I needed this and i needed it bad! Patiently waiting throughout the summer months while summer breezes and occasional thunderstorms do there thing, I wait. With high hopes of that +7 winds that fizzle throughout the afternoon before getting off work, I wait. And finally today I was rewarded with on-shore 13 to 15 and very few people on the beach. I launch the 18M Phantom with a crowd watching; better not mess this one up... took to the sky like Tom-cat with after burners lit.

Auto Zenith... check
All safety gear good to go... check
Launch pad clear... check
Tunes jamm'n from the walkman... check

Let's :roll:........

Started out cautiously due to the few people that were down there slowly stopping at times to let people by. Everyone waved even Grandma and Grandpa with Grandpa giving me the I found myself stopping a couple of time because of people flagging me down wanting to take pictures. I'm a ham of course I'll do it. While there I find the time to educate and let people hop in the bug for picture time.

Once leaving the pier and proceeded north; past the board walk area I began to step on the gas pedal to kick it up a notch. Not a sole on the beach just my arc clipping along at about 20' off the sand and myself along for the ride... I'm in heaven.

At this point I realized that I really need to change up my play list on the Sony Walkman because some of those songs are going to get me killed. The song pumped... I pumped up the Phanny... the song pumped some more... I pumped up the Phanny some more.

Now picture if you will holding on to the de-power bar with one hand and holding on to the buggy with the other. And don't forget the sand mounds that mother nature gave you while the sea was exiting the sand. So now clinging to life AND 6" to one foot jumps touching down to find myself sliding sideways :singing:

I'm giggling like a little chick at this point going for a full beach pass from the pier to about 86th street. At this point darkness and tide is setting in so it's time to return home to 21st street. Home of the Holiday Inn that has put up with me for the last 8 days :saint:

As I near the board walk area it starts to brighten from the lights and then it happened....

:eekdrull:


:shocked2:SAND CASTLE:shocked2:

A quick maneuver to the left... I GOT THIS!!!!

Nope splash down right into an incoming wave What an ending Got back to the Hotel landed, packed and stowed the gear for tomorrow. What a day indeed! Right now as I sit typing this all out... MY CHEEKS HURT! I cannot remove this grin.

I'm done.

21st to 86th??? Dang!!! that's a long run. Wish I coulda been there to witness it.

Todd, I played hookey today and went to my spot. Ditto on the kick ass session.

I'm suprised you buggied Va Beach ,and no cops!:puzzled:

Nice

Quote:

Originally posted by clintopher 21st to 86th??? Dang!!! that's a long run. Wish I coulda been there to witness it.

The pier starts at 15th so add 6 more blocks to the run

Wish you could of been here too! I'm doing it again tomorrow

Quote:

Originally posted by WELDNGOD Todd, I played hookey today and went to my spot. Ditto on the kick ass session. I'm suprised you buggied Va Beach ,and no cops!:puzzled:

Not one... Life guard towers are down and last week I asked several guards if it was ok.. the reply was yes after the normal crowd exits the beach.

This makes more all the more stoked!

I haven't mowed over a beach sandcastle since June....
blazing upwind thru the soft sand in OC, using some kid's dinky Rush 300 in insane gusts. Unseen girls whooping at us and the wheels demolishing moats and towers....

Here's hoping for many more such memories for everyone at the coming WW BASH!!!!

and Todd...maybe you'll let me take a ride on that large Phanny of yours...
....uh jeesh...
maybe I should re-phrase that one...:embarrased:

Its not the sand castles that hurt, its the freakin big hole right next to it!................aj

Sounds like an awesome session Todd. Glad you finally got a good one in.

NICE Todd! NICE! I had a session like that a couple weeks ago, definitely gives those cheek muscles a workout.

Just got in from training and can't figure out how in the world I managed a 92 on that test knowing full well I couldn't pick up a book after last night.

Today is shaping up to be a repeat folks! Donnie get down here now! :duh:


Man, wish all of you guys could be here to enjoy it with me.

There in spirit my friend...

I just wish he'd quit rubbing it in

Man, wish all of you guys could be here to enjoy it with me.

I'm tempted to just pack the car right now! :wink2:

Quote:

Originally posted by lad and Todd...maybe you'll let me take a ride on that large Phanny of yours... ....uh jeesh... maybe I should re-phrase that one...:embarrased:

The last time Angus and I got together, he said he was itching to get his Phanny out. I told him I thought there might be laws against that but knew what he meant. It was cool to see a 2004 model Phantom come out of the plastic wrap for the first time. His 18m flies just like my 15 but doesn't need quite as much wind.

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob Quote: Originally posted by lad and Todd...maybe you'll let me take a ride on that large Phanny of yours... ....uh jeesh... maybe I should re-phrase that one...:embarrased: The last time Angus and I got together, he said he was itching to get his Phanny out. I told him I thought there might be laws against that but knew what he meant. It was cool to see a 2004 model Phantom come out of the plastic wrap for the first time. His 18m flies just like my 15 but doesn't need quite as much wind.

I didn't want to quote Lad butt now that you did I'm glad he referred it as being large rather than phat

Sitting here chomping at the bit... over cast and people exiting the beach. Hmm what shall it be the 18 again or go for the big 24 :puzzled: Winds predicted to die down a bit but starting off in 24 with 13mph might be a little nerve racking.

