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

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. ;-)

[ricki]

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.

[jon modica]

Originally Posted by Skyway Scott

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. ;-)

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.

[ricki]

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?

[RM3001]

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.

[ricki]

Repeating,

Originally Posted by RickI

... 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...

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.


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.

[jon modica]

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