Hi every one I am new to the forum . I have a couple of questions concerning self launching and landing a kite on the beach . Is there a better way to do it besides using a sand anchor ? I know it's best to have some one help you , but I want to be self sufficient and I want to avoid having my kite tumbling down the beach after pulling the safety depower to land. I have seen a guy self launch once buy curling the kite until the wind catches it . Is this a correct method ?

Wow that's great ! I would never have thought of that ! Thanks for the advice ! :)

Rest your kite on the beach at 3 or 9 then walk up the centre lines hand over hand till you get to the kite.... This is for landing of course... As far as launching goes if you can relaunch your kite then you can self launch also... If you can't relaunch your kite then your instructor did a crud job....

BennyB12 said..

Rest your kite on the beach at 3 or 9 then walk up the centre lines hand over hand till you get to the kite.... This is for landing of course... As far as launching goes if you can relaunch your kite then you can self launch also... If you can't relaunch your kite then your instructor did a crud job....

Yep and also move upwind as you do this to allow the kite to rest on its back easier. Be-careful in high winds (should have someone land it anyhow) with this technique and also with kites with a lot of C in. The above is great for bow based kites, but I've got myself in some sticky situations in high winds with C kite(well hybrid C kites), it wanting to fly again!

In really high winds, if no-one can land it, just hit the primary safety man and be done with it, hey.

Efilnikufesin,

you will always get various advice as to which methods are ''the best'' and it can become a bit confusing sometimes, especially for newbies. You will rarely find someone who has trialed and tested all methods and thus most people will show you the only method they know, been shown and have used. Yes tethered self-launching and self-landing methods work great and are pretty safe if properly executed, but the big downside is they offer poor versatility as you need a very strong anchor point, lots of beach space, the right wind direction, etc. things that are obviously not always available.

As a beginner, the first and most important step is to get familiar with the safety system your kite uses and perform a few ''Emergency self-landings'' on the beach or even better in shallow waters. Unfortunately very few instructors will teach this in lessons. In my opinion this skill is the cornerstone of safety and independence of every kiter.



So, once you've done a few of those comfortably, you can attempt ''advanced self-landings'' as per my Youtube video showed above. The key in these methods is that you are always detached from the chicken loop before attempting self-landing. Don't let anyone convince you to attempt self-landing without detaching from the chicken loop first unless you want to get into an accident and damage your kite. By detaching yourself from the chicken loop you are essentially in ''safety mode'' so if you fail to have the kite rest in a secure position you simply carry on following One safety line hand over hand to the kite as shown in the emergency self-landing video. Had an example just yesterday when someone attempted to self-land without detaching from the chicken loop first, failed, and the kite powered up and slammed into a 13 year old kid....

Self-Launching is definitely the most advanced skill here and for this one I would recommend you get more experience first. Lots can go wrong when attempting a slide-launch/drift launch even to the most experienced kiters out there. The more wind and less space/more obstacles you have, the more dangerous this is. Again the key is to be as safe as possible and running through a safety checklist every time (see checklist at the bottom of the self-launching video). When you're ready for self-launching, first try them in low winds (10-15 knots) and gradually attempt them in stronger winds. In anything above 20 knots, you MUST ensure the trim strap if fully pulled in AND that you keep one hand on the chicken loop quick release. this way if anything goes bad you can respond very quickly and recover your kite BEFORE you get dragged. To add to the complexity of this, every kite reacts a bit differently to self-launching, so it's also about getting used to the behavior of your kite as well.



Hope this helps,

Happy kiting and remember it's always safer to get help from someone and to always get a huge amount of clear downwind space when attempting any of these methods.

Christian

I use the self launch method shown in the second AKS video.

It's really simple, easy to learn.

yorkeys knob , north queensland !

