Yet another video that shows the importance of safety systems and having the right training to use them and understand them.

I'm assuming he was in suicide mode as the initial release obviously didn't flag the kite. Then we can see that his safety leash is attached to back of the harness, making it difficult to reach and also dragging him backward.

From the moment he started to get dragged the second time and then ends up in the car park there are roughly 1 to 2 seconds where he could've release the whole kite. The question is, would most kiters be able to release a kite this fast in a panic situation? The answer is probably NO.

The lessons to learn from this are:

-If you choose to ride in suicide mode, understand that releasing your safety won't flag your kite unless you are connecting yourself with this kind of setup :


-It's best to avoid connecting your safety leash at the back of your harness. It makes it more difficult to reach in an emergency situation. If you never unhook like 80% + of kiters, it's much safer to get a short leash and attach it to the front of the harness. There are still a TON of kiters who never unhook with long leashes attached to the back of their harness....no wonder as most students are still taught to do it like this.

-Get some training in releasing the kite completely in fake panic situations. This was probably never done during your lessons and could be the difference between life and death. Knowing how the final release works and when to use it is one thing, but being able to use it quickly in a panic situation is a completely different story.

When teaching lessons, I will yank on the front lines (kite is not flying) or the safety leash out of nowhere (kite is not flying) to see how quickly my students react. Initially, the reaction will be slow or non-existent, but after a few trials, it becomes second nature.
That is critical training that is often completely overlooked...Next time you go kiting with your friends pull hard on their safety leash out of nowhere (while not flying a kite) and see how quickly they react.

Christian

All good advice Christian ..... just not sure I would be yanking on your students front lines when they are least expecting it... ( I understand your reasoning ) but you don't want a law suit

just saying

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harry potter said..
All good advice Christian ..... just not sure I would be yanking on your students front lines when they are least expecting it... ( I understand your reasoning ) but you don't want a law suit

just saying

yep sorry I forgot to mention, you do this while the kite isn't flying, of course! I edited my post. Here's pic just to make this even more clear :)

I teach the panic method in the first session when we orientate the bar. I go through the three steps of disarming the kite
1:let go of bar
2:hit release
3: eject kite
We talk about dominant hands and which side of the harness the safety should be on as your primary reaction will be with dominant hand. I have them hook into the bar while the power lines are attached to me. I pull on the lines letting them get the feel of where they should feel the pull on their core, then I get them to slide the bar up and down getting them familiar. Then I run them through scenarios and get them to perform and reassemble the gear so they get familiar. This whole process takes less than 15 minutes but gets them comfortable with the gear. It's only then we get the kite. During the lesson I will randomly ask them to let go of the bar to test their reaction times.
Accidents happen so quickly, and the more you can rely on muscle memory and reaction the easier it is to get out of a bad situation.

I look at the safety leash actually being a bit of a hazard,
when launching and landing I don't attatch it , that way if an incident happens its a quick release and the kites gone, I've started not to bother on the water most of the time now too
if the guy in the video adopted that method he wouldn't of left the beach
kiting is a huge part of my life, but I'm happy to sacrifice my kite for it

Safety leash? Not a correct word imho

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Guy approaches good looking girl on beach

girl- why are you pulling my bar

guy- I'm Christian australias best kiting instructor, gimme a kiss

girl- ping, quickly hits the safety

... just wondering but if the release was activated, shouldn't the kite have flagged out irrespective of the mode he was in, ie 'suicide' mode or not???

Maybe I can't see it but did the guy unhook his chickenloop or did he activate the release? I guess it depends on his equipment but with the example pic of safety in suicide mode surely the kite would have flagged out,,,, or am I missing something??

