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IanR said..

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.

Pretty easy. Seen some folks flying through the sky on various beaches. But also easy enough to avoid. Don't rely on the person waiting for your thumbs up. Just walk into the perfect position without line tension but without too much slack either. Have one hand on the quick release and expect the worst. If lines pick up some trash while you run into position don't rely on the other person understanding that yanking the line is to try and get rid of the branches or seaweed as they might just think you are ready to lauch. Drop the bar (and if in suicide pull the safety) and walk to the line to free it from any crap.

Most accidents I have seen were due to the kiter expecting the launcher to walk into the perfect position to avoid hot launch or kite rolling back downwind and then hot launching. It's the kiter who should make sure they do the running.

Yeah. While being an advocate of getting an assisted launch I did get a terrible launch from a guy a few weeks back. I was just walking into position and getting my chicken loop into place when I look up and he's thrown the bloody kite into the air. It's luffing and drifting back into the window, god knows what he was thinking. Since I know what to do I piloted it to the zenith then popped over to him with a friendly "Hey cheers for the launch but please remember to wait for the thumbs up before you launch". He responded with a string of insults and flipping me off. I was so mad, it is the first time I have ever told anybody to get the farq out of my country and go back to Germany (I think he's Dutch, but thought calling him a dirty kraut would add a little venom).

I had another run in with him a week later and he was still full of insults, turns out the guy has only ever had half a lesson before he blamed the instructor for him not being able to kite yet. Then he thought it was logical to blame me for his premature launch since I have worked as an instructor before. Somehow his lack of understanding is my fault?
It took every ounce of restraint in my body not to lay him flat by crikey.

So yeah in summary, there are bad launchers out there, but thats 1 bad launch in 12 years. Still gotta be better for the kite/ bystanders/ chance of becoming a pink smear in the carpark by having an assist.

And yes I am comfortable self launching but don't see it as a preference.

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eppo said..
oldy but appropriate....

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

Tooo Funny Vid Mate.

I Self Launch and Land all the time No Probs. Ive had too many Bad Assisted Launches and I'm not Someones Kite B.tch. Too many people expect you to launch for them. If you can't launch yourself don't Kite. Simple.

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GMK-KiteSurf said..
I Self Launch and Land all the time No Probs. Ive had too many Bad Assisted Launches and I'm not Someones Kite B.tch. Too many people expect you to launch for them. If you can't launch yourself don't Kite. Simple.

Yeah! Another Rockstar! You can launch and land all by your lonesome! (Like 90% of us .) I know you're a tough guy and all, no "kite bitch" for you. But how about some autographed pics of you for us all? You can print them on your mummy's printer.Simple.
Rock on Rockstar!

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GMK-KiteSurf said..
I Self Launch and Land all the time No Probs. Ive had too many Bad Assisted Launches and I'm not Someones Kite B.tch. Too many people expect you to launch for them. If you can't launch yourself don't Kite. Simple.

Do you get lonely?

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GMK-KiteSurf said..
I Self Launch and Land all the time No Probs. Ive had too many Bad Assisted Launches and I'm not Someones Kite B.tch. Too many people expect you to launch for them. If you can't launch yourself don't Kite. Simple.

Tooo funny post mate, this has to be a p1ss take.

I too have had one too many assisted launch and lands go wrong to trust someone I don't know to launch me. I mostly self launch/land not because I am any hero, only that I feel it's better for me and my gear.

The self Landing and Launching techniques are very simple, and if performed correctly are no more dangerous for anyone than assisted in my opinion.

The reality here is (assisted or non assisted) launching and landing requires the rider to assess the risk. That is... either method.. don't launch upwind of people on the beach etc etc.

I LUv being a RockStar. I never get lonely because of my many Fans.............
I wonder why people take me seriously. Isn't this the place for the Comedy tryouts.......

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beebee said..

GMK-KiteSurf said..
I Self Launch and Land all the time No Probs. Ive had too many Bad Assisted Launches and I'm not Someones Kite B.tch. Too many people expect you to launch for them. If you can't launch yourself don't Kite. Simple.

Yeah! Another Rockstar! You can launch and land all by your lonesome! (Like 90% of us .) I know you're a tough guy and all, no "kite bitch" for you. But how about some autographed pics of you for us all? You can print them on your mummy's printer.Simple.
Rock on Rockstar!

By the way, where do you want the pics sent tooooo. Your Mums place..........