Video - Boom Boom!

Just a classy video from Peter Lynn...

VIdeo - Do your own thing

I start to panic when I get lifted so have great admiration for anybody that does it on purpose...

What kite...?

... Did Brian Holgate use to break the kite buggy speed record?

A Peter Lynn Vapor 2.7m

What kite...   have I just bought?

A Peter Lynn Vapor 2.7m

A Peter Lynn Vapor 2.7m!!!

My first step into the world of race-kites and seriously pushing my limits, probably will look at selling my 3m Core and getting a 2nd race-kite around the 3.3m size - but don't tell my wife!

Newbie in a Kite Buggy – The Sequel!

Earlier this week I was re-reading some of the stuff I had written in my blog and particularly my Tale of a Newbie in a Kite Buggy…

I have now been buggying for nearly 10 months and when I look back to when I started and those first tentative steps, the concentration and effort that was required to roll those first few meters, successfully pulling off that first down-wind turn. The frustrations of stacking the kite and getting the lines and bridle tangled and the exhilaration of flying with the kite powered and increasing my speed.

Eventually venturing from the relatively confined area near the car park to the wide open spaces of the lake – and being able to buggy down there rather than having to walk.

I started off with my humble Peter Lynn Comp XR+ and the 5m Ozone Flow and since then have added a 3m Peter Lynn Core (my preferred kite) and a huge 8.5m Flexifoil Blade III to my quiver and am now looking at getting my hands on some race kites.

I had my first (and so far only) OBE, thanks to a seriously over-powered Core and have gradually pushed my speed up to just over 60kph I regularly hit the mid to high 50’s.

I am now flying hooked in and what a difference that has made to my buggying, I am now able to hold a lot more power and can buggy longer and faster – how did I manage before? When cruising I can now fly one or no handed!

My buggy is still the standard Peter Lynn Comp XR+, I have added a home made belly-pan and foot-straps. The rear tires are now bald and have had punctures repaired – the surface of the salt lake has scrubbed them smooth coupled with my love of sliding! This buggy continues to take everything I put it through and has been a great place to start – ultimately as I continue to push my speed and limits I am going to need to upgrade and I have my eyes on the Sysmic S2.

Flying the kites in conjunction with piloting the buggy has become instinctive, I no longer need to be watching the kite to see where it is and what it is doing – the force is strong with this one! I can throw the kite around to get the most out of it, flip it through 180 degrees and use it to pull me through a power-slide…

And boy, do I like going sideways? Wether it is kicking the rear end out, setting the buggy sideways to scrub speed or throwing it hard in to a glorious huge power-slide – it is always guaranteed to bring a huge smile to my face! And remove another layer of rubber from my tires.

I am quite happy cruising around taking things easy and enjoying the ride, but of course there is also the part of me that likes to keep pushing harder and faster. I use my Garmin Etrex GPS to keep an idea of my speed and the Endomondo sports tracker app to track my route.

There are also now a couple of other guys who come down to the salt lake regularly and it is always good to have some company and I love seeing other kites down there. But also love a solitary session when I have the lake to myself! I am very lucky to have such an amazing place to buggy so close to home.

I think that in the 9-10 months I have been doing this that I have clocked approx 100 hours in the buggy! The fact that I dream about buggying – I reckon I am truly addicted!

As somebody once said to me welcome to tree watchers anonymous!

The pen is mightier than the kite?

I have always had a passion for writing about what inspires and interests me and hopefully some of that comes across in this blog. When I’m not in the bug I am often thinking what I can write about next.

I love writing and reviewing my kit and have added my reviews to various forums as well…

Flexifoil Blade III 8.5m

Ozone Access SB Harness

Peter Lynn Core 3m

Peter Lynn Competition XR+

Ozone Flow 5m

Tale of a newbie in a kite buggy

Racekites reviews – the latest and some old ones!

Extreme Kites Reviews

I have also had a couple of none kite related articles published in magazines - 

On The Road

Great Walks

Global Audience

I have just added a very nifty gadget to my blog...

Its over there on the right hand side, now you can view my blog in any language - all thanks to the boffin's at Google!

I'm still getting hits from all over the world...

There is also Malaysia, China, Latvia, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and New Zealand to add to the list! Thank-you for your ongoing support.

