In a recent (inadvertent) release of my chicken loop, my bar went flying up the safety line towards my kite. Luckily I was near the beach. I used my harness hook for a bit of leverage on the line when I got onshore.

However, thinking about it now, I don't see how I could have safely reeled in the kite if I was in deep water because the standard self rescue involves using your bar as the 'fishing rod' to gain leverage on the line which is under tension of the jumping kite and the bar also winds up the lines safely to avoid it going round your legs, etc.

Any suggestions please?

Hi Fooosh, this is a message I posted some time ago. hope this helps:

We used to teach any self-rescue by wrapping the safety line around the bar, then wrapping all lines to get to the kite, exactly as shown in this video. For a basic self-rescue (i.e. using the kite as a sail to get back to the shore) there is no need to wrap any lines at all. Simply pulling the kite towards you using the safety line is a much quicker and safer method. The problem with wrapping the lines around the bar is that 1) it takes a lot of time 2) can be quite difficult in heavy winds and choppy water and 3) If you don't wrap the lines properly (i.e.) forget to wrap one or more lines), the kite could take off and start pulling you (seen that happen a few times). Yes, there can be some tangled lines when choosing not to wrap them, but that's not a major issue and can be avoided by letting the lines slide beside you instead of in front of you when you pull the kite to you.

So basically the only two self-rescue techniques I would recommend are as followed:

1) BASIC SELF RESCUE: Releasing the quick release (Q.R.), pulling the safety line to get to the kite (only once the kite is fully depowered i.e. flagged out). Flipping the kite over (if needed) from the wing tip (as shown in the video). Using the steering line and the corresponding centre line to create a sail. You can also use the self-rescue handles as shown in the video, but I find the lines work better, especially in cross shore winds. If you have lost your board, you can try swimming upwind to it as soon as you have pulled out of the quick release, then once you get to the kite put the board upside down in the kite (to avoid ripping your canopy with the fins!) and self-rescue with your sail.

The BASIC self-rescue should be the only method to use, unless, in very rare scenarios there is 1) No more wind to create a sail AND you are far away from the shore, 2) wind shifted OFF-SHORE or 3) Leading Edge has deflated!

If you are in any of those scenarios, you really should consider doing a FULL PACK DOWN.

2) FULL PACK DOWN: The full pack down begins exactly as shown in the video, but instead of creating a sail, DEFLATE the leading edge (being careful not to let any water in!) and closing the deflate valve (also to avoid getting water in the bladder). Hopefully you didn't forget to close all the clips on the tubes connecting from the leading edge to the struts (on any one-pump system kite), otherwise, the whole kite will deflate...
Once you got most of the air out of the leading edge, place the wrapped lines and bar in the middle of the kite and fold the kite in half (wing tip over wing tip) then roll it as best and as tight as you can. You can now eject your leash and use this line to tie a knot around your rolled kite. Don't be afraid to wrap it tight, because this will be your floatation device for a while. You can simply tie your board to one of the lines hanging in the water, that way you can swim freely with both hands and feet. If a boat come to rescue you it is much easier for them to pick you up with the kite packed down, as a boat rescue with unwrapped lines and inflated kite can be hard to do for anyone who is unexperienced with that.


My advice is to practise both these self-rescue scenarios on the beach first, then in deep water. When there is no wind, why not practise the pack down in deep water, if you ever have to do it for real one day, you'll be thankful you practised it first!

If all this sounds like Chinese, then take a lesson!

Christian

So cbulota, you don't bother wrapping any lines at all, and you've been telling other people to do this as well? Becoming tangled in lines, then having your kite power up because you haven't disarmed it by taking up a leading edge's length of line (and locking it off) is the last thing you could possibly want, or wish upon anybody; especially if they don't carry a kite knife. As many have become unstuck in this scenario, and haven't lived to tell their tale.

To answer Foosh's question, if you can't wind the lines on the bar using the fishing rod method, near enough is good enough. Wind the lines around the bar instead of the length of the bar. This will require considerable less effort, but will come at the expense of leaving u lines looking pretty gnarly. Remember to lock of the lines every once in a while with a half hitch, especially the flagging line and not to miss any lines. If there is too much tension to even perform a basic half hitch as you get within arms reach of the kite, your leash will suffice (as it isn't under load) in preventing the lines from unravelling.

20 seconds in deep water ?

i call bull****

dusta said...

20 seconds in deep water ?

i call bull****

yep. 20 seconds on short lines. maybe up to 60 seconds on long lines...sorry

You gota teach both ways I reckon. I usually teach just getting to the leading edge first and make them do it at the end of every lesson in the water and then add the winding the lines method later. From my experience just getting to the leading edge is fine and the quicker you can get to the kite the less tangles. Times when you need to wind your lines would probably be if you have to come in through the surf from out the back or if there is lots of weed in the water(learnt this myself). Weed will catch on your lines and you start heading further downwind(never mind the mess when you get to the beach) plus I think you get a better angle across the wind if your lines are wound up. One myth I have found is your bar will jag on the bottom. I have self rescued across fairly flat limestone reef in waist deep water a few times without any problem just don't stop.I will have to time myself next time but I reckon I could get to the kite in pretty close to 30 sec with 25m lines mind you I won't be in a rush to see

dusta said...

20 seconds in deep water ?

i call bull****

I think he is saying if you walk the center line to the kite as quickly as possible to get to the kite you can get to it in 20 seconds.

I do like this method especially if the wind is very strong. One you have control of the kite, you can reel the bar in and wind it up at the kite.

We perform the IKO prescribed method (in the water) with our students, and we aren't interested in saving ourselves time on the beach untangling lines - we prefer the student gets shown the correct method to rescue one's self. Until other methods are approved by kiteboarding governing bodies such as the IKO, BKSA etc. we will continue to use what we believe is the 'correct' method.

As far as I'm aware of, kiteboarding schools operating in the St-Kilda area do the self-rescue procedures in shallow water, which is more of a "simulation" or a "practice" rather than a real self-rescue in deep water situations. As mentioned in the current IKO standard for a Level 2 Kiteboarder Intermediate, student should:

"Self-rescue in deep water situations" (Page 63).

this leads me to believe the standard is not actually respected ?

cbulota said...

Hi Fooosh, this is a message I posted some time ago. hope this helps:

We used to teach any self-rescue by wrapping the safety line around the bar, then wrapping all lines to get to the kite, exactly as shown in this video. For a basic self-rescue (i.e. using the kite as a sail to get back to the shore) there is no need to wrap any lines at all. Simply pulling the kite towards you using the safety line is a much quicker and safer method.

Hi

Are you suggesting doing this with the bar still attached to your harness? Or when you start pulling yourself to the kite you detach from the bar?
I can't see how you avoid getting your legs tangled in all the lines...

everytime i have tried this method i get tangled - usually the kite is going to be downwind of you, the lines therefore have a tendancy to get blown back onto you and tangle your legs as you try to make it to the kite

Thanks for the precision TurtleHunter, that's great