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.

Antagonist!! I love it.

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?

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.

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?

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

... 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 "

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.

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 ...