hi,
i've been kiting for years (stunters, big/small Rev's, 2 line Flexi's and an Ozone LD 4.5).
i got first buggy (used PL race w/ 04 Frenzy 7.5) a few weeks back.
i have access to a very large grass field. minimal trees or objects around. dumb wind changes direction often but i make a mental note/plot course before getting in buggy
my thoughts on buggy-ing were- start/roll down wind then turn across wind (back and forth).
i can manage a point A to B ride and a (not quite 180) turn and then it's usually Game over, kite stalls. am i turning too much or the wrong direction?
maybe i'm not going across the wind so much as going down wind?
this buggy is kicking my brain's a$$.
what should i be concentrating on doing as a newb?
Paul

Point the buggy downwind. How much depends on how much power you have. If you are going right rock the kite a little to the left. Again how much depends on your power. Bring the kite back around to the right and dive it into the power zone at about 12 oclock. How deep you dive depends on power. Point your buggy at the kite and follow it to the edge. Well powered with small movements of the kite is best.

Once you are in motion and have followed the kite to the right edge the trick is keeping tension on the lines. Partly by flying the kite in a sine wave ~ and partly by riding upwind then downwind. It is easy to stay upwind well powered. More tricky when having to fight to stay powered and keep tension on the lines.

Remember that when the kite is moving fast it is generating power from apparent wind and take all the advantage you can from it. Work the bar / depower. Push the bar out when it is in the power zone to speed it up then pull in a bit for faster turning.

It will all click for you very soon :singing:

I haven't buggied much either, however, this should help.
Found this link after my first day of seat time.

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/BetterBuggyBasics.html#15A

If your having a hard time with the turns get the kite back above you before the turn and when you turn get the kite back down into the power again... sounds like you catching up with the kite in your turns... when you get good you'll be able to get the kite turning back up over the other direction and power turn the bug while moving along pretty good...
good luck...
practice! practice! practice!

Quote:

Originally posted by revpaul i can manage a point A to B ride and a (not quite 180) turn and then it's usually Game over, kite stalls. am i turning too much or the wrong direction? maybe i'm not going across the wind so much as going down wind?

Yeah it sounds like you might be chasing the kite downwind in your turns. You mentioned "not quite 180". Make your turns as quck as you can and a full 180 if not a bit more. It's actually easier to go upwind a bit (harden up) than downwind (falling or bearing off) since it keeps your lines tight and the kite flying smartly. Once your get speed up, then you can relax and fall off and resume your course across the wind.

Depending on the texture of your grass field, you might be able to throw the front wheel full over, which wil result in the front wheel skidding a bit then the back wheels sliding as you come around - kind of like a hockey stop turn. This scrubs off speed, too, as well as makes the turn quick. If there is a lot of stubble or other objects it could catch a rim and toss you so experiment. Throwing your weight to the inside of the turn helps ( I hook my inside elbow arond the downwind rail a bit). then if your front wheel is sliding too much, lean forward to put more weight on the front wheel so it "bites"..

Purpously going downwind is actaully kind of tricky, since you have to fly the kite like mad to create apparent wind to replace the wind you are "losing" by chasing the kite downwind. A few times while starting out, I made the "walk of shame" back to buggy camp from upwind, not downwind. this was in lighter winds when I was struggling to keep tension on the lines. In stronger winds with a smaller kite, it is all much easier, as mistakes are readily forgiven.

WOW! This is a great thread with incredible resources. Very nice for us unfortunate souls that don't live near the beach or any other kiters. Thanks a lot for the info.

As Angus said, turn your buggy!!!!

I would say that 90% of all new buggiers have a huge problem with turning around and heading back the way they came. The reason is because they are turning way to slow and jetting down wind which kills the power of the kite.

Turn quick and as fast as possible. This doesn't mean to crank the buggy around when going full speed, slow down to a controllable speed and then crank the buggy around as quickly as possible and then drop the kite back down into the power. If you turn quick enough you won't lose all your forward speed and it will be very easy for you to power back up and get back to your point of origin.

The buggy should be able to rotate around on it's own axis - what this means is that you should be able to turn the buggy around 180' in a circle that is less than 10 foot in diameter. If you are turning a circle larger than that then you are running down wind way to much which will kill the power of your kite.

Hope this helps.

thanks very much all for the info. i will keep this in mind for my next try out.
Paul

you know the best area to learn to fly your kite is on grass...but I found that learning to buggy on grass is very difficult unless the grass is very very short...unless you're slightly over powered, the surface friction is such that the buggy gets bogged down easily and you can lose momentum...when you are new I suggest a low/med. wind day on a beach in the hard pack...or maybe a safe parking lot with pea gravel (low friction)...that way you can get to know how your inertia works with gentle winds...then when the winds are kicking up you can hit the grass and break free from the friction.....just a thought

dq

been feeding brain with info for past week. i think i have enough to get started now.
i am far from any beach so it's grass for me.
thanks again everyone.

I power slide my buggy around turns,just turn the kite,then slam the buggy around but maybe havin a 60" rear end helps alot too.

This site has a lot of good how-to info - check the articles under the Basics link:

http://www.kite-buggiers.co.uk/

Quote:

Originally posted by WELDNGOD I power slide my buggy around turns,just turn the kite,then slam the buggy around but maybe havin a 60" rear end helps alot too.

Dang Weldn, I thought my 38" waist was big.

other rear end BBob