VIDEO: Jon Modica Demonstrates A Novel Solo Landing Technique For SB III Kites
 

I caught Jon Modica at the end of the first day's competition at the 2008 Jupiter Kiteboarding Invasion. I asked him to demonstrate a novel solo landing technique that I read about online and captured it on video.

NOTE: Jon shows this one approach to solo landing a Cabrinha Switchblade III kite. This approach MAY work with SOME other kites in some conditions BUT WILL NOT WORK with ALL flat kites. Extreme care and caution should be used if evaluated and should be done initially in light winds with an adequate buffer area. If things go wrong it is possible severed appendages and/or impact injuries might result so have a care. NOT to be used with traditional C kites.

This technique or grabbing the trim strap to secure the kite IS NOT RECOMMENDED with Cabrinha IDS kites.




A website embedded this video recently, posted some of the precautions but not all of them particularly those related to the IDS system. IDS allows a much better and easier way of solo landing than described here. For that reason, I disabled the video. Sorry

Sorry about all the wind noise, it was my first time shooting video in high wind with a Canon G9 digital "still" camera. Still, the video quality is pretty good considering. I may yet figure out how to reduce it through filtering.

First couple times you try this make sure to detach your leash, or hook it to an "O-Shit" the cabrinha system will take you for a ride if your leashed on where john was and the kite doesn't land.

Good point. He had it attached at the "suicide leash" point, correct? As far as I know pretty much all kites will retain some power at this point, not just Cabrinha's. I think your suggestion about detaching the leash entirely and having a large clear downwind buffer along with someone to try to grab the kite's leading edge make sense if things go south.

btw, I shot this at around 5 pm on Friday, Jan. 25, 2008 with winds around 25 mph gusting higher. One difference that I have noticed trying this with other flat kites is that all don't sit on the sand as calmly. Some will bounce in winds lighter than this although substantially depowered. This may require an alternate approach or in some other cases this is not a suitable approach to use.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album332/Jupiter_1_25_08.gif

Do the Cabrinha kites have a front line attachment point for the leash?
If so, can you attach the leash there and use it to your advantage to land the kite, as opposed to grabbing a front line with your hands as the kite is landing? I have found that by attaching the leash there and pulling on the leash as the kite falls (same method Jon shows) the kite points dead into the wind as it lands and "pins" itself there nearly every time (leash has to be attached to "top" front line to work). I mimicked the ring system on my waroo bar after the Cabbies to self land my kites. (picture is at bottom of this page http://forum.bestkiteboarding.com/vi...r=asc&start=15 )

I like Jon's method, I just think that taking advantage of that front line ring might make it even easier by avoiding the need to grab a line by hand and by insuring the leash is on a flag out point. I actually wish all bars had the front line rings, this being one reason.
Any thoughts? Maybe Jon hasn't tried that approach using his leash or maybe he knows why we should avoid it. Obviously Jon knows what he is doing. I am not questioning how well that it works for him. I am curious if he has tried attaching the leash to the front line ring, though. If he hasn't I bet he will like that method even more when it's really windy. :) Maybe not though, maybe he got whacked by his leash once doing it that way.

Thanks for posting that video Rick. I read Jon's description on KF a while back, but pictures are worth....

Scott,
very good point,
the leash on the center line is a very good idea for this method.
But i think its just as important to know how to do it just in case you don't have a leash

i always try to learn how to do things without relying on certain equipment, that way if something changes or fails i won't be the one who suffers the consequences

but the centerline leash WILL HELP!!!

JUST MAKE SURE ITS ATTACHED TO THE TOP center line.

please feel free to ask me any questions.


-Jon

I've landed my waroos with this method for a year now and it works. However, no way I would try it in 25 because if the kite slides backwards and relaunches over zenith you may get a nasty surprise, even fully depowered. I was always afraid it would end up in the trees at backside (small launch surrounded by trees).

The graph I see for that time shows 15-18 (with some gusts above 20) up until just after 5:00.

The waves and chop are too clean for 25 gusting higher imo. Not to mention that both hair and the palm trees in the background aren't even moving. My guess is 15 - 18 mph.

But regardless this is an ok method for landing in a pinch... I like the front line ring better but this works.

Yeah. Top ring for sure. It won't work otherwise.
Because of this, I usually reason which front line I want the ring on when rigging. If I will be coming back in on a port tack, I attach the ring to the right front line. If coming back to shore on a starboard tack, I attach it to the left. I switch my leash over for a self landing while on the water, just before I come in. I also attach it there when self launching in hairy winds, just in case. It will flag the kite out on that way if the launch goes bad.
Then I move it back to the normal spot once I hit the water.
Things don't go wrong too often, but better safe than sorry is sort of my mindset when launching/landing solo.

