In winds under 20kn I hold the trim strap when the kite is about 3m from the ground. Then I jerk the highest front line so as the kite falls onto the sand in the safe position while holding the trim strap in case the kite misbehaves.

Higher than 20kn I hook my leash to the oh sh1t handle and pop the release. The bar tends to disappear skywards but it seems to be the only way with Ion2's over 20kn.

My 8.5 does not like being self landed in the first way. I think it's too light.

It requires a good hard jerk of that front line. Practice until you get it perfect. Leave heaps of room downwind for **** ups!!! If the kite doesn't settle nicely keep holding the trim strap. There's a Cabrinha video somewhere on Seabreeze that I watched and copied.

I don't recommend self landing over 20kn anyway. Things can go pear shaped really quickly.

I have last year's 10.5 and hate self landing the bugger. I only use it as my flat water kite at popular spots, so almost always get an assisted land. I love the kite, treat it like a baby because I don't think it is all that well built...but man does it friggen jump

I clip leash in to oh-**** handle, depower, unhook just above ground...try the infamous flip and if that does not work chuck the bitch. I once had a death spiral in 25knots at Secrets because one of the back lines got tangled in the bar....this feature needs work by Flexi I think.