Hello Luke, congratulation on all your success on TH-cam, and on being a big influencer for the kitesurf community, and is really pleasant hear you talking. With all the respect, this is not a safe way of self launching the kite, many things can go wrong, especially in strong and gusty wind, easily can happen that one line stuck on one wing tip of the kite and the kite starts looping, often the reaction of using the Chicken Loop Quick Release can be to slow, and as you said often your CL can slide out of place if you are not extra carful. For self launching and launching the kite with an assistant the most important is to not connect the CL on your harness until everything is 100% ready to launch. Please don't get me wrong, I just want that all the people kitesurfing knows the safest ways of approaching their kitesurfing sessions, it is really important to keep our sport safe. I honestly love the way you talk, and I would like to be so fluent in english 😅...I hope to see you sometimes somewhere on the water, all the best 🙌
Hey Petar, thanks for the comment and suggestion and totally agree it's important to share safe kite techniques. :) I'm always interested in new ways to do things! Someone else mentioned the same concept as you to me too. So, I have tested it a few times, holding the chickenloop, to see how it works for me. I have had several varying results. I am going to make a new video about it :) Just for some context, This self launch video is simply how I self-launch on the daily, when I have a big wide sandy area. I agree it may not be the absolute safest method for an absolute beginner, but it's how I personally do it :) The risk of lines caught around the wingtip is mitigated by maintaining line tension with the front lines while walking in an arc. Often people get the wingtip caught by walking "upwind" and then pulling tension on the lines. If you walk in an arc it keeps the lines free. That said, one thing I really liked about launching as you describe, is the additional time you have to check the lines while the kite is sitting up on the wingtip. It's nice and slows the pace down which certainly makes it safer. I also like the concept of being able to let go faster by not being hooked in, but have mixed feelings about it. Igree for a beginner this may be important. But for an experienced kiter it's very easy just to fire the safety quickly if needed. Because, the one thing I didn't like launching only holding the chickenloop, is that in strong winds, the kite can launch, and fly up even to 12 while only holding the chicken loop with 1 hand. While yes, they can just let go, they wouldn't have needed to if they were hooked in as they can just take control of the bar as they are not in a dangerous situation, just perhaps an unfamiliar one. And while letting go of the bar decreases the risk for the rider, it increases the risk for other beachgoers. Particularly when it wasn't necessary. So I have thought a lot about it, and see really good points in the way you describe, but as mentioned I want to continue testing it and then i'll make a new video with what I find :). Interested to know your thoughts too if you have ever had any issues etc with either option!
@@FlukesKitesurfing Hello Luke, thank you for your reply... I dont know if you already have seen my tutorial of Self Launching? here it is: th-cam.com/video/e6RzyhclLDw/w-d-xo.html I also do the arc to keep the lines slightly on tension and once I'm around 90 degrees with the lines compare to the wind then I start walking back ward so that the kite turns and gets wind, again the line might stuck on the wing tip, depends also on the shape of the kite. You are right, if there is extremely strong wind the kite might fly towards 12 oclock, and if is so extreme that you cannot hold the CL in your hand then it was definitely a good idea of not connecting the CL on your harness, and if you still can hold it, there is needed just a bit of patience that the kite goes back lower towards the ground and then connect the CL on the harness.. If the kite would fly on the other side of the wind window(like you will see one example in my tutorial) this is definitely because of extreme wind and an issue with the lines or kite(the kite steering on one side) so it is definitely better to not try to control the kite, but let the CL go and see what is the issue with the lines or the kite. Honestly in past I have been Self Launching in your way, and is true that I never had any accident but dangerous situation I had, as like you said, we are experience kiters and we might handle it, even doo an experience kiter like me in past, if a problem happen would reader try to control the situation by holding on the bar instead of using the Safety Systems, and in extreme windy conditions it is definitely not smart, and this is why there are still many accidents in kitesurfing happening all over the world.. JUST BECAUSE MANY "EXPERIENCE" KITERS THINKS "IT IS FOR BEGINNERS TO USE THE SAFETY SYSTEMS, I WILL HANDLE IT SO I DON'T DAMAGE MY GEAR AND LOOSE TIME TO REESET UP THE LINES" Bdw I had this mentality in past, until I didn't injure my self and realise that buying the kite is way cheeper and easier then heeling your body. Also if we want or we don't want, all of us more experience kiters are roll models for all the new kiters, and if they see us doing things in certain way, they will not think that this way is not safe for them as perhaps they didn't see any other way of performing the exercise you are showing and this is just increasing accidents in kitesurfing. Every single think we are doing, and especially we are showing publicly has to be 100% safe first and then thinking about practicality, especially with performing something on the beach. Kitesurfing is 100% safe if we know how to Safely approach our kitesurfing sessions. Please let's publish just the safest methods of exercises as this is the best way to decrease accidents in kitesurfing 🙏
Sick! This is literally THE best way to self launch. I’ve been doing this daily for the last 2-3 years. I have made some small tweaks to make it a little safer and more reliable. 1. Just in case something does happen, I clip on my leash but I don’t actually hook in. This way you don’t have that split second where you have to think about pulling the release. You just let go. I then hook in when I have double checked my lines and the kite is in the relaunch position. 2. With the above tweak, if a bridle get caught on the wing tip, you can yank on the chicken loop a few times to get it unstuck. 3. The last bit where it starts to slide, run away from the kite and upwind to stop it from sliding further. 4. I don’t pull on the steering line until the kite is in the relaunch position. No need to rush the launch! Overall great video. I can tell you have been teaching for a while and are focused on creating good kiters rather than just teaching people how to get on a board. You’re early videos taught me some of the fundamentals. Keep up the great work!