I noticed that Ozone built in rings for both front lines last year with easy to reach handles.
I think Best is considering the same.

I looked for videos last night demonstrating the self landing using the rings (like your method, but with the leash to a front line ring) and couldn't find one. I did find a psycho on a kite that almost broke his arm by tethering himself to a long rope and going up about 70 feet. He then crashes down. I don't think that qualifies as a self landing video though.

Exactly how I launch and land my Slingshot TD2. I also teach this method. Cheers Neil

This is what I have been trying to tell Ikite for over 6 months now there sensor reads 4-5 mph higher in jupiter that makes a big difference and they keep telling me nothing is wrong

hey Tom,
it was pretty windy. i was riding an 8m kite in the finals just minutes before this video was taken. I weigh 160lbs.

as long as im using a true bow kite, i am comfortable doing this up to 25knots no problem.

-Jon

Hey Scott,

I moved your manlifting video into a special place all of its own in "Lessons From the Hardside." Added a post I made from kiteforum when this same thing came up again recently. I'll have to dig up details of all those other cases, photos, etc. and add them to your post.

I was wondering about that, Rick. That video is a classic.
When I first saw the video with Jon, I too assumed it was not much wind like Tom is saying.
It really doesn't look windy.

If you guys think your sensors suck, GEEZ, I would be ecstatic if ALL of ours were only 4 knots off :)
I agree though, 13 compared to 17 knots is night and day.

You know what would be awesome? Showing landing using the leash on the ring. I don't thing one of those vids is on the 'net. (Not a smooth move one... only released from zenith).
I noticed on many sites that sell Cabby's that they mention the bar has a self landing ring. Seeing it in action would help people... tons.
I get asked to show people how to self land moderately often at the beach, so I know there is interest.
The last time was on a Cabrinha. It's a great skill to have, just in case, as you guys already know. I think it's awesome you guys took the time to make the first video.
Making one with use of a leash on the ring would be even more awesome. That way people could do it both ways.

Not all kites are designed or perform the same way, not even within a given manufacturing line. Why else are there different models? That is why I made it specific to the SB III used in the demo.

I put some fairly heavy handed disclaimers and warnings in the opening post for a reason. It wasn't to discredit other kite models or brands but to state the simple fact that this approach may not work as well with all other flat kites. Some may do it even better, I have no idea. I do know that I would be very careful in evaluating this approach with any kite. As to relaunching unhooked in powered conditions? I would want to be real sure that my kite won't exert excessive power before trying that.

The impressive part of this approach to me is less about a way to solo land (there are already a bunch of ways of doing this after all), but about a way to very substantially depower a kite even beyond what you can do through normal bar inputs. As Jon detailed about his experience in that squall. I think this is a real important point to be carefully considered as an emergency option IF your kite supports it. Not all will.

I guess that's a "no" to the front ring method video. :)

I wouldn't be overly concerned with the front line leash method of self landing being overly picky about the kite being used with the technique. I have been using the technique since 2001 when Jeff Weiss showed me the mod for a front ring O-shit and technique to self land. It's worked for every kite I have owned (C or SLE) since then. I am pretty confident it work for all the Cabs. Isn't the worse that will happen is that the kite flags out downwind?

It'd be nice to see the video on here, since I think it would be helpful to many. Most won't use it on a regular basis for fear of scratching their kite, but in an emergency I think it'd be good for them to see the basics.
Still, in our society, I understand the fear of putting up a vid trying to help only to have some loser sue you over nothing. That leads to warning statements all over the place, etc. Sad, but true.

If you guys decide not to post the vid using the front line ring, I probably will. "They" can sue me and inherit my debt. ;-)

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album332/Jon.sized.jpg

Have folks tried launching unhooked like Jon is showing above? Some flat kites I have would exert too much force to do this comfortably, others I am not sure about.

This looks more radical to me than almost anything else. It could even provide a new way to "launch unhooked" to provide some additional safety on launch. Launching unhooked the conventional way holding the bar you may have higher kite loads than when holding the center line on some flat kites.

Also, with kites that work with this above control bar tensioning of the centerline assembly, it could provide yet another option in allowing even more depowering that might be achieved with bar input alone in high wind emergencies, again in some models.

