Yesterday I had a few hours and went to the local soccer park I've posted about in the past. I got to buggy for about an hour and a half. From the time I packed up and for 4-5 hours that evening, it was like I was on a drug. It was so fun zipping back and forth across the 2 soccer fields. Wheels just really add something to the kiting experience. There is a thrill about heading out across the field under the power of the kite. I always question about whether I do this for the thrill of onlookers but this day it was just me, my kite and the buggy. These fields are laser leveled so it is ultra smooth for grass. I've been practicing doing downturns with the kite when turning around and every once in awhile, I get the timing right and the buggy whips around in a long slide totally under power and then the slingshot out of the turn to cap it off. I don't think I will ever be very thrilled with static flying again. I'm forever corrupted by the buggy.

Hey BB,

Glad to hear you're having so much fun on your new buggy and you got some good winds.

I agree....just don't get the same kind of feeling static flying anymore...the bug and the landboard are just so much fun!

feeling the stoke, then more & more & more & more

clocking ride time that is actually timeless.

This is SO TRUE !

People who remain stuck at static flying haven't a clue what they are missing.

The great thing about moving to riding is there is always another level to meet. The feeling of just having accomplished the impossible just keeps on coming and so does the stoke :wee:

Ride on B.B.

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Originally posted by lunchbox Hey BB, Glad to hear you're having so much fun on your new buggy and you got some good winds. I agree....just don't get the same kind of feeling static flying anymore...the bug and the landboard are just so much fun!

So that is what stoke is. It was an unmistakable emotional feeling. I've been thinking about this more and realize it was never about going fast. I probably hit a high speed of 20 mph or less. That makes you cover 2 soccer fields pretty quickly. The feeling was about tooling around the field under wind power and feeling the surges of wind hitting the kite turning into surges of speed in the buggy. Those turns were the big "O" of the session though.

Any veterans out there that can give some ground rules to make all powered turns feel like rear wheel torque steer in a high performance car? Power of the kite being seamless and the wheels of the buggy not being able to handle the side forces so they slide through the turn. These are different than just doing a hockey stop to scrub off speed. They are like the guys are doing in the Blurr promotional video but of course I'm not doing them on the same scale they are. But I bet I can learn. New Horizons! :singing:

buggying kix butt, but snow will be here soon. i have to force myself to get off buggy and practice w/ ATB board in prep for snowboard. i suckk a$$ so far.:barf:
wait until snow is here then no choice but to learn to board
Paul

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Originally posted by BeamerBob So that is what stoke is. It was an unmistakable emotional feeling. I've been thinking about this more and realize it was never about going fast. I probably hit a high speed of 20 mph or less. That makes you cover 2 soccer fields pretty quickly. The feeling was about tooling around the field under wind power and feeling the surges of wind hitting the kite turning into surges of speed in the buggy. Those turns were the big "O" of the session though. Any veterans out there that can give some ground rules to make all powered turns feel like rear wheel torque steer in a high performance car? Power of the kite being seamless and the wheels of the buggy not being able to handle the side forces so they slide through the turn. These are different than just doing a hockey stop to scrub off speed. They are like the guys are doing in the Blurr promotional video but of course I'm not doing them on the same scale they are. But I bet I can learn. New Horizons! :singing:

I call that feeling the zen "probably mispelled" experience. A true feeling of one with nature, kite, and your ture human instinct all rolled into one great feeling. The best one I have had to date was a few years back in the desert a few of us had a sunset ride with Bison's RM+ 12 meter in the desert. For those of you that have been to desert will understand usually kite of choice is between 2-6 meters out there so to be able to put up the 12 and kite to the sunseting over the mountains and you are the only kiter out on the lake was truly a zen or god like experience and one of the many memories that I will never forget.

Glad you got to experience this Bob as this is a feeling I hipe all kiters get to have in their memory bank

Big John
JoJo1

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The best one I have had to date was a few years back in the desert a few of us had a sunset ride with Bison's RM+ 12 meter in the desert. For those of you that have been to desert will understand usually kite of choice is between 2-6 meters out there so to be able to put up the 12 and kite to the sunseting over the mountains and you are the only kiter out on the lake was truly a zen or god like experience and one of the many memories that I will never forget.

Yeah, had something like that myself. Was at El Mirage. Wind was only 7-9mph but silky smooth. Sun setting. Still about 85 degrees. Friend sleeping in the car, landsailors sitting in their rigs waiting for one last ride and wondering where all the wind went...and me zipping (ok, probably putting) by on my landboard with my 4.5 Bullet. I'll never, ever, forget that day...zen like would be the perfect way to describe it.

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The great thing about moving to riding is there is always another level to meet.

So true...and that I think is one thing that makes this sport so much fun...it is truly limitless...!

Zen - the perfect description of the feeling you get when you become one with the kite and buggy. Now add that feeling with being out on the playa under a full moon in the crispness of night.....brings a totally new zen experience.

Those that have not experienced the zen on a buggy are really missing out on something that can't be explained but must be experienced.

