mrbonk
08-02-2005, 09:16 PM
I had the best session this afternoon (which, considering I've only had 2 others, is probably no big surprise......). I got to try out my harness/pulley rig *and* I got to 43kmh using only my 2.1m kite! That was on 15psi tyres, so I guess I could have gone quicker with more pressure......I'll find out tomorrow!
Direct onshore wind 15 - 21kts and I found a spot where the flat sand at the top of the beach was wide enough for me to buggy on and not put my kite in the trees. Shame I didn't discover this until the last 15mins of the session, but now I know how nice it is to ride on hardpack......I'll certainly be going back there from now on :D.
I couldn't believe how quick this tiny little kite got me going on the flat stuff. Of course, when it was only 15kts I was having to work the kite a lot and was only cruising along, but in the gusts (which sometimes lasted for quite some time) I was going very nicely :) . Every now and then I thought about going in and getting my 4.9 Blade, but then a gust would hit, the buggy would slide sideways and I'd think "Uh....maybe not!".
I had my first powerslide to 'holy crap I'm going backwards how the hell did that happen' experience and also very nearly had my first OBE :oops:. I luffed the kite through a turn (after overcooking the slide and nearly ending up going backwards again), then it powered up and pulled the right hand rear wheel clear off the ground......very nearly tipped me out....thankfully it was only the little kite!
The harness and pulley is *definitely* the tits! Being able to cruise along one handed and not getting your arms pulled out of their sockets is nice. I managed just under an hour (travelled 21.9kms at a moving average of 24.2kmh and a max of 43.3kmh, according to my Geko GPS) and didn't even feel it. The only reason I stopped is because I'd have been trying to roll the kite up under water if I'd kept going any longer......damn the incoming tide!
Direct onshore wind 15 - 21kts and I found a spot where the flat sand at the top of the beach was wide enough for me to buggy on and not put my kite in the trees. Shame I didn't discover this until the last 15mins of the session, but now I know how nice it is to ride on hardpack......I'll certainly be going back there from now on :D.
I couldn't believe how quick this tiny little kite got me going on the flat stuff. Of course, when it was only 15kts I was having to work the kite a lot and was only cruising along, but in the gusts (which sometimes lasted for quite some time) I was going very nicely :) . Every now and then I thought about going in and getting my 4.9 Blade, but then a gust would hit, the buggy would slide sideways and I'd think "Uh....maybe not!".
I had my first powerslide to 'holy crap I'm going backwards how the hell did that happen' experience and also very nearly had my first OBE :oops:. I luffed the kite through a turn (after overcooking the slide and nearly ending up going backwards again), then it powered up and pulled the right hand rear wheel clear off the ground......very nearly tipped me out....thankfully it was only the little kite!
The harness and pulley is *definitely* the tits! Being able to cruise along one handed and not getting your arms pulled out of their sockets is nice. I managed just under an hour (travelled 21.9kms at a moving average of 24.2kmh and a max of 43.3kmh, according to my Geko GPS) and didn't even feel it. The only reason I stopped is because I'd have been trying to roll the kite up under water if I'd kept going any longer......damn the incoming tide!