I'm not sure if other people have the same issues but at my local when kiters ask me for a launch many seem to walk backward perpendicular to the wind. Suddenly the kite catches the wind and I (the person helping them to launch) am buffeted and thrown around by the wind. Many of these people are experienced kiters.

The proper technique is to start up wind or downwind and walk in a semi circle so that your lines are taught and you know when the kite is ready to launch when it stops flapping.

Am I just getting old and grumpy or do too many people not understand how to properly launch a kite?

also its you that's responsible for your position, not the guy launching the kite, f888888g cracks me up watching a kiter pointing the launcher upwind or downwind when he doesn't understand wind positions himself

actually the proper technique is for the launcher to stand at the ready and you position your lazy arse correctly

Essentially my point is if you are doing someone a favour by launching their kite for them, you shouldn't need to do anything other than pick it and let it go when they are ready.
It is the responsibility of the kiter to position themselves properly and with respect for the person helping them launch.

Too many kiters walk straight back, kite grabs the wind - person helping launch kite gets thrown around

#endrant

I walk the kite to where I want it. if the guy starts walking upwind too much before tensioning the lines I walk upwind too...

In short you have legs and a brain. Use them.

NoBS said..

try hot launching or just chucking it up before they're ready.. Thumbs up is soooo overated!

They wont ask you again if you give them a total shocker or a sandune experience. If everyone did this, we would spend more time on the water, less time launching/landing tommy noob.

Example: you step in dog poop once, it's not a pleasant experience. A pain to get off and you try not to do it again. I see it the same as kite launching.. A good old scare or error switches you on to doing it properly or leanring self launch/land.

Discuss??

I know u r up for a laugh and always try to get a bite form every one. I hope that you are joking but from previous experience of your many ****e posts, if you do this to me or anyone i know i will stamp on your face , have a wonderful day, my local is Woodies B1 if you would like to meet up.

Totally agree cowboy. Solution is not to pick it up until they are downwind first, direct them if you have to, if they don't budge dont pick it up - f$&@'em! Also if you see them walking straight out tell them to go downwind first..

Plummet said..

I walk the kite to where I want it. if the guy starts walking upwind too much before tensioning the lines I walk upwind too...

In short you have legs and a brain. Use them.

That is so bad Plums! I would never move when launching a kite for someone. The kite is where they placed it and I will move only if it seems the kite is in the way of other people, lines, objects, etc. But essentially I generally simply pick up the kite, hold it above the ground a bit and ONLY let go if they give me the thumbs up! I won't even pick up the kite until they are looking at me with their "I am ready" look. Too many times I've seen guys pick up kites straight up and the kiter has not even hooked their lines in or untangled them. Essentially, it is s/he that has to move to be ready to launch it themselves. After all, an assisted launch is nothing more than you keeping the kite upright, which any one with self-launching skills has to do anyway on their own.

I can't believe I've wasted 2 mins writing this up. Who & How Launching threads are getting old had now.

Loftywinds said..

Plummet said..

I walk the kite to where I want it. if the guy starts walking upwind too much before tensioning the lines I walk upwind too...

In short you have legs and a brain. Use them.

That is so bad Plums! I would never move when launching a kite for someone. The kite is where they placed it and I will move only if it seems the kite is in the way of other people, lines, objects, etc. But essentially I generally simply pick up the kite, hold it above the ground a bit and ONLY let go if they give me the thumbs up! I won't even pick up the kite until they are looking at me with their "I am ready" look. Too many times I've seen guys pick up kites straight up and the kiter has not even hooked their lines in or untangled them. Essentially, it is s/he that has to move to be ready to launch it themselves. After all, an assisted launch is nothing more than you keeping the kite upright, which any one with self-launching skills has to do anyway on their own.

I can't believe I've wasted 2 mins writing this up. Who & How Launching threads are getting old had now.

If the guy is in the correct place I don't move. if its obvious he is way to far upwind and I'm going to be pounded by a powered kite as soon as he tensions the lines then I move. simple as that.

Here is a story:

I was out alone with the wind picking up steadily until I had to get out and change kites. I had a rope set-up for self landing, but the landing spot gets some turbulence and on that angle wasn't nice. There was a man on the beach who had been watching me for a while, so to keep things safe I went and asked him if he was comfortable to grab the kite, did he know how to do it (yep, done it before), sure, sure... I lower down the kite about a meter infront of him and he just stands there and stares at it. 3-4 seconds, a gust picks the kite and myself has to fight it up and down and calm it down a bit. Man yells: oh, sorry, I though you were going to pass it right to me. ?? I should have told him to go away then and self-land.

