BOM - MetEye

The BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) are trialing a new way of viewing the weather and are looking for feedback - welcome to MetEye

http://www.bom.gov.au/campaign/

Ozone Kites

I have always had a thing about Ozone kites, I think it stems from owning my first power kite back in 2004 - a five metre Ozone Samurai, check out my first review at racekites.

I always regretted selling this kite to buy a de-power  (a flysurfer rookie 2 9m) which I was sure would get me moving on a landboard - another review on racekites. But kite boarding was never going to happen for me and eventually I sold my kites and stuck to mountain-boarding...

Then in 2007 we left the UK and headed to Australia and I sold my beloved MBS mountain board (a couple more reviews! MBS review and MBS long term test).

Eventually my love of kiting resurfaced with the discovery of the ideal location only 10 minutes from home, Lake Walyungup, and I was soon the proud owner of another Ozone kite - a 5m Flow. 

After static flying for a while I new I needed more, I had the space I had the kite now what I needed was a set of wheels! So I bought my Peter Lynn Comp XR+ and with the Flow started buggying. 

Ozone Flow 5m review.

Then I went through a few more kites (kite tart!) before settling on another Ozone a 4m Method...

this was to be my high wind kite and has pushed me to my personal best. And a couple more reviews...

Ozone Method 4m Review and Ozone Method review, part 2

And now I own an Ozone Manta 2 10m - my first taste of de-power...

Resignation...

Today I have handed in my resignation, ready to start a new job at the begining of July.

The journey to the new job will take me past Lake Walyungup twice a day!

Video - Ozone Manta II 10m, first flight

I took my new Manta down to the salt lake yesterday for the first flight in the buggy, the wind was non-existent when I first got there, but my patience was rewarded...

Ozone Manta II 10m - first flight from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

I bought this kite as a low wind engine for when nothing else would fly and it got me moving in very low winds, this was probably the bottom end of it's wind range - there were no speed records but it was great to be out.

Fantastic Ozone quality, precise steering and control, I can see the depower getting a lot of use.

Waiting, hoping...

That the new kite curse buggers off and goes and annoys somebody else!

And a panoramic shot...

Vimeo

I have signed up for Vimeo and will give it a try putting some of my videos on there, here is the first one (it's also on YouTube!)...

https://vimeo.com/baldiviskitebuggy

HQ Toxic 3m - first flight from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

New Kite - it's here...

My new Ozone Manta II 10m arrived today, just in time for the weekend...

Thanks to kitepower...

Should get to give it a go over the weekend!

Video - A Camber Sunset

From the UK - 

Still waiting for my new kite...

Losing it...!

I hit a new low yesterday...

74.10 kgs - seeing as my original goal was 76 kgs I am doing very well.

I also got five new PB's at running...

• a fastest 1 km - 5m:27s
• my fastest mile - 9m:11s
• a fastest 3 miles - 29m:48s
• a fastest 5 km - 31m:07s
• Cooper (12mins) - 2050m (2.05km)

All while my daughter was at dance in Port Kennedy-

You can track my workouts in Endomondo sports tracker feel free to add me as a friend! Hopefully the new kite will arrive in the next day or two and I will be able to get some workouts with that...

Video - Ozone Manta III 8m

Ok this an 8m not the ten and a Manta III not the Manta II but what the heck, it's a great video...

Hooked - again!

As I have just bought my first depower kite, I have decided to retro-fit my harness with it's original hook rather than the roller spreader.

the roller spreader

As the hook is designed to take Ozone's Megatron Chickenloop...

with the spreader

This meant that I needed to unpick all the stitching...

So that I can get the webbing straps through the buckles and remove the roller spreader. Then it was just a case of returning the hooked spreader to it's rightful place.

Though now the ends of the webbing needs to be re-sewn...

But thanks to my amazing wife it is as good as new!

New kite!

I have bought my first depower kite...

Well that's not entirely true - I did once own a Flysurfer Rookie 2 9m back in the day!

From what I have read and after talking to the guys at kitepower in Sydney it will get me moving when the Flow just floats!

It's another Ozone...

Feel de-power!

In my quest for a low wind buggy engine I am now looking at some other options...

A second hand depower kite, there are a few out there though they are a little bit more expensive than a new foil!

The winter weather is strange here in Perth, we only seem to get any decent wind ahead of a storm or rain, otherwise it is still and calm. Hence the need for something bigger.

