Buggying...

I'm at the salt lake and the wind is blowing (gusting!)...

Video - FPV Fraser Island

Some great aerial buggy footage, I would love to be able to get something like this when I am buggying...

Bags packed...

Since getting the Ozone Manta 10m, I have been strapping the large back-pack to the top of my buggy bag - as it was too big to fit in...

Now that I have reduced my quiver I thought it was time to rethink, so have repacked the Manta so that it fits in the kite bag (with my other essentials) and have the Access in its back-pack as I think this is the kite that will get the most use (and it will fit in the buggy-bag if I am flying the Manta)...

Does this make sense? It does to me!

Video - Dirix Mano rocking Ozone Quantum

Crazy - but kinda cool...

Another package...

This one is my new pads after leaving one of my knee/shin pads on the lake...

Video - Ozone Access 6m

First flight with my new 2013 Ozone Access 6m, the wind was gusty and blowing 11-18 knots - perfect for a first flight...

And I wasn't disappointed.

Ozone Access 6m from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

Barred...

The Ozone Contact-Snow control system on my new access -  a really nice control bar, feels great!

Stuck-up...?

Changed the sticker on the back of my car- from this...

to this...

Just wish I got it on straight!

New kite smell...

Don't you just love that new kite smell...

Lines all attached and ready to go - just keeping my fingers crossed for some suitable wind...

Aussie Aussie Aussie...

The Ashes have started...

I maybe a POM by birth, but I am Australian by choice...

Video - kite buggying at 13th beach

Kite Buggying at 13th Beach from John Holgate on Vimeo.

Knots or kph...?

I usually measure the wind speed in kph (kilometers per hour) but most of the kite manufacturers you look at list knots as there primary measure of wind speed for their kites - should I start using knots?

kph and mph are both speeds that are measured by distance traveled over a period of time - 1 hour. So if you are travelling along the ground they are an accurate measure of speed.

Knots are a relative speed - they are not dependent on distance traveled and are mainly used for measuring the speed of ships and aircraft, who's speed is greatly effected by fluid factors (wind and water). If I travel at 1 nautical mile per hour in the sea I may not have traveled 1 nautical mile. The tide may be with me or against me. If the tide is with me I will travel further, if it is against me I will not travel as far. The same with aircraft. If I have a following wind I will travel faster, a head wind will make me travel slower.

So from now on I think I am going to start using knots as my preferred measure of wind speed and kite wind range and will change the units on my anemometer.

Movie making...

I love making videos of my and my mates escapades in the buggy...

https://vimeo.com/baldiviskitebuggy

And also enjoy the process of editing the videos using iMovie, choosing the sound tracks and trying to do something different with the footage. I am gradually getting enough stuff together for another epic!

I think the GoPro is great and provides some superb footage and when I get my access I should be able to get some more aerial footage with my kite line mount. But I am getting bored of the wobbly helmet cam shots - unless something dramatic happens (OBE) it all looks the same...

The video I am most pleased with is my Time Shifts video...

time shifts from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

...and for this I used the GoPro mounted on a mini tripod and played around with speeding up, slowing down and reversing some of the clips. I much prefer the perspective of watching the buggy go past, either at a distance or the extreme close-ups as it makes the whole thing much more watchable.

I have been reading/watching some of the Vimeo video school for hints and ideas...

I am going to try and do more of this sort of video, with small bits of helmet, buggy and line mount. This is where the GoPro is limited, with no screen, no zoom. I could upgrade and go for one of the latest GoPro's with WiFi so that I can view it on my iPhone or iPad but think I am going to invest my Christmas money (and for the first time in years I haven't already spent it!) in a HD digital video camera...

For this I am looking at getting a Samsung HMX-F90BP it offers 52x optical zoom (52x! How close to the action can I get!), great battery life, HD and it is small and easy to use. And it is probably half the price of a GoPro! I think I can use this on the tripod or in the buggy (one handed on the bar!) - and am also hoping that I maybe able to get my wife and kids involved in getting some video of me, while I should be able to get some good video of the other buggiers on the lake.

I am also hoping to drop in on the Extreme Kites Kingston meet in January.

So watch out in the new-year for some epic new movies...

No Action...

I didn't get out in the buggy over the weekend, but on Saturday my wife did buy a new car...

and Sunday we started the Christmas shopping! Hoping my early Christmas present will be delivered this week! Also consumed some red wine!

