Hi,
If any of you were wanting to get into freestyle kite buggying this may help get your head around the first steps. It can be intimidating once you
have it dialed the sky is the limit
The traditional way of jumping in a buggy is using a fixed bridle kite like a Flexifoil Blade, this is the iconic kite for freestyle, and still is a
great kite to freestyle with. The issue I have with introducing people to jumping on a fixed bridle kite is that you must redirect the kite to get off
the ground, for the uninitiated this adds an element of extra risk that you do not need at this point in time. I have always suggested and have taught
people on a big floaty de-power kite for the simple reason you can keep the kite above you, gather some speed and pull the bar towards you and it will
lift you off the ground with much less risk than having to redirect a fixed bridle. But each to their own, the basic principals of buggy jumping are
the same on either fixed or depower.
The most important thing about jumping is being committed to what you are about to do, it is imperative that you follow through on the jump you are
doing no matter how high you may accidentally go you MUST keep the kite above you at all times. If you freeze half way through a jump the kite can
easily go behind or in front of you which can result in you landing on your side or worse upside down.
The ideal jump is to land with your front wheel down first, at all costs try not to land on your back wheels because of your body position in the
buggy you will feel the impact much more when landing on the back wheels the bias of weight is towards the back of the buggy in your seated position.
At first this will be difficult to understand but you can swing your hips and pivot the buggy like it was on a gimbal front to back and left to right.
Always aim to put your front wheel down first so that you ride into the landing rather than landing flat.
After a while you will develop a human altimeter, you would be surprised how even 2-ft higher than you have been before will ring alarm bells in your
head, it is at this time that you must stay focused and keep the kite above you at all times for a safe landing. Don't go jumping on kites that do not
have a reputation for jumping, especially ones with no float,(float =the amount of time you hover in the air). Aim to practice in 8-12 knots of wind
at first, any more than that you can get caught by surprise and find your self way out of your comfort zone. The learning curve of jumping once you
have the principal in place is very quick. Above all else never jump alone. Know your safety system, pull it at the first sign of trouble
If you are using a fixed bridle kite, aim to keep the kite high in the wind window near the zenith just slightly in front of you, once the kite is
settled and you have a bit of speed, generally that is less than what you think re direct the kite from 11pm back to 1pm
The big secret about jumping is timing and you have very little room for error.
I cannot stress this next point enough, AS SOON AS your wheels leave the ground redirect the kite forward again, the timing of this is critical when
you first start. Wheels up, get that kite forward again and fast! I see a few people to slow on the re direct, and an accident follows, its more
important to pull twice as hard on your front hand than on your initial throw when you send the kite behind you.
Remember, you are heading into the wind, so when the kite changes direction to head behind you it is wind assisted, unfortunately your brain thinks
(that was easy) and when you redirect it forwards again you have not pulled the bar/handles half as much as you had to as the kite is now pushing back
into the wind. That is a common problem when you first start jumping, you cannot afford to be timid with the forward redirect
1. Keep kite high just in front of you
2. Redirect the kite in a smooth arc across and behind you slightly
3. As soon as you feel yourself leave the ground re direct the kite forward in the same line it just came from and remember to use much more pressure
to get it back above you quickly.
4. Spot your landing, front wheel down slightly and ride away
Make sure you get the basics sorted and ease into it.
Cheers
Luke S.
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