Google Kitemap

I started pulling together lots of kiting locations into a google map with mini hints and links to local clubs etc.

I started with mostly local sites I'd been to but I've been growing my collection and it's up to quite a lot now across most of the UK.
http://kitemap.pashley.org
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...b1e98332d4af9f

The colour scheme, is described in the map description.

If anyone has any sites, I'm willing to add them so send them over as a google map link to the exact location, GPS co-ordinates or failing that a post code.

Green = known good
Blue = untested site
Yellow = known restricted
Red = known ban
Purple = special site, e.g., shop & flying zone

Yellow basket = shop

If you're interested in providing locations, links, mini reviews or joining in as a collaborator then please PM me with your email address so I can add you into the google map. Collaborators get to edit the map directly so a few more to do this would be useful.

I personally find it useful as I can overlay it when I'm using google maps and see where the nearest kite spot is to where I may end up travelling. You can also get directions to sites by just clicking on the site and selecting "Directions : To Here'. Very handy.

RS Speed Buggy (2 of 2)

A 2nd massive box arrived with the remained of my buggy parts in it, seems like it's been on a trip around most of Europe before being delivered.
Can't wait to get home and get this all setup as it should look something like this but with a 1.5 rear axle and a swan neck.

Quiver

I was looking at the range of kites I have today and I reckon my quivers a bit like the list below (using mx5alans wind range calc for the arcs). There's loads of overlap in there so some of it will have to go.
The bottom end of the VII is mis-leading as it's a heavy kite and needs quite a bit of wind to launch but once it's up and moving it aint coming down.

     0 2 5 7 9 12 15 18 22 25 29 32 36 39 43 46 50  mph
 G2-9 -----------------XXXXXXXXXXXXX---------------
V2-16 ----XXXXXXXXXXXXX----------------------------
A2-8  -------XXXXXXXXXXXXX-------------------------
LGD-2 ---------------XXXXXXXXXXXX------------------
OR-4.5 --------XXXXXXXXXXXX-------------------------

G2-9 - 9m Guerilla II
V2-16 - 16m Venom II
A2-8 - 8m Access II
LGD-2 - 2m Pansh Legend
OR-4.5 - Ozone Razor 4.5m

RS Speed Buggy (1 of 2)

With much excitement the axle for my new RS Speed Buggy has just arrived. Sadly, there's nothing else with it and the courier hasn't seen anything in the warehouse. Let's hope it arrives tomorrow.

Pontefract Park, Razor & RS Speed

Paul and I chanced our luck at Pontefract Park today for the first time. The winds were quite high and most were on small kites about 2m -> 2.5m.

Paul's RS Speed got it's maiden voyage on this brilliant new location and it certainly looked like he had a whale of a time with his Rage 2.5m. Not bad at all for a first time out in a buggy as the video below shows. :)

My buggy hasn't arrived yet so I had my usual board to knock about on. I also got to have a quick bounce on a Trampa today, I'm very impressed and one is now on my list of things to upgrade to.

The winds were generally too high for me and the only thing I had was my daughters 2.5m Pansh Legend. Trouble is that it's on handles I after trying this out for a while I just resigned myself to the fact that I can no longer fly well enough on handles. I'd left the bar for the 9m GII at home like a muppet.

Razor cuts

My recently acquired Ozone Razor 4.5m made a showing today with spectacular results. On reflection the winds were way too high for such a powerful kite but it was new to me and just begging for an airing.
My intention was to get the kite out, sort the lines out, let it inflate and just generally check it over.
I was foolishly convinced to give it a blast as I'd got it out so I put on my helmet and grabbed the handles. The kite was bouncing around on the ground ready to go. It looked so innocent just sitting there, how could it possibly harm anyone?
I launched the kite straight through the centre of the window and was rapidly launched downwind! Spectators after reported I'd gone at least 10m and a good few feet in the air before landing with a bump. This continued on for a little while longer before I eventually let go and come down on the killers.
Stupid - yes. Would I do it again - no.

Conclusion: don't be fooled into using a kite when it's obviously not the right winds despite how brave you think you are. Mother Nature *will* spank you.

Pontefract Racecourse
Ponty is a great open site, anything pure S->SE->E is lumpy as it comes over the grandstand. Anything around the rest - SW->W->N->NE is fine. W->N totally open with a pure W being the ideal as there's nothing to distrub the wind for what looks like 10 miles. It's also 1 mile from xscape at Castleton so easy to get to.

The field is *MASSIVE* and it's got council designated areas for Kites, Footy, RC aircraft, RC helicopter - kites get the largest area and roam about when there's no-one from the other clubs. Stay in the designated areas and fly safe and you're good to go.

The area is terraced in massive areas so you can do little jumps off the high areas onto the low areas and make your way up the little hills to get back. It's fun.

Apparently out of footy season the whole park is open to roam on kites & buggys.

There's a local club ( http://www.pontykites.co.uk/ )that works with the council and we pay £10pa to contribute to having the grass cut and open access. I joined after my first few sessions. They like the usual, safe flying, PL insurance, etc. Any surplus funds go to events & BBQs in the summer.

Ozone Razor 4.5m

I've just bought an Ozone Razor 4.5m Race Kite.

I've been looking out for a race kite ever since I ordered my buggy but I'm not sure how I'll get on with it as it's quite a while since I've flown fixed-bridle on handles. The intention is to get something fast for the buggy.

[sell] 4m Access II

sad but it's gone. It's a fantastic kite but it's too small for my use and I'll get more use out of the 9m Guerilla II.

6/Jan - board blast w/ Paul

Met up with Paul again today on Herringthorpe Fields for a quick blast about on the boards. Usual gusty winds but my 8m Access II was flying nicely.

I've realised that in hindsight I've been too much of a wuss and need to have more power in order to be able to do this properly, this means bigger kites in higher winds. It would explain my slow progress and frustration at not being able to get moving.

I think it was too gusty and changable for Paul's Rage 2.5m but he got a few runs in too. One day we'll both have a good day.

Also, the field was covered in dog eggs. Both Paul and my board were covered in the stuff. Not happy. :(

HPF fliers? new people & ripped kite

Another gusty day landboarding at Herringthorpe with the 8m Access II, winds were stupidly gusty again and my skills need improving but I'm getting there

Down on Herringthorpe Playing Fields I've seen someone with what looked like a 10m Frenzy (?) + land board alongside someone with a red Beamer (2.5/3m?). I was having a good boarding session with my GII at the time so didn't stop to talk as they're a pig to land.

I saw someone else new last Saturday get their kite ripped to shreds. It was super gusty and I saw their kite (didn't recognise the type) rattling from the trees getting cut to shreds. It eventually cut itself loose, flew across the road and into the bungalows opposite. It looked more like a grass skirt after that! I doubt they'll be back.

It seems to be getting rather popular as there's pretty much always someone there at the weekends, including me most saturdays.

5/Jan - Another gusty day

Another gusty day landboarding at Herringthorpe with the 8m Access II, winds were stupidly gusty again and my skills need improving but I'm getting there