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
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 .
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
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
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..
Select to expand quoteHiko 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
Select to expand quotesn 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.
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
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. 
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
Select to expand quote
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.
