I definitely prefer downwind for two reasons: - easy to see 100% sure all lines are good before you launch - you can attach your lines before laying out your bar if you use a line manager and then just spin the bar to untwist Sadly though the two main spots I kite we use a crossiwnd "J" method and ...

Thanks guys... good info. I did a self launch from the x-wind rig set up once and the kite slid a bit, caught some wind and tumbled over itself once, then I grabbed the line and she went up. Prob would of been fine if I had just recognized it 1/2 second sooner and would of been clean. I didn't get ...

Wedge, I agree with a helper being a luxury. I kite alone a good 90% of the time. The beach is down the street from me about half a mile. In order to kite with all these helpers, I have to drive about 45 minutes. I only do that if wind falls on one of the Saturdays I don't work, which is rare. I don...

your talking about a tethered launch or a drag launch? don't launch with someone in your wind window, and hooked in or not the "advise" part of that post is: be ready to disable the kite onto the leash system while self launching, in the event of an "issue." because every once in a while a line doe...

Well, sort of. I don't rig my kite on top of the lines, I just do it all in one shot. I rig from upwind but "into the back of the kite" as you put it. I don't leave my bar alone when I walk back to turn the kite. If it got loose after you turned it and before you got back to your bar, it would crush...

Naah, the badass rabbit image would be perfect for the kids! Saturday morning cartoons, Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, and Badass Rabbit.

I have seen your method I think once in 10 yrs, not heard of it taught. Most 'upwinders' are like the pic or have all lines going under the kite. That Cab video at the top of the page is kinda like my method. The logic is the same. Notice the last part where he picks the kite up off the lines and p...

Badgb21, In other words, in your image, if you picked up the kite with the lines attached and placed it next to the bar (blue side), your lines would look like what I am describing. The center bridles, along with all the other lines, would be attached under the kite, from the downwind side. With my ...

Regardless of how you rig (unless you place the kite directly on top of your lines) is there any reason at all, ever, for the person who is assisting your launch to need to step into your lines. They should always approach the kite from upwind, on the side opposite your lines. Clearly we don't laun...

Some people have a tough time rigging upwind, and think it would be hard to organize the lines. Its easy if you keep red to left, and when you have all the lines walked out, you attach the far side wingtip first, then the far side front line, etc. Doing them one at a time keeps them in the right ord...