Velocity Karts — Attraction in Christchurch

Velocity carts is a great little New Zealand company offering land sailing, in their custom designed and made “blocarts”. These carts are fast and extremely manoeuvrable. You can learn to drive a blocart well within one session, although if you have experience in other forms of sailing that is a definite advantage. The controls are simple, a steering wheel and a main sheet (rope) which controls the sail. At the beginning of your first session, the instructors will show a video detailing how to use a blocart and then explain how best to steer through the course. The staff will then be on the course to give advice on how to improve and to ensure your safety. In windy conditions sail sizes can easily be reduced or heavier wheels added to ensure greater stability. The cost of the experience in 2024 was $75NZ per hour per person. Book your experiences through...

We (my daughter & her partner, my partner and I) visited on a blustery day where the wind changed direction 180° (starting out north-west & ending up south-east) . The wind gusts and changeability (at one time the wind-socks at each end of the course were facing different directions!) were a challenge but one Ian & his crew were well up to. The wind and course changes made our hour session seem like 15 minutes & Ian's attention to safety was really appreciated. Two of us tipped over but the safety gear & pre-sail training video meant we were fine. We all had a great time & the best part was that my daughter, who was a bit nervous beforehand, loved it and wanted more (& now wants to buy a blo-kart !). Thanks to Ian & his team for (another)...

I didn't end up going to the Blow Karts. Bought three vouchers on First In. But the winds were never strong enough to make it worth going. In the end the vouchers expired (after bout 6 weeks?) I guess you are best to just turn up with cash, when the weather is right. [edit] ... but as the owner (Ian?) says, it is not their fault. I can neither give a good nor a bad review because I never made it out there. My comments are more about the risks involved when buying a voucher. In this instance, the weather never aligned with my ability to get my group (two adult sons) "on the same page". Velocity Carts might still be waiting for me to get organized. My problem, not theirs. Like I say, maybe one day we will just rock up and...