Hi folks.
We have invented what we believe is a safer way to perform unassisted launch and lands with our apparatus called 'Launch Rite.' Please have a look at our Kickstarter campaign. If you like what you see and would like to help bring it to market, consider a small donation!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/1531007030/launch-rite

(while the design is under a provisional patent, we have not published all of our technical drawings as we are trying to strike a balance between operational understanding and protecting our idea)

Learn more about this device at our website: FLXkiters.com

Dude. Take this as constructive criticism.

That video is so amateurish, it turned me off in the first 5 seconds. If you aren't willing to invest in quality marketing to raise funds then I'd question both the quality of your product and your commitment to its success.

That fact that it is your first post doesn't help either.

Regardless goodluck. :)

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FLXkiters said..
Hi folks.
We have invented what we believe is a safer way to perform unassisted launch

Too late.

I already invented LaunchPad (patent pending) over 10 years ago.

Next.

brad your a kitesurf instructor who cant self launch?!?

i liked the music at start of the video but the rest was stupid, special mention goes to useing a really popular video of a kiter hurting themselves like a decade ago to scare kiters into being your customers... good job america

http://www.flxkiters.com/launch-rite/

took me AGES to actually find a photo of your "invention" basicly everyone its a bit of rope and caribener like everyone uses except he also has a second bita rope with a smaller little caribiner connecting to the safety line. instead of useing rope or chord hes useing wire... you know cause salt water and steel cables is great idea...

anyways my only question for you brad is whats the best trick you can do? i get feeling you havent been kiteing very long despite being an instructor and if you HAVE then you should not only know how to self launch safely in your location but be teaching your students to do so aswell!! seriously man i cant believe you even got the school to host this ****. in the event YOU ARE the school owner, please leave the instructing upto your instructors because my faith in your lessons has been shattered by your apparent need for this invention. oh and your ocean rodeo jacket and hood and helmet and boots and etc etc etc etc etc can you pile on some more safety gear there ? maybe some shoulderpads and shinguards would be a good idea

As soon as I see kickstarter I get turned off these days.

I'm a hypercritical of the concept of tethered launching. But this guy's video shows exactly the conditions when a tethered launch is required (very narrow beach covered in logs and rocks). If his device makes it a bit safer then good luck to him. Not sure about using a shear pin but at least it's simple.

I wonder if this works for foil kites, but then again it's already been invented and costs less than $20!





And I believe it also works on inflatable kites with leading edge down

Hi Brad,

Anything that can genuinely improve kite safety is worth sharing. Having learned kiting myself in that part of the World I agree that a lot of beaches aren't suitable/safe for sliding launches and tethered launching is often the best option.

You can have the greatest product/idea in the World but ultimately it's the way you present it/market it that's going to make the difference between success and failure in the long term.

Don't get put off by the harsh comments of some posters on here, your idea is great and worth pursuing.

Although I have to admit there are improvements to be made on your video. I'm no professional on video editing myself but If I had to sell a product or a service worldwide I would not hesitate to spend a few hundred to a few thousands $ to hire a professional for shooting and editing. For example, the audio narration in the video has various levels, and that's an easy fix that would make the video more uniform and professional looking.

Maybe think of opening a Facebook page for the product (and your school?) as well. Share the video on Youtube, etc. to gather more attention and traffic to your project page. Facebook targeted advertising works a treat for those kind of projects and well worth every $ you spend.

But I would first start by re-shooting and re-editing the video professionally and make a much shorter version of it as well (30 sec to 60 sec) for social media / advertising which would re-direct people to your project page and the longer more technical video.

Essentially what you're selling is safety, and from experience, I can tell you that safety is hard to sell...so you must find a way to really WOW people with your product.

