Yeah happens a lot, you're just standing there holding their kite and they're just looking at you blankly lol.

I can't mind read, dude.

(Holy s*** i've never used there, their and they're in the same sentence before)

except some people wait to actually lift your kite off the sand, waiting for your thumb. but thats not the right moment. and you dont give the thumb, afraid they will just woooompa hot launch you.

conundrum.

i hot launched a kid on the trainer kite the other day, from bang dead in power zone. he thought it was mintox cool. it was a 3m kite. it was 9 knots. no thumb.

Emphasised to the max in our lesson program.
The only 3 injuries Ive experienced from kiting is from 3 times the launcher let go of my kite before getting the 'Thumbs up"
Once just an ignorant arrogant prix who was too self centred to do the job properly.
The other 2 times I put my hand up to indicate 'hold on a minute' & they took it as a 'thumbs up".
One of those with one line wrapped round the bar - instant death spiral down the beach & into a tree. 2 x broken ribs that time.

Make it a definite eye contact 'thumbs up' above your head. (and dont indicate anything if you are not sorted)
You will find that the ones that launch inappropriately are also the ones who do not give clear signals themselves.
If you want to get the message to spread just keep holding the kite through all the waves & head nods till they are yelling at you. Then stick your thumb up and yell back "Oh do you mean 'thumbs up' Im ready now"
Pysses people off no end - but I reckon ur doing them a favour.

In teaching I always tell them to move their arm straight out away from their body parallel so I can actually see their hand. When they try and give you the thumbs up in front of their body it's hard to see. You really can't emphasize this stuff enough. Yes, 101 kiting, but people still pull a Kramer all the time :(

Being guilty of the above offence, due to lack of attention, and luckly to no adverse consequences, when are you peeps going to learn self launch and land!

Nothing more annoying when on limited time while setting yourself up than
"give us a launch mate " or some fool bringing there kite above your head, over your lines
then tapping there head like their from the sheltered workshop . (Not that there is anything wrong with that )

Not many kiters at my local and we are usually pushing each other out of the way
to get on the water first, and not there at same time so this is a must know
skill . If someone launches you here they want a guinea pig to test light wind kiteability!

hamburglar said..
...

Nothing more annoying when on limited time while setting yourself up than
"give us a launch mate " or some fool bringing there kite above your head, over your lines
then tapping there head like their from the sheltered workshop . (Not that there is anything wrong with that )

...

More annoying things:

- you've come in, the conditions are such that an assisted landing is sensible (crowded beach or nuking winds), and boof heads studiously ignore you until you tap yourself on the top of your head.

- you've wrapped your lines, rinsed the sand off stuff and carrying gear off the beach and somebody signals for a land in perfect self landing conditions.

Paul1 said..
Just self launch, way easier and if you do it enough you can do it safely in a very tight area, without the kite drifting downwind. Problem solved.

I prefer to self launch unless it's crowded. I never ask for a launch from someone I don't know. Been hot launch by a few newbees over the years and regretted it.

Kazan said..

Gorgo said..

More annoying things:

- you've come in, the conditions are such that an assisted landing is sensible (crowded beach or nuking winds), and boof heads studiously ignore you until you tap yourself on the top of your head.

- you've wrapped your lines, rinsed the sand off stuff and carrying gear off the beach and somebody signals for a land in perfect self landing conditions.

HUH!? Wait a second.

[1] you're saying people should read your mind you do NOT have to tap your head? Well dugh! Of course people are going to ignore you if you don't tap your head. I would.

and [2] You can't be bothered to re-park your kite and help another kiter land? It only takes like 20 seconds man!

You're typical of what I am talking about. No communication skills what so ever.

No, I'm not. You're taking some brief comments on the internet and spinning a fantasy so you can rant about it. I am talking about the upper and lower extremes of conditions, not the normal everyday situation.

I always look out for people coming in and go to land them, especially in sketchy conditions. It's what you do on the beach. I have had occasions in very rugged conditions when I have had to walk across the beach and go right up to people to ask for a land. 99% of the time I self launch and land but in rugged conditions it seems sensible to get assistance when it's available.

On the other hand, I'm almost gone from the beach, conditions are borderline too light to kite. Conditions where the kite will virtually land itself and some numpty comes walking up the beach banging away on his head for a land.

In brief, Kazan, go f_uck yourself.

I've had some bad experiences with people trying to launch my kites which is why I usually do it my self.
A few weeks ago I had a lovely fellow kiter offer to launch my kite, they explained to me that they knew what they where doing then she asked which way to hold the kite.....was quite obvious which way I was going to launch as the lines where far to the one side of the kite......

I always self launch and land .........cant remember the last time I had someone else involved

With practice you can launch and land with very little room.

MrFreeze said..

Loftywinds said..




So if you're holding my kite, wait until I give it up please!!!

And if I AM HOLDING your kite, give it up for me to give up YOUR kite - pleeeasssee!!!

Basic kiting 101 guys

Hmmmmmm I might add if your landing someones kite. DO NOT LET GO OF IT. I saw a complete nob let go of a guys kite at Pinnaroo which then in turn went tumbling down the beach and hot launched. A chilling incident to witness.

Hmmmm...... Interesting

When I land your kite, which I'm very happy to do, please come over and secure it. It is not my job to throw sand, rocks, seaweed or small children on your kite so that it doesn't lift off. I will quite happily wait for you, holding down your kite, until you have unclipped you chicken loop and walked over.

If you don't do this, I'll put sand on it anyway so that another person doesn't get hurt by your run away kite but it is your responcibility to secure your equipment.

From the kite Launcher, just in case someone has not yet seen it

Kazan said..

harry potter said..

MrFreeze said..

Loftywinds said..




So if you're holding my kite, wait until I give it up please!!!

And if I AM HOLDING your kite, give it up for me to give up YOUR kite - pleeeasssee!!!

Basic kiting 101 guys

Hmmmmmm I might add if your landing someones kite. DO NOT LET GO OF IT. I saw a complete nob let go of a guys kite at Pinnaroo which then in turn went tumbling down the beach and hot launched. A chilling incident to witness.

Hmmmm...... Interesting

Very interesting - NOT.

You mean to tell me that you grab someone's kite to assist them, and don't let go of it? Until when? 2014 xmas?

Just park it and go back to your business.

What I don't like is idiots that get precious with their kites (North owners seem to be the worse) when I put sand on their kite to park it properly.

Stuff the ego guys! I will put sand on it if need be to hold it down.

Totally agree, unless you are in a real hurry to do it yourself I'm putting sand on it every time.......and what's with the too cool for school guys that refuse a launch or land when offered even in sketchy conditions, yes I know your capable of doing it but isn't it easier if I help you? I'm not questioning your manhood, just trying to be polite and helpful :-)

IMO-If its not a mate or kiter you trust, best to self launch/land.

Beware of the LOONIES.