17th Wedding Anniversary

What's one of the best things to do on your wedding anniversary?

A morning kite buggy session at lake Walyungup! With my wife's approval of course...

Endomondo sports tracker

South Westerly's, with clearing showers, that later swung around to southerly's and the 3m Core was powered up nicely. Was joined by Bones and Alfa75 who I know from extreme kites and there were 4 kites in the air (with Bones's wife static flying) - have to say I loved seeing all the kites down there.

It was an awesome session, about 40kms traveled and a top speed of 56.5kph. Came home completely pebble dashed and would have been tempted to go on longer if another shower hadn't come along. The buggy's been hosed down and the kites are airing in the garage.

Happy anniversary honey...

Mark and Mandy - 6th May 1995

Tire trouble - part II

I have just spent two hours trying to put a tube into my tire! This time thanks to the advice from racekites and Extreme Kites it was a success.

I managed to get the tire off the rim by standing on it!

I got the tube in without any problems, but had a fight to get the tire back on the rim - but a video posted on extreme kites was very helpful...

I managed to get the tire back on using a hair dryer, washing-up liquid, some spoons and brute force...

But was then left with a big gap where I needed to get the tire centralized and back on the beading properly, I struggled with this for ages, posted on extreme kites, then had a flash of inspiration...

Using my 12v tire compressor hooked up to the car battery I kept inflating until pop! It was back on an looking good, ready for tomorrow morning!

I am leaving the other rear tire alone for now as it is still holding air!

What I used to put an inner tube in my tire!

Tire trouble!

I have been running with slow punctures in my rear tires for a couple of weeks and just topping them up with air as required. Today I finally managed to get round to buying a couple of inner-tubes from our local Masters store.

But do you think I can get the tires off the rims to put the new tubes in? No chance! I have broken the tip off one of my plastic tire leavers. Looks like I maybe just adding some air so that i can got to the salt lakes tomorrow morning!

I guess once I get them off it would be a good idea to know how to get them back on again! Sounds like a good excuse for a Sysmic! But don't think the wife will buy it!

Busted tire leaver!

I had a dream...

I have just been courted by Ozone, Peter Lynn and HQ to become one of their team riders! With offers of a Sysmic S2, Yakuza GT's and Methods, Vapors and Reactors, Prodigy's and Toxic's. Promises of trips to NABX...

 They flew me to Europe and I got to try and fly and buggy, then had to make a decision - Ozone, Peter Lynn or HQ?

 Who would you choose? Who did I choose? Nobody, as I woke up!

 Counting down now, tomorrow I will be back in Perth and back on the Salt Lakes at the weekend...

Review - Ozone Access SB Harness

I got my Ozone Access SB (Spreader Bar) Harness as a Christmas present last year. Before the harness I could only manage about two hours and I would have to give up. After 4 Months of buggying without a harness I swear my arms were both a couple of cm's longer than when I started kiting!

Mark's arms had grown longer since he started kiting!

The harness is designed like a rock climbing harness, with ergonomically designed leg straps to prevent it riding up. It has loads of padding in the legs and back-straps and the spreader is attached to the leg straps to prevent it tilting. Its is made from tough, but light-weight nylon and comes with a spliced Amsteel back leash line or cargo attachment for towing (designed for snow kiting).

This harness has completely changed the way I buggy, I did try a few different types before opting for the Ozone. It is comfortable, particularly when sat in the buggy and doesn't shift or ride up. It took me a few times to get the positioning right, ensuring that the back strap is low enough and tight enough. Once strapped in properly I hardly notice it is there.

Holding the power has now become a piece of cake, especially on those hard work up-wind runs, when I felt that both arms were going to be removed! The harness allows my body to take the strain and still allows me to feel in touch with what the kite is doing - I have even felt confident enough to fly one and sometimes no-handed!

Overall - the harness is extremely well made (like all ozone products seem to be), it is very comfortable to wear for long periods and does what it is supposed to do well. I am not particularly small around the waist but do have to have the harness almost on it's tightest. The only thing I have considered changing is maybe loose the spreader bar hook and buy a Peter Lynn Prodigy 360 spreader - but that will have to wait.

The harness works well in my buggy and is comfortable to wear sat down, it has given me the confidence and ability to keep pushing my speed, get rid of the kite killers and buggy longer and harder - and it all comes in a nice bag.