Robbie

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cauncy said..
I look at the safety leash actually being a bit of a hazard,
when launching and landing I don't attatch it , that way if an incident happens its a quick release and the kites gone, I've started not to bother on the water most of the time now too
if the guy in the video adopted that method he wouldn't of left the beach
kiting is a huge part of my life, but I'm happy to sacrifice my kite for it

Safety leash? Not a correct word imho

While having a session in the surf I agree, no need. But on a beach that is crowded, or near a road, a runaway kite can kill others. Being tethered most of the time is the best option... There are of course many reasons to ditch completely. Too often the case people hold on to the kite too long wanting to save it and in turn costs them a much higher price in terms of injury etc.

I have a few mates that don't unhook & have stopped using leashes in the surf.
IMO a BRM type system is the safest/quickest.

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cauncy said..
I look at the safety leash actually being a bit of a hazard,
when launching and landing I don't attatch it , that way if an incident happens its a quick release and the kites gone, I've started not to bother on the water most of the time now too
if the guy in the video adopted that method he wouldn't of left the beach
kiting is a huge part of my life, but I'm happy to sacrifice my kite for it

Safety leash? Not a correct word imho

death leash...Arrrgh!

Wait a minute...

waveslave.....is that u??

Any recommendations on short leashes? Links?
I really need to follow your advice and get one. The dangling of my long safety leash is annoying me anyway. Even picked up a fishing line with it once.

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Puetz said..
... just wondering but if the release was activated, shouldn't the kite have flagged out irrespective of the mode he was in, ie 'suicide' mode or not???

Maybe I can't see it but did the guy unhook his chickenloop or did he activate the release? I guess it depends on his equipment but with the example pic of safety in suicide mode surely the kite would have flagged out,,,, or am I missing something??

Robbie

There is a correct and totally ****** incorrect way of running suicide. The correct way is pictured above, the incorrect way is to attach your leash on your centre lines above your chicken loop. This effectively removes the ability to flag your kite and the only reason to use this style of suicide is if you are a moron.

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Kajo said..
Any recommendations on short leashes? Links?
I really need to follow your advice and get one. The dangling of my long safety leash is annoying me anyway. Even picked up a fishing line with it once.

Get the Ozone one, it order it from :www.kitepower.com.au/products/ozone-short-safety-leash-w-qr

I think I found the initial problem, Look closely at this frame, you can see the safety leash is attached ABOVE the chicken loop on the front lines.... Definitely not a great idea and no wonder releasing the chicken loop did nothing

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dafish said..

cauncy said..
I look at the safety leash actually being a bit of a hazard,
when launching and landing I don't attatch it , that way if an incident happens its a quick release and the kites gone, I've started not to bother on the water most of the time now too
if the guy in the video adopted that method he wouldn't of left the beach
kiting is a huge part of my life, but I'm happy to sacrifice my kite for it

Safety leash? Not a correct word imho

While having a session in the surf I agree, no need. But on a beach that is crowded, or near a road, a runaway kite can kill others. Being tethered most of the time is the best option... There are of course many reasons to ditch completely. Too often the case people hold on to the kite too long wanting to save it and in turn costs them a much higher price in terms of injury etc.

Don't understand
your secondary releases the kite anyway,
same thing , from some of the fatalities I know of they'd of been better without leashes

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cauncy said.
Don't understand
your secondary releases the kite anyway,
same thing , from some of the fatalities I know of they'd of been better without leashes

I'm with dafish on this one Cauncy, in most cases you can solve problems using the primary release system, preventing you from losing the kite and causing trouble to others with your runaway gear!

Most of us kite in busy areas and having the ability to flag out your kite on the beach without losing it is essential. I've seen a runaway kite in Safety bay a few years ago which ended up in the power line and cost many thousand of $ of damage, plus cutting the power from the whole neighborhood for hours...I actually found a pic I took from this back then:



Having a primary quick release that works well is critical in scenarios like those. Your logic only really applies if you're kiting solo with no one around, no obstacles whatsoever for a long distance...

Christian

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toppleover said..
I have a few mates that don't unhook & have stopped using leashes in the surf.
IMO a BRM type system is the safest/quickest.

