How To Drift Launch Your Kite Alone | Self Launch
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- Опубліковано 1 вер 2020
- Have you ever wanted to launch your kite, but have no one to help you? The answer is……Just do a Drift Launch. This is one the most common requests of new riders and in today’s blog, we are going to answer it for you.
We will go through a very detailed yet simple approach to drift launching. In this blog and video you’re going to learn how to drift launch your kite in the water by yourself.
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why don't you hook the bar to the belt right from the beginning? This way you guarantee that a line doesn't accidentally flip over the bar while swimming out.
In stronger wind conditions kites tend to start rolling when you let them go so and there is a high chance of getting your lines inverted. I would advise using a simmilar method but the lines would be wrapped for self rescue (safetly line wrapped first than the rest) and when letting the kite go always having tension in the safety line. This works for 4 line systems just as well.
Hi Matic.....100% agree high winds can make drift launching very tricky. Even adding water on top of the canopy isn't fool proof. The wind can still get under the LE and it can roll. I like your suggestion and will actually have to try it. I'm aware of this method, but never used it before. Thanks for the added suggestion.
Looks good! Well explained.
I have tried this first time, but let go of the kite before unwrapping all the lines from the bar, you can imagine whats happpened when the kite got into downwind, i could not hold to the bar anymore and the safety didn't work neither due to tangled lines on the bar. Lessons learned
Yea...that's unfortunate. Next time, attach your kite leash to the pump leash spot on the kite and as you are unwilling your lines, you cannot let go of the kite. Also, take your time going through all the steps. Managing the lines is the biggest thing to focus on to make sure there are no tangles. Good luck next time around.
very nice. But the other day in super strong winds you cannot let the lines in the water or else they just get tangled with mass seaweed... What a drag
I agree. Any type of surface weeds will play havoc with drift launching. It can end a session before it even started.
Well the one thing that he does address that is a very common issue around our lakes is the debris or rocks along the shore but the other part that is rarely covered is the fact that it's very rare to have a place you can walk in waste deep water that far out in the lake! Most of our shoreline drops off deep just 10 to 15 ft off shore. The only places its shallow that far out is up in coves where there's logs and busted off trees and stumps which would make a really bad day if you got into..I almost drifted into a big dead branch last time. I was like "oh shit oohh shit!"
Hi James......thanks for the feedback and comments. We are fortunate that a lot of lakes in our region have shallow areas to drift launch if no-one is around to help. How are you launching then if you don't have the extra room? Riders really needs a minimum of about 100ft+ to walk from shore to safely drift launch.
So... I have just let the kite go and when the lines snap tight, I see that they are crossed. Now what? In this position, I have sometimes pulled my safety, and (due to the wrap) the kite fails to flag out. A real scary position for sure. So is there a good, safe way to uncross lines after a kite roll or if a steering line went around the bar?
Hi Mike, Thanks for the comments and question. That's the worst thing when you spend all the time trying to make sure the lines are clean and straight and they are not once you let the kite go. Are you hooking your bar into your harness while walking around and out into the water? I've found this to be the biggest culprit for lines wrapping. That being said, if they are wrapped, you have 2 options. 1st is to go back in and run your lines. That's the safest and easiest. 2nd option is to do the bar juggle, but I would not try this on the water without practicing on shore. Then...if it's lighter winds, you can try it on the water after reacting, but in stronger winds, do not even try due to the pull on the kite. You could get a finger caught and get cut easily or worse. Here is a really good video from Evan and Demo from Cabrinha to show how to bar juggle. ua-cam.com/video/gA1peEyybOY/v-deo.html
I hope this helps. Bob
Thanks Bob! This is perfect! Always keeping in mind safety and that board. Question: why don't you hook the chicken loop to the harness (besides being awkward)?
Hi Katie.....No matter what you do with the bar, you really have to pay attention to the lines. One wrong wrap around the bar and it's time to start all over on land. I've seen firsthand riders hook the bar into the loop and then it's just moving all over the place as they are walking and a line or 2 get's messed up. If they don't check before unhooking out in the water, there can be a wrap. Often, the harness is under the water and it's hard to see if a line is caught. By draping it carefully over the LE, I always know the lines are clean if I'm careful with them at all times. Hope this helps. Bob
@@kiteridersllc6962 Thanks Bob. Going to focus on Transitions today & maybe a drift launch!
I believe you throw water on the upwind edge of the kite, right? 2. Doesn't this method tend to let the kite drift to the max power angle in the window when launching? - difficult for high winds? 3. When is beach self launch preferred, whenever you have space on beach? I tried drift launching in waves and found it hard. - inverted lines 2x before I finally got it.
Hi....thanks for the comments and questions. 1) At the 6:30 mark I do mention throwing water on the canopy if it's windy. It's always a difficult decision to drift launch if it's windy when you have a lot of chop or waves. Anything that can toss the Leading Edge up in the air after you let go is risky. 2). The kite will end up in normal relaunch portion no matter what, so if you crash your kite while riding in high winds, it's still in max power angle for launching. If you are good at relaunching, then you can hold the relaunch and let the kite travel to the edge of the wind window before you let the kite release from the water. 3) It's 100% better to always have an assistant help launch on beaches instead of in the water if that's an option. I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out to me at bob@kiteridersllc.com if I can help in any other way. Thanks.....Bob
I'm considering using a strap to tether my board to myself until I'm ready to use it. Thoughts?
I do that sometimes, but the (serious) danger is that the lines can now get wrapped up by the board which is dragging. You can manage this by keeping the board on the opposite side from the lines, but still risky. A trick I often use (with twin-tips) is to place the board on top of the kite while you are setting out the lines and getting ready.
I thought about this, in light winds maybe ok. But in high winds I wouldnt. I was reading that if you get pulled at launch then your board will go under and have a ton of tension and then shoot back at you. I think keep it untethered
100ft into water and still on your feet? That excludes 70% of places.
100% you need enough room from shore to properly drift launch safely. If you don't have 100+ feet, you would want to use a different method. Thanks for the comment.