5th line Self Rescue

LVDWD · Since 04 May 2009 104 Posts Stoked

Reading about the guy who got tangled in his lines recently kiting out of the Event site got me to thinking about a problem that I have not satisfactorily resolved even after talking to various people. With a 5th line kite standard procedure for a self rescue after releasing the chicken loop is to reel in the fifth line so many feet until a stopper is reached. Problem is when doing this the fifth line can get tangled around ones legs with subsequent potential negative effects. Same procedure is sometimes followed if you are trying to rectify an inverted kite situation-the same result can occur.

So anyone have any good advice on managing the fifth line to prevent it wrapping around you legs as you pull it through to the stopper at which point you can wrap it around the bar and have the kite totally de-powered.

I did at one point think about having a small reel attached to my harness around which I could wrap the fifth line. Tried this on the beach but it did not seem practical.

Thanks

Chooch · Sat May 07, 11 10:24 am

Some simple steps to keep your legs free and clear.

1. Try to float on your chest with your legs behind you, easiest to do in smaller chop/flat water.

2. If you need to stay upright in the water to manage larger swell its a good idea to constantly move your feet up and down one at a time. As your push your foot down drag it against your other leg, this will help keep lines off your feet. Works well when you are wearing thick wetsuits and booties since you can't feel the lines on your skin.

3. Every few minutes back stoke away from your kite to avoid excess slack on your lines.

flyin_dutchman · Since 12 Dec 2008 106 Posts LandLocked Stoked

I agree with what Chooch said. I usually float on stomach and periodically side stroke upwind while feeding excess 5th line in downwind direction as best possible.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Swim to one side!
Seriously, tread water to one side as you pull the line.

As long as I am treading water to keep my head above the waterline, I might as well tread water to one side.

Continue treading water to the side until you get to the kite.
All the slack lines will stay to the left, (on the surface of the water and away from your feet), if you tread water to the right as you move to the kite.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

I never wrap my lines in the Gorge. Rather, I secure the 5th--4th--line to my board after making sure it's about 30' shorter than the other lines. I then walk/float up the lines which are under tension to the kite and sail it in. The board dragging slows you down some, but wrapping lines often leads to a dangerous mess.

Eric

specialk · Guest

Chooch · Sun May 08, 11 1:34 pm

IMHO not wrapping your lines should only be done if you are in a dire situation when you need to get in ASAP.

Not winding you lines if you have the time is lazy and dangerous to you and other kiters around you. If your lines are not wrapper and you need help from a fellow kiter it puts that kiter in a much more dangerous situation to get at you without getting tangled in your lines.

Also there are a ton of underwater/surface obstacles that can tangle your lines on the way in causing more headache and a possible lost or damaged kite if you can't get the lines free.

daveS · Since 23 Jul 2007 103 Posts Stoked

I think the safest way would probably be to get to your kite and then pull the lines in. Wrapping lines with the kite flailing about is risky..even when it is flagged the kite seems to want to launch occasionally with serious risk of finger impingement. I had to self-rescue yesterday for the first time in years and I left the lines behind me...I had to stear around a fishing buoy on the way in which freaked me out...and my kite knife had left me when my harness broke.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed