Light Wind Buggying

popeyethewelder.com/facebook questions

 

2012

What are the best tips for buggying in very light winds? (without using the words, 16m Vapor)

    • Dave Roberts – go to the pub
    • Matt Cook – paramotor, bigken put his 16m vapor on 30m lines, beach bbq and beers
    • Tom Routh – 10.5m tinacoa!
    • Carlos Urtiaga – Years ago I took part in bridling a 7.2m, a 4.9m and a 3.3m Blade 1’s together, that worked!!!, Failing that Carlos, a bbq, beers and friends!!!
    • Marcus Edwards – A big NasaWing
    • Carlos Fandango – I hate low wind buggying with a vengence, anything sub 10mph infact, its just too much hassle and effort, sounds like I am not the only one who would rather not bother then…
    • Carlos Urtiaga – I used to buggy all the time, evenings and weekends without fail, now unless it 10mph plus and bang on shore I don’t bother taking my buggy off the back of the van, I call it old age, glad there are a few more of me!!!! lol
    • Nick Thompson – 21m Flysurfer speed 3 as long as you can get moving you don’t need wind it will fly on apparent awesome low wind kite
    • Andrew AutoBuddy Jones – 15m manta – and just keep it moving – time your turns and downturn at end of every run –
    • Jay Taylor – 23.5 cabreina that will get you going 🙂
    • KiteBuggy BagMan – light wind is the Best Carl, you have to be able to fly a kite to buggy confidently in sub 7 on a wet beach, i really enjoy it.  Working it, Nursing it keeping it alive really does it for me. You can see exactly whats going on as well, take it too high, and it luffs in slow motion, you learn how to fly it.  you dont need a monster kite to fly in these winds either, 10m will be fine.    this is where long lines come in as well, double up making 40m and there is usually plenty of wind.  I can remember being down Aber over 10 years ago, and i trebbled up lines, they must have been 60m long, kite flew and had a good time.   Anyone can fly a kite  in 10+
    • Andrew AutoBuddy Jones – me— ive flown in sub 5mph – with the 15m manta – uve just gotto keep it going
    • KiteBuggy BagMan – you dont need a massive kite either, infact a smaller kite is sometimes better as you can get it moving, plus easier in the turns
    • Andrew AutoBuddy Jones – yep – some days i prefer to use the smaller kite and just work it –
    • Kent Kingston – First thing – get yourself out of that 150lb bug and into something like a PL Comp or XR.  Shedding all that massive weight will allow you to drop down your kite size immensely.  Next – tire pressure.  Crank it up, soft tires have more drag – more power needed to roll.  After that it all comes down to true kite skills.  Know that you will never set a land speed record in light winds – instead, just enjoy the ride.  Super long lines, large sweeping movements of the kite – zen feeling of just cruising and enjoying the breeze.  You have to work the kite, you can’t park and ride.  High aspect ratio kites are much easier as they create much more apparent wind.  When done properly it can be very fun to do.  – Just remember “Strong winds build muscle – Light winds builds skill.”
    • Bill Lewis – New bearings, hard surface, 11m vapor or sa 19 😉
    • Susan Orgeron – 15 meter nasa wing
    • Wayne Carkeek – 25m lines
    • Tony Ferguson – Until recently I had a 10.5 blade III.  I could get going with that when everyone else struggled to move. Was a beast to get going but when you did it was a baby. To turn you had to really turn away from the kite to give it that little bit of speed and pressure to get it turned over. Usually a large handful of brake line needed too. There definitely was a knack to it. In the right conditions it was a beaut, I was downturning it and kite looping. When the wind picked up a bit she was a scary monster. I now have a set of yaks and cant wait to try the 14m
    • David Lees – Prayers/ threats  to Wind Gods, laying out of large sacrificial kite, lots of patience and good mates to sit around whining about the lack of wind.
    • Daniel Kinsman – 12 m ace cheap and gets you moving in about 3 mph in a small buggy
    • Steve Warren – Range Rover V8
    • Ken Shaw – Day time, low wind buggying is for suckers who left on the morning convection, got too far out and forgot the tow line back at camp. Light wind is for night riding. Steady 5 to 8 mph is ideal for ghosting across a flat half cocked. Time and speed mean nothing when you can’t see where you’re going.  Launch the Big Dog, point up, lock in and watch your mind generate all sorts of terrifying crap out of shadows and darkness. I’ve never been more terrified in my life as buggying under a new moon at what turned out to be a brisk walking pace. However, DO mind the fence lines and pucker brush, that stuff grows legs at night and sneaks up on ya pretty quick.