Know your safety system. Check out this looping kite.

kiteforum.com/viewforum.php?f=200/video/Looping_Kite.html

wow.. funny this.. just the other day i was out in the surf on exactly the same kite T3.. after crashing. the kite flew over my head and landed behind me then was washed in the waves..i was able to get tension back in lines after the kite had inverted.. it then kinda flew upside down off the front lines sitting about 6 ft of the water with no real pull.. i got myself to where i could stand up and pulled the rear line to try and bring the kite around.. seemed to all work OK but then the kite just went into a loop session just like the one on the vid..after about 3 loops i realised it was time to bug out.. so i released my kite to the safety and that dodgy little bungee on the new ss kites just snapped.. (reasonably new kite) anyway the kite just hit the dunes and stopped.. i can still not work out what happened.. caught on a pulley i guessed.. however in the vid it looks like the other kite may be tangled into it somehow and it also looks like he has released to his safety..but with mine it was such a minor thing that could have turned pretty major..

That's ugly.
The one time you wish there was a line of trees down wind.

Wish they had the post-kitemare interview.

So you think your safety is foolproof?

Think again...

Yet another reason to have a quick release to disconnect you from you kite safety.

I think that scenario is more complex than it looks. I think the was a tangle involved because that kite and rider is also dragging a blue kite with it.

Probably a good advertisement for a hook knife.

That said, it just looked like the rider got dragged through the water for a few hundred metres and was not exactly in a lot of danger either.

I think he's pulled the safety but a couple of his lines (R side) are caught, probably in that other blue kite which is being dragged along in the water with him. Lucky the loops aren't fully powered! And a bloke's running to catch the kite as it comes to shore.

A reminder for me to avoid entanglements at all costs!! Think someone shouted 'Starboard' as they were coming together? [}:)][}:)]

nasty!! lucky he could stay above water and wasn`t draged down by the other kite .
bad things can happen to even the best kiters .yep make sure you use your safety release on your kite once in a while so it is instinctive.and practice pulling or pushing of your full release on your safty leash before you put the kite in the air.

I think what we are seeing is two kites entangled. Both riders have already disconnected. The grey kite is causing drag and tension on the lines allowing the red kite to spin at the end of the leash.

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2357124&sid=6fa8c1db7c02f92ba05c2458dfe58518

This has nothing to do with kite type, it is simply a tangle with another kite.

I flew a friends kite a few weeks ago, being a hang glider pilot I did a good check around before hooking on. I asked my mate how the safety works, she didn't know. I couldn't believe that she had been flying for two years and not know how or why the safety works!! Pull your gear apart and know how to use it, before you kite. It may save your butt. Egga.

Yeah, well personally I'd like to kick the guy who designed the T2s safety system in the nuts, several times.

I don't think the T3 system is any different.

The emergency leash has a snap shackle that catches onto your rear lines occasionally when released as it pulls the o-ring down the other lines slip into the gate, and you're screwed.

I was almost mauled by a rock wall thanks to this brilliant design. The kite did EXACTLY that having 100% pull on one side of the bar... 14m kite looping in a 30 knot gust.... fun fun fun. The only solution is to either release the leash or your harness.

Good thing this guy was in what appears to be light wind.

Select to expand quote

Jimmyz said...

14m kite looping in a 30 knot gust....

Why are you flying a 14m kite in 30knots winds? Do you hook your safety into the chickenloop, your front line or your single line?

Personally if I am riding in the surf (particularly big surf) I dont where a leash at all. This will start a big debate, due to bystander safety ect... however our beaches are uncrowded and I would rather loose my kite then loose my life when things turn bad.

Select to expand quote

Jimmyz said...
The only solution is to either release the leash or your harness.

There is another option. ^^^
Don't attach yourself to a death-leash.

Select to expand quote

echostorm said...

Personally if I am riding in the surf (particularly big surf) I dont where a leash at all.

Right-on. ^^^

Select to expand quote

echostorm said...

Jimmyz said...

14m kite looping in a 30 knot gust....

Why are you flying a 14m kite in 30knots winds? Do you hook your safety into the chickenloop, your front line or your single line?

