My lesson of the week
 

I found out first hand that you never let someone launch you, unless you know them. I've been told before, but nothing helps you learn like first hand exsperiance. I was at Skyway South yesterday and had just got done pumping up my 8m sonic. A nice guy approached me and we started to talk. He wasn't sure if he should launch his 12m ion. He was new to the sport, but seemed to know what he was talking about. We talked and I told him it might be better to go to the North side since it is normally lighter. I was just about to attach my chicken loop to my anchor and self launch, when I decided to ask him to "throw me up." I have since decided that this was entirely fault since I did phrase it that way and I did not know this guy. But as I walked into position this guy proceeded to literally throw my kite in the air. I would have loved to have a picture of my face when I saw the kite leave his hands and flip quickly downwind. Thank god it was my 8m and the wind was only 19-24knts, since if I had rigged my 11m I would have had a horrible kitemare and injuries no doubt. As it was, I was dragged but regained control (with an eye on my quick release). After it was all done I said "hey, you’ve never launched anyone before?" to which he replied "Only launched myself before." Long story short I don't even know if he kites at all or just talked the talk. The lesson is that you must know the person launching you even if they do talk the talk!

Thanks for sharing Scott! That is definitely a good lesson to share with others...I have made that mistake myself but haven't had to pay for it...yet. I'll make sure going forward to listen to your advice!

holy crap scott that is scary as hell..

I can point out my ineptness on assisting Bryan (Bayflite) with a launch of his Peter Lynn? kite last week..
Its a foil kite and he just needed help launching..

He told me to hold the edge down until it took shape for him to launch..

I have seen Trent launch his Flyspeed a bunch of times and he just walks back until the leading edge catches air and it does a downwind hot launch..

I *thought* the PL was the same and Bryan just needed some help with the small launching area..

I held the edge down.. as soon as the kite began to take shape and come off the ground I let go...

Big Mistake..

Bryan quickly dropped his bar as the kite tumbled down a ways and luckily just rolled twice and no one got hurt.. just tagled the lines.

I felt like a fool and Bryan had to re-rig.

Could have been much worse in kite damage and much much worse in people damage.. so luck was with us.. but it was just a good solid reminder that there are many things that I am clueless about in this sport and should have asked for specifics to ensure the safety of Bryan and others in the area..


-B

Glad to see you survived it, Wolfie.

My own practice--I only accept launches from those I know and trust. Otherwise, I'd rather self-launch.

BL bayflites foil kite will play circus music while launching. maybe you hear it while holding wing tip. it starts when other wingtip flap and beat you in the head! i am not joking!

Muy taco,

Welcome back you hipster.

Muchacho must be Rick Day.

It's all good Bryan.
My bad for not explaining my technique.
The bearded lady and stunt clowns were a bit of a distraction I must admit.
I still like circus music.

I had a "Kitescare" a few years ago when I accepted help from a non-kiter. He had just launched another kiter and I did not go through the pre-launch instructions I give to anyone I have help me launch for the first time. Anyway it was blowing 17-20kts and I was getting into position in the water out on the flats and evidently he thought I was ready to launch. The kite was up wind of the edge of the window. I had no control and the kite immediately flipped over, turned down wind and screamed across the power zone. I was not hooked in and since I was only going to get dragged through the water I hung on. The kite went through the power zone about 8 feet off the water. The only part of me touching the water were my feet. It was about a 100 yard ride until the kite got to the other edge of the wind window and I brought it up to zenith. Needless to say, I too self launch and land unless there is someone I know and trust who can launch me.

Ya....thats called the Messiah Launch.

Good one!
 

Here's a good one. Gabe and I were kiting early Christmas morning when that nasty storm was approaching. Winds were 20 knts and on the increase. Beach was empty and it was time to come as we were getting over powered on 9m and 12 m. Anyway, big dude with family on the beach was watching us. We didn't want to self land in those winds so I walked over to ask him "Can you give me a hand getting my kite down?" Before he got done saying "sure", he grabbed my bar and starting to send my kite toward the ground of course powering it up. Quickly got a faceplant in the sand and starting to drag down the beach.

