast turns

When you say to drop the wing back into the window, do you mean spin the kite so the lines would be twisted?

I think what i tend to do is make the kite go too far into the edge of the window and stall it, and it's disorientating.

Pea

when you move from forward to reverse all you need to do is raise the kite up"slightly" then after move it back into position to regain you pull to go backwards ... no spin involved with the kite"up then back down" your lines will have a twist from the one 180 and when you come out of it the lines return back

here a practice tip

do dry runs w/o the buggy...
walk with the kite as you would as if in a buggy going forward then move the kite up 1 hr. turn your body {as if in the buggy to go backwards}drop the kite back into position and walk backwards, this help to gain comfort and programs muscle memory you'll also find out your weak side and strong side {when to caution and what is comfort} now do it a couple of times then transfer the knowledge into your buggy. try not to achive warp speeds at first just enough to move you backwards then as your skills improve you'll hammer out quicker 180s to reverse moves...

keep us updated on your progress

If you're on a surface with some 'give', ie sand or grass, or loose dirt (wet or dry/dusty), it's pretty easy to shave off speed by doing a quick turn and swinging the back of the buggy out sideways with your hips for a long skid, in combination with moving the kite back in the opposite direction like the others suggested.

If you're on a hard surface with no give though, like tarmac or concrete, the only times I've tried this same move ended with bruises... :wow: In this case you only have the option to fly the kite back behind you. Don't loop it (cause you'll get more power!) - just take the kite up high instead of going side-on in the direction you're heading - this is enough if you just want to reduce the pull and roll to a stop. If you want to use the kite to slow down, once it's up high, turn it to go back in the opposite direction from what you're heading - but be careful you don't lower it down too much into the power, otherwise the buggy will keep on going in it's direction and you'll be pulled out the back! Just dip it down into the power and you'll feel it slowing you down...

Here's a site that has a bunch of lessons for buggying basics and freestyle moves etc, with animated Flash videos:

http://www.kite-buggiers.co.uk/_basics/slowdown.php

Looks like i was doing it fairly right then. I only buggy on rough terrain and i find it's hard to practise going backwards because there's so much grip.

I recently buggied on linseed stubs (cut) and it totally wrecked my seat and a strap eventually fell off. So i can't do any kind of buggying for a while.

bad things happen when you send a kite high with speed, even a non lifty kite can easily launch you out of the bug.

Best way to slow down safely is to keep the kite real low and cut hard upwind, you'll do one of two things, either slide the buggy sideways and scrub off speed or you'll go upwind hard, either way the kite will fire to the edge of the window and lose power. You'll get a huge burst of power before the kite hits the edge, ride through this and it'll slow down quite a bit. If done right the kite will be fairly low and still power up nicely when you swing it over for a direction change. Sending the kite back as an air brake is basically how you set up for a buggy jump. Be warned.

Option two, slow down somewhat, keep the kite up around 45deg, crank the kite down(downturn) for all it's worth, brake will help and follow the kite around with the buggy, if done properly you'll not lose much speed, do a nice powered slide around the corner and come out moving good with a powered kite. Wear pads and try at low speed in lighter winds for this one though, get it wrong and you'll feel it.

Best bet though is always to keep the kite low and slide the bug, it can be done on pavement or the sandpaper finish of the Playa, just takes more to slide and you'll slow down faster. Like I said, sending the kite high or back is the perfect way to jump.

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Originally posted by Pablo bad things happen when you send a kite high with speed, even a non lifty kite can easily launch you out of the bug.

If you're cruising with the kite up high on it's side going in the same direction you're travelling - say you're going to the right - a little left brake to get the kite to level out to face up to the zenith and stay at the top of the wind window is a pretty safe move. From that point it's also pretty safe to give a little more left brake and have it angling back to the left in the opposite direction of you're travel - I do this with all my kites and rarely get lifted.

Now it you go throwing it around with full on left and right pulling and swoop it up and in the opposite direction, then yeah, you're asking for trouble. Gently does it, I say.

