Forums > Kitesurfing General

Is slide-launching on public beaches irresponsible

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Created by waveslave > 9 months ago, 12 Jun 2012
waveslave
WA, 4263 posts
12 Jun 2012 9:27PM
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Couldn't fit the question mark in the title.
Not enough space for all the characters ...
A bit like a public beach.
lol.
Hey, I guess it's totally cool on an empty beach.
Drag-launching, that is.
Just you and your sliding kite.
Whoosh.
Sliding your kite across the real estate like you own it or something.
Whoosh.
Wearing out the leading edge and dragging the shells off the beach.
Whoosh.
It's gotten to the point where kiters think they have the right.
Whoosh.

myusernam
QLD, 6085 posts
12 Jun 2012 11:47PM
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no

wldistel
QLD, 91 posts
13 Jun 2012 12:10AM
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Antagonist!! I love it.

mattyjee
WA, 575 posts
12 Jun 2012 10:34PM
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myusernam said...

no


Ha. I was going to say the say thing (in as many words) but you beat me to it.

Mark _australia
WA, 22088 posts
12 Jun 2012 10:59PM
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waveslave said...


Couldn't fit the question mark in the title.
Not enough space for all the characters ...
A bit like a public beach.
lol.
Hey, I guess it's totally cool on an empty beach.
Drag-launching, that is.
Just you and your sliding kite.
Whoosh.
Sliding your kite across the real estate like you own it or something.
Whoosh.
Wearing out the leading edge and dragging the shells off the beach.
Whoosh.
It's gotten to the point where kiters think they have the right.
Whoosh.


Regretting your choices on the recent 40kn days, and looking for reinforcement from your peers perhaps?

GutterMouth
NSW, 26 posts
13 Jun 2012 1:11AM
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You'd have to be a total arsehole doing it if theres even a possibility of someone getting smashed

tgladman
WA, 500 posts
12 Jun 2012 11:15PM
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myusernam said...

no


would depend on the situation really. busy beach, LOTS of people around AND other kiters that would be happy to assist then it'd be
yes.
slide launchers amongst a bunch of local, happy to help kiters, are f%#kw!ts.

Surfy31
WA, 198 posts
13 Jun 2012 3:17AM
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only if you really need to do it and in that case do it down wind of everybody.
Or teach someone, who seems interested in what your doing, how to hold the kite for you

kiteboy dave
QLD, 6525 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:16AM
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WTF is a slide launch? When I self launch my kite rolls over, then goes up. Dunno how you would do it any other way.

And "dragging the shells off the beach"? Eh? Moving a shell a few cms is a crime now? How do you think they got there in the first place?

Bored troll is bored?

hamburglar
ACT, 2174 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:27AM
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on a more responsible note, can you point me in the direction
of the paddock where you get your shrooms from????

they seem to be working good. whooosh [}:)][}:)]

TKC1
SA, 52 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:04AM
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kiteboy dave said...

WTF is a slide launch? When I self launch my kite rolls over, then goes up. Dunno how you would do it any other way.



+1
if you know how to self launch safely there is no reason why your kite or other beach goers would ever be damaged..

TKC

ando313
TAS, 156 posts
13 Jun 2012 10:20AM
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TKC1 said...

kiteboy dave said...

WTF is a slide launch? When I self launch my kite rolls over, then goes up. Dunno how you would do it any other way.



+1
if you know how to self launch safely there is no reason why your kite or other beach goers would ever be damaged..

TKC



Spot on!

Puetz
NT, 2172 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:59AM
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... it does depend upon what sort of beach it is (ie wet or sticky type of sand), if you have kite fever (impatiences) and of course how strong the wind is, to whether it rolls over or does the ssssss-whoosh. Having said that, it is uncool amongst public for sure.

So what happens if the kite slides, rolls so quick that it rolls over and points in the other direction so that it now flies further into the power zone and 'cause your steering it what you thought was up, is now going to loop. Punch out should be the option but most attempt to correct and do either the bum slide or worse the body beach skull drag as the kite whoooshs. Not cool amongst non kiters. Seen it many times.

If your a serial whoooosher, then learn to slow it down and just do the gentle roll and up slowly.

cheers,

Robbie

waveslave
WA, 4263 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:11AM
Thumbs Up

TKC1 said...

kiteboy dave said...

WTF is a slide launch? When I self launch my kite rolls over, then goes up. Dunno how you would do it any other way.



+1
if you know how to self launch safely there is no reason why your kite or other beach goers would ever be damaged..

TKC


Bridle snags on wingtip, lines tangle up, deathlooping begins.
whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh lol.

jev7337
QLD, 460 posts
13 Jun 2012 11:53AM
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waveslave said...

TKC1 said...

kiteboy dave said...

WTF is a slide launch? When I self launch my kite rolls over, then goes up. Dunno how you would do it any other way.



+1
if you know how to self launch safely there is no reason why your kite or other beach goers would ever be damaged..

TKC


Bridle snags on wingtip, lines tangle up, deathlooping begins.
whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh lol.




...and it all gets worse with a death leash attached to it
The only acceptable way to launch and land a kite is the "Bronson" way! It's safe and the public loves it too.

RPM
WA, 1549 posts
13 Jun 2012 9:56AM
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waveslave said...


Couldn't fit the question mark in the title.
Not enough space for all the characters ...
A bit like a public beach.
lol.
Hey, I guess it's totally cool on an empty beach.
Drag-launching, that is.
Just you and your sliding kite.
Whoosh.
Sliding your kite across the real estate like you own it or something.
Whoosh.
Wearing out the leading edge and dragging the shells off the beach.
Whoosh.
It's gotten to the point where kiters think they have the right.
Whoosh.


