I've just recently got into traction kiting, and realised that i HAVE to buggy. Static flying is fun, but i'm not one for jumping, and boarding is kinda out of the question to.

Here's the setup I will be learning on:

Flexifoil standard buggy

Dakine storm harness http://www.backcountry.com/store/DAK0143/DAKINE-Storm-Seat-H...

Dakine reactor bar
http://www.canamsailcraft.com/dakreacbar1.html

Samurai 4m

Bike helmet

Does this sound like a decent setup to learn on? BTW, I won't be using the harness right away. I'm fully aware of OBE's and am going to be patient in learning to control the buggy and kite together.

Fish:

That's an almost identical set-up to what I have been using lately. (with the exception of the kite size, my Sami is a 5 meter)

I think you will be suprised how quickly you will want to start flying hooked in to your harness, it really extends the length of your sessions by reducing strain on your arms.

You should be fine safety wise if you have a quick release mechanism on your control bar. (I use a bar, you didn't state what you have) If you use handles, definitely use the kite killer leashes. BTW I prefer Flexifoil leashes to the ones that come on Ozones, they are easier to get in and out of.

Good luck, relax and have fun, you sound like you have taken everything you need to into consideration.

Bill

All you need is a field and wind!!! Go for it!! You wont believe the perma-grin, and all your pants will be stained on the butt!! Have fun, and let us know how you do!

BTW, Benson, How you been? We are gonna have to meet up at one of these events!! See ya!!

Sean

Hey Fish,

Welcome to the buggy experience. It sounds like you have a good kit for starting. Most Everyone I know who flies Ram Air Bridled Foil kites from buggies uses handles.

When learning I didn't use a harness or a bar, just the handles. It's much safer to begin with because you can let the kite go much easier if things get out of hand. As experience increases we buggy in higher winds and longer reaches where a harness is usually necessary.

The Sami is a good kite to buggy with. It will teach you how it wants to be flown. Practice where you have lots of room, no cars or people and ofcourse no power lines. Like jones said, your gonna have a grin on your face doing this. Have Fun!

:::: hijacking this thread to give a shout out to my bud Sean, please forgive me::::

Been great, how about you? Just got back from an absolutely wonderful evening of flying. Winds weren't really strong enough to do any buggy or ATBing but just right to throw the kite around static flying and "moon-walk" a bit when it kicked up occasionally.

What power kite activity have you been pursuing lately?

Looking forward to catching you at an event.

:::: end of thread hijack::::

Bill

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill_Benson :::: hijacking this thread to give a shout out to my bud Sean, please forgive me:::: Been great, how about you? Just got back from an absolutely wonderful evening of flying. Winds weren't really strong enough to do any buggy or ATBing but just right to throw the kite around static flying and "moon-walk" a bit when it kicked up occasionally. What power kite activity have you been pursuing lately? Looking forward to catching you at an event. :::: end of thread hijack:::: Bill

No worries

I am using handles btw, the ozone handles and have the ozone kite killas. I will probably stick with handles, I personally like the feel of them, and feel very much in control of the kite.

Couple things I am worried about. One being where I plan on buggying. It's at a very large park with a couple baseball diamonds and a few soccer fields. The bummer is the soccer fields are all seperated by parking lots or knee high grasses. So I'll have to play it by ear, as to if there's enough room to rove around.

Second thing is the length of my break lines on the Sam 4m I use. I've only been kiting for a couple weeks. When I first got the kite I shortened the breaks a few inches(due to reading reviews saying this is best). I've felt that the breaks are responsive but not overly. However the past couple days I've had very light winds. Occasionally just after the kite leaves the earth it flips over once or twice. I'm thinking perhaps one line is longer than another.

I plan on taking the lead and break lines off the kite and comparing sizes to make sure they're even. I also might shorten the breaks even a little more. Will it be very apperant if I shorten the breaks too much? I really want the kite at optimal responsiveness for when I get out in the buggy.

thanks for the post fellas

Finding decent places to buggy is definately one of the biggest challenges, but soccer fields are usually good locations.

