Greetings forum.

I am fairly new to the sport, but HAVE had lessons and have had a bit of experience kiting before todays incident.

I had grabbed a mate and we headed down to melville water around 1pm to have a kite. The wind had just picked up, so it was looking to be an awesome day.

However, after launching, the kite seemed to be well powered, and i lost control and crashed it........ no biggie.

However, on attempt 2, the same happened, except i was dragged approx 20m onto the shore, stopping maybe a metre away from the scrubs etc. The kite had conveniently landed at the feet of a very understanding pedestrian, whom graciously accepted my numerous apologies.

Im unsure exactly what i did. I definately launched unhooked, and am quite sure I let go of the bar fairly early on in the drag, yet i continued to be dragged for several metres. After finally recovering myself, with the kite ready to launch again, i grabbed onto a centre line and walked up to the kite, which was flapping around crazily regardless of what i was doing.

The whole point of this ramble is for a relatively new kiter to get some feedback on what you pros reckon I did wrong. As i understand it, you launch the kite kinda near the edge of the window, and slowly bring it up to 12. This did not seem to work today. And my cuts and bruises are testament to the fact that releasing the bar on a standard 4 line naish bar does not properly depower the kite.

All views are welcome
Im totally open to advice
Cheers

PS: cheers to the two guys who came over to check if i was orrite. Even if i did feel like a bit of a tool.

if the kite didnt depower you need to lengthen the distance from your bar to the stopper ball on the line the leash connects to. adjust it incrementally in lighter wind with a friend assisting you to test it.


next time you're at the beach, say hi to someone who knows what they are doing and ask if the will just check your setup, to make sure it looks ok to them.

Ok, you launched unhooked with out the kite being depowered.

You got dragged because you were over powered.

You flew the kite erratically because you were being dragged.

You dropped the bar and it depowered, (it still pulls and will flap around).




You should be able to determine if the kite is pulling to much when the person gives you the launch. Dont fly the kite up straight away. Get the person whos launching you to walk the kite out, so you dont get dragged into the road and launch it from the otherside. Get another lessons using your own kite.


A lesson on a 5m kite and 10m lines doesnt count as a lesson.

You need a real kite and real wind.

The whole point of this ramble is for a relatively new kiter to get some feedback on what you pros reckon I did wrong. As i understand it, you launch the kite kinda near the edge of the window, and slowly bring it up to 12. This did not seem to work today. And my cuts and bruises are testament to the fact that releasing the bar on a standard 4 line naish bar does not properly depower the kite.

If your not 100% sure of what to do I don't think your ready. A 12m kite in 20knots is dangerous. Death is a very real possibility if you dont know what you are doing.

Why launch unhooked? When you're unhooked your kite is fully powered. Launch unhooked, it's much safer and much easier.

Originally posted by Cooky

Why launch unhooked? When you're unhooked your kite is fully powered. Launch unhooked, it's much safer and much easier.

umm, you use the trim strap to depower the kite but still allow it to be steerable. You all know how much trim to pull in on each kite you have to do that right?

If you launch unhooked you let go if it gets sketchy, and everyone is fine. you only need to get your ass kicked once lanching hooked in and you will ALWAYS lanched unhooked.

airhead is 100 spot on. Conditions in Perth at the moment are not for learning AND Melville is NOT, I repeat NOT the place to be until you have learned a few basics....for safety sake go to the ocean mate.

u just sed luching unhooked the kite is full powerd dont do that then after that u sed lunch unhooked it is much safer easier

Originally posted by Cooky

Why launch unhooked? When you're unhooked your kite is fully powered. Launch unhooked, it's much safer and much easier.

Originally posted by mitchell_12yearoldkiter

u just sed luching unhooked the kite is full powerd dont do that then after that u sed lunch unhooked it is much safer easier

What the fo.


Stay in school.