how do you guys self launch big, 1 strut kites?
8 out of 10 times something goes wrong when self launching my 17.5 solo. The canopy pushing down the single strut is the biggest issue when the kite slides down wind. It then either catches lines and becomes uncontrollable or it simply won't fill up with air.

no problems self launching my other kite.

Try tethered launching?

... just playing devil advocate here but I reckon try not to let the kite slide too far,,, walk upwind faster to compensate for the slide so that the kite stays in one spot, spins around on it's self, so wind fills kite then can roll over for the launch.

Just a thought.

Robbie

i have the solo 15.5 meter kites. The kite must be pump more than any other kite. If the leading bladder does not hold the shape you will always have this problem. Get worse if the kite is wet. cheers

would I buy another Solo, NO until they fix the weak bladder leading edge. The Mono doesn't have the problem.

I agree with Nick You should consider tethered self launching. I agree that pumping your kite harder might help but still... I don't think single strut kites in such large sizes is a good idea in the first place... I don't think you can avoid this problem

Christian

Thanks guys this confirms my gut feeling about the kite.
I always pump it up super hard and tether launch when possible

My 17m Cloud C2 (strutless) self launches just the same as any other. I walk upwind and tension the lines so the wind catches inside the downwind wingtip and from there the canopy fills like normal. Everything else is exactly the same....

i dont let the kite slide too far downwind, but if it did it would be full surface area exposed to wind and nose down. From there I would simply hotlaunch it if I wanted. Better to rotate the kite up at the side of the window.

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kiteflo said..
Thanks guys this confirms my gut feeling about the kite.
I always pump it up super hard and tether launch when possible

Remove the middle strut! It might work just like James said with his Cloud kite

I have the 9m Solo and never have any problems self launching it. The main thing is not to have tension on the back lines, which can stop the trailing edge lifting off the water. Once it has rotated downwind the strut will probably still be in the water but the left and right corner of the kite should be able to catch the wind. You need to think of it as a spinnaker that wants to fill with wind at this point - don't restrain it and it will fill naturally and pop the central strut off the water quite easily. I also have a 12m Cloud C2 and its the same technique. Once they fill , both kites rotate onto a wingtip and come off the water very easily. In light winds I walk towards the kite a bit to help it fill.

Hope this helps.