Personally if I am riding in the surf (particularly big surf) I dont where a leash at all. This will start a big debate, due to bystander safety ect... however our beaches are uncrowded and I would rather loose my kite then loose my life when things turn bad.

He is from the latte set
He had his butt saved by one of the KKK crew and was counselled....even though he will deny this

Select to expand quote

echostorm said...

Personally if I am riding in the surf (particularly big surf) I dont where a leash at all. This will start a big debate, due to bystander safety ect.

Let's debate.... ^^^
A loose kite in the surf is a wet, plastic shopping bag with no power.
For a kite to have power, it must have traction.
A plastic shopping bag poses no danger to a bystander on the beach.
This so-called safety issue is just another fear-mongering myth perpetuated by WAKSA and Co.

Select to expand quote

echostorm said...

This has nothing to do with kite type, it is simply a tangle with another kite.

sorry dude but i tottaly disagree


I know that this CAN happen on any kite but i have to say that from my experience i have seen far more and much worse death spirals being done on the new bow/hybrid kites that pivot turn and do the 1 line re-launching thing. With most c kites and some new bow/hybrid kites that have a larger powered turning radius when they go into a death spiral they generaly get lower and lower with each loop that they do until they hit the deck and then they stay there. unlike some other kites (like the one you see in the vid) that pivot around the center of the kite and can stay in the air looping continualy until it hits something and if it does hit the water because 1 of the back lines is shorter due to the big tangle up they will just keep re-launching and looping

unfortunatly they are the kites you see being sold to most beginers these days.

i'm not baggin any kite brands or kite types i'm just curious as to what everyone els thinks?? has anyone else noticed more bow/hybrid kites doing bad ass death spirals than any other type of kite??

Select to expand quote

Damo said...

echostorm said...

This has nothing to do with kite type, it is simply a tangle with another kite.

sorry dude but i tottaly disagree


I know that this CAN happen on any kite but i have to say that from my experience i have seen far more and much worse death spirals being done on the new bow/hybrid kites that pivot turn and do the 1 line re-launching thing. With most c kites and some new bow/hybrid kites that have a larger powered turning radius when they go into a death spiral they generaly get lower and lower with each loop that they do until they hit the deck and then they stay there. unlike some other kites (like the one you see in the vid) that pivot around the center of the kite and can stay in the air looping continualy until it hits something and if it does hit the water because 1 of the back lines is shorter due to the big tangle up they will just keep re-launching and looping

unfortunatly they are the kites you see being sold to most beginers these days.

i'm not baggin any kite brands or kite types i'm just curious as to what everyone els thinks?? has anyone else noticed more bow/hybrid kites doing bad ass death spirals than any other type of kite??

I've had a death spiral with a 2002 cabrinha black tip 12.2 (16.5). They can easily happen. The difference in my opinion is god help you when it happens on a C, its a hell of a lot less fun.

i had a bit of an accident once no t wearing a leash i pulled my saftey cause it was gusty and i was gettin lifted of the water couldnt hold an edge and felt like i was going to do an erik. and my kite flew down the beach and my bar hit aguy walking down the beach in the head. he had a burn mark from the line across his neck and was out cold on the ground for a good 5min i shat my pants luckly the boat shed caght my kite and i walked away with a good kite with no line and no law suite

Select to expand quote

echostorm said...

Jimmyz said...

14m kite looping in a 30 knot gust....

Why are you flying a 14m kite in 30knots winds? Do you hook your safety into the chickenloop, your front line or your single line?

Personally if I am riding in the surf (particularly big surf) I dont where a leash at all. This will start a big debate, due to bystander safety ect... however our beaches are uncrowded and I would rather loose my kite then loose my life when things turn bad.

Westerly in Kurnell, it was about 15 -> 20 knots and then BAM, good fun really when it just translates into a crapload of speed, just not next to a rock groin on a 148, hence bugger all ability to stop in such a short space, I cut it too fine, and the gust hit me at a very unlucky moment...

I was 2m from a rock groin by the time I chopped the safety. Yes Foxy Kane saved me from the beasts that live in that rock groin, then offered me candy if I got into his car... I declined... I've been denial for too long, now it's out in the open.

