Advancements in Tech/Safety

Kamikuza · **Posted:** Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:40 am

scklandl wrote:

dont want to be a drip but kiting is not much safer than it was years ago.

accidents are caused by users, not kites.
reasons for accidents are rigging errors, failure to know local weather patterns and current weather systems, choosing poor riding, launching landing areas, and riders doing foolish things.

Ive had scary things happen to me on C kites and on SLE's. All the bells and whistles wont save you unless you're quick enough to hit the release, and then does it work or is it wrapped or trapped?

New kites make learning to ride easier and give a rider a more comfortable wind range than older c kites, this will allow you more time on the water and more experience. More experience should make you a safer kiter by giving you more time on the water and more experiences to better know how to react to different situations.

Money cannot buy a fool proof kite, only a fool would think that.

Get a kite, talk to the locals and watch and learn and then get back out there, BUT NEVER THINK THAT A SAFETY SYSTEM WILL SAVE YOU, Only you can make the right choices to keep yourself safe

A lot of that comes from lessons, but you can't beat old fashioned experience. The key is to be smart and listen to the little voice that's going "ooooh shiiiiit son!" in the back of your head ... when the voice is in a stunned silence, it's time to quit

RickI · **Posted:** Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:53 am

scklandl wrote:

dont want to be a drip but kiting is not much safer than it was years ago.

accidents are caused by users, not kites.
reasons for accidents are rigging errors, failure to know local weather patterns and current weather systems, choosing poor riding, launching landing areas, and riders doing foolish things.

Ive had scary things happen to me on C kites and on SLE's. All the bells and whistles wont save you unless you're quick enough to hit the release, and then does it work or is it wrapped or trapped?

New kites make learning to ride easier and give a rider a more comfortable wind range than older c kites, this will allow you more time on the water and more experience. More experience should make you a safer kiter by giving you more time on the water and more experiences to better know how to react to different situations.

Money cannot buy a fool proof kite, only a fool would think that.

Get a kite, talk to the locals and watch and learn and then get back out there, BUT NEVER THINK THAT A SAFETY SYSTEM WILL SAVE YOU, Only you can make the right choices to keep yourself safe

All true. With new kite technology, we should have even fewer serious accidents than we do. We still have loftings and draggings despite all the improvements. The failure as always usually deals operator error or poor choices putting ourselves in the way of what is often avoidable trouble. Use good procedures, common sense and gear to improve the odds of fun hassle-free sessions. I would deep six the old C kite technology with a passion and demo various new kite systems to see what you like and works well for you.

MehYam · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 2:18 am **Posts:** 81

scklandl wrote:

dont want to be a drip but kiting is not much safer than it was years ago.

Yeah, but listen to the OP, he says he's terrified w/ his old 16m - I got started on a big C back then too, and I can't blame him for feeling that way. A 2004 kite can kill you just like a 2012 kite can, but the difference in control of power is vast.

mloewen1 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:50 pm **Posts:** 3

Im not entertaining the fact that therisk of kiting is gone. Ive raced sailboats ( so i understand the power of wind) me entire life and like I said I kited for three years before having a serious accident, I completely understand the risks of kiting and being lofted, and how costly rigging errors can be.

I found the old c design to be unpredictable and unstable. Just wondering if the fifth line is overkill on Bow now that the Bow/hybrid designs are more stable and can relaunch.

Thanks for all the input guys,

What a great community.

dyyylan · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:38 am

mloewen1 wrote:

I found the old c design to be unpredictable and unstable. Just wondering if the fifth line is overkill now that the Bow/hybrid designs are more stable and can relaunch.

Yes, 5th line is overkill now. Single or double front line flagging systems completely kill the kite almost instantly. The only real benefit of a 5th line these days is that you can make kites without bridles, and use the 5th line to support the leading edge a bit. It can also greatly customize your feel for a kite depending on how tight it is (see the new Best GP). It also helps for relaunching in super super light winds, but many bridled kites are great at this anyway.

if you really want to feel safe and in control try a liquid force envy, cabrinha switchblade, switch element, best kahoona, or some other bow/delta kite like those. they're very simple and straightforward which makes them easy to use and generate smooth power and control. they have a lot of depower and stability so they eat up gusts, and just make your ride really enjoyable

frankm1960 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:48 pm **Posts:** 1226

mloewen1 wrote:

Im not entertaining the fact that therisk of kiting is gone. Ive raced sailboats ( so i understand the power of wind) me entire life and like I said I kited for three years before having a serious accident, I completely understand the risks of kiting and being lofted, and how costly rigging errors can be.

I found the old c design to be unpredictable and unstable. Just wondering if the fifth line is overkill now that the Bow/hybrid designs are more stable and can relaunch.

Thanks for all the input guys,

What a great community.

If you do decide to go with a 5th line c-kite keep in mind there is a solution out there for the "bow tie" issue. It's called the "wave grenade" and it's made by Slingshot.

I've had my 5th line bow tie on me twice, once launching and the other time snow kiting where the kite fell from zenith and of course dove around the 5th line. So it doesn't have to be in waves for it to happen. The plus side of the 5th is that it makes bringing the kite down solo fairly reliable and predictable. You can launch off it solo as well. You can use it as emergency depower too but you have to be careful there not to over do it.

The 5th line is extra line but likely not that much more than that used to make a typical SLE bridal.

knotwindy · **Joined:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:49 am **Posts:** 249

you've got some good replies here and some scatter

there s very little difference in the safety factor between 5 and 4 line kites these days.
most of the safety comes from paying attention to where and when you rig and if you are in the water, usually just letting go of the bar is enough.
On land, let go sooner and pull the release quicker, doesn't matter which kite it is these days.
In this respect it is much better than when you kited last.
There is a reason most kites sold these days are neither true C or true bows, most are the hybrids that combine the best of both and drop the instability issues both have.
If I were getting started now after a big thrashing I would think less about the equipment, these days (since 2009) all the big companies make solid stuff, and i would think more about starting slowly in lighter wind until i got comfortable with the new release/system and they crank it up!

start slow and have fun

RogueKiteboarding · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:16 am

scklandl wrote:

accidents are caused by users, not kites.
reasons for accidents are rigging errors, failure to know local weather patterns and current weather systems, choosing poor riding, launching landing areas, and riders doing foolish things.

Could not agree more. People tend to get really comfortable especially when they've gotten pretty good and forget to be safe. We've seen some really ugly accidents so, always keep caution.

http://RogueKiteboarding.com

Cray · **Joined:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:37 pm **Posts:** 82

Quote:

Yes, 5th line is overkill now. Single or double front line flagging systems completely kill the kite almost instantly. The only real benefit of a 5th line these days is that you can make kites without bridles, and use the 5th line to support the leading edge a bit. It can also greatly customize your feel for a kite depending on how tight it is (see the new Best GP). It also helps for relaunching in super super light winds, but many bridled kites are great at this anyway.

Sorry. I disagree. I went for a 5 line kite because of bad experience with a 4 line safety not working (as advertised). Was no big issue as rescue picked me up, otherwise I would have had to ditch equipment and do a long swim.

frankm1960 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:48 pm **Posts:** 1226

knotwindy wrote:

there s very little difference in the safety factor between 5 and 4 line kites these days.

How do you know that? Are you looking at some test results some where? And how much is a little?

I'm curious

Advancements in Tech/Safety

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