Just going to go off a veered thread and start this up. So to you how fast is fast? I believe as stated in the other thread that "fast" is definitely dependant on your surroundings, your conditions, and more importantly your equipment. When I first started bugging, fast was 25mph on my home field that was about 300yards wide with lumpy inland winds and of course a beautiful tree line on three sides and an aluminum bleacher obstacle to the northern end of the run. I was using an Eolo radsail buggy on barrows with normally at least a 5m FB kite. Didn't take anytime to get from one side to the other. Then I had my first trip to WBB, wow did the world change. I was new to the hard pack open arena of playful winds and new obstacles, other kiters and plenty of kites. I was like so many that I have seen since then come to WBB. Unsure of my surroundings, on a small frame buggy, now adorned with big beach tires. I stayed in the soft stuff to get used to things before I dare venture to the slick hard pack that was sure to make me fly like the wind. Let me tell you, once I hit the hard pack it was a scary feeling. Felt like I was doing 90 with the top down and barely on the accelerator. I'm sure I was probably only doing 20-25 tops, but it was a new feeling, where was the constant drag I was used to, why was it speeding up so quickly, all the answers I knew before I hit the hard pack suddenly got lost in the quick acceleration and sense of losing control. As the day went on I made longer, more controlled passes on the hard stuff till I felt comfortable enough to really stay down there and test what fast really was. When I first started, 25-30mph was plenty fast enough.

Fast forward to today, I am now on my third buggy, a GT Rapide. By far the best decision I have made to further my buggy experiences. My custom made buggy was awesome, and got me to the 40mph mark comfortably. But this new buggy, wow, this thing can handle some speed. Now my personal best is just under the 50mph mark on the hardback, and although that is pretty fast, I know in the right conditions, I can go much faster and feel comfortable doing so.

So for me, fast used to be 25-30 mph restricted by my equipment, my experience, and my riding conditions, now 50mph feels fast, but not fast enough, because of my equipment, my experience as well as my conditions. I love the little friendly contest I have going with Konrad, Craig, (who now owns my custom made buggy) and a couple others, where we push each other to go a little faster by comparing speeds all day. It keeps the fun level up, keeps e experience growing, and makes you fly the hell out of your kite and keep pushing for more.

No matter how fast you are going, or what feels fast to you, as also said in the other thread. At the end of the day, it's who you are riding with that matters most as those are the people that will share your memories of kiting for long after we are done.

Fast is definitely relevant to your surroundings, your experience and the obstacles around you. Ride with a smile and share your passion with others!

One of my happiest examples of this very thread is definitely my good friend Howard, aka Hiaguy. I continue to remind him how happy I am to see him progress each time he visits WBB. He always comes back with a smile, no matter if he beats his personal best or not, although I know each time he puts up a kite and hits the hard pack, he is trying to beat his personal best. He has grown so much confidence over the last couple bashes that I know in due time, he will smash his personal best and will be very excited.

I love pushing my limits and in a bug...on a good day I'm most certainly upside down or ejected at least once...but really don't care ot have the taste for speed or their #'s...I like sideways way more...to me you are truley at speed when you are worried about what's gonna happen 2 sec from now...that said I guess I've run 33/34mph which is fast enough

Very good point Brandon, for many, what ever their current speed is plenty fast enough, for some like Ragden it's about distance traveled as he regularly logs up to 90 miles per day at WBB or guys like Dave P who buggy till the sun goes down and speed is not a big deal, but just buggying to buggy.

Yur makin' me blush. :embarrased: "If you build it..." and you keep organizing it for us. Thank you.

I think your description covers the majority of us. It's a progression that "we" (at least "I") get into as much as getting into any sport. Can I go a little faster/further than the last time? Sometimes. Most of the time I'm just happy to be able to be out in the wind without worrying about the other headaches of day-to-day life. But, like any sport, improvement comes with practice, coaching, and encouragement.

Speed wasn't an issue this last trip with the winds that seemed to elude us, but I did hit a couple of personal bests: I buggied five consecutive days, and I managed a total of 100.1 km (the last 11.3 km - about 7 miles) taking me just over an hour - 100 ft at a time. I started to look at it as turning practice (My personal best stays at 58.3 km/h on the beach, 53.8 in my home park. You 'merikans can do the math.)

