Hi there,

Been buggying for 6 months now on and off. Ive been making reasonable progress and feel ive got the basics pretty well down. However, my buddy I got into in with is progressing very slowly indeed. To the point that its really bogging down sessions (a LOT of time spent untangling lines, walking upwind, repairing gear and all that good stuff)
I do try shouting instructions but seems to have little effect, perhaps Im not a good instructor. The guy has ok control flying static but seems to panic and flail his arms wildly when sat in the bug. Anyone else been in this position? any advise most welcome..
p.s. I should point out that hes also my ride to the beach!

Hey Casmo.
First thought that come to me is good luck!
But on a serious note, I've found short lines to be the best thing for new people especially if the seem to fear it. I don't use a buggy so I'm not totally versed there, but I'll start someone on 5 meter lines on the beach. The kite can never get away from the person, so they don't develop quite the fear initially. Then add 5 meters, get them more comfortable, and then 5 more. At 15 they can start getting into the water. Trust me when I say I didn't always do it this way! Back in the good old days, you handed someone your old two line kite and said "have fun!" he'll get it, but it might be painful to you!

hey CASMO, good on you for teaching your bud!

once the static pilot moves to a dynamic pilot its truly an experiential learning event, student must for himself find feedback that can yield the desired outcome.

good 'ol experience just takes time. balance, speed and kite management for some ALL arrive at different rates.

some folks are cautious with acceleration, too much and kinda freaks them but with time the learn to relax, focus on point of sail and kite control.

he may need a POINT of FOCUS ...stay on this point of sail, look at that tree(the horizon is best) in the distance kinda thing. LOOK where you want to go!

maybe some static blind flying may be in order to desensitize the management.

it will come together just at a different rate.

They best tip I can give you for the arms even while static flying.....

Pick up two small stones, put one in each armpit and tell him not to drop them while flying. This will tuck elbows in nicely and give you the right flight posture while sitting in the buggy...simples!

A short strop (not hooked in) will also help with the flailing.

FRS might help with communicating especially when your voice won't carry in the wind.

ATB,
Sam

i found when teaching someone you may miss out on buggying. sunday i went out and buggied maybe 20 minutes and spent the rest of the time teaching. minds you i had 5 people learning on 2 kites on separate parts of the field. this wash alot of back and forth running and shouting. during all this i also had the occational bystandard wanting info on the kites and everything. it can be stressful and slow paced depending on the flier but at the same time some people seem to pick it up in about an hour. there wasn't enough wind for them to buggy. i was flying a 5m flow and it took every trick in the book to keep it moving. then it would gust that is why noone but me flew the 5m. some people just learn faster but from what i experianced teaching people to fly will cut into your session drastically but once the people pick it up and learn to buggy. you have more friends to buggy with. it is worth the session cuts though tell your friend to keep practicing and learn at a pace he is comfortable with.

Casmo, this is all common. When the buggy takes off with the student, you can shout in their ear and he will not hear and will become disoriented. Seen it a lot of times! Here is the method and order I use to teach...

I find that getting a student to make a full 180 on their first jibes is difficult; they most often turn downwind, chase the kite and even run over their lines. I now will put them in the bug without the kite, push them at a jogging speed and have them make a few full 180 turns with the wheel hard over. Now they learn that they can do this safely at a moderate speed without tipping over.

Next, set up two pylons or objects/ markers about 10 meters apart such that a line between them is perpendicular to the wind. Have them run jibes on their feet with the kiteso they learn the steps and which direction to pull and start, teaching these steps...
Run to the pylon
bring kite up high,
start the kite turning in the direction of the turn
follow the kite with your body as the kite comes down a bit
Let the kite pull you out of the turn, running in the opposite direction.

Rinse and repeat, running figure 8's around the markers until the steps are automatic.

Now you hop in the bug and demonstrate going in figure 8's around the markers, showing that you don't have to go too fast. Call out the steps as you do them "Kite up", "turn the kite", "turn to follow the kite", "Kite down", "complete the turn".

Now have them try it in the bug, going around the same markers so they never get going too fast. Call out the steps again. Continue until it is a regular rhythm and is smooth and predictable. Lengthen the distance between the markers as they gain proficiency. .

+1 on Angus. Was the JIBE event in 2010 that I got it thanks to Angus!

Great advise there guys, many thanks.. next time i think I'll try the walking out figure of 8's method.. I will report back. Thanks again, appreciate it!

What a great method Angus.

I do the sit, dive, run with kite method but see yours teaches a lot more.

Angus was my teacher as well. We had 2 sessions where I was the typical student. Then he loaned me his buggy for a beach vacation and I went out and it all came together. I still remember that first lesson becoming aware that I wasn't using but maybe 10% of what I had learned flying static. Rollaway speed just freaks the newbie out, because you don't feel like you'll ever be able to stop. I've used the cone figure 8 technique with both my boys and others as well. Walk it then the student walks. Then they watch me do it in the buggy then they try. If they can fly the kite, this usually gets them in control.

Hey Angus- that was gold!

I'm definitely going to put that in my back pocket for the long list of friends and family who want to try this out someday

Ditto Angus and PHREE , I actually drew a line in the sand to keep one of my kids on track, the other thing is have your friend try to have the buggy move as little as possible this will fight the tendency for the kite to get too far in front of him , it gets complicated when the buggy starts catching up with the kite. Fine kite controll is key after banging arround static.