As a newbie, I'd like to tap into the collective wisdom on how to quickly stop in an emergency or when you're being overpowered by a gust (other than to depower the lines or go in for a smaller kite, which is the ultimate solution).

Is it simply a matter of putting lots of pressure on the back foot and edging hard so that the board slows and the kite swings over to the edge of the window? What should you do if you've lost your edge and are going sideways, fast? Should you try to position the kite low over the water?

Thanks in advance

When over powered after loosing an edge and going faster and faster here is some options.

1) Pull safety.

2) Go down wind. The more down wind you go the less power the kite will have.

3) Butt check. Chuck your arse into the water and bounce along until you stop.

................

Once you have some jumping skill.

Send the kite for a jump!..... The coolest way to slow down is to do it in the air! then hold the kite back once in the air. It will act like a brake slow you down.

Being a noob you might have a wide board. They are super hard to edge compared to a 'normal' size board.
The other thing ask someone to watch you edge hard. If you have your hips pushed towards the sky you can hold so much more power with less effort.

I'll second the butt check. Head down wind for a sec then just lean back into the biggest poo stance you can withstand. It's harder in chop and it can sometimes help to release the bar so it will depower as much as possible and you can get even more leverage leaning back with your arms as well. It's not how the pros do it but itll get the job done

Loftywinds said...
I am surprised Cauncy and Plums would suggest pull the safety. That's ULTIMATE last resort, like when you're going to crash into someone, a wall, the beach, trees, etc. But if you're out there and want to stop quickly especially if your panicking just let go of the bar, edge hard with your back foot upwind, and simply stop - or drop into the drink. The kite will fall, do your basic water drags back to bar, board, etc and away you go.
If you QR the kite, one you lose control of your kite full stop, and that could lead to a more dangerous situation with lines tangling yourself or other kiters.

Are we talking completely over powered or controllable overpowered?
I wouldn't say qr is absolute last resort, as it can be too late for that, coming into the beach over hot is much more dangerouse for obviouse reasons, butt check on the beach is too late, this can then result in a board digging in on the beach , over the handle bars , followed by licking the sand, sometimes knocking themselves out, actually witnessed someone do this and if it wasn't for a weed bank halting his momentum he was car park bound, I have affections with my kites but if I have to pull the safety then it's done

Thanks heaps everyone for the quick and very sensible advice. What prompted my question was a recent experience when pushing it too close to the shore, in a cm of water, then being hit by a gust. I swear I rode the board for 10m along the beach before being dragged (keel-hauled?) along the beach and sprinting up and over the dunes before getting the beast under control. Sounds like Loftywinds has encountered similar situations.

A summary of what I've learnt:
(1) don't be afraid to use the quick release

(2) butt check

(3) lower the kite and edge hard

(4) move the kite to the opposite direction or drag the tip in the water

(5) if possible, head downwind to regain control and then lean back into a big edge

(6) be alert and anticipate gusts

If all else fails, turn the impending disaster into a jump and create some memories!

There's also the obvious (put pressure on your back foot, push your hips towards the sky and edge like crazy, release the bar, depower the lines, downsize to a smaller kite or board, don't be out in those conditions or near dangerous objects - other kiters, innocent bystanders, trees, even the beach - unless you're confident and competent). A narrower board would help.

Please let me know if I've overlooked anything here. I can't wait to try all this tomorrow afternoon if/when the NE comes in.

If it's going pear shaped and struggling to get control back I'd argue a controlled quick release under your own terms is better than hanging on and leaving it to the absolute last resort where your margin for safety is reduced to zero.

Not sure why anyone might advocate against pulling the safety, you're still connected to the kite and under most circumstances a flagged out kite is safer than a powered up one with an out of control passenger hooked in.

There's no shame in pulling the QR, the only thing that might get bruised is your ego. Besides, while you're untangling your lines you have time to think about what went wrong.