Not encouraging a bunch of folks to go out and tear things up in moderate to high wind. I would try gently tensioning the center line (chicken loop) assembly above the bar in light wind, with a detached kite leash, with a huge clear buffer area downwind, with a helper to try to intercept the kite, etc.. Take it slow, evaluate how your kite responds and let us know.

Scott, if you have the spin landing video email me the link, file, whatever and I'll put it up. I am pretty sure I've seen it online somewhere although it could have been years back.

Hey Scott,
i think it would be best for people not to rely on the leash

the reason this method for landing works so well is

1. even if you screw up, you will be 100% safe

2. by using this technique you learn an important lesson on KITE CONTROL!!

-Jon

No worries. I am going to stick with what works for me. You guys can stick with what works for you.

I am actually surprised Rick would recommend this method... seems unlike his usual concerns for safety.

This is an ok method to get the kite down, up until the point that the bar is on the ground, and you are holding onto one front line with BOTH hands.

A relaunch at that point (in REAL 25) could be very very nasty (even worse y if the rider is standing on top of or in front of the bar which is now laying on the ground with lines drapped over it) or the lines tangle around his fingers or leg when it the kite goes through the power zone.

Instant power, zero kite control, and possibly a hot launch. It's going to pull the lines through your fingers (cutting them or worse if the lines tangle around your fingers) and then the kite is going to power up and boom you are lofted with bar and lines in an unknown state.

So yes it works in a pinch, but no way in hell I would do it in 25 (after trying it many times in 15mph).

Just spend the 10 bucks and put a ring on the front line. It's only 10 bucks and it's worked for the past 5 years on every brand of kite.

Tom, I am not recommending anything. I am telling people about something novel that I saw. If they want to try it I am advising substantial cautions and to tell us how things went. If they don't want to try it, don't, simple.

You are questioning the validity of the wind report from ikitesurf, fine. One thing I would strongly advise you not to ignore, is that this will not work equally well with all kites.

Do not expect to have light enough line pressures to be able to relaunch as Jon did with all kites out there. If you drop the kite down and it bounces much, you probably will have too much line tension to easily do this with. This is the case with some of my current kites. I don't have any new Cabrinha kites, haven't tried it with any of the old first generation BOWs that I do have. My Waroo bounces quite a bit, the Waroo Pro may be more quiet, need to check it out more. I would not try the relaunch technique either unless the kite is very quiet with minimal line pressure. That is where the warnings about nasty injuries come in which could happen if things go really wrong. NONE of the manufacturers that I know about describe or recommend this procedure, it seems to be both new and novel. Their kites weren't designed with this aspect in mind after all, so have a care.

I don't like to use the spin the kite landing technique with any of my current kites except in very light winds. Too many ruptured leading edges have been caused by doing this over almost the last decade.

Are you guys still recommending that someone performing a self landing (of any method) attach their leash to the front line attachment if available to them?
Or just not use a leash?

Repeating, Riders choice on landing using the leash. I can recall one case of a guy in Palm Beach trying to do a "spin the kite" landing with a flat kite a couple of years back. He may have tangled a wing tip, the kite powered up spinning downwind and smashed him into that nasty 10 ft. high retaining wall, up, over A1A and on to the hood of a rental car on the far side and up into a tree. The word I got from that was to disconnect your kite leash before doing that type of landing. This doesn't happen all that often but as I said, riders choice.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...0sea.1.600.jpg
The retaining/seawall in a nearby area

Solo landing with flat kites can be tricky. Used to be easy with traditional C kites but in getting something you often have to give something up.

hmmm...
im not sure im getting across my point of safety very well.

I will be back in Florida in a few weeks and i will put together something in more detail.

THE ONLY THING I RECOMMEND
is that you teach yourself a method that works for you in a bad situation

This method works extremely well for me

at the end of the day, for me, i dont like having any kind of releasing gizmo's and gadgets. no 5th lines, no leashes, no releases, just pure knowledge of how to control my kite safely in up to 30+ knots.

I LIKE KNOWING THAT I CAN PULL ON MY CENTERLINES and knowing that my kite WILL NOT DO anything unexpected.

-Jon

Knowledge
 

I am not sure why the debate is as vigorous as it is on this topic.

What I got out of this is a new approach to self landing a kite. I know for me that self landing has always been a difficult thing. There has not been to many different way to do this. So when an experienced kiter offer a reasonable method to do a self landing, I try to learn from the experience.