Hey Zach, thanks mate and I appreciate the insight into how you are doing it. There are a couple of comments with the same idea of not hooking in until ready. I have been testing that way, and plan to make another video covering that way too :)
Hi Luke! I appreciate your update, and just want to present another option that I prefer for safety reasons, especially when wind is not very stable and beach not so clear than yours: I do not hook the chicken loop before having the kite full of air in the wind perpendicular position. In order to avoid any unplanned launch during my positioning or during kite pivot phase, I only hold the chicken loop without touching the bar, just applying a small tension to the front lines and when the kite pivots to vertical position, I move one step forward to reduce at least upper front line tension. If my kite needed to walk a little bit more to the power zone to pivot (light wind), I come back to the perfect perpendicular position, complete the hook, regain a bit tension in the front lines to get the kite vertical and stable, and make the launch as usual… If something happens at any phase before hook, no need to find the release system, just open the hand to let the kite go, just secured by the kite safety leach, which was attached at the early phase. I use also the same way to hook myself when I get help from an assistant😎
Hey Nicolas, thanks for the comment and the different approach. Personally I have not tried that. I'll give it a go and get back to you here with how it goes for me :)
@Flukes Kitesurfing I only use the "no hook till you got tension in lines" method. It is way but wayyyyy safer. @Petar Pavlovic and Philippe Ancelin teach this method. I personally think it should be the standard method and only method to self launch.
It’s always a huge sigh of relief for me once I get my kite in the air. Launching sketches me out, but always trying to get better. Thanks for the video 🙏
I have been multiple times launching my kites checking lines 3 times or more and even than I got surprised with a line catching the wing turning my kite into a loop.. luckily it came off by itself after the second loop.. just wanna say stay conscious with what can go wrong.. ain’t no joke.. stay save boys
Yeah for sure, good to be ready for anything. In the event that a line or bridle gets caught on the wing tip i always recommend to eject immediately. Then setup and go again. :)
Your tip on the chicken loop is spot on, had mine pop out once on a self launch like that. Luckily it was light wind and could grab it and put back in.
Doing this on the sand will wear out the material on your leading edge quicker. Sometimes you don't have a choice though. I'm lucky to have a launch area covered in grass so it's not as bad. Still, I never like self launching. Always gets my heart rate up. Good video!
I agree, best way to wear down the LE and lines.. also dont recommend self launch above 30kn. I usually go to remote spots and I end up self launching. Also, self launching is better than having someone inadvertently damage your equipment. I always check the radius area of sharp sticks and whatnot.
Awesome video as always. Not everyone has the luxury to fly with a buddy and often have to do things on their own. You always offer so many excellent tips. Thanks and keep them coming!
Great update, being using this method for the last few years and always check back at the start of the season as I don't fly in the winter here in the UK 🥶
7:34. Most important thing. Run between kite and bar. Unpredictable gusts and turbulence can happen anytime. Also, this is a great reason to practice with a trainer kite. Even with my 4.0M kite I've had my hands full and some mishaps during self-launch. You see what can happen and learn to respect the wind. A run away "real" kite like 6M or larger is like a run away power boat. Once, you lose control....good luck.
Brilliant! Thanks Luke. I’ve been using your original method for the last two years and this clarifies a few points and adds even more extra tips. Keeping the bar / chicken loop tight is a super new addition, and seeing it repeated in real-time. Being *precise to your instructions and safety always I’ve had no injuries, major problems, or damage to the kites in two years of regular use. A great update. Thanks again Luke. 🪂:)
Hey Luke. Very well explained. I liked your "pre-explanation", after doing the real time excercise. Your tip about turning the bar before moving aling the arc was crucial for me to understand it.
So jealous. An, apparently, warm day with sprawling empty beach. Mine would be full of loud music, monster trucks and fat beach goers. I wish I was Australian. Greetings from South Texas !
Excellent video Luke! YOU make that look seamless & easy. Thanks for stressing the importance of only gently holding (then letting go) the leader line for smooth take-off, b/c one can easily appreciate a potential safety pitfall when the kite counter-rotates into a hot launch😳
Awesome thanks! Yeah letting go is a key point for sure. Even in a normal assisted launch. Most accidents I see in launching are people sheeting in too far and steering too much! So letting go fixes both of those issues.
Thanks luke..you are so good at explaining everything and it helps giving me confidence in learning on my own in Boomerang beach area.. appreciate you making the time to do your videos..and your easy to listen to.. without ego..just a passion to help others enjoy kiting safely..😊
Truly the most detailed video about this technique !! Thanks a lot. I always fail to make a clean self launch, my kite always go to the other side in the air crashing on the beach, but then allowing me to launch it, but it's not safe, not clean, not fine for the materials.
For sure! hmm, yeah might be holding the line too long while launching. Just practise letting go a little earlier to let the kite fly more forward and not over you're head. Hope it helps :)
This is a good method for nice sandy beaches not riddled with rocks and sharp things on lighter wind days, but I prefer to drift launch by walking towards the kite with tangle free (rigged up) lines and picking up the leading edge and placing it into the water then allowing the kite to drift downwind until lines are tight and water launching the kite as if you were re-launching. Especially in strong winds.
Yeah for sure, this drag method I only use on sandy beaches. Cool to hear you like to drift launch :) I actually like to set up and anchor and do an anchor launch (and land) which helps keep the kite sable where there are hazards around.
For someone like myself who has a hard time with kite/line orientation... You can keep your bar the same way until in launch position so the lines aren't crossed, then twist your arms like a steering wheel on a car, and maybe even tilt your head and body a bit so your brain can get the orientation. It took a few watches before I could figure out your right line was pulling on that ”left" side of the kite, which was actually the right. If, only for instructional purposes, the bar was oriented with the kite the entire time, it would show was going on more clearly. Then it would be easier understand which direction to ”pre-twist" the bar.
