What are your thoughts on this?

[Woodson]

This isn't an advertisement but wanted to get your thoughts on this before I ordered one. 60 bucks for a safe single launch land is worth it to me....

http://www.thekitebuddy.com

[Steve-O]

There is thread on this somewhere on the forum. Some plusses and minuses were given on that thread.

I'm not sold on the idea. Not at all.

[BigR]

HaHAHa!!!
It should be good for 10 knots!

LOLLLl!!!!


http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-7628.html

[Tom Stock]

Agree... looks like plastic junk. I've used a plain old dog screw stake and it worked fine, just don't stub your toe on it. Not my favorite method leaving a metal screw in the ground.

You can get a canvas bag with handles on it. Fill it with sand a put a carribiner through the handles.

But, 75% of the time I use my trailer hitch, the bench at lassing, or the garbage can at PAG. The other 25% of the time I put sand on the wing tip or bury my board in the mud and attach to the handle. Once in awhile I use a canvas bag if I can remember to bring it.

For landing you can do the same thing or just release to a front line.

Self launching is easy enough without any of these launch gimmicks but if forced to choose one it would be the canvas bag filled with sand.

I don't really understand how self launching and landing has become such a mystery.

Don't instructors teach this stuff anymore?

Oh ok... 60 bucks is highway robbery. Do not buy it.

[Skyway Scott]

Here is the "real deal". http://www.rapidanchor.com/ if you want an anchor.

Just not sure they are in the U.S. yet.

[Woodson]

I would have just asked you at work Tom but I didn't see you in the office ;)

No mystery, just cautious.

Thanks fellas.

[bryanleighty]

if i were an instructor i would not teach self launching or landing.

i would explain to my students that it is possible but not recommended until they are very comfortable riding and piloting their kite.

i *think* once riders get to that point where they feel they are good to ride by themselves they will have educated themselves on how to properly launch and land solo..

i would teach how to solo emergency land their kite *which could be taken as a self land*.. but i would not teach it as such and knowing that all kites have a little different technique to self land.. i might just teach riders on how to flag their kite out in the case of emergencies and they are stuck by themselves and have to put their kite down.

ive had one solo launch that went sour.. luckily i knew how to handle it only due to the hours i'd already put into the sport..

if the same thing had happened on my first solo launch attempt i'd probably have to have been scrapped off the sides of one of the buildings down at cypress park.

[Tom Stock]

Perhaps, but in my opinion, not teaching riders how to self launch safely is probably the #1 reason so many self launch attempts go bad. I was self launching and landing from day 1. Guess I should thank my instructor.

[Danimal8199]

Not teaching to self launch and self land is much the arguement of not teaching teenagers the proper way to use condoms. On one hand if you're not having sex you can't get yourself in trouble, but on the other hand, if you decide to try you would want to have some clue as to how to work it properly, by work it properly I mean a self landing and launching :)

[zenlikeme]

Not teaching to self launch and self land is much the arguement of not teaching teenagers the proper way to use condoms. On one hand if you're not having sex you can't get yourself in trouble, but on the other hand, if you decide to try you would want to have some clue as to how to work it properly, by work it properly I mean a self landing and launching :)

Really?!! Never gave much thought to any safe practices (e.g. condoms) at all when only my "self" was involved... just balls to the wall.. well, maybe not literally :p Sorry, couldn't resist ;)

I have to agree though.. that thing is a piece of junk. Just find someone to show you how to self launch and land. Plenty of helpful people in this crew. It's not difficult at all once you've practiced (under supervision) a few times.

[LSUkiter]

I had posted about the kitebuddy thing a couple months back cause I had seen it on ebay when i was bored at work. It made for a good couple of dirty jokes in the thread. That rapidanchor wombat thing was on kiteforum about the same time and the aussie posters raved about it. From what I saw on that forum its not available in US at all and I don't believe they'll ship here

[Skyway Scott]

Exactly, Danimal. I personally can't relate to not knowing how to land and launch by myself. It was basically a necessity when I started due to not having many other kiters around. I guess since each spot is loaded now it may not matter as much (?). Still seems like something you should know, though.

It'd suck to have to wait for someone to show up at the Skyway or somewhere just to be able to ride. :cry:

[zenlikeme]

Here is the "real deal". http://www.rapidanchor.com/ if you want an anchor.

Just not sure they are in the U.S. yet.

That would probably do the trick! I've used very similiar anchors in my line of work... for guying communication towers. I thought one would definitely do the trick but at $300 dollars (on the cheap) decided it wasn't quite necessary :rolleyes:

[Steve-O]

That's a tough one. I agree with Brian and I don't teach to self launch. I would prefer the student focus on assisted launches first then explore self launching down the road. A clear understanding is needed to get a successful self launch and most don't want to pay for the instructors time to learn something that may cause them problems or they feel they aren't ready to do.

I would teach someone if they wanted to learn however. I do give my students some info on self launch and guide them to some good video resources when they feel ready to try it.

Self land/self exit....that definately gets covered no matter what.