Team Member

I'm very excited as I am now an Extreme Kites team member (moderator)...

Kite Tart!

I have decided that I am officially a kite tart!

I spend my days lusting after different bits of rip-stop nylon, Ozone, Peter Lynn, HQ, Flexifoil it doesn't matter what brand if it flies and can pull me a long then I want it! After flying the HQ Toxic, guess what I wanted? Another HQ Toxic - but bigger!

Yesterday I came to a decision I need to be monogamous (well at least to one brand) and despite costing more and despite my wife not approving another purchase (yet) I think when I do get a 6.5m it is going to be another Method...

My 4m Method is awesome, it ticks all the boxes for me and though the Toxic is a great kite I think I will always be wishing (and lusting) for another Method.

Weight - new PB

A new PB - which is amazing as I haven't really done that much exercise over the last couple of weeks and I was fairly gluttonous over the weekend! That's now over 7kgs lost - and most of my pants are now really loose!

Video - Faith Restored

I just love the buggy action in this video, just right for a Monday - besides I'm stiff and sore from buggying on Saturday (it is surprising how three weeks out makes a huge difference!) and back at work so my energy is focused elsewhere...

Video - HQ Toxic 3m, first flight

I took the 3m Toxic out for the first run in the buggy yesterday, the wind was pretty off and on with the occasional gusts.

The kite preformed really well, it turns quickly and felt pretty stable, it definitely inspired confidence and I would be happy to take it out in much stronger winds. My main concern about the Toxic is that all the blurb you read says it is a "lifty" kite - there were a few occasions when I shoved it to the top of the wind window and there wasn't any lift. Which is what I want in a buggy kite.

It does need brake input to keep it happy and in the zone, as you can see by the position of my hands in the video...

Overall a great kite, well made and nice to fly - I will definitely looking at taking it out in higher winds and will write a proper review when I have had more flight time.

Now I am working on my wife for a 6.5m Toxic!

Wrapped!

Guaranteed to get me in a tangle...

I've never been any good at handle wrapping, so will be para-packing the toxic as soon as it is dry enough to get it out!

6.5m

I am after a big, low wind kite, a 6.5m would do me nicely!

But Ozone Method...

Or a HQ Toxic...

I love my 4m Ozone Method, but the 6.5m Toxic is about $120 cheaper than the equivalent method - the Toxic also has a slightly higher aspect ratio (4.5 compared to 4.2) so potentially will be faster!

I have a 3m Toxic to play with and my first impressions around the build quality of the kite is good - it's German engineered, it's a very nicely put together kite, definitely on a par with Ozone. I am hoping that I get to fly the 3m Toxic over the weekend then I will know which way I'm going to jump!

Mind you there is one major stumbling point before I get a new kite - and that's my wife...

Stacking it...

Not all me! but a couple of videos from Extreme Kites...

Any one up for buggying?

... a high wind session?

I don't think you will need a kite - just one of these...

Always fly safe.

Deadly?

We will soon find out...

I have been lucky enough to be loaned a 3m HQ Toxic to fly and review.

What's in the beanie?

If anybody wants a free XK kites lanyard/bottle opener let me know?

18 Years

Today is our wedding anniversary...

Video - Ivanpah buggy gathering, Spring 2013

My 300th post and I was hoping it was going to involve me getting some action, but once again the wind has let me down!

A great video from the states with some Peter Lynn Speed buggy action...

from Bob Muse

Tinkering...

I have just been playing around with my backrest - I had noticed some holes in my buggy bag from the u-bolts that stick up. I did think about trying to cover them with some padding (as I patched the holes in the buggy bag with duct tape!).

But in the end I decided to take the back rest off completely and bolt it underneath the side frame, this meant the exposed bolts were now pointing downwards...

This is actually more comfortable as the back rest now sits slightly lower and is more of a lumbar support, so it has a double benefit.

I have also been looking at ways of securing my ground stake as I sometimes stick it on top of the buggy bag under the straps, but it has come off a few times and I have had to hunt around the lake for it! It comes with a convenient holder that is supposed to be strapped to your leg - so I have used this to attach to the side frame out of the way of the kite lines...

Everything is loaded up, the fingers are crossed for the wind foretasted for tomorrow morning to still be blowing and a bit stronger wouldn't go amiss! But you can't have everything...