To be completely honest if your board and kite skills aren't completely up to scratch you're better off just stacking the two boards up and body dragging back as in the long run it will be easier and probably faster than floundering around trying to hold a board and fly a kite. also run the risk of dropping the board onto your own and damaging one or both.

But if you are game just stop near the board, put it on your lap and sit ready to waterstart, pull the bar in for power with one hand and do a fairly agressive steer to get up and running with one hand while holding the board against your body with the other. counter steer to stop the kite crashing then when you're on edge just grab the handle of the board and get into a more comfortable position.

Hey Lorgra,

I've done it just a little differently to Charl dv.

Sail up to the board from upwind and crouch just behind it. Grab the board by its handle with your back hand. Twist it so that the palm of your hand is facing away from the board - the back of your hand is touching the board. That means you will be able to make it more stable because thp top of the board will be touching the back of your hand, wrist and forearm. Then grab your bar with both hands and take off as normal.

I find this gives me more control to steer the kite with both hands, even though the hand holding the board is less able to grip the bar tightly.

Anyway, good luck with it. It obviously doesn't woork unless the board you are saving has a handle. If it doesn't, then you need to be able to fly your kite with one hand in the way Charl describes.

Carrying another board is easy,.

Start off by getting into the usual position for a water start. put other board on your knees and do a regular power stroke.

As you get power you can realease one hand and hold onto 2nd board..Voila

Not saying it's right or wrong, and there are probably some dangers involved, but a good man once came to assist me during a self-rescue by taking my board (and then my kite) by attaching them to a second kite leash that he had on his harness. He got me to put the leash through the footstrap of the board nearest to him and just clip it back onto itself. He then kited with the leading edge of the board being raised out of the water by the leash and basically just dragged it in. (He used same leash to to take my kite in after getting me to disconnect all lines from it.)


I'm not saying that all of us should have a spare leash on our harnesses, but I was mightily grateful that this dude did. The swim back was epic.

I have used this technique before, opposite runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, after strong currents had taken a female kiter's board away from her, while in the middle of the Broadwater.

A little tip with the board on the lap technique that works for me is to have the board upside down so your knees are inbetween the straps. Stops it from sliding off. You can kite in the super-poo stance with it on your knees as much as you need until you have enough power and speed to grab it and kite with one hand.

+1 for Coast Flyers method.

Used twice last night.

Seems counter intuitive putting it on top of the bar, but makes it so much easier. Key point - Power up kite - as you can no longer pull bar all the way in.