Picked up a new toy to play with yesterday, borrowing it for a few weeks from a friend:



I've never been in a buggy before, really looking forward to it once we get some wind!

Any tips for a complete beginner buggier!?

Learn how to fly the kite without looking at it for a few minutes, then you dont have to think about the kite while thinking about the buggy and what your not doing correctly.

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/BetterBuggyBasics.html

Learn it, know it, live it...!!!

id say lay off the seat belt first few runs...and the more your smiling the more sand you get in your teeth..have fun!

if yer gonna have a seat belt, ya might as well have an air bag...

Thanks cheese, that Coastal Wind basics is an awesome tutorial for a beginner!

Having read that I felt better prepared, and the wind picked up a little this morning, probably around 8mph but gusting higher. So I went out with the bug and my Peak 6m.

I still haven't got a buggy friendly harness, I was looking at the Ozone Access SB or Base version with a loop instead of a spreader, but that gets mixed reviews on this forum. And folk say as it's one size if you're not a big guy (I'm a 32 inch waist) it can be hard to get it tight. Was also looking at a few climbing harnesses like the Petzl Corax and Black Diamond Momentum. I can't really afford a PL Divine and spreader at the moment. So for today I was wearing my kitesurfing harness (mystic warrior waist/seat job) which was not very comfy at all.

Anyway, back to the first ride! AMAZING!!!! I wasn't sure if there was going to be enough wind but the Peak is great in low wind, and it was powering me along nicely! Faster than I was comfortable with until I remembered what I read on that link cheese sent and turned more upwind and kept the kite a bit higher.

I was a bit worried about the first turn but I did as the tutorial said and kept the tack quite short so I wasn't in danger of running out of room. I was thinking about the timing as it sounded like it could be tricky to get it right. First turn, I put the kite high, then started diving in the new direction of travel as I turned the buggy. And...it worked!!! Pulled me nicely out the turn and I managed to keep the lines tight even in the relatively light wind!

I had my phone GPS on and it mapped out my ride (wind direction is the black arrow):



I had great fun! I did have a couple of "oh shlt" moments, and I even said those exact words out loud at one point. The wind was gusting pretty high and the kite was practically at the zenith and still pulling me quite fast! So I turned and I think it actually might have skidded the buggy round!!

I did end up backwards at one point, and on another occasion I felt way too powered and out of control and pulled my chicken loop safety. But all in all a cracking first ride.

Now I've got a real issue though. To carry on with my landboarding journey (I've just started to learn, which is actually what I bought the Peak for) or put that on hold and carry on with the buggy!?!!? The buggy was way more accessible and being sat down I felt less likely to damage myself.

Looks like a great day was had !!

Awesome. You can't have too much buggy time! I think it's one of those things that's way more fun than it looks on video if you haven't done it before.

You can do BOTH!

I enjoy every type of ride almost equally and am pleased that I learned them all. That said, Buggy is a great way to get the whole thing down. As you suggested it is just a bit safer.

Congrat's on the virgin ride!

That's hilarious your GPS mapped your route


(turn 14-18 looks a little sloppy, work on that)


serious, that's way funny, looks like something I drew 40 years ago on my Etch-a-Sketch or LiteBrite.

Quote: Originally posted by robinsonpr

The buggy was way more accessible and being sat down I felt less likely to damage myself.

You can still be injured with the quickness. Wear a helmet and pads. Size your kite for the gusts.

This pic was taken a few years back. Along came a gust and the buggy and I went airborne. The gust hit so hard ,it lofted the buggy sideways and off the ground about 2 ft. , all while traveling @ 35-40 mph.

Then there is the choice of riding surfaces. That has bit me once as well.
https://vimeo.com/16678110

Apparently clumps of dune grass won't get out of your way. Result.. Broken shoulder. Now I wear impact armor

Holy crap that's a scary picture. Especially with your sturdy buggy.

That wasn't my stainless beast ,it's aluminum. Weighs like 50 lbs or so. Riffclown owns it now.

The gust snatched the handles out of my hands so hard ,my fingertips stung like someone hit them w/ a ruler:o

Quote: Originally posted by Windy Heap

That's hilarious your GPS mapped your route (turn 14-18 looks a little sloppy, work on that) serious, that's way funny, looks like something I drew 40 years ago on my Etch-a-Sketch or LiteBrite.

you ought to see some of my WWBB gps routes.

Quote: Originally posted by WELDNGOD

That wasn't my stainless beast ,it's aluminum. Weighs like 50 lbs or so. Riffclown owns it now.

And an awesome buggy it is indeed!!