Should I self launch or get an assist?

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

Soon we will be kicked off the Event Site and back on top of our little slice of patch, aka the spit.

As water levels fluctuate with the massive amount of run off we expect to see flowing down the river it's a good idea to talk about launching.

Should you self launch or get an assist from a fellow kiting geek?

My best friend and I have been discussing this at length. Why is drift launch not something you want to do if you don't have too? My buddy is a beginner and not up and riding regularly, but he's close.

He then says to me, "When I'm in Hood River I see lots of guys doing it?!"

He's talking about advanced kite boarders with years of experience, but he thinks it's something he needs to do.

**Here is my opinion on self launching, either drift or beach launching. If the kite is left unsecured there is always the potential for a mistake. Kites that are not secured in Hood River will on occasion take off!!

***Beginners and Newbs LISTEN UP AND LISTEN UP GOOD!!
THE BEST LAUNCH IS AN ASSISTED LAUNCH!!!
***********************************************************************************************************************************bulae99 wrote:

***Beginners and Newbs LISTEN UP AND LISTEN UP GOOD!!
THE BEST LAUNCH IS AN ASSISTED LAUNCH!!!

How about:

Quote:
If you're a beginner, or if the beach is crowded, or if the winds are squirrelly, THE BEST LAUNCH IS AN ASSISTED LAUNCH!!!
********************************************************************************************************************************
A unassisted beach launch is a good idea when there is nobody available to launch your kite. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED AND YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

A drift launch is unassisted launch you do when there is no other option due to the location. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

Choose the safest way to launch your kite. Chose the safest site to launch your kite from. If you see somebody doing an unassisted launch don't assume that this is the best way for you to launch. Unassisted launches are more dangerous than assisted launches.

Think about it and ask your instructor, friends and kiteboarding peers what you should do.

Cheers,
Ron

K2 · Since 30 Apr 2009 274 Posts Hood River, OR Obsessed

I had a friend "assist" me in launching my kite at Rufus this weekend. However, as soon as he grabbed the kite to get it in the wind window I noticed my lines were all crossed up and was pointing at the twist to see if he could verify. He took this for a thumbs up I guess and threw the kite up and it looped about 3 times and I got yarded across that gravely ass beach. The kite ripped and I was basically wondering who should pay for the repair? I gave no thumbs up so in my opinion I had no fault in ripping the kite and getting my ass kicked on the beach. But the lines were messed up when I came in from kiting so maybe that is partially my fault that I didn't get that sorted before I thought about going back out.

Also we just need to make sure that everybody knows to give a thumbs up when they are ready for the assistant to throw your kite up. We just need to make that very clear in my opinion. Never let go of the kite unless you see a clear thumbs up. Yeah....

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

yeah if you see a problem you need to make it obvious let go of the bar with both hands and wave him off. As far as who pays when you ask for help you live with what you get that is why some people like to self launch and land.

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

as for the first question. people should learn to self launch and land but work on it when their are not very many people around. But the first few times it is a good idea to have some one who knows how around to help if needed.

fj40bryan · Since 20 Jul 2009 8 Posts Portland, Or Kook

I agree with tstansbury, and you should have checked the lines. Sounds like your friend was just trying to help you out.

About the self launch issue. This is something that beginners should be learning in lessons. I was trained to self launch and land.

K2 · Since 30 Apr 2009 274 Posts Hood River, OR Obsessed

I understand my friend was trying to help me out but I think when you pick up somebody's kite you take responsibility because the kiter absolutely no control of when the helper throws that thing up. As soon as he picked it up I was grabbing the bar to see if they would untwist, and if you kite you know that sometimes they get twisted and a few yanks on the bar and it untwists. So I just grabbed the bar with one hand and was pointing at the lines when he just threw it up. I have no control over him throwing my kite up. You guys are essentially saying if I offered to throw up your kite and just threw it up when I felt like it then it would be your fault for... I don't know, it's just your fault for asking a fellow kiter to throw your kite up. And if you or your kite got fucked up well then it's your fault. So basically you guys are saying not to listen to this guys post above me and ask for help launching your kite, because you would be better off launching yourself where you have at least a little control rather than absolutely no control.

When I throw somebody elses kite up I take a look at the lines and wait for a thumbs up. If something looks weird I tell the kiter about it. The kiter has no control over when the kite gets let go of so you have a big responsibility to try and get that thing up safely.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

"You guys are essentially saying if I offered to throw up your kite and just threw it up when I felt like it then it would be your fault for... I don't know, it's just your fault for asking a fellow kiter "

Yes, this is what is being said. It's the code. It's how it is. You ask for a launch, it's still your responsibility period.