Does this zen experience you guys have had last for hours afterward? In water skiing, I've had that experience while on a slalom run and all the turns and pulls seem to be guided by angels, with perfect rhythm, g-force turns and explosive speed across the wakes. I can't remember how long the feeling lasted though. I guess it was similar. This is one of the times it happened and there were pictures taken.

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Originally posted by BeamerBob Does this zen experience you guys have had last for hours afterward? I don't quite know how long the feeling will last, but I can return to that state, by symply letting my mind go back to that dayeverytime. Yes night buggying in the desert is a zen experience as well, but for me doesn't even come close to that day for me kinda a once in a lifetime thing. In all my many years of going to the desert I have always had several buggy rides at night, but only one ride for about 30 min with that rm+12+empty lakebed+probably one of the best sunsets I have ever seen in the desert made for the best session I have ever had. for sure Bob you can experience this feeling in lots of sports out there and not just sports will land you in a zen like state of mind. To me the zen feeling is just something you will know when you get there and will be something you just don't want to end. Heres to wishing for ALL kiters to get this feeling at least once!:saint: Big John JoJo1

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Originally posted by JoJo1 Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob Does this zen experience you guys have had last for hours afterward? I don't quite know how long the feeling will last, but I can return to that state, by symply letting my mind go back to that dayeverytime. Yes night buggying in the desert is a zen experience as well, but for me doesn't even come close to that day for me kinda a once in a lifetime thing. In all my many years of going to the desert I have always had several buggy rides at night, but only one ride for about 30 min with that rm+12+empty lakebed+probably one of the best sunsets I have ever seen in the desert made for the best session I have ever had. for sure Bob you can experience this feeling in lots of sports out there and not just sports will land you in a zen like state of mind. To me the zen feeling is just something you will know when you get there and will be something you just don't want to end. Heres to wishing for ALL kiters to get this feeling at least once!:saint: Big John JoJo1 AMEN! If you could bottle that stuff up, you could sell it for a high price. I guess then it would be illegal though. Best we get it the natural way.

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Originally posted by BeamerBob Quote: Originally posted by JoJo1 Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob Does this zen experience you guys have had last for hours afterward? I don't quite know how long the feeling will last, but I can return to that state, by symply letting my mind go back to that dayeverytime. Yes night buggying in the desert is a zen experience as well, but for me doesn't even come close to that day for me kinda a once in a lifetime thing. In all my many years of going to the desert I have always had several buggy rides at night, but only one ride for about 30 min with that rm+12+empty lakebed+probably one of the best sunsets I have ever seen in the desert made for the best session I have ever had. for sure Bob you can experience this feeling in lots of sports out there and not just sports will land you in a zen like state of mind. To me the zen feeling is just something you will know when you get there and will be something you just don't want to end. Heres to wishing for ALL kiters to get this feeling at least once!:saint: Big John JoJo1 AMEN! If you could bottle that stuff up, you could sell it for a high price. I guess then it would be illegal though. Best we get it the natural way. LMAO good one Bob

Sounds like AOXOMOXOA To ME :wee:

I just LOVE getting pumped up on a good session ! I will walk around for the rest of the day with an ear to ear smile. I tend to smile all the time but THIS smile is huge ! When people see me this way I say " The Feeling LASTS " and keep on grinning :D


Your small park will be well suited for you to work on riding backwards and transitioning from forward to back. Work on these skills. They are like scudding to static flying ! Essential in safety as you progress. Not to mention, a TON of fun :bigok:

That IS good advice about going backwards and getting smooth with transitioning between frontwards and backwards. I've felt like a goof so far when I've inadvertently ended up going backwards. I intentionally tried it once and that turned out fine. I didn't do a transition though, I was just pinned in and needed to back out of my parking space so to speak. Angus told a story about NABX where it appeared he was gaining on one of the team riders for Flexi I think. At first it appeared that he was slowly gaining on him and then suddenly he was REALLY gaining on him only to realize a moment later that the guy was going in the opposite direction but backwards at about 40 mph. That is incomprehensible to me.

YES, I remember the thread a while back about AOXOMOXOA. I didn't really get it then but now it all makes sense.

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Originally posted by BeamerBob Angus told a story about NABX where it appeared he was gaining on one of the team riders for Flexi I think. At first it appeared that he was slowly gaining on him and then suddenly he was REALLY gaining on him only to realize a moment later that the guy was going in the opposite direction but backwards at about 40 mph. That is incomprehensible to me.

That was actually Ziggy- one of the Canadian contingent out with their PL ARC's and heavy, wide homebuilt buggies.

Yeah the wife often asks me "how come you just don't fly your kite any more? You used to be happy just standing on your feet!":dunno: She is going to NABX for a couple of days with me so maybe then she will get it.

Bobby, glad to see you getting in the groove

One of the most awesome times I had was riding at NABX about 3 years ago with my good friend Greg. He was on a Jojo 3m RM+, homebuilt buggy, I was on an Ozone Razor 2.5 and Monster buggy. We were ripping across the lake bed around the 40-50mph mark, one directly in front of the other. Only thing was Greg was reversed and our front wheels were about 2 ft away from touching. Was pretty interesting carrying on a conversation while we shot across the lake bed.

