Youkai
Since 08 Feb 2010
553 Posts
Beaverton
Addicted
Wed Sep 21, 11 10:00 am
Mike D wrote:
Cool pics Jim! I use the same technique. But, how does someone lose their board wearing boots??
I've done it before behind a boat. It's really not that difficult. If you get dragged across the surface of the water your board will anchor and your feet will straighten and slip out. It takes a bit of force but it happens. Usually when you catch an edge so you have a lot of momentum and the board very suddenly stops. _________________ Captain kook; always wrong.
holly
Since 09 Jul 2006
440 Posts
Hood River
Obsessed
Wed Sep 21, 11 10:01 am
just hold on to it with your teeth..
D-Krep It Kiter
Since 18 Jul 2011
417 Posts
Obsessed
Wed Sep 21, 11 10:45 am
Thanks everyone for the great responses... I had a feeling there was more to it than "just grab that thing"... definitely going to work on the one-handed waterstarts... that photo sequence is great.. thanks Jim!
stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1735 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
Wed Sep 21, 11 11:47 am
Youkai wrote:
Mike D wrote:
Cool pics Jim! I use the same technique. But, how does someone lose their board wearing boots??
I've done it before behind a boat. It's really not that difficult. If you get dragged across the surface of the water your board will anchor and your feet will straighten and slip out. It takes a bit of force but it happens. Usually when you catch an edge so you have a lot of momentum and the board very suddenly stops.
actually what happened was when we kite in lighter winds, sometimes kites don't like to stay in the air. then we deal with seaweed on the lines. in this unique case the rider had to pack up and swim across a short channel to get back to the rigging area.
I was merely helping him by taking his board upwind.
another consideration when retrieving other's board... it may be easier to carry your board and just ride with their board. Anytime I see a handle-less board, I'll ride it and carry mine. same if I'm on my surfboard. I'll carry my surfboard while riding their board.
I haven't quite figured out how to retrieve a board while riding strapless. _________________ www.jimstringfellow.com
stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1735 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
Fri Sep 23, 11 9:33 pm
i happened to be riding with a linemounted cam today and it just so happen that I helped a friend bring his board back to the beach while he resolved issues with his kite.
here's a video that demonstrates a method that i use for board retrieval.
jackZ
Since 13 Apr 2008
355 Posts
Devon Alberta ca.
Obsessed
Sat Sep 24, 11 6:50 amretrieval
Your riding buddies need to learn how to body drag upwind and get their own board .
problem solved .
Yes on the river it can be a difficult thing and helping out is nice .
You certainly don't want to end up in trouble yourself .
Practice a safe way to do it . Then when needed , your cool !
JackZ
D-Krep It Kiter
Since 18 Jul 2011
417 Posts
Obsessed
Sat Sep 24, 11 7:25 amRe: retrieval
jackZ wrote:
Your riding buddies need to learn how to body drag upwind and get their own board .
problem solved .
Yes on the river it can be a difficult thing and helping out is nice .
You certainly don't want to end up in trouble yourself .
Practice a safe way to do it . Then when needed , your cool !
JackZ
Hi Jack... I'm much better at it now than I was a month ago, I don't really have a panic attack when I lose my board and then have to body drag to it, as I find I get back to it quite easily now. Thing is, here in the Gorge there are other factors that can play into someone losing their board... they may appropriately be focused on kite management and have let the board drift... sometimes kites flip and/or invert in weird ways, and what should be an instant relaunch ends up taking a long time while the board drifts down the river. They may be self-rescuing and have lost the board in the process. Sometimes its just nice to be saved a long albeit doable body drag up river just by having someone grab your board for you. In any case, being able to grab someone's board is just a skill I'd like to have out there.
Jim, GREAT video! That really helps! Thanks for posting!
A.K.
Since 01 Jul 2006
190 Posts
Stoked
Sun Sep 25, 11 10:59 am
Looks like the technique I descried earlier has been endorsed by a few others but as a third alternative to picking up the board one handed, and water starting one handed, which is certainly safer but requires skills. However, a one handed water start may not necessary be safer in extreme conditions.
That being said, I think it important to understand the risks. A worst case scenario when water starting with the board in contact with your bar is the chance that a bolt, strap, pad, etc will become caught in the lines. This could cause serious consequence like the board being caught in the lines and putting kite into a spiral. So you really have to understand how the bar and lines are going to move across the board as you waterstart.
I know the frustration of watching a board drift away right in front of you. Everyone wants to return the favor of board retrieval. But one needs be comfortable with their skills, wind conditions, and the potential hazards whenever trying to retrieve gear.
I appreciate everyones comments on this topic. It been informative feedback... Last edited by A.K. on Thu Sep 29, 11 6:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
kitezilla
Since 22 Jun 2006
453 Posts
gorge
Obsessed
Mon Sep 26, 11 12:51 pm
Just remembered something suggested on a kiteforum... don't remember which one...anyway, a person suggested using a short (1 meter) piece of rope or webbing with a shackle on each end... the kind of a thing you might carry to secure your board to your harness, when dealing with a situation, where the wind dies, and you want to keep your board with you, while trying to relaunch. The person suggested fastening the "leash" to the rescued board and then, towing the board slowly down wind, while riding your own board.
Has anyone used this "towing" technique... and if so, what were the pros and cons?
Where and how did you fasten the "leash" to the board and to yourself?
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