Lets assume you can fly the kite OK and you are comfortable with the pull. If the conditions are OK when you launch the kite it should drag you a couple of metres but not try to physically lift you up.

Get the buggy assembled and point it across wind and a few degrees downwind, NOT directly downwind and NOT into wind. Launch the kite and fly it directly overhead  - get comfortable with its power. Sit in the buggy – it may start to roll a little. Lets say the buggy is pointing to the LEFT of the wind, kite overhead. Begin to turn the kite to the LEFT but gently and slowly if you can (use a 2 line pulling technique rather than the brakes). As the kite slides over to the LEFT the buggy WILL start to roll. Keep the buggy pointing in the original direction. As the speed picks up a bit you won’t have to move the kite. Try to keep it about two thirds up and balance it in this position. GREAT – the first buggying experience.

Nice constant, comfortable speed ? – no problem

Speed begins to increase, slightly panicky ?  - try to keep the kite in the same highish position but steer the buggy slightly more INTO the wind. The buggy WILL slow down but the kite may pull harder from the side, so be prepared.

Speed still increasing – big panic situation ? – steer the buggy more INTO the wind and ease the kite UP. After a while the buggy will slow down – you may find yourself going either directly cross wind or slightly upwind.

Speed drops– slight disappointment ?  - steer the buggy slightly more DOWNWIND –things should improve but if you are too far DOWNWIND the kite will lose power and you may find the buggy running under the kite and you will risk a tangle with the buggy wheels. There is a particular angle against the wind when the buggy – kite combination will be most efficient – you can feel for this when there is a good balance between pull and maximum speed

Speed is still slow ? – there might not be enough power to keep the buggy moving. In this case begin to sweep the kite up and down in a sine wave to generate more power or in the extreme use LONGER flying lines.

I need to turn – help !! – steer the buggy more UPWIND. The sideways pull increases but then you will slow down. As the buggy speed decreases keep the kite high i.e.: more or less directly overhead. At a slow speed begin to turn the kite in the other direction FOLLOWED by the buggy. If you turn the buggy first you stand a really good chance of being dragged out !! You can then either buggy upwind a bit to gain lost ground or  move off in a more downwind direction to gain speed. The buggy MUST be turned sharply – if you allow it to turn in a big arc you will travel directly downwind for part of the turn, the kite will lose power and may collapse and you could run over the lines. Don’t forget at the end of a turn as the kite begins to accelerate it will pull harder again therefore be prepared for the power to come back in.

I want to turn faster !! – you need to slow the buggy much faster when you get lined up for the turn. The best method is to power up to the turning point then kick the buggy into a slide. As the wheels dig into the ground the buggy will slow down quickly. Then move the kite then the buggy through the turn. This is quite hard at first and needs a lot of practice. Basically if you’re going say from left to right across and downwind a bit with the kite on your LEFT if you flick the LEFT hand footpeg the REAR of the buggy will begin to turn towards the kite. Apply some “opposite lock” to keep the buggy sliding then at the right point when its slowed down turn it back round (in the direction of the wind) and away you go !!

Tell me more ways to turn faster – there are a couple of techniques to use. As described above, the turn needs the kite to fly up, overhead and over the top. But if you begin to initiate a turn and fly the kite UP, instead of an up and over movement try flying it down and underneath. The kite stays in the power virtually all the way through the turn and as it loops underneath, turn the buggy very quickly. The kite generates massive pull at this stage and literally catapults you through the turn. The co-ordination of kite and buggy has to be spot on. If you’re too slow with the buggy, as the kite powers underneath you WILL be dragged out !! I must admit this is very difficult in a very high wind  / pull situation.

Another technique is a flat turn. Power the buggy across and downwind a bit. At the anticipated point of the turn apply BOTH brakes HARD and STOP the kite. Quickly release then use one brake to flip the kite over 180 degrees in one very fast movement. Basically the kite stays at the SAME height ready to power off in the opposite direction. However you still need to stop the buggy VERY quickly at the SAME time and turn to ensure that the turn is executed well. Some kites are much better than others at this, for example Skytigers with trailing edge flaps are not that good, but those with the brake line bridle attached directly to the trailing edge are very good – the MODULUS is superb at this.

Other moves and tricks can be done. For example wheelies and spins. For a wheelie you need a conventional buggy with a standard length rear axle (90-100cm). If the kite is pulling OK, if you turn slightly AWAY from the kite and lean forward in the buggy the combination of shift of weight and burst of pull felt from the kite will lift the rear wheel. After that move your body weight about a bit and keep the buggy steered to balance the buggy on two wheels. The kite does need to have enough power to initiate the wheelie. Its quite possible to keep the wheelie going with the buggy going slightly downwind or upwind. If you do a bit upwind the buggy can eventually stop completely still with the wheel in the air !!

The spin can be started in a similar way to the slide which is used for a fast stop and turn. Essentially as the slide starts and the rear of the buggy travels towards the kite, keep it moving round until you are going backwards. You can then steer the buggy quickly to spin it round  (takes practice !!)