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

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.

[windjunkie]

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.

[ricki]

Anymore input on this out there?

[JustinZ]

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.

[ricki]

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.