Facebook...

After avoiding Facebook for ages I have now rejoined and not only do I have my personal page, but two groups...

Mark Crook on Facebook 

Kiteview, Kite Aerial Photography

Perth Kite Buggy Racing 

KAP-tured it...

I had my first attempt at kite aerial photography, I went to Lake Walyungup first and then headed down to the beach...

R1 - I'm so excited...

I may get to have a go with an Ozone R1 at the weekend, thanks to the guys at Max-VMG Racing...

I'm so excited, they even make them in orange!

First day of winter...

and a public holiday (WA day or foundation day) so I went buggying this morning...

The forecast was good but the wind came a lot later than forecast and wasn't quite as strong, but I had some really good runs, once I had navigated my way down the lake, and according to Endomondo even got a new personal best of 62.9 kph...

track

personal best!

buggy selfie!

KAP...

I have been looking at drones as away to try and get some aerial video/stills of the kite buggy in action, but maybe the cheaper option would be KAP (kite aerial photography) - inspired by +Ciarán May Birdseye Kite Photography ...

As I have a bit of cash I may have a look at this to see if it is a viable option. I would need a set up I could launch and leave and that would work with my GoPro.

Im thinking a few bits from the kite shop...

A HQ FlowForm 2.0

a simple GoPro rig

And line and a winder!

Video - kite buggy, Soloshot 2

Kite buggying on lake Walyungup. 

Another great morning in the buggy, winds were 18 knots with gusts up to 25. Had a blast until the wind changed direction to a northerly then a big walk back! Got some good video using the Soloshot 2 with the camcorder and the GoPro...

Kite buggy - Soloshot 2 from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

screen shot

Buggying...

Had a good morning in the buggy, before the wind swung around to a northerly...

Videos down loading!

New additions to my reviews and articles...

I have added a couple of new articles to the My Reviews and Articles section, over there on the right of your screen...

An idiots guide to kite buggying

Hotwire

Video - Infinity Buggy Kite 360

Makes me dizzy just watching it!

Infinity Buggy Kite 360 from Craig Sparkes on Vimeo.

With the new Flysurfer Sonic.

NASA Star 3

A couple of videos of the NASA Star 3 from fellow Extreme Kites team member +John Holgate. I would love to get my hands on a couple of these to try and see how they compare to my present depowers...

The NASA Star 3 can be bought from Born Kites.

All music is also written by John.

700..

700 posts! I guess this one is cheating!

Casualty...

The only real casualty from my OBE/roll-over on Thursday...

After

My wind-direction-ometer thingy!

Before!

What's the best thing to do when you OBE?

Make sure you get it on video!

Yesterday started off fine I even checked the wind before getting the 10m Ozone Manta out, it was 8-10 knots and was forecast to drop. Hooked in and set off down the lake - all good.

This was my first outing with the Soloshot 2, after reading the instructions a few times (yes I am a man and yes I do read instructions!) I thought it might be a bit tricky to set up - but it was very straight forward and pretty simple to get it paired and calibrated.

I had some good runs with the Manta and the green LED on the front of the Soloshot 2 is really visible, even from a distance in bright sun - so you know it is tracking you. 

The wind did appear to be increasing as I was going sideways a fair bit and a gust flipped the buggy with me in it! Without the hotwire I think I would have been lofted a fair way and then dropped. The best thing was the Soloshot 2 recorded all this...

strewth mate..! from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

Only a couple of minor grazes and bruises!

Best of all I got it on video! 

Ended up playing on the Ozone Access 6m and as forecast the wind dropped! Not the best days kite buggying but a good test of the Soloshot 2.

I wasn't sure how the Soloshot 2 was going to work, I played around with the zoom levels and the positioning of the camera and the RAW footage is great. 

The only downside is my JVC camcorder isn't compatible with the auto-zoom function and the battery top up. But otherwise really happy - if not a little stiff and sore today!

my track

Selling up - everything...

Ive decided to give up kite buggying, its just not doing it for me anymore...

Modified Peter Lynn comp XR+, wide axle and extended side frames, back rest and highway rated tyres. And Hotwire setup.

Ozone Access 6m in great condition

Ozone Manta II 10m  excellent condition (pics to follow)

Ozone Access SB harness used but in good condition (pics to follow)

Contact me for individual prices. All available after April 1st 2115

Happy April Fools Day!

Stuck it...

Last time I used my GoPro kite line mount I a managed to crack it...

I have been sent a couple of new line winders from somebody on the Extreme Kites forum, but decided that before I made a whole new set up I would try gluing the two parts of mine together to see if that would hold it all together and keep the new winders as spares...

Charging...

I have been allowed to charge my Soloshot base and tag so that it is already to play with once I officially get it on my birthday...

But I have just noticed a problem the thread on my tripod is 1/4 and the hole on the Soloshot is 3/8 so they don't match. DON'T PANIC!

I will just have to get an adaptor before Thursday!

Call the Doctor... Video update

After some feedback on Extreme Kites I have played around with my video, added some slooooowwwww-mmmmoooooowww and changed the sound track. Much, much happier with the finished result.

Video - Call the Doctor

screen shot

Video - Call the Doctor

Kite buggying yesterday at Lake Walyungup, in the gusty Fremantle Doctor...

Call the Doctor from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

screen shot

30,000...

I realised today that my blog has over 30,000 visits! Thanks for dropping in - I'm hoping 2015 means more buggying, i'm already planning on going tomorrow and maybe Monday as well!