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dan79
Since 22 Aug 2009
20 Posts
Longview, WA
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 Mon Sep 07, 09 7:42 pm Advice on self launching |
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I have an 08 liquid force sessions 12 meter kite. I am finding that no mater how much sand I put on the folded wingtip it still pops before I can launch. One fun example is the kite turns directly into the power zone, (like it's gonna launch hot),then I run like hell to catch it. Any advice, suggestions etc.?
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$ociopath
Since 28 Nov 2007
523 Posts
Twilight Zone
Addicted
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| Mon Sep 07, 09 8:12 pm |
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| drift launch... rig like normal, remove sand, run to bar, body position 45 degrees upwind of kite 45 from edge of window and pull on the back line. your kite will be tipped up into wind and be powered but not full power. |
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dan79
Since 22 Aug 2009
20 Posts
Longview, WA
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| Mon Sep 07, 09 8:24 pm |
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Thanks Perryj 
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1364 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Sep 07, 09 9:56 pm |
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| Note in the first video the kites are being launched towards the water, close to the edge. Generally this is preferred to launching into land and then flying the kite overhead to the water. |
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2624 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 5:53 am |
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| perryj wrote: | | drift launch... rig like normal, remove sand, run to bar, body position 45 degrees upwind of kite 45 from edge of window and pull on the back line. your kite will be tipped up into wind and be powered but not full power. |
Might call this the "drag" launch. Not to be confused with self launches in the water where you let the kite "drift" (float) away from you.
Couple things to add for the drag launch...
-It's nice to have the lines running from the back of the kite so they don't get caught up trying to pass under it. So if you're "normal" process is to run the lines to the front of the kite, then lift it up and drag it up wind past the lines just before you launch.
-Often the kite needs a little ballast so it won't blow away while you are getting your bar. Get the sand off it, but lean the top of your board on it. The board slides off as the kite drags back.
-Make sure the ground is smooth and snag free where you do these launches.
-If you're kite is dragging back in the window everytime it's because you are too downwind. If it's launching too hot, you too up wind. Generally you want to be slightly more upwind than you would be for a normal assisted launch so the kite flips over without dragging all over the ground.
-Pull the bar in to get it up on the wind tip, push your bar out to get it to take off and bleed off the hot launch power.
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Spike
Since 13 May 2007
1414 Posts
Alameda
Spelling Expert
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 9:21 am |
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| This is a very good way to rapidly increase the wear on your kite, having it drag over the sand is like belt-sanding your kite. This is mostly a problem with bridled kites since it slides on the bridle attachment points. Since i notices the wear at these points, I stopped doing this over sand. Sometimes you can lay it in shallow water and do the same type of launch, without having to drag it across the sand, but this requires you to be a little faster. |
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 9:29 am |
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| Not sure about that Spike. I self launch my kites a shit ton and they have zero wear from launching that way. Just be sure to look over the launch and remove any debris from the area (sticks, shells, rocks). If you buy a quality built kite there will be no issues with this. |
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alleycat
Since 29 Jun 2006
176 Posts
Portland
Stoked
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 10:07 am |
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I use the method shown in the 2nd video quite often. The key that should be stressed when launching is do not touch the bar until you have connected your safety leash and attached the chicken loop. Once you are fully connected then simply steer the kite up. Obviously everything is opposite when landing.....steer the kite down slower than usual (as when you have a catcher) to the edge of the window. Let go of the bar and do no touch it again... connect the chicken loop to the sand bags then the safety leash, run up and secure the kite. The video doesn't stress enough on the importance of not touching the bar while connecting and reconnecting the chicken loop/leash.
This method has worked with my older Cabrinha, Swithblade 16M and my REVS perfectly everytime. I agree with Spike as I do not like dragging my high quality, well built and expensive kites across the sand while launching/landing. You do not have to buy sand bags either the Green recycle bags from Trader Joes work fine....just empty the sand out really well afterwards or there is the potential for the significant other going postal on you...
