it really depends what line will slap but you will do a faceslam down most probably . next thing is to release the kite if it starts looping.
If it happens my guess is your kite will probably keep turning depending upon which one snaps. If the turning one snaps that your pulling on (which is super unlikely) your kite will stop turning and you will fall out of the sky.
This all being said though I find it hard to believe that a line would snap at the critical point in a kiteloop where your kite is at it's lowest and you are at your highest as this point within a kiteloop there is little tension on your lines. In-fact I believe that in reality the likeliest point for your line to snap in a kiteloop would be at the very start of the loop as you begin to take off the water, as this is the point I believe has the most tension and load on the lines. If it did happen at this point it would unfortunately be highly un-spectacular.
i had a bridle snap on my old waroos doing a kiteloop, snapped just as the kite came out of the bottom of the turn and started coming up to catch me the kite just kept turning but had no power until.. basically i free fell and when i got about 1/2m off the water it finally grabbed and slammed me into the water at a stupid horizontal speed, then uncontrollably dragged me towards a cliff and i pulled my release and grabbed a o **** handle at the same time and won.
it was a front line and it hurt a lot.
Slave has a good point. Most people have never had a line snap and don't know what could potentially happen. If a line is going to go its more likely a front line because they're the ones that take most of the load. But that said, all lines wear with time and use.
Worst thing that could happen is an uncontrolled spiral. Correct me if I'm wrong here but modern kites pivot about their central axis and will spin a fair number of times before, hopefully, crashinng into the water (not the parking lot). This spinning will tie up the lines making for an out-of-control kite. Older kites turned on a wing tip, making for larger arcs and a better chance of the kite hitting the water early.
So, the question remains what to do? If you have the chance to flag the kite and it has gone through multiple spins then the bar will not run up the line and the kite will still be dragging you. If it has not hit the water best option is to ditch it completely and swim home alive.
Very simple answer....
Dont have to postulate about what might or could happen.
Like anything with kiting any number of possibilities are out there.
So the simple answer is ......
Thats why we all have a safety leash.
... wow, nice pic!
I've snapped all front lines (north 5 line bar) in mid kiteloop with my back to the kite and got slammed and winded me, then took an hour to swim in with my mates spraying me as they rode past laughing. No where near as high as this guy but it all hurts.
cheers,
Robbie
ps I nearly punched out to safety and luckily I saw at the last second that the 5th line wasn't attached to the kite, pulled one steering line in to recover kite
Dude...."what the fark happend dude"
man....."I snapped a line in the middle of a loop man"
Dude...."did it hurt dude?"
man....."Yeah man, it farken hurt bad man"
Dude...."lucky you had a safety leash dude,other wise when you released your kite it would have taken out all the little kids on the beach dude."
man....."I know man,you would be stupid not to wear one hey man."
FYI - There was a short movie of Ruben's trip to Oz in 07 that had a line snap mid-loop right at the end. Wasn't massive but it was big enough!
I think that video above you will find that it was rider error not a line snapping that caused the crash. I could be wrong though.
That commentary in slow mo was more painful than having a burst eardrum.
So if your flag line snaps on a 4 liner than you gotta dump the kite?
maybe ........
Unless of course you ride a Slingshot.
Every Slingshot kite has O-**** loops on both outside lines. Not the best option (unless its already down - which it probably would be already or very soon after you grab the O-**** and release everything else) but way better than losing a kite.
Perhaps Slingy riders should be advised to wear TWO safety leashes
"hey hand whach ya up to"
"no helmet not again"
"ooooaaa come on hand you know you want to"
"helmet you heard the doc he said to leave you alone for a while or youl drop off"
"but hand its a natural part of life "
"i said no helmet no means no "
"come on hand ,well can bum sit on ya for a while and we can pretend its someone else"
"heeelllmmmeeett the only time i'm suppost to go near you is to put ointment on those blisters"
"ooorrrrrrhhh hand can i just borrow two of the sisters you know the fat one on the left and the little skinny one on the right for 5 minuts, just 5, maybe less please"
" hand and helmet shut up you two i'm trying to watch the football"
"but head your usually on my side "
To Be Continued
Master of the misquote strikes again.
I didnt mention 'everything is just wonderful' anywhere. Not even a hint of it anywhere. Not a sign, not an innuendo not even a dog-sniff.
Point is - anything can go wrong anytime. Lots of alternative reactions possible to any one of them but anyone with even half a brain knows that a safety leash is one essential option we must all have available.
Try entering an official comp anywhere in the world without one. But hey! what would those wankers know - theyre just the most experienced, thinking kiters out there.
You should write to them slave and enlighten them as to the dangers of leashes. People in positions of responsibility need to know these things.
lol
Hey slave.. noticed you been getting a little stale recently so I thought I might spit ball a few ideas for you in your
"If your line snaps ..."
series.