What's with the number of people self launching / self landing at popular spots with plenty of kiters around to help out?

I watched a whole crew doing a down winder this afternoon from Floreat with a beach full of non-kiters self launch themselves - even given they had each other to help out, not to mention plenty of other kiters around.

Seems hugely irrisponsible, I don't care how good you are, the risk of something going wrong is higher self launching / landing.

Self launching and landing has its place, but they place is not on a busy beach with plenty of kiters to launch you.

Yes Sarg. Safety police

I self launch 95% of the time. Its not a problem in normal winds on a wide beach/field.
30+ knots on tight beach close to people is another story. I'll seek a self or teathered launch.

Kiting below 30 knots is for KookS

It's been the trend at my local surf beach for the last couple of years
At the flat water spots people are happy to do assisted launch and landings.
Not so the surf beach. People will ignore you if you ask for assistance or talk down to you.
Even offered a guy a launch the other day at the surf beach because I thought he had picked a bad place to self launch. He refused in a typical I'm a cool surfer rude manor. It went all wrong, he ended up launching with the kite dead down wind and getting dragged 15 meters without out his hands on the bar just missed a couple of people with the kite and nearly hitting a tree himself.
I don't bother asking anymore at surf beaches and just assume I'll be self launching and landing
Got to love that "I'm a cool rockstar surfer attitude" that's been growing in the sport for the last couple of year

Good place to practice in my opinion,. Lots of people to help out if it goes wrong.

Plus why wouldn't you? When 100% solo you only have yourself to blame when it does.

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IanR said..
It's been the trend at my local surf beach for the last couple of years
At the flat water spots people are happy to do assisted launch and landings.
Not so the surf beach. People will ignore you if you ask for assistance or talk down to you.
Even offered a guy a launch the other day at the surf beach because I thought he had picked a bad place to self launch. He refused in a typical I'm a cool surfer rude manor. It went all wrong, he ended up launching with the kite dead down wind and getting dragged 15 meters without out his hands on the bar just missed a couple of people with the kite and nearly hitting a tree himself.
I don't bother asking anymore at surf beaches and just assume I'll be self launching and landing
Got to love that "I'm a cool rockstar surfer attitude" that's been growing in the sport for the last couple of year

There's definitely a d**khead mentality on the rise.
(I had an encounter with a total asshat at Trigg WA yesterday. Caught the whole thing on video.)
The unnecessary self launches just make me laugh.
Apart from anything else, (safety issues, bystanders), it adds wear and tear to a kite over time.
Don't let the Rockstar Asshats get you down. Thankfully , they're still a minority. (Though there's a lot of them on the forums :-)
You can ask me for a launch or land anytime. ;-)

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beebee said..

IanR said..
It's been the trend at my local surf beach for the last couple of years
At the flat water spots people are happy to do assisted launch and landings.
Not so the surf beach. People will ignore you if you ask for assistance or talk down to you.
Even offered a guy a launch the other day at the surf beach because I thought he had picked a bad place to self launch. He refused in a typical I'm a cool surfer rude manor. It went all wrong, he ended up launching with the kite dead down wind and getting dragged 15 meters without out his hands on the bar just missed a couple of people with the kite and nearly hitting a tree himself.
I don't bother asking anymore at surf beaches and just assume I'll be self launching and landing
Got to love that "I'm a cool rockstar surfer attitude" that's been growing in the sport for the last couple of year

There's definitely a d**khead mentality on the rise.
(I had an encounter with a total asshat at Trigg WA yesterday. Caught the whole thing on video.)
The unnecessary self launches just make me laugh.
Apart from anything else, (safety issues, bystanders), it adds wear and tear to a kite over time.
Don't let the Rockstar Asshats get you down. Thankfully , they're still a minority. (Though there's a lot of them on the forums :-)
You can ask me for a launch or land anytime. ;-)

Please stop dangling the carrot and post vid. Ta

Yep, vid please!

vid vid vid vid !

I enjoyed watching the crew of Russians (?!) kook it yesterday at my spot.

Val Kilmer #1 came and self landed his kite across about 4 other sets of lines then got dragged through them all as his kite took off again and he had to pull the safety. Got his shyte all tangled up in everybody elses gear.

2 minutes later, Val Kilmer #2 goes for a self launch (right in the middle of a packed out spot) and hooks his steering line around somebodys footstrap, the thing hot launches pretty much, he skids across everybody elses lines and 1 kite before pulling the safety and getting his lines all tangled in everybody elses shyte.

Not everybody can be iceman guys, but you can all be Goose

Self launching is one of the highlights of kiting. You dont have to talk to all the wealthy midlife crisis non surfer types who are SO FROTHING over getting into foiling.

This sport needs more rockstars....other than Leo...who else is famous in oz...?

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DJMWA said..

beebee said..

