Summer Lovin'...

Tomorrow is officially the first day of summer and after the last couple of days and it feeling like winter, with storms and high winds, it is set to start to warm up...

And we are starting to get those fantastic, clean easterlies (not so good Sunday, but you can bet I will be in the buggy!)...

I love Summer...

Punter!

A sad day for Aussie cricket, Ricky Ponting is retiring from international cricket.

Method in my madness - Teil Vier, the first flight!

Yesterday I took the Method to the footie oval to attach the lines and have a quick go! Like all Ozones the Method has numbered lines to make for easy set-up. But true to form I still managed to get the lines twisted and tangled just unwrapping them from the winder - this is why I para-pack!

Once the lines were attached the kite sat there partly inflated, the Method has it's air intakes covered by mesh like my Flow but unlike the Flow only has seven. A quick tug and up it went, even flying static the kite was quick through the air and turned easily without brakes and with a bit of brake would spin in its own length.

It looks incredible the graphics are great and I love the green, with the sun behind it and against the sky it is a awesome looking kite.

Despite gusty conditions, the kite was great to fly and definitely develops some serious power and speed. I can't wait to try it in the buggy...

Method in my madness - Part III, the unpacking

 Guess what was waiting for me when I got home from work today...

Don't you just love getting a parcel? 

I already have two red kites so wanted something different - and I got what I asked for...

Looks the usual Ozone quality, comes with handles, 20m lines, the essential stickers and keyring and of course instruction book and repair kit...

First impressions are very favorable, no loose threads, every seam immaculate. Looks awesome and will try and get over to the footie oval later to attach the lines and maybe have a little static session...

I have to give kitepower a very big "Onya Mate!" for their excellent service...

Waiting and hoping...

I am hoping my new Ozone Method 4m arrives this week, today would be good - yesterday arvo every-time a van drove past I was at the door hoping it would be the postie with a parcel for me!

We did get a parcel - it was the dogs Christmas present!

Then I will be hoping the wind forecast for Sunday morning improves, but not to the strength that is forecast for tomorrow...

Extreme kite -it's back

Phew - missed it!

Extreme Kites offline!

Extreme Kites is offline - come back soon!

Method in my madness - part deux!

I had some feedback on my choice of the Ozone Method on Extreme Kites -

"A 4m Method an 'upgrade' from a 4.4m Reactor....???? I think NOT. Hey, don't get me wrong. I love my Methods, but they need a lot more wind per size than a Reactor does. Check out the Speed Week 2011 video...I'm on a 4m Method in about 13-14 knots or so and Rob Lukin comes blitzing past me with a 4.4m Reactor. (I think that's what it was....) Mind you, in 18 knots, the Method is still going gangbusters and the Reactor may be somewhat of a handful. The wind range for me on the 4m Method is 14 knots up to around 22 or so.

Top speed is hard to say...I managed a couple of 67kph with the 4m Method and a 71kph with the 5m. From the little time I had with the 4.4m Reactor, I'd say the Method is a lot easier to fly and tamer but it just needs more wind to do what a reactor will."

My response-

"For me it's an upgrade!

Listed as $84 more expensive than the reactor2 4.4m at kitepower, and they cant get reactor 2 4.4m - and I like to buy from them as they have always provided exceptional service.

The reactor 2 may provide more raw power and speed, but the way I fly I like stability and predictability. My Core frustrates the hell out of me at times, especially in gusty conditions, powered-up then, under powered and bow-tying. Don't get me wrong I love it and when the winds clean it's a fantastic kite.

Where as my 5m Flow is just a dream, it may not have the speed (but I did do 57.7kph with it a couple of weeks ago), but the stability and predictability of this kite is amazing (I even managed to keep it in the air when I did an unintentional 360!) I love to fly it over-powered and I have never OBEed with this kite -yet!

...And this is where I am hoping the method is going to fit in, more performance, but still user friendly and stable and the 4m is going to give me a good crossover between the 5m Flow and 3m Core - I can see this being the kite I fly the most.

Why do I feel like I am justifying my purchase? I did a fair amount of research before deciding what kite to buy - especially after my mistake with buying the vapor and the Method was at the top of my list but I couldn't justify the extra $'s - so for me it's an upgrade!

or to summarise -

I'm a boring old fart who rates stability, predictability and fun over speed, power and getting my arse whooped!"

New kite curse...

If you look at the forecast for Sunday morning on Willyweather then you could believe in the new kite curse...

