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Originally posted by VEGEKITE


Bottom line (no pun intended) is that it is always 'safer' to have someone help launch and land, as long as that person knows how to handle the kite.

Safer not only for the kiter but also for other 'public' beach users.
And this is becoming an issue. Several kiting spots possibly being banned for kiters because of public complaints and council action.

It only takes a small gust to stuff up a self landing.
In light winds its pretty easy for the kite to luff near land and in any decent kite wind it becomes pretty hard to get the kite to settle on ground.
Not too mention a lot of locations don't have the safe area.

Launching and landing are pretty much the most dangerous part of kiting.
Other people and lots of hard stuff to hit.

Serious injuries can and do happen.
Deaths too (kiters and non-kiters).

Close to land, a small gust and wind turbulance makes your kite less predictable.

If you've ever witnessed a mishap you'd know that there isn't time to release. Sometimes lines tangle and there is 'no' depower. Or you release kite entirely and it flies off to take someone else out.

Not everyone is confident to self launch and land.

Not all kites do this as well as others.

And its highly unadvisable for a newby to even attempt it (unless during a lesson or safe arena). People don't always have their 'mate' there to launch or land them.

For people wanting assistance to land, tap the top of your head with your palm as a sign.
If you see someone doing this you can pretty much assume they need or would prefer help.

If you are helping someone launch, don't release until they give you the thumbs up or yell ok.

Assisted launching gives you that last 'clear' chance to check lines are ok before you are at the wind's mercy with tangled lines.

If you are landing/catching someones kite, grab it only by the leading edge, then work your hands towards the centre of leading edge holding kite upside down. Step towards kiter to keep lines slack if need be. If you are not confident/capable of turning it over then just hold it till the kite owner runs up to you to take over. If you are then I don't need to say anymore.

If you want to self launch or land, go for it... far away from the hustle and bustle... at least down wind.

For anyone that doesn't know how to self land, ask someone to teach you the techniques. And practice it somewhere safe where you have miles of open beach with no one or hard objects around. Sooner or later you will need to self land.

All in all, its not 'that' hard to get up and help, and if everyone does it, then 'you' don't have to do it that often.
Is it worth the 'possible' injury for the amount of effort it takes to help?

It may be you or one of your loved ones that gets taken out by a runaway kite because someone else didn't give a toss.

We live in a 'society' not a vacuum.

My ethics dictate to offer help, and help when someone asks. I'd actually help someone that was jerk. Maybe they'll learn something and I'd be keeping others safer.

And it actually makes me feel better than James Brown...

Ps. If someone helps you, smile and shout above the wind, 'Thankyou'.

I've mostly found that people are altruistic/philanthropic.

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