Not looking for a lecture here, just sharing in the hope that it keeps others from being as stupid as me.

Rigged up last weekend, lots of other beachgoers around and no kiters still on the beach to help launch, so ended up self launching in cross-on conditions with kite to seaward and me standing within a few meters of a stone wall along a footpath, bushes etc. As the kite slid around to launch it caught on something and twisted, and the left back line looped over the wingtip. I saw it happen and, the way things were looking, thought "as soon as tension comes on the line it'll pull off".

It didn't - the kite launched, turned, ripped through the middle of the window across to the land side and sent me on a high speed slide down the beach and toward the stone wall. Thankfully I stayed on my feet and punched out before any harm was done, and the kite flagged out OK without endangering other beachgoers or destroying itself in the bushes.

I've been kitesurfing since the mid 90s and had a few good scares, particularly in the early days before relaunchable kites, effective depower, releases and leashes, and have launched in all sorts of dodgey spots, but this was probably the closest I've ever come to having a really serious mishap on land and it was on a big wide beach with clean wind. I did several things that contributed, I know what they were, some where conscious trade-offs, some were down to complacency as it's been a long time since anything's gone majorly wrong on land. Regardless of everything else, I should have just punched out as soon as I saw the line wrap - if _anything_ doesn't look right when you're self launching just release and set up again. It's a small price to pay.

The only time I've ripped a kite was the result of a tip wrap.

Wrapped on a self-launch, did a loop at the edge of the window so I released to QR... and it kept looping. It wasn't violent or dangerous so I started making attempts to untangle it when on the third loop it just split from TE to LE Now I have a hand hovering over the QR by habit.

Feel better?

Just a question for you Pete2, do you run your lines out behind the kite or in front? Most issues I have seen with tip wraps have been with people who try and self launch after running their lines out in front of the kite. Most likely with your experience you are running them behind, however I thought I would explain to those who run them forward.
Setting your lines behind the kite gives you a complete picture of any beach debris like sticks or seaweed etc. Pulling your lines through an arc as it sweeps across the sand, the easiest way to avoid the kite skipping down wind before rolling over is to not pull the rear steering line until you are upwind of your kite. Once the kite starts to roll over you can walk downwind to align yourself with the kite for launch.
Your post is a good one because it highlights exactly what you pointed out, being complacent, and we all have moments of that, especially if we haven't been out in a while and are in a hurry to get out. I have been guilty of that for sure.

there was a line up for the launch teather at tombies and i was in the I just arrived rush, so I thought I'd be the self launch hero down the beach a bit and show those dorks how its done.
as the kite filled with wind and turned to launch, the lines caught on a big bunch of old sea weed with a hefty stick in it.
the kite flipped and looped at a hundred miles an hour straight into the Coral encrusted sand and split the leading edge clean in half.
it was the only kite I took.

complacencys a killer - I've been kiting for 15 odd years and had a close one recently

pumping a kite up at my local, went to flip it over and a gust clean ripped it out of my complacent pissweak grip

kite somehow rolled/bounced up the beach and across the wind straight at another bloke standing with his back to me not watching. it was lined up perfectly to wrap around his lines, and would have too if he hadnt heard me yelling at him. lucky he heard me and stepped out of the way as he was standing in front of parked cars and bollards so didnt have any space to play with if there'd been a tangle

so leasson learned (again), good time for a reminder

Yep. **** happens every now and then.

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theDoctor said..

there was a line up for the launch teather at tombies and i was in the I just arrived rush, so I thought I'd be the self launch hero down the beach a bit and show those dorks how its done.
as the kite filled with wind and turned to launch, the lines caught on a big bunch of old sea weed with a hefty stick in it.
the kite flipped and looped at a hundred miles an hour straight into the Coral encrusted sand and split the leading edge clean in half.
it was the only kite I took.

Maybe cause I don't know the area or I'm not understanding what you're saying but if there is a line up for the tether, why aren't people helping each other to launch?

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SgtGrunt said..

theDoctor said..

there was a line up for the launch teather at tombies and i was in the I just arrived rush, so I thought I'd be the self launch hero down the beach a bit and show those dorks how its done.
as the kite filled with wind and turned to launch, the lines caught on a big bunch of old sea weed with a hefty stick in it.
the kite flipped and looped at a hundred miles an hour straight into the Coral encrusted sand and split the leading edge clean in half.
it was the only kite I took.

Maybe cause I don't know the area or I'm not understanding what you're saying but if there is a line up for the tether, why aren't people helping each other to launch?

Its just a very tight launch at one of WA's most popular wave spots. Even with assisted launch you will still need to wait to use the launch spot.
I feel for the Doctor going all that way and wrecking your kite before you even get on the water

you could say that youngbreezy
but as anyone that knows, knows
that place can be full of cants
those that aren't, know the cants

actually, that's not true all, 99.9% are OK
then theDoctor turns up