1. no hadn't heard of a kite instructor in 2000
2. hadn't actually seen another kiter
3. Many many times in my first year and eventually worked out to do it the way your now taught except in the early foil days it didn't work too well
4. yes and teach it before they get in the water then at the end of every lesson although without winding the lines up until 3rd lesson

1. yes, theory on land and then in the water. I only had one lesson (not through lack of trying to organise more) and I think it would have been done again on subsequent lessons.

2. yes, as above.

3. yes, several accidental releases and gear failures. All my kites flag to the front lines, so wind the front lines in a good amount then wind in the steering lines, hang onto the kite and board and sail in, or pack the gear up as above and take any assistance offered by other kiters for a tow in.

Reset gear, go out again and figure out what you stuffed up.

4. yes, well I think I do, I haven't done one since last season.

no

Youtube FTW

no

hope not to have to find out but no doupt will. so practiced on the beach

1. Nope.

2. I was taught self rescue by Progression Beginner DVD

3. Yes, twice. Once my bladder popped and I was in a load of trouble. Other kiters came to my rescue. Second time I had ripped my canopy and reeled my lines in and used the kite as a sail, quite easy.

4. Yeah.. It's pretty damn easy if you think about it (and if you dont pop a bladder).

1. Yes, but only theory.

2. No.

3. Yes. Five times in five years.
Drop kite to fifth line. Reel in a couple of metres to ensure it's properly flagged out then wind in the lines. Make kite into a taco and sail back in (if there's wind), otherwise start paddling using the kite for floatation.
Last time i had to do it was at St Kilda when my depower line snapped. Almost all of the teaching instructors made their students watch as i hauled myself in.

4. Yes.

1) No, self taught in 2003

2) Yes, Darren Marshall in 2006, IKO level1. But properly. Flag the centre or 5th 1 1/2 the width of your kite, by using the bar as a lever, then get the floating lines that can wrap around you and secure them on the bar as well, get to the kite with all lines under tension so theres no floaty things to wrap around fingers, harness hooks, or limbs. get 2m away and unhook your "death" leash and wrap it around your bar after you have done a few half hitches to secure all lines. When overpowered you cant do half hitches so this method is the second best thing. Deflate your leading edge out of the water and keep the struts inflated. Wrap your kite up starting from the windward egde. Wind the 2m left of your lines around your kite. And you can put your twin tip on the kite and the lines will secure it, if you want. A neat little bundle with flotation. Other methods are when everythings secure you can also take your harness off and wrap that around your inflated mess to secure it. It depends on the situation, in reefbreaks with pounding swell, this is the best method imo.

3) As above, Hells gates slightly offshore, woodies offshore, and once at melville.

4) Yes, And to instructors if you dont teach it competently your not a kite instructor, youre teaching someone how to fly a kite. This is comptetncy based training, If a student doesnt get it the first time repeat again at the next lesson 10mins from the end. Explain the safety issues that you observed the first time and go over it again.

The most important thing for a student to know is the winding up bit. Get them in the water and demonstrate, the first part. Everyone is different and some people learn better visually, some people learn by a description. Psychology plays an important part when teaching anything not just self rescue, The parameter between being bored and intimidated. People with flight or fight syndrome wont listen however loud you shout and in wind when your down-wind of them your voice doesnt carry that far.

Another poll, sorry to hijack your thread,
5)how many people were taught kitesurfing hand-signals by their instructor . Land, help, Im turning get off my arse, ready for launch, both as a launcher and a kiter????

^^^^^ do you know or how to use all hand signals? KIT33R, great thread

You can sail the kite in in flat onshore conditions, what about offshore conditions or heavy surf, you need to know 3-4 different ways to be truely self competent.