New Kite = No wind, unless you buy a big kite then = howling wind

With low winds dropping to next to no wind by 11am, then picking up for the afternoon.

The BOM is looking much more favourable...

I believe in the BOM and damn you new kite curse...

Method in my madness...

I contacted kitepower today to find out when my new kite would arrive...

They don't have any Peter Lynn Reactor 2 4.4m's in stock! So have offered me a free upgrade to a 4m Ozone Method...

Hmmm - let me think...

Method, man from OZONE on Vimeo.

So I am now waiting on delivery of a 4m Ozone Method - 

ROB WHITTALL DESIGNER NOTES

“What I wanted to do was make a kite that has the speed of a high performance kite, the stability of a beginner kite and handles like a sports car. I have been talking with our paragliding designers and they have shared their new theories which have been helping them produce the highest performing paraglider to date!

I have reduced the line drag to a minimum with extensive use of diagonals. I worked on the sail tension to maintain a clean leading edge. The section I have chosen produces good speed and it’s very stable. The aspect ratio is 4.2 which means it is not over stretched and keeps it compact with a solid feeling. When we were out testing the Method was only just behind the Yakuza and in strong conditions on small sizes the Method was a real contender. I prefer the Method for my style of riding, I am not a racer but I like to go fast and have good up wind ability without having to concentrate on the kite all the time.

My top speeds were about the same as the Yakuza but I was getting there slower. Having said that going round a mark fast is easy because on the Method you can just flick the kite around without needing to be precise on the controls. The other great aspect is that just about anyone with four line handle experience can fly this kite, it’s just easy and feels smooth and solid. It’s not designed to be a race winner but you would have fun trying and you would not be far off the pace!

Another great thing is that the Method flies exceptionally well with the Ozone Turbo bar, making it an excellent option for a performance landboarding kite, or for riders who prefer to use a bar.”

Non-kite video - A Dumb Way to Die

This is hilarious - made by Metro Trains in Melbourne as part of their safety campaign, that getting hit by a train is a Dumb Way to Die...

At least kite buggying is not a dumb way to die!

Will it or wont it?

Will I have my new toy in time for the weekend?

Ordered yesterday from kitepower who previously have amazed me with the speed of delivery and have now set a benchmark in excellence (no pressure guys!)...

But at the end of the day it comes down to these guys...

And after the speed they got through the queues in the post-office yesterday, when I went to post the Vapor, I have complete faith in them delivering it before the weekend!

Video - three and a half men

If you have half an hour to spare...

3 and a Half Men - The Simpson Desert Crossing from FLYSURFER Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

The story -
"A modest expedition, no massive caravan, no 20 tons of survival gear and no shipping to the hot Saharan sands. 3 and a half men, loaded into a 21 year old Nissan, 1 motorbike, 2 kite buggies and an assortment of kites of all sizes including the magical 21m Speed3 Deluxe from Flysurfer, still in its wrapping shipped from Germany to the Gold Coast in Australia. All with one common goal, to try and be the first to cross the Simpson Desert, Australia’s red heart, by wind-power alone."

Better safe than sorry?

Or is discretion the better part of valour?

I don't know but it was gusty and lumpy today, started with the 3m PL Core but the wind was a bit more off than on so put up the 5m Ozone Flow, but that soon became over-powered so went back to the Core!

The PL Core really doesn't like gusty conditions as it is a temperamental beast, and in the gusts it was being a bit scary so in the end decided - it's better to be safe than sorry and that discretion is the better part of valour! So packed up and went home...

When are we going to get some nice easterlies?

It's on the bay...

With a price drop...

Peter Lynn Vapor 2.7m

$420 plus postage

Weight!

It's not often I will post twice in one day but I had to show off -  I now weigh under 80kgs!

Over the last couple of weeks I have stopped eating between meals and cut down on my portion size. And at times it has been a struggle, but at one point I was tipping the scales at 82+kgs...

The goal is to get down to around 78.5kgs and I think I can do it in another couple of weeks!

The only problem is I don't think my harness will go tight enough!

Weekend wind

The forecast for the weekend is looking warm and dry, with some decent wind forecast for Sunday morning - South to south-westerlies. I would prefer easterlies, but we had loads of fun last Sunday, with similar conditions.

So I will be on Lake Walyungup from about 7.30am, or earlier if I can get away with it!

Video - Jersey Traction kiters High Wind Sunday HD

A video by elusivemite from Jersey in the UK

I got to try...

a Sysmic S2 at the weekend.