I imagine your brake lines are set pretty close, I think most likely you may not be getting enough good, clean air to lift the kite. Mine does the same in light wind days with semi-obstructed ground winds. It helps to give a good tug on the brake lines (bottom of handles towards you) to inflate the cells for launch and then a good tug on the mains (pull top of handles towards you) to launch.

If the brakes are set properly the kite should fly upwards to its' zenith overhead without overflying (passing over your head to your back) or the brake lines pulling it back downwards by itself. At the zenith on lighter wind days you should be able to back the kite down by pulling in on the brakes without great effort.

Hope this helps.

thanks for the reply Bill. i'm gonna check my line lengths today, just to be on the cautious side of things.

also on the good news front: i've found out about a popular kiting park only 30 minutes from my home. there is reportedly 80 acres of flying field there!:D it's called rainbow park in Wooster,Ohio. gonna have check this place out real soon.

**edit**
went out to this park today. i counted 24 soccer goals...and that was just in a corner of the park. i wouldn't be surprised if this place is actually 80 acres of mowed lawn! it's awesome! there are a couple of slight hills...but they are so gently rolling, i wouldn't even call them hills.

i've been on mainly UK traction kiting sites. and there seems to be a fair amount of flying lawns over there. i was thinking..."there has to be a decent flying field around here"(northeast ohio). well i've certainly found it. its only 30 minutes by car from my house...but there are also plenty of campgrounds around there. perfect for a day of buggying, camping and another day of full on buggying.

Guys,
Too much plain wrong info here for me to remain silent any longer.

First: Brake line length.
Brake lines should be lengthened, not shortened.
Having the brakes on a bit all the time may be nice in the park, standing in one place, but it's not the way to rig for traction.
Specta and dyneema lines creep a bit under load.
Mostly your top lines.
Same as shortening your brake lines.
Keeps your kite from penetrating to the edge.
Makes control overly sensitive and the kite wants to spin and/or backup.

Bars versus handles:
Bars limit control.
A depower system on 4-line water (bladder) kites is different from 4-line ram-air foils.

LEI is another name for bladder kites.
Ignorance rears its uglyhead when "leading edge inflatable" is mistaken for a ram-air kite that uses a leading edge inflation method.
Most kiters stopped using "inflatable" to describe our ram-air foils to help avoid confusion.
Non-kiters don't know enought to care, so it seems.
Allowing that ignorance to persist does a disservice to all in our sport.

NOBODY flying lei's uses handles.
Water kites, with their depower system, fly off bars.
Bridled ram-air foils use handles.
(There are, of course, exceptions - the Frenzy)

Kite killers are a marketing attempt to sell gimmicks.
Convince the gullible public that a "thing" will replace skills.
What are you letting go of but control?
They're attached at the bottom leads on your handles.
Like going to "full -reverse", but you've let go...
Except you haven't really let go... You're still attached.

What is achieved here?

Skills are the foundation we're trying to build here.
Skills allow the potential of these kites to be realized.

Opinions, particularly based on limited experience, are all too common.
Be careful whose advice you take.
The internet is a vast, shallow ocean.

Want more in-depth knowledge?
I've been doing power kites since 1977.
Buggying since 1991.
I am happy to respond to private e-mails and specific questions.


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"I am often wrong, but never in doubt."

the coreylama

Fellows,

After reviewing my previous post in this thread I have edited it to reflect the useage of correct terminology. Apologies to any readers who were misled by my mistake.

heya folks,

i've been out on my buggy 3 times now. the wind was never very constant on any of those days. man alive is that ever frustrating. yesterday we had winds 10-15mph..but it was mainly gusty with lulls of no wind to speak of. it's a pain in the ass to make a couple runs back and forth across the field, only to have the wind cease to exist. it also made it very difficult for me to get back upwind very far.

i haven't hooked into the harness yet, as I don't feel I'm ready for it yet. On a postitive note, i pulled a wicked turn yesterday, with my back end skidding out. that was fun..the feeling of being out of control, but still aware of whats going on..and then executing the turn beautifully. now if only we can get some better wind days around here, and i'll really be stoked.