yes : it's not easy (but don't forget that I just switched from foil-kites this season, so as far as restarting a "big" tube goes, I have just no experience at all).
It seems that very well pumping-up the front bladder is key. Then, having enough wind should help too: on my first day out, winds were in the 6-10 mph range, and I had a great time (see pic).
http://jido.freeservers.com/18m-firstday-jido.jpg
Yet, once I "managed" to get the kite down nose-in-the-water, I did not have an easy time restarting it. (are there any kites this size easy to restart?)
The kite eventually restarted but that was more by good fortune I feel, than by technique delicately applied......
I'll have to train for that, or better, just make sure not letting the kite down when I jump.
I am thinking of adding a 5th line to the back of one of the tubes, which would help flip the kite over when it lies on the water, front face down: anyone ever tried that?
Besides the water restart stories, this kite is REALLY extraordinary: despite low winds, it responded rapidly to commands, and remained precisely were placed in the window at all times allowing for great upwind surfing.
When on the lowest range of wind that day (6mph!), it was a bit less obvious but still managable to have a good fun while the others (15m!) had returned to shore already.....
Cheers,
j.
http://jido.freeservers.com/18m-firstday-bluesky.jpg
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jido on 2002-03-15 19:35 ]</font>