Quote:

Originally posted by Todd Sitting here chomping at the bit... over cast and people exiting the beach. Hmm what shall it be the 18 again or go for the big 24 :puzzled: Winds predicted to die down a bit but starting off in 24 with 13mph might be a little nerve racking.

Don't you have to file a flight plan to launch that 24?! Are you buggying with it?

Quote:

[quote Don't you have to file a flight plan to launch that 24?!

Its considered a "Heavy" and requires additional separation for wake turbulence:singing:

Again I am done, spent, rode hard put away wet. Done.

Yes BB I was buggying with it today pulling off a full beach run again. This time I focused primarily on the north end that had little to no people. I reached speeds as high as 31.7 and managed to pull out a 17.3 mile run today. Winds were consistent on shore around 13 with little to no gust. The 24 is a monster but a gentle giant. I flew with the 6M extensions (thanks Angus) and that gave it a very nice window to work in but often didn't need. Riding parked at about 20' off the sand was the norm with occasional pulls on the gas pedal.

Things that I have learned today was:

A solo launch on the beach has become second nature..
A solo landing will need some work..
Yes hitting a jelly fish and having it explode still stings..
Having not changed the play list in the walkman is still going to get me killed

At the day's end I flew to the Hotel managing to work my way up the beach only to have the soft sand suck me in like quicksand. I sat with parked in auto zenith thinking YES what a day.. I have been blessed once again.

A quick snap to the right and then to the left power up!!! I pulled off my first jump pulling me from the seat to about 5' in the air landing softly into the soft sand :singing:

Thank you for listening to my ramblings about an incredible session part deuce.

Good night. :yawn:

Sounds nice bud. Glad you had a good one.

These kind of perfect stories are to windless kiters what paperback romances are to lonely girls!

Todd I'd be happy with my Phantom in those winds and yet you are using the 24. How is the side load? Are you just modulating with the bar just as you would a smaller arc? Do you have a feel for the low end/top end on this kite in the buggy? When the wind spins around a bit, how does the 24 do on the upwind leg? Sorry for all the questions but that kite really intrigues me. Are hooj bolls a requirement or can more mortal men handle this one?

Wow....what a great session...One of these days I'm going to have to take 2 weeks off and drive up the East Coast and look for landboard/buggy spots...wish I was there now instead of at work :sniff:

Call in sick - H1N1 - come to Wildwood!!! :wee:

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob Todd I'd be happy with my Phantom in those winds and yet you are using the 24. How is the side load? Are you just modulating with the bar just as you would a smaller arc? Do you have a feel for the low end/top end on this kite in the buggy? When the wind spins around a bit, how does the 24 do on the upwind leg? Sorry for all the questions but that kite really intrigues me. Are hooj bolls a requirement or can more mortal men handle this one?

When I first came around the corner of the hotel the wind was howling at 18 (per the free wind meter provided to me by Lad). First initial thought was to turn around, lock up all of the equipment and go back to the room for the 18M but I walked out on the beach anyway. Good thing I did because it dropped to a solid 13 (wind channeling through the buildings) :duh:

Wind was blowing ENE as I worked towards the northern end and at that point I started to open it up. Little to no modulation was needed I was merely steering it to keep it at the angle that I felt was safe. After getting the feel for how it was reacting (slow because I had been using the 50cm bar with 6M extensions) I began to start applying some throttle. I must say at this point I was really surprised at the acceleration. Yes side load began pulling me up the beach where a small correction was made allowing me to regroup on the lower section while still picking up speed.

You asked about the upwind leg and I will say this.. it did upwind very well. Wind shifted more NE slowing down the trip north but I didn't have to work the 24 that much at all. Center strap position was midway for the fact that I want this thing neutered a bit while I dial it in slowly getting used to it. (second time in the air) So this leads to the question of wind range: I flew it for the first time in the 6-8 range and now in the 13 range. I feel that I can handle more if given the room and space that I would feel comfortable with.

Coolness factor: Oh yeah.. the looks on peoples faces as I stood under this towering Behemoth educating the masses that gathered around me. Pictures, Video, you name it.

Hooj Ballz are not really required: I was pretty intimidated by the thought of lifting this thing in the air but after about 30 minutes on it you don't really cringe at the site of it. Respect it and I don't believe it will bite you that bad.

I would of had it down last weekend for everyone to try but never heard back from Tridude on picking up the 19M Venom from him. I had cash in hand ready to purchase. Tough to justify a 7-8 hour trip not knowing if the deal was still on. :puzzled:

I'd really like to know the top end on this one as well. Any other questions feel free to ask. Sorry for the long winded reply.

Well that was fun! Message came over the speaker in the room that there was an emergency reported and to please use the stairway to exit the building.

:eekdrull:

I had to wake the kids



But it was too late.. I had to decide which one would survive so I elected the 24M and throw the rest over the balcony because a pounding came at the door saying LET'S GO! TOO LATE!

I left the building with the 24.

Fire trucks present.





15 Minutes passed and we were allowed to enter the building. Looking back I thought to myself...

I about threw my entire signature off the balcony

dude, that's funny as hell.:roll:

Todd.... thats hilarious. Glad everything came out alright... lol

mmm session pr0n... i'm comming off of a long windless summer.. now i got gusty choppy cold wind... nebraska's great

sounds like a good time tho!!