Hey Craig, the bar is always in your hand ready to fly, its important to always hold the bar the correct way so if it was to ever launch you would have the steering correct. The only reason we flip the bar is that we are behind the kite at setup, so we have to flip the bar one way to change red to the left. Holding the bar red on the left. thats the main thing :) You can however kind of do what you say, but dont touch the bar. You can actually never touch the bar as you walk the arc, until the kite rolls into the launch position.This way often the bar will unspin itself, or you can sight the lines, the unspin and launch. but i personally think less issues arise by flipping the bar at the start and ensuring you have red on the left at the start... otherwise More issues arise when people in a panic grab the wrong side of the bar because the kite is launching and they rush. Hope that helps
Brilliant Luke cheers. You gave the confidence to self launch after your previous video. Any chance of an updated self landing in stronger wind when pulling the top centre line just doesn't cut it? My mates pull both centre lines so the kite flies out of the wind window. Can be sketchy though. Thanks for all the brilliant videos
Perfect! yeh mate i was thinking of remaking all of them actually, along with when to do and not do to different techniques. To answer now though, in stronger winds, it's recommended to simply eject. That will always work safely. even if you rest the wing tip, then eject, then walk upwind of the kite. It's a pretty easy way to land it. :)
Great video. I sometimes go unhooked before the final launching and sometimes I go Hooked on depending on the wind conditions. Nice videos all in all! Thank you Robbie
@@FlukesKitesurfing In my head I’m going “the side I’m walking towards is the one I flip across to have the lines the right way” Only thing I seem to struggle with is the kite popping up rather than sliding all the way into the middle of the window before then going on it’s side and eventually launching. Am I using too much sand? 🤔
Luke's showing the safest method. To prevent the kite dragging too much, you can shortcut by walking back at the point you can just see the back wingtip. Run upwind fast, then as it's flipping, quickly run back downwind to stop the edge dragging when you want to pull the kite up. Or you can do a Russian launch which has less safety and less drag on the kite. But do the above right and the drag is minimal.
On my Cabrinha Switchblades and even more so the high aspect Apollo, the kite can sometimes get 'stuck' between the tip wanting to come up on the one hand and slide back in the widow on the other hand. Under these circumstance I find taking a step towards the kite makes if roll a bit more on its back and 'unstick'. Not sure if this trick applies universally to other kits and so, as always, YMMV. Also, walking a bit further upwind beyond perpendicular before initiating the launch means less sliding of the kite's leading edge on the sand (which is generally a good thing when there are shells on the beach).
yeah for sure. Walking slight upwind with with slack lines helps the kite fold up instead of slide. I like to do that also when the ground is a bit rough. Even on grass etc :)
Very informative and properly good to know how when on one's own! I tried this yesterday and the kite would not turn from leading edge facing down to roll over to take off position! Am I doing something wrong I followed as instructed, my only difference is I am rigging up the lines from the front of the kite and not down wind! Same principle except it is as one Fly's it when done that way! Is there something else I am able to do to help the process? My brain can't seem to understand the inverted setup so I setup that way to stop confusion before riding!
th-cam.com/video/-lsMqvKhTK0/w-d-xo.html This is how I setup but the kite refuses to turn over, is to low winds I am practicing in? I am trying it in 12km/h to get the hang of it so that I am comfortable in higher winds! (could that be the issue?)
@@SAKOadventures It's really no different from launching on the water except the kite tend's to stick on the dirt/sand whereas most of the time it will glide over the water to find its 'sweet spot' at the edge of the window. So play around with water launches a bit to get feeling and build up the muscle memory. General guidance:The amount of tension on the upper steering line plus walking left/right and towards/away from the kite are your key 'command inputs'. They work in concert. If the kite is not doing what you want it to do try (subtly) reversing one inputs at a time and see if that helps or makes things worse. I highly recommend rigging with the kite lines downwind of the kite for the simple reason that it is easy to make sure the lines are correct and not crossed over or swapped just by holding the bar up with a bit of tension and looking at each line. I check that each and every time, ie: to catch the one in a hundred occasion that I have screwed up the rigging. This is especially important when self-launching. Remember to twist the bar 180°, ie: to the correct flying orientation though before doing the actual launch.
@@kshred3043 I am pretty good at the water launches and when I happen to land on water it rolls over fine, my problem is the turn over on the sand either setup direction! For some unknown reason to me I cannot get that kite to roll over! I have a feeling it has to do with low wind! I will give the step towards a bit more of a thought and see what happens! I do find that when the kite has tension it also makes it allot more difficult to get it to roll over.
I’ve been learning how to fly kites to work up to Kiteboarding. I started with a 1.7m two line trainer, then a 2m two like trainer, and I just picked up my first four line 2.5m kite (Ocean Rodeo React). I took a lesson, but trying to do it on my own I’m having a really tough time getting the kite to stabilize. When I have it in the upside down position with the wind, inflating it, virtually, no matter what I do I can’t get it to kick over into the upright position during a self lunch. I’m thinking that I might not have it inflated just enough, when I get it up in the air, the water on the kite will somewhat warp its shape in High wind. Only on a couple of occasions have a been able to get this kite to stabilize in the air and fly it for more than 10 or 15 seconds before it beers off to one side and crashes. I feel like I’m doing something wrong but it’s hard to pin down.
Where is your homebase out of I would love to go touch your school I’ve literally watched every video you have made I love your videos your the best man god bless you brother
I self launch at a spot I go to. I learnt by watching your previous version of this video. It mostly goes fine, although still scares me a little bit each time. Quick question. I am running my lines in front of the kite and then coming around... mainly because the turning the bar over I screwed up once. It seems you have a preference to run the lines downwind - any key reasons why?
Perfect! Glad the upwind is working for you. The upwind setup is fine. With the upwind setup I find the kite actually moves/slides less which can be good. That said, the advantage of the downwind setup is the preflight check. Being able to sight the lines before launch is a good safety step. Of course, the preflight check only matters if you make a mistake running/connecting the lines in the first place as it gives you a chance to fix it but if you are very careful never to make a mistake, then you can run the lines however you like in my opinion. To make sure you don't pick the bar up on the wrong side, you can also get into the launch position with no hands on the bar, that way, you can only reach forward to fly the kite when you are ready to launch. Hope that helps
Cheers bro. Any tips for when the wing tip gets caught on the line. Duotone love doing it. I normally just yank the centre lines and it mostly works, occasionally not 😬. Any tips to avoid getting caught in the first place?
Hey Sam, try get your lines under tension before you start steering this will help to eliminate the lines getting caught on the wingtips. I usually get the kite to fill with air which tensions the lines. I've got a duotone Neo and that works for me.