IanR said..
It's been the trend at my local surf beach for the last couple of years
At the flat water spots people are happy to do assisted launch and landings.
Not so the surf beach. People will ignore you if you ask for assistance or talk down to you.
Even offered a guy a launch the other day at the surf beach because I thought he had picked a bad place to self launch. He refused in a typical I'm a cool surfer rude manor. It went all wrong, he ended up launching with the kite dead down wind and getting dragged 15 meters without out his hands on the bar just missed a couple of people with the kite and nearly hitting a tree himself.
I don't bother asking anymore at surf beaches and just assume I'll be self launching and landing
Got to love that "I'm a cool rockstar surfer attitude" that's been growing in the sport for the last couple of year

There's definitely a d**khead mentality on the rise.
(I had an encounter with a total asshat at Trigg WA yesterday. Caught the whole thing on video.)
The unnecessary self launches just make me laugh.
Apart from anything else, (safety issues, bystanders), it adds wear and tear to a kite over time.
Don't let the Rockstar Asshats get you down. Thankfully , they're still a minority. (Though there's a lot of them on the forums :-)
You can ask me for a launch or land anytime. ;-)

Please stop dangling the carrot and post vid. Ta

Will post it when I have some time.
cheers.

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Chris_M said..
I enjoyed watching the crew of Russians (?!) kook it yesterday at my spot.

Val Kilmer #1 came and self landed his kite across about 4 other sets of lines then got dragged through them all as his kite took off again and he had to pull the safety. Got his shyte all tangled up in everybody elses gear.

2 minutes later, Val Kilmer #2 goes for a self launch (right in the middle of a packed out spot) and hooks his steering line around somebodys footstrap, the thing hot launches pretty much, he skids across everybody elses lines and 1 kite before pulling the safety and getting his lines all tangled in everybody elses shyte.

Not everybody can be iceman guys, but you can all be Goose

Hahah. Excellent post.
Glad nobody or no gear got damaged.
Geese are definitely not a threatened species.

Iv seen alot of accidents happen due to improperly trained kiters launching another's kite. I feel safer self launching in the areas I tend to kite. But if I ever think it's sketchy, I'll get help strait away.

I agree with the OP.

Floreat is packed with non-kiters and kids. There are obstacles like signs, walls and turbulent wind behind the groin. There are a heap of kiters who can't stay up wind yet so they do downwinders and drive back upwind so they definitely haven't fine turned their self launching skills.

All in all it's just a recipe for disaster when it's busy and is a time to select the safest/most appropriate launching method which would probably be assisted launch.

Unfortunately many think that with this sort of audience, it's a good time to show off their half baked self launching skills.

Its not a good idea. Practice somewhere else.

Yes yes yes, all very good important opinions but WHERES THE FUNNY VIDEO PLEASE AND THANKYOU

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Chris_M said..
I enjoyed watching the crew of Russians (?!) kook it yesterday at my spot.

Val Kilmer #1 came and self landed his kite across about 4 other sets of lines then got dragged through them all as his kite took off again and he had to pull the safety. Got his shyte all tangled up in everybody elses gear.

2 minutes later, Val Kilmer #2 goes for a self launch (right in the middle of a packed out spot) and hooks his steering line around somebodys footstrap, the thing hot launches pretty much, he skids across everybody elses lines and 1 kite before pulling the safety and getting his lines all tangled in everybody elses shyte.

Not everybody can be iceman guys, but you can all be Goose

You sure they weren't from WA

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towradgi said..
This sport needs more rockstars....other than Leo...who else is famous in oz...?

theDoctor.....?

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theDoctor said..

towradgi said..
This sport needs more rockstars....other than Leo...who else is famous in oz...?

theDoctor.....?

Dame Edna

I would say overall assisted launching and landing prevails at perth beaches even the surf beaches, there are always a few that are too cool and sometimes a noob will be too shy to ask or think that it's uncool.

As a group I think it is important that we impress upon all kiters new and old that it is never uncool or inappropriate to ask for a launch or land. It's almost always safer and just the fact it's less wear and tear on the kite makes it worth doing.

Also when you do choose to self launch/land and there are people standing watching who could help Murphy's Law will inevitably kick in and it will be a total ball's up

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quikdrawMcgraw said..

Chris_M said..
I enjoyed watching the crew of Russians (?!) kook it yesterday at my spot.

Val Kilmer #1 came and self landed his kite across about 4 other sets of lines then got dragged through them all as his kite took off again and he had to pull the safety. Got his shyte all tangled up in everybody elses gear.

2 minutes later, Val Kilmer #2 goes for a self launch (right in the middle of a packed out spot) and hooks his steering line around somebodys footstrap, the thing hot launches pretty much, he skids across everybody elses lines and 1 kite before pulling the safety and getting his lines all tangled in everybody elses shyte.

Not everybody can be iceman guys, but you can all be Goose

You sure they weren't from WA

I'm from WA, and I'd say there's every chance they were.

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cauncy said..

theDoctor said..

towradgi said..
This sport needs more rockstars....other than Leo...who else is famous in oz...?

theDoctor.....?

