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Longer buggies are generally more stable on a straight line whereas shorter buggies tend to be more nimble when cornering. A wider rear axle will make the buggy more resistant against accidentally toppling over. However, intentional trick riding, e.g. on only two wheels (the front and one of the rear
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The buggy is powered by a traction kite, controlled by the pilot. The traction kite is normally not directly attached to the buggy. Instead it is—through its lines and handles—either held by the pilot or attached to the pilot by a harness and strop line. The kite is used to accelerate the
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A frequent cause of accidents is flying a kite too large for the wind conditions and experience of the pilot. In such a case buggy and pilot tend to be pulled downwind, often skidding and sliding sideways with a high risk of the pilot entirely losing control of kite and buggy. This can be avoided by
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All possible safety precautions should be taken: protective clothing and an adequate helmet are a must. Helmets to be considered are downhill mountain bike helmets with chin guard (light, well ventilated, good field of vision) or paragliding helmets (light, relatively well ventilated, good field of
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Pilots are encouraged to obtain 3rd party liability insurance as there is a risk of coming into contact with bystanders or each other. Such insurance is available through the various national and regional organisations like the South and West
Association of Traction Kiting (SWATK) or the British
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Foot rests can be fitted with foot straps and grip tape to prevent the feet from sliding off the rests during extreme buggying action. Foot straps are not recommended for beginners, due to the possibility that they will not be able to remove their feet from the pegs if the buggy flips over and
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The pilot flies the kite overhead to generate maximum lift and is then—with the buggy—hoisted up to tens of feet into the air. Very advanced pilots even perform aerial manoeuvres such as 360° (or more) spins, sidewinders, pendulum swings and reverse landings.
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Kite buggying and other traction kite activities can be classified as extreme sports. Wind is the only power source and is often very unpredictable. An attitude of caution and respect towards the wind is essential, for the novice just as well as the advanced pilot.
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apart from proportions and the fact that there is no handle bar at the top. Instead there are two foot rests sticking out, on the left and right of it, attached to the fork very low down, near where the wheel is mounted. These foot rests have two main purposes:
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vision). True motorbike helmets are often considered less suitable as they are relatively heavy and the field of vision can be impaired (when kite buggying, both the kite itself and the terrain around the buggy should be easily visible).
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and two fixed rear wheels. The driver sits in the seat located in the middle of the vehicle and accelerates and slows down by applying steering manoeuvres in coordination with flying manoeuvres of the kite. This activity is called
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The buggy's (and pilot's) mass has a considerable impact on its handling. A very light buggy is more agile and quicker to manoeuvre. A heavier buggy does not slide sideways as easily, enabling it to transfer higher lateral kite
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Performing the sport, the kite buggy pilot has to always act responsibly and make sure to not harm bystanders or cause damage to the environment or property. Choosing a kiting location with enough space is crucial for this.
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Responsible shops should strongly discourage newcomers from buying very powerful kites without instruction. They should also offer or help organising tuition for novice pilots, ideally through PKSF-accredited instructors.
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wheels), is more difficult. Rear axles will generally be in the range of about 1 to 2 metres (3 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in). Shorter or longer measures are possible for more extreme applications.
399:) and progress to bigger kites or higher wind conditions as ability improves. Novices should first achieve and practice full control over their kite before considering the next step, the actual kite buggying.
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Buggies joined up like this can be powered by a single kite controlled by the pilot in the first buggy. This allows the passenger in the second buggy to be simply pulled along passively.
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they allow the pilot to easily steer the buggy. Pushing the left foot forward will turn the front wheel to the right, pushing the right foot forward will turn the front wheel to the left.
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kite configuration can be flown where both front and rear buggy pilots steer a separate and independent kite each. This requires very skilled pilots and good communication between them.
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Common advice is to start with a relatively small kite in relatively low wind conditions (e.g. 2-to-3-square-metre (22 to 32 sq ft) kites in winds of force 2 to 3
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The
Aeropleustic Art or Navigation in the Air by the use of Kites, or Buoyant Sails. London, 1827. (March 2001 Book of the Month, University of Glasgow Special Collections)
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To increase the usable kite force, a buggy can be equipped with additional weights. These weights will be attached to the buggy as low down as possible to keep the overall
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is generally attributed with the modern popularization of buggies and kite buggying with his introduction of strong, lightweight, affordable buggies in the early 1990s.
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or even yachting, and therefore much of its terminology and technique has been adopted from these activities. Kite buggies are classified as "Class 8 Land Yachts " by
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giving the pilot good side and back support. This is necessary as the driver has to transfer the force of the used traction kite into the buggy.