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arkay
Since 06 Jun 2008
192 Posts
Manzo/Hillsburrito
Stoked
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 10:16 am |
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| this is basically what i do to. setup the lines downwind and be sure that the bar is backward from normal. lean my board on the leading edge sdeways with no sand. grab my bar, completely depower at the strap, twist the bar so i'm holding it the right way. then with no line tention i walk upwind of the kite so that the kit is on the edge of the window. then i just walk backwards which will cause the kite to flip on end with no dragging. if it doesnt flip right away i just walk a little further up wind until it does flip. works like champ. only issue i've had was launching when clearly over powered. expect to have a good skud. but in moderate power its smooth sailing. |
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 12:58 pm |
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| Chooch wrote: | | Not sure about that Spike. I self launch my kites a shit ton and they have zero wear from launching that way. Just be sure to look over the launch and remove any debris from the area (sticks, shells, rocks). If you buy a quality built kite there will be no issues with this. |
video 1 is what most people do (like everytime at the beach)
- like Slither said look for kite popping sticks and seaweed that might tangle in your line
- if you do this enough - your lines will get caught on the kite or some unseen obstacle at some point - so be ready to pull your release if it all goes to shit
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eu2pBpQolKE |
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Skamaniac
Since 10 Oct 2008
76 Posts
Gorge
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 2:44 pm |
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| I have the same LF 10m kite and launch the folded sand way all the time (4times yesturday without problem (1st yr kiter). Fold to first strut (make sure lines are not tangled around wing corner) and let kite opposite wing lay down wind. Do not try this in light inconsistant wind as the kite will fall back into window. When you are ready to pull kite up you need to be fairly aggressive once the kite dumps sand with the upper wing. |
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dan79
Since 22 Aug 2009
20 Posts
Longview, WA
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 3:46 pm |
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Thanks for the good info. Blake said good things about this forum. Warm fuzzies all around 
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2624 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 4:05 pm |
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| Spike wrote: | | This is a very good way to rapidly increase the wear on your kite, having it drag over the sand is like belt-sanding your kite. This is mostly a problem with bridled kites since it slides on the bridle attachment points. Since i notices the wear at these points, I stopped doing this over sand. Sometimes you can lay it in shallow water and do the same type of launch, without having to drag it across the sand, but this requires you to be a little faster. |
Spike, if your kite is sliding/dragging across the sand then you are too far down wind....there is a sweet spot where your kite will pop right up on it's wing tip with no sliding. The take off will be a little hot, but managable. |
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Spike
Since 13 May 2007
1414 Posts
Alameda
Spelling Expert
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 4:55 pm |
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| Wind Slither wrote: | | Spike wrote: | | This is a very good way to rapidly increase the wear on your kite, having it drag over the sand is like belt-sanding your kite. This is mostly a problem with bridled kites since it slides on the bridle attachment points. Since i notices the wear at these points, I stopped doing this over sand. Sometimes you can lay it in shallow water and do the same type of launch, without having to drag it across the sand, but this requires you to be a little faster. |
Spike, if your kite is sliding/dragging across the sand then you are too far down wind....there is a sweet spot where your kite will pop right up on it's wing tip with no sliding. The take off will be a little hot, but managable. |
am i supposed to run upwind then with the lines under tension? The reason it slides is because I wait till the wind catches the downwind wingtip and pushes it downwind far enough in the window to roll over. So I assume you mean run upwind before it starts sliding so it is already that far back in the window? |
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 5:03 pm |
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| Yeah the trick is to hook everything up and spin the kite so the wingtip is already catching a little wind. Then go to your bar and walk around the kite with slack on your lines. When you get directly upwind of the kite walk backwards and tension up your lines. The kite will pivot a few feet and the canopy will fill up with wind. Then just pull on on outside line to launch it. |
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2624 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Tue Sep 08, 09 5:48 pm |
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yeah, I would say being 'directly' up wind of the kite (like you need to be for a deep water relaunch) is the Ruben-style....then you pull the boardless L3 as you get yoinked! 
Like I said in my first post....I get a bit upwind of where I would normally be for an assisted launch. So not straight across...but a bit upwind of that point...
You can adjust for how over/under powered you are. If it's light, or if you tend to rig smaller then being directly upwind of the kite will work.... |
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