I've done a couple of high ones off of waves and on a small kite you get whipped around hard and fast... spiraled horizontal and your board goes over your head. It's pretty intimidating, but I think you are right that if you do it high enough you will land softer as long as you get the kite back up to 12! I have also done them at the very top of a big jump... that is really not too bad if the kite turns tight enough. If it turns slow you are gonna get stuffed.

I have only been able to do a couple of them high enough to soften the landing... I tried them again a few weeks later and didn't get high enough. I got stuffed hard and broke two lines and had to swim in.

I thought I hurt my ankle and rib but turned out to be nothing... except poor judgement on my part.

I havent tried any real big ones since then... just small ones. I would like get some tips from Crazy Jay or Billy some time about this stuff. They throw some mad loops.