looking for someone to fly with in the albany area . im new to power kites and would like someone to help me with the basics .
Thanks .

Hey! another kiter in albany! WOO HOO!

The field at the back of the crossings (in Colonie) is decent, the wind is usually pretty dirty but there's lots of room to fool around. The summer around here is usually pretty dull, but there is a large and active snowkiting community that flies in this area and West of here (Sacandaga, Oneida, fingerlakes...etc)

Shoot me a U2U if you ever want to get together and fly, you're welcome to try out some of my kites as well.

nice ! check ur mail.

If anyone is interested, I'm planning to be at Southwick Beach State Park on Sunday, 5/30, to cookout, and if conditions are right, kiting and buggying. Wind is predicted from the west at 10-15 mph, with mostly sunny and warm conditions, so the weather should be right, if it is not too crowded south of the concession stand, that is where I will most likely set up. If anyone can make it, see you there!

Bob, wish I could make it but I'm going to be in NH for the extent of the holiday weekend.

Hey bb, no prob., just lettin' everyone know! Have fun in NH.

im sitting home wishing i was anywhere else . my girl is 7 months pregnant and just put on temporary bed rest . so im doing all the house work and tending to her . man i hope she can get around soon . i know i sound selfish but thats only because i actually am selfish . yesterday was a blast though . 3meter on handles and the 5 on a bar . the wind was delishious . smoovve wit 2v's, . steady 10-13 hardly any gusts over 17 . and the lulls were brief . tought the 11 and 9 year old how to fly with sticks instead of straps . they really impressed me . .... so far its been a great weekend .

Taking care of family business 1st should always be a priority, IMHO, good on you! I got to Southwick on sunday, but the wind didn't *(really). There was enough to fly the 4.8M NPW static for a couple hours, then I took a break to use one of the day use grills and cook some hamburgers/bratwurst. ( Be careful here, because the seagulls are like rats with wings, very bold!) I was scooping out some pasta salad with my back to the grill, when I turned around there was a seagull, perched on the hot iron grill, eating the half cooked hamburg off the grill, and when I yelled/waved my arms, flew away with my bratwurst! Signs all over "please do not feed the shore birds" They don't say what to do when they help themselves! After finally getting something to eat, I brought out Rasta's Fury and took the buggy back to the beach, but the small wind there was had shifted to South, straight up the beach, and then died completely. I got about 1/2 hour of no-wind flying (my windicator flag was hanging straight down) and was then too pooped to do anymore, when a sweet lady came up and thanked me for my no- wind performance! Made it all worth it!

I have just reserved a tent site at Southwick for 7/29 (Thurs) thru 8/4 (wed). I hope there is wind but plan to camp out for the week, no matter. I would welcome any kiters that wished to stay during that time, There are still some sites available, and I could always make room for up to 4 additional at my site. My experience this past (holiday) weekend makes me think that managing the pedestrian activity south of the main beach will be fine. Anyway, more on this as the time approaches.

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Originally posted by highsticken looking for someone to fly with in the albany area . im new to power kites and would like someone to help me with the basics . Thanks .

Check your e-mail on kite!!!

Another day pass at Southwick Beach yesterday. Wind started out light, about 8mph around noon, and picked up throughout the day. The beach south of the park area was sparcely populated, some walkers, some family groups. Wind direction started from the SW, and was kind of light, so heading south from my set-up was somewhat upwind, but the 4.8M was getting me the 100 or so yds to the first family group, so I was working it that far then turning and taking the broad reach back to about 100 yds past my set-up to the north, then turn again and work it back. At this point I was just making 11mph on the fast run, and working hard to get 5-6 mph upwind. I decided to try the 7M NPW on the short lines the 4.8 was on, so I switched lines. Of course, while I was switching, the wind picked up some, probably to 12-15, still from the SW, and another group had settled about 50 yds south of my set-up. Determined, I launched the 7M, which had become too much kite while I was switching lines, but I hadn't realized it yet. I started working upwind again, and was able to work past the new group with the kite high, but was feeling lots of side pull whenever I'd dip into the power. Now of course the kids in the new group have seen what I am doing, just as I am realizing 'too much kite'! I turn to head back home, but even keeping the kite way high in the window, am picking up too much speed to negotiate between the kids running back and forth across the narrow beach, so I turn back hard upwind, jump out of the buggy, and crash the kite at the edge of the dunes. I packed up the kite, and as I made my way back past the fam. group, stopped to explain what had just happened. That I had pulled the quick manuver at the end for their safety, told them a little about buggies in general, and thanked them for trying not to run in front of me as I was going by. They were already impressed, and seemed eager to please, and kept the kids from running out in fron of me for the rest of the day. I switched down to the 2.4M NPW and the wind picked up even more, clocking around to the West (onshore) so I got some great 1/4 -1/2 mile runs both N and S, before the wind turned N and ended the buggyin around 6:30 pm!

Bob sounds great. Wish we could make it up for an over night.

