gum-nuts

There's been a lot of attention lately towards GT-Race buggies in Australia and I'm unashamedly responsible.  Earlier this year @nigel and I discussed to great length and in detail finally making our move towards owning the best production race buggies available.   Our decision came about by the competitive blood between us when we're out kiting together, it's nearly a diagnosable medical condition and something that we've enjoyed for over 10 years together.  
Back in July our original plan was to order the XXTreme Apexx, a buggy we've seen first hand up close when @domenic first purchased his in 2008.  We put up a discussion in the Buy & Sell on Extreme Kites to also feel if anyone else was interested, the end result was @igeighty was also showing interest.  With three confirmed individuals I approached XXTreme in the Netherlands with our intent on purchasing three Apexx buggies and having them shipped to Australia. Without creating undesired consequences of sharing our unfavourable experience lets just say that communication during this process was incredibly poor.
Delays in communication mean idle fingers wander, and wander they did stumbling upon GT-Race's website.  We took a closer look at the information available online, then spoke with two GT-Race owners (one being in Mark Van den Berg the Dutch National Champion) and then finally approached @GT-Race (Martin Faber) directly.  From the outset Martin's communication pre-order was amazing in the speed of which he delivered answers to our questions, the manner in which he fielded our questions and overall the secure atmosphere he created surrounding the purchase by never leaving any query unanswered.  
After a week of comparison, reading, searching, discussing with pilots of both buggies the three of us decided that the logical choice in this situation was the GT-Race Rapide.  If the Apexx was the gold standard in 2008 the Rapide presented as years of evolution on this original idea.  On the surface areas of difference which we felt drew us closer to the Rapide were features such as the integrated backrest, fork lock and flat foot plates.  However when going further in to detail we felt the way the headstock connected to the downtube and facilitated the mudguard was a better solution, also the rear axle joint system made for quicker assembly and disassembly.  Beyond that we liked little changes like how Martin had stepped the downtube welds and used 20mm head stock bolts that counter-sunk in to the fork.  Overall the three of us felt that whilst the Apex was an incredible buggy the Rapide was just that few steps ahead having continued to evolve in increments.  
With our decision made we approached Martin and placed the order, however we were surprised to note that the Rapide ++ was due for release and that we would be in the first 10 built to receive the ++ version.  In short, the ++ version brings together Martin's extensive build experience on the FL, refines it and makes further evolves the manufacturing process to produce a better finished product.  It's not so much an evolution in features as it is an evolution in Martin's manufacturing process.
With this in place and Martin now building 3 custom Rapide ++ buggies for us @roblukin stepped in to the mix.  Originally his plan was to order an Outlaw from Peter Lynn New Zealand, however again you would have more success trying to arrange your affairs through two paper cups and a piece of string than any other form of communication.  So again we turned to Martin and explained Rob's personal situation, his strengths and weaknesses regarding his physical condition and physical disabilities he has to manage as part of his buggying process.  Virtually instantly Martin stepped it up a gear, and then the goal to manufacture a modified GT-Race Radical for Rob became the goal.  There was some considerable discussion, about cutting some weight from the buggy, changing slightly part of the materials used and the manufacturing using those changed specifications.  Over the course of a week everything was discussed and a 4th Buggy was ordered.
GT-Race's strength isn't only about producing the highest quality, most technically advanced production buggies.  GT-Race's strength is also the personalised customer service that Martin Faber spends each weeknight providing and each weekend turning orders in to fulfilment.  Presently there are 4 GT-Race buggies being manufactured, assembled, checked over and packed to make their way to Australia.  
Kite Buggying in Australia is back on a growth trajectory since we launched the new Extreme Kites website in June this year, GT-Race is going to be front and centre of many Australian achievements going forward.

My name is Joel Theodore, I live in Australia and I have been kiting since 2003.  Throughout my journey I have experienced and enjoyed a variety of kiting disciplines, starting with a kite buggy and learning ground based freestyle then moving to aerial freestyle and buggy jumping.  After a few years I moved on to Kiteboarding and enjoyed many seasons on the water, however after a bit of a break i'm back in the buggy and this time chasing my goal of outright speed.
In 2006 I joined Extreme Kites and my involvement over the years with the community grew.  In 2011 I took on ownership of Extreme Kites to preserve the website in an endeavour to keep the Land Kiting community in Australia together.  After a few of life's events and some time away in 2014 the flame to chase speed records has re-ignighted.  

In 2015 I launched the new Extreme Kites website with the help of a newly appointed Team and moved ownership to my private company, this has enabled me to lay back a bit and enjoy partaking in the community in a more relaxed role.  My role here is now Website Support where I code, develop and create new and exciting features for the Extreme Kites community.  
My goals going forward for Extreme Kites are that it continues to foster a positive, welcoming and warm community spirit for those entering the world of kiting.  Over the years I have seen various websites, communities, blogs and social media platforms come and go, however for more than a decade Extreme Kites has stood by and supported the spread of kiting knowledge.  I believe information for those interested in kiting should be made public and available, it shouldn't be hidden behind paywalls and closed groups unable to be found.  The easier we make information accessible here the greater the community benefits, so I hope the time I spend on improving Extreme Kites enhances your experience here with the community.

See you around the website or when I'm out with a kite in my hands.
 

Google+ Accounts can now be used to login to Extreme Kites the same way that we have enabled Facebook & Twitter Logins.
 
New Users simply click the Orange "Sign in with Google" bar.

 
Existing Users go to "Account Settings," select the "Google" tab then simply click the Orange "Sign in with Google" bar.