[Skyway Scott]

Wow, is that how much those rapid anchors are? Holy crap.

Steve-O, you should post pics and stories from your trip. :)

[Skyway Scott]

That's the most posts in 2 minutes I have ever seen. :eek:

[pebbles]

This works pretty good.

www.superscrew.net

[Danimal8199]

hey thats a porn site...oh wait .net not .com, my bad!

[Erick]

hey thats a porn site...oh wait .net not .com, my bad!

Hilarious!

[pebbles]

I hoped I wasn't the only perv

[jnonny]

This isn't an advertisement but wanted to get your thoughts on this before I ordered one. 60 bucks for a safe single launch land is worth it to me....

http://www.thekitebuddy.com

..just wanted to chime in here regarding the KiteBuddy Anchor ..Basically the KiteBuddy was put together through my search for a portable, super strong, safe, and reliable means to anchor SLE/BOW “high depower” type kites ..for self launching/landing when others are not around and/or out busy kiting, etc..

I’ve tried many configurations ..i.e. pet “corkscrew” type anchors, sand bag technique, various anchors, etc.. but found available options to be quite lacking with respect to the level of reliable hold I was looking for.. (corkscrew types didn’t offer a secure enough hold in sand, sand bags essentially offer friction as opposed to true hold, and various other anchor types simply just didn't offer the level of hold/durability needed)

I also came across various large/metal type “screw” anchors that would seem to do a great job, but much more costly and not portable..

Ultimately went through various configurations which lead to the KiteBuddy in its current form.. The KiteBuddy Anchor itself is comprised of 14 separate components/elements --and involves a hand-build process of over 20 steps.. These include high quality heavy duty components/materials intended to last/perform..

There's nothing “cheap plastic” about the KiteBuddy.. The KB anchors are solid resin/fiberglass filled (has the feel of a steel/lead pipe) with Kevlar reinforced nylon rubber core webbing to Marine Carabineer CL attachment point ..all permanently embedded/locked into resin/anchor (Carabineer is removeable/replaceable)..

In addition to it’s super strong construction, the KiteBuddy offers an exceptionally strong/reliable hold in various surfaces/conditions.. The amount of hold offered is truly impressive and is why this anchor style was chosen/utilized.. (Have not been able to remove one without unscrewing nor have had one come loose in many varying conditions..)


Not saying that other ways of self launching/landing don‘t exist, or that the KiteBuddy is the perfect/only solution.. It’s just something I put together to fill a need I had with respect to not finding/having a portable, safe, strong, and reliable means to solo launch and land BOW/SLE type Kites.. Not reinventing the “wheel,” just my attempt at a better “wheel..”


..Woodson, if you’re still interested, drop me an email and I’ll offer one at a demo price to try/review --will also offer full refund if not impressed/satisfied..

Appreciate the Feedback,
--John
=========
KiteBuddy - Self Launching & Landing Aid
http://www.thekitebuddy.com

[Tom Stock]

WTF?!

Did we show up on google that quick?

[Danimal8199]

Tom,

How is the run of "Tom Stock Pro Models" coming?

Danny

[Skyway Scott]

Yeah. Type in kitebuddy for a google search. This thread is number 17, along with a bunch of other forum threads.

http://www.google.com/search?q=kitebuddy&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&start=10&sa=N

[BigR]

GOOGLE iz a biggggg company, do not underestimate the power of their supercomputers to scan the web. .... i.e. big brother is listening

[Woodson]

..


..Woodson, if you’re still interested, drop me an email and I’ll offer one at a demo price to try/review --will also offer full refund if not impressed/satisfied..

Appreciate the Feedback,
--John
=========
KiteBuddy - Self Launching & Landing Aid
http://www.thekitebuddy.com

John,
Sent you an email.

Thanks,

Bryan W.

[trent hink]

What's wrong with just sticking the end of your board in the sand and using the footstrap as an anchor point?

[Tom Stock]

sup trent!

I do that but I cover the whole board with sand for extra weight.

[E-Bone]

I went to Ho' Depot, paid $5 or so for a piece of PVC tubing just small enough to fit in my chicken loop, had the Ho' Depot guy cut it in to several pieces about three feet long for free, bought a $10.00 rubber mallet, and I was good to go.

Pound the PVC into the ground at a slight angle away from the direction to which you will be bringing the kite to the edge of the window. Put the chicken loop on the PVC once you rig. Walk the kite to the EDGE of the window, just like you are launching someone. Hold on to the kite until it stops moving forward (or falling backward) and make sure the lines are straight and the kite is sitting is content to stay there on its edge without launching.

Then run to the PVC and your bar, attach your leash, take the chicken loop and put it on the harness hook, and launch. Reverse the process for landing. It's probably best to learn how to do this with a big kite in light but steady wind. I used to do this all the time when I showed up at a weekday session at the Skyway and everyone else was working.

Don't do this when the wind is howling. This method is not reliable with small kites and gusty, high wind and the kite can move too much in a gust or lull, tumble, and then you (and maybe bystanders) are screwed. Don't learn this high wind lesson the hard way.