slingshot oh shit handles

[kas911]

I snapped a front line on my RPM and it started to do slow death loops on the water in 30+ knots. I went to punch the safety and realised the broken line was my flag out line.

I had a few hundred metres before I reached land, and the "death loop" video came to mind while I was wondering what I was going to do, so I grabbed one O Shit Handle (rear steering line) and pulled hard. Took all the power out of the kite and I just walked the line to the kite.

What didnt you just release??

[Kamikuza]

I snapped a front line on my RPM and it started to do slow death loops on the water in 30+ knots. I went to punch the safety and realised the broken line was my flag out line.

I had a few hundred metres before I reached land, and the "death loop" video came to mind while I was wondering what I was going to do, so I grabbed one O Shit Handle (rear steering line) and pulled hard. Took all the power out of the kite and I just walked the line to the kite.

What didnt you just release??

Cos if you've got the time to assess the situation, releasing right away isn't always the best option.

[Bille]

...
Cos if you've got the time to assess the situation, releasing right away isn't always the best option.

If you already got the adrenaline kicking , and the situational awareness is making
stuff look like it's going in Slow-Mo --- then YEA , go ahead and assess a bit ;

BUT if your behind the ball-game, (can't see more than one exit) ; then get rid of
that Damn kite --------------(NOW) !

Bille

[BWD]

What didnt you just release??

It's always the last resort, for when you're f***'d.
With O shit handles, you have options.
Lose the kite, you lose:
visibility
Flotation
Chance to eventually sort it out and relunch
Self rescue

And make problems - kite and lines drifting around are a hazard to:
other kiters
boats
people in surf
People in shore
wild life
etc.
Plus maybe trash kite or lose forever...

[edt]

I had a few hundred metres before I reached land, and the "death loop" video came to mind while I was wondering what I was going to do, so I grabbed one O Shit Handle (rear steering line) and pulled hard. Took all the power out of the kite and I just walked the line to the kite.

This particular situation you weren't really using the oh shit handle, you could have simply done a full release and pulled the rear line. Same difference. The oh shit handle is there for when you can't pull in a line and want to retain the kite short of a full release.

[iriejohn]

I had a few hundred metres before I reached land, and the "death loop" video came to mind while I was wondering what I was going to do, so I grabbed one O Shit Handle (rear steering line) and pulled hard. Took all the power out of the kite and I just walked the line to the kite.

This particular situation you weren't really using the oh shit handle, you could have simply done a full release and pulled the rear line. Same difference. The oh shit handle is there for when you can't pull in a line and want to retain the kite short of a full release.

oh shit handles are a last resort to save your kite. I personally don't like them much.

Evidently not so don't use them.

Other people do.

[BWD]

if it's blowing hard
or your kite's too big
or your kite is looping badly
and you're eager to keep your fingers attached,
it's better to grab a handle than a 1.8mm kite line.
Sometimes (most of the times) just an arm's length of leader won't do it.

[bigtone667]

I snapped a front line on my RPM and it started to do slow death loops on the water in 30+ knots. I went to punch the safety and realised the broken line was my flag out line.

I had a few hundred metres before I reached land, and the "death loop" video came to mind while I was wondering what I was going to do, so I grabbed one O Shit Handle (rear steering line) and pulled hard. Took all the power out of the kite and I just walked the line to the kite.

What didnt you just release??

It was my flag out line that had snapped, so pulling pin meant losing the kite. I had a minute to assess the situation and I did.

Don't get me wrong, there are numerous times when I have pulled the pin. I just try and give it two seconds thought before I do it.

[stenner]

Some compelling arguments both pro and con.
What I'm hearing is they're useful if your front flagging line breaks, you can possibly not completely release the kite if you unhook or punch out and grab an OS handle at the same time. Is this fair/correct?

[vkngktr]

Some compelling arguments both pro and con.
What I'm hearing is they're useful if your front flagging line breaks, you can possibly not completely release the kite if you unhook or punch out and grab an OS handle at the same time. Is this fair/correct?

Yes you are correct. I don't understand why people would NOT want them even if you think you may never use them. They give another option when in an emergency situation. If you see no use for them perhaps you should learn the history of them. They used to be the only way to flag out. If you have the wherewithal you can also leash to the OSR. They add no complexity to the bar and having them certainly doesn't decrease safety.