The only problem is it pretty easy to hit either those plastic dodads with the edge of your board hard and release first safety or fully release the kite.

I have fully released the kite twice and accidentally did the first safety only yesterday. The upside is either safety is really easy to re-assemble underwater.

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bigtone667 said..

toppleover said..
I have a few mates that don't unhook & have stopped using leashes in the surf.
IMO a BRM type system is the safest/quickest.

The only problem is it pretty easy to hit either those plastic dodads with the edge of your board hard and release first safety or fully release the kite.

I have fully released the kite twice and accidentally did the first safety only yesterday. The upside is either safety is really easy to re-assemble underwater.

That's interesting, I've used mine for about 6 months without a single issue.
Maybe your bungee,s holding it together could need replacing ?

Getting back to the OP, earlier this year a newbie freind of mine bought a Swithblade3. I had a look at the bar, there is no saftey on the bar that comes with these kites. The seller told him to hook his saftey above the CL.
I rang the seller & luckily got his money back - it's not worth risking your life to save a few bucks.

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toppleover said..
I have a few mates that don't unhook & have stopped using leashes in the surf.
IMO a BRM type system is the safest/quickest.
Hey Toppleover, do you have any trouble with the pulley not centreing? No bungey centreing ttachment?

My bar for unhooking has no flagging line. You cant reach a chicken loop 2m away!

Still think the best idea is a no release tether and a release on the harness! LF used to do it but no others that i know of.

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toppleover said..

Getting back to the OP, earlier this year a newbie freind of mine bought a Swithblade3. I had a look at the bar, there is no saftey on the bar that comes with these kites. The seller told him to hook his saftey above the CL.
I rang the seller & luckily got his money back - it's not worth risking your life to save a few bucks.

I am beginning to think is why Cabs got a reputation for ending up in the trees, no safety depower just full release. Although I think you can attach the leash to the start of one of the rear lines (there is a metal ring), so when you release the kite is held by 1 rear line effectively depowering it. I tried this once but if felt stupid having a leash that went above the bar and could easily wrap around and cause more trouble.

I use the ozone short leash ever since I watched this guy struggle to reach his leash on a death loop.

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cbulota said..



I think I found the initial problem, Look closely at this frame, you can see the safety leash is attached ABOVE the chicken loop on the front lines.... Definitely not a great idea and no wonder releasing the chicken loop did nothing

I ride suicide mode same as the above north picture but yet I see just about every north wakestyle rider have the leash hooked above the QR on the trim line same as this photo. Can only be due to the ring on the loop p*#sing them off while hooking back in as it p*#ses me off

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ffifty5 said..

toppleover said..
I have a few mates that don't unhook & have stopped using leashes in the surf.
IMO a BRM type system is the safest/quickest.
Hey Toppleover, do you have any trouble with the pulley not centreing? No bungey centreing ttachment?

No probs at all mate but I don't unhook.
I can see the bungey & hook like on the Dynabar being handy if you did unhook though.

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SibboV1 said..

There is a correct and totally ****** incorrect way of running suicide. The correct way is pictured above, the incorrect way is to attach your leash on your centre lines above your chicken loop. This effectively removes the ability to flag your kite and the only reason to use this style of suicide is if you are a moron.

Say you attach it below the chicken loop "the correct way", and you unhook and stuff up the trick and drop the bar, and kite powers up like in that picture above. You would have no chance to release the chicken loop safety anyway?!!! impossible to reach. Therefore makes no diff whether he put the safety above or below the chicken loop (if he was unhooking). The real question is why would you unhook in such conditions in the first place, and run suicide.
If it's blasting like in that picture, i doubt many would be unhooking... hence no need for suicide setup in the first place.

When unhooking though if you attach the safety below the chicken loop then the leash gets in the way and you can't flip it around easily when you need to. The thing is to know how to rig your system for the conditions. I wander how many wake style kiters ever had to fully release the kite anyway?

