terrasailing on sand dunes , solo , advice pls

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limatango

6 posts

limatango

6 posts

27 Aug 2015 7:22pm

Hi there , this is my first post in your site .
I've been doing some search for the subject and seems to be you guys can help..

I sail boats & windsurf since long , tried kite surfing once or twice..
I'm frequenting a nice sand dunes desert region the last years , good winds , suitable..
I would like to surf up & down dunes , jump .

I've been thinking & checking on boards & wheeled boards..
I've been thinking between kite or windsurf sail better option..

First idea was board like snowboard : metal bottom , fin shaped edges no wheels..
in consideration rough surfing terrain and manoeuvring on soft sand..
Then sail idea goes to windsurf sails rather than kite but I wonder what would happen on dune leeward side..

This is subject , any advice ?
Gerardo

Test pilot 1

1430 posts

Test pilot 1

WA, 1430 posts

27 Aug 2015 11:20pm

Wether you use sail or kite you will need wide/fat wheels

limatango

6 posts

limatango

6 posts

28 Aug 2015 2:56am

Fat wheels , that's an idea..
but , two or four wheels ?.. what track sort ?.. remember programmed use is not flat compact terrain but wind shaped natural dunes ; manoeuvrability is important .

Hiko

1229 posts

Hiko

1229 posts

28 Aug 2015 11:57am

A fat wheeled Kite buggy ? A Kite would keep up above the dunes to keep the drive going Balloon tyres would be essential in my opinion
Three wheels perhaps

JoeHanson

48 posts

JoeHanson

48 posts

30 Aug 2015 2:13am

This is my "Expedition"-setup with big wheels, about 55cm diameter.
Some Kite-buggys for soft sand are alike.
Sail/ Kite should be with some grunt to keep going on less than ideal courses, uphill etc. Topspeed is surely limmited by driving-ground.
And perhaps sit upright for better overview...
(The place where for cruising the dunes behind the horizon

....at least on this photo)
Joe

limatango

6 posts

limatango

6 posts

30 Aug 2015 2:48pm

thanks guys for ur interest.
Yes , wide wheels is good consideration , buggy truly I don't like since surfing spot is not flat at all and standup performing position would be better in this circumstances.. remember this is not speed or slalom sailing but wave style idea . And Hiko got the point about kite instead of wndsurf sail use..

However , other/new implications..
Naturally dunes are disposed in predominant wind shape , means WITH such wind you cannot sail straight up from the dune leeward side bottom.. to run over the dunes I would have to beat up from one of the edges.. you know what I mean ? And one can do that by both sail or kite.
Beside winds on spot can be pretty strong and FOR ME would be easier to control with sail rather than kite..
Well thought out.

Problem remains board , how many wheels , grunt position onboard and track mechanics..

landyacht

5921 posts

landyacht

WA, 5921 posts

30 Aug 2015 8:36pm

easy answer 3 wheels

limatango

6 posts

limatango

6 posts

31 Aug 2015 5:45am

..3 wheels mh , how , 2-1 or 1-2 ?
Can you img ?
G

JohnHS

34 posts

JohnHS

WA, 34 posts

31 Aug 2015 2:28pm

Kite buggy and kite

Gizmo

2865 posts

Gizmo

SA, 2865 posts

31 Aug 2015 7:15pm

BenBoulder

261 posts

BenBoulder

WA, 261 posts

31 Aug 2015 6:32pm

Big wheels, lots of sail area and strong wind.

sn

2775 posts

WA, 2775 posts

31 Aug 2015 10:53pm

Hiko said..
A fat wheeled Kite buggy ? A Kite would keep up above the dunes to keep the drive going Balloon tyres would be essential in my opinion
Three wheels perhaps

I reckon Hiko has the right idea.

My gut tells me that a kite will have the height to take better advantage of any available wind,

A regular sail will be prone to losing the wind or turbulence due to the dunes.

Maybe a kite buggy with some type of roll-over protection would be the way to go.

stephen

Test pilot 1

1430 posts

Test pilot 1

WA, 1430 posts

1 Sep 2015 9:58pm

sn said..

Hiko said..
A fat wheeled Kite buggy ? A Kite would keep up above the dunes to keep the drive going Balloon tyres would be essential in my opinion
Three wheels perhaps

I reckon Hiko has the right idea.

My gut tells me that a kite will have the height to take better advantage of any available wind,

A regular sail will be prone to losing the wind or turbulence due to the dunes.

Maybe a kite buggy with some type of roll-over protection would be the way to go.

stephen

Helmet.

limatango

6 posts

limatango

6 posts

3 Sep 2015 12:55am

Good .
Kite sounds good to me too.. but
Me I don't like the kite buggy thing idea .
I prefer something like bellow , check link..

www.mackiteboarding.com/kiteboarding-information.htm?showtopic=1615

However I'm not content yet.. board shown looks heavy , I want something lighter , maybe just two fat wheels ?
ciao
G

Chook2

1249 posts

Chook2

WA, 1249 posts

8 Sep 2015 5:36am

In soft sand I think you will struggle on a board. You will really struggle in big dunes with a sail too. I use a kite buggy like in the photo with 510mm high X 305 wide tyres. Very long kite lines (up to 60 Mtrs) to get up into clean air and have a huge window for the kite to work in. Small dunes I just use a single set of lines 30 mtrs long. There is a lot of turbulence down low through the valleys which cause me to have to tow the buggy with out long flying lines. Our dunes are 20-35 mtrs high. East of Esperance the Bunya dunes are 120 mtrs high.

limatango

6 posts

limatango

6 posts

8 Sep 2015 11:11am

Wow , big dunes (Chook2) !!!
Long kite lines , that's technically good idea..

My area dunes are around 10mts high , how long you think I need kite lines ?
About buggy , sited position , dunes and sand blowing I really don't imagine is fun for me.. beside travel overseas with such buggy should be complicated.. no , if I do this at all is going to be with board..

I insist on board , two wheels board I'm guessing..
G

Chook2

1249 posts

Chook2

WA, 1249 posts

9 Sep 2015 7:57pm

limatango said..
Wow , big dunes (Chook2) !!!
Long kite lines , that's technically good idea..

My area dunes are around 10mts high , how long you think I need kite lines ?
About buggy , sited position , dunes and sand blowing I really don't imagine is fun for me.. beside travel overseas with such buggy should be complicated.. no , if I do this at all is going to be with board..

I insist on board , two wheels board I'm guessing..
G

It's the lulls and turbulence that makes it hard.
I flew over the Bunya dunes this afternoon. Here is a shot of them taken from 6,500ft.

You may get away with 25mtr lines. A "dirt surfer" may be what you need if the sand is firm enough.

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