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flying kites small enough so that they allow the pilot to safely stop the buggy by turning it through the wind and driving upwind.
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big foot: best used on beaches of any kind, fields, even if uneven and bumpy; activities: general buggying, trick buggying, racing
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standard size wheel: best used on very to moderately firm sand, not too bumpy fields; activities: general buggying, trick buggying
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The different types of wheels are used in different terrain conditions and buggying activities. A few examples include:
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348:. Even 2-wheeled buggies exist—with only one single wheel at the back instead of the common 2-wheel rear axle.
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The geometry and measurements of a buggy's frame determine what kind of buggying activities it is best suited for.
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In addition to the traditional 3-wheeled buggy there are designs applying 4 wheels—with a more complex
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they allow the pilot to lodge himself tightly into the seat so he is not pulled out of the buggy by the kite.
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Possible styles of wheels vary from very thin (like a speed-sail's wheels) over standard size (like a
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in the UK in 1827 and kite buggies were available commercially in US and UK in the late 1970s.
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Some buggies allow for attaching a second buggy using a specialized kind of trailer coupling.
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and kite buggying competitions are often based on established land yachting guidelines.
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low. Also possible is filling some of the buggy frame's usually hollow tubes with a
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thin rim wheel: best used on very firm ground; activities: race and speed buggying
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that would apply a braking force directly to the wheels.
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One of the more extreme manifestations of the sport is
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422:As with all kite-flying activities, the kiting
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250:The buggy itself does not have any dedicated
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
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355:blades replacing the wheels for use on
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231:therefore risk breaking their ankles.
16:Recreational vehicle powered by a kite
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498:Amphi-Kiting (Archived from original)
415:Power Kitesports Association (BPKA).
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47:adding citations to reliable sources
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247:buggy and also assists in braking.
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359:or cut-down skis for use on snow.
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673:Leading edge inflatable kite
172:Kite buggying is similar to
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663:Inflatable single-line kite
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234:The seat of the buggy is a
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340:Extensions, Custom Designs
139:traction kite (power kite)
133:is a light, purpose-built
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514:related to Kite Buggying.
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258:Frame, Wheels and Weight
163:George Pocock (inventor)
737:Kite aerial photography
932:List of kite festivals
512:Getting Started Guides
436:Buggy (disambiguation)
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850:Alexander Graham Bell
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322:Tandem Configurations
209:suspension mechanisms
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154:, including a safety
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822:Kite control systems
299:into the ground via
158:, is commonly worn.
43:improve this article
915:Ballooning (spider)
799:Powered paragliding
152:protective clothing
860:William Abner Eddy
772:Kite rollerskating
576:Human-lifting kite
485:2006-12-09 at the
441:Buggy (automobile)
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346:steering mechanism
314:substance such as
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865:Lawrence Hargrave
757:Kite landboarding
446:Kite landboarding
332:Alternatively, a
308:centre of gravity
242:Power and Braking
236:bucket style seat
196:Kite buggying at
188:Steering and seat
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99:November 2006
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54:Find sources:
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32:This article
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26:
21:
20:
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924:
879:
855:John Barresi
832:Kite mooring
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777:Kiteboarding
747:Kite fishing
732:Hang gliding
724:applications
709:
695:Rogallo wing
650:
639:Rokkaku dako
629:Bermuda kite
571:Fighter kite
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125:A kite buggy
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58:"Kite buggy"
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
974:Kite flying
806:Parasailing
794:Paragliding
782:Kiteboating
652:Chapi-chapi
581:Indoor kite
451:Kitesurfing
353:ice skating
271:wheelbarrow
178:windsurfing
963:Categories
894:Tyrus Wong
870:Peter Lynn
787:Kite buggy
762:Snowkiting
700:Scott sled
690:Rotor kite
685:Malay kite
634:Bowed kite
596:Water kite
591:Sport kite
586:Power kite
467:References
456:Snowkiting
371:Buggy jump
167:Peter Lynn
131:kite buggy
69:newspapers
881:Sea Tails
827:Kite line
752:Kite rigs
711:Wau bulan
658:Foil kite
461:Windsport
426:applies.
949:Category
926:Kitelife
678:Bow kite
646:Box kite
624:Arc kite
617:by shape
483:Archived
430:See also
301:friction
135:vehicle
83:scholar
843:People
668:Kytoon
559:by use
387:Safety
334:tandem
297:forces
275:spokes
156:helmet
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969:Kites
903:Other
815:Parts
615:Types
557:Types
548:Kites
312:dense
182:FISLY
143:wheel
90:JSTOR
76:books
566:Kite
316:lead
205:axle
198:Fanø
62:news
397:bft
357:ice
45:by
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