As others have said, you really need to be kiting with someone else around. Once you are experienced you will be better able to assess the kiting alone risk for yourself.
If you insist in going out alone, be sure there is a good onshore component to the wind and it's not forecast to change.
Even with others around, you will need to self-launch and land at times. Sounds like you did OK, but this can be tricky. Wind picking up, shifting, and crap on the beach catching your kite as you drag it round, all can be a pain. A tethered launch/land would be worth considering, something well worth learning now.
Tie a rope to a beach post, ground stake or large bag of sand and caribiner to your chicken loop.
Many different opinions on here, but ask your instructor/locals what they recommend as type of sand may influence decision. I generally prefer a good ground stake like this (or something similar)
http://www.kiteanchor.com/
Lots on YouTube about how to do it.
As for your lines, at the risk of starting a 20-page debate, set your lines out downwind. This way allows a clear view from the bar to the kite. Walk the lines at least twice and be sure they are not crossed. Then walk them again. Make sure your bar is the right way round on the floor. (I don’t know your colours, so can’t help – be nice if all bars had common colours!) For downwind lines the bar needs to be the opposite way round – right on left and vice versa.
Get your instructor to go through this with you.
I think most folks will have had a crossed line or two in the kite time, just be sure you spot it before launching.
Sounds like it would be worth making the effort for lessons sooner if possible while it’s mild weather. Fingers crossed you get some wind.
bradleygood wrote: ↑Wed Oct 03, 2018 10:30 am
badgb21 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 02, 2018 9:11 am
Way to go Bradders!
Good to hear you are stoked and enjoying your journey.
Couple of things would make me happier;
Treble check those lines before launching.
Fly the kite in the shallows (away from other kiters/swimmers) it'll hurt less if you get dragged and keep you clear of other beach users.
It may hit your knees once kiting, don't despair, you will learn the conditions that they are ok in (low tide is often a good start) and you may need to experiment with boards and even footwear may help.
It's going to get cold in NJ soon, so hope you can get up on the board soon.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cool thanks, yes, there was no one else around and that's the only way I'll be flying a kite - I understand how it could injure others and not be cool. I have good boots, hood and gloves, wetsuit and will probably buy a jacket too...and am not planning on going too late in the season but the water has been really warm lately, like as warm as the summer...70 or even 72 the other day I think.
Oh, and about the lines - Do you have any advice for what went wrong? I was trying to think about how I laid them out and whether I had the red side of the bar on the left or if I wanted it backwards (on the right) while laying it out...can't really figure out what to do next time...just remember having to land it and move one line to the other side of the center lines....