Hope this helps and good luck with your project,

Christian

Seabreeze forum - thank you for taking the time to view our campaign and comment.
We admit our presentation isnt as polished as some, but we wanted non-kiters to understand the risks we face in case they wanted to donate.
Cheers from up north!
Brad Muise

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Gorgo said..
I'm a hypercritical of the concept of tethered launching. But this guy's video shows exactly the conditions when a tethered launch is required (very narrow beach covered in logs and rocks). If his device makes it a bit safer then good luck to him. Not sure about using a shear pin but at least it's simple.

ive self launched after climbing thru mangroves so NO BEACH had to pump kite ON the water (shallow but still) this device is not required at his site. he has ****loads of room. if hes worried about self launching hurting his kite he could drift launch it. lets say theres ENOURMOUS CRASHING WAVES which there isnt so driftlaunch is fine he could swim past them if there are boat sinking dumpers you cant swim past he just needs to throw down a bit of tarpolin or a matt under his kite to self launch it and it wont snag on any of the rocks. seriously gorgo surely youve seen enough astro turfed mountain tops by now to know how to handle a rocky area and kite/glider lines etc just wack a tarp down it doesnt even weigh nothing and use rocks to hold it in place. this blokes ment to be an instructor.

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cbulota said..
Hi Brad,

Anything that can genuinely improve kite safety is worth sharing. Having learned kiting myself in that part of the World I agree that a lot of beaches aren't suitable/safe for sliding launches and tethered launching is often the best option.
Christian

so lay down your sex tarp and launch off that









seriously dublin bay lake wanaka nothing but ice cold water rocks and trees to waters edge and gusts upto 50knots miserably cold weather on par with you limeys EVERYONE drives there 4wd down to water and tethers off there towball.

BUT

when i laid a tarp down covering the rocks not only does it make self launching stupidly easy and safe but also for self landing. tarp came for free with the obligatory backpacker van purchased off euros.

this method then worked for hundreds of other sites simular to your ENGLISH conditions.

where did i get this crazy idea from? oh i dont know? maybe theyve been using it for decades in other canopy sports....

brian dont bother editing your video just use the money youve won with your genius "invention" and buy a cheap blue tarp

oh and learn to self launch and teach your students to do the same. i hear so much crazy **** with kiting and gliding and speedflying in the states only take a few bad eggs and all but man you guys do some ridiculous ****.

I thought you would connect to your safety line first then attach to the chicken loop.
In one of the videos he does the opposite.
Anyone else notice this.
If something went wrong there's no point in having the tether.
Maybe take that bit out of the video.
I do like the product and hope it works out.

You kite Lake Wanaka? Respect.

I just fished it, before the then girlfriend and I had a picnic and found another good use for "laying down the tarp" .

The tarp is pretty much what they did at Squamish, although also with marine carpet which is a step up in style...

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Loftywinds said..
I wonder if this works for foil kites, but then again it's already been invented and costs less than $20!





And I believe it also works on inflatable kites with leading edge down

It's like . . . you didn't even skim through the video to see what it was about, just jumped at the title.

Starting a new red thumb:

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alverstone said..
You kite Lake Wanaka? Respect.

I just fished it, before the then girlfriend and I had a picnic and found another good use for "laying down the tarp" .

was going to start a school there but the students adrenaline would kick in so early due to the cold and lessons could only go for bout hour and half before they werent suitable for retaining new information etc and they were athletes (compared to most punters we get in the tropics) even had a good deal on wetties hooked up with warehouse etc but despite having...... 50? people demanding we teach them it just wasnt really worth it. teaching sucks at the best of times standing in that ice water with a full gae blowing was just annoying as **** only ended up putting half a dozen thru. i prefferred a little secret spot at hawea bout half way up on the righthand side you can get infront of a few houses via a dirt road nice large area. god that gusty gusty wind tho. bit ****house for freestyle. but yeh it was nice place for a year. not a fan of there economic bubble theyve created.

hahahaha a ful gae blowing im keeping that typo in there

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Kamikuza said..

Loftywinds said..
I wonder if this works for foil kites, but then again it's already been invented and costs less than $20!





