I was wondering how a 10 could possibly loft anyone larger than a midget in 10 knots (without looping it). Thanks for clearing it up a little. Just how did it happen?

Did a gust to 12 hit or something while moving the kite to zenith? Did the cleat slip?
I've been "lofted" to about 6 feet when my clamcleat lost grip. That's one huge reason I like pull/pull straps now.

Even a powerful kite can't loft without movement of the kite or a quick (if even minor) gust or a sudden change in the AOA in as little as ten. I am just curious how it happened.

Unfortunately my fiance' got lofted, for her first time, when the cleat slipped on her 11m Instinct while launching (she was on land). This effectively changed the kite's "power" from about a 9m C to a 15m C in 1 second by radically altering the angle of attack of the kite.
That is by far the biggest hazard in having 4 kites in one, with a cleat determining "kite size".

She went up pretty high (it was about 20 knots). It freaked her out, big time.
I was glad she didn't get hurt.