Vimeo - a couple of my early vids...

These are on YouTube, but I have also uploaded them to Vimeo.

Filmed by my two daughters using a couple of Panasonic digital cameras...

Kite Buggy Session at Lake Walyungup from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

My second was filmed by me with a Panasonic digital camera, some of the shots were with the camera resting on a tyre...

Baldivis Kite Buggying from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

Wet...

Despite the sunshine the surface at Lake Walyungup is very wet...

Rain stops play...

Hmm! I was planning on going out in the buggy this morning but the forecast didn't look that promising so decided not to. It turned out to be the right decision...

Camrig Line Mount...

Previously known as the kite Hero - now I have a depower foil I am looking at getting one of these...

I think it would give an excellent perspective on my kite buggying, from 20m up!

Wind

The wind is looking favourable to give the Manta another run out on Sunday, just need to be a bit braver and perservere with the top end...

I just hope the rain stays away...



Weight - part 6

I have cracked 74 kgs! Not exercising as much at the moment as still achy from paintballing and am getting the start of a cold...

Video - Downwind playground

From Clive and posted on Extreme Kites...

Downwind playground from Clive Tebbet on Vimeo.

"20+ knots running down the beach at about 45 degrees, John, Cris and myself spent a few hours going slow one way and racing the other, tried doing a 360 spin with unexpected results. Fun day out."

Buggy lust - GT-Race Rapide Ultralight

I have previously wondered why race/performance buggies have to be so heavy?

Apparently they don't! Meet the GT-Race Rapide Ultralight -  Weighing in at only 38kgs...

"One of the lightest full breed race buggies available.

The Rapide UL will be available as a concept, it comes with either a narrow or bigfoot full fork and heelbraced steps, a single 60 x 40 mm tube and carbon rear axle. To maintain the balance of the Rapide UL, weight has been saved on both front and rear section, therefore we don’t allow any modifications and / or extra parts on the Rapide UL.

The rear section features a very special, by GT-Race made, carbon axle. The carbon doesn’t work as suspension, but only damps vibrations and provides a smooth ride."

Video - hard work

Just couldn't quite get it yesterday! Started with the Manta, had to stop as I realised I had got the bridle all twisted - I think from when I first attached the lines!

Got that all sorted and the wind picked up, got a bit freaked with a big kite (lack of experience with a depower!) so packed that away and played with the 4m Method, which was under powered most of the time.

I was all out of sorts, stiff and sore from paintballing and my head wasn't in a good place!

Head all sorted, still struggling to walk - I think paintballing used different muscles! And in hindsight should have stuck with the Manta and manned up...

Hard Work from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

Paintballing...

For her 13th birthday my daughter wanted to go paintballing - I was the responsible adult!

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...