Hopefully the weather will be more suitable, to flying, next weekend!

5th Line Saftey...

My new Ozone Access 6m comes with Ozones Contact Snow Control system and a 5th line safety system...

Ozone Contact Snow Control System 2011 from FLY OZONE on Vimeo.

This is going to be new to me as I will have to fly with it attached to the leash (attaches to my Ozone SB harness) otherwise you release the safety on the megatron chicken loop and it will be bye-bye kite!

with leash attached

I think I am also going to use the safety leash on my Ozone Manta- just to provide consistency and get used to flying with a leash...

"The Contact-Snow Control System has been simplified and re-designed offering the latest in safety features, a clean control bar design and an easy-to-use trimming system. The system exceeds all Kitesurf/Snowkiting loading and release EU NORM safety standards.

Megatron Quick Release – The Contact-Snow system features Ozone’s proven Megatron quick release safety with total flag out of the kite. Easy re-assembly saves time and gets you back up and riding faster. Note: a leash must be connected to the control system.

Two Safety Modes – The new Contact-Snow Control System offers riders a choice of safety modes; the recommended Flag Out safety, or the optional Brake Handle safety.
- The recommended Flag Out safety offers 100% flag out in all situations by releasing the Megatron or letting go of the bar when un-hooked.
- The Brake Handle safety method attaches the safety leash to the hand brake line that connects to the back leaders, when Megatron is released or the bar is let go the kite stalls down to the ground.

Low Friction Centre Piece – The control bar features a low friction aluminum centre piece designed to reduce trim line wear.

Auto Positioning Chicken Loop – Designed in conjunction with the bar centre piece, the Megatron spinning handle allows chicken loop auto positioning, offering easy unhooked riding and hooking back in.

Simplified Trim System & Longer Foam Floats – The new trim system has been simplified by removing the Re-ride and Cross lines. New longer foam floats provide better protection from the lines.

PU Covered trim line & Ronstan Orbit Pulley – The tough PU covered trim significantly reduces wear when sheeting in and out, whilst the smooth running Ronstan Orbit Pulley also prevents trim line wear.

Magnetic trim handle system – Magnetic trim handle connects to magnetic neoprene sock covering the clam cleat to reduce tangles when trimmer is de-powered.

The Contact-Snow Control System bar sizes come in 45cm, 50cm and 55cm. The larger size PU chicken loop (accessory sold separately) is perfect for riders with longer arms or for riders wanting even easier hooking in & out."

Sunday...

Looks like the wind should be ok to take the Manta out for a run late morning...

Video - Speed Week 2013

Another one from Clive from the Extreme Kites crew...

SPEED WEEK 2013 from Clive Tebbet on Vimeo.

"Speed week, the annual kitesports gathering at Sandy Point in Victoria Australia , attended by buggys, landboarders, surfers anyone who uses a kite to get around.this year I took a tandem buggy and both my wife and myself had a crack at entering the record books. we made it to currently the worlds 9th Fastest, at 56.2 KM/hr."

While I sit and wait for the new kite to arrive!

Video - Ozone Access, Frenzy and Summit

A really nice HD video, starring my new kite of course!

Ozone Access, Frenzy & Summit De-power Foil Kites from FLY OZONE on Vimeo.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will get some video action in the buggy!

Access all areas...

I have sold my Ozone Flow and my Ozone Method...

and just ordered myself a 6m 2013 Ozone Access...

I hope it arrives in time for the weekend!

Wind direction-o-meter - part 2

Well, it works! I tried it out yesterday...

When your moving it does get affected by the apparent wind, but when slowed down, stopped or turning it's great! Really helpful.

So it's going to be staying, despite the fact it pokes my wife in the chest everytime she walks past it in the garage ;-)

Pants!

... or trousers! Well I have been in shorts since the begining of August, but deceided for the sake of protection I would wear long pants today. I am still waiting for my new pads to arrive.

...and it was pretty warm when I left the lake, the car thermometer was showing 30 degrees at 10am.

An Idiots guide to kite buggying...

... written by an idiot!

What is kite buggying?

Getting pulled around by a large kite while sitting in a glorified shopping trolley/golf cart/wheel barrow thing.

Warning - this is not a kite buggy!

What you need:

Space - no not the final frontier but somewhere with lots of room, not a big house – room not rooms.

