Self rescue North Rebel

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Hi, have been on 4 line kites for the past few years and have just purchased a quiver of 08 Rebels. The manual discussing nothing about self-rescue. I was under the impression that in order to self-rescue with this kite, one would:
1)QR to go to 5th line
2)Kite is on 5th line so go up leash and 5th line until you get to bar
3)Power wrap lines around bar until you get to kite

When I called North, they instructed me to:
1)QT to go to 5th line
2)Detach completely from bar and just go up 5th line all the way to the kite

Is this true??? I don't really like this idea because I never like just letting my bar and lines "drift" away. A) You're not attached to the kite at all. B) They can come back and wrap all around you. C) They can snag on something. D) You end up with a rats nest.

Thoughts???

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

http://nwkite.com/forums/t-8112
http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-7972

its been discussed at length here. basically you should be comfortable and knowledgeable of both, sounds like you are. and then just do whatever makes more sense in each particular scenario.
i can't recall why people weren't wrapping, i think it was a matter of convenience and speed--which is legit in some scenarios for sure. Interesting that North says no wrap. we should poll the companies.
there was a poll of nwkiters, but we can't see the results anymore... pkh?

Chooch · Thu Feb 12, 09 9:45 am

In short it should go something like this:

1. Attached to 5th line you will need to activate your quick release

2. Get your bar and wrap atleast 8-10' of fifth line only around the bar (keeps the kite properly flagged out)

3. Grab all 5 lines and wrap them until you get close to the kite...then secure the lines with one of the bar bungies.

4. After that it should be the same as any 4 line self rescue.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Polls are back

jsj · Since 11 Sep 2006 83 Posts Hood River

It is extraordinary bad form to drag an invisible guillotine through a trafficked area.

On the other hand, wrapping lines is a pain and an invitation to kitemare.

I don't wrap, unless I have to, and even then, only on:

crowded landing (assuming u are lucky enough to wash up somewhere civilized)
rocky, irregular landing (and not always then)
weedy landing (no, I'm not talking about bong hits)

downsides: snagging others, snagging rocks and exploding kite, shredding bar
upside: lines are usually semi-straight when you drag them onto the sand

summary: do not endanger others. past that, its a matter of preference.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Feb 12, 09 11:11 pm

I have done it both ways. But now I never don't wrap my lines. Back in the day I self rescued a bunch by wrapping the lines.

The two times I didn't resulted in the following
1. I ended up with a complete cluster #$%# of lines when I got back to the beach and I ultimately had to go back to the car and get out of the wind to sort them out.
2. The second time I was walking up the line and the kite lifted out of the water when there was a gust. Maybe I wasn't holding the line correctly or whatever, but I sliced the living shit out of my thumb. Not so sure if it was sliced or the spectra just burnt through my skin but at any rate it was not a good scene.

There is a time and place for everything but part of me feels that if I was in some sort of immanent danger where I had to get to the kite quickly, I would probably just ditch the whole deal. (unless I was really close to a bunch of beach goers or something...but then again if you were that close why would you be self rescuing?)

Just my 2 cents. Do whatever you feel safer doing.

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

dude the way we teach them in lessons with the 5th line and 4 line..is you pull in a kite span length of line wrap it around you bar until you get to you leash. then wrap all you lines up to your kite..and go from there..a word of advise: wrap your lines toward the center of your bar in a figure 8 style. its a lot easier then trying to wrap your lines the way you would when de-rigging..

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Well, as with most issues with kiting, I agree in part with all of you. From the research that I have done over the past week on this topic, what I like is:

1) Deploying the QR so that your leash is attached to 5th line.
2) Immediately putting one of your hook knives (most people are carrying two now) into your teeth so that it is right there when dealing with lines.
3) Going up your leash and 5th line to your bar.
4) Wrapping up the excess 5th line between your bar and leash on the back of the bar until you get to your leash.
5) Detaching your leash from the kite to hook up your board. Attaching some rings at the top and tip or tail of your board to make hook up easier. This will also keep your board from pearling while dragging it with you.
6) Power wrapping or figure 8 wrapping up your lines (like Holly mentioned) on your bar until you get to the kite. Just make sure you are minful that you are not wrapping up your hand into the figure 8 wrap.
7) Get to kite.
Cool

Throw bar and lines into the belly of the kite. Secure with self-rescue handles if possible.
9) Sail home.

The only time I like going up one line is when the wind is too strong to wrap, kite is downwind of me, lines are taught and I am heading to safety; otherwise, I won't do it.