Hey Sam, yeah the best thing to do it slow the launch down a bit. Instead of immediately steering the kite up as i do in then video, pause for a second while the kite canopy is filled with air, but the kite is still on the leading edge. (no hands on the bar) This gives you a moment before you steer the kite up to make sure all the lines are free and clear (as Andrew has commented) then once you see it's good, use the leader line to launch the kite. Hope that helps and id be interested to hear if you still have any issues :)
This sometimes causes the kite to slide downwind straight into the power zone without taking off and results in a hot launch, especially on snow. I think putting snow/sand on the "upwind" side of the canopy prevents this. Can you confirm though? Because I saw you put sand on the downwind side of the canopy at the end of the video.
Hey, yeah sometimes it will slide back, particularly on a slippery surface like snow, the key is to be ready, so when it launches you let go of the bar as shown so that it dumps the power out of the kite as it launches and doesn't pull to hard, and if it does you are ready to either lean against the power and slide with it. as long as you know its coming, both are manageable. The sand or snow is placed on the side furthest away from the rider, its neither upwind or downwind, you may consider it across the wind. the center strut is always parallel with the wind direction. Hope that helps
@@FlukesKitesurfing i'm out on lake superior but it hasn't been windy and our beach is so narrow, the length of the lines are longer then the width of the beach so setting up i'm finding is tricky. ill let you know how it goes when theres so wind!
Not really but i do remember that method :) . Most of the time these days people (including myself) have the kites pumped up to hard to fold the tip like that, and it doesn't really have any advantages.
Thanks for the reply! I stopped kiting about 10 years ago, sold my Naish X2s but recently bought a kite to get back into it! Using your vids to get back up to speed! Great content Sir! @@FlukesKitesurfing
it's also the way I usually self launch for my solo foil sessions. I don't use the sand method. I usually rotate the kite as soon as the furthest tip barely catches the wind. If the wind is not too strong, the kite still stays quiet and you can set up normally. th-cam.com/video/uPqwi3YSlq4/w-d-xo.html
Nice :) yeah I do something similar in my upwind setup self launch video. The kite moves less that way. That said, this video is simply how i do it on the daily :) Ive found it always works, never any tangles or moving kite or early launches etc :)
When my kite is on it's wingtip ready to launch & I have slack in the steering lines, I gently pull the upper line briefly & everytime it shoots downwind. Any help appreciated.
Hmm, might be oversteering it but not sure. if the kite is on the wingtip, it should launch just like someone is there holding it. If you have slack in the front lines just before launch? then you might be standing too far downwind, might need to take a few steps upwind to create better tension on the lines. Just some thoughts hope it helps :)
I used this video to work on self launch. Both times I did, I had the line on the underside catch the wingtip and go spiraling out of control. The first time it corrected itself, the second time it did not. It felt very dangerous and uncontrolled.
Yeah if the wing tip catches it can feel crazy. This is one of the reasons some people suggest to have 1 hand on the quick release, or do the launch not even hooked in, so you can let go quickly in that event. That said, normally if the wing tip is catching it means there was no enough tension on the lines while walking the arc.
The kite went up fine today. The secret really was keeping the lines tight throughout the entire setup. Also, I stuck to the flat wet sand area that was free of any debris to catch the lines. Thanks for the help.
With me, sometimes the briddle line get stuck on the tip when the kite is starting to rotate on the sand and inflate by the wind. Sending the kite into a loop. I don't know what I am doing wrong😢
Hi in that case, don't steer the kite up until you can see all the lines are clear. Walk into position and let the kite slide into position with your hands off the bar. Once the kite has settled and you can see all the lines are clear, then steer it up. let me know if that helps.
Do that a few times with full aluula and the leading edge is going to look very scuffed up. Aluula does not like this method of self launch as it is very thin and abrades easily. When I have my aluula and self launch I always bring a rope for loop and look for something to anchor to.
@@FlukesKitesurfing Did you look at the leading edge? I guess it depends on the specific sand, but someone was showing me how to self-launch with aluula roam and then he noticed how much abrasion there was on the leading edge.
@@larsw.larsen4173 hmm, can you try to unsubscribe and resubscribe. Then the notification bell should appear. Unfortunately, anyone that was subscribed before YT made changes to the notification system can't ring the bell unless they do that. Please let me know if it works for you. Thanks :)
Mate.. thanks heaps. You would never get tired of that beach ... What a spot.
yeah its nice there :)
Hello Luke, congratulation on all your success on TH-cam, and on being a big influencer for the kitesurf community, and is really pleasant hear you talking. With all the respect, this is not a safe way of self launching the kite, many things can go wrong, especially in strong and gusty wind, easily can happen that one line stuck on one wing tip of the kite and the kite starts looping, often the reaction of using the Chicken Loop Quick Release can be to slow, and as you said often your CL can slide out of place if you are not extra carful. For self launching and launching the kite with an assistant the most important is to not connect the CL on your harness until everything is 100% ready to launch.
Please don't get me wrong, I just want that all the people kitesurfing knows the safest ways of approaching their kitesurfing sessions, it is really important to keep our sport safe. I honestly love the way you talk, and I would like to be so fluent in english 😅...I hope to see you sometimes somewhere on the water, all the best 🙌
Hey Petar, thanks for the comment and suggestion and totally agree it's important to share safe kite techniques. :) I'm always interested in new ways to do things! Someone else mentioned the same concept as you to me too. So, I have tested it a few times, holding the chickenloop, to see how it works for me. I have had several varying results. I am going to make a new video about it :)
Just for some context, This self launch video is simply how I self-launch on the daily, when I have a big wide sandy area. I agree it may not be the absolute safest method for an absolute beginner, but it's how I personally do it :) The risk of lines caught around the wingtip is mitigated by maintaining line tension with the front lines while walking in an arc. Often people get the wingtip caught by walking "upwind" and then pulling tension on the lines. If you walk in an arc it keeps the lines free.
That said, one thing I really liked about launching as you describe, is the additional time you have to check the lines while the kite is sitting up on the wingtip. It's nice and slows the pace down which certainly makes it safer. I also like the concept of being able to let go faster by not being hooked in, but have mixed feelings about it. Igree for a beginner this may be important. But for an experienced kiter it's very easy just to fire the safety quickly if needed. Because, the one thing I didn't like launching only holding the chickenloop, is that in strong winds, the kite can launch, and fly up even to 12 while only holding the chicken loop with 1 hand. While yes, they can just let go, they wouldn't have needed to if they were hooked in as they can just take control of the bar as they are not in a dangerous situation, just perhaps an unfamiliar one. And while letting go of the bar decreases the risk for the rider, it increases the risk for other beachgoers. Particularly when it wasn't necessary. So I have thought a lot about it, and see really good points in the way you describe, but as mentioned I want to continue testing it and then i'll make a new video with what I find :). Interested to know your thoughts too if you have ever had any issues etc with either option!