This buggy belongs to Bones, from Extreme Kites, he has had it for about a month or so now and very kindly let me try it while he used mine.

Wow - what a hip hugger, I have lost weight over the last couple of weeks but still had to squeeze between the rails and was then held nice and firmly. The seat was great and the back support did exactly what it was supposed to - supported my back. I could still shift around to reposition my weight.

The wind was gusty, a southerly that would have you powered up one minute and the kite drifting slowly to the ground the next. I had started off on the 5m Ozone Flow, but when I had ago in the Sysmic I was on the Peter Lynn Core 3m - this kite can be temperamental and really didn't like these conditions much!

At times the kite was taking a lot of work to get the buggy moving, then it would gust and we be fully powered - this is where the S2 started to show it's value, the buggy pulled straight and thanks to it's hip hugging rails I stayed firmly in the seat. No lift and no lateral drift.

The increased stability over the PL comp was noticeable and this would definitely inspire me to fly much more powered up and I don't think it would be too long before I started pushing my speed as it boosts your confidence.

After only 15 minutes the wind was more steady and I was pushing harder, I found that with a slight shift of my weight I could un-stick the back and coax it into a slide - an essential as far as I am concerned!

The down sides-
The tyre pressure was a bit high (which Bones agreed after trying my bug and having a smoother ride!) so the ride was a bit jarring - easily rectified.

I haven't got one! And 15 minutes wasn't long enough...

But again I have to say thank you to Bones for letting me have a taster.

Video - 360 Degrees

Had a great morning in the buggy today, I did just under 50kms with a top speed of 57.7kph with the 5m Flow. Also did an unintentional 360 and got up on two wheels! 

I got to have a go in Bones' S2, thanks mate, now guess what I really want?

Here's to next weekend...

70+

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That's the most hits in a day my Blog has had...

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Video - Carbon Kite Buggy

"At Speed Week, we were lucky enough to have David Hobbs and his carbon kite buggy visit us - mainly to let Cris Italy loose in the buggy for a week and see how it went. Unfortunately, the winds were pretty uncooperative and the buggy (and the rest of us) didn't do nearly as many km's as we should have done. The buggy looks absolutely awesome and is a real credit to David's vision and skill as a designer and builder. Cris managed a few good runs in it and was pretty impressed overall with some modifications - mainly to the suspension - needed. We threw quite a few ideas and comments at David who was willing to listen and take our ideas away with him. I believe there will be a few changes made to the buggy and look forward to seeing it again soon."

Peter Lynn Reactor 2

"Make no mistake about the Reactor II, this is a serious powerhouse designed for the discerning pilot wanting the challenge and performance of a competition kite while retaining many user friendly characteristics usually associated with a more docile kite"

I want power and performance, but like to be friends rather than getting my arse whooped! That is why if I sell my Peter Lynn Vapor 2.7m I am going to look at getting a 4.4m Reactor 2, I think it would sit nicely above my 3m Core.

Video - petrano oktoberfest

Kite buggying Italian style...

petrano oktoberfest 20.10.2012 from Alias on Vimeo.

Thanks to Cris Italy from extreme kites for posting this, looks loads of fun!

No Buggying

After looking at the forecast, despite decent winds, today was a no go due to heavy showers and thunderstorms...

Peter Lynn Vapor 2.7m - For Sale

Foolishly I have decided to sell my Vapor, I have only had it a couple of months - but I can't get the best out of this kite as it is so powerful, it scares me! I only feel comfortable flying it under-powered and then it takes a fair bit of work, soon as it gets powered up then it is brown undies time!

Loved my 3m Core when I flew it recently and am so glad I didn't sell that! I am thinking I may look for a 4.4m Peter Lynn Reactor, so some performance but not the pure power of the Vapor.

The Vapor has only been flown twice and is still very crispy and almost as new, comes as kite only with the bag.

There is some marking on it from when I bled on it after an OBE (4th Picture), otherwise it is immaculate...

Blood!

It is listed on Extreme Kites, just don't tell my wife!

Video - Saturday

Just makes you want to get out there...

Saturday from Jason Kirsons on Vimeo.

Carbon fibre kite buggy - more pictures

"I did not set out to design a buggy similar to every other design but feel I have given pilots something a little different - progression can only be a good thing for the sport!!!! " David Hobbs

For more info or to buy one go to

http://www.carbonkitebuggy.com