Leon van Bergen wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2019 8:11 am
''Waveriders usually always launch and land alone around here, even if not alone on the beach, for many reasons.''
And what are the many reasons? I totally do not understand why you do not let someone else do it if there are any.
Here in the Netherlands everyone always helps each other and that is the most normal thing in the world to me and also way more safe for the other people on the beach.
You say "other people on the beach", maybe that is the main difference? Hardly never happens here on wavespots...
Even if there are others on the beach, either not kitesurfers, or some you dont know well, it can in my experience be more risky to get assistance - some let go too early, or much worse, some dont see a bridle line that has caught a tip or similar, so checking yourself is the safest.
The short reason is we all use the stake method anyways, so no reason to help unless it is "obvious" and practical.
But one has to see the whole picture:
We have hundreds of kitespots around here in the close proximity 45 minutes or less away.
About 20 we use regularly for waveriding, so all 360 degree wind directions are covered.
Meaning, no spots are crowded, so never anyone on the beach not surfing, and hardly never TT riders at these spots of course.
So when arriving at a spot, even if we have an appointment (the web solely is used for this), we hardly never arrive at the same time.
So rigging up and setting a stake or using the stake at a pole is key when you arrive as the first.
Then lets say another kiter appears, starts rigging, and unless he/she knows you will be out longer, another stake is set up of course.
So possible to land when coming in as the last one
This is why there are many stakes at the same spot, personal preference where, so not necessarily at the exact same spot.
We always leave our kitebag at the stake or pole, so others know there is a stake if getting ashore and wanting to land.
Usually the position is checked by setting the kite on its tip (kite not too close to the water, and direction correct etc, so thats why you dont want anyone to launch you at first of course.
When doing so, it makes no sense to have the other rider drop his/hers rigging routine (the riders wants to get OUT, when there are good wind and waves) and waste time on something not necessary, unless standing right next to the kite.
Again, when coming in for a break, or changing kite or board or whatever, there is noone at the beach so now the stake is needed.
Riding waves often happens miles upwind or downwind of the launch/land spot, so you dont go ashore that often now.
On a good kiteday, riders come and go but hardly never at the exact same time, so noone at the beach usually, even if we are many out laughing and having fun on the water hooting and sharing out there.
But very rare people go ashore at the same time, when, of course we take each other down.
At bigger wavespots with many riders, you rarely need a stake, but then again, nice to have if you end up being the last to come in, if having a "perfect" day.
Another detail - those using a linecam would prefer to use a stake, but ALSO having assistance is even better.
So the camera can be above and free from sand at all times
At a few spots there can both TT riders and waveriders and hydrofoil riders, but rare .
Still, the stake/pole method is so used that most riders use this because of above reasons.
If some is close to the kite, assistance is given, otherwise the kiter sets it up him/herself
It woks splendidly here, but seems very geographical different apparently
Peter