And I believe it also works on inflatable kites with leading edge down

It's like . . . you didn't even skim through the video to see what it was about, just jumped at the title.

Starting a new red thumb:

he just mindlessly posts red things now you broke him, you ALL broke him.

i hope your proud of yourselves

FLXkite - I'm a bit interested to understand why you went down the path of having a shear pin on your 'invention' ?
I have a few launch locations where space is very limited (beach depth) but do have 4WD access so simply use a strong rope and large quick clip looped around the bull bar and just launch the kite - not a drama in the last 8 years ??
Importantly - always fully depower the kite at the bar before standing the kite on its wing tip at the edge of the wind window - I reckon that little hint negates the need for your 'shear pin' ?? Your device looks like you have put a lot of thought in to it - but its simply over engineered to my way of thought

I cant see how your invention would change anything that I would do currently so like the TV Show 'the shark tank ' - no I wont be investing but good on you for turning your mind to a need you have in your location!!

Just more gear to carry around for no reason.
0/10 its just ****

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Lambie said..
FLXkite - I'm a bit interested to understand why you went down the path of having a shear pin on your 'invention' ?
I have a few launch locations where space is very limited (beach depth) but do have 4WD access so simply use a strong rope and large quick clip looped around the bull bar and just launch the kite - not a drama in the last 8 years ??
Importantly - always fully depower the kite at the bar before standing the kite on its wing tip at the edge of the wind window - I reckon that little hint negates the need for your 'shear pin' ?? Your device looks like you have put a lot of thought in to it - but its simply over engineered to my way of thought

I cant see how your invention would change anything that I would do currently so like the TV Show 'the shark tank ' - no I wont be investing but good on you for turning your mind to a need you have in your location!!

I guess you missed the recent video of the kiter tethering to an immovable object, messing it up and having the kite powering back into the zone then snapping all his gear

Kami - yes didn't see that
Strange thing is that I'm only almost not ever attached to a fixed point ( given the time frame of the hook up to the safety on the kite and then hooking in the chicken loop - and then launch where the safety is fully functional ?? Yes if the kite gets hit by a gust in the split second you are transitioning - it would be a challenge but if you have the kite fully depowered then whats the issue????

Think about this situation - Ur in the water and a mega gust hits that you can handle so you let go of the bar - kite falls to the water, and typically at the end of the wind window ?? If the kite is fully depowered the kite just sits there ?? on the water (Unless you fly Ozones??)

So Kami - ur so correct - if you are a **** head and cant control ur kite - you need the dickhead factor !!

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Lambie said.. if you are a **** head and cant control ur kite - you need the dickhead factor !!

ive got it in spades :

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FLXkiters said..
Hi folks.

Hi Brad.

With regards to your Launch Rite name :

Just thought I'd remind you ...

Rite is not an incorrect spelling of "right" you know,,,

it's a goddamn actual word,

it means a religious celebration.

Are you ok with that ?

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Lambie said..
Kami - yes didn't see that
Strange thing is that I'm only almost not ever attached to a fixed point ( given the time frame of the hook up to the safety on the kite and then hooking in the chicken loop - and then launch where the safety is fully functional ?? Yes if the kite gets hit by a gust in the split second you are transitioning - it would be a challenge but if you have the kite fully depowered then whats the issue????

Think about this situation - Ur in the water and a mega gust hits that you can handle so you let go of the bar - kite falls to the water, and typically at the end of the wind window ?? If the kite is fully depowered the kite just sits there ?? on the water (Unless you fly Ozones??)

So Kami - ur so correct - if you are a **** head and cant control ur kite - you need the dickhead factor !!

Not sure I followed most of that, especially the second to last paragraph. Gust handling by giving up control of the kite? That sounds like a bad plan . . .

The issue the safety tether is addressing, is the time it takes you to walk 20m+ to the kite. Or that split second when something annoying happens, like a lull dropping the kite back in the window, just out of grasp, then a gust powering it up and having it rocket across the other side of the window and BOOM off it goes.

