Hi guys, KITEMARES
Well at some point we've all had a few so heres my first, Was kiting down GC seaway a place known as KFC or loders creek, have been kiting since late sept, at the point where turns are a breeze cruizing up wind is no longer a problem can do all those things you should be able to do saftey wise can even self launch and land if there's no one to help.
So I'm practising jumps now, did this one about 35m away made the mistake of turning my head and shoulders bit to far making me spin for a backwards splash down, by the time I stuck my head up was about 25m away from shoreline looked up only to see my kite past the zenith, kite stalled lines went loose kite spun on it's self causing lines to cross but worst of all one of the steer lines also wrapped around trailing edge making one line shorter, lines tighten up and kite heads straight for the bank on edge of water, 2 kiters standing there older bloke and chic.
I grab opposite steer line and pull hard they duck and kite swoops past them, missing them the ground and small trees, kite heads back to zenith but now line is firmly around my fingers pain is intense and about to either snap or severe them off, I use other hand to free myself and just let the kite hit the grassed area. Of course older bloke and chic were upset but didnt know what happened bit of swearing and carrying on, he comes up to me, I explain what went on and he calmed down, but her OMG she must of gone to every kiter around except me!!! and had a bitch even after I fixed my lines and went back out for another hour she was still going on, basically the 3hrs I was there she was all geared up and never once went out. Came back in got the missus to help land and this chic made another comment loud enough for wife to hear saying blokes only bring there wife's to launch and land there kite's, Well if your reading this my wife was with our sister inlaw from syd who wanted to kite but was too crowded for her liking so wife was hanging with her chatting and taking photo's, meanwhile missus explained to me how this chic was running around getting brownie points launching and landing everyone else's kites including her partner's hmmmmmmmmmm.
Now Im probaly gonna cop some S*#t but this is a forum so have a go if you wish, but if you can help, is there anyway of stopping the kite from stalling like that after jumping or what is it that im doing wrong that caused the kite to do that. Thanks
P.s. if anyone else has kitemare storie please tell it might help prevent someone else from making that same mistake.
Hi Mate
I'd be giving yourself a bit more room between you and the hard bits (people & land) before jumping especially as a beginner.
Probably just need to redirect your kite to the way your riding, which can be tricky when flying backwards thru the air, hence give yourself more space!
Have fun with it!
too close to shore for learning to jump , gets very shallow , have pulled unconsious kiter from that area . shearwater better for learners bigger beach less pedestrians no moored boats downwind, bouys and the hire jet skis zooming back and forth.
need to redirect kite earlier to keep in the window . imo
Only practice will help you with your jumping but I'd be staying as far away from the shore as possible. Expect problems every time you throw a move in, 35m is way way to close, incidents like this always get a negative response from the public.
Shane you were pulled backwards right, hence when you stopped getting skull dragged, the kite flew overhead, lines slack, down she went.
Not much you can do in that instance, except Flagg out real quick as it is hindenburging. This can reduce the kite gaining speed as it gets in the power zone near the water and can avoid power spikes that can hurt yourself and others.
And yes now you know to jump further away when learning and indeed and a general rule that even the experienced of us forget to do from time to time.
Sh1t happens, move on and don't take whinging bitches too seriously as you will encounter 90 percent of half the species doing this for one reason or another, just move on.
don't take whinging bitches too seriously......
And that is officially Comment of the week! Well done Eppo!
Being cool is not my operandus modus...I'm getting too old relative to teenagers to pull that off.
I'm consistent at least which I can't say whinging bitches are.
simple is as simple does....just do it.... give it up and kite when you want...
you only live once in this space, so enjoy it. Tomoz the doctor may say you've got cancer with 6 weeks to live. what good is your job then?
Shane might make you feel better. Cranking upwind on an 11m edge on a skim board in 10 knots. Wind dropped a little and I still haven't for the turning thing nailed. Dropped kite so far out the guys 10km north up and over the cut saw it. A shark sighting chopper had been in the area circling beforehand to. Haven't had to swim in a kite for 10 years on a simar day at pinnas.
Hope that makes ya feel better.
Yep. It will gather some power, but hopefully it will be short lived and will eliminate the kite being powered after this causing more propable chance of creating another kitemare.
For the record I need to take my own advice because I tend to not do this...then again I always ride suicide unless in winds nearing the top end of my kite. Still 80% power better than 100.
Try winding in lines on an edge, even in the water backside down! The thing still bloody pulls!!
Yeh had fun with that one, with the non bouyant skim board, a looong way out.
But hey, self sailed that puppy in and was only a couple of 100 metres downwind from where I messed up...I think the edge took me upwind, sailing in with half my body laying on it!
Nah just joking, but not bad on a southerely!! Nearly pulled my fingers off holding those thin racing bridels though.
If ya let the safety go as it hindenburg to the ground...I'm saying reset and then relaunch when all is clear? Not wind the lines up, if you flag out you'll be surpised the lines can sort themelves out after a while...well most of the time.
Unfamiliar place, sunsetting turns night time, landed my kite onto a road. Released my safeties just in time before kite taken away by a truck. Kitemare
Hi Shane,
You need to leave a clear area downwind of you when you jump. 35m is nowhere near enough room.
If you dive your kite down to the waters surface straight downwind, it is about 25-30m away from you and that's if you remain in the same spot. A half decent jump can see you cover 30m in the air straight downwind, add to that recovery time to halt your downwind progress (~30m) and add to that the 30 off metres your kite can swing down to water level and you can see clearly that you need a minimum of 90m downwind.
If you are jumping HUGE, you need to add additional room. If I go out in 30 odd knots on an 11m Edge and go boosting, I can easily use up 150m from take off spot to the kite when downwind.
Never underestimate how far you may travel downwind when jumping, gusts can take you back up and extend airtime/distance dramatically.
Oh, and learn to redirect your kite to stop from luffing.
Cheers,
DM
If you are jumping HUGE, you need to add additional room. If I go out in 30 odd knots on an 11m Edge and go boosting, I can easily use up 150m from take off spot to the kite when downwind.
Cheers,
DM
Farq you're an ANIMAL darren!! Christ how big would you go on an 11m edge in 30....jesus.
Not me but a clubbie i know at Trigg told me they pulled a kiter out recently, right on sunset. Lines wrapped around his body and neck and in serious danger of drowning apparently. Passer by on WCH called it in.
Hey Shane ![]()
Great to hear your playing further out. Hows the jumping coming along
Ive pulled the safety hundreds of times - yes its a lot, but kept other people out of the line of fire and my gear from being trashed. When you do this, then most everyone is always glad to help out - getting yourself and kit safely back onshore...
You might need them oneday ..