Kitepower Australia said...

pomE said...

If you launch with kite towards the land in side shore conditions, then you have to fly the kite up and over the top of the wind window, this is when you are most at risk of a lofting.
Launching with kite water side totally avoids this and allows you to keep the kite "Low and Go"!

Yer, makes sense- I didn't really think about the kite-at-zenith-lofting aspect of things...

Chris_M said...

Dave: It was on Bozo beach in Cabarete, where at higher tides it can be quite narrow, and as you probably know, there are resorts with walls lining the most part of the beach, not to mention crowds. Yes I am reflective in my teaching practices (have reached level 2 and worked for 3 seasons), as part of being a high school teacher reflecting on pedagogy is a major part of my "normal" occupation.

I think the problem lies in allowing schools to set up where there are not wide open spaces available. But in most cases thats not economically viable, as to be a successful school (money wise) you probably need a few "walk ins" who are cruising the beach and see the kites and drop in. Often these types of beaches are quite close to development, or narrow beaches. Or development sets up in close proximity to kiting areas.

That is all

Sweet mate, We have the same idea, be reflective and think outside the square. I just could have posted nicely, Bad day yesterday. My dad is dying at quite a rapid rate. Last Chrissy with him.. Its about best practise. Where possible get your launcher as close to the water as possible for the reasons both you and I have suggested, where practible.. and with anyone who is not at least an intermediate give plenty of room for other kitesurfers, bystanders. I want best case scenarios, not beaches closed, that is my only priority.

EDIT: Yeah and Cabarette is 300m with 35 kiteschools, WTF, your spot on $$$ VS safe teaching practices. In WA its so much easier to go in another location. you dont have that luxury there!

wax on..............wax off................

ok said...

Col are u referring to all the blow ins at merewether - dicko today being so stupid ?

I get it now, 'stupid' means ripping in modern slang, as in;

"Man, that guy was going stupid out there, throwin buckets all over the place, it was awesome to watch."

And 'blow ins' mean surfers who, although they don't live within walking distance of this particular stretch of sand, have just as much right as anyone to be here.

Any other M'bay slang I should know about OK?

I think everyone needs to htfu and just learn to reverse launch, even better try hot launching with the kite directly down wind! its the only way o become a man.... launching at the edge of the wind window is a thing of the past.

Hi peeps,

This is a simple problem with a not so simple answer. IKO teach to have the kite at the waters edge for two reasons;

1/ It puts the kite in the "cleanest" or least turbulent wind so that the kite will fly better than if it were in gusty wind affected by objects, dunes, trees or buildings.

2/ The kite will pull you towards the water if powered up. And finally, the kite doesn't have to pass through the Zenith to get you into the water. ie launch and go straight into the water with lite low.

Most of this information was born through necessity in the days of 2-line kites which had no "off" position. Problem is the rule doesn't fit all situations and IKO had never updated that rule nor many others from the days of 2-Line.

This is why most instructors I taught were taught to be "Intelligent, free thinking, independent instructors" using their brain and not necessarily using IKO rules verbatim. They are a good place to start if you have no prior learnings, but IKO/BKSA doesn't have all the answers.

The rules above are good, so long as the beach is clear of all obstacles and dangers downwind and on the land side of the launch. However this is rarely the case. Example: At Pinnaroo Point we always launched with kite at the water until the Council planted 6" Diameter pine log posts all along the dunes which you could be smashed into due to proximity of the launch position if things went wrong. The rule made it more dangerous for a potential accident. Instructors then had to re-assess the situation and explore options for the safest launch.

ALL good instructors should be able to carefully and intelligently weigh up the pro's and con's of each situation, choosing the safest option. Often, this can change on the day depending upon local dangers, wind direction, tides and many other things.

As I have said to instructors I have trained in the past; "The IKO is a skeleton or framework with which to begin teaching, it is not the bible nor should it be referred to as anything similar". It's a place to start in a sport which has too many variables to have a rule book which fits all situations. Kitesurfing isn't golf.

DM

pretty much oceanfire. Just wanted to highlight the prudence of sometimes sitting it out rather than treating every situation as a challenge that must be met.
(an affliction from which the male of the species suffers)

No wuckers oceanfire. We're on the same page.

Sorry to split hairs, don't want to be misconstrued


not the first time