another option is to walk towards the person launching the kite which gives you slack lines and the launcher will gain control again.
need to retrain the launcher or get someone else or learn self launch.

Wow these red thumbs must have come from a noob with less than 150 posts

Kazan said..

LMAO... your advice is a death wish. That's why

kitcho207 said..

kitcho207 said..

another option is to walk towards the person launching the kite which gives you slack lines and the launcher will gain control again.
need to retrain the launcher or get someone else or learn self launch.

if someone is struggling holding your kite, make the lines slack. if the lines are slack the kite cant power up so the're just left holding a flapping kite and not being pushed n shoved around.
then tell them to put it down and give them better instruction how to launch a kite

Thank you, it S**ks when someone is directly upwind, you pick up THEIR kite on THEIR request to HELP THEM launch and the LE folds over you like an envelope with their lines ALL over and around you.

I refused to launch someone and I'm not going to run around the beach to make your life easier or compensate for YOUR ABILITIES AND REQUESTS. It's NOT my job to make up for your problems and put me or anyone else at risk.

If you can't sort it after 2 attempts, I don't want to be part of YOUR kitemare

kitcho207 said..

You must be heaps good.
But I self launch so mowtwit don't have to touch my kite. I have for 5 years now.

@kitcho207, Thank you for the PM, I apologise for "Quoting" you and making it look like I was having a shot AT YOU, not specifically intended. I was more empathising with the OP from an actual event I coped on Saturday.

By the way no red thumbs from me, chill out.

Kazan said..

LMAO... your advice is a death wish. That's why

its funny being the bad boy with all the red thumbs...

we must have our wires crossed. please explain how putting the kite back down on the beach is a death wish?

Loftywinds said..

I think Kazan was referring to this ...

"if someone is struggling holding your kite, make the lines slack. if the lines are slack the kite cant power up so the're just left holding a flapping kite and not being pushed n shoved around."

I dare say that at 20knots, letting the kite lines go slack, you think you're superman to hold the kite up properly? That would be a death wish for sure, for you that is. The lines must be taught at all times in case a gust picks you and the kite up. Or are you referring to when landing the kite? If so, simply walk forward and park the kite. That automatically slakens the lines anyway.

yer thats all i was saying. walk forwards to slacken the lines so the launcher can put it back on the ground. then go talk to them so they understand how to hold the kite correctly for a launch.
i never said release with slack lines. that would not be good.
i think we're back on track
i think ill have to stop posting intoxicated. haha

Kamikuza said..

Loftywinds said..

I dare say that at 20knots, letting the kite lines go slack, you think you're superman to hold the kite up properly? That would be a death wish for sure, for you that is. The lines must be taught at all times in case a gust picks you and the kite up. Or are you referring to when landing the kite? If so, simply walk forward and park the kite. That automatically slakens the lines anyway.

That doesn't make sense to me.

You're saying a launcher can't hold the kite on a tip into the wind at 20 knots, without taught lines?

Probably not. I know the kite is not in the powerzone, but gee... it doesn't take much for wind to gust from a sudden angle and POAH... there goes the kite. If the lines are taught then it's under control and made to sit there. I may be wrong of course.

New bindings are sik. So much more control and more comfortable too. Thinking of getting a set for my light wind board too.
Have you had your operation yet?

kitcho207 said..

kitcho207 said..

another option is to walk towards the person launching the kite which gives you slack lines and the launcher will gain control again.
need to retrain the launcher or get someone else or learn self launch.

if someone is struggling holding your kite, make the lines slack. if the lines are slack the kite cant power up so the're just left holding a flapping kite and not being pushed n shoved around.
then tell them to put it down and give them better instruction how to launch a kite

Holy Crap.......Can't for the life of me understand why someone who is giving 100% correct advice is getting all those red thumbs????

Nuthin' but green thumbs from me kitcho, probably the only thing I would add is make sure your launcher is also a kiter as they should already have an understanding of how the assisted launch sequence MUST happen.

Iggy, next time ur down the beach with ur kite pumped up ready to go, with the leading edge facing into the wind and ur back directly into the wind, roll it onto it's back so it is making a smiley face and lift it up with one hand in the middle of the leading edge.
How does it react?
Canopy is flapping, kite feels nice and light and u can hold it with one hand quite easily, but it's definitely not pushing u around.....
Now, don't move, but stand the kite on it's wingtip (either one)......
How does it react now?
Canopy is flapping, kite feels nice and light and u will probably need two hands to hold it, but it's definitely not pushing u around.....
But hang on, you haven't even attached the lines yet.......Soooo, with no tension in the lines, the kite cannot push the launcher around!
The ONLY way the launcher can get pushed by the kite, is if the kiter has tension in their lines and is standing/walking too far upwind!

If u are getting pushed around by the kite or you can see that the kiter is too far upwind, please heed kitcho's advice and put the kite down and instruct the kiter on how to launch correctly.

Have done this many times myself with pleasing results for both parties

This is all basics and not a matter of opinion - there IS a right way to do it.

Plus one what Gilly3 said... if you can't do that - ground-handle a kite without being supported by tension in the lines - you need remedial lessons.
(A bonus with using correct technique is that when there are only two kiters on the beach, you can launch and land each other one handed - safely.)

Hot launch - kite launches from LE up position, directly downwind.
Reverse launch - kite is LE down, directly downwind; kite is backed up into the air by pulling in the steering lines until it's far enough up to drop one and spin the kite around and fly it to the zenith.
(You shouldn't be doing either IMO in wind powered enough to ride in and not be in the water.)

If the kite is pushing on the launcher, then it's not at the edge of the window... and the pilot is out of position.

Howdy

You may also not be correctly across the wind and the kite is powering up, as the rider is upwind, walking towards the kite WILL kill the power, but walking downwind may also help to even out the power.

We're a little blessed here in FIJI as our staff inflate our kites and launch our kites, making it all very easy!!! Come on over in Winter...
warren safarilodge com fj

thanks
Warren Francis