I live in an area where Fly Surfer's seem to dominate the sky (local shop sells only FS). I tried to join the little click but was stone walled. Then when I explained I buggied and used little foils the jeers of get a real kite, pieces of junk etc rang out.
Well 12 to 15 mph out came the 6.5 Century, laughs coming from the clowns, little kite, waste of time etc.
Well the Century filled quickly and off we went, started passing all the FS guys and then the race was on, should of had taillights so they new were I'd been. lol
The winds picked up and switched to the 2.5 in the 20+ winds, the rhetoric had settled some but always some Dis believers, who soon were converted.
The GPS says I hit about 48 mph.
Smiles all around here.
Cheers:saint:

I think it's hard to beat fixed bridled kites in the buggy - the feeling is so "direct & connected". I just don't get that with a depower.

However, it sure is nice to have such a wide wind range available with only 1 kite.

Have fun

Those people were monkies! You showed them!

Century's are amaaaazzzing kites for buggiers and depowerables are no match for fixed bridles when going for speed in a buggy!

I am curious how well de-power will work with my dirtsurfer. I have flown fixed bridals on handles and bars and on a dirtsurfer the bar feels awesome heelside, but awkward on teside as you have to reach around. toeside is where I find flying handles comes into play. Da-V, any experience with de-power on a DS?

I expect these folks were riding KGB ? I dare anyone to go 48 on a board. You are comparing speed to lift / buggy to board and they are different. You don't here much about Flysurfers and Bug's just like you don't here about Cent's for hang time. I think you were both right. I'm just sorry the Flysurfers have such attitude. No wonder you are looking for a buggy mate !

No KBer - I was flying Blades on handles then. I think it would easier with a depowerable. Flying toeside on handles was a little tricky/twisty

I think the common mistake on the hang time thing is that people usually go out way more powered up on a depowerable kite, they'll run it so they're fairly lit with the kite depowered, then power up to full power to jump. If you go out with a fixed power and learn solid kite control you can get massive floaty jumps out of a fixed bridal, but you have to be able to handle the full power of the kite all the time, you've got no room for error.

All you have to do is watch a vid of guys jumping with a blade 6.6 or 8.5m, or any of the larger race kites.

I think any of those folks that poo poo fixed bridle kites have never actually flown one and don't appreicate the "direct" power. If you read the current stormboarding.com top gun's account of his speed run of over 60mph on tele skis with an alien 5.5 race kite it gives a perspective on the difference between "power" and "depower". I cut and pasted it on a post called speed in the snow kiting section of this forum. I started as a kitewing guy. If you think the depower lei folk make fun of fixed bridle folk - just mention a kitewing and you'll hear "I thought windsurfing was cancelled!!" The low man on the totem pole just got lower. A friend of mine gave me a spin on an old concept air race kite from 1999 the "ex" model I think. Winds were marginal, it was a 3.3 that I was on - even though the wind was light. I knew that if I was on skis I'd be moving. That was enough to get me hooked. Even though I only own a few kites - I don't think it is truly possible to own too many since there are an infinite amount of different conditions (I even try and tell that one to my wife of course). The boosting and jumping guys get a lot out of the ease of boosting ang jumping on the big depowerables - watch some of the landboarders jumping with blades on handles and you'll see real skill. That first experience on the 3.3 made me respect the sizes of the kites. My first kite was a 3.3 flexifoil blade that I just got this fall - I love the kite - it has taught me a lot. One of the southern Flysurfer guys (who is also an instructor) in calgary was demoing some of the new gear in the early winter and had to be airlifted off of spray lakes with a bunch of fractures to the sacrum and pelvis after a boost gone wrong. Getting air is easy - landing is tricky. Depowerable or fixed bridle - we are wind powered for cryin' out loud - we are on the same side it's not like we have different religions - we both worship the same chinese wind gods. How-ling and his brother Ra-ging. At least I think so...

I agree totally. I fly because I love to fly. The buggy is something I'm learning can't say I've learned it yet but working at it, somedays giving a little more than others..OBE... road rash...lol, oh yea did I mention bruises?
I really just want to get out try lots of different kites and have FUN...
The Gods have been good this week, tidings all

Cheers

Amen to that prairie wind!

Fortunately here so far everyone seems to be very receptive to the kitewing, buggiers and landsailors both. If only those guys with LEI's knew what they were missing out on. There is some true depower to reckon with my friends!

I've been waiting for a good time to bust out the 15m phantom, but when the winds are high enough to fly it I just fly my kitewing instead. Not to mention that when the inland winds are high enough to use the wing , I can use a 2.1 or 3.6 fixed bridal and scedaddle pretty fast on the playa. With that in mind when I think of the size of the 15m phantom in comparison, I get down right intimidated. I really want to try depower with the dirtsurfer, maybe I need to look into swapping it for a smaller size depower.

Nice thing I like about the dirtsurfer is being able to cruise (not jump) overpowered but still in control by regulating speed like a kiteskater and leaning back against the lift/pull of the kite. These boards are great for any gear for any discipline, freestyle or race. Da-V, when is your dirtsurfer coming so you can give me your scoop on dirtsurfer with depower:D