1.Solo Flat Kite Launching-Safety Tip Of The Week

I think that's pretty rare as well for brand new lines.
Good thing you pulled your QR and came out okay

[clamike]

Some flat kites are easy to land in winds up to and beyond 35 knots. The flat kites that are able to sit on the beach at 3 or 9 without any control input are actually easy to self land safely. In my experience I have done this with Switchblades, Omegas (1 to 1 mode), Waroos and Helix, others may be possible but I have never tried. Xbows, Omega (2 to 1) and Contras will also be able to use this method if you lock the override halfway.

This is how I do it.
1) park the kite on the side of the window (9 or 3) and let the bar go, let the kite settle into a stable position. *make sure your kite can stay there without moving*
2) if the kite will stay there without falling backwards or jumping in the air then you are ready to start self landing.
3) detach leash from yourself
4) grab onto the power strap above the bar
5) detach chicken loop and lay bar on the ground
6) maintaining constant pressure on the front lines climb up both front lines until you get to the kite
7) your kite should stay there the same as when you were hooked into the chicken loop
8) if the kites starts to jump you can let go of the top front line and continue to climb up the bottom front line like you would do if you were activating the leash and climbing up one line to the kite
9) once to the kite, continue to climb up the bridles until you reach the middle of the kite, grab it, turn in over and secure your kite on the ground

It is similar to how Rick was saying to secure the chicken loop to something and then go retrieve the kite. But you can use this method if there is nothing to secure the chicken loop to.

Sorry if it is confusing, it is much easier to demonstrate than to write it down

Mike
kitehousemiami.com

[ricki]

Thanks for the approach Mike. I would urge all due caution with regard to *make sure your kite can stay there without moving*. Some kites will sit there in some winds while others will not.

I tried this in 18 gusting to about 23 mph last night with an 11 m Waroo Pro. The kite was slowly bouncing.

If this happens, STOP and go find someone to land your kite or an anchor that won't move.

I experimented with pulling in on the two fronts lines slightly but found there was too much tension, with gloves, to reliably be able to work up to the kite. So, I abandoned this approach and prepared to find an anchor to use that technique for solo landing.

Picked my bar up and watched the kite turn into powered loops directly downwind dragging me a ways until I could pop the quick release. It was almost dark and I hadn't noticed the soft, unsheathed chicken loop lines had taken a turn around the bar. Whoops.

Fortunately, I picked an area with a large clear area before trying this thereby avoiding stacked chairs, boats, etc.. Not all kites sit nicely when held by the front lines in all winds. Don't try this with kites that don't just sit there. Also, I noticed by Contra I 14 m had a tendency to roll over downwind in lighter winds in the past even when anchored. Be careful!

Originally Posted by clamike

Some flat kites are easy to land in winds up to and beyond 35 knots. The flat kites that are able to sit on the beach at 3 or 9 without any control input are actually easy to self land safely. In my experience I have done this with Switchblades, Omegas (1 to 1 mode), Waroos and Helix, others may be possible but I have never tried. Xbows, Omega (2 to 1) and Contras will also be able to use this method if you lock the override halfway.

This is how I do it.
1) park the kite on the side of the window (9 or 3) and let the bar go, let the kite settle into a stable position. *make sure your kite can stay there without moving*
2) if the kite will stay there without falling backwards or jumping in the air then you are ready to start self landing.
3) detach leash from yourself
4) grab onto the power strap above the bar
5) detach chicken loop and lay bar on the ground
6) maintaining constant pressure on the front lines climb up both front lines until you get to the kite
7) your kite should stay there the same as when you were hooked into the chicken loop
8) if the kites starts to jump you can let go of the top front line and continue to climb up the bottom front line like you would do if you were activating the leash and climbing up one line to the kite
9) once to the kite, continue to climb up the bridles until you reach the middle of the kite, grab it, turn in over and secure your kite on the ground

It is similar to how Rick was saying to secure the chicken loop to something and then go retrieve the kite. But you can use this method if there is nothing to secure the chicken loop to.

Sorry if it is confusing, it is much easier to demonstrate than to write it down

Mike
kitehousemiami.com

[ricki]

Paul Menta with The Kitehouse just put up two videos showing a couple of approaches to solo landing and drift launching BOW kites off the beach at Key West.

Landing -




Drift Launching -

[ricki]

Paul made these comments about the video clips.

Regarding the solo landing clip:

Originally Posted by paul m

yes this works for strong winds, did a few days before in 32 knots......week before almost 40...was alone, so didnt film, when this came up with rick, thought i would show him.....we might have some heavy stuff on monday, if so i will film the same thing, been doing this a few years like that....either way i will get some shots.....beach only and water.

and for the drift launch clip:

Originally Posted by paul m

sorry also for the drift....you need not drag lines in waterset up kite near the water, lines above kite. walk down beach with lines, put kite in the water as it drifts walk back wards on the beach, no hands on bar. This is ment for when you have nothing to hook to to do a self launch or as another option, hope it helps!