Hey! When the kite gets hit by waves do you 1 Flag kite but keep Leach on?
2 completely eject kite?
3 flag kite and eject harness so your kite hopefully doesn't fly away?
I have ripped one to many kites this winter.
Also does this method change if your out deep on a reef? Cheers

Hey Jono,
Sounds like you have been learning the hard way.
I have always tried to be aware of the conditions.
1, 2, and 3 are all options.
Sometimes there is no substitute for experience.

^^^ What they said

Like poker you have to know when to hold them and when to fold them

Don't drop it in the wave zone is always safest, but boring
Relaunching before the next wave is ideal, but not always possible

Flagging on to one line is an option for small / timid surf, but then relaunching afterwards is tricky

I'm not a fan of ejecting from your harness, especially if it has your car keys in the back pocket

I had to let my kite go twice in one weekend a couple of weeks ago.
just wondering if there's no one to get your kite on the beach, what's the chance of it blowing away?

Yeh had same expereince this winter. Suppose in winter will washback to shore so if cant relaunch (which is kind of silly to say relaunch kite, becuase that's an obvious natural reaction), just make sure it wont end up on rocks or into someone else.

Hence I would release. and yet, the other day I didn't and the kite pulled me closer to shore and not on the rocks to the north. I was a fair way out in 4-5m swell, ocean was angry, kite was too big for conditions that came in. Kite was fine, yet every chance of ruining the structure if still connected through safety. Was scary getting dragged underwater for 30-40m, but it did save me from the rocks.
The only thing is I had to swim back out to get my board - that was fun! Not!

What I've learnt, assess situation quick, and have already gone through each contingancy before you head out. I was lucky this time, before I was not and ripped my kite. Having not droppeda kite in the water for 8 years I felt like a new kook, it was like, shi# what do i do again!

*IMO
Be careful if trying to bodysurf towards the kite if it is down in the surf, i wouldn't do it because of the danger of getting wrapped in lines.
If there is no chance of getting it back up, it's onshore and no-one (or maybe just kiter mates) on the beach just eject the lot, it will just wash around in the shore break full of water and sand but still intact.
If I am caught with the kite down in in a heavy spot, I will unhook from chicken loop and safety and just hold the CL in my hand whilst trying to relaunch, if it comes up great, hook back in, if not you are ready to let go as soon as it gets slammed by a set.

Your only bodysurfing toward the kite while its gettin hauled by the wave to keep as much pressure off the kite as poss,not to get slackline.

rwtaaffe said...

Hey Jono,
Sounds like you have been learning the hard way.
I have always tried to be aware of the conditions.
1, 2, and 3 are all options.
Sometimes there is no substitute for experience.



There sure ain't RWT!!!!

How many did that make?

Here's what i do it the monster surf.

Go to every length not to crash it. ! So loop that bastard out of the way. i sensed my 8m was gona hit the deck in a 40 knot squall and 5m swell so i looped its sorry arse. i shot off backward bouncing down wind on my back.... hehehe. silly but the kite stayed in the air.

if i am crashing and the kite does hit the deck I pull on the bar and start the relaunch process whiles i'm still crashing. my kite is usually relaunched by the time i pop up out of the water.

Also use a fast relaunching kite in monster swell.

NJPornstar said...

Can't say I have done this in a few years. Touch wood.

Now you have done it! Gopro for your next session please...

Underoath,
Practice makes perfect, for example you need to learn to drive before you get a license, similar, you need to learn to relaunch your kite efficiently before considering waves.

1, In kiteboarding you need to decide to do something, commit to the manoeuvre and there is a good chance you will pull it off. Same with releasing your kite to safety. Flagging a kite involves releasing the bar.

2 Longer the kite is in the water the more messy it becomes, regardless of design.
Your kite is number 1 priority in all situations, take control of it asap, don't let it dominate you.

3 Your stopper ball length is incorrect. The kite is out of tune. Mind you a lifting tendency can keep your kite up and away from damaging white water. If your kite is in correct tune, reach above the depower strap and pull half meter of 5th line. The kite will fly like a box kite above surging currents.

Your 5th line isn't a miracle cure to a basic screw up, but a highly effective powerful tool if you take the patience to understand it and master it.

Plummet said...

Here's what i do it the monster surf.


if i am crashing and the kite does hit the deck I pull on the bar and start the relaunch process whiles i'm still crashing. my kite is usually relaunched by the time i pop up out of the water.

how do you manage to relaunch when being rolled? in big surf i can't tell which way is up or even hold onto the bar when i get dumped

I've dropped my kite countless times in the waves, i think it depends on what type of wave it is, if its shore dump your pretty much screwed, i found out the hard way this winter too Howver, some reef breaks are very forgiving, give Corro's as an example, 3/4 mast and pumping at new years and i dropped it on the bombie a few times with no problems, see 2:20 in the link below. shore dumps are heavy 1t per 1m2 thats hella lot of water regardless if you eject or not

stamp said...

Plummet said...

Here's what i do it the monster surf.


if i am crashing and the kite does hit the deck I pull on the bar and start the relaunch process whiles i'm still crashing. my kite is usually relaunched by the time i pop up out of the water.

how do you manage to relaunch when being rolled? in big surf i can't tell which way is up or even hold onto the bar when i get dumped

i've don't a fair bit of rag dolling in the waves surfing in the past so i've got an idea which way is up/down etc. some times it doesn't work.

suface2air said...
rule no 1
1: in the surf keep the kite flying

Outrunning your kite allowing the lines to go slack can cause you to drop the kite in the waves.
It seems to happen more with backhand riders than frontsiders for some unknown reason.
When your down-the-line boardspeed exceeds the effective driftspeed of the kite,
it can be curtains for some wavekiters.
lol.

Firstly, dump your kite right in front of the wave you are riding.
Then, get sucked over the falls and tangled in your lines.
Shortly the wave should smash into your brand new kite twisting it into a unlaunchable pretzel dragging you under before you have time to take a breath.
Repeat this as many times as there are waves in the set as you frantically try in vain to relaunch said petzel.
Finaly get washed up on shore (over the reef) and swear loudly like it wasn't your fault as you spend 1/2 an hour untangling your lines while your mates are having a ball.
Just as you have the pretzel tangle sorted out realise that your board is still out there somewhere.
Worked a treat for me today