Well, I spent Father's Day at Southwick Beach. The wind was predicted 10-15 from the west, but came about 5-10 from the SSW, so no buggying, but I flew the 4.8 and 7M NPW's static in the light wind. I tried to show a couple of G.I.'s how to fly, but they had the usual arms flailing all over that just about everyone does, and gave up quickly. I did get to buggy for a while at the Lewis County Fairgrounds back gravel parking lot on Sat, and got some video, so I combined a short view of Southwick on Sunday with the parking lot video on Sat.

Sat. July 3rd is predicting winds WSW at 10. Mostly sunny, mid to upper 70's. Gonna make it out to Southwick for another try. I hope to get some video.:singing:

So Sat. winds stayed out of the south,except for around 15 min.around 3 pm they were straight on shore about 10 mph. I got in a 100 yard run to the south, turned and came back to start, then turned again, went about 50 yds and felt the wind dying so turned,trying to make it home, had to jump out of the buggy to keep the kite in the air, the wind completely died. There was a bigger crowd than Fathers day, but still room to buggy. I hung around for a while, hoping for some evening wind, but no dice. Stayed home yesterday, smoke roasted a pork shoulder for about 4 hours 'til it was falling apart, mmmmm. I went back today, and once again was treated to wind right up the coast, from the SSW, so had to be happy to fly static for a few hours, then cooked out in the picnic area. Was a beautiful day to be outside though, got some good exercise, and some compliments on my flying too!

Here's a pic from today, looking North from my set-up point.

And one looking South. Even on a holiday weekend with sunny skies and temps in the 80's there is still room to buggy, if only the wind had cooperated.

Back at S.B. Sunday, great conditions wind WSW at 10-15, I got there kind of early, 10:30 or so, and the crowd was light so I setup at the end of the camping area, so as the day progressed the crowd picked up, but I was still able to get in about 4hrs of buggying, and had I walked 1/2 mile S, most of the crowd disappeared. Most of the time I had an empty 150-200 yd stretch to go back and forth on. I mostly used the 4.8M NPW 5 because it's on short lines, but at one point switched to the 2.4 because I was showing a kid how to fly it and at first he didn't believe it was big enough to move me in the buggy, so I showed him. It was a good day with good wind and a medium crowd, who were mostly postive about me being there, though I did over hear someone say as they went by me flying static, guy - "He's a little old to be out flying kites, don't you think?" but the gal's reply was even better, "But did you see his shoulders?!" lol

Sounds like a good time bud. Looking forward to seeing your mad skills next time we get to Wildwood...

Sounds like you had a blast Bobalooie. I miss getting to the beach so much! Need to really make some time for it soon!

Bob,
I'm soooooooooooooooooooo stoked !
I totally enjoy checking out new Power Kiting beaches.
I'll have all my HQ demo kites and a PL CHARGER 12 and 15 to play with.
Bringing my Mountain Bike and Kayak too.
See you Thursday.

Yesssss, It's gonna be a great time at summer camp! Good to see you're bringing the no-wind toys too! Getting gear all sorted out already, I'll probably get at least one more day pass before camp starts, I'll try to post some pic's.:roll:

Have fun guys!

Another day pass at Southwick, before our 'Summer Camp' starting on Thursday, 7/29. The wind started out 10-15 out of the NNW, and the rain from the night before had the sand well packed to the dunes, so I started out making the short run from the dunes to the water and back, working my way upwind to the first set of "kid construction" (sand castles), then getting a little speed run downwind before working my way back up.

A view of my set up spot,looking from the edge of the water, all buggy tracks are mine!

And later in the afternoon I ran into Rob from Oswego, who I met here last October. He was back kiteboarding, and having a great time!

Late in the day the wind finally clocked around to the west, and I got some great runs up and down the beach, pretty much all the beach goers had packed it in for the day. I looked around for Rob out on the water, and didn't see his kite, so I headed down to where he had set up, and saw his kite, a 15M F-one, in a 30 foot tall aspen, and Rob starting to climb after it! After much jockeying the kite this way and that, a few scares when a gust would lift the kite, threatening to make the tangle worse, and a few broken tree limbs, we rescued the kite without any rips or tears! He said the onshore wind had him a little close to the shoreline, when a gust came up and pushed him right up on land, putting the kite in the tree. He said he was a little tired, and was having a little trouble working it upwind. He knew he should probably have packed it, but was having too much fun. We were both pretty happy about the way it turned out, and felt the day had been a good one.

I spent the day getting ready for camp! Truck is mostly packed, and all the while getting gear together, I've been slowly smoke roasting a pork shoulder- 225-275 deg., maple and hickory wood for smoke. My son said he could smell it cooking 1/4 mile up the street. Gonna make pulled pork for Sat. night supper, will probably have enough to feed 10, only 6 or 7 have committed to come, so there will be extra! Might have to work up an extra big appetite!:roll:

Having a blast so far at camp! Thurs. afternoon/eve. saw winds out of the west at 15-20,and I got some great runs,topping out at 24.2mph! Don got some ride time, but also was getting used to flying on short lines, so was spending time at that. Yesterday the wind was N so we kayaked the South Branch of Sandy Creek from the boat launch on Rte3 to "the cut" where it dumps into Ontario. Good times!

Get it! Be sure to take some pictures and video...