I'm surprised by the number of people launching their kite from back up the beach with the kite down near the water. Instructors even teach that way? "I'd rather be pulled towards the water than towards the beach when things go wrong" seems to be the reasoning.
Well my reasoning is this. Your kite is near the edge of the window when launched, it can't possibly cause a problem there. The problems begin when the kite finds it's way downwind of you and at that point I'd much rather be near the water with as much clear space away from obstacles as possible.
Col

People teach in a different way, and it totally depends on the beach. The safest way is to get into the water if its shallow enough and launch directly on the waters edge, Land side this gives the potential bridle wrap to throw you towards the water rather than the land. Its all personal, but someone who knows the thumbs up before they let go, AND get one back is the key.

I like to get someones kite that has asked for a launch and walk upwind of them while the lines are slack, get the lines taught and then move down-wind and GIVE the kite a little tension so it wants to shoot forward. This means if the wind drops/gusts a little when you let go it wont barrel downwind and cause a potential mess, or bridle wrap. As a kiter your bar should be almost in using this technique and as it shoots forward, 1-3m you depower a little to bring it up. This method has never gone wrong. Letting a kite go in gusty winds right at the edge of the wind window allows launch issues.

Its uncool when you have to duck to avoid someon-else's kite or lines when your pumping up and your back is turned. Allow some room for error.

ok said...

Col are u referring to all the blow ins at merewether - dicko today being so stupid ?

Seeing as I was one of only 3 kiters I saw there today, is this satirical? If not, what did anyone do that was stupid today there?

Chris_M said...

As an IKO instructor and trying to teach from the book I usually made sure the kite was nearer the water so if the student got pulled, they would head toward the wet stuff.

My thoughts on launching students kites' did a 180 degree turn when launching a student on her own kite. Her safety was hooked into a flagging line on a 2007 RRD and the leash must have been short enough to F*ck with the flying behaviour of the kite (pulled on one of the front lines) Instead of bring the kite slowly up to 11 as we had practiced on the school kites, it whipped over to 1 or 2, (like when u send it) and she got lofted and was centimeters away from being flung into the wall of a nearby resort.

Put the **s up us both, really knocked her confidence, in hindsight, she would have been better at the waters edge.

However, it there was a line wrapped around her wingtip instead, which could feasibly happen, then she would be looping toward the wall.

Its a toughie, and sometimes, as is the nature of the sport, unexpected ** happens, although NOBODY wants to see it happen that's for sure.

It takes a long time to be a great instructor. As long as you're reflective and learn from it its OK, you still kept the 50m exclusion zone and no-one else gets hurt. Psychology is also good to know, keep them in the zone not bored, and not intimidated. I pump girls up tell em how safe it is, and is push guys down, telling them how dangerous it is. The right frame of mind makes a better lesson. Never had a safety issue teaching, but I learnt from the Best Darren M, with a Degree in Education, Sports Science and Human Biol. I also taught martial arts, a dangerous sport. It's about your pedigree, not a 7 day IKO course. Not writing you off, some friendly advice.

EDIT: youve taken the day off anyway, teach them theory, before practice, then theyve heard it twice when doing your lesson. With all the diversions down the beach, some beginners just dont listen. DM cnat teach everything in 7 days, yet god created our world

Chris_M said...

As an IKO instructor and trying to teach from the book I usually made sure the kite was nearer the water so if the student got pulled, they would head toward the wet stuff.

My thoughts on launching students kites' did a 180 degree turn when launching a student on her own kite. Her safety was hooked into a flagging line on a 2007 RRD and the leash must have been short enough to F*ck with the flying behaviour of the kite (pulled on one of the front lines) Instead of bring the kite slowly up to 11 as we had practiced on the school kites, it whipped over to 1 or 2, (like when u send it) and she got lofted and was centimeters away from being flung into the wall of a nearby resort.

Put the **s up us both, really knocked her confidence, in hindsight, she would have been better at the waters edge.

However, it there was a line wrapped around her wingtip instead, which could feasibly happen, then she would be looping toward the wall.

Its a toughie, and sometimes, as is the nature of the sport, unexpected ** happens, although NOBODY wants to see it happen that's for sure.

