Unhooked launch by sarc:PullStrings wrote: ↑Sat Dec 15, 2018 9:15 pmAll that talk about the rider and signs to give the OK !!
That's not how i operate if someone needs help to launch
I first have a talk on how i will do it....and if they don't agree...too bad
I will ask them to hold their position while i will go set-up the kite with lines tight on it's wingtip with enough wind in it to stay " stable on the ground "
I will then walk away backwards upwind 5 feet while keeping and eye on kite and rider
At that time the rider can re-position himself a bit upwind or downwind if needed to stabilize the kite and make doubly sure that all lines are clear
Then he can proceed to launch his kite safely on his own...or... if he changes his mind i will be nearby to go grab it slowly and surely and put it down....zero drama
Back line tension check by matt-0 kite:sarc wrote: ↑Mon Dec 10, 2018 9:11 amSee my launch unhooked thread in the safety topic.
I realize that much of the hate and nastiness to my posts is because people have not watched the videos and think launch unhooked = both hands on the bar (maybe with death grip if something goes wrong). That's not what I mean - again, watch the videos then ignore them if you want.
Launch unhooked means both hands on the Chicken Loop and do not touch the bar (OK you can hold it with 2 fingers to stop it from snagging/rotating). If you get lofted, get a death loop etc. the CL gets ripped out of your hands and kite falls to safety leash.
It pains me that since I made that post, 4 or 5 people would literally be alive if they had watched the videos.
I forgot how to paste the link but you can search youtube for "Quand se hooker avant le décollage ? - One Launch Kiteboarding"
So to combine all the above suggestions, can we propose following steps:matt-0 kite wrote: ↑Thu Dec 27, 2018 12:43 pmThanks for the vid Podiatrana:
It often happens-- a few mistakes lined up to contribute to this incident. As mentioned before by other posters-- kite too far downwind, arms outspread instead of on the quick release (perhaps he expected that letting go of the bar would depower the kite sufficiently), maybe some other things I did not notice.
I teach this launch procedure to my students & use it myself, it's based on input from many instructors that have worked for me over the years. I think it pretty much checks off the boxes for stuff to look out for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aApZDlC0ss
Please notice also the "back line tension check." The majority of cases that I've seen lately where the kiter loses control over the kite when launching would have been prevented by doing this before giving the thumbs up.
Launch Procedure (SPLAT): do ALL of your checks EVERY time, and communicate with your helper
S - Situation- Re-check beach, water, and wind/weather conditions.
Locate your across the wind line (3–9 o’clock on the wind window) before picking up bar
Check that you have a downwind area (drop zone) as clear as possible of people and obstacles
P - Position- Yours and the kite’s position vs. the wind direction and water’s edge
Attach safety leash, make sure you are downwind of the kite & close enough that the lines are slack
Move toward edge of window; bottom hand on chicken loop to pull front lines tight, & top hand holding bar
Walk upwind keeping front lines taut, & loosely feeling for power in the bar with the back lines to find edge of window
Attach chicken loop, hook in & sheet out
Move carefully upwind again with front lines taut, checking for power until you feel equal and sufficient tension in back lines
L - Lines and Safety Systems:-
Double check Lines, safety leash, & bridles free of tangles and twists ; connected properly
Sheet fully out (to check depowerability) and fully in (to check for equal and sufficient back line tension)
A - Around- Thorough 360 degree check of beach and ocean, just before you give the signal:
T - Thumb up- with bottom hand (but not if the panels are flapping or the front lines are slack!)
Some years back one of my instructor friends called me out after watching my launch; he said why are you so strict with your students with this but didn't do the 360 degree check yourself before you launch? I thanked him, I still remember that and it helps me to do my all my checks every time.
1. Kiter attaches only safety line
2. Kiter is unhooked, holding only chicken loop, gets in the proper launch position, does back line tension check while helper is holding the kite in a launch position.
3. Helper sets the kite on the tip and walks 5 feet upwind of kite. Kite sits at the edge of the wind window, bar is fully sheeted out and kiter only holding the chicken loop while safety line is attached to harness.
4. Now kiter hooks in after finishing SPLAT and using top hand on the bar and lower hand on the QR, slow steers the kite up
My local spot is San Francisco Bay Area and most our launch spots have obstacles downwind and not safe, so there is no margin for error. At Sherman, the launch spot is in shadow and helper has to toss the kite in the air, so I don't even think that placing a kite on the tip and walking upwind by the helper is possible, but might try next time I am there. Also, if helper has to toss the kite, how unhooked launch will look like?
