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How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

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Toby
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How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby Toby » Thu Dec 07, 2017 1:29 pm


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mede
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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby mede » Thu Dec 07, 2017 1:47 pm

I would suggest that instead of just releasing, you fly the kite to the window, steer it down (possibly grabing both front lines for an impulse), then pull the upwind frontline to properly touch the kite down. Then proceed as you described

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby matth » Thu Dec 07, 2017 2:19 pm

mede wrote:
Thu Dec 07, 2017 1:47 pm
I would suggest that instead of just releasing, you fly the kite to the window, steer it down (possibly grabing both front lines for an impulse), then pull the upwind frontline to properly touch the kite down. Then proceed as you described

Grabbing and pulling in lines in high winds can get sketchy. If you wrap a line and the kite powers up you will be in a world of hurt. I like all my lines as far down wind from me as possible.

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby sarc » Thu Dec 07, 2017 3:18 pm

How to land your kite in 20kn.
High winds are when you see beach chairs flying horizontally. I'd like to see that kind of self landing

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby Pellesurf » Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:32 pm

Perhaps it's not the best way in high winds, but it's quite beautifully done :)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnHneV-vTqo[/youtube]

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby Flyboy » Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:41 pm

Yeah - I would call "high winds" 5m conditions ... or at least 7m conditions.

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby matth » Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:47 pm

it's all relative, If you are on a 12m and the wind cranks up to 30mph plus you can be in a white knuckle situation.

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby tautologies » Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:02 pm

Wait I expected some nice technique here. Just flagging the kite isn't even 101 stuff right? I mean if someone can't even flag the kite, they probably should look for a different sport.

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby badgb21 » Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:12 pm

In that kind of wind I’d try this first (especially if kite is still dry and you don’t want a birds nest):-

Assuming you have a good-sized area of beach – for plan B below, just in case! –
Bring kite to side of window on the beach about 3m off the ground, steer the kite hard to the ground and immediately push bar away and take a couple of steps downwind.
Some also have a tug at the top centre line at this point too.
In most cases the kite will end up parked nose to wind. I then make a beeline to grab the kite.

If it doesn’t or you mess it up, try again or plan B is to release to safety.

I was sceptical when a guy on the beach mentioned this method to me, as he described it as ‘smashing your kite into the ground’
but I have had good success with it. You don’t need to smash it, but be firm.
Please only try this if you are experienced.

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Re: How To Self-Land a Kite in High Winds

Postby zig zag » Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:26 pm

Ocean Rodeo gear on an Epic kite? the OR bar is a double line safety release meant to utilize their roll over bridle.. couple things wrong here.. once the rider winds up the trim line on the bar they should really wind a few lengths of one centerline effectively making it a single line flagging system then wind the remaining lines...

to avoid damage to the kite place it near the water before engaging the release...

this guy is lucky the kite was well behaved.. you could have the kite re-launch with both centerlines taunt... sorry but this is a poor example.


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