Adrian Lavelle

1. Your Name, nickname, (race number if applicable) and country

Adrian Lavelle, Aidz, K740, England.

2. How did your involvement in this sport begin?

I first saw a kite buggy when I use to fly model aircraft’s. The bloke buggying seemed to be as interested and my planes as I in his kites so after some time chatting I decide to get a power kite.

I started racing when the Super Cup fun events started and I was lucky enough to win the novice class the first year it ran, basically I caught the bug as soon as I entered my first race.

3. Where is your local buggy location, and where is your favourite location and why?

Hoylake is my local beach and probably my favourite.I would urge everyone to try Hoy as it changes the way you buggy, none of this traming up and down the beach, the width of Hoy makes you buggy in 3D. Although The NABX location Ivanpah salt lake is mind blowing and is possible some of the most exhilarating and challenging buggying I have done.

4. How many buggies have you had and what types?

  • Peter Lynn Competition (Still have it and will never get rid of it)
  • Peter Lynn Race
  • Cameleon Pogona
  • Xxtreme xxRacer
  • Xxtreme Apexx (Best buggy in the world)

5. What are your favourite moments in this sport and why?

I love light wind sunny days on beautifulbeaches cruising with friends.

6. What are your greatest achievements in this sport, tell us the stories behind them?

First time I won the English national championships. I had been a close battling with Pete Swann and Graham Steel in the 2008 & 2009 series but moving to the Peter Lynn Vapor’s gave me an unbeatable edge and I convincingly won the 2010 series.

7. What is your favourite and least favourite manoeuvre and why?

Dead mans turn, Pete Swann and I were discussing the manoeuvre after he managed the first ever one, the next day I was at Hoy and my mission was to perfect it, I ended up changing the way I performed it by leaning back when the kite is behind you so the buggy does not have to do the 540 deg turn you do in the normal one.

8. If you could give any advice to an average buggier to take them to the top level, what would the advice be, and why?

Join you local race series, there are people of all standards racing so you will always find someone to compete again stand you will learn more in this environment and get better advice than any where else.

9. Tell us about the scariest situation you have ever been in when buggying?

Middle Wallop on my PL Comp with a Area Raptor II 9m. I had been buggying up and down the hill all day and my mind started thinking, what if I put the kite above my head as I approach the top of the hill going down it, well you know what curiosity did. The next run I was flat out approaching the drop in the field, I raised my kite and nothing seemed to happen, then I tweaked both brakes on and I basically took off like a para-glider. At about 20 foot I decided the buggy hanging of my feet was not much use up hear so I kicked it off, at that point I got a good boost higher and there rest of the kiters seemed very small on the floor now. I eventually landed at the bottom of the hill. All was well, but it defiantly opened my eyes to what can happen.

10. Over the years, you have used many different types of kites, which kites do you rate as your favourite makes, and why?

1st has to be the PeterLynn Vapor 16.1m it is mind blowing how much speed you can get on this kite in next to no wind, although it’s a hard choice as the whole range is amazing.

2nd Ozone Yakuza 8.6m, at the time I flew this kite I seemed to be unbeatable.

3rd Flexifoil Skytiger 26, this was my first kite and I still have it, bullet proof and forgiving enough to learn and have fun. I think good quality beginner kites are essential to the sport Ihave met so may people who bought blades as their first kite and injured or scared themselves so badly they give up.

11. What is left in the sport that you want to achieve?

Well there is always European or World champion.I would also like to try buggying on Ice my Dutch team mates all do it and keep posting awesome images of it.

12. Who do you believe are the top three pilots in your chosen sport?

Arjen van det Tol

John Jansen

Stéphen Schapman

13. Anything else you would like to add

To everyone, come to events and socialise with the rest of the kiting fraternity, it’s the best way to make friends and progress.