Why you should be ready to release? That's why...

[Toby]

[Herman]

I am confident that I know what Toby means but ; if you went up to the rider just before the kite was released for launch and asked him if he was ready to operate the QR if needed, I wonder what would have been his answer?

[bkkite]

Isn't the lesson here that this person probably shouldn't be launching on their own yet? They brought that kite up way to fast too be someone that has any experience handling a kite. It makes me nervous launching people that I don't know, and haven't really assessed their skill level yet.

[edt]

Isn't the lesson here that this person probably shouldn't be launching on their own yet? They brought that kite up way to fast too be someone that has any experience handling a kite. It makes me nervous launching people that I don't know, and haven't really assessed their skill level yet.

you dont know if they brought it up too fast or if it was some kind of equipment failure. it looks more like equipment failure of some sort to me as you'll notice the kite loops and yanks him even after he has hit the sand once and has no inputs on the bar. My guess is that he didn't even know there was a problem until he hit for the first time, then didn't expect it to loop.

I think on average it takes about 8 seconds to use the QR for most kiteboarders. Just how it is. On the internet it's always easy to use the QR after 1 second but in real life . . . 8 seconds.

[sarc]

this video explains what to do, I've been using this method for last 5 years since I broke my ribs on launch, never failed to work for me!

[Herman]

Without getting into the debate of technique and when to hook in or whether you should have a hand on the QR. My take on being ready to release:

For me the critical criteria is do you have control. If you don’t release. Being ready to release is, imho, about generating the mindset to make the decision quickly rather than hand positions etc.

It looked like he had the bottom hand on the qr when the kite was let go but for some reason it started climbing back into the power zone and so he put the bottom hand back on the bar to try to control the kite. Then up he went. Imho if he had the bottom hand immediately available to crank down he may have stopped the kite going up, or found out he did not have control slightly quicker giving a little more time to eject.

Once he had landed it should have been obvious there could be control issues. It seemed to me he was indecisive and waited to see what was going to happen. If he had a mindset which was ready to release he had time to eject before the snatch.

Of course the above could be bollox, either way I hope he was ok. Also he may have been able to make the decision that he was not in control before trying to pull down on the bottom hand ie release immediately the kite moved back but I am not sure that is realistic for many. Edits 8 second assessment is probably a good reflection of average reality.

[grigorib]

I say: be ready to handle the situation, especially in gusts/lulls.
Having hand on release always is not practical and he should see the explosive pull coming. It’s practice that counts, not a certification card in the wallet

[grigorib]

https://youtu.be/69-_AY841fE

I'm not good at embedding links but this video explains what to do, I've been using this method for last 5 years since I broke my ribs on launch, never failed to work for me!

You can’t compare amount of tension your arm can handle and the pull your body generates. This method won’t work in gusty/lully winds
Self-launch and self-landing are important skills but I consider it unsafe to launch unhooked. Also unsafe for everyone else on the beach. You don’t want to get the beach closed for kiters because people release their stuff through beachgoers.

[1234567Simon]

First take off: why…. Can not see the reason for take of…
Maybe a little fast, maybe too deep in the window, but nothing specially.

Second yank: after first under flying the kite … it frontstalls, and catches line tension right in the powezone
HERE HE SHOULD HAVE USED QR. I think he actually tried, but it did not work… nut sure….

[edt]

You can’t compare amount of tension your arm can handle and the pull your body generates. This method won’t work in gusty/lully winds
Self-launch and self-landing are important skills but I consider it unsafe to launch unhooked. Also unsafe for everyone else on the beach. You don’t want to get the beach closed for kiters because people release their stuff through beachgoers.

Agree. Unhooked launches were taught back in 2005 when many control bars didn't even have a qr or if it had one it failed under load. It's still being taught today because some people never change. Today the qr always works so trust it and launch hooked in. Many harnesses don't even have a spreader hook now.