Introduction
After purchasing a few kites and getting bored with static flying, the majority of people look towards using kites for providing traction as a way of moving forward.
This guide will help to explain Buggying, from the basic concepts to gaining the skills required for racing.
Once again, as with our first How To Fly Guide, this guide describes activities that are potentially dangerous. If you are new to kites and traction kites in particular, we recommend that you first read the How To Fly Guide which can be found on the racekites.com website.
You need to be relatively experienced in flying four line kites before you even think of climbing into a buggy. Using kites for traction has the ability to not only hurt you, but also those around you. Respect the power of the wind.
By using this guide, you will hopefully increase your learning curve, develop your skills and increase your enjoyment of the sport.
Experience
There is no substitute to gain experience than to actually spending time stood under a kite or sat in a buggy. If you are able to join a club or fly with other people, you will learn much faster. Alternatively, taking a few lessons will also speed your learning. If you do choose lessons, make sure that your instructor holds a suitable qualification from either the PKA or BBC.
Site Evaluation
Before you even think about getting out your kite, you need to be sure that you have selected the right location at which to fly. The more space you have available, the more fun it will be. Stay as far away from buildings, roads, trees and electrical power lines as possible. They will either create turbulence and/or eat your kite. No matter how far away that tree is, you can guarantee that your kite will land in it at some point! Getting your kite wrapped around electrical power cables is also not a good idea.
Try and choose a location which has few people. Traction kiting has the potential to be dangerous. The general public typically has no understanding of our sport. Most people will not comprehend the most fundamental point, that your kite is attached to lines. When your kite is on the ground, they will try and walk through them, over them and trip up on them every chance they get.
While flying, people will walk in front of you, they will walk under your kite and they will find it very amusing that their huge Doberman is chasing you as you buggy down the beach in fear of your life as it snaps its teeth inches from the back of your head. Avoid people at all costs.
When someone does trip over your lines, get in your way or let their dog eat your new kite, (it will happen - it's just a matter of time), don't get angry, shout, or threaten to beat them up. Explain the potential dangers and that they should be aware of them. This is good kite etiquette.
Buggying is most fun on long expanses of hard packed sandy beaches. It can also be done on other firm flat surfaces, such as grass or tarmac, although these will hurt more as you scrape across them at 20mph. The best place to both fly and buggy is on a large beach with onshore winds. It is definitely worth traveling to the best location possible. Take all of your equipment with you. It's always the kite you have left at home which best suits the current wind conditions.
If you decide to travel to a beach to fly, remember to check the tides. There is nothing worse than spending two hours battling through traffic only to find that the tide is coming in and you are going to have to wait for several hours until you can fly.
Be aware of any restrictions due to bans, nature reserves etc. Whatever you do, please do not fly or buggy when you are not allowed to. It is likely that if a ban is in place, there will be local flyers who are trying to reverse it and regain access. If you decide to fly regardless you are screwing things up for everyone.
If possible, talk to other flyers using the site. Most of them will know much more about the location than you do. They will be able to point out any unseen dangers and where the best places to fly are. They will also have information about the tides and other locations in the area.
Insurance
The most vital piece of equipment you can have when you decide to take up Buggying is the cheapest. This is of course insurance. There are no excuses for not having it. Many locations will not allow you to Buggy without it. Insurance can be obtained from the BBC or the PKA. If you don't have any, stop reading this and go and get some now.
If you Buggy, you need insurance. Remember, there are NO excuses.
http://www.britishbuggyclub.co.uk
http://www.pka-online.org.uk
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