Name:
Rob Hills
Location:
St. Ives, Cambridgeshire
How
did you get started in power kiting:
About ten years i was given 6ft flexifoil stacker for my birthday
by my girlfriend,
who didn't realise the full implications of what she was about
to do, and how addictive this sport can be.
What
equipment do you use:
For buggying I only use four line kite, the blades give the best
results for getting a buggy off the ground and stability for freestyle
riding. I use all the safety gear I can get my hands on such as
helmet, elbow and knee pads, gloves and goggles.
Which
buggy do you use:
I
use a slightly modified flexifoil buggy which I designed nearly
four years ago, and I am still amazed and very happy with it and
finding it hard to beat it's all round versatility, and after
seeing it being totally nailed in all situations by other riders
it is still in good shape, it just pleases me all the time, and
its totaly trickable.
What
have you been doing the past year:
Last year I caught up on some freestyle buggying as the summer
tends to me out on the water. The standard on my local beach
had gone full-on with most of the local guys going mad for jumping
and freestyle,which is cool to see and thought i had better keep
in touch and brush up on my skills. I have also qualified as an
instuctor for all flying and buggying.
What
plans do you have for this year:
Hopefully lots more of the same, some tutoring and a few events.
Favourite
Buggy Spot:
My favourite beach, not telling you where, but anyone who knows
me will find me there. Anywhere thats got some techincal stuff
to
get through, over, round or just a good long cruise. I was introduced
to a reservoir near where we lived at the time, it had it all,
grass with grass banking to a lowered tarmack car park, needless
to say it was good for jumping and the corners of the banks made
for fantastic burms. It was great going in and out of obstacles
and other tight spots - out into an open spot and feeling the
funnel effect of the wind as it accellerated giving a sweet spot
for jumping. There was a 5 foot hedge around this spot which must
have been interesting for the car drivers on the other side seeing
buggies popping up an down all over the place behind it!
What is your most favourite piece
of kit for power kiting:
I love all of it! And i don't want any of it it feel left out!
My buggy harness is cool as i can ride all day without any aches
or pains.
What
would you recommend as a first time buggier who wanted to enter
into the sport, what kite and buggy would you recommend and why?
Normally your first kite should be stable and with easy to fly
characteristics - you will have no idea how powerfull these can
be in the wrong wind conditions, a flexi buggy as its the best
all rounder out there. Spend time getting the right info at the
start, this will save you time and money which will make the sport
more enjoyable, remember the ££ to fun ratio!
Learn to fly your kite and be confident, and if it dosn't feel
natural get some tuition because once it falls into place you
will have so much fun, you can then buggy, surf, snow-kite and
kitelandboard. So many options open up for fun. Buy the best you
can afford, remember all the stuff that you wished you hadn't
compromised on.
What
kind of tricks do you like to do:
Buggy aerials are fun when its a good clean wind and you can clear
a clean 30 metre long floaty tweaked air and maybe pop a
few forward 360 airs followed up with some one handed reverse
360 airs or just styling the buggy in the air. I love all tricks
and not just the air's, ground work is the basis for top riding
skills there is so much to learn and to put all together in a
good clean smooth flow. I love to go mad on a small kite when
the winds up, just sliding the buggy all over while power looping
the kite to keep the slide going and then driving back upwind
on two wheels, and popping in some 180's and 360's at 30mph just
seems so much fun!
What
surface do you prefer:
Hard pack sand, the best for controlling slides and power. Tarmac
for making your tyres scream!
How
do you think the sport will grow:
Not sure really! I would love to see a massive 3-dimensional buggy
park with half pipe type banks or a skate bowl with big burms
or something like a motor cross circuit, or someone will come
along and do something totally radical in a buggy and blow us
all away like an inverted 360 air, possibly a move that is totally
new!
What's is your best session to date:
There are so many - jumping around with my friends are the best!
Have you received any injuries from
power kiting:
Lots of aches and pains, a broken collar bone, induced by falling
out of my buggy at 10mph going backwards on two wheels, and
broke it again 8 weeks later power sliding at 10MPH into soft
sand which flipped over into 360 roll, after that i called it
a day and went home to cry a little.
Anything
else you want to say:
Just to enjoy what you do at the level you are at!
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