As Rick mentioned that this is a technique that is demo on SBIII, it might or might not work with other brands. With this in mind, I will take extreme caution in attempting this with Cabrinha SB or any other brand.

The video did demonstrate a method that seem to be a lot easier and safer than some of the technique I have been using. So, I am glad that it was shared with many (including myself). I have not have the opportunity to exercise this method. I hope there will have that chance soon. Once I have a chance to try it and see the effectiveness of the method, and if it apply to my kite, then I will use it.

I think the safety message did come across. Any skill that teaches me about the behavior of a kite is a good one. Even watching someone NOT doing something right will teach me what NOT to do.

Thanks for the video. It was very informative.

because i am new to kiting im very interested in seeing and learning safe and alternative methods of self launching and self landings. thanks for the video.

GLAD IT HELPED!

hopefully me and Rick can team up again and do more!

thanks
-Jon Modica

If you do another video, I'd like to see it done in solid 25-30mph if it can really be done safely. Standing there hooked in with the bar tangled on the ground and one line wrapped around my hands hands is ok in 15 but above that it's sketchy.

Keep in mind I am speaking from experience here because I've used this method for close to a year now, so it's not new to me.

BUT, having said all that I am certainly not dismissing the method. I agree it is best to know how you land your kite via many different methods... suppose your leash broke or you just forgot it...

So I'll practice this method a bit more with some other (bow) kites and see how they react. There is always the possibility that my technique was not as good as it could have been.

Not challenging Jon or anything... he is absolutely correct that we should refine our kite control and practice different methods of self sufficiency!

Tried it.
 

Tried Jon's technique with my Cabrinha Omega in light winds. It worked really well but not sure about trying it in heavy winds just b/c if something did go wrong it seems like you would have less control than leash/single front-line combo. It was kinda nice having my lines not get all messed up though.

Since starting kiting last May, I've tried to read everything I can and every little bit of information helps. I'm still surprised though by the lack of consensus on self launching/self landing. These are probably the 2 most important aspects of kiting safety to have down solid yet the methods are still widely disputed and surprisingly often not taught in lessons.

Much more needs to be done in this area in order to make this sport safer for everyone. The old adage of "Always have someone launch/land you" is just not realistic. Stuff happens and for a variety of reasons you are forced to launch/land yourself and hopefully through discussions like this we can work towards making some forward progress.

Hello Jon,

I think it was really beneficial to those Cabrinha riders out there to see an alternative self landing method on video as you made it very clear what needed to be done. Do you have a method similar to this one (solo landing), which you would use if you were out in open water, your kite was down on the water and you needed to get to your kite? What safe steps would you take?

On another note I think you mention in your video or in your forum post, that you use this solo landing method up to 25knots. What method would you use if you were in winds above 25knots and you had to land the kite safely?

Thanks in advance.

Anymore input on this out there?

I just tried Jon's method of self landing for the first time today. I was using a 13 meter Bullaroo and the wind was blowing 20-25 mph during my attempt at about 2pm. I probably should have been on my 10 meter SB2 given the wind strength but I had started a downwinder on Miami Beach from 65th street at 10:00 and the wind was only blowing about 13 mph at the time.

Anyway, I had just gotten back to behind my apt building on 50th street and then decided to come in and land. I tried Jon's method and I grabbed the center two lines and pulled. The kite immediately depowered like it did in the video and came crashing down (not too hard) on its leading edge. Probelm was everytime the kite hit the ground it just relaunched again. I even tried pulling in on the top middle line (good thing I was wearing gloves) to try and position it on the beach right so it would stay but the kite kept relalunching , sometimes right in the power zone pulling me hard down the beach. I ended up landing it the way I always do and I do this a lot cause I usually ride alone.

Self Landing Method I use - I bring my kite down to the edge of the window on to the beach (facing the water always) - I let go of the bar completely - kite sits at the edge of the window and bounces around a bit but stays in the same general place. I detach my leash from OS handle or chicken loop (depending on where I had it during session). Then I unhook my chicken loop from the spreader bar and attach it to this fixed rope that serves as a barrier on the beach. (I use this rope caus its there but a lot of people use sand bags with a rope and hook or a 5 gallon paint bucket filled with sand, etc. you can be creative there). Once its securely attahced to the weighted object or post, I run down to the kite holding on to the top middle line. Get to the kite turn it over and your done. I also usually launch the exact same way but in reverse.

