A New Year

Firstly Happy New Year to everyone reading this. September the 23rd I put my first power kite in the air. Feels like years ago now. From day one I knew this was gonna get me hooked but the day it became set in stone was my first go in a kite buggy. My first time out started off shaky but within 5 minutes I was upwinding and turning with some degree of competence. Flying in the buggy improved my kite control so much and it all clicked with me one afternoon on a soft beach as the buggy started to slide while turning. This gave me the confidence to start turning faster and harder and gave me more options scrubbing off speed, this also meant I could push harder and faster with more confidence. I finish this year with a personal best speed of 35.9 mph 9 weeks after my first go in a buggy. Managed to get 33.9mph in my Peter Lynn comp before deciding I needed a bigger heavier buggy and hunting down my flexifoil ss buggy. Ten times better than what I had and after a bit of work tracking down parts it's finally finished. A wide axle and a new seat from Jon at buggybags transformed it and a Christmas present from a friend (NobbyInJersey)being a swan neck finished it off. You can see pictures of it as it now looks bellow. I've gained a few kites over the last 3 months. Some I've come to love like old friends and some I'm hesitant to fly. My rages are without a doubt my favourites and I've got a feeling my newest acquisition, a Brooza 3m mk1 is going to be in the same class. Still haven't got to fly my buster in the buggy, I don't feel happy with the way the kite flys but I'm not gonna part company with it until its had a thorough testing. I also ventured into the world of depower foils in the guise of a Ozone Access XT 6m. This at the minute is my marmite Kite. Not quite sure if I love it or hate it at the moment. Managed to squeeze a respectable 29mph out of it on my first run with it but found myself a bit disconnected from the controls and didn't have to confidence or experience to push harder. I ended up putting up a fixed bridle that day and had so much more fun. I'm not going to bin this kite just yet, just need to spend some time with it and learn its quirks. My aims for next year. Hmm I'd love to spend more time with the landboard. I had one really good session on it and then picked up my buggy. Since then it's been neglected. I showed promise on my first time out. Was upwinding nicely and managed a few nice slides. It was only when I attempted to go toeside things went wrong. With practice I recon I'm gonna pick things up pretty quick and my kite control has improved tenfold since that first outing. I also want to get to grips with my depower on both the landboard and buggy, try and get a few sessions on the water to see if I like it and I want to crack 40mph in the buggy. (soon as I crack it il be looking for 50) All in all it's been a great way to end the year. I've made new friends and learnt a hell of a lot. Racekites.com has been my go to place for advice and I recommend anyone looking to get into the sport to pay them a vist. Fingers crossed for fair winds and sun in 2012. Rob