@@FlukesKitesurfing Hello Luke, thank you for your reply... I dont know if you already have seen my tutorial of Self Launching? here it is: th-cam.com/video/e6RzyhclLDw/w-d-xo.html
I also do the arc to keep the lines slightly on tension and once I'm around 90 degrees with the lines compare to the wind then I start walking back ward so that the kite turns and gets wind, again the line might stuck on the wing tip, depends also on the shape of the kite.
You are right, if there is extremely strong wind the kite might fly towards 12 oclock, and if is so extreme that you cannot hold the CL in your hand then it was definitely a good idea of not connecting the CL on your harness, and if you still can hold it, there is needed just a bit of patience that the kite goes back lower towards the ground and then connect the CL on the harness.. If the kite would fly on the other side of the wind window(like you will see one example in my tutorial) this is definitely because of extreme wind and an issue with the lines or kite(the kite steering on one side) so it is definitely better to not try to control the kite, but let the CL go and see what is the issue with the lines or the kite.
Honestly in past I have been Self Launching in your way, and is true that I never had any accident but dangerous situation I had, as like you said, we are experience kiters and we might handle it, even doo an experience kiter like me in past, if a problem happen would reader try to control the situation by holding on the bar instead of using the Safety Systems, and in extreme windy conditions it is definitely not smart, and this is why there are still many accidents in kitesurfing happening all over the world.. JUST BECAUSE MANY "EXPERIENCE" KITERS THINKS "IT IS FOR BEGINNERS TO USE THE SAFETY SYSTEMS, I WILL HANDLE IT SO I DON'T DAMAGE MY GEAR AND LOOSE TIME TO REESET UP THE LINES" Bdw I had this mentality in past, until I didn't injure my self and realise that buying the kite is way cheeper and easier then heeling your body.
Also if we want or we don't want, all of us more experience kiters are roll models for all the new kiters, and if they see us doing things in certain way, they will not think that this way is not safe for them as perhaps they didn't see any other way of performing the exercise you are showing and this is just increasing accidents in kitesurfing. Every single think we are doing, and especially we are showing publicly has to be 100% safe first and then thinking about practicality, especially with performing something on the beach.
Kitesurfing is 100% safe if we know how to Safely approach our kitesurfing sessions. Please let's publish just the safest methods of exercises as this is the best way to decrease accidents in kitesurfing 🙏
@@kitesurfexperiencebypetar Thanks Petar I appreciate the insight :)
Sick! This is literally THE best way to self launch. I’ve been doing this daily for the last 2-3 years. I have made some small tweaks to make it a little safer and more reliable.
1. Just in case something does happen, I clip on my leash but I don’t actually hook in. This way you don’t have that split second where you have to think about pulling the release. You just let go. I then hook in when I have double checked my lines and the kite is in the relaunch position.
2. With the above tweak, if a bridle get caught on the wing tip, you can yank on the chicken loop a few times to get it unstuck.
3. The last bit where it starts to slide, run away from the kite and upwind to stop it from sliding further.
4. I don’t pull on the steering line until the kite is in the relaunch position. No need to rush the launch!
Overall great video. I can tell you have been teaching for a while and are focused on creating good kiters rather than just teaching people how to get on a board.
You’re early videos taught me some of the fundamentals. Keep up the great work!
Hey Zach, thanks mate and I appreciate the insight into how you are doing it. There are a couple of comments with the same idea of not hooking in until ready. I have been testing that way, and plan to make another video covering that way too :)
@@FlukesKitesurfing Sick! Keep up the great content!
Hi Luke! I appreciate your update, and just want to present another option that I prefer for safety reasons, especially when wind is not very stable and beach not so clear than yours: I do not hook the chicken loop before having the kite full of air in the wind perpendicular position. In order to avoid any unplanned launch during my positioning or during kite pivot phase, I only hold the chicken loop without touching the bar, just applying a small tension to the front lines and when the kite pivots to vertical position, I move one step forward to reduce at least upper front line tension. If my kite needed to walk a little bit more to the power zone to pivot (light wind), I come back to the perfect perpendicular position, complete the hook, regain a bit tension in the front lines to get the kite vertical and stable, and make the launch as usual…
If something happens at any phase before hook, no need to find the release system, just open the hand to let the kite go, just secured by the kite safety leach, which was attached at the early phase.
I use also the same way to hook myself when I get help from an assistant😎
Hey Nicolas, thanks for the comment and the different approach. Personally I have not tried that. I'll give it a go and get back to you here with how it goes for me :)
@Flukes Kitesurfing I only use the "no hook till you got tension in lines" method. It is way but wayyyyy safer.
@Petar Pavlovic and Philippe Ancelin teach this method.
I personally think it should be the standard method and only method to self launch.
@@FlukesKitesurfing the link to Petar tutorial
th-cam.com/video/e6RzyhclLDw/w-d-xo.html
It’s always a huge sigh of relief for me once I get my kite in the air. Launching sketches me out, but always trying to get better. Thanks for the video 🙏
Haha for sure! The more you do it the easier it becomes. :)
I have been multiple times launching my kites checking lines 3 times or more and even than I got surprised with a line catching the wing turning my kite into a loop.. luckily it came off by itself after the second loop.. just wanna say stay conscious with what can go wrong.. ain’t no joke.. stay save boys
Yeah for sure, good to be ready for anything. In the event that a line or bridle gets caught on the wing tip i always recommend to eject immediately. Then setup and go again. :)
Excellent video, explanation, and demonstration of kite sel-lunching; thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Your tip on the chicken loop is spot on, had mine pop out once on a self launch like that. Luckily it was light wind and could grab it and put back in.
Yeah for sure! Right when you least expect it!
