Hi Specimen,

We teach self launch to all our students, it's part of Level 1 first lessons. We also teach students to not self launch if they dont have to. The reason being, most times a self launch works out OK, but an inexperienced kiter who has a bridle or pigtail that gets tangled on launch may not have the skills to handle a looping kite on launch and may be injured or injure someone else.

A kiter was killed during an assisted launch not so long ago when the assistant didn't notice a pigtail which was flapping had wound and knotted itself shortening one back line by about 12 inches. This resulted in a looping kite on launch and he was killed by several severe impacts. He was experienced.

A Noob has no chance if it goes wrong in strong winds. We suggest they learn self launch in light winds and ask for an assisted in stronger winds until they have more experience.

I don't mind launching and landing kites for people. I get to meet heaps of kiters and know that they will definately get a safe launch if I help out. Being on the beach all day I launch and land dozens of kites everyday. Maybe you just need to look at it from a different perspective. Pride yourself in being the best kite bitch on the beach. I have saved so many potential injuries/deaths??? by noticing lines on the wrong way, bridles being caught etc etc.

Bring it on! Good winds,

Look I don't mind it either most of the time I just never see people self launching anymore. In the begining that was the way it was I and a lot of other people Rigged up, Self launched and on your way.

Keep it real.

Self launching on a busy beach is probably a bad idea, as there is that moment in time where you haven't got much control of the kite.

With SLE/bow kites I understand the method is to use a weighted object to hook onto the chicken loop, set the kite on its side sort of just bounching there, then run back to the bar, pick it up and go for it? Apart from being another thing to carry or lose on the beach, that sounds dangerous, if you say, are launching in St Kilda... If you go up to Lancelin where you could use the towbar on you car as you can park on the beach, then I could see it being a good technique. The C Kite method of folding the wingtip over seems to be impossible because of the bridle.

So, I would rather be assisted mainly for the safety of others but also because it generates a bit of community and friendliness between kiters.

These days I can self launch my kite quicker and easier then going to ask someone to launch it for me..
Although it can be intimidating when you start the more you practise the better you get at it. Every one should be taught it in there first lesson..
Remember you should always have your safety properl;y attached so if anytihgn goes wrong you can just hit the quick release and your kite falls safely to the ground..

I prefer to have someone help out as you can always just do a last visual check on your lines with someone holding it ready for launch. The other reason is I am still not completely confident in self launching. An assisted landing seems to be far easier than self landing. I will always be looking for someone to land me. As suggested, it builds karma - what goes around comes around.

Personally, I prefer self launch with my rebel because it is so easy. I lay the lines downwind of kite with the bar upside down, and then hook up 5th line first and then the chicken loop. Then I just gently pull the furtherest front line walking slowly backwards and the back of the kite starts to catch air and it slowly launches while sitting on it's wingtip. Now you can check that everything is O/K before flying it overhead. Landing is sort of in reverse except you just tug on 5th line when it's parked on it's wingtip. Does that sort of make any sense? Like most kiters, I also offer assistance when asked or I think that it's required, as said before - what goes around, comes around!

teabaggin said...

I sometimes prefer to do self launches even though there are others on the beach to assist because on a few occasions I havent even had a chance to even check my lines before the assistant has tossed the kite into the air (even being an experienced kiter ).Now if a line was crossed over would it have helped by having someone assist in the manner I have just described.And I cant believe how often I see this happening persons assisting launching that have no idea .

I have had that happen to me too, experienced kiters pretty much just throwing your kite in the air. And that's why I now always say "please don't let go of the kite until I give you a thumbs up."

On the flip side, I think it has also made me a better assistant, because I always take a couple of seconds to check the lines from the kite end, and never let go of the kite until I get a definitive signal from the pilot.

I also agree with the wear factor. If you have a rocky beach or one of those sandy beaches with sharp shells, why increase the wear on your kite by unnecessarily weighing it down? That's also why I will hold a kite down on landing until the pilot gets back, just in case he wants to weigh it down with his board and harness.