Self Launching and Self Landing techniques

[KenM]

So my quiver includes a good number of C kites as well as a couple bow kites and I've been trying to get my head around the variety of self launch and self landing methods out there- lots of different ideas but nowhere that puts them all together. That is what I'm going for here.

An outline of the methods:

The classic Tip Fold Sand Weight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhMuly1Det8

The Drag Launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pxa_Sfe ... 0&index=15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sPjDau6_n0

The Drift Launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq3PB2G7b88

The Reverse Launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVa4vQAQdd4

5th line Rollover launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr3VH3iiyFc

The Tether Launch & The Tether Landing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSaEYB1d ... V7QRNURHN0

The Double Front Line Pull Landing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KvdZsTXuc

The Single Front Line Pull Landing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1hkMW1E ... V7QRNURHN0

The Alternating Outside Line Pull Landing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfmTXLZjkxk#t=76

The Wind Shadow Landing
towards the end of this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfrX8p7S ... H1kd22rfgg
plus some scary looking crowded beach landings

Other Ideas:

The dynamics of front line pulling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxZ6bmVM ... DB&index=7

Drag Launch on a C Kite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTTxguhMcHE

I'd love to see some critique on various methods- seems like knowing them all isn't a bad idea. Anybody have better names for these? Or a better video? Or another technique?

[Kiwi B]

You left out The Crash Landing

[stephensibborn]

Check out this thread from the tips and tricks section. viewtopic.php?f=21&t=9489

[jason]

It depends on the situation and launch. At DB on a low tide, I'll drag launch. If someone has a carabiner set up or there are logs around I might tether launch. Same with landings; if there is a shadow that I know if and its clear like at my local spot, I'll drop it in there, if not and there is sand I'll front line pull, if its a busy beach or lots of logs I'll put the kite over the water and eject and pull the kite in from shore.

Assess the environment and your options and make the best call depending on the the situation considering the safety of 1) others 2) yourself 3) your equipment and lastly the ease breaking down your kite. i.e. a lot of times is best to crash the kite into the water even though it sucks rolling up a wet kite, dealing with seaweed, and untangling lines. But that hassle is better than endangering others, yourself, or dealing with a ripped kite because your too proud or too lazy.

And practice in a low consequence environment before trying to do it in a winter storm!!!

Good Luck!!

[C.J.]

never heard of double front line pull.

looks like a recipe to either lose a finger, destroy a kite or get dragged uncontrollably. I'd think twice about attempting that method.

[Salmonslayer]

never heard of double front line pull.

looks like a recipe to either lose a finger, destroy a kite or get dragged uncontrollably. I'd think twice about attempting that method.

Try it in light wind and see if it works. I have not tried this method. If I think it is safe, I want it in my tool box.

In my experience "drag launching" does not work on snow. Drag launching requires friction between the kite and the ground. In snow, the kite will just slide dead down wind and you will end up doing a reverse launch.

[KenM]

So is it legit to do a C kite drag launch like the guy in the last video?

[KenM]

Looks like ScottR from the last thread favors the Double Front Line Pull

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywgSp-9T ... e=youtu.be

[mxwllms]

So is it legit to do a C kite drag launch like the guy in the last video?

Drag launching a 5 line C like he showed works really well. Its how I launch in all conditions and its very controllable