Take two, I lower the kite pretty much on his head so he doesn't have to exert himself, he runs away! I got the ****s, the wind gusted at exactly that moment and the kite shot downwind into some rocks. Nothing major, saved it and self-landed it, just a small tear - you make your own conclusions.

Nowadays I treat landlubbers and newbies the same: If there is enough room to self-land and no-one else around, I don't ask. Otherwise, yes it is safer to get any help, but be prepared for some major excitement, especially when you have to let go of the bar and go fetch you kite.

Kazan said...
I don't know why LEI kite manufacturers don't simply sell one of these with every kite...

www.powerkiteshop.com/peter-lynn-ground-stake.htm

It seems only fixed bridle or foil kiters are aware of them and have been using them for years for self landing and launching, and it works a treat. I even saw one guy use a long shovel to do the same thing. He never asked anyone to assist in his kite landings/launchings and was happy as larry!

If you used this in normal winds you'll be running down the beach chasing your kite, if you promise to go pro you launch and landings I'll buy it for you

Kazan said..

cauncy said..

Kazan said...
I don't know why LEI kite manufacturers don't simply sell one of these with every kite...

www.powerkiteshop.com/peter-lynn-ground-stake.htm

It seems only fixed bridle or foil kiters are aware of them and have been using them for years for self landing and launching, and it works a treat. I even saw one guy use a long shovel to do the same thing. He never asked anyone to assist in his kite landings/launchings and was happy as larry!

If you used this in normal winds you'll be running down the beach chasing your kite, if you promise to go pro you launch and landings I'll buy it for you

Disagree. I have one (a longer one actually with a screw-cork rod) and it is as solid as a tree! Sometimes I have to dig around the stake to get it out! Saved me a lot of pain, especially with foil kites.

how can you disagree when your comparing 2 totally different kites and products, ill exstend my gratitude to you also with the $4.99 ground stake to launch your kite, ill dig out a photo of what force a kite can produce on a fixed object, also got me f888ed why the hell would you dig it out when you could unscrew it , a bit beyond your brain skills it seems

Hi,

I have developed a Sand Anchor and it for sale on Trademe in New Zealand
I have sold more than 100 so far and had no complaints.......only praises

www.trademe.co.nz and search for sand anchor in the kiteboarding section
I have three videos on the site where the anchor is sold and you can watch a typical launch and land, the installation of the anchor and the holding power of the anchor in the sand

I have used mine for more than two years now and it is fantastic as it gives me complete independence to launch and land my kites

I kite two to three times a week and use it every time............

Cheers,
Blue

www.beachhook.com

the gibbo said...

NoBS said..

try hot launching or just chucking it up before they're ready.. Thumbs up is soooo overated!

They wont ask you again if you give them a total shocker or a sandune experience. If everyone did this, we would spend more time on the water, less time launching/landing tommy noob.

Example: you step in dog poop once, it's not a pleasant experience. A pain to get off and you try not to do it again. I see it the same as kite launching.. A good old scare or error switches you on to doing it properly or leanring self launch/land.

Discuss??

I know u r up for a laugh and always try to get a bite form every one. I hope that you are joking but from previous experience of your many ****e posts, if you do this to me or anyone i know i will stamp on your face , have a wonderful day, my local is Woodies B1 if you would like to meet up.

Hahahaha! Post of the year so far....

Please let me know nobs if your going to meet gibbo cos Id like very much to watch...

Bluefalcon888 said..

Hi,

I have developed a Sand Anchor and it for sale on Trademe in New Zealand
I have sold more than 100 so far and had no complaints.......only praises

www.trademe.co.nz and search for sand anchor in the kiteboarding section
I have three videos on the site where the anchor is sold and you can watch a typical launch and land, the installation of the anchor and the holding power of the anchor in the sand

I have used mine for more than two years now and it is fantastic as it gives me complete independence to launch and land my kites

I kite two to three times a week and use it every time............

Cheers,
Blue

www.beachhook.com

Thank you Blue! Precisely what I am trying to educate these bafoons with. If you're really paranoid about self-launches and landings, get a portable anchor - aka a ground stake as stated above. Done!