G'Day g-dog,

That advice must have come from a super smart, super safety conscientious, good looking, talented and hilariously funny IKO instructor midway through an excellent lesson

He probably told you to launch unhooked because you were having difficulties in controling the kite whilst in the chicken loop.

Level 1, and 2 students and even early level 3, launch and land their kites unhooked on the beach, and they do no flying in the main loop on the beach either. After level 3 a student should be fully switched on to handle all emergencies and situations and can do as he pleases

Walking up the beach is OK hooked into the chicken loop once you have the skills and experience to keep the kite flying out over the water without watching it. Until then, not on my watch sunshine!

The unhooked launch is for your protection and mine as a school. If you chose to practice fly on your own, and you really want to launch hooked in, fine, just launch one handed with the other hand on the safety release on the chicken loop.

Hope you get some winds soon and heal quick dude.

Same question from me. I took my 10m out in 20k on Saturday. launched unhooked and it was way overpowered. All I wanted to do is practice some body dragging, but I was constantly being lifted out of the water. I had to drop the bar twice as I wa getting lifted a bit too high for my comfort. So in high winds is it better to hook in so i can depower a bit?

g-dog is right,

As a learner in the initial stages of getting your sh#t down, launch and land on the beach unhooked. Once you get more confident, sure, hook in but again, as I do, keep a hand on the quick release, especially on a self launch. Unhook for a couple of reasons.

1. Its easier to let go should you get lofted
2. The wind along the beach suffers turbulence and stray gusts more than out on the water, so the lovely steady wind on the water may have a surprise for you and your inexperienced hands on the bar when on the beach.
3. There are others on the beach that need you to take care of them and yourself, you cannot take care of others skidding down the beach on your head with an out of control kite after it luffed, rolled over and shot through the power near landing.

Ask the big guy today who went skidding down the beach and almost took out me, my student and my 6 month pregnant partner. Anyway, he did the right thing by chucking the safety and everything so that he was going to be OK.

I eventually caught up to the kite and stopped its speedy trip down into windsurfer land further downwind. Reason, only one lesson and a wrongly rigged safety leash which didn't depower the kite.

Launch depowered a bit on the trim strap (so that you still have steering) and just walk into the water, then hook in. Everyones then happy.

Oh and g-dog, dont be flying your 12m Trio in 20 knots of wind with a buggered wrist.

Have fun and be safe

Darren Marshall

PS Levels of competency can be found on the IKO website. Follow the link
http://www.ikorg.com/student_standards.php?menu_id=1

Damn I should have thought of taking a passenger! Thanks, im looking forward to another 20k wind now.

About the trim strap. I was taught to launch with it pulled all the way in. So it seems to be pulling the leading edge down. That's 'depowered' right?

I was just thinking if i was to let the trim strap right out, and the leading edge goes further up, isn't there a point where the kite would stall? Like the wing on a plane, if you point too far up and the wing isnt moving fast enoough, you will stall.

Is it just trial and error working out the best trim strap setting for the wind your in?

Am i right or have i got it all back to front!?

hey g-dog that wind range sounds incorrect for a 12 trio. i would suggest a 13 - 23 approx, again this depends on the riders weight..

your not going to be doing much in 8 knots..