Uphill Using Only Wind Power
The other day I completed one of my personal goals, and rode my Dirtsurfer up a section of my local hill.
Yes, it can be done… I'm talking wind power here, I'm talking Kitewing. This amazing piece of kit is made by some clever guys in Finland originally for use on frozen lakes with skates. Well, in countries like the UK where frozen lakes are somewhat rare; but beaches, fields and common land are never that far away, my Kitewing has become the perfect companion for my Dirtsurfer.
So, using nothing but the wind and 4.8 square metres of modern sail material in your hands you can propel yourself and your trusty steed along at speeds of over 40 mph! Given enough space, you could ride your Dirtsurfer all day without getting off. One of our gang recently rode 83 miles in one day. What freedom is that!
Someone said recently that the Kitewing looks heavy. But it's designed to fly, and it literally becomes weightless once the wind gets over about 10mph. Any less wind, and I would suggest leaving it in the bag for next time and finding a hill. But once the wind is blowing, powering up the Kitewing is simply a question of tilting the furthest tip down towards the ground to expose more surface area to the wind. It doesn't take long to realise how much power you have in your hands, and also how much control you have over it.
It may look hard to learn, but all you have to do is learn about the wind. If you've ever windsurfed, you have an advantage, because you know how to use the wind to go where you want. It may seem bizarre, but you can sail into the wind. Not directly of course, as that would contradict the laws of physics, but at an angle of about 45 degrees either side of the wind. So you can ride in any direction, even if you have to do some tacking (turning) to go into the wind. Add to that: carves and turns (both into the wind and away from it); power slides; jumps (with some serious air); and you soon realise that you've now got far more than just plain old gravity to play with.
My favourite spot to ride is a large beach in South Wales when the sand is compact, the winds are strong and onshore, and there are no dogs (they tend to chase you). Unlike a power kite, you rely on the wind at ground level so inland or offshore winds tend to be more gusty.
Personally I love just hooking my Kitewing onto my harness, leaning back and blasting my Dirtsurfer for a 2 mile beach run at 40 mph, carving in and out of edge of the surf as the tide comes in. - bliss.
Related Tags: extreme, kitewing, dirtsurfer, wingsurfing, windsports, gravitysports, inline boarding
Mike Wood is a wingsurfer and co-owner of www.wingsurfer.co.uk - probably the worlds best resource for kitewing dirtsurfing.
www.wingsurfer.co.uk
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