Reviews...

I have added a quick link to all my reviews over there on the right.

Or click on my link below if your feeling really lazy...

Baldivis kite buggying reviews

Hopefully I will be able to add some more in the next few weeks, the Ozone Manta 2 and the HQ Toxic 3m - just need the wind to cooperate!

Ozone Method 4m - review, part two!

Back at the beginning of the year I wrote a review on my 4m Ozone Method I thought as I had continued to use this kite it was about time I wrote part two...

It rocks!

Everybody always goes on about Ozone kites and the quality of construction but that is because it's true! After four months use and probably being flown nearly every week, there is still not a loose thread, the bridle is immaculate and hasn't suffered any stretching and the handles are perfect. 

Apart from everything being a bit dustier it looks hardly used. And it has taken a few knocks and scrapes and also there has been a couple of times that the kite has become un-hooked from the roller (my fault!) and I have had to chase it across the lake! Not a scratch or a scrape.

The kite continues to do everything it says it should in the blurb...

"The Ozone Method is a kite for anyone who is looking for the speed of a high performance kite, the stability of a beginner kite and yet handles like a sports car! It's your perfect next level engine for taking your traction kiting sports such as buggying or landboarding to new heights!"

As a 4m kite it behaves more like a 3m and takes a fair bit of wind really to develop the power - but even in the lower end of the wind range once you get it moving the power really comes in. Last weekend really demonstrated, to me the, performance that the Method can produce as I managed to get a new PB.

The 4m felt seriously powered up and at first was pretty scary and I was wishing I had a smaller kite - but in the end I was so glad I stuck with it...

Dropping the Method into the power zone and it just accelerates, a little bit of a sine wave to further increase the speed and then add a bit of break tension and wow! off it goes. For the first time I was consistently hitting 60kph and was so excited when the GPSr showed 62.7kph (and more excited when I saw 64.2kph on Endomondo!).

At the end of the run, start to turn the buggy up wind to scrub some speed and edge the kite to the top of the window - no lift, stick the buggy into a power slide, drop the kite back into the power zone and of it goes again - smooth, predictable power. But it was pure exhilaration - I just didn't want to stop!

The other thing is I don't have to watch the kite all the time, all i need is an occasional glance to confirm what I know - where it is in the window and what it is doing. Mind you it looks great that green against the perfect blue skies of WA!

The Method has given me the confidence to fly harder than I had before and I am waiting for the next day when we get some decent winds so that I can really put it through it's paces and push harder and faster and this time get the 65kph on the GPSr!

I have also flown it static on the beach and had great fun and despite it not being a lifty kite was still able to do some pretty impressive jumps!

I have tried high-performance race-kites and didn't enjoy the experience, the Method is a compromise it gives me speed and performance with out the anxiety that it may chew me up and spit me out!

My only issue is I could really do with a couple more a more a 3m and maybe a 6.5 would about do it!

Video - Kite BMX

Tom (aka RedSkyHorizon) is crazy!

Inactivity...

It's been over a month since I have been out in the buggy because of my holiday and then being ill (full blown flu!) and I am still having hot flushes. Consequently I have been quiet on the blog front as well...

Well the forecast is looking promising for Sunday morning with increasing south-westerlies...

The buggy has it's new tyres and they are all holding air, it will be interesting to see how they perform as they have more tread than standard barrows...

...but should be harder wearing.

My new wide axle is en-route from Adelaide but I don't think I will have it until next week.

I am feeling stronger and fitter each day and today, for the first time in over a week, feel that I have some energy - but do have a persistent and annoying cough!

I will check the go-pro is charged, the kites etc. are packed and I will be down on the salt-lake early Sunday morning.

No buggying!

I'm not going to get out in the buggy this weekend...

It's my daughters birthday on Saturday and we are heading to Adventure World here in Perth.

And I am heading to the WACA on Sunday to watch the Aussies v the Windies! With my father-in-law who very generously bought the tickets.

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

Hopefully I may get out for a sneaky evening session next week!

The end...

...of my holiday, that is!

Our homes for a week

After a fantastic trip we ended up back in Perth on Monday. Today is my first day back at work and I really wish I was still off! But on the bright side...

The buggy has new tyres, I am waiting on a 140cm gigastrong axle (as I have done a swap for the 3m Core) and at present the wind is looking favourable for a Sunday session.

Video - a bad romance

A video from Clive from Extreme kites - 

"trip to Tasmania over the summer holiday, 3 weeks , 5 beaches, 2 OBE's"

Video - South Ballina



Great video, with a nasty stack at the end in which Andy dislocates his shoulder! Ouch!

Aerial video

I have seen some excellent video taken from a camera mounted on the kite of bridal of the kite - GoPro do make a kite line mount, but this only works on depower/LEI's.

mounted on an LEI spar.

Though Slarti on extreme kites mounted a GoPro on a foil using gaffer tape, it's an amazing image from a fantastic viewpoint...

I have been looking at ways to mount the kite on a fixed bridle foil...

made from poly-pipe to fit over the lines

In the end I have decided to try and mount it on the kite using some very powerful rare earth neodynium magnets, purchased form ebay for $3.49!

My idea is to attach the GoPro to a mounting plate, and some how, using magnets attached to the plate or steel on the plate secure it onto the sail of the kite with more magnets! It is going to take some experimetation, trial and error - but i'm hoping the results will be worth it! 