My reverse skills are not nearly as good as others. I should really spend more time working on them.

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Originally posted by acampbell Bobby, glad to see you getting in the groove

This is almost completely your fault Angus. And I can't thank you enough! :wee:

A while back there was a lot of talk about AMOXOMAXAOWAOBAMA (or whatever it was). Zen, bliss, peace....it's all the same I think and for me I've felt it twice at such a profound level that it became a permanent memory. The moment for me is when the kite goes from a unruly monster to a tamed beast and it's in the peace that comes with the feeling and experience of having harnessed the wind and found a peaceful coexistence with it through the kite lines.

Hey Bob!

Good on you for hitting those downturns. That is truly the shiznit.

Great meeting you and your cool son. That was a great weekend in Jekyll.

Hope to see you at the beach sometime again in the future!

Greg

yes Greg, your advice on the downturns is among the single most impacting tricks of the trade I've been given. It took things to a whole new level. I love this sport and forum in that everyone gets joy out of everyone else moving forward and getting better. It isn't like this everywhere!

Yea Bob, Congrats on the good times! No more thrill for you static? That happens. When is that Blurr comming? Good luck with the wind!:singing:

Woo Hoo, Sthrasher is ALIVE ! Even if his avatar died
Will we see you at NABX Sthrash' ?

Hey Bob, What do you think of your Mystic seat harness ? I tend to like a waist harness and will probably go for a Mystic warrior in the Spring.

We have sold you on the harness and now the buggy. Now I'm going to ride your :moon: until you get flying depower! We have been right so far , haven't we ? :wink2:
You have to keep up to Sthrasher, Dakitze and the rest of the sod's. You all started at the same time :cool2:

Oh yes baby, We wil be there! Hope to have more time in on the depower by then. Dakitez is going to convert me over I am sure if we could get some wind. Its comming. And yea,yea my avatar. my computer sux! I am luck to have the one I do. I'll work on it. Nice to hear from ya and look forward to seeing you again.:bigok:

Something tells me this years race will be a bit closer :dunno:
See Ya on the Playa Bro' :evil:

Ok, But I have no chance against a celebrity though.

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Originally posted by Sthrasher38 Yea Bob, Congrats on the good times! No more thrill for you static? That happens. When is that Blurr comming? Good luck with the wind!:singing:

Let's not say "no more thrills" but static will now take a back seat to buggy. If the wind is blowing and I can't fly the buggy, it'll always be fun to fly a kite, no matter what.

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Originally posted by Bladerunner Hey Bob, What do you think of your Mystic seat harness ? I tend to like a waist harness and will probably go for a Mystic warrior in the Spring. We have sold you on the harness and now the buggy. Now I'm going to ride your :moon: until you get flying depower! We have been right so far , haven't we ? :wink2: You have to keep up to Sthrasher, Dakitze and the rest of the sod's. You all started at the same time :cool2:

Yes, you've been goading my along just fine so far. ;-) I have the harness but tend to use it only when flying depower. I really enjoy the workout the bare handles offer. At Jibe, I flew both our new Montana and Angus's new 11m NEO unhooked and enjoyed that. I flew for 3-4 hours that day at JIBE and didn't stop to rest and wasn't sore afterwards. I flew 1.5 hours last Wednesday and quit due to time constraints instead of being tired. With my history of water skiing, wakeboarding and such, I'm pretty strong if I can say so humbly. I haven't really given enough thought to the safety of hooking the strop into a spreader bar. When the poop hits the fan, I haven't gotten it in my head how I'm gonna prepare to release myself yet. So far I'm still more comfortable with the tactile connection between me and the kite with bare handles. However in defense of the strop, I did get the handles ripped out of my hands Wednesday. I didn't let go, the handles were just suddenly dangling out there. I'm guessing it was a gust of 17-18 and I was flying the Blade, so no big surprise there. I'll give you some credit and sort out hooking my quick release to my spreader bar and give it a whirl. Give me some credit for coming up with my own original strop connection technique though!

Hey Bob!

I use a pretty cool Wichard quick release that has some custom balls with cones on them so that I can punch out easily. I use it with either a Holt pulley block when I'm flying my fixed line kites with handles or directly to the chicken loop on my depower kites. Of course, it cuts the kite loose completely but I like that idea better than being bounced down the beach out of control. The only time I've had to use it is when my lines got caught up in the buggy forks and the kite started to death spiral. Pretty scary!

Anyway, I've attached the Wichard to my spreader bar but I usually just use a climbing harness which works better.

You were nailing those downturns at Jekyll. That's some fun stuff, huh? I can't wait to try that on the water!

I'm going to check the tides in Jekyll to see when the next minus tides are. Maybe you guys can come down...

See you at the beach!

Greg

We are always open to a get together. Give me a little planning time. Our life is like a freight train and its hard to change directions, stop and start.