Wind – farts do not count, neither do burps. Too little is annoying, too much can kill you – choose wisely.

A kite – something big, it doesn't need a tail and if you bought it at k-mart or nicked it off your kids and it has a picture of Dora the Explorer on it, it probably won’t do the job.

A buggy – three wheels and you sit in it, not the same as those pushed around k-mart by trendy mums, but would probably be worth a go and would get you a lot of hits on YouTube!

Some protection – not condoms, but at least something to protect your head, baseball cap or beanie? A helmet would be better.

How to kite buggy 

Part 1 -start by learning to fly the kite

1. Unpack kite.

2. Chase after kite as it blows away.

3. Put something heavy (not child) on kite to stop it blowing away.

4. Attach lines and handles.

5. Take heavy thing off kite.

6. Chase kite lines and handles.

7. Spend next two hours untangling kite and lines.

8. Go home as it’s now dark and wind has dropped.

9. Buy steak from internet.

10. Realise you have bought steak from the internet, have a BBQ and re-order a kite stake.

11. Stake handles, unpack kite.

12. Grab handles, launch kite. End up face planting eating grass/sand/dirt.

13. Chase kite, spend next two hours untangling kite and lines.

14. Go home - order kite killers from the internet.

15. Stake handles, unpack kite

16. Attach kite killers to handles.

17. Attach kite killers to wrists.

18. Launch kite. Face plant and this time get dragged eating grass/sand/dirt.

19. Remember - Let go of handles!

20. Kite drifts gently to the ground.

21. Go home - order smaller kite from the internet.

22. Stake handles, unpack kite.

23. Grab handles, launch kite.

24. Stay on feet and get dragged 10 meters downwind.

25. Now we’re talking!

26. Start to move kite around.

27. Getting dragged around for 10-15 minutes.

28. Big grin on face.

29. Slip over in some dog-shit.

30. Pack away, go home and throw clothes in bin before entering the house and long shower.

31. Next day can’t move shoulders, arms or hands.

Part 2 -

Now you have become the master of your kite time to try it out in the buggy…

32. Launch kite.

33. Get dragged 10m down-wind and smack legs into buggy. Fall over buggy. Face Plant eat grass/sand/dirt.

34. Let go of kite - Kite drifts gently to the ground.

35. Go to other side of buggy.

36. Launch kite and get dragged 10 meters down wind.

37. Walk back to buggy.

38. Attempt to sit in buggy, kite drops down and get dragged 10 meters down wind.

39. Walk back to buggy.

40. Attempt to sit in buggy, kite drops down and get dragged 10 meters down wind.

41. Walk bag to buggy.

42. With one eye on the kite, one eye on the buggy, you step over the down tube, lower yourself into the seat; tentatively lift your feet onto the foot rests…

43. Drop the kite into the power zone…

44. The buggy roles forwards…

45. 5cm…

46. 10cm…

47. 50cm…

48. Here we go - we are buggying…

49. The wind drops, the kite slowly drifts to the ground.

50. You spend the next two hours shouting and screaming at the kite and the wind, then go home sobbing. Start looking for 10m kites on the internet!

Part 3 –

Now you are moving you need to learn how to turn…

51. Downwind turn 1st attempt – kite drifts to the ground, you run over lines, which get tangled in front wheel.

52. Downwind turn 2nd attempt – kite over-powers you OBE.

53. Downwind turn 3rd attempt – kite slams into ground, you apply breaks, kite reverse launches fully powered, you OBE.

54. Downwind turn 4th attempt – kite starts to bow tie, you recover it, it overpowers, you OBE.

55. Downwind turn 5th attempt – nail it!

56. Now you’re going back the way you came from.

57. The speed is increasing.

58. Woohoo! This is awesome…

59. It’s getting faster…

60. Shit! How do I stop this thing…

Part 4 –

Kite buggies don’t have brakes!

61. Let go of the handles!

62. The kite drifts to the ground, the buggy coasts to a stop...

63. The kite ends up stuck in a tree!

64. Use your feet? Hm! Broken ankles.

65. Put the kite behind you - OBE.

66. Run into something or someone! 

67. Learn to power-slide (excellent!).

Part 5 -

Now you are a kite buggier...

68. Join the forums and tell everybody what to do.

69. Get lots of videos and post them on Vimeo and YouTube.

70. Start a blog! ;-)

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