Would I get a Sysmic S2?

I have been pondering this question on and off for the last couple of days!

I have had the opportunity to borrow a Sysmic S2 from Bones, while he has been on holiday, this has been my dream buggy for a while and was worried that I would struggle to get back into my humble Peter Lynn Comp xr+.

There is no doubt that the S2 is a great buggy, it's size and weight means I am probably holding down more power than I was in the Comp, those side rails hug me tight so I feel that I am unlikely to leave the buggy in an undignified manner.

For me the downside of this buggy is the weight, as it is set-up (according to various sources) it weighs about 44kgs. I'm not a small bloke but with the swanny and front wheel/axle attached and no rear axles, it is heavy to lift in and out of the car and it is on the lighter side of buggies  - the Libre Majestic is 54kgs and the Dragster 48.5kgs.

My Comp weighs in at about 12kgs!

Personally I think I would of opted for standard barrows rather than the midis especially for use on the salt lake. The midis look great and provide extra traction but I also feel they are holding the buggy back, especially as I have dropped the tyre pressure for a smoother ride. I found it fairly hard work especially on the upwind runs.

I have the swanny and front wheel attached as I can still get it in the car like that, so at the salt lake it is just a case of attaching the rear axle with four bolts. It does take me longer than the comp an is a bit more fiddly  The ride is great, I can really hold the power, I can unstick the back end as needed to slow down and slide it round - don't worry Bones I have been picking my spots and making sure there is lots of loose stuff around before sliding...

I like it a lot, but am not sure I like it enough to fork out the big bucks for one yet - not that I have the big bucks to buy one, but if I did I'm not sure I would - does that make sense?

Is this my dream shattered? Where to from here?

I have ordered a couple of 6 ply highway rated trailer tyres for my comp, the same size as standard barrows - hopefully these will prove to be more hard-wearing, once I get them on the rims!

The next step will be to get the Peter Lynn heavy duty extended side frames, which will add an extra 150mm to the length and also the wide 140cm Peter Lynn gigastrong axle - both these mods should increase the buggys foot-print and increase the stability and weight to allow me to hold more power. I probably need some new wheel bearings as well.

Then I will look at some way of making a back rest, which should also stabilise the frame. And eventually a new seat and kite buggy bag from Buggy Bags should make things a bit more comfortable!

Video - The Collision

Kite buggy V dog!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Well if things have gone to plan then this will be posted automatically while I am down on the Salt Lake enjoying an epic first session of 2013!

After a week of stinking hot temperatures and little to no wind New Years Day is looking slightly more hopeful...

North-westerlies, but at least its blowing and the temperature isn't looking quiet as extreme! I have some new kit I want to try out!

Video - Lonely Boy

Doing it the Aussie way! - Bribie Island Kite Buggy Summer 2011/12

Get Stuffed!

Another one of my Chrissie presents was a stuff sack for the Ozone Method 4m, so today I thought I would transfer the kite from it rucksack into the stuff sack...

As it is maxing at about 38-39 degrees at the moment I thought I would attempt it inside - not so easy when the kite is parapacked!

Got into a right tangle and then ended up outside in 35 degrees untangling the lines and re-packing it, at least it's now in the stuff-sack ready to go!

Looks tangled, but will un-pack perfectly

Packed and ready to go

Grab bag of mounts...

One of my Christmas presents was the GoPro Grab bag of mounts...

My original mount was on my old helmet and the clip had broken - so this was perfect for my new helmet. I am looking forwards to getting out and making some new movies...

Who says kite buggyers aren't cool?

My Christmas presents....

Increased protection!

Merry Christmas...

I hope you all have a happy buggy Christmas and a very buggy New Year...

Video - Time and Tide...

...wait for no man! 

"Hayling Island UK 9th Dec 2012... Great first session on this sandspit but a valuable lesson learnt in keeping an eye on the incoming tide."
Awesome bit of video.

These crazy dudes from the UK - apparently it was freezing and they were having such a good time they didn't keep an eye on the tide! I feel chilly at 6am when it's only 18 degrees and I'm just wearing shorts and a T-shirt!

Loaner!

A big thank-you to Bones for letting me borrow his Sysmic S2 kite buggy, he is away for a couple of weeks and rather than it sit around un-used he has kindly lent it to me…

I am hoping I can do it justice and make the most of the opportunity by increasing my personal best – now I just need the wind and weather to cooperate. I have all my kites in the bag, the swanny is set to the right length, short, to match my legs! I have also dropped the tyre pressure as they were rock solid.

It also fits in the garage without taking up any-more room than the PL comp! And I have put something down to protect it from the concrete-

Side rail socks!

The wind is looking reasonable for later today, so after an early dinner I am heading to lake Walyungup to give it a try and don't worry Bones, I will look after it...

Should it stay or should it go?

I am considering selling my 3m Peter Lynn Core (again) -

I seriously do need some new tyres and don't have the cash to but any, I am looking at about $50 a pop for some 6 ply highway rated tyres. To replace the barrows that I have worn out!

And I am not sure how much use I am going to get out of it now I have the super smooth and fast 4m Ozone Method...

I have done the e-bay listing ready to go, I just need to see if my wife can save the day - as she is the financial guru in our house!