Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 20:53:03 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Skatebord power kiting While I was writing that kites & skateboards wouldn't work, Steve wrote: >Peter used to be a pro-am skater [...] >skateboard with these *really big* knobby wheels. > >This rig, combined with a Quadrafoil, works *really* well in hard-packed >surfaces such as dirt, hard grass, etc. Peter will go about as fast as >the buggy will, if not faster. I stand corrected. No-one could do kite-water-skiing properly until Corey Roseler (a world class water skiier) came along to show us all how easy it is. It seems that the same thing is happening with skateboards. Andrew -- echo 'andrew@tug.com' | dd bs=20k seek=50000 of=end_of_tape Netiquette-of-the-day: Please trim quoted material to a minimum. You can FTP the kite FAQ's from ftp.hawaii.edu (directory /pub/rec/kites/faq) The FAQ's include lists of kite stores, kite books, kite plans. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 11:51:29 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Skatebord power kiting BLACKBURN@PHYSICS.watstar.uwaterloo.ca (Kenny Blackburn) writes: > Has anyone tried to get pulled by a kite while standing on a >skateboard in some parking lot? There is a guy in Basingstoke, England called Mike Shaw who can occasionally be seen doing this. The has big chunky "tractor tyre" wheels on his board so that he can go on a good grass surface. He seems to be able to do it, but I've never seen him go particularly fast. If you try this, expect to have some nasty falls. You are a long way up, and will be falling at high speed onto an unforgiving and abrasive surface. and may find it difficult to break your fall (you either hold onto the kite and can't use your hands for protection or let go of the kite, loose it's uplift and hit the ground harder). On top of all of this, you are a learner and can expect to fall often as you learn. I'd reccommend: 1) full safety gear (helmet with face mask, hard knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, leather gloves, hip protection and hardwearing overalls) 2) Err... on second thoughts, I don't think I'd reccommend it at all. Andrew -- echo 'andrew@tug.com' | dd bs=20k seek=50000 of=end_of_tape Netiquette-of-the-day: Please trim quoted material to a minimum. You can FTP the kite FAQ's from ftp.hawaii.edu (directory /pub/rec/kites/faq) The FAQ's include lists of kite stores, kite books, kite plans. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 19:04:52 -1000 From: steveth@netcom.com (Steve Thomas) Message-Id: Organization: VisionAire, San Francisco, CA Subject: Re: Skatebord power kiting In article BLACKBURN@PHYSICS.watstar.uwaterloo.ca (Kenny Blackburn) writes: >I was just thinking... > > Has anyone tried to get pulled by a kite while standing on a >skateboard in some parking lot? This should be interesting and harder than >to buggy or use in line skates but it is all that I have for kite >transportation. > Funny you should ask. Peter Werba, proprietor of Buena Vista Kite Co. San Francisco, has just gotten into this very thing. Peter used to be a pro-am skater, and is very oriented towards things on boards (viz. he is also into snowboarding, too...). Anyhow, he purchased this kit from (some company) that outfits your skateboard with these *really big* knobby wheels. They are especially made for "offroad" skateboarding. Included with the "offroad kit" are these plastic hooks called, "sky hooks" that make it so you can halfway clip your feet into the board. This rig, combined with a Quadrafoil, works *really* well in hard-packed surfaces such as dirt, hard grass, etc. Peter will go about as fast as the buggy will, if not faster. I've tried this myself, and it's lots of fun; it is, if your not a skater, not extremely easy--but I didn't fall too much, and even when you do fall you have the advantage of having the Quad pulling you upward to break your fall. Overall, the skateboard is lots of fun and a different experience than the buggy. Peter does jumps, spins and other kind of neet skating tricks on the board. Peter is in the process of improving the system, adding larger "trucks", etc. He is also looking into solutions for pavement. If you like, you can call him--I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you about skateboards and powerflying... -- _______ Steve Thomas steveth@netcom.com "I'm doing just fine. I took stock in a Mace company right before society crumbled." -- Selma/Simpson's = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 05:42:01 -1000 From: BLACKBURN@PHYSICS.watstar.uwaterloo.ca (Kenny Blackburn) Message-Id: Organization: University of Waterloo Subject: Skatebord power kiting I was just thinking... Has anyone tried to get pulled by a kite while standing on a skateboard in some parking lot? This should be interesting and harder than to buggy or use in line skates but it is all that I have for kite transportation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kenny Blackburn Waterloo, Ontario or Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada (519)-886-4068 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 18 Apr 1994 17:45:40 -1000 From: steveth@netcom.com (Steve Thomas) Message-Id: Organization: VisionAire, San Francisco, CA Subject: Re: Skatebord power kiting In article andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) writes: >While I was writing that kites & skateboards wouldn't work, Steve wrote: > >>Peter used to be a pro-am skater [...] >>skateboard with these *really big* knobby wheels. >> >>This rig, combined with a Quadrafoil, works *really* well in hard-packed >>surfaces such as dirt, hard grass, etc. Peter will go about as fast as >>the buggy will, if not faster. > >I stand corrected. > >No-one could do kite-water-skiing properly until Corey Roseler (a world >class water skiier) came along to show us all how easy it is. >It seems that the same thing is happening with skateboards. > Well, as I mentioned, you don't need to be a "world class" skater to power-fly-skateboard. I didn't fall too much--and not that badly--and I'm not a skateboarder at all... The board also has the advantages of is smaller size and its a lot cheaper than a buggy... -- _______ Steve Thomas steveth@netcom.com "I'm doing just fine. I took stock in a Mace company right before society crumbled." -- Selma/Simpson's = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =