Body Dragging with No Wind?

Mize · Since 28 Mar 2011 31 Posts

Yesterday I was riding at Roosevelt and the wind shut off just after 1:00. As I was trying to relaunch with no wind I was separated from my board. Under windy conditions, and a only riding unstrapped, I have become very proficient at Body Dragging and can usually recover my board with one tack. The Question is what options do you really have to get back up wind when your kite is not flying? This is probably a "Kooky" question but I felt pretty helpless... Needless to say I successfully self rescued but my board did not...

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

If there is absolutely 0 wind, then I would detach my kite, swim for my board and then swim back to the kite.

Mize · Since 28 Mar 2011 31 Posts

I actually thought of that but it was still breezy enough to pull on the kite. I may of had success releasing the safety and trying to swim but shortly after this I saw a lighting bolt over the river and board recovery was second to getting the hell out. Thank you for the tip, may be exactly what I do next time? $1000.00 Kite or $200.00 Board. For this example though I feel good about ditching the board...

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

this is where some sort of a leash is usefull. If i did not have anything else and I had the donky dong holding my kite I would consider useing my kite leash to hold my board while I tried to relaunch. this is of course if you still have your board when you drop your kite. In conditions when I expect haveing a hard time relaunching I will try to swim to and secure my board before I try to relaunch.

wjb · Since 14 Aug 2007 223 Posts Nor Cal Stoked

I keep an extra kite leash on my harness to attach my board to while I deal with the kite or self rescue which happened to me twice last last Thursday at Roosevelt when the wind died.

wylieflyote · Tue Jul 26, 11 11:43 am

It looks a bit silly, but I wear a second kite leash just for this soul function. And all my boards have a small 2" loop loop of chord to clip to when the kite's in the water and winds are dieing.

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

This is one of the reasons why you have a leash attached to your kite. I would have flagged my kite and aggressively swam to my board, then started my self rescue.If you have an attachment point you could simply tie it off to one of your lines, after you begin winding it up, if you are having trouble managing your board. Otherwise you could have just used your kiteleash as a board leash.
FYI- I use a five line kite and if I crash and loose my board I have no problem leaving my fifth line deployed while I aggressively swim after my board before I begin my relaunch. Having the board on my feet just makes the five line relaunch easier. Wise move choosing the kite over the board. I hope you get it back.