Blown tips - Safely landing your kite

Most accidents happen when launching an landing the kite. I say this all the time in lessons and it usually surprises the student. When you see a powered crash in to the water and imagine most of danger in the sport involves attempting tricks and riding in gnarly conditions. But if you spend a day people watching at a busy kite surfing beach, you will know that it is true. Most injuries DO happen in launching and landing. To start off we will discuss safe landings.

Here are some basic tips to keep you from injuring yourself, others, or damaging your equipment.

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Wind awareness

Be aware of the wind window. Launching and landing occur in the area called the neutral zone. As you are landing your kite have your back to the wind and visualize 90 degrees to your left or right. This is the neutral zone. Spot the landing to 90 degrees and in the interest of caution, it is best to have the person who will be catching the kite to stand more upwind of the kite rather than downwind. Think about it, It is much better to be placed upwind of the kite and walk downwind to it , rather than accidentally being downwind of the kite and stuck in the lines.

Steer the kite down slowly

As the rider, slowly steer the kite down toward the horizon keeping the bar sheeted in just enough to have steering control but not too much. Typically the kite will perform best with the bar sheeted out when it is low in the wind window. If the bar is sheeted in too much when the kite is low it will often back stall and fall leading edge up into the power zone. This is one of the ways that people injure themselves. When you steer the kite down toward your friend who will be catching it, think of your steering like you are stair-stepping the kite downward, instead of steering it down in one fast sweeping motion. This allows your friend time to judge their distance from the kite and place themselves properly on the beach.

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Unhook to just your safety leash

Once your friend you are landing the kite to has a firm grip on the kite. Be sure to unhook the chicken loop from your spreader bar and stay attached by the flagging line. This way, if they let go of the kite, get stung by a bee, or get distracted by babes on the beach, you aren’t risking a powered up drag across the rocks. The worst that will happen is your kite will be flagged and your friend will be buying your drinks later.

Stand upwind of the kite

As the friend who is catching the kite, as previously mentioned, upwind is always the best and SAFEST position to be in. The kite cannot get to you if you are upwind of it. This is especially important if you don’t know the rider that is landing the kite to you. To be upwind of the kite, is to be in a position of control. Control of when you will grab ahold of a kite. The only time to grab ahold of a kite is when the kite is in a neutral position in the wind window.

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Slack in the lines

To catch a kite you are going to grab ahold of the leading edge and then walk toward the rider creating slack in the lines. (A skilled rider will also walk toward you once you have a good grip on their kite) Again, to have a hold of a kite with slacked lines, is to be in a position of control. Are you sensing a theme here? If there is tension in the lines the rider can subject you to all sorts of cruelties when you are holding their kite.

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As you gain confidence with landing the kite. Do not become complacent. Always take this moment seriously. Examine the surroundings for hazards that are downwind. Always be prepared to punch out if needed. When you are landing your kite and it is in someone else’s hands there are factors that are quite literally “out of your hands”.