I use the single line. At this stage I wasn't aware of this problem; this is how I found out. I still do, I just ensure that the shackle is at an angle where it is unlikely to snag, requires that I twist the leash to hold it to one side.

Select to expand quote

waveslave said...

echostorm said...

Personally if I am riding in the surf (particularly big surf) I dont where a leash at all. This will start a big debate, due to bystander safety ect.

Let's debate.... ^^^
A loose kite in the surf is a wet, plastic shopping bag with no power.
For a kite to have power, it must have traction.
A plastic shopping bag poses no danger to a bystander on the beach.
This so-called safety issue is just another fear-mongering myth perpetuated by WAKSA and Co.

Yes when the kite is being rolled in the waves with no resistance on the bar and lines it is like a wet plastic shopping bag, but what happens if you accidently release when the kite is in the air.
It can happen to anyone even you slave and the likely result is something like this
vvv

Select to expand quote

cabstar said...

i had a bit of an accident once no t wearing a leash i pulled my saftey cause it was gusty and i was gettin lifted of the water couldnt hold an edge and felt like i was going to do an erik. and my kite flew down the beach and my bar hit aguy walking down the beach in the head. he had a burn mark from the line across his neck and was out cold on the ground for a good 5min i shat my pants luckly the boat shed caght my kite and i walked away with a good kite with no line and no law suite

Also what happens when the 'wet shopping bag' washes up amongst unknowing public playing in the surf and the lines get wrapped around someone causing the kite to power up.
Not everyone kites at deserted beaches and peoples natural reaction would be to try to grab the kite for you whilst you swim in, they are not going to know to grab it by the leading edge and will grab a line or bar or whatever they get there hands on.
I agree that an experienced kiter, kiting in a remote area, in big surf is safer not wearing a leash, but to say that "A plastic shopping bag poses no danger to a bystander on the beach." on a public forum that heaps of newbies seek advice on is total BS...... IMO.

A lot of good points here. I think the manufacturers need to get their heads together and come up with a universal safety system, common to all kites, internationally approved (by who I'm not sure). Most safety releases are inadequate at best.

We need harnesses with no areas where lines can snag (personal experience) and simple quick releases that won't tear up your hand when pulled.

Some kites have a flagging line as a stearing line - very bad if it snags ie death spiral.

Most people don't ride with their safety on the flagging line but on the chicken loop line which is fine for unhooking but the flagging line is then usually inaccessable in an emergency - there must be a better way.

A spreader bar with safety leash attached that quick releases off your harness would be the way to go. I noticed that the guy ditched his harness at 1.10 . If he had a seat harness I think that would have been impossible . As soon as a manufacturer comes up with something like this ill be straight on to it .

Shopping bag my frkn freckle!?!

I have witnessed a few unleashed kites going for a casual stroll along the beach. Each time it was just shear luck that the well meaning beach punters, trying to help, were warned off grabbing the bar and/or lines.

Personally I have never seen a shopping bag with 2kgs of carbon bar swinging unpredictably behind it and 25m x 4 razor lines wafting along my beach and certainly hope not to!

Don't be a goose and wear a safety leash (with a good realease if needed).

Select to expand quote

teabaggin said...

A spreader bar with safety leash attached that quick releases off your harness would be the way to go. As soon as a manufacturer comes up with something like this ill be straight on to it .

You see, this is what I don't get. ^^^
Only when a kite goes into a psycho-looping frenzy,
only when the sh1t hits the fan.....
are the crew willing to pull the ripcord on the nappy harness and ditch the bitch.
When they fear for their life, they are willing to cut free of the kite and harness...
and let the spreader bar hook take out a bystander up-the-nose.
But that's OK.
That's kiter survival mode in action.
lol.
But for some reason not wearing a death-leash while kiting (on a regular basis) is politically incorrect.
??

2 carton tangle?

surely you'd just chuck the lines out

The spreader bar release off your harness was meant as a second release if your death leash ( as slave calls it) failed , only as a last resort , if your life depended on it. If everyone kited without a death leash im sure the beaches would be littered with runaway kites endangering the public . Wet shopping bag slave ,I dont think so .