kite stakes... sigh.

I left a few at sunset beach, bought anther round of stakes and kept them for a year, until left them at sunset beach. I see a pattern here. So a made a stake from 12" rod hreaded top and a hockey puck. worked really well. also wrote "Please do not steal this" on it. I've got a stake sheath on the buggy fork so i keep the stake with me whn i rolling, but on the landboard I've taken toleaving it in the ground where i setup. After only 5 board sessions someone stole my stake. What ever could they want with a hockey puck with a piece of rod sticking out of it. Sure it was a czechoslovakia puck, and that country doesn't exist anymore, but sheesh. I think I'm just going to order a few of those nice thick orange stakes o_O

Ok, so, what do you do with your stakes when you're flying? (and bags... i usually wear my bag.) And what kids of stakes do you like?

I use golf ball stakes. 12 inches of 1/4 stainless rod. drill ball one size drill bit smaller than 1/4 inch. drive rod into ball. done deal. Next time you are at a garage sale look for used golf balls they are usually very cheap. Get the rod at your favorite hardware store.

I store one stake on my buggy using a metal tube and leave one near the car for when i get back. I also keep several in my kite travel / storage bag.

I've got 4 12-inch rods with an eye on the top, like a giant needle. I put some blue ribbon-like tape on one so I can see it when I go riding past or need to pack up. I bought 4 cos I forgot I already had one - 3 times Think they cost about $2 at the local DIY store ...

My riding area here is often pretty vacant and it's small, so my bag (wrapped around a park bench) and spike are never out of my site.
But when I was in NZ I'd take my bag with me on my back, if I were there by myself. I'd be worried about putting a giant spike into a back-pack though so I'd probably just leave it in the ground and hope it was there when I got back ... or maybe go for a plastic one ...?

Funny someone should start a thread about this because I was just thinking about what I could possibly use as a stake since I almost lost mine the other day. I was using an 8 inch flathead screwdriver with a clear handle with red stripes. I almost lost it because the grass in the field was fairly tall and I forgot where I had staked down the kite before I launched. I never have to worry about anyone taking it because I'm not riding anything and the area I fly in is fairly small, none of my stuff ever leaves my sight. Anyways, I decided to paint it bright electric orange (just like the HQ stake tops) so that I can find it easier. And this way, if I ever need to add or remove a strop to the Pro link handles I have, the tool to do it is right there with me. I kinda like the multiple functionality of my groundstake.

Like vwbrian- drill a hole in a golf ball and beat a 12" nail style tent peg through it. I launch and land near my vehicle at Sunset and there is always some one there. That and I suck, so I'm never all that far from it anyway.:P I made a stuff sack that will hang from the back rest on my bug that would be large enough to carry a few items (including another kite,) but I haven't needed it yet. Hijack warning- arkay do you still have that buggy for sale? I have been working on a couple of buddies trying to get them to contact you. Just have to keep showing them my videos.

screwdriver occasionally when i do lunch time kiting I use the tire iron from my trunk, it's and L shaped one, the long part has a point and the short side has the socket. It's a nice 3/4" sturdy size

I have an embarrassing number of the HQ stakes.... Angus's comment the last time I ordered was something like "so, are you going to have a barbecue?" When I am with friends we tend to stake out a bunch of SLK kites while flying. Also have some dog stakes and some titanium spikes, but those are pretty much special purpose.

Over time, I have grown fond of them (the HQ stakes). The orange cap is easy to see from a distance, and a bit of surveyor's tape will help if the grass is particularly tall.

I also appreciate that the cap is stubby enough to retain the brake stake loops, but still low-profile enough so that you can use the belt loops on the stake holster without a permanent dent in your hip.

ATB,
Sam

I lost two nice HQ ones over the past month in the tall grass. I have been going past sunset since the winds are still on. I am thinking about attaching a cheapo flashing bicycle light on one. I figure it is worth not wasting the time searching for the stake.

The local $2 shop sells rear lights for bicycles with flashing LEDs in them ... damned bright! They run off AA batteries ... could be a good idea actually!

The golf ball ones are like a buck, if I loose one I've got like a dozen. I tried carrying one on my buggy but that didn't last long. I made a strap that goes around one side rail to which I clip a carabiner. When I park away from my stake, I clip the brakes to the bug.

i was using some stainless steel tent pegs with a bright orange cap. the caps had a tendency to slide down and i would end up losing them. my new PL twister came with a big chunky stake made of neon orange plastic that is almost impossible to lose. it's harder to pound in but it doesn't need to be as far either. not many kiters in my area so no worries about someone stealing it, i just leave it staked in the ground. it comes with a holster thing if i wanted to carry it

Quote:

Originally posted by heliboy50 I tried carrying one on my buggy but that didn't last long. I made a strap that goes around one side rail to which I clip a carabiner.

Angus has a great stake carry method for the buggy on his Buggy Mods Page. Scroll down to Figure 6.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf Angus has a great stake carry method for the buggy on his Buggy Mods Page. Scroll down to Figure 6. ATB, Sam

Slick. I don't know if I can fit that on The Nightmare because my fork is a double crown more like a motorcycle. I'll give it a shot, though. edk442 I have one of the giant heavy plastic ones too- I use it in really soft sand, and the tent pegs in hard stuff. Your right- pretty hard to miss. I may make a sheath for it on my bug cause it's a little less likely to give me more piercings

I like the tube idea. I use a nylon sheath, what comes with the HQ stake. I wanted it to be in there real secure so I used some stretchy electrical tape to give it grip but stretch to allow the stake to go in. If the tube is flexible enough and can be held down by shock cord, then I like the idea It's a upgrade from my bag of sand sheath.