It might only need to save your gear once for it to be useful, like all sort of safety devices.

Would have saved this guy a bit of hassle . . .

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Kozzie said...


he just mindlessly posts red things now you broke him, you ALL broke him.

i hope your proud of yourselves

Speaking of red thumbs ...

I just purchased a kitecover recently ...VVV

all I need now is a kite to go with it.

That looks like a shop. I can tell by the pixels.

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waveslave said...

FLXkiters said..
Hi folks.

Hi Brad.

With regards to your Launch Rite name :

Just thought I'd remind you ...

Rite is not an incorrect spelling of "right" you know,,,

it's a goddamn actual word,

it means a religious celebration.

Are you ok with that ?

Launching a kite is a religious celebration penis ears

Thank you for the continued interest in discussing the device (albiet with some malice).
We believe that most would agree tethered depowered kites can still generate a tremendous amount of force on a tether once directly entered into the power zone.

We have had tethered kites rip sand anchors out of the ground and become projectiles, tethered kites tomahawking into bystanders and tethered kites flying above riders heads and they cannot reach their bars.

We understand Oz has the safest kiters in the world but up here - you name it, its happened with tethered kites.

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waveslave said..

Kozzie said...


he just mindlessly posts red things now you broke him, you ALL broke him.

i hope your proud of yourselves

Speaking of red thumbs ...

I just purchased a kitecover recently ...VVV

all I need now is a kite to go with it.

?3497059936467742920

i would be intrested to see what % of UV gets thru that fabric. also talk about missing out on a golden opportunity to make it double as a launch spot. no doubt the basterd will read this and make a couple hundred bucks from that idea.

anyways its useful for some schools that need to camp out the launch spots for there students etc especially with the logo printing etc. still cant see the dude makeing a million dollers from it thats why i never bothered produceing anything.

same thing goes for OP's invention what do you stand to make brian? 1k$? for all the bull**** you gotto go thru. ive seen guys with legitimately awesome inventions for kiteing and they dont bother patenting it or selling it just because they know how much of a **** around it is.

and kami your right the kitecover photo is shopped ahhahaha why?!!?!?


brian you keep saying tethered kites are dangerous and bad tethered kites this and that and i agree with you.
soooooooo...... go buy a tarp allready and DONT tether your kite. im genuinely intrested to here what a RELIGIOUSLY RITUALISTIC event it will be for you, a true new addition to your kite launching CEREMONY.

your students need to learn to self launch and land safely tethering isnt the answer and flogging them some wire as a solution really doesnt sit well with me or i imagine most other instructors. if you must teach them to drift launch safely. theyre far better off getting that dialled in with you around then without you there. think of what they might be trying to do without you there. they might come to me one day and i will have to explain to them that they did not receive proper instruction if they still can not self launch and land safely by themselves.
(just kidding i just watch the circus these days rather then be apart of the show, (just saying this in hopes you become a little more reluctant to put your name out there globally unless your really REALLY good at what you do and have researched every avenue first (which you havent as theres cheaper and even free solutions with better safety to your problem) nothing like a crazy englishman flying thru the air scattering himself about the place like he had just stumbled apon a land mine)

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theDoctor said..

waveslave said...

FLXkiters said..
Hi folks.

Hi Brad.

With regards to your Launch Rite name :

Just thought I'd remind you ...

Rite is not an incorrect spelling of "right" you know,,,

it's a goddamn actual word,

it means a religious celebration.

Are you ok with that ?

Launching a kite is a religious celebration penis ears

Riding a good wave is the religious experience ...

launching is just foreplay.

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Kozzie said..

same thing goes for OP's invention what do you stand to make brian? 1k$? for all the bull**** you gotto go thru.

Kozzie, his name is Brad by the way ... just saying. lol.

Forget the $1000 for all the bullsh1t, he's aiming for the bullseye. The moneyshot.

That's the $8000 target he's proclaimed on that scammy conjob professional begging website.

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

Who first said that ?