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"Prairie Sailing" Catches On Fast
If you like speed, and you're looking for a new way to have fun right on the farm, take a look at kite buggying.
"It combines the fun of kite flying with the thrill of go-carting," says Bill Benson of St. Joseph, Missouri. He saw the sport demonstrated at a fair three years ago and has been involved in the sport
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"Prairie Sailing" Catches On Fast AG WORLD 31-3-21 If you like speed, and you're looking for a new way to have fun right on the farm, take a look at kite buggying.
"It combines the fun of kite flying with the thrill of go-carting," says Bill Benson of St. Joseph, Missouri. He saw the sport demonstrated at a fair three years ago and has been involved in the sport ever since.
Having lots of room, with no electric wires or trees to tangle the kite, is important, he and Rob Baptie of Merced, California, agree. Power kites have four lines and an air foil design. They can be steered across wind like a sail boat.
Kite buggying has been around for several years in the U.S. It's most prevalent on the East and West coasts, where competitions are held, but has been catching on fast in other areas as well. However, it's a very accessible sport for rural landowners throughout the country, who have flat pasture or ranch land. The 3-wheeled, go-cart style buggies are only a couple of inches off the ground.
The buggies, with their large wheels, run easily over smaller snake and gopher holes. Grass can also be up to 4 in. tall. Bigger wheels, suitable for rolling on sand, can handle taller grass, but there's more resistance, which reduces speed.
The sport can be dangerous. Changing winds and failure to correct the power kite can flip the rider and buggy. Worse yet, the kite can pull the rider (attached by a harness) right out of the buggy.
Getting into kite buggying is relatively inexpensive. New buggies cost $600 to $900; medium-size kites run $250 to $300. Kites come in many shapes and sizes. Good used equipment costs about half that on internet sites, Baptie says, and talented welders make their own buggies for a fraction of the cost.
To research the sport, Baptie recommends three websites: powerkiteforum.com (good information and a place to talk to others); windpowersports.com (a Las Vegas business that sells products, and has good information by kite buggy competitor, Corey Jensen); and nabx.net (covering events, products and forums).
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rob Baptie (farmer_rob@hotmail.com; Bill Benson, bbwindow@gmail.com).
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