skinduptruk

Here is a vid about the Harden Kite Festival 2009. I'm going to ask permission from Prime, but until then I shouldn't post the vid myself. However here is a link: http://wagga.iprime.com.au/index.php/news/prime-news/perfect-weather-for-harden-kites-video,181791 Thanks to EK for the notice in the topic below: http://www.extremekites.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10101 I did get a bunch of punctures that day, but with some R&D I think we have the solution for next year (still in progress): http://www.extremekites.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12334 The organisers are keen for more EK folk to come along next time!

http://shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?_nkw=spinskins&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=spinskin&_osacat=0#item4147d3fb24 $30 to $50 on ebay skins + goo might just work!

thanks for the reply plummet. i agree that the twistars won't work cause they need the pressure... why are they cheesy, cause they are plastic? it's all new to me. when you say henious do you mean in terms of just the weight? if i don't do any jumps would it matter? speed wobbles anyone? a diff of even 2kg per tyre would only be the diff between a few large meals! thick walls are possible, i've seen that for bikes, but thick is still only about 5mm, these suckers were around 1inch long, crazy! i'd love to have the peace of mind of solid tyres over this nasty terrain. the primary challenge with "solid" wheels would appear to be the sheer mass. given they need to be 200 x 50 mm this is really saying i want a low density tyre, but with good wear - ie. a contradiction! just had an idea - a tradeoff is a small diameter of solid rubber around the edge of the wheel. i've seen car tyres like this, big mags with a little strip of rubber tyre around the outside... ok did some google-ing, now this is something! i'd like 4 of these in 200 x 50 Mr. Michelin please! http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tweel-airless-tire.htm [attachment=2]michelin_tweek_airless_tire.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]tweel-airless-tire-2.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]tweel-airless-tire-3.jpg[/attachment]

I went along and it was a nice day and a popular event http://wagga.iprime.com.au/index.php/news/prime-news/perfect-weather-for-harden-kites-video,181791 and here are some pics I took

got some punctures on the weekend, 11 in total over four tyres, here are the ones that DIDN'T get thru. should have kept some of the full spikes because now I can't identify them. i'm aware of the weight penalty, but i'd like to try it out anyway. once you get up to speed the extra momentum might actually help going over rough terrain? the other problem is how you might get them onto the hub, given the inner tube is not there to help fill out and make everything tight. i have twistar hubs that rely on pressure, but even normal hubs might allow the solid tyre to rattle around the outside.

i've pm'd techno and bobm, and the robyn email doesn't work so i'll just mention here that i'm interested in it, but not really sure about details yet...

wish i could be can you give me a layout of the course and i'll use my GPS next time to get a feel if i'm competitive yet

bad news so far, damn that app temp is negative!!! 30 knot sub zero winds anyone? i wonder how floriade is going?

it's looking average so far, but you never know... i was planning to aim for sunday myself Forecast for Saturday Cold with scattered showers, falling as snow on the ranges above 1000 metres. Possible thunder and small hail. Fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds. City Precis: Showers. Windy. City: Min 5 Max 10 Tuggeranong: Min 4 Max 10 Chance of rainfall: 80% Winds on Lake: Westerly 35-45 km/h with stronger gusts.

i was disappointed by some 2nd hand fox body armour off ebay, very flimsy and didn't stay in place. this stuff looks good with the tshirt to hold it all together, and you seem to get a lot of pads in one hit. definitely on the list for summer!

Hi Mantico, I weigh about 75kg and this is a clip of me on my 1.5m trainer kite in about 20knots. http://www.extremekites.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=11067&p=87304#p87304 I bought this trainer on ebay in Jan and practised with that for a while. Then I used my trainer with the board for many hours to get my balance working and to get used to the board and kite at the same time. I tried a 4.5 fixed bridle and got pulled off a few times and didn't really feel comfortable. A 3m was better. I'm now on a 10m depower and just starting to get the park and ride figured out. my advice = start really small and sit back and relax, and enjoy the learning curve. less chance of injury or a negative experience to turn you off kiting. and depending where you are, if you can find someone to show you the basics and give you a demo that would be ideal. even better find an instructor or kite shop staff member.

i love the overlay at the bottom, how did you do it?! i presume you had GPS data and google earth but not sure how you put it all together?

i *might* make it

i got there at about 1530 but it was a bit of a fizzer, just strag was there and no one else, and not much wind either, oh well, was cold and rainy. highlight was riding strag's MBS pro 90 for 5mins, man that thing is feather-light and damn smooth, it literally felt like i was kitesurfing on the glassy waters of sandy pt at low tide all over again! i will be pricing that bad boy, might not get it yet, but will be on the wishlist i think. strag has put in 'red' washers don't know if that makes the difference?

awesome vids! damn i feel lame for living in the ACT right now. i grew up in cairns, and that reminds me of home it must be relaxing to have buggy down the beach on a clear day with the sound of breaking waves right next to you, and i bet its warmer than here right now!

oh i see now, its all so clear i got to amaroo about 1pm and it was PACKED, there was like 1000 people there no joke! then i thought to try and find the ngunnawal ovals, as they look good from space. alas i found them and they were covered in rubgy league players who were giving me and my modest choice of ride dirty looks. so it was about 1430 when i headed down to lanyon, i got all the way there and actually saw that exact oval and checked it out. i gave up, and went to the said maccas for half an hour at 1500! so i was pigging out while you setup, damn! lol oh well thats my luck! and tomorrow i'm stuck indoors all day with other jobs - unless i can sneak out for a break in the avo...

50km ouch i went from braddon to amaroo, to lanyon and back to braddon, about 100km all up sad facts: 1. i didn't find you guys in lanyon at all! 2. i didn't fly my kite at any stage today 3. all this was on my 1985 Suzuki GN250, at 90kph LOL please let me know exact google earth coords for the damn lanyon spot! there are lots of ovals to choose from!!!

Damn right footy they are everywhere!

wind is just picking up a touch here in the city hmmm.... thinking about it.... can i resist.... i'll start to get ready and see!

i'm still 50/50 at this stage. hope that matt and eluder can make it, guvner too? that would be seven of us! hey andy i found your kite killer, it was still on the trainer like i thought. i have my own brand new flexifoil ones now, nice and comfy too. i don't feel 100%, still no board, will just have to see

i tried putting an older JVC camcorder on my bicycle helmet - was waaay too top heavy! still working on it, might need to go with the predator style shoulder cannon!

sure no worries it just hasn't been windy lately! i was thinking of doing something similar and putting together a listing of ACT locations to kite, with best wind dirs for that spot and any local tips i have a bunch of webspace that i could be making use of...