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Best way to slow down safely is to keep the kite real low and cut hard upwind

I'm sure that's what i did when i was lifted. Surely there's lots of power at the bottom of the window, i know i keep it at 45 when i want to go fast but whenever i wanted to slow down i'd really slowly lift the kite so it's above my head

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it's also pretty safe to give a little more left brake and have it angling back to the left in the opposite direction of you're travel

When i kite jump i run in the oposite direction to the kite, why wouldn't this have the same effect?

I think really i need practice.

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Originally posted by pea When i kite jump i run in the oposite direction to the kite, why wouldn't this have the same effect?

Just move it behind you slightly, don't swoop it in the opposite direction or straight up. This will only give you a gradular slow down though - I think for what you're looking for the sudden turn and big skid is you best option for stopping suddenly and safely.

I tend to agree with Khooke. Bring a kite up slow and let it drift back or turn upwind a bit as you raise it to accomplish the same thing as letting it drift back.

I'd like to assume that a novice is not geoig to let themselves get too overpowered in the first place, so bringing the kite up top might put a momentary draft of air under your arse but shouldn't yank you out altogether.

My lifty kites like a Blade get used for light air work and I keep the AoA dialed down low for less lift and better upwind work. In higher winds I use a low lift grinder like a Rage or PL Reactor- or de-power.

I'm usually on hard-pack sand at low tide, so my favorite panic stop for toddlers and puppies is simply throwing the wheel hard over downwind and sliding sideways.

So you've moved the kite up top when you do your hard over downwind turn / slide, Angus?

I agree that if you're a little underpowered you can put the kite over head or a little behind you to slow down, even when properly powered you can put it overhead if done right. This will usually involve cutting a light downwind angle while bringing the kite overhead then slowly carving back into the wind to bleed off speed.

But the original question was "How to stop quickly"

A kite that's 45 deg up in the window is high, you can only really effectively use the bottom 2 thirds of the window anyways, kite at zenith is either parked mode or jump mode. Trust me, if you throw the buggy sideways with one wingtip of the kite 5-10ft off the ground there's pretty much no chance you'll get yanked out, long slide yes, OBE no. It's pretty much impossible to hold a good line when well lit with the kite up high anyways. If you find yourself getting pulled sideways a lot, lower the kite and cut harder upwind. More weight on the buggy = more grip.

Unless you're Slawek, kites at the top of the window are usually bad news, even when flying static you're best to park the kite to the side while talking, you'll get dragged if you get hit by a gust instead of getting teabagged. I just got lofted again(obe) working on my upwind turns, well powered for normal cruising, turn upwind with the kite overhead and at the same time I got hit by a gust, within 1/2 sec I was watching my buggy slowly cruise away without me. Next thing I know I'm slammed into the ground and one more day of buggying is pretty much over.

Long story short, learn to slide the buggy to slow down. You'll thank yourself in the long run.

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Originally posted by GulfSandEater So you've moved the kite up top when you do your hard over downwind turn / slide, Angus?

Yeah. If I'm jibing, then I do my sliding 180 more undrneath the kite. Less chance of luffing that way as you do not charge directly at the kite in a downwind turn. By the time I am 90 degrees or half way though the turn, I am bringing the kite down to power up and pull me out in the opposite direction.

If I am not jibing and skidding just to stop, then I still have the kite high so I can resume in any direction.

If I have so much kite that this could loft me in smooth winds, I am switching to a smaller kite or going to de-power. That much kite is a lot of work and strain down low, esp. up-wind.

In gusts, Pablo's point are well taken and care should be used.

Yeah, a lot of it comes up when you're either riding in gusty conditions or anywhere near the edge power wise. If you wanna go fast though you have to ride that thin line. For general cruising though, there is more room for different methods. I just don't like getting in the habit of doing something with one kite that will bite me when flying another kite or in stronger winds. Technique becomes habit pretty quickly. I've gotten more than a couple OBE's by doing something out of habit.