You only make this observation because you have difficulty self launching your Best's Slave. If you need some tips feel free to ask. I hear that old dogs can learn new tricks.. Even in sleepy Mandurah. I have attached a link for you to check out and please pay attention to the opening line on the link.

http://vvicrew.com/old-dogs-learn-new-tricks-part-2/

westozwind
WA, 1374 posts
13 Jun 2012 11:08AM
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As I have only been kiting two seasons and still do more windsurfing than kiting, I feel like an imposter at the beach so generally do my own thing and self launch. If the beach is too crowded, then I'll go find another spot. Windsurfing is a self reliant rig/launch sport, so I just continued this with kiting.
Reading this forum gives you a good idea what you guys think about windsurfers so it does not encourage me engage in chat on the beach.

dusta
WA, 2940 posts
13 Jun 2012 11:49AM
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westozwind said...

Reading this forum gives you a good idea what you guys think about windsurfers so it does not encourage me engage in chat on the beach.


it goes both ways , windsurfers are not perfect either and also have this opinion of kiters . personally i have no issues with windsurfers but there are some butthurt idiots on both sides of the fence

Plummet
4862 posts
13 Jun 2012 11:56AM
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drag launches are ok if you have enough room. if your going to loop into a gaggle sunbathing nuns and newly born babies.... maybe not.

ps i teather launch when possible. Sometimes its not possible and i drag launch.

westozwind
WA, 1374 posts
13 Jun 2012 12:03PM
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dusta said...

westozwind said...

Reading this forum gives you a good idea what you guys think about windsurfers so it does not encourage me engage in chat on the beach.


it goes both ways , windsurfers are not perfect either and also have this opinion of kiters . personally i have no issues with windsurfers but there are some butthurt idiots on both sides of the fence



Yep, fully agree with that one, knobs on both sides of the fence. Not really helping the cause for a harmonious existence.
The other reason for staying out of the way is the kook factor (experienced by all noobs). Don't like to ask for help as you will be seen as an idiot and just get in people's way.

wishy
WA, 1501 posts
13 Jun 2012 12:27PM
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Is there are people on the beach, it's not windy enough to go kiting.
I don't get out of bed for less than 40 knots anymore.

sebol
WA, 753 posts
13 Jun 2012 1:02PM
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^^^^^^^
LOL, then you will remain a cook forever,

I do the same in surfing but the few times that I go out in perfect wave turns out to be very average because I no longer have the paddle fitness and I screw up most waves.

The only way to progress and fine tune your skills is to spend as much time on the water as possible. Flying a kite in marginal winds is a great way to improve, you need to concentrate on your posture and weight placement on the board and pay great attention to the kite.

The few cowboys or lazy bum like myself who only come out when the wind is nuking definitely pay the price for their lack of commitment.

Deservedly so!!!

wishy
WA, 1501 posts
13 Jun 2012 2:34PM
Thumbs Up

sebol said...

^^^^^^^
LOL, then you will remain a cook forever,

I do the same in surfing but the few times that I go out in perfect wave turns out to be very average because I no longer have the paddle fitness and I screw up most waves.

The only way to progress and fine tune your skills is to spend as much time on the water as possible. Flying a kite in marginal winds is a great way to improve, you need to concentrate on your posture and weight placement on the board and pay great attention to the kite.

The few cowboys or lazy bum like myself who only come out when the wind is nuking definitely pay the price for their lack of commitment.

Deservedly so!!!




Riding a bike to work everyday gives you way more legs endurance and cardio than you could ever need for kiting. The only problem is cycling is gay and kiting is absolutely righteous. Still, you have to get to work somehow.

felixdcat
WA, 3519 posts
13 Jun 2012 2:43PM
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Only if you do it safely and have a penis stuck in each ear![}:)]

jev7337
QLD, 460 posts
13 Jun 2012 5:00PM
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felixdcat said...

Only if you do it safely and have a penis stuck in each ear![}:)]

Frigging hell your a weirdo. And your avatar looks like it got something stuck up somewhere else.

13 Jun 2012 5:58PM
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If the kite is sliding more than a couple of meters, you are doing it wrong.
I suspect that a lot of what wavetroll does is dodgy, he should go to the old dog new trick school for sure.

Luther
84 posts
13 Jun 2012 6:22PM
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if no one assists me to launch i slide for sure and knock the be- jeezus out of them and as max smart would say "and loving it "

stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
13 Jun 2012 8:23PM
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One of my older kites was prone to the wing tip bridle snag , I found doing the slide launch fixed that problem with that kite , the lines stay straight as the kite Whoosh's around to launch . Out of the way of people as we all know . The kite I use now needs no whoosh .

mitch88
NSW, 271 posts
14 Jun 2012 9:45AM
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There is no need to "slide launch" great way to wreck your gear!
You should be able to launch your kite without it moving an inch across the beach.
Slide launching shows the control a person has over their kite!
If your going to let your kite slide why not try a hot launch. Might look alot more cooler.

Plummet
4862 posts
14 Jun 2012 8:09AM
Thumbs Up

I reverse hot launch on occasions. provides a good skud!. but other lei pilots freak out and think i'm going to kill myself... hehehe.

Ps I've been reverse launching foils for years and years.

alverstone
WA, 529 posts
14 Jun 2012 10:02AM
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Best 'swoosh' ever was watching a guy launch at Lancelin in March when the kite did a 90-degree swing at speed, headed downwind for about 20m, with the pilot face down and toes scraping through the sand, before the kite planted itself across the bullbar of a 4WD - splat! Like a 10m-sized insect on the windscreen. Why people launch among the cars on the sand there is beyond me, but kind of fun to watch ...



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"Is slide-launching on public beaches irresponsible" started by waveslave