Safe student launch?

[sijandy]

Have the student loop the kite while you do the transfer.

I heard that's the safest way

[Lubo]

That's a great topic. I recently had an argument with a friend of mine who also doesn't like to transfer the CL to a student while the kite is in the air, so instead he prefers to launch the kite himself standing next to the student holding the bar while the student is hooked. What is your input on that method guys? Any comments?

[Laughingman]

That's a great topic. I recently had an argument with a friend of mine who also doesn't like to transfer the CL to a student while the kite is in the air, so instead he prefers to launch the kite himself standing next to the student holding the bar while the student is hooked. What is your input on that method guys? Any comments?

I think you won the argument, and he will likely end up in a law suit one day.
He should self launch then put the kite on the edge of the window touching the water and swap then.
Better yet teach the student to assist in launching as the first lesson. Then do the above swap.

[badgb21]

Since when did it become recommended for Switchblades to flag to a rear line?
Did I miss something

Edit -oops! Apologies Ronnie - I had 3 SB3's and forgot about the ring, co I never used it!

I reckon setting the kite down and having the bar out and unhandled while transferring the chickenloop and leash is the safer way.

When Switchblades flagged to a rear line, I heard of a teacher transferring the chickenloop and bar to a student while the leash was still attached to the teacher. A gust hits and the student is dragged a few feet away from the teacher.
The leash to the rear line puts the kite into a powerloop and the student gets a broken arm.

[IWB2]

badgb21,
The Switchblade model Ronnie is referring to, is the 2007/2008 Switchblade which flagged out on a rear line.

[Lubo]

Do you guys mind staying on topic. This is a safety issue not a gear discution

[BWD]

Ok then the point:
It is not safe to hand off a kite in the air to an inexperienced kiter.
Ever.
The minimum requirements to hand off a kite should be:
High confidence in handling that particular kite and it's safety system.
Excellent judgment of local wind conditions
Strong preference for open unobstructed location with no riders people or obstacles for75-100m.
Excellent, clear communication between riders.

With a student, few of these conditions can be met.
I did not bother trying to pass kites off until after years of experience, and only then with riders I trust.
Relaunching a kite is so basic, beginners need the maximum practice launching and landing anyway, they need to master it before you send them off to need rescue downwind.
If there is a wind shadow or obstacles to consider, the area is not acceptable for lessons, find another place to teach, even if that only means wading another 100m out.
!

[Bille]

In 2009, i was re-learning to kite board with two fake legs, and didn't
want to attempt to kite out of the bay at 6-mile with all those swimmers around
me , till i got Good control over the board. I had already bin kite boarding for about
four years, so i knew how to fly a kite.

I would have someone borrow my Edge
for 1/2 hour, and i would walk over to the up-wind point that's South of 6-mile. We
would transfer the kite over to me, and i would easily kite away from that point
without worrying about hitting a swimmer.

I absolute did NOT like to do that transfer, with the kite overhead ; things go Bad
and there's NO time to react. With the kite nearly touching the water, i felt that i
had time to ditch the kite to the safety line, (Before the kite hit the Power zone).

OK -- it's the same distance to the power zone with the kite overhead, as it
is on the side with the kite nearly touching the water,
BUT
if i did get launched, it was gonna be towards the water, (when the kite was low), and
not Up --- where gravity could eventually Hurt me.

In the end, it's a personal thing, but i Do Not think transferring a kite to anyone, is
a safe thing to do ; even if they Both persons can kite board with reasonable ability.

Bille

[edt]

i dont think it is a big deal to transfer a kite in light or medium winds. The problem is that is that everyone is in a hurry and you sometimes have a brand new beginner taking lessons in bf6 (22 to 27 knots) bf7 (28 to 33 knots) or even more. That is when bad things happen.

[geopeck]

The first time I hand it to a student it's always parked on its tip on the sand. Before I do this I'm giving a demonstration of the stability of being parked there, ie. if you move downwind you destabilize it, if you move upwind a little bit you stabilize it. I position them perfectly and hook them in, no touching the bar, take a moment to relax. Then, take the bar and work it off the beach.

I do in air transfers at 12 o'clock once they are getting comfortable, but only in clean moderate wind. Also, I always state who has control - "you have the kite" - if you pop their chicken dick out prior and start the transfer by going for the CL then the risk dissapears once the CL is out.