I tried for the first time to my launch my kite (14M). the wind was a bit to low, maybe 7 knots, but I was wondering because of the size it was awkward to get it in the air, now i did mention the wind was low, but i was Ok with that, as I felt it might be better just so it doesn't blow me away, I wanted to body drag only, to get a better feel to it. I had a friend hold it, but it is so large how does he hold this in place until I give him the go ahead to release? I just wasn't sure were to advise him to hold the kite. I am a newbie watched videos but most videos guys are using smaller kites and they seem to be a little more easier to handle on a launch, or self launch. I did not get up due to low winds but was fun trying.

It's all plain and simple physics.

Turn it over. Walk the tube with your hands so the kite is in launch position and hold it closer to the wing tip - there's probably only a few basketball players that might reach the middle of the 14m kite's tube while in launch position. All you need to do then is keep the kite in place and the guy hooked onto it needs to do some work too, but you both need to find the sweet spot where the lines are tight and the kite's canopy doesn't flutter but it still doesn't have power in it. Just hold the kite in place so it doesn't launch and seriously, if done right with the right angles, there is absolutely no force required to handle a kite while launching. Not even a 14 or bigger. Oh, and don't stand in the kite's way! Stand clear of the kite and lines - there's absolutely no need for you to stand in it's way.

If you're launching the kite, a couple of pointers. If the kite is really pushing into you or it's trying to "eat you" (falls over you pushing on the ground), you're standing way too much downwind. If the canopy is nervously fluttering and the kite wants to drift downwind, you're standing way too much upwind. Move downwind a couple of yards so the canopy becomes tight.

So, move upwind and downwind a few (or even more) yards depending on the situation and find the sweetspot where the kite will stay in the air (while the lines are tight) but won't hit you on the floor with it's force or you won't need to hold because it tries to get away from you. Done right you can hold the kite in position only with your palm, don't need to hold it at all, just keep it from flying off.

Good luck.

A video of one way to do it.

Basically you dont tension the lines until your assistant has the kite on its side and has good control of it.

Its best to start slightly downwind of the correct place to be when you start to tension the lines. If you are too far downwind and have tensioned the lines a bit, the kites canopy should be fluttering.

You then walk upwind keeping light tension in the lines until the wind fills the kite and the canopy just stops fluttering. Then take another couple of steps upwind and the kite should be ready to launch.
If you walked further upwind, the kite would power up and try to surge upwind, pushing against your assistant and you dont want that to happen.

when you launch kite, you dont "hold" up the kite. You grab the leading edge where it is convenient and the kite itself "holds" itself in the air.

It is a kite after all.

If the kite falls down because there is not enough air, I would hot launch it. 7 knots is really light. You can't really hold a big kite up off the ground unless the wind is blowing.

If you friend doesn't know this much, dont let him launch it until he knows better, and I guess for you this means you need practice landing and launching kites too, it sounds like you know a lot more now than when you first bought your kite and didn't know what a quick release is, but you need practical experience. Plan a day trip to a kiting location where you know lots of kiters are and spend a few hours just launching and landing kites for people, it will make you a much better teacher for your assistant at your regular launch. I suspect a little bit of instruction will go a long way.

I nearly ruined a kite by letting a newbie launch my kite, he grabbed it wrong and my kite flipped inside out, had to pull the safety. What is more, even after the kite was inside out, there he was grabbing the kite trying to launch it. Good grief.

Hello Mr.keegster17,
Sorry to ask, but have you ever had a lesson before? If not, you definitely need to get a lesson on how to kite and how to land and relaunch your kite. It is a dangerous sport so you need to be careful. This is also one of the reasons why we have dealers and schools so people can learn the safety of kiting before you get injured or injured some one else and have the beach closed.
So please be very very careful.
Now concerning relaunching your kite in 7 knots. As you can see above few people such as keegster17, surpher, ronnie, edt, and so on... have given you very good advice on how to relaunch your kite. But again 7 knots is on the light side, and you need to have more experience on the feel of the kite and wind in order to be able to launch a kite in such light wind, same thing in very strong winds. Any way this is another video on how to relaunch a kite and land a kite. All these videos are very good to watch because it will give you a better idea.

I agree with Dimitri here. A lesson would be what you are looking for.

You are the pilot, and have all the responsibility. You can direct your launcher but ultimately he is not sending the kite for you, you control it from the bar. 7 knots is not kiteable...unless you are very advanced. Light wind riding is very technical. 7 knots can be done on a raceboard.


If you don't know what you are doing, then having enough wind will be more dangerous. Right now, launching in 7 knots I only hope there are no one else around.

I realized the 7 knots would not be sufficient but at the same time because I have no lessons I thought it would be perfect time to try. the beach was empty and I felt safe because the winds where low. I understand a lesson would for sure help, just have not had the time, Yesterday I only wanted to attempt to get the kite in the air and try body drag, because the wind was to low, no luck. If the wind was more than 15 knots I would have not attempted. My only experience I have is several hours reading, and watching videos, as well as a good 8 hours with a kite trainer. guys thanks for all the tips.

Hello Mr.keegster17 and thank you for your honesty. Please get some lessons so you don't get hurt or hurt any one else. Kiteboarding is like hang gliding or paragliding. And because it is an extreme and dangerous sport you need to get some lessons, I have seen so many people get hurt and few of my friends die from it. So please make sure you get some lessons. I can read and watch as many books or videos, but at the end you still need lessons.
If you don't know where to get lessons please let me know and I will make sure you get to the right school so they can help you out. This is my email in case: dimitri@epickites.com

Once again please be careful

The ONLY way you could hope to launch 14 in 7mpn, is via hot-launch.

In 7mph, this is doable for a safe hot-launch for your ability.

9-10, this is not doable for a safe hot-launch for your ability.

ALWAYS CHECK FOR OBSTACLES DOWNWIND. THEY CAN HARM YOU.

1) Kite on its trailing edge, with some one holding it, leading edge towards sky, while standing above(downwind) of kite.

2) You lay your lines out directly upwind from the kite.

3) Chickefy and dickefy up, and double check all safety releases.

4) Get tension in your lines.

5) Let go of the bar, reach up and grab the centerlines above strap, give a steady pull to the centerlines, and run backwards a little.

6) As soon as the kite leaves the ground, release the centerlines and grab the bar.

7) While keeping the bar extended, fly the kite left and right, then to near zenith and you've done it.

Don't try this in any higher wind speed. Trying this with a higher wind speed, at your level, would be extremely hazardous to your health, if not fatal.

Best to heed the D-man. We don't call him the D-man fer nuttin. His wisdom should be heeded.

The only advice that anyone should be offering you is GET SOME LESSONS ! If you'd had a lesson you would know that at your level you can not launch a 14m kite in 7 knots of wind.

Kitesurfing is a dangerous sport and we all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of not only ourselves but also others, especially beginners, otherwise you will just end up another fatal statistic which impacts the sport for the rest of us.

Apologies if i sound negative, i'm not trying to deter you, it's great that you want to learn to kitesurf but you will advance much quicker with some hands on lessons. All too often people die from this sport and you need to respect the power that a 14m kite can generate even in 12 knots of wind !