The people? Always an issue - in the best way. Constant encouragement (from 10-yr olds to 60-yr olds); being able to watch friends enjoying themselves (who else "whoop"ed for Bruce?); smiling and having the smile returned; sharing beverages (OMG Ommegang!) and stories ("I was dragged down the beach!"). And then being able to do it again tomorrow. (And having a wife that lets me!)

Brandon: I've seen you do runs that were probably closer to 40+ - think about the Sunday of the fall'15 Bash!

It's all from a point of view as to where one is standing. Can I go faster, yes. Can I go farther, yes.
Can I drive home, unaided, by myself after a bit of buggy riding? As Rich said earlier, equipment, expertise, gives us the ability to go much faster.
I like to put a bit of speed down when pushing someone, it's what gets the blood flowing.
A ride down the beach and back is well worth the cross country drive from Seattle to Wildwood. The people, places, and the sun rising on the wrong side of the water is but icing on the cake. Speed of 60mph, 5mph, or just watching others is ok by me.

I'll second the notion that speed is relative. My definition of fast is constantly changing as I get more experienced and confident in my abilities. Since Participating in Feyd's HardWater speed ranking a lot of my previous theory has gotten blown out the window in regards to what makes someone go really fast. I first thought it was all about the equipment and wind, but after several years of observation, now know that it has much more to do with the rider and plain old luck. I've seen guys with old kites/equipment blow the doors off guys with the latest race kites, simply because they have the experience and the right conditions at the time.

Speed to me is like a drug. I need more and more of it to get that same rush I had the last time I went "fast". Every year I get a little more comfortable going faster. To me 25mph used to be fast. Now 50mph is considered fast to me, so it's always changing. 50mph to some is a gentle cruising speed, so it's different for everyone. If I can go faster this year than I went last year, then I know I've made some progress or gotten a little luckier than before:D

Its all about perspective to me. I've been fast at 35 and fast at 55. Probibly fast at 25.
Some days you just feel it. Some days 45 feels like a crawl.

At some point starting a few years ago I started to care less and less about increasing my top speed. Or distance traveled.

These days it is more and more about enjoying " the moment ". In many ways I am much happier with a constant low speed onshore wind with a real big kite than chasing dust devils?

Fast or slow I strive to make what I do appear fluid and effortless. On the perfect day and at my age that is what is worth striving for. :Ange09:

Making it to the end of the day with only a perma-grin for pain and some good friends to relive the moment is what it is all about for me these days!

:bigok:

I wonder if my heyday was spring of 2014 with 6-8 sessions with multiple runs each over 60. My perspective became adjusted so that 57-58 felt not quite fast and "maybe the next run will be lit". And that was with 4 different kites ranging from Montana 8 m, 2 fixed bridle kites and an LEI.

I can still remember a run at OBE field in Aiken SC with Pokitetrash where I broke 25 mph. It felt like 55-60 on Ivanpah.

I remember a pb on Jekyll Island of 35 mph. It felt like when the Millenium Falcon going to hyperspace.

So yes, fast is dependent on equipment, ability, and how fast you've gotten accustomed to riding recently. If you've had a layover, you probably need to knock the rust off before going hyperspace and firing up the warp drive.

Like Bladerunner said, an awesome session can be had at 20 mph with a huge kite.

Bob, are you ever going to make it back to JIBE one of these years? I want to ride with you.

Fast is any speed you feel you would not want to be going in the event of a crash. :P

Fast is also relative to circumstances that comprise your "comfort zone". I'm perfectly happy going as fast as I can on skis but on the roof of a car, not so much. :evil:

Sometimes speed is dictated by the load my legs will support.

These kids take "fast" to a level many of us can't even imagine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR9jZjsvGN4

fast is chasing down the guy ahead of you....thats it!

Quote: Originally posted by kiteboyza

fast is chasing down the guy ahead of you....thats it!

The view never changes from back there.:moon:
Hahaha

Quote: Originally posted by Demoknight

Bob, are you ever going to make it back to JIBE one of these years? I want to ride with you.

Absolutely! The plan is for us to relocate back to the Chattanooga area summer of 17. Can't keep me away from Jibe or likely WBB at that point. IBX will go from a 40 mile drive to 2100!

And amen to what Bigkid said. If I can't chase down the guy in front of me or keep in front of the guy behind me, I probably need a different kite. I recognize when skill level is why I'm slower but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

For me Fast = when you can't beat my PB ..... lol