Hi,
I am trying to convince at least two kiters from Mexico PAK
(http://www.papalotesandkites.com/paginas/quienessomos.html) to go to NABX this month by car. I hope they would like to go.
However it seem a bit difficult as the voyage is rather long, 2.5 days of driving to Las Vegas and 2.5 days getting back, plus the week for NABX. It adds up to a lot of time, not being easy to get vacations.
One of the kiteres suggested that I explore the possibility of somebody lending me a buggy, so I would fly to Las Vegas for NABX.
I would then ask you if you think that is reasonable to think this could be done?

I really prefer to use my crab, I have a new one now (you can take a look at http://sites.google.com/site/crabbuggy/) since I almost only ride the crab. I have tried the normal kitebuggy a few times and found that it is difficult for me to use. I would say that I am an almost a crab-only pilot. I have an intermediate-advanced pilot an my crab and a beginner on the normal buggy. This stated, I will ride a normal buggy if that allows me to go to NABX.

I hope you can give me some Ideas if eventually flying is my only option to go to NABX.

Thanks
Alberto Soria
betosoria@gmail.com

p2p arkay. I beleive he's got an extra pl buggy. Just don't know if he's planing on bringing two buggies to NABX.

i believe TMDC96 is bring a XR+ too. There is also a spare Bigfoot+ that we could convert to STD if need be.

ship the crabby over. One of the shops in vegas may be able to receive it for you. If not you can ship it to me and i will bring it to the playa. I want to see one of those!

I'm encouraging you to bring the crab on the airplane for sure! If not ship it, and we'll do our best to get rides for your other buddies!

Plenty of peeps want to ride and see the crab!

aoxoawaits~

I'll have an extra PL + that i am bringing, I only need it for the freestyle labs and demos, It will be at the pre event too for anyone to borrow:wee::wee:

Talk to me. Maybe you ship the crab here, and then I buy it from you on the playa? (OK, off the playa--at the hotel parking lot!) I'm not a rich man and I can't pay what it is surely worth, but I could maybe buy it so you don't have to ship it both ways. I'd *love* to have a crab. ;-) Talk to me

Dave Culp dave@kiteship.com

Quote:

Originally posted by betosoria I really prefer to use my crab, I have a new one now (you can take a look at http://sites.google.com/site/crabbuggy/) since I almost only ride the crab. I have tried the normal kitebuggy a few times and found that it is difficult for me to use. I would say that I am an almost a crab-only pilot.

Dave,
Mmm. I am thinking that a good solution is to do an other crab proto7 chassis and seat to take to NABX. Then, get somebody to lend me wheels for NABX because I only have one set at the time. Also, I really do not want to cut up my current crab, I think I would rather make an other, since it will be almost the same work. Regarding the cost to do another crab will be less than what I spent for the current proto7 since I only have to figure out where to introduce separations of the chassis and how will it be put together afterwards. In any case, I will have to make a decision by march 15 so I have at least a week to do the another crab.
Saludos
Alberto

PS. I am having a bit of difficulty to get the sail version crab moving. I am putting in a windsurf 5.6m sail, tried a couple of times, but just did not move much. I know how to kite, but I do not know how to make the crab move with a sail. Also, I think that I only can tack with the crab, since I do not think It is a good Idea that the front tires that steer the crab to be above the ground. Any ideas?

Quote:

Originally posted by betosoria Dave, Mmm. I am thinking that a good solution is to do an other crab proto7 chassis and seat to take to NABX. Then, get somebody to lend me wheels for NABX because I only have one set at the time. Also, I really do not want to cut up my current crab, I think I would rather make an other, since it will be almost the same work. Regarding the cost to do another crab will be less than what I spent for the current proto7 since I only have to figure out where to introduce separations of the chassis and how will it be put together afterwards. In any case, I will have to make a decision by march 15 so I have at least a week to do the another crab. Saludos Alberto

It would need to be done in a way so as to add as little mass as possible, but yes, this seems possible. Think about what it would have to cost me, to make it worth your while (including the savings of not shipping it home; the fun of showing it off at NABX, etc). I will see if I can find a source for wheels and tires. We should take this off-line so as not to offend anybody. My email is dave@kiteship.com. What is your email?

Quote:

PS. I am having a bit of difficulty to get the sail version crab moving. I am putting in a windsurf 5.6m sail, tried a couple of times, but just did not move much. I know how to kite, but I do not know how to make the crab move with a sail. Also, I think that I only can tack with the crab, since I do not think It is a good Idea that the front tires that steer the crab to be above the ground. Any ideas?

Sure; first, since you cannot "dive" the windsurf sail into power, it takes more wind to get the buggy started. Many days on the playa, buggies are happily sailing, while land sailors are sitting waiting for wind. Second, you should be able to shunt the windsurf rig--let the boom go as you bring the "front" up into the wind. The sail and boom stream away from you and you turn the other "front" downwind with the last of your inertia. You then sheet in the boom/sail on the new tack and off you go--a little bit downwind until the movement starts, and then hard into the wind as you like.

I have sailed many proas--the water equivalent to crab buggies. If you can bring the sail rig as well, I will teach you how to maneuver it.