Dame Edna

Haha,come on guys i'm being serious...Who is current mambo champ,who is current midwest fest champ,who is oz freestyle champ,who is current wave champ ? DUNNO to all ,but we all know who Leo is. He is a sponsors dream.

Just to give you my 2 penith worth I just launched a guy and was last one out so I had to self launch as my kite stood on edge ( completely alone) I realised there was a bit of weed tangled in my lines , tried to shake it out but got line twisted around bar( nightmare begins ) my kite 12m started to cartwheel down the beach and power up . Time to hit emergency release .
After soerting lines out I decided to launch tethered to the fence ( normal practice for last man standing ) as I ran my lines towards fence I had misjudged distance and was a bit short of leash so I pulled on lines to get closer and my kite started to drift down wind of 3 o'clock launch point as my kite just got air in managed to hook on to fence and put chicken loop in place up she went like a Fken rocket (22knots ) well the kite lines just snapped and the kite was off across the June's
luckyily no one or thing was damaged apart from my pride and lines
Stay safe live to kite another day

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geordieboy said..
Just to give you my 2 penith worth I just launched a guy and was last one out so I had to self launch as my kite stood on edge ( completely alone) I realised there was a bit of weed tangled in my lines , tried to shake it out but got line twisted around bar( nightmare begins ) my kite 12m started to cartwheel down the beach and power up . Time to hit emergency release .
After soerting lines out I decided to launch tethered to the fence ( normal practice for last man standing ) as I ran my lines towards fence I had misjudged distance and was a bit short of leash so I pulled on lines to get closer and my kite started to drift down wind of 3 o'clock launch point as my kite just got air in managed to hook on to fence and put chicken loop in place up she went like a Fken rocket (22knots ) well the kite lines just snapped and the kite was off across the June's
luckyily no one or thing was damaged apart from my pride and lines
Stay safe live to kite another day

Fark n ell mate talk about a saga! Some WA hell qunts will be on shortly to laugh at you and abuse you.
Thanks for sharing and likewise stay live to kite another day!

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geordieboy said..
Just to give you my 2 penith worth I just launched a guy and was last one out so I had to self launch as my kite stood on edge ( completely alone) I realised there was a bit of weed tangled in my lines , tried to shake it out but got line twisted around bar( nightmare begins ) my kite 12m started to cartwheel down the beach and power up . Time to hit emergency release .
After soerting lines out I decided to launch tethered to the fence ( normal practice for last man standing ) as I ran my lines towards fence I had misjudged distance and was a bit short of leash so I pulled on lines to get closer and my kite started to drift down wind of 3 o'clock launch point as my kite just got air in managed to hook on to fence and put chicken loop in place up she went like a Fken rocket (22knots ) well the kite lines just snapped and the kite was off across the June's
luckyily no one or thing was damaged apart from my pride and lines
Stay safe live to kite another day

Jesus? Might be best if you arent the last man standing next time.

Agree and it's not that complicated. On weekends when the beach is PACKED with families and 10-15 other kiters setting up over a small area (City Beach)...IT'S NOT THE PLACE AND TIME TO SELF-LAUNCH!!
I almost got knocked out 4-5 times so far this season while setting up because of people missing their self-launch (between groyne and sign). I had to duck twice to avoid lines and kite.
Go way downwind if you insist on self-launching or ask for assistance.

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wishy said..
Self launching is one of the highlights of kiting. You dont have to talk to all the wealthy midlife crisis non surfer types who are SO FROTHING over getting into foiling.

GOLD!


And +1, where is the F&*-ing video????!!!! (you royal tease beebee)

Also agree 100% with OP. City Beach on crowded weekends is not the place for self launching and landing, no matter how good you are at it. I've been kiting there for 8 years now...for the last few years, as the downwinder traffic has really picked up, it starts to feel like we are on thin ice, one bad incident away from a ban. And that one bad incident is SO much more likely to happen in a self launch or self land situation than anything else.
The worst example I've seen there - which resulted in a pretty nasty confrontation - was last summer when a visitor from a certain wine and cheese loving european nation was attempting to self land from the beach onto the grass (yes, dropping his lines across the cycle path). While there were at least a dozen kiters on the beach, and a dozen more on the grass. WTF

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Adam''KiteRepair said..
Iv seen alot of accidents happen due to improperly trained kiters launching another's kite. I feel safer self launching in the areas I tend to kite. But if I ever think it's sketchy, I'll get help strait away.

Hey Adam are you prepare to elaborate further on your comment.
What are the launchers doing that is causing the accidents to happen. I just don't see how you can blame the person assisting.
About 15 years ago I had an assisted launch go bad. Basically the top steering line was caught around the bar and I in my rush to get out I didn't notice. The kite whipped across the window and I got lofted.100 percent my fault.
Otherwise I can't think of any other assisted launches I have seen that have gone seriously wrong.

oldy but appropriate....

www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+kite+launcher+youtube&view=detail&mid=1A6E1D7AD61E59D213F91A6E1D7AD61E59D213F9&FORM=VIRE