Glad you were not hurt. Airtime will get you back in the air for not a lot of money I am sure.

No disrespect intended. It sucks to almost get hurt and damage your kite. We have all been there--not fun.

craz z · Since 01 Dec 2008 130 Posts Montana Stoked

Kites should always have preflight checks as with any flying sport.

The pilot should know 100% before strapping in that the kite is ready for flight. If you launched with tangled lines it doesnt matter if the kite sender made a mistake or accidentally let it go. you should be ready to fly the minute you put the chicken loop on your harness.

With todays methods for rigging a kite it should be nearly 100% kook proof and the kite sender should only be a last resort at checking lines and the kiter should be totally ready to fly or let the kite go if something isn't quite right.

In the early days i could remember facing the LE down and unwinding upwind correct sides right=right etc only to have a sender as your lifeline to flip hold and toss XTREMELY UNSAFE Hot launches are almost inevitable with this method and to this Day I try to correct anyone that still uses this method.

Today kites should be unwound LE down and your behind the kite unlining downwind. The only chance for error is getting your right left mixed up. which I guess isn't 100% kook proof but it does allow you to see that each line is laid out and not tangled in anyway as you walk to the side of the window to either self launch or assited launch your ready to go with total confidence.

As far as not having control of the kite only if its tangled you might run into that but if everything is right you need to be on edge until the kite is in the air and stablized you are in 100% control and shouldn't put so much trust into someone else FOR YOUR SAFETY.

I've seen good tossers and bad tossers shit happens and you need to be ready when it does

(Should the kiter be held responsible when the tosser gets hurt for holding on when a gust rips it out of his/her hand and body slams them on the ground? I've seen it and it isn't pretty)

I remember reading a thread a year or so ago on nwkite that alot of people in hood river with the winds cranking so high that kiters would unhook before launch then hook in when it all checks out another good safety method to prevent injury.

ericvs · Since 05 Jul 2008 133 Posts Stoked

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

Aeolus · Thu Apr 14, 11 10:39 am

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

I think that it is worth mentioning that if you are launching someone you should be upwind first then walk back into the launch position, wait for the thumbs up and release. Likewise if you are having your kite launched rig up downwind then walk into position then give the thumbs up when your ready. It is unsafe and it gets old quick when someone asks me to launch them, they stand where they think they want to be, I go to launch there kite, and shazzam the top of the kite slams into the ground in front of me. I most times have to take the initiative and walk upwind for them when really they should be the one starting downwind. My 2c$

lks · Since 06 Nov 2007 117 Posts Anchorage, Alaska Stoked

Your world of kites frightens and confuses me...

You still refer to him a friend, which suggest to me that you have wisely chosen not to trade one of those for a law suit.

If you can't move your neck 3 months from now because of your injuries, you might reconsider.

If you can prove that the friend knew about the "thumbs up" rule, then under your facts I'd say the turd belongs in his pocket.

But enough talk about sue-ers (pronouned just like, you guessed it, "sewers").

Think "stake launch." So long as you have a fixed object to hook your chicken loop into, you can walk the kite out yourself and even check the lines. If you have a super stable kite, like a TD3, you can let go of the kite and it will gently pull against the lines like a trained dog waiting for its master's input, while you stroll back to the chicken loop and hook in. (Hook leash first.)

Ice screws work best on frozen lakes.

Now pour me another drink, Babes, pronto...

KP · Since 05 Apr 2011 23 Posts

I see thumbs up all the time, but they have their arm extended to ME. If it was extended perpendicular to the line direction, ie. out to their side I could see it much better, it wouldn't be seen with their body in the background.
We need a universal unambiguous signal.
I'm blind as a bat, I can't see yer thumb dude.

KP · Since 05 Apr 2011 23 Posts

Some guys have it dialed but I've never seen it spelled out. Draw a half circle to the side of your body. your head is 12 o'clock and your feet is 6 o'clock. Move thumbs down only from 6 -9. thumbs up only from 9-12.
Got a better signal?
shit every flight discipline has universal signals, except us
So if one or another signal gets adopted, everyone, the youngin in DR
the geezer (me) at Manzanita knows what's what.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

The question I have for K2 - did his "friend" give him a univerisal sign before hucking his kite