Hi Angus,

I agree with you on event day coordination to avoid conflict next time. I would love to visit Jekyll Island and buggy with you again. Such a beautiful place. Enjoyed camping there very much

Looks like we might have some showers on Saturday but Sunday is looking good. Should be fun either way

Hope you have beautiful weather and good wind for your event. Don't forget to share your story with us later along with some pictures

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell When I saw Don at NABX he seemed to think no one would come to JIBE from your region anyway, but we have several registrants from NY and the NE. So let's work together next year to avoid conflict and make both events stronger. Because of our huge tidal range here in the gut of the Georgia Bight, we are really dependent on tide tables to schedule the event. I don't think your guys are as dependent, are you? Our weather is looking good. More easterly components are being added to the forecasts, and the sea-breeze is expected to be dominant in the afternoons. Good thing, because the temps have been in the low 90's. I am hopeful for some epic park-and-rides on late Thursday and Friday afternoon. We will definitely trade pics, thanks!

Unfortunately, Wildwood is just as dependant on tides. High tide is nearly unrideable. If the wind direction is straight onshore, you might be able to ride on a high tide, but you would probably run into a peer or two...

I'd love to get down there for JIBE sometime, it looks like a great place to ride. Unfortunately, travel is a big issue for me... Maybe next time.

Hey Angus, there was some conversation about conflict with JIBE however to be honest with you I never really thought about the posibility of traveling down there but now that it is brought up I think it would be kind of cool and would diff think about it....When we were planning we had to consider tides very much as Ragden said and then our tourist season kicks in very soon so this was the best weekend to pull it off. So we aggreed to having it now... But as Brain said,, next year lets work something out so we and others could try out both... It would be a blast to have you and others come up here. Can you actually camp right on the beach there where you ride?

The campground at Jekyll is a short walk from the beach but a mile or two from the prime buggying beach now dubbed "Kite Beach" even by the local government. If you look at an aerial map, the campground is at the northern tip of the island and kite beach is less than a mile north of the entrance onto the island. I've only been to one campground (Fort Clinch State Park in Florida) that you could walk your buggy from camper to beach and they won't allow kite buggying on that beach. The quest continues.

The reason there is no camping on the beach is due to the sea turtles coming on shore to nest, and they are protected. Not even any flashlights after dark (upsets their navigation ). No overnight parking on the island except at homes and in the campground since they do not want night activity near the beach. The campground is set back in the woods across the street from the beach.

Blackbeards Restaurant is getting turtle-friendly lights for their outside deck (overlooking Kite Beach) so that they can open it at night.

The local Suspension bridge over the river has special dim lights that won't mess with the turtles.

This is a pretty good place to be a turtle.

LevitationDrew is on the scene and says the sand is hard (as always) with light breezes. I wish I was already there. Leave first thing in the am with Pokitetrash.

Did anybody ever stop to think that maybe the turtles were coming to check out the kites?

Man, I wish Wendy and I could be there but just can't make it.... it all happened so fast.

Epic Day.
Sea-breeze kicked in in afternoon and several made 3-4 mile runs.
Many more showed up late afternoon for action tomorrow.
Sea-breeze looks even stronger for tomorrow (Friday).
Rock on

I hate I am not able to make it this year but I am loving my new job, climbing towers for the state rocks.
Have fun down there.

It never happens that you get GREAT CONDITIONS in an event that needs wind...

Today was the exception! Lots made the 3-4 mile runs, more than a few flew for the first time...

Fun had by all! It's really cool to see others that you normally only "see" here.

I'll post more later but Friday was a day that I will remember for a long time. I put 40 miles on my buggy that day. The wind was about 45 degrees onshore. I started out on the 4.9 Reactor but was having to work it a little. Then came the 7m Blurr and it was fine on the upwind slogs but got somewhat treacherous when going fast (around 20-30 mph) and have a gust hit hard. After I had some miles under my belt and was familiar with the wind, I got out the Montana. This was the tool for me that day. I felt better having the built in safeties and when I was able to let it roll on down the beach or making the upwind haul up the beach, it was nice to have the "throttle" to modulate as the wind changed or my need for speed kicked in. I had a new personal best speed of 35.4 mph and what was funny was that it felt not quite as scary as 23 did the run before. I guess you get used to it. There is something liberating about having a mile and a half of beach before you can see the next person and another mile to the next one. I could just let the speed build because there wasn't any reason for the next several miles to need to slow down.

It could go without saying how cool it is to be around the growing familiar faces and to meet the new faces that go with familiar names but I have to say it was again great to be around so many that are passionate about kiting in all aspects.

And finally, Angus did a great job of organizing, and facilitating the whole event. Everything seemed well thought out and planned. He seemed amazed at the volume of us regulars that attended and also at the number of people that booked hotels in the area because this event was a target destination for them. This JIBE thing is going to keep growing as the word spreads about how much fun it is and what a great location Jekyll Island is for the kiters and their families.