Luckily kite hit sand, and I quickly got it back up in the air. Thank you bow kite. Saved my ass once again. So with a face full of sand, walked up to the guy and said "man, don't touch anything until I explain what it going to happen." We got the kites down and went home.

Lesson learned......next time I approach a non kiter for help the conversation will go something like this....."Please don't touch anything, but do you think you could help me get my kite down?" It's amazing what we learn through experience.

WOW... I'm not sure how to reply without sounding very rude, but....you let someone grab your bar??? That is not very smart. I espect you will give an esplanation but... that is dumb. I can understand someone thinking someone knows how to catch a kite, also dumb, I cant understand how some dude just grab your bar????

Paz
Jaime

one things4 sure
xpect the unxpected

i dont think he wanted the guy to grab the bar....

yes, but he did.

I had a guy grab my bar once. We were talking on the beach and I looked towards the water and next thing I knew this guy grabbed my bar.. The kite started looping and I was running down the beach and he wouldn't let go. I quickly and forcefully knocked his had off my bar. The winds were very light and the only injury I sustained was picking sand burs out of my feet.

I have learned a valuable lesson. Keep non kiters a good 6 foot radius from me.

I read about this on www.kiteforum.com once. This happens more often than you would think. It seems that some in the public have this uncontrolled urge to reach out and grab a bar. I have no idea why, but I have now heard of at least 5-7 cases.

this reply to Steve's story makes absolutely no sense and borderlines on ignorance.

gawkers on the beach have no clue and they see the pretty kites and how fun it looks.. some people just like to touch things and have no idea how dangerous it can be.

i had some beach runner refuse to go around my lines and kite as i was trying to do a self launch a couple days ago.. she purposely walked through my lines rather than go around.

would you call me dumb and stupid because she did that?

hope not.

Bar grab
 

Obviously I didn't want the guy to grab the bar. As you can read in my first post, I was asking for help. Before he even got done saying sure, his hands were on my bar and pulling the kite down. Wind was honking so it all happened in like a second.

Yeah, I've had people grab my kite bar, as well. It's usually a complete surprise.

If Kamikazi thinks you are to blame for this happening, point Kamikazi out to me at the next session so I can walk up and grab his bar and throw his kite into a full-on loop. I assume that after he gets up off of the ground he won't be jumping up and down blaming himself for the incident.

In a situation like this, there is not much you can do except try to slap the person's hand off of the bar and by then the excitement has probably already started anyhow.

You also have to watch for dogs (if they allow dogs on the beach where you kite). I heard of one experience 4 or 5 years ago where a dog grabbed a bar and ran with it launching the kite. Another where the dog got caught in the lines. Another good reason for not leaving the bar and lines lying on the beach.

I don't think you should should ever approach a non-kiter for help. I think that was the jist of Wolfie's post. (He got fooled)

If you can't self land a kite then "ditch it" in the water, imo, away from people. Please don't ever knowingly invite a non-kiter to handle your kite, that is just asking for trouble (especially in higher winds).

Not a bad point at all, Scott, given that a non-kiter might screw up while catching the kite and end up getting himself hurt.

Landing a kite in the water won't hurt the kite. I am qualified to say as much, given that my kite is in the water, it seems, at least 10 times every session.

no quick release at the band camp !

How do most of you guys self-land your kites?? I can self launch and do all the other stuff, but every time I try to self-land the kite by grabbing a rear line and running up to it my hands get shredded before I even make it to the kite. Any pointers or suggestions for me? Is there a better method?

Excellent point
 

Scott,

You are right on. Self landing is the only way to go. After having this guy grab my bar, and another try to grab, it is just best to rely on oneself.

I would be interested to hear about other's experience of walking up the lines especially in higher winds. I have not had much success with this. I usually just try to find a wind shadow and dump the kite there.