^ however the kite depowers a little as the flagging line moves to the bottom of the chicken loop. (we are talking 10cms)- Right side pic.

You should also be able to release from your harness. So if SHTF just let the kite fly away. Been there done that, always got my kite back undamaged.

I use the method on the right when unhooking, as the method on the left is problematic when crashing and letting go of your bar. But would be considered more "safe".

Hi Christian and the more experienced kiters out there.

I have a Cab Convert and the way I connect the safety leash looks the same as the UFK (Unidentified Flying Kiter).
Am I connecting it wrong?

Reading the manual I thought that is where they say to connect it, they talk about connecting it to the flagging ring on landing.
I have been meaning to go to a short leash, but will connecting the flagging ring with a short leash flag out the kite? (Or would I be too busy reaching for / connecting it and the kite goes out of control anyway!)

My other kite (5 line North) appears to be a safer option.
I am a KBV member so I am covered for insurance, I just don't want to go through the pain!

Thanks for any feedback, Cheers.

ps Does anyone know how that guy ended up, hopefully grazes and pride only.

I use the Ozone short quick release - same deal as many of you - waves, no unhooking so pretty good option, and only $35.

www.kitepower.com.au/products/ozone-short-safety-leash-w-qr

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AGoodVintage said..
Hi Christian and the more experienced kiters out there.

I have a Cab Convert and the way I connect the safety leash looks the same as the UFK (Unidentified Flying Kiter).
Am I connecting it wrong?

Reading the manual I thought that is where they say to connect it, they talk about connecting it to the flagging ring on landing.
I have been meaning to go to a short leash, but will connecting the flagging ring with a short leash flag out the kite? (Or would I be too busy reaching for / connecting it and the kite goes out of control anyway!)

My other kite (5 line North) appears to be a safer option.
I am a KBV member so I am covered for insurance, I just don't want to go through the pain!

Thanks for any feedback, Cheers.

ps Does anyone know how that guy ended up, hopefully grazes and pride only.

It would be worth posting a photo so someone can check what you mean. You're better off not to use any leash until you've figured out the right bit to attach onto.

Basically when you release your kite you must be attached to some part that will significantly shorten the front lines (by metres, not inches)

Agreed with Wishy, if you connect your safety leash above the chicken loop to Both front lines, then your setup is as unsafe as it gets. You might have a pretty old bar/kite. As Wishy said, a picture would really help

superlizard, for those who ride in suicide with the safety O-ring passing through the CL as pictured above, it's actually going to flag out if you release the safety while the CL is hooked in your harness! Essentially if the guy in the video had this kind of suicide setup he would've flagged his kite straight away and avoided getting dragged the second time in the car park!

However, I agree that unhooking in very strong wind is a bit ridiculous. Chances are, like many others and like toppleover mentionned, the guy didn't know any better and this is how he was shown to connect his safety in the first place.

I also learned on old Switchblades and was told to connect my leash above the CL. Times have changed, but some kiters haven't.

Christian

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SibboV1 said..

Puetz said..
... just wondering but if the release was activated, shouldn't the kite have flagged out irrespective of the mode he was in, ie 'suicide' mode or not???

Maybe I can't see it but did the guy unhook his chickenloop or did he activate the release? I guess it depends on his equipment but with the example pic of safety in suicide mode surely the kite would have flagged out,,,, or am I missing something??

Robbie

There is a correct and totally ****** incorrect way of running suicide. The correct way is pictured above, the incorrect way is to attach your leash on your centre lines above your chicken loop. This effectively removes the ability to flag your kite and the only reason to use this style of suicide is if you are a moron.

... that was my point, I couldn't see if he was in the correct or ***** incorrect way of running suicide,,,, clearly from frame grab he was in the %$^& incorrect setup, not the smartest decision on his part.

Robbie