Anyway, thought I would share the method I use since it works well for me and people seem to be uninformed in self launching and landing. I would much rather use Jon's method and I am looking forward to trying it out with my SB2 tomorrow maybe. But as for the Bullaroo 13m I had a hard time getting the kite to sit properly and it just kept relaunching.

Good Luck out there.

I have had the same problem with some of my kites. They don't sit on the sand when you hold the chicken loop assembly in moderate to strong wind. They bounce, making them poor prospects for Jon's spin the kite landing technique. A kite may ride great but there is nothing to say it has to sit there using his technique, some will and some won't.

Self Landing
 

That looks very cool. I have a SBIII. So all you do is grab the chicken loop and pull in from the center to dramatically depower the kite. I could not tell how he airmed the "landed" kite into the wind on the ground so he could get to the kite without it relaunching.

Thanks so much.

He goes over that in the video, pay particular attention to "grabbing the top line" part. I would watch it a few more times if necessary to bring his process into clear focus. It goes without saying (again) to practice this in light winds with a large clear downwind buffer. Also, I would say this is a more advanced technique and would not suggest that newer kiters try it until they have spent quite a bit of time launching, landing, riding, etc..

override stopper?
 

G'day Jon,

thanks for the video. I've been riding SB2's and now SB3's for the last 2 years, 99% of the time launching and landing solo using a sandbag to clip my C-loop to. Nice to have another option if I'm landing away from the bag, without having to resort to the rear line flagging ring, a spinning kite and a mess of lines.

One question: I noticed you didn't have your over-ride stopper disengaged in the video. Is that by intention?

For other SB riders following this thread - the other option we use here in Oz, is to bring the kite down onto a wingtip on the sand (over-ride disengaged), let go the bar, and then walk into the wind a little. The kite leans to windward and presses into the sand, flexing a little, but stays put. At that point if you reach up and pull hard on the top centre line, it falls LE down and safe.

Basically this is Jon's method but putting the kite on the sand first.

Good to see all the feedback and replies, this is what these forums are really valuable for, especially for riders like me that live in remote areas.

Andy

Oh. sorry i should have said something about that.
My bar is modified so i can do some certain tricks on my surfboard.

Though my override system is permanently engaged it is higher up than normal. This way i have 70-80% depower. If i need more i reach above my bar.

GOOD QUESTION!
feel free to ask if you have any more!
-Jon

Jon's method SB3 works, but cannot do Contra
 

Just saw Jon's video this past Friday so I decided to try it on my SB3 in Port Bolivar, TX and it worked great for landing and launching on 16-17 knot winds.

However, it tried the same technique (pulling the front lines) on my Cabrinha Contra 3 (17m) and I could not stop it from bouncing once it touched ground, not to mention the tension is stronger. Launching of the Contra did work for me though, it's the landing part that bugs me.

Before I saw the video, I could simply let the Contra drop gently along the edge of the window landing nice and easy hitting the ground nose first landing in safe position only requiring a small pull of the trailing line on my side to ensure it faced its nose to the wind and not relaunch. This was mostly done on 13-14 knot winds. So I'm trying to figure out a "hybrid" of the two methods that will work for me. I'm gonna try it again now that I'm back in Dallas tomorrow see how it goes. :smile:

Anyone tried landing a 17 Contra on 17 knot winds?

Thanks a bunch!

no inside ring
 

what inside ring are people referring to? I have an '08 Switchblade 3 that only has one ring, on the back left line. The right back line has a red ball.
there isn't anything on the inside lines.

I was taught to attach the safety leash where Jon has it. Is there a better/safer place for it. there is no place to attach it to the front lines.

Great demo on the video, I can't wait to try it next time I kite

If the kite bounces, the technique shown for completely solo landing your kite is not reliable in my experience. Jon's technique of tensioning above the bar on the trim strap assembly seems to very substantially flat kites I have tried it on to date. Many do bounce excessively unlike the SB III Jon did his demo with.


Does your bar resemble the one shown below:

http://www.mackiteboarding.com/image...b_pd121_07.jpg
From: http://www.mackiteboarding.com/


Question, are they still skiing at A Basin this season or are things over until the fall?

Rick,

The Switchblade 3 doesn't use a pulley bar and uses one of the rear lines for leash attachment.

This bat looks like the Crossbow 3 / Contra Bar.

Ken

My mistake, had a hard time finding an illustration of the 1n1 bar. Just put one up. As you say, the depowering ring is on one of the back lines. I would check with somebody at Adventure Sports or Jon if we can get him on here about the advisability of adding a ring to one of the center line attachments for the leash.