Doing this on the sand will wear out the material on your leading edge quicker. Sometimes you don't have a choice though. I'm lucky to have a launch area covered in grass so it's not as bad. Still, I never like self launching. Always gets my heart rate up. Good video!
Hey yeah always best to get a helper if you can! but sometimes you just have to get out there! :)
I agree, best way to wear down the LE and lines.. also dont recommend self launch above 30kn. I usually go to remote spots and I end up self launching. Also, self launching is better than having someone inadvertently damage your equipment. I always check the radius area of sharp sticks and whatnot.
Awesome video as always. Not everyone has the luxury to fly with a buddy and often have to do things on their own. You always offer so many excellent tips. Thanks and keep them coming!
For sure! Gets you out there more often! :)
Great update, being using this method for the last few years and always check back at the start of the season as I don't fly in the winter here in the UK 🥶
Yeah nice summer is on the way!
7:34. Most important thing. Run between kite and bar. Unpredictable gusts and turbulence can happen anytime. Also, this is a great reason to practice with a trainer kite. Even with my 4.0M kite I've had my hands full and some mishaps during self-launch. You see what can happen and learn to respect the wind. A run away "real" kite like 6M or larger is like a run away power boat. Once, you lose control....good luck.
Yeah gotta make it happen fast! :)
Thank you! Great video and very well made.
Thanks! Hope it helps!
Great video !!
Good step by step
awesome :)
…the appreciation is on my side. Thanks for this nice and clear video, with valuable hints, in a great structured format/lesson!Thanks! 🙏
Thanks Till! we appreciate the feedback :)
Brilliant! Thanks Luke. I’ve been using your original method for the last two years and this clarifies a few points and adds even more extra tips. Keeping the bar / chicken loop tight is a super new addition, and seeing it repeated in real-time. Being *precise to your instructions and safety always I’ve had no injuries, major problems, or damage to the kites in two years of regular use. A great update. Thanks again Luke. 🪂:)
Hey KST, oh nice! stoked! that was the goal of this video so glad it came across that way, and added on to the previous video :)
Awesome! Thank you Luke!!
Thanks Nick!
Hey Luke. Very well explained. I liked your "pre-explanation", after doing the real time excercise. Your tip about turning the bar before moving aling the arc was crucial for me to understand it.
Thanks Michael! Have fun out there
So jealous. An, apparently, warm day with sprawling empty beach. Mine would be full of loud music, monster trucks and fat beach goers. I wish I was Australian.
Greetings from South Texas !
Hey David, that does sound tough... We are lucky to get this space here in Aus :)
Excellent video Luke! YOU make that look seamless & easy. Thanks for stressing the importance of only gently holding (then letting go) the leader line for smooth take-off, b/c one can easily appreciate a potential safety pitfall when the kite counter-rotates into a hot launch😳
Awesome thanks! Yeah letting go is a key point for sure. Even in a normal assisted launch. Most accidents I see in launching are people sheeting in too far and steering too much! So letting go fixes both of those issues.
Thanks luke..you are so good at explaining everything and it helps giving me confidence in learning on my own in Boomerang beach area.. appreciate you making the time to do your videos..and your easy to listen to.. without ego..just a passion to help others enjoy kiting safely..😊
Thanks mate! I appreciate the comment :)
Nice one, thx ! Shared !
Thanks for sharing!
Excellent tutorial. I been practicing this and it really works 🎉
awesome! stoked its working for you and letting us know!
Truly the most detailed video about this technique !! Thanks a lot.
I always fail to make a clean self launch, my kite always go to the other side in the air crashing on the beach, but then allowing me to launch it, but it's not safe, not clean, not fine for the materials.
For sure! hmm, yeah might be holding the line too long while launching. Just practise letting go a little earlier to let the kite fly more forward and not over you're head. Hope it helps :)
That id dich a great video! thank you!
You're welcome! Hope it helps
This is a good method for nice sandy beaches not riddled with rocks and sharp things on lighter wind days, but I prefer to drift launch by walking towards the kite with tangle free (rigged up) lines and picking up the leading edge and placing it into the water then allowing the kite to drift downwind until lines are tight and water launching the kite as if you were re-launching. Especially in strong winds.
Yeah for sure, this drag method I only use on sandy beaches.
Cool to hear you like to drift launch :) I actually like to set up and anchor and do an anchor launch (and land) which helps keep the kite sable where there are hazards around.
Thanks….like your hint with turning the bar. 🤙
Perfect! Hope it helps!
Very good and precise tutorial.
Thanks Piotr! Glad it was helpful!
Always appreciate your content. 👍
Thanks Mike!
Top spot there mate! Home! 😎😉😜
Youri 👍🏽
Hey Youri! haha yeah mate had a couple of nice sessions since we saw you aswell! loving it
For someone like myself who has a hard time with kite/line orientation... You can keep your bar the same way until in launch position so the lines aren't crossed, then twist your arms like a steering wheel on a car, and maybe even tilt your head and body a bit so your brain can get the orientation. It took a few watches before I could figure out your right line was pulling on that ”left" side of the kite, which was actually the right. If, only for instructional purposes, the bar was oriented with the kite the entire time, it would show was going on more clearly. Then it would be easier understand which direction to ”pre-twist" the bar.
Hey Craig, the bar is always in your hand ready to fly, its important to always hold the bar the correct way so if it was to ever launch you would have the steering correct. The only reason we flip the bar is that we are behind the kite at setup, so we have to flip the bar one way to change red to the left. Holding the bar red on the left. thats the main thing :)
You can however kind of do what you say, but dont touch the bar.
You can actually never touch the bar as you walk the arc, until the kite rolls into the launch position.This way often the bar will unspin itself, or you can sight the lines, the unspin and launch. but i personally think less issues arise by flipping the bar at the start and ensuring you have red on the left at the start... otherwise
More issues arise when people in a panic grab the wrong side of the bar because the kite is launching and they rush. Hope that helps
Brilliant Luke cheers. You gave the confidence to self launch after your previous video. Any chance of an updated self landing in stronger wind when pulling the top centre line just doesn't cut it? My mates pull both centre lines so the kite flies out of the wind window. Can be sketchy though. Thanks for all the brilliant videos
Perfect! yeh mate i was thinking of remaking all of them actually, along with when to do and not do to different techniques. To answer now though, in stronger winds, it's recommended to simply eject. That will always work safely. even if you rest the wing tip, then eject, then walk upwind of the kite. It's a pretty easy way to land it. :)
Great video. I sometimes go unhooked before the final launching and sometimes I go Hooked on depending on the wind conditions. Nice videos all in all! Thank you
Robbie
Excellent👍
Thanks hope it helps!
