Forum for kitesurfers
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matth
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Postby matth » Mon May 15, 2017 12:22 am
Also if you launched unhooked, wouldn't that mean now you have to fiddle with your donkey dick? Seems like that could be an unnecessary distraction at a time you can least afford it.
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grigorib
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Postby grigorib » Mon May 15, 2017 12:59 am
From one perspective unhooked launch if practiced en masse would increase number of kites sold but then as newbies kill themselves out and kiting gets banned on beaches the numbers would go down again.
Maybe...and don't judge me harshly for suggestion of guys actually learning, taking lessons, watching videos, asking questions. You know that might help, right?
Nah...I guess that's too complicated and eBay is full of pre-2010 gear. Cheap too....(facepalm)
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Bushflyr
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Postby Bushflyr » Mon May 15, 2017 1:00 am
You have to fiddle with a lot of stuff; The DD is the least of your worries. Getting dragged down the beach with one hand on the CL while trying to fly both sides of the bar with your other hand or choosing to endanger other beach users by letting go is just silly.
Obviously everyone has different beach/launch conditions, but I'll opt to have maximum kite control on launch and
choosing to punch out if things go bad vs. giving up 80% of my control and endangering bystanders on the off chance that something
might go bad. FWIW, in 17 years of kiting I've never lost control of my kite on launch despite getting lofted and/or going sand skiing down the beach many a time.
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Eduardo
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Postby Eduardo » Mon May 15, 2017 1:05 am
wow - I've been kiting 15 years all over the world and never once saw anyone do this unhooked launch idea.
if any beginners are reading this, please don't follow this. your safest way is to tell the launcher 'I'm a beginner, can you help me double check everything.' when I get asked this, I bring over another friend so there is one person at the kite and one at the beginner and we can check and double check that the set up is good, launch not too hot or going to stall, be ready to grab their harness, ...
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longwhitecloud
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Postby longwhitecloud » Mon May 15, 2017 1:44 am
not commenting on accident but
unhooked launching is fu#$ing awesome been doing it for over 16 years here and there - high tide, dodgy launch etc...
3 important points
1.make sure your kite does not backstall /oversheet when unhooking
2.use a fully flagging leash
3. dont hold on too tight - the idea is to let go if things go wrong - not get hauled (practice letting go of you kite - teaching i have seen how hard it is for some people to do this - kite cost potential repairs (unlikely and hesitation) - but this is exactly what will f#$4 you up!
Makes you take right size kite for conditions too :-0
IMO IKO etc are absolutely retarded with the way they teach teachers, they just put a press release out about how they changed the way they teach something - i'm like.... we knew this 10+ years ago! money laundering...
HUGE thoughts to his family. Sucks beyond all comprehension. Kiteboarding is a dangerous sport and needs a lot of consideration and respect, those that make out otherwise for their own selfish need$ can go #$@@ themselves!
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CaptainArgh
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Postby CaptainArgh » Mon May 15, 2017 1:56 am
Very sorry to read this and the account on BAK Sad news. Condolences to his family.
I'd agree that the current kite designs are not ideal for unhooked launching. Used to be the taught method, but kites today a lot of times will pull too hard or backstall unless the kiter knows how to trim the kite and has practiced unhooked kite flying. I suspect lessons even teach you to launch hooked, but just be ready to hit the release at any time. Launching towards the water should be the norm, then. Flying the right size kite will also minimize risks, but according to the
chart posted the wind didn't seem too bad. One 29 mph gust but should have otherwise been manageable. Maybe that area is very gusty.
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salvino
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Postby salvino » Mon May 15, 2017 2:46 am
Today we had similar situation that had zero problem
The winds were higher than forecasted and small storm cell on horizon led to winds increasing from 20-25 to over 30.
We were on 9M and came close to shore for safety. A newbie on beachhad launched his 9M and was standing with kite at zenith, back towards wind and weather with tree line 150 ft downwind. This site is for intermediate to advanced especially with today's forecast.
My 9M started going crazy with upper level gustswell beyond what was on surface. I punched out as kite flew overhead too far and backwashed and fell out of sky!
I'm screaming squall! Towards beach, no one really aware. I'm swimming backwards to clear lines of downed kite as I have no idea hat wind will do.
Newbie still with kite at zenith,no one on shore really aware.
I get to shore, set my kite, then try to landnewbie and kiter with 3 yrs experience tries talking with my how crazy wind is.
Wtf
I land newbie
All is safe
He was a lamb for the slaughter. Wtf.
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jakemoore
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Postby jakemoore » Mon May 15, 2017 3:03 am
Condolences to family friends and affected kiters.
I am a fan of launching unhooked sheeted out holding the chicken loop as described above.
When doing tethered launch one naturally moves through this step of holding the chicken loop unhooked before hooking the loop in. I prefer tethered launch even more so I can check the bridle at the kite.
I've seen experienced kiters get spanked by a careless launch helper. For one im not sure if the bridle was wrapped around a wingtip or a half buried rock. The other had the kite released too far forward in the window resulting in a tumbling kite. And I've been spanked hard launching open cell foils in bigger winds. It happens so unbelievably fast.
Staying unhooked until everything is good to go is sound advise and easy to do.
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cglazier
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Postby cglazier » Mon May 15, 2017 3:14 am
Eduardo wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2017 1:05 am
wow - I've been kiting 15 years all over the world and never once saw anyone do this unhooked launch idea.
if any beginners are reading this, please don't follow this. your safest way is to tell the launcher 'I'm a beginner, can you help me double check everything.' when I get asked this, I bring over another friend so there is one person at the kite and one at the beginner and we can check and double check that the set up is good, launch not too hot or going to stall, be ready to grab their harness, ...
Agreed (and I've been kiting 18 years). Nobody around here launches unhooked. It sounds wacky to me. I believe that our local schools always teach hooked in launching because you can easily depoower the kite when hooked in and you are much more in control.
And my condolences to the poor victim of this terrible accident family and friends.
CG
Last edited by
cglazier on Mon May 15, 2017 3:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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