Self Rescue: To Wrap, or not to Wrap?

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

Should you wrap up your lines doing a self rescue? Assuming sometimes you might want to change up depending on conditions, this would be the method you use most often.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

I wrap only if am getting picked up by a boat or jetski.

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Apr 21, 08 7:30 am

Can someone explain the benefits of not wrapping? It seems to me that not wrapping up presents two hazards ... A. "walking" up a single line seems like a recipe for getting a nasty finger slice (at the least) if the kite flips over or gets pulled by a gust of wind. B. If your trying to avoid getting tangled in your lines, it would make sense to manage your lines by wrapping them up. The recent problem in BC was caused by wrapping only 3 of the 4 lines.

I have always wrapped my lines up and have even had my kite blown off the water and loop a time or two while winding them up but I just held onto the bar and continued to wrap once the kite settled down.

It seems like I am missing something?

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

If I am somewhat close - I will simply swim in dragging the kite behind me. For me, this is the simplest way of self-rescuing. This is assuming there is a clear path to the shore - However, if there are other kiters around I don't want them to get tangled in my lines - so I will wrap them up and then sail in.

forrest · Mon Apr 21, 08 7:49 am

I only wrap up my lines if there are boats around.

Jackal · Since 17 Dec 2005 147 Posts WS Stoked

Question- If you don't wrap up your lines, do you walk up the depower line then swim in, dragging your lines behind you?

does that work for dragging your kite in and "sailing" your kite in, or just the swim and drag method?

I've self rescued a number of times, but since its a reaction versus a continuously practiced action, I always seem to do things a little differently.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Can you modify the polling form to include an "It Depends" ?

When I am asked for my opinion on which method of self-rescue is best I give this answer:

"I suggest that you find a comfortable chair and set aside about 2 hours of time and read and follow all the references and tangent threads contained in this compilation of self-rescue discussion of techniques":

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

The question I would like to have answered is "Which is the best technique to FIRST teach to a beginner kiteboarder?" I think that an experienced kiter should know and practice both techniques.

The other question to be answered is: "Which is the best technique to teach to a kiter, who will just plain NOT practice either self-rescue technique?"

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

I agree that is depends on situation. In many places in the world, there is reef.. anytime there is reef or other potential underwater obstructions, having a loose bar/lines can get you into more trouble.. as it can get caught and then turn, relaunch, loop or power up the kite unexpectedly while you are trying to self rescue.

The thing about wrapping.. is that to do it successfully you need to be smart and think through the situation. Bar should never be wrapped in a way that would allow tension in the kite... kite must be completely flagged to be wrapped safe.

The way to avoid this is to wrap 1 line, at least enough length to = distance between wingtips.. allowing kite to flag. With the kite flagged completely and all tension on that one line, without possibility of tension on other lines.. it is then pretty safe and easy to wrap the other 3 lines. One thing I suggest is that when wrapping lines for self rescue, it is much easier, reliable and safer to wrap figure 8 quickly around the center of your bar/Chic Loop than to try and get the lines on the winder.. which often leads to wraps coming off and getting tangled.[/i]

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2347693&start=10&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Here, I enter my strongly held opinion on the best way to tie a half-hitch, during the rescue procedure.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

hmmm to rap or not to rap... that is the question...

I..I..I..would like the knife...please give us the knife...

most people prefer when I don't rap.

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

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

You want to at least wrap your lines around the bar even if its super messy. Having lines laying in the water is not only dangerous to the person self rescuing but also to any people riding around the self rescuer. Loose lines in the water can catch obstructions under water, along with wrap around legs, arms and such without the rescuer knowing.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 387 Posts Seattle Obsessed

Tekko is all over it! ALWAYS WRAP YOUR LINES. To many times your legs and body get intangled insuring certain problems if the kite relaunches. I have been lucky climbing up lines before with no problems. But most of the time you get tangled up swimming and climbing up a line.

As instructed by Tekko (starts by wrapping one and flagging the kite). I go ahead and grab two lines on either side depending on wind dirrection and wrap up a bit then start wrapping the others. If it's ripping conditions and kite relaunches, let go of the bar if you have to but you can also just hold onto it like PDX said he does. The kite will hit the water again and you continure your wrap. No hassles, no de-glovings and not as bad of a mess to untangle when the deed is done. 2 cents. Now off to Maui in the morning. Twisted Evil

Shastadog2 see ya there. Should be full when we get there. Cool

sentone · Since 10 Feb 2006 66 Posts

good timeing on this one........it depends lots on where your riding say the coast long sand beachs no one around no need worry so much,,,,,,,,,but if your riding reef the FIRST thing you do is WRAP your lines.......this is my step by step.......things go south....you commit to no relaunch.......for whatever reason.....time is important here ...kite is down ....i grab my kill line the one your leash is on .... walk it up to the kite grab the kite flip it over tips are up put one leg in the kite grab my bar wrap the lines put everything in the kite board ...bar ..grab the bridle for self rescue.and body drag to the beach its amasing how fast and how much control you have in the rescue mode sure your not going upwind but you can fall off the weather pretty accurate........now the reasons why........believe me on this weve learned it the hard way......if your lines are dragging and you near the reef your lines will snag your bar will reef..your leash if you un clipped will sink and lodge.....this would be the time to hope you have a good knife.......if not and you make it to the reef ...it goes like this standing on the nasty...hopefully kite in hand lines bar ect still wraping kites loading you get beatdown .....no knife.....try un doing your pig tails under power while takeing the beating.........if you say ditch it and get away from all the above your kite will relaunch cuz the bar is reefed and roll out some hell slams till its it turns back to thread at best,,,,,sound far feached....ive seen it 20 times and will see it lots more this summer things happen fast in the surf and going over the falls with your kite on to the reef takes a some stones and timeing doing it with lines dragging........place worst fears here...............i know the gorge is its own world and things are different there but human habits are strong.........walking up the beach with your kite board and a rats nest......is a upgrade.......SO in closeing different styles for each spot.......think about your outs BEFORE your ins be SAFE....ask the locals......NO ONE want to see you get worked{i hope} thanks to forums like this for different angles on everday events........BE SAFE....HAVE FUN Idea

Chooch · Mon Apr 21, 08 12:03 pm

I always wrap my line during a self rescue for the obvious reasons as stated above. I witnessed one incident of a persopn trying to self rescue without wrapping and their lines were wrapped around a bouy during his float back to land. He had to abandon the kite and ended up getting a boater to drive him out and he was forced to cut all his lines free because of the tangled mess from the current. Like PDXMB asks "what is the benifit of not wraping them?"

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

Not being a wrapper myself, I'd say the main benefit of not wrapping is the simplicity of the rescue. Even if your kite is "depowered" by flagging to just one line, it still could potentially pickup off the water and pinwheel, giving you a good tug and this isn't a great thing if you are gripping the line with your hand.

Also it really has the potential to make a bad situation worse if you do it wrong.

Once I get back to the beach my bar isn't tangled at all, the bar drags behind the kite during the self rescue and the lines sort themselves out. If nothing is wrong I can usually relaunch right away.

Your results may vary! Not saying one way or the other is better, the feedback on this thread is great! Getting your bar caught on something would definitely suck and if that was a possibility I'd consider changing my methods.