Thanks Chris, that's what I mean. When things do go wrong they go awefully wrong. It all happens too quick. The kite is not at the side pulling you towards the water. It's hauling your ass downwind & the more space you have in that direction the better. Even up at Pt Douglas an instructor was teaching, perhaps by the book, to launch from up the beach where even to bring the kite depowered up above your head the kite is only meters away from palm trees.
My point is that each kiter should think for themselves & make sure their method is as safe as they think it can be.

dave...... said...




I also taught martial arts, a dangerous sport. It's about your pedigree

thanks sensai. what exactly does you teaching martial arts have to do with anything?

Every location is different, as an instructor you use your experience to access the best options, example, mullaloo, launch with kite away from shoreline, if it go's wrong you may damage your self but not the hundreds of beach-walking locals in the shallows

got a little question here.. I am a beginner and I like to get out on the beach when there aren't many people around so I can't make any mistakes involving other people. Now sometimes there aren't even any people around which means I'd have to self launch. I haven't actually done this just yet and deff don't really want to do it at Melville (my closest beach) because it is such a narrow beach.

Now I saw a bloke that was obviously a beginner as well, grab his kite and let it float on the water on its leading edge, grab the power lines and then walk out to the end of the lines while holding the power lines and then just do a water launch..

Is this a safe way of self launching?? or does this have it's down sides..?

The idea behind launching with your kite on the waters side is "keep it low and go".
Launcher lets go, you keep the kite low and pick up your board on the way into the water (obviously the board is placed down near the water in the line of the launch direction, prior to launch).

If the kite has an issue that causes it to go out of control, I don't see that launching from either side is going to make much difference. The key in assisted launches it to make sure the launcher understands to never let go until you give the thumbs up sign. The pilot, NEVER the launcher, should move to get the kite set and ready to launch at the edge of the window.

dave...... said...

I love red thumbs, I get them from your wife/girlfriend periodically.

You kitesurf the red sea do ya? Haha

Well first up I will get assisted launch if possible. either towards or away from the water depending on the wind and and beach width on the day.
Then i will do a teathered launch if thats possible. its always kute towards the water.
Then last method if all else is unavailable to drag launch. I'll usually do this at the waters edge and be in the water and launch kite towards shore. Then if something goes wrong you have the restriction of the water to slow you down.

As stated above when it goes pear shape your usually heading off down wind.

If i drag launched facing the water at high tide i'd be standing in the drift wood.

I ask you. Whats safer standing in drift wood or standing in the water to launch?

The worst scenario is when the bottom bridle gives way, or the bottom line is not connected, the kite will fully power up and is uncontrollable, its better for it to sign across the window and pull you downwind and towards the water, since you in the water and across the land with no-one downwind of you is the safest option. But every beach is different. When teaching on C-kites, you wernt allowed to teach in directly onshore conditions.

After many years of kiting I still launch with my safety attached to the flagging line. Only once I have the kite under full control do I move it to suicide.

Also, I mostly self launch unless I know the launcher has a fair degree experience after a mishap with a newbee who offered me a launch and I discovered he had little idea when he threw my kite into the air when I was not ready.

can you rearly beat experience and common sense
the sport will always have people who think they know better and instructors who actually, should'nt be

I cam beat that toddles. The other day actually forgot to put the right steering line actually on the kite!! Hey 11 years and forgot this, damn. Thank god for the fifth line. It went up and straight over like yours, what a complete idiot.

Hardcarve1 said...


as like just about every new kiter feels it's their god given right to kite and they know better.

sorry but I have to disagree here. Im only new to kiting after starting my lessons a few months ago before the season got under way and i dont feel this way at all.
I have a healthy respect for the sport and understand that it can lay the smackdown on my ass quite easily

My point is that just the other day I went down to a local spot and there was literaly 15-17 kiters all cramped onto one small patch of beach. Conditions were awesome BUT i decided not to go in. 2 reasons for this were the fact that im still learning my waterstarts and can not stay upwind on the board yet so require more space and I would have had to set up much closer to other people than I am comfortable doing so. Hence my decision to just sit back in the aircon and enjoy wathcing the pros have a go

Not all noobs are arogant(sp?) and cocky