I've been kiting for about three seasons now, and without a doubt one of the most essential skills any kiter needs to learn is how to self launch from land. Self launching is actually quite easy but you need to know what you're doing and it all really comes down to one word - kite control, kite control, kite control. Ok two words!
You must be 100% with you and your kite. Note I said YOU and YOUR kite. Both of you need to be in control, but of course your kite can only be controlled by you. The wind is a random anomaly really. So if you get to that point in time when you know you can launch a kite and control it from the water, then there is no reason why you cannot do so from land. The kite performs exactly the same! It has to go onto its wing tip either way and catch the wind. So it's worth giving it a go on land. Because believe me, once you do it and see how easy it is to self launch when the kite simply flips onto its wing tip and up, you won't go back.

Hi guys,

I strongly recommend you don't use the AKS video (but awesome that AKS are putting up helpful content) method for self landing in anything but light winds. If you stuff it, the kite can easily roll/ slide back in the wind window and relaunch. i have seen this happen too many times and been frightened by too many beginners!
I also do not agree with the idea of just hand over handing down the front lines. This will work but if the kite goes back down the window or a gust hits it will cut hands and the kite will be gone. I saw a beginner doing this on Sunday and it was scary.


I believe there is an easier, safer and more reliable way to self land bow and many hybrid kites (longer front bridles makes this easier).
1. Let kite sit on the beach nicely (no bar input - hands off)
2. Grab the front lines above the bar and Run up wind of the kite - you sometimes need to time this as the kite bounces back down to ground and also back in the wind window
3. Run until you are directly up wind and the kite is lying on its back with its legs in the air. (Don't steer the kite, but do make sure you keep the lines from tangling and you keep tension in the front lines the whole time)
4. Kite is now totally depowered and can't go anywhere
5. Now hand over hand down the front lines towards the kite. But you must keep tension in the front lines. A wrap around your harness hook is the safest bet (especially in strong winds)and you can work down the lines like this. Stay clear of the other lines. Before starting down the front lines you can drop the bar to prevent tangles. I always loop my front lines around my harness hook while detaching my bar and safety.
6. Grab the kite.

I have never seen anyone else use this technique, but I use it every time and it has never failed me. High wind or low.
You should try this in your own kite to see if it works (do it in easy conditions first). Often as you try to run up wind the kite will slide up wind. This is about timing and you will get the knack after 2 or 3 goes and some kites like this less than others. Of course even if the kite slides forward you are still in a safe, ready to relaunch, position. The only limitations to this technique are sharp beaches and kites with no or very short front bridals. I think this method will be difficult and may even be impossible for real c style kites.

Who else out there uses and recommends this technique?
What kites does it work on? (My old switchblades, naish helix and new ozone reos are all yes)

cauncy said..





kazan its wind and conditions dependant, if you self launched and landed at my local during the last couple of days youd have a high chance of a damaged kite due to beach debris, and a high chance of visiting the local hospital as an un weighted kite would just take off, all the locals here tether lanch from post and shackle which i installed, some are new to the sport and some have been at it for over 10yrs but we all agree its the safest option at our local

Hmmm I doubt it to be honest. I've launched in less than 3mtr of space on a crowded beach and managed to keep the kite on the same exact spot to get her flipped onto the wingtip and up. Of course it takes practice, but it can be done and I never used weights. But you are right, the conditions, the beach, the people, the kite, everything has to be considered first and foremost. To start on an open beach with hardly anyone around, and low tide for extra room is pretty safe IMO.

LostDog said..

Many methods - as said, we should explore a few and use the one that is condition approapraite.

Spot on!

For beginners - if there are people that can launch for you, ask them and get assistance! Don't self launch. But it's a skill you should learn eventually.

my 2ctv


everyone has their prefer self landing Technic ... good luck

I tether self launch and land most of the time but when unable due to lack of fixed point, I use minor variations of the AKS videos above. Works every time except once on the launch. Kite was dragged to dead downwind and launched straight into the power zone. Had a hand on the quick release and just dumped it. No problem. Always fully depowered on launch and land and keeping one hand ready to fire the safety are the key points.