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Hi every one I am new to the forum . I have a couple of questions concerning self launching and landing a kite on the beach . Is there a better way to do it besides using a sand anchor ? I know it's best to have some one help you , but I want to be self sufficient and I want to avoid having my kite tumbling down the beach after pulling the safety depower to land. I have seen a guy self launch once buy curling the kite until the wind catches it . Is this a correct method ?
Wow that's great ! I would never have thought of that ! Thanks for the advice ! :)
the above method is fine in light winds but would not want to try it in strong wind above 30 kts, 
I nearly always tie off to a secure object using my safety leash, 
I have a small piece off thin strong rope I loop around something secure,eg a post or small tree ,then I attach my safety between the rope and the chickenloop,run the lines out and attach my kite,go to 3 or 9 oclock and sit my kite on its wing tip,........it will just sit there, 
then I walk back to the chickenloop and hook on,
move my kite to 12 oclock whist still being attached to the post or small tree,you can not go anywhere unless the post or small tree comes out of the ground or your safety leash snaps in strong gusty winds[ happened to me once ] 
detach my safety off the rope and connect to my haress then transfer the safety from my chicken loop to the safety line connection
only problem is if the wind picks up and your thin strong rope looped around the small tree or post is 30m from the waters edge,How do you get to it 
Always better to kite with someone else
Rest your kite on the beach at 3 or 9 then walk up the centre lines hand over hand till you get to the kite.... This is for landing of course... As far as launching goes if you can relaunch your kite then you can self launch also... If you can't relaunch your kite then your instructor did a crud job....
Is it just me, or wtf is happening with the red thumbs, with no input on why someone disapproves?
Surely this is an important topic someone has asked help for, if you feel the advice given is incorrect, please say why, don't just red thumb, be constructive hey...at least for this point, launching and landing are paramount safety issues.
Plenty of you-tube clips on the basics of self launching and landing. Search this forum actually, some really good threads on it. There was an excellent you tube clip made by AKS ages back (now called action sports of something or other).
Also suggest you find someone to show you rather as well as asking here as the reality is always a little different to the theory.
We use a combination of self launching and landing via the standard drag/roll whatever you want to call it.
But mainly we tether (look it up, use the search function) - or the last guy does, the others get a free assisted launch..
. All depends.
I know my brother races like a squirrell banging a nut to get setup so we launch him and then always comes in last so we have to land him....lol
I know guys who use a bread board as an tether anchor, guys who uses sand bags (well one...lol)...best bet hook up with a local and see what the others are doing and learn.
Thanks for the input , I've got some stuff to go away and practice . FYI I took a two day instruction course , I was taught to do a water relaunch but only shown an assisted beach launch , I did not know that the same principal applied to an unassisted beach launch. 
Efilnikufesin,
you will always get various advice as to which methods are ''the best'' and it can become a bit confusing sometimes, especially for newbies. You will rarely find someone who has trialed and tested all methods and thus most people will show you the only method they know, been shown and have used. Yes tethered self-launching and self-landing methods work great and are pretty safe if properly executed, but the big downside is they offer poor versatility as you need a very strong anchor point, lots of beach space, the right wind direction, etc. things that are obviously not always available.
As a beginner, the first and most important step is to get familiar with the safety system your kite uses and perform a few ''Emergency self-landings'' on the beach or even better in shallow waters. Unfortunately very few instructors will teach this in lessons. In my opinion this skill is the cornerstone of safety and independence of every kiter.
I use the self launch method shown in the second AKS video.
It's really simple, easy to learn.
As in the AKS video , I was once doing this method as a newby (almost yesterday) , and a fellow newb said mate don't put the chicken loop into your harness, just hold it in your hand until kite has rolled up on to its side. That way if it goes pear shaped, let it go, it's only a kite, not your body . It's something I always do now and have a lot more peace of mind self launching.
I've been kiting for about three seasons now, and without a doubt one of the most essential skills any kiter needs to learn is how to self launch from land. Self launching is actually