Folks, I'll tell you what, being in the sport for only a little over year, I always wanted that elusive "park and ride". I was absolutely sure I would drink a beer with Big Foot before getting a long distance run. every time I trekked to a beach there was bad winds, no beach or both. Then there was was JIBE 09! Friday--WOW! 3 and 4 more mile runs was the typical run that day as others have already said but what topped it off was I didn't need to eat much lunch because on my first park and ride run to the water tower and back I know I ate 3 or 4 bugs that zoomed right down my throat (no B.S., REALLY!!!!) because I had my head thrown back, mouth open laughing ang grinning like an idiot the whole way. After about the fourth bug, and I calmed down a bit, I learned to clentch my teeth better. Lips still wide open so I just strained a couple more bugs and globs of mud thru the gaps in my teeth (also no BS!). All the people were great to meet again and many for the first time and I bought a Flexi Blurr 5m from Angus that I used all day and really beefed up my confidence with that smooth power. I can't wait to go back to Jekyll, looking at my calendar now!

Look for an invite to Aiken Sc, "OOBE Field" soon. Huge polo field that Beamer Bob and I fly regularly. We have to work around polo schedule. Dumb sport! Why don't they just fly kites!?

Hope to see you folks soon!

Chris

Come on People !

We are looking for a full report here !

It's Mothers' Day here in the States and a lot of wives are getting a kite-free day.

I have not cracked the paperwork open to count, but we had well over 30 attendees and our own little Buggytown was crawling with attendees, family friends and curious public.

Weather could not have been much better as the sea-breeze ruled on Thursday and Friday on the relatively vacant beaches and many riders had their first park-and-rides and many personal best speed were set.

Besides a few skin samples left on the beach and a strained shoulder muscle, no real injuries.

I want to thank all who came out to make this a great weekend. Special thanks to local help from Johnny, Bobby, Chris Dover and Chris Rieke and Peter Boyton for the daily set-up and tear-down.

Pics and more info to follow. The wife is coming, gotta go

super time @ JIBE! Angus nice job with event. good to see everyone and meet new folks.

we have some pics and will get them up in day or so

lotta fliers. incredible single line show really marked the event nicely esp. fri peter had this huge white thing, very nice. total wind show

the runs done to open sections at the south end for full bore rides and rip time with no people around... hard to beat. more to come

Quote:

Originally posted by pokitetrash Fthwaaap! aaackaaaaaack-Uuungh!!

Another reason to wear a helmet at the keyboard. Safety first!!

I am so glad I put down the coffee before I read that. Looking forward to the pics.

ATB,
Sam

Here are some photos from Saturday that were taken as we were mostly milling about...They do show the main area of Kite Beach, but do not show the 4 miles to the end of beautiful, desolate Jekyll...Unfortunately, the best riding was not documented by this rider! Anyone have shots from Thursday or Friday? I have those images in my head, drag racing for miles, trying to catch Elijah!

g/JIBE2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCIKUhZTFs92gIg&feat=directlink

and again! :

http://picasaweb.google.com/1johnnylaing/JIBE2009?authkey=Gv...

Dude! How did you get my car in your pictures?!

see if this will fit, crap

i'll try the gallery

OK !

ONE IN GALLERY (kite skating )
wife will do the rest with mac magic

Im just now getting a chance to post. We had a great time. Just hated to leave the wind was great and the beach was wide and almost like pavement. winds were comming of the water on friday and one of he best days i have while in my buggy. Thanks for the great event and am looking forword to next time. If there is anything i can do to help just let me know

JIBE pics. First time linking to my gallery - hope it works.
Check out how much room there is on the beach! There is one photo looking down the beach with quite a few kites visible in the distance. This was on Friday with the onshore which allowed the epic 3 to 4 mile runs.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Georgembj/JIBE?feat=directlink

mel great series!

JOSH hitiin' the board like mad, nice

I tried all day to get air but the 11m wasn't quite enough for me. He hops on the board during the last 30 minutes and pulls off this stuff that he has never, ever, done before and makes it look easy! Ah, youth is wasted on the young.

Phree, next time we're out, you've got an IOU for me and the camera.

mg

well powered kite breeds confidence.

the power is right there, trust your balance up and down with the power through the harness and the stoke makes you repeat it til gut aches.

posting a few in the gallery..wife & camera truly beautiful things

nice! good eye...We should add some video clips next time...

dropped a few in the gallery surf /skate

Had a great time thursday and friday, enjoyed all the folks we met, and Angus put together a top notch event. thanks to everyone; i learned so much and the loooong each runs were incredible. Cant wait to get back to JI
Scott

Scott
Thanks to you and Eric for coming down and helping to make the event a success.

Gang
Will be announcing JIBE 2010 dates soon. May 12-15 looks good, pending approval from Jekyll Island Authority. No spring tide, but still plenty of room in the afternoons.

PKF has agreed to establish permanent Official Event Forum for JIBE. Should be up soon. Special thanks to PKF.

We are considering a new model for 2010 with no registration fees. Just merchandise sales with expanded line of shirts, bags, hats (and yes, Chris R. you will get your license plate frames).

Also possibility of hired private security overnight so that people can dump buggies and stuff in parking lot overnight instead of packing into cars every night. Valet Parking comes to JIBE!!!

More info soon...