You know him, he's a truly great guy with a pair of the biggest balls out there.... RedSky aka Tom has broken the record on one of the smallest kite bugging beaches around the UK....I am over the moon for him as he has been trying for well over 10 years to get this record on that crazy small beach, going out in insane conditions


New Record

Congratulation Redsky. Way to push it.

Well done Redsky
It's been a long time coming 👍

Balls like bull!

Well played young man, well played.

Wow!! That is really awesome. It is especially cool that he's one our regulars!! Way to go Tom!

good job
looking forward to the film

Good job, Tom!!!:wee:

Thanks guys for kind words.

Still can't believe it :D

Kicking myself however that I took no video.
Normally I video everything but the session was over almost before it began.

I decided to end the session early after just 4 short runs as I had earlier discovered a knot in my back lines while setting up and against my better judgment took a risk and I rigged the kite anyway.
So as you can imagine I was nervous about it snapping.

On my first run I rolled slowly upwind checking surface conditions. I then turned 180, trimmed the kite for full power and pulled the trigger. Holy mother of God, the acceleration! I would say within about 7-8 seconds I had reached then end of the run.

The wind direction was X-on which really helped delay the onset of being pulled downwind long enough for me to stay on firmer ground for a second or two longer than usual.

At the end of the run I push the bar out and kick the bug sideways to stop, but the kite is still pulling my sideways down the beach.
The wheels momentarily dig-in on uneven ground and I immediately straighten her back into line. As a result the bug starts to accelerate again. I try a different tactic and slowly raise the kite up and behind for drag, risking an epic OBE while still moving at about 50mph.

The bug is less stable at speed without the kite pulling laterally and becomes light and bouncy, but speed slowly bleeds off and I finally come to a sudden full stop in 2 feet of water sending a wall of spray shooting over my head.
I get myself out of the pool and glance down at the two GPS units and see 69.8 and 69.9 mph.

Three similar attempts feel just as fast and just as crazy with some heart-in-my-mouth moments yet failed to yield better results.

I now regret wimping out early but that knot was bothering me a lot. I've twice had knots snap my lines.
I promise that ( within the next 8 years ) I will set up camera's for my next PB and be a little braver. Until then I will keep trying.

Kite : 7m Genetrix Hydra

Wind : 45 knots average ( peek gusts 57 knots )


free image hosting site

Around my area when we brag about epic days and tell others about it on Facebook or text it is always followed up by "video or it didn't happen".

Obviously gps units tell a story also. Great job. Way faster than I would be going.

i read about a way for removing knots a while back that works extremely well due to the slipperiness of the lines. keep squishing the knot with pliers (or rocks, or your teeth, etc.) and the knot opens right up. squish, rotate, squish, rotate, repeat until the knot is able to be opened up completely.
i used the flat section of needle-nose pliers because i didn't know if the serrated part would wreck the lines. i also did gnaw on another knot with my molars just to test that method. it works well.
don't know that i could replicate this in redsky's normal oh-my-god conditions, but i probably won't ever have to try, either.
tom

Quote: Originally posted by eric67m

"video or it didn't happen". going.

Haha, I would be the first to agree with you. :D
I'm all about videos and I really let you guys down BUT, there will be a next time and I WILL be ready. Watch this space.... for ten years.

Quote: Originally posted by tomdiving

i read about a way for removing knots a while back that works extremely well due to the slipperiness of the lines. keep squishing the knot with pliers (or rocks, or your teeth, etc.) and the knot opens right up. squish, rotate, squish, rotate, repeat until the knot is able to be opened up completely. i used the flat section of needle-nose pliers because i didn't know if the serrated part would wreck the lines. i also did gnaw on another knot with my molars just to test that method. it works well. don't know that i could replicate this in redsky's normal oh-my-god conditions, but i probably won't ever have to try, either. tom

Believe me I tried. For 30 minutes I hammered it with a wrench and socket but could not free it. I tried picking it with my nails and it started to fray. I had made it weaker. The tide was turning and it was now or never.

Brilliant RedSky.
Congratulations wee laddie 😁.

Wow very well done. :o

Thanks Alasdair, thanks Chook.
Thanks eric67m, thanks Tom.

Nice to see somebody pushing for records still.
Congrat's on your record!

Impressive as always Redsky

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner

Nice to see somebody pushing for records still. Congrat's on your record!

Thanks Blade.

The real pushing for records began in 2011 when I achieved 66 mph at Cambersands, from that moment on my focus was set.

I decided to sell off all my kites and just own two sizes. An 8m & 7m, and only really hit the beach whenever a storm was due to blow through.

Year after year storms came and went, yet stubbornly my PB refused to budge. Eight long years were to pass and then just as I was starting to resign myself to the fact that it was not possible, a new one comes along. It was very unexpected and left me a little shocked but has really encouraged and emboldened me to continue on and improve it. Thanks again.

Quote: Originally posted by kteguru

Impressive as always Redsky

Thankyou Sir

Nice work RedSky!

Quote: Originally posted by jeffnyc

Nice work RedSky!

Thanks Jeff. Now I just need to convince 72hundred to meet me at the beach with his new kite, under the guise that I'm there to help him with set-up.

If you're reading this 72hundred, airfares are cheaper during winter and the beach is most quiet during a storm.

awesome - always love a good story from you - puts us right in the seat, feeling the excitement and moments of panic all together - Fantastic!!
video would be brilliant but the story was still Ace.
cheers Tom - keep pushing the boundaries.

Thanks markite!

That is absolutely amazing Tom.

You are completly insane riding on those winds and more importantly breaking records under conditions that the vast majority of us would not even go out on the beach.

Congrats!!

Thanks Genci

Nice Redsky.. that is one hell of a PB..!!!!!!

Quote: Originally posted by jantie

Nice Redsky.. that is one hell of a PB..!!!!!!

Thanks jantie and Have yourself a Merry Christmas.

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky

Quote: Originally posted by jantie   Nice Redsky.. that is one hell of a PB..!!!!!! Thanks jantie and Have yourself a Merry Christmas.

U2

@ what beach did you do this?

Camber sands

Well done.

One might think you are crazy for riding in such high winds and what a fail at such high speed might mean, but must be you're not crazy and are able to ride such conditions because you know exactly what you are doing and are so precise.

..or you're just crazy...about speed.

Quote:

I try a different tactic and slowly raise the kite up and behind for drag, risking an epic OBE while still moving at about 50mph.

:o

When you're doing such extremes you need to be extremely safe

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky

Camber sands

that is one nice racetrack..!!!