Briskites FNQ trip July 2015

View the full article on Blog

As summer draws to a close and the weather starts to get a bit colder I usually find myself trying to escape the winter and make my annual pilgrimage northward, kiting wherever I can along the way. As most of you know, I am currently im currently in Port Douglas. Most of my winters are spent up here, it is one of the few places that is both windy and warm at this time of year. Most of my days here are spent playing with the kitesurfers and just splashing around in the puddles ... 

One of my KAP pictures made it into a local newspaper, the Sound telegraph...




View the full article on Blog

View the full article on Blog

For the next few months i trundled about in my faithfull buggy
Gaining confidence and enjoying every minute.
even got confident enough to powerslide a few times.
A wide axle would be great but not enough room to transport it..
the alternative was to fly slightly underpowered or get used to the bug stepping out
and learn to control it.
The second option was the one i took.
I am never going to be the best buggier in the uk ,probably not the best in my town but i could now powerslide and control the bug when it stepped out of line
so i was pretty pleased with myself
one particular saturday a few months back ,i had the day to myself
had it all planned ,up early , out to my local flying field and a full day of fun
oops spoke to soon !!!
wind was between 15-20 mph 
up went melonman , bags of power 
big grins , even bigger spins 
then ooohh shiit ......
 

one powerslide to many
I assume the axle bolt came loose and one big gust and i almost had a crab buggy

At the time i thought  i dealt with it quite well , but then the reality of what could of gone wrong with a powered up kite and a dodgy wheel.
I am now a bit more carefull and check my bug over after each outing
i also tend to fly a little under powered now as well
i may not break speed records ,but also i may not break my neck.
the speed would be great if i had bigger spaces , but in small areas the small light bug works well
and 20mph  feels like 50
 
 
 

As you may of realised by reading this blog i dont like/or have buckets of money to spend.
so off to ebay for a buggy search.
needed something small that would be easy to transport/breakdown/buildup , but i also needed something that would support a guy who is partial to the odd pie !!
peter lynn or flexifoil seemed to be the buggy of choice,small light and good for small spaces.
no point in having a cruising buggy when you aint got no were to cruise.
checked out the forums and put a few wanted posts on,such as cheap ,light weight buggy wanted.
And as sure as god made little green apples ,i had numerous replies offering everything from v max , upto some of popye the welders fantastic machines
all telling me how good i would look and feel after i had parted with £500 plus.
i even got into some heated online discussions about what i needed and wanted.
A couple of guys came back with positive sensible advice and they were not trying to sell me anything either.
one guy had and still has a peter lynn xr i believe and said as long as you take it for what it is it will do fine, i think he still has the xr for when he is to old to still go on the water.
the other guy assured me that a flexi or pl would be fine for my frame as he had a flexi and at 6ft 5 who am i to argue with him.
After much searching a pl  buggy came up on ebay only 20 miles away from me.
it was battered,the seat was torn and the axle was bent but for £34 it was mine.
It was probably worth more for scrap value.
 

Most years i spend my winter in Port Douglas, when the wind stops i then make my way down the east coast to spend summer catching the wind in the southern parts of Australia.
Here is a video we put together while travelling down the east coast last year. 
 

Last year at Speed Week i managed to get myself a new PB.
Its near enough to 90km/h (89.8 km/h)

As you can see here, it was a little bit windy. And there is my weapon of choice - 4m Air Rush DNA

I met Ben from IKON: http://www.ikon-kiteboarding.com a few years ago and he introduced me to LEIs. Because LEIs hold their shape relaunching is so much easier and I hardly ever have to get out of the buggy. I can now spend my entire session flying; I have not looked back and am actually starting to get good at it (well, I think so...).
A couple of years ago, Ben contacted me and asked me if i wanted to be on the IKON team, i never believed i could be good/noticed enough to achieve something like that, I was stoked! See my profile page: http://www.ikon-kiteboarding.com/team/local-riders/oceania/rob-lukin.html 
Im also sponsered by Fix My Kite: http://fixmykite.com.au who supply me with repair stuff, cause im allways breaking shit!

With the flying mattress gone , what to do next ?
bigger wing ?
I wonder if i could get hold of another npw ?
After nagging and wearing him down (in fact he just said ok ) BigE and his best sewing machine were involved.
Q : 5 or 6 mtr
A ;5 i think
Q :any graphics ?
A :no ,just plain keep the cost down
A : dont do plain , think of something about yourself
A : WATERMELONS
I WISH .......
NO, my lifes ambition is to retire somewere warm and sit at the side of the road selling watermelons from a handcart
INTERNATIONAL MELON MAN
THE BUILD WAS ON
from one word THE MELONMAN was created


6 mtrs of power  and fun
LETS TRY THIS WITH THE LANDBOARD

The main 2 replies i got to the question WHY CANT I GET MOVING were 
1 get a bigger kite
2 get a depower
and a few comments about dieting lol
Then one guy who was quite persistant regarding the depower option convinced me to give it a go.
just on a side note this guy has a seriously wicked sense of humour,takes no prisoners but i would trust him implicitly
he has a lot of years experience in everything and knows the answers to all questions 
But he was 1 of only a few who didnt take the MICK when i said old,retro and cheap.
Enter stage left ,PETER LYNN VENOM 10MTR

hOW DIFFICULT CAN THIS BE :
no bridles as such,gust muncher and great inland.
JESUS
THIS THING IS HUGE !!!
dont be a wimp you need at least 10mph wind to get it in the air
10mph your kidding ,i will be airborn
I tried ,i failed 
i tried again ,i failed with epic style
i new what i was doing wrong ,every time the power got to much i instinctively pulled on the bar,which obviously powered the kite up.
Train yourself ,FAIL
Less wind , FAIL
More wind , FALL (that hurt )
Then came the words of wisdom i had been waiting for from the oracle
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WRONG , STOP DOING IT
BOLLOCKS !!!
FOR SALE 10 MTR VENOM