Great tips thank you.
Thanks! Hope its useful!
Muito obrigado por assessorar.
Thank you so much for everything.
🇧🇷🇺🇸
Thanks Rafael!
Luke = Legend!
haha thanks
Amazing as always, thank you! ❤
For sure! Happy it helped!
@@FlukesKitesurfing
In my head I’m going “the side I’m walking towards is the one I flip across to have the lines the right way”
Only thing I seem to struggle with is the kite popping up rather than sliding all the way into the middle of the window before then going on it’s side and eventually launching.
Am I using too much sand? 🤔
Very smooth 👌 😎
Thanks Chris!
Good stuff 🤙🏼
Thanks mate!
Luke's showing the safest method. To prevent the kite dragging too much, you can shortcut by walking back at the point you can just see the back wingtip. Run upwind fast, then as it's flipping, quickly run back downwind to stop the edge dragging when you want to pull the kite up. Or you can do a Russian launch which has less safety and less drag on the kite. But do the above right and the drag is minimal.
Nice thanks for the insight :)
Great vid ❤
Thanks 😁
Good teaching.
Thanks!
Very helpful., Thank you
for sure :)
Great precise video Luke, thank you. Where is that kiting paradise? Somewhere in Australia yeah?
Thanks Maine! Yeah this is east coast of Aus :)
On my Cabrinha Switchblades and even more so the high aspect Apollo, the kite can sometimes get 'stuck' between the tip wanting to come up on the one hand and slide back in the widow on the other hand. Under these circumstance I find taking a step towards the kite makes if roll a bit more on its back and 'unstick'. Not sure if this trick applies universally to other kits and so, as always, YMMV.
Also, walking a bit further upwind beyond perpendicular before initiating the launch means less sliding of the kite's leading edge on the sand (which is generally a good thing when there are shells on the beach).
yeah for sure. Walking slight upwind with with slack lines helps the kite fold up instead of slide. I like to do that also when the ground is a bit rough. Even on grass etc :)
Very informative and properly good to know how when on one's own!
I tried this yesterday and the kite would not turn from leading edge facing down to roll over to take off position!
Am I doing something wrong I followed as instructed, my only difference is I am rigging up the lines from the front of the kite and not down wind!
Same principle except it is as one Fly's it when done that way!
Is there something else I am able to do to help the process?
My brain can't seem to understand the inverted setup so I setup that way to stop confusion before riding!
th-cam.com/video/-lsMqvKhTK0/w-d-xo.html
This is how I setup but the kite refuses to turn over, is to low winds I am practicing in?
I am trying it in 12km/h to get the hang of it so that I am comfortable in higher winds! (could that be the issue?)
@@SAKOadventures It's really no different from launching on the water except the kite tend's to stick on the dirt/sand whereas most of the time it will glide over the water to find its 'sweet spot' at the edge of the window. So play around with water launches a bit to get feeling and build up the muscle memory.
General guidance:The amount of tension on the upper steering line plus walking left/right and towards/away from the kite are your key 'command inputs'. They work in concert. If the kite is not doing what you want it to do try (subtly) reversing one inputs at a time and see if that helps or makes things worse.
I highly recommend rigging with the kite lines downwind of the kite for the simple reason that it is easy to make sure the lines are correct and not crossed over or swapped just by holding the bar up with a bit of tension and looking at each line. I check that each and every time, ie: to catch the one in a hundred occasion that I have screwed up the rigging. This is especially important when self-launching. Remember to twist the bar 180°, ie: to the correct flying orientation though before doing the actual launch.
@@kshred3043 I am pretty good at the water launches and when I happen to land on water it rolls over fine, my problem is the turn over on the sand either setup direction!
For some unknown reason to me I cannot get that kite to roll over!
I have a feeling it has to do with low wind!
I will give the step towards a bit more of a thought and see what happens!
I do find that when the kite has tension it also makes it allot more difficult to get it to roll over.
great video bro
Thanks Dennis!
Wow, where is this? I'd love to know such a beautiful, lonesome spot. Do you live close to this beach? Just plain awesome!
Yeah this is Australia
I’ve been learning how to fly kites to work up to Kiteboarding. I started with a 1.7m two line trainer, then a 2m two like trainer, and I just picked up my first four line 2.5m kite (Ocean Rodeo React). I took a lesson, but trying to do it on my own I’m having a really tough time getting the kite to stabilize. When I have it in the upside down position with the wind, inflating it, virtually, no matter what I do I can’t get it to kick over into the upright position during a self lunch. I’m thinking that I might not have it inflated just enough, when I get it up in the air, the water on the kite will somewhat warp its shape in High wind. Only on a couple of occasions have a been able to get this kite to stabilize in the air and fly it for more than 10 or 15 seconds before it beers off to one side and crashes. I feel like I’m doing something wrong but it’s hard to pin down.
Glad you're getting into it. It actually sounds like you might be having an issue with the kite setup. Is this on the React kite?
Where is your homebase out of I would love to go touch your school I’ve literally watched every video you have made I love your videos your the best man god bless you brother
Oh awesome glad you like the videos! We are located in Canada most for the year. You can reach out on our website
I self launch at a spot I go to.
I learnt by watching your previous version of this video. It mostly goes fine, although still scares me a little bit each time.
Quick question. I am running my lines in front of the kite and then coming around... mainly because the turning the bar over I screwed up once.
It seems you have a preference to run the lines downwind - any key reasons why?
Perfect! Glad the upwind is working for you. The upwind setup is fine. With the upwind setup I find the kite actually moves/slides less which can be good.
