not a response to that video but I have heard it used before and I think that we shouldn't be lumped into an "extreme sport" label....I certainly don't crap myself every time I go in the buggy....its fun ..but I don't feel extreme in any way do you?

DQ

Not particularly... of course I'm not airborn in the buggy or going 70 mph either...

It's all relative.

The downside is that painting the entire power/traction community as "extreme" (or "xtreme", if you prefer) has the very real problem of triggering insurance, liability, access issues/concerns that might very well not be warranted.

The "extreme/xtreme" label works much, much better when there are sponsorships involved and you are trying to fill stands/stadiums.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

I certainly don't crap myself every time I go in the buggy

I am glad you don't crap yourself every time. It is bad enough in Davis sometimes with the smell of the cow pastures.

"I certainly don't crap myself every time I go in the buggy"

Neither do I, I'm still grateful that the new, Extreme Sports Depends now comes with velcroed straps that matches my buggy's blue color scheme! :singing:

I like the label

Like it or not, people don't stop and stare at people participating in activities unless they are somewhat extreme and somewhat unattainable to the general public. EVERY time I buggy at a park here with heavy traffic on two sides, I get the reporter with a big camera and press creds, the guy that wonders if I'm an alien and just can't help but come ask me amazed questions about what I'm doing and where do I get that stuff, or just someone off to the side with a camera. Sometimes people just stop and park to watch me for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, even if you aren't going 50 mph, it really is extreme.

I go ride the school field now and then on an ATB. Definetly slows traffic down, and always a half dozen or so cars pull off to watch. I'm not doing jumps or anything... just going back and forth across the field.

But turn the handles over to someone that does not know what they are doing... and a 6.5 or 8m kite can have some very extreme results :eekdrull:

For those in the know, what we do isnt very extreme... But for the outside viewer who has no idea what is going on, it ALL looks extreme. Unfortunate, but such is the nature of the game (fear what you dont understand?).

When I fly in Baltimore, I almost always stop traffic on the road going past. Occasionally people come to ask questions, but most times they just stand and watch. :D

i think you hit the nail on the head there mat

Agreed I don't really feel extreme very often if at all. I think that fringe is more likely but that has its own connotations. It does scare me when some one shows up with a 17m something having bought it on ebay and seems to think that it is a good idea to fly it in 25kn winds never having flown anything before. That makes it extreme! It also causes all the problems as well! :flaming:

Ragden,
Actually, people in Baltimore stop to see if you left your car unlocked
Actally I'm surprised how few people know land traction, but most know kite surfing - so that's where 'extreme' connotations come from.

By extreme, I suppose it means extreme danger.
There is an element of danger in every physical sport I suppose. It is just a question of degree.

Everybody I buggy with here regularly has had an OBE. Every OBE has had the potential to cause harm and in some cases some of us have been injured.

If we discuss our OBE's & injuries, a layman may think that what we do is extreme because of the danger we occasionally face.
Yes, there have been accidents due to people's inexperience and others that just push to the limit & once in a while go a bit over.

I used to race motorcycles in my youth and later spent all my free time climbing mountains. I had my moments in both of those sports but never considered them extreme. It was just a matter of recognising one's limitations to avoid danger.

Kite buggying is the same. We can make it extreme or otherwise. Surely therefore the sport could be perceived as extreme for those people who push and go over the boundaries of being safe.

Skiing is the sport I find has most in common with what I do now. When I look back at my evolution through that sport the same thing fits. Just Skiing isn't looked at as extreme so much any more ? Safer equipment and such. Now there IS extreme skiing. Skiing at a different level by choice.

I find kiting is still just a bit too new for the devision to be obvious. So we all LOOK extreme.

About 80% of the time I am just out enjoying myself and trying to be safe. Not very extreme ?

The other 20 % of the time I like to think I'm being a " bit " extreme ?



I think I am even MORE AMAZED at how clueless some people can be about the dangers around them :o

How they don't see any potentil for danger as they look through their cameras or come strolling in front of your power zone.