Name: Stephen Pirie
Team: The Buggy Team
Age: 32
Nickname: 'Ped'
Started kiting: 2002
Discipline: Buggy freestyle, free riding and Buggy racing
Rider info:
I first got into kite flying / buggying around 6 years ago when I met a mate on the beach while I was walking my dog, I spotted him having a hell of a time trying to fly what looked like a lilo while trying to sit in what I thought was a cart of sorts? Turns out it was a 2.4m Flexifoil Sky Tiger and a PL comp buggy. He asked if I fancied giving it a go and as they say the rest is history. Within the month after that first initial shot I'd ordered myself a flexifoil buggy and a 3.5m flexi bullet, follwed a month later with a 2.1m Ozone Little Devil.
Pretty much every day after work and at weekends for the rest of the summer I was out for hours on end practising trying to master the thing and now 6 years later I'm still trying.
A little over 2 years ago after watching one of the SPKA's organised race days I sat my buggy racing pilots licence and started racing with my flexi buggy and 3.5m Bullet along with a few other kites I'd managed to acquire, it was great fun and I stuck with it ever since. A second dedicated race buggy was bought last year along with some race kites to help me get round the courses faster and as a result I'm currently sitting 8th in the Scottish Championship standings.
Favourite trick: I like trying different ground based freestyle moves 180's, 360's, 2 wheels etc. The best I've managed so far is a 540 spin but I'm working on the 720, it'll happen one day .
Top speed: 43.9mph on St Andrews beach with a 3.4m Yak.
Although work seems to keep busier and busier these days I don't think I'll every give up kite buggying for me its not just a hobby its a sport, a lifestyle the works, it doesn't even have to be blowing a gale for me when I'm out riding as long as the sun is shining there's a breeze in the air and I've got a couple of mate out to have a good craic with I'm happy.