That said, the advantage of the downwind setup is the preflight check. Being able to sight the lines before launch is a good safety step. Of course, the preflight check only matters if you make a mistake running/connecting the lines in the first place as it gives you a chance to fix it but if you are very careful never to make a mistake, then you can run the lines however you like in my opinion. To make sure you don't pick the bar up on the wrong side, you can also get into the launch position with no hands on the bar, that way, you can only reach forward to fly the kite when you are ready to launch. Hope that helps
Thanks….great tips….
Good to hear!
Awesome video, Luke! Where in Australia is this?
Thanks mate! This is east coast
Cheers bro. Any tips for when the wing tip gets caught on the line. Duotone love doing it. I normally just yank the centre lines and it mostly works, occasionally not 😬. Any tips to avoid getting caught in the first place?
Hey Sam, try get your lines under tension before you start steering this will help to eliminate the lines getting caught on the wingtips. I usually get the kite to fill with air which tensions the lines. I've got a duotone Neo and that works for me.
Hey Sam, yeah the best thing to do it slow the launch down a bit. Instead of immediately steering the kite up as i do in then video, pause for a second while the kite canopy is filled with air, but the kite is still on the leading edge. (no hands on the bar) This gives you a moment before you steer the kite up to make sure all the lines are free and clear (as Andrew has commented) then once you see it's good, use the leader line to launch the kite. Hope that helps and id be interested to hear if you still have any issues :)
This sometimes causes the kite to slide downwind straight into the power zone without taking off and results in a hot launch, especially on snow. I think putting snow/sand on the "upwind" side of the canopy prevents this. Can you confirm though? Because I saw you put sand on the downwind side of the canopy at the end of the video.
Hey, yeah sometimes it will slide back, particularly on a slippery surface like snow, the key is to be ready, so when it launches you let go of the bar as shown so that it dumps the power out of the kite as it launches and doesn't pull to hard, and if it does you are ready to either lean against the power and slide with it. as long as you know its coming, both are manageable. The sand or snow is placed on the side furthest away from the rider, its neither upwind or downwind, you may consider it across the wind. the center strut is always parallel with the wind direction. Hope that helps
out of curiosity mate, when you get the kite up and can start controlling it well, is the transition to wakeboarding in the water much harder?
Hey! all the steps take some practise but then it becomes easy :)
@@FlukesKitesurfing i'm out on lake superior but it hasn't been windy and our beach is so narrow, the length of the lines are longer then the width of the beach so setting up i'm finding is tricky. ill let you know how it goes when theres so wind!
Do kiters not use the "fold the wing and load sand" technique anymore?
Not really but i do remember that method :) . Most of the time these days people (including myself) have the kites pumped up to hard to fold the tip like that, and it doesn't really have any advantages.
Thanks for the reply! I stopped kiting about 10 years ago, sold my Naish X2s but recently bought a kite to get back into it!
Using your vids to get back up to speed! Great content Sir!
@@FlukesKitesurfing
thx
for sure!
it's also the way I usually self launch for my solo foil sessions.
I don't use the sand method. I usually rotate the kite as soon as the furthest tip barely catches the wind. If the wind is not too strong, the kite still stays quiet and you can set up normally.
th-cam.com/video/uPqwi3YSlq4/w-d-xo.html
Nice :) yeah I do something similar in my upwind setup self launch video. The kite moves less that way. That said, this video is simply how i do it on the daily :) Ive found it always works, never any tangles or moving kite or early launches etc :)
When my kite is on it's wingtip ready to launch & I have slack in the steering lines, I gently pull the upper line briefly & everytime it shoots downwind. Any help appreciated.
Hmm, might be oversteering it but not sure. if the kite is on the wingtip, it should launch just like someone is there holding it. If you have slack in the front lines just before launch? then you might be standing too far downwind, might need to take a few steps upwind to create better tension on the lines. Just some thoughts hope it helps :)
@@FlukesKitesurfing hi. There is good tension in the front lines. I will keep trying. Thanks
Cool. Where is this?
Australia :)
May I ask what type of kite is ? Is a trainer kite?
This is an Ocean Rodeo, Crave. Its a full size 10M kite (not trainer)
I used this video to work on self launch. Both times I did, I had the line on the underside catch the wingtip and go spiraling out of control. The first time it corrected itself, the second time it did not. It felt very dangerous and uncontrolled.
Yeah if the wing tip catches it can feel crazy. This is one of the reasons some people suggest to have 1 hand on the quick release, or do the launch not even hooked in, so you can let go quickly in that event.
That said, normally if the wing tip is catching it means there was no enough tension on the lines while walking the arc.
Thanks, I am trying again today. Will see how it goes.
The kite went up fine today. The secret really was keeping the lines tight throughout the entire setup. Also, I stuck to the flat wet sand area that was free of any debris to catch the lines. Thanks for the help.
@@mastarinki Nice one! glad its working for you and thanks for letting us know :)
With me, sometimes the briddle line get stuck on the tip when the kite is starting to rotate on the sand and inflate by the wind. Sending the kite into a loop. I don't know what I am doing wrong😢
Hi in that case, don't steer the kite up until you can see all the lines are clear. Walk into position and let the kite slide into position with your hands off the bar. Once the kite has settled and you can see all the lines are clear, then steer it up. let me know if that helps.
Do that a few times with full aluula and the leading edge is going to look very scuffed up. Aluula does not like this method of self launch as it is very thin and abrades easily.
When I have my aluula and self launch I always bring a rope for loop and look for something to anchor to.
Yeah anchor is certainly more gentle on the kite :) That said I haven't had any issues with the Aluula wearing out doing this on my other kites :)
@@FlukesKitesurfing Did you look at the leading edge? I guess it depends on the specific sand, but someone was showing me how to self-launch with aluula roam and then he noticed how much abrasion there was on the leading edge.
Shot bru
Tried to subscribe, but ..?
Hey Lars, there is an issue with subscribing?
@@FlukesKitesurfing - yes. I cannot “ring the bell”. UT do only allow a bell with a line crossed over..?
@@larsw.larsen4173 hmm, can you try to unsubscribe and resubscribe. Then the notification bell should appear. Unfortunately, anyone that was subscribed before YT made changes to the notification system can't ring the bell unless they do that. Please let me know if it works for you. Thanks :)
Ok - all is good.
Nb - what about an updated self landing, without leash😊?