after 30 mins on the water last thursday in about 20-25knts a larks head
slipped off the connecting knot on one of my steering lines. The timing was not very convenient as i was about 5m off the water. The kite powered into a severe down loop slingshotting me about 15 meters down wind and crashing me quite heavily into the water. I was out past the breakers but was finding it hard to swim and breath with broken rib. I am glad my good friend robbie was around to help me in and with my gear. There is usually no one out at this spot so i was lucky i had a buddy.

After inspection of the line we both ruled out user error as the kite had operated fine for 30mins before the accident and the larks head loop was still in loop form looking like it had just slipped past the knot.The knot on this brands bar does look a bit average. we have beefed it up to prevent it happening again

In 5 years of kiting i have never seen it happen. Any other people experienced it?

Im lucky it happened out at sea and not on land otherwise it could have been a lot worse.

YES!

I thought I was the only one. I just put it down to being a kook at the time and tried to forget it, but I actually had the kite up and flying for a couple of minutes before the first bit of strain popped it off. Again, a small knot and not much holding it on there, but I instinctively give them all a yank now after I put them on every time.

No damage, no injury, just my pride dented.

More experience shared, power to the people....

Never seen it, but worried it might happen when I tried a Liquid Force Havoc. The not to hold the lark's head is tiny. Had no faith in it at all, and checked it a few times before going out. It's a pity though, cause everything else about the kite semed great

Did the lark's head snap???????
NO......................... it's a knot failure.
I had the knot fail once on a rebel, pull the larks head tight and no worries otherwise tie a bigger knot...............
end of thread

yeah u prolly didnt pull it tight enough and one of the larks loops slipped off.

remember line and knot management kittens.

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brady said...

Never seen it, but worried it might happen when I tried a Liquid Force Havoc. The not to hold the lark's head is tiny. Had no faith in it at all, and checked it a few times before going out. It's a pity though, cause everything else about the kite semed great

I agree, when I demo'ed the havoc I was worried about the knots. I think it's something LF could improve on.

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greenleader said...

remember line and knot management kittens.

Yes, I was so embarrassed. I know it was me kooking out, nothing to do with the gear.

Though I was 'used to' a different brand of kite with different sized knots in the end .

if its windy enough sometimes the flapping motion of the kite can loosen the larks head. I have noticed mine looking very loose sometimes after the kite has been sitting on the beach for awhile

yeah dave first thought it was knot failure but i cant really see it lasting that long in strong winds. Anyway the north knots are pretty dodgy the way they are tied so we have redone them. They are not really a freestanding knot, more of a knot tied in a loop. i will send a photo. i didnt really like them the first time i saw them so i should have changed them ayt the start. definately wouldnt want a flogging like that again. if i was kiting alone a long way out i definately would of had to say goodbye to my gear.

Its happened to me once too while on land. The air was nice, the landing wasnt. Always make sure they are pulled tight. I think thats what brought Johno Keys to grief too.

i fly havocs, yep the not does look small but i have never had a problem with them. i think it is designed so that u can use the bar and lines with other kites that require a larks on both the front and back lines. cause the knot is at the end of a loop. i have just made my own knot which has held fine for a whole season.