I am learning more and more every day that I get to ride my buggy. I am learning new ways to fly my kites it is a blast it has open up a whole new world for me in kiting. I have learned alot more about wind direction also very important a little about average wind speed asto how fast you can go also being new that it is alot easier to start with a traction kite rather than something that will lift you.Now I am searching for something with good up wind performance and also kites that are faster and produce more speed. I always seem to get going pretty good in one direction and not so good in the other. Is that just how it is? or is it my angle or just kite prefomance up wind. also learned the importance of flat wind. If the wind is not steady you really have to fly high to get it or you end up searching all over the sky to try and find some. It seemes to be much easier to fly low than high but at times depending on wind you dont have a choice! In closing I am having a blast learning how to buggy. I cant wait to get on the beach because from what I hear nothing beats that.

The bullets and the Rage that replaced them are good high speed, low lift engines that are good up-wind. The Peter Lynn Reactors have the same qualities and are great kites for the money, too.
the Blade 4.9 set to low lift on the AoA adjuster will excell\ at upwind work, too, but even then watch out when you have it high overhead. You are right, the coastal winds will be better for it.
The Crossfire 2 from HQ coming out in early '08 will have an adjustable bridle with a low-lift "buggy setting". We flew a prototype here last Fall and it was great buggy engine.

Our wind is often NE on a North/ South beach, so yes, it is an upwind slog one direction and a Nantucket Sleighride in the other. A broad reach, or slightly downwind of 90 degrees to the buggy is one of the fastest points of sail.
Glad you're having fun.

Thanks Angus!

Sounds like you're on the right track. Smooth winds or a smooth kite are so important when you're pushing to your limit. As for the going upwind better one way than the other, I'd suggest looking at angles vs the wind, Chances are you're pushing upwind just a hare on one run and downwind on the other. Will the kite tend to luff more one way and stall out more the other way. If you find you've got the kite stuck at the edge of the window not making as much power as you'd like while you have it down low you're too much upwind. If it just doesn't seem to be pulling as it should then you're heading downwind.

Big secret to going downwind fast, learn to loop the kite, sine it aggressively, basically work it like you stole it.

Big secrets for going upwind fast. Big kites, big power. Some kites just go upwind great. With some kites you can apply just a hare of brake, till you see the trailing edge just starting to cup in, you should get a boost in power, too much and you'll drop the kite, some experimenting is needed to see what your kites like.

Now for the bad news, kites that pull like crazy overhead also like to pull like crazy at the edge of the window, this will give you good upwind performance and speed. A good solid kite like the Blade or Brooza can easily get you around with more than enough speed to be fun. In the right hands a guy like Slawek can hang with the race kites with his blades. Down side, make a wrong move at speed with a lifty kite and it's all over, or you're a crazy buggy jumping mofo.

I find I get great upwind performance out of my 4.5 ( and 7 ) Bullets ? I would hope you are satisfied with your 4.5. If not it may want some tuning ( brake ? ) I have to expect the Blade should work well accept the lift ?

I think what you are looking for now is a race kite ! That's not my game but look at JoJo and U-turn Butane for some leaders that may not be in your kite rolodex yet !

P.S. I also get that, better one way than the other thing on occasion. I try adjusting my angle but nothing seems to balance it out ?

Thanks guys. Race kite hummm.

you should come down to sac once and fly with us a this huge empyy parkinglot we found......we were there the other day and it felt like we could have possibly covered every square inch with the buggy's ...but thewn the wind got angry ..very angry.....and we became over powered with 2's and three's......that is very hairy on pavement.....but so smooth and there is a gravel patch to slide through

its a great place to fly a medium size kite on a easy wid day because there is no wheel friction

My first time out (on skis - should add) I had no problems going upwind - in fact it seemed almost automatic for some reason. Subsequently I've found the same problem you describe but forced myself to always finish where I started from - that's the only true proof I have for myself that I was successfully heading upwind. Last time out I could cut great at good speed to my left but coming back to my right kept setting the kite at the edge of the window with no power to pull. I turned back to the left, made a good stretch out and then before heading back picked a spot on the shoreline to aim for. If I lost power I just kept backing off on my target location and at the end of the day I found that I was just cutting back right too hard upwind. I did make it back to my start position but it took three or four attempts and I never did nail it (ie: still found the kite parking and losing power).

I've found that getting used to the grunt is the steep part of my learning curve, now it seems to be fine tuning smaller details that are leveling off the curve for me.

Dan, u2u me with the location of that parking lot you know I will be there if the wind is blowing. I have only been on grass in that sod field but I know I could get some good speed on asphalt. I am Ready to try.