I have been putting kite in normal position without folding the tips, and then putting sand on one side close to centre and leading edge. Then walk out to side and pull outside line. Only use enough sand to hold it down. Has worked every time execpt when wind was too light. Pretty easy!!

2 ways that I know to launch.

1. dogsbody's way. I don't put any sand on the kite so there is no resistance. Check that the ground is clear of sharp objects and things like weed, so you don't damage the kite or get lines caught. Also, make sure that your briddle system is not going to tangle in the kite valves.

2. hot launch in small area in high winds. Put sand on trailing edge (the whole length, so no wind can go under the kite). Knot out "stop-out-ball," and then just launch into to power zone.....and up she goes like a dream.

Taking Off: Jumping on the bow is easy. Use as much power and speed as you can handle (as with loading for C kite), throw kite back and then after lift-off and you are ready to fly to 12 o'clock, pull down on bar...you almost get triple lift. Practice should reduce this to two moves to maximize I think. Good high jumps are pretty hard to have...it is always different...and I'm still only learning.


Landing: High depower of bow allows you to depower just before landing and then power on impact to reduce the blow.

Warnings: leading edge (Cab. Bow needs to be pumped hard and do not expect the kite not to invert. Proper fly management can reduce this phenomonon happening. I have had 2 complete inverts that I can remember...both no drama events realy....just weird. The thing even fly inverted, but not very well.....funny actually.

Total inverts happen in gusty conditions when leading edge not hard enough, you put the kite through a fast movement and it is depowered. I have had about three partial inverts (where I look up and the kite is about to invert, but rescues itself....thank god!).

I'm sure this problem will be solved in next version or another type of bow.

Final Note: I do not yet know if possibility of invert increases or decreases as you move down the bow chain.....all I know is that I just got a 7

As per Gruezi's 2nd method I hot launched my depowered bow (SS TD 12m) into 25kt gusty Easterly at Peli yesterday at 09.30 - no worries. Daniel at WSP first suggested when I got a Crossbow 12 in late August (since sold).

Just to be clear - you lie the kite down unpumped trailing edge into the wind (laying a little sand all the way along the trailing edge). Lay out your lines directly upwind and connect. Pump up kite. Grab the bar - ensure in fully depowered mode and walk backwards. As greuzi said - up she comes. Sweet.

you loose alot of control with sand on the kite, dangerous in high wind and hard to get the sand off in light wind.