Music...

I'll be able to play my own music for my videos...

I've just bought a banjo!

Never had a musical instrument before, so maybe a while before I can do my own sound tracks!

Video - Lake Lefroy Kite Buggying...

A great video from Jhn.Holgate from the Lake Lefroy Land Sailing Club regatta, how quick is that dude on the green kite...?

Vietnam to Perth...

The Ozone R1 is nearly here, having left the Ozone factory in Vietnem...

Ozone Vietnam Factory from Ozone Kites on Vimeo.

What to do when there's no wind

Get your biggest kite and strap an engine to your back...

The Ozone Team in Qatar from Ozone Paragliders on Vimeo.

Disclaimer - don't try this at home without proper training and equipment, if you do you are stupid and may end up dead. gum-nuts doesn't take any responsibility if you are stupid!

Video - Ozone tips and tricks...

I've watched this a few times recently, ready for the arrival of the R1 -

Review - Soloshot 2...

POV cameras are great, I love my GoPro's and have tried various different mounts - from kite line, chase cam, the GoPro 3 way and of course the good old helmet mount.

But in an attempt to get a different perspective in my videos I was always looking at alternatives, the ideal situation would be to have somebody film me using a camcorder and tripod - but attempts with this with my wife and daughter were never that successful, then somebody introduced me to Soloshot...

The robot cameraman -

Ergh! Maybe not -

Soloshot 2 is a unit that attaches to a tripod and a camera (Camcorder, GoPro or DSLR) and will track a tag that is worn by the the rider and can follow them through 360 degree rotation (at 80 degress a second) and 150 degrees vertical tracking (at 35 degrees a second). 

The tag is also waterproof to 30m.

With a range of 600m (2000 feet) and if you go out of range then it will pick you up when you come back into range - smart!

The unit is supplied with the base, a tag and arm band, charging cable, tripod tool and instructions.

The tag attaches onto the base for charging and transporting and both have extensive battery life the base for up to 8 hours and the tag 4 hours (the battery in the base can also be used to charge you camera - if you have a compatible camera, unfortunately I don't!).

The other issue I had was the thread size on my tripod was different from that of the base of the Soloshot, I had to buy an adapter for about $2.

Every time you use the Soloshot 2 or move it from one location to another (even after initial pairing) the base and tag have to be recalibrated and paired.

The initial calibration takes 8-10 minutes and involves the tag warm up, attaching the tripod, base and camera, framing and centering the shot. Then there is the walkabout pairing, in which you have to walk at least 50 paces around in a random way ending up back at the base to pair the item. You then walk back to your centering object to calibrate the base and tag (I missed this part when I first tried the Ozone R1 and therefore it didn't track properly!).

This sounds like a lot of trouble but is fairly simple once you get used to it and once the tag has warmed up (8 mins approx) is quick to do and I think the results are worth it...

Kite buggy - Soloshot 2 from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

There are various different settings on the Soloshot 2 depending on what sport you are involved in, wether you are on a level playing field, or will have altitude changes (getting some air) all designed to get the best out of the unit and these can easily be changed on the go.

If you have a compatible camera then there is also an auto-zoom function and DSLR can also be set to take pictures at preset intervals.

You can also pair one tag with multiple bases for lots of different perspectives or multiple tags to one base and switch between them by pressing a button on the tags while on the move.

The base is quite heavy, but this isn't an issue once mounted on a tripod. It does feel solid and well made and does contain the battery, servos and electronics. The tag and arm band are also tough (I know I landed on them during an OBE!

The downside - initially the pairing and calibration can feel a bit daunting, and the auto-zoom and charging only work with compatible cameras.

Positives - no wingy wife or kids filming you, steady smooth tracking, long battery life, multiple functions.

Video - Spanish Sessions...

The new Ozone Chrono v2...

Ozone Chrono V2 Spanish Sessions from Ozone Kites on Vimeo.

Video - LongStar kite

The new single skin from Born-kite...

Video - Kite Aerial Video, from a buggy...

First published on Extreme Kites...

"Setup the Ultrafoil on a 70m line from the back of the buggy. Attached a picavet mount and gorpo 50m up the line - which is a little far away I think. Used some pvc pipe to raise the line from the back axle so it would clear my head when I turn underneath it. Light winds, 7m Nasa Star 2 and a very bumpy paddock. This should work well down at the beach. The ultrafoil only puts 2 or 3 kg of pull on the line although I expect more when I get some speed on the beach. Once at speed, the Ultrafoil should swing more behind me as it feels the apparent wind. Looks like it will work ok."

Video - Sonic v R1 upwind

...and has an unexpected outcome!

2nd round of a Funrace at the Buggycamp on Römö (DK).
Flysurfer Sonic-FR 18m & Ozone R1 17m going upwind.

Flysurfer Sonic-FR vs. Ozone R1 - Kitebuggy Head Up from Pascal Lohmann on Vimeo.

fotokite...

I wonder if you can tow this with the buggy? http://fotokite.com/ could be some good aerial video...

Hoverboard...

As predicted in Back to the Future, II the hoverboard is here...

Video - Kitefoil Gold Cup SFO 2015...

Just an awesome video, with lots of Ozone R1's, Fysurfer Sonic FR's and the f-one foil...

Video - American Oxygen...

Awesome buggy action with the Ozone Edge...

M&S, American oxygen from Stephan van Bommel on Vimeo.

Video - kite Sim...

For when you want to go kite surfing and there's now wind - or water! Now we just need one for buggying that can hook up to my Mac!

KiteSim - Trailer - 2015 from Frank & Frens on Vimeo.

Video - No Barriers 2015...

It doesn't really need any words...

NO BARRIERS 2015 from Steve Warren on Vimeo.

Video - The Way South...

An awesome video from Rob Lukin and the Ikon kite team, if this doesn't inspire you to get out and buggy then you must be dead!

I think I (well my Ozone Flow) makes a cameo at the very end!

Pansh A15 prototype...

This is the latest Pansh closed cell depower kite prototype. It is a new generation of ultra high performance kite...

I wonder how it would go in a buggy?

Video - 8H des hemmes...

It's all going off in France...

I'm in love with lily...

The lily camera...