Landing in High Wind Situations

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

Good morning NW'er marionette puppeteers!!
Ok, I'm going to shoot my OPINION on landing your small kite in high wind situations.

If you are coming in to the beach make sure you:

1. Are under control, and able to steer the kite.(if not safety release out).

2. Make sure there is room, or that somebody is not launching/landing(look around) as you are coming in(safer). Never walk up the beach and land towards the river it's not safe.

3. De-Power your kite as needed before you get to the beach(in the water) as water is softer than dirt/rock.

4. **You land the kite to the person catching your kite. It's your responsibility to accurately land the kite to the person grabbing your kite. ***It is not the catchers responsibility to run after your kite!!

5. After the kite is caught, drop your bar and then secure your kite immediately with sand. It's a real bummer to wait holding a kite while precious moments tick away and you wrap your bar, rude.

6. Clear the launch land zone if you are at a small beach site.

7. Know your safety systems!!! If it hits the fan use your safety close to the launch, while you are in the water. If you come on shore and you are Overpowered release your chicken loop with your body in the water and nothing hard downwind of you. This may mean you have to self rescue, right?

If you are the catcher of the kite:

*******1. Never, ever, ever attempt to grab the lines to secure the kite. If you think that you can do this safely then you are going to have some serious line burns. This is a HUGE RISK as you never know, if the guy flying the kite will steer the kite away from you or lose control. Never Grab Lines on a hot kite!!!!!!Never.

If you have a question about landing or you want to learn how to safely do this hire an instructor who is PASA or IKO certified and from the gorge. High wind situations that involve 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 meter kites can and will and have been deadly. Usually it's when somebody gets to confident and doesn't use their safety system, or doesn't know how to use them at all. Be careful and kite another day.

Respect the wind and she will provide,
Ron