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Getting into the slow season so i had some time to make a video about kite safety practices. Please enjoy and comment.

Hello guys
many accidents occur at launch... just last week someone dies in San Francisco due to a launch gone wrong. In that thread I noted that if the person had launched unhooked he would still be with us today; I was asked to post a video of what I mean by unhooked launch, so there it is. Sorry for the poor video quality, I just hope that it brings the message across and make people aware of this approach to launching.
https://youtu.be/2QD3CzoojYI

Thanks for posting that Sarc. Sorry to hear about the death in San Francisco. You're right, it's good to have discussions about launch procedure.

I'd like to offer some thoughts:

Excellent point about not hooking in till the last moment before launch, see 6:31 in the video above "Assessing for Best Safety Practices". In assisted launches this would be normal procedure. Also when I land my kite, that chicken loop is out of the hook within the first second or two of the kite being caught.

If the kite flies away it's already depowered as it gets ripped out of your hands because you're holding the chicken loop instead of the bar. That's why when we are walking around with the bar we are holding mainly on to the chicken loop (with tension as we move into launch position) while the other hand holds the bar lightly to keep it from rotating or dragging on the beach.

For the self-launch: the thing that makes me uncomfortable about this is that the kite is not under the bar's (kiter's) control at the critical moment the kite leaves the ground and starts to take power. Then the kiter has to focus his attention and both hands on the chicken loop as he hooks in, while the kite may be flying uncontrolled; in unstable winds it can overfly the window or do something else unexpected.

We have taught here that as the kite takes flight, one hand controls the bar and the other hand goes directly to your QR and holds it, ready to pop the release if things go haywire.

Anyway a self-launch should never be done unless there is a huge amount of free space downwind (as in your video), and should not be attempted by beginners. I don't teach self-launch to people who don't have a fair bit of experience already.

Happy riding...

Matt - many thanks for your video, I think it presents many valid concerns and solutions to them.

Thanks for kooking it up with the Helmet.

This pro launches in the way I was describing in my video below. His video is much better, highly recommended! In French but video is self-explaining
https://youtu.be/acLl6BtJRkM

sarc wrote: ↑

Mon May 22, 2017 10:20 am

Hello guys
many accidents occur at launch... just last week someone dies in San Francisco due to a launch gone wrong. In that thread I noted that if the person had launched unhooked he would still be with us today; I was asked to post a video of what I mean by unhooked launch, so there it is. Sorry for the poor video quality, I just hope that it brings the message across and make people aware of this approach to launching.
https://youtu.be/2QD3CzoojYI

OK, got a question for all here:

I've been kiting 18 years, always taught my students to try to keep the area downwind as clear as reasonably practical, and try do the same myself: plan things to avoid flying my kite over people's heads, etc.

I love to ride in waves but stay away from where people are playing in the surf if they are going to be within my kite lines. (Plus a bit of extra margin in case I crash, which we all do.)

So I was at the local surf beach the other day, and some kiter guy was snaking in and around the people learning to surf and the people playing in the water. Riding just a few meters upwind of random people, kids etc to get to where he wanted to be on the wave.

Is there any universe where this is considered OK? Any surfers out there, what do you think of this, knowing that if he wipes out or has equipment failure or a lapse of judgement that you stand to get some kite lines across your neck (or worse)?

Thanks... Just curious as he didn't seem to be bothered by it.

Totally screwed up, terrible idea to ride around people in the water like that. Especially in waves. Unless the surfers are good friends and maybe kiters as well so they know the risk and what you are likely to do.

matt-0 kite wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 09, 2018 9:31 am

So I was at the local surf beach the other day, and some kiter guy was snaking in and around the people learning to surf and the people playing in the water. Riding just a few meters upwind of random people, kids etc to get to where he wanted to be on the wave.

Is there any universe where this is considered OK? Any surfers out there, what do you think of this, knowing that if he wipes out or has equipment failure or a lapse of judgement that you stand to get some kite lines across your neck (or worse)?

Thanks... Just curious as he didn't seem to be bothered by it.

Fuerteventura. I had my absolute opposition to leashes reversed in the thread below. Apparently kiters there have to be in close proximity to swimmers/bathers and surfers so that it makes a leash a requirement. Good to know. If I ever find myself there, I would just surf, though I would not want to surf with a kiter and swimmers on the same crowded break. So that is why I stick to cold water. It is nice to have some freedom and NOT be kiting in a traffic jam where you absolutely no right of way.

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... h&start=20

I would think that the guy you saw came from a location that had the need to mix kiters with crowds of bathers, swimmers, and surfers. Go talk to them and let them know of a better spot, or the rules against kiting within certain zones. It could save your kite spot.

Hi guys, an other video about Unhooked self launch but not like any other one. I don't recommend self launch on hard ground but if you do it, that the only one I would trust. It is not for beginners of course. Beginners should not do self launch. Here is a link to my site for more safety videos.https://kitesurfingdublin.com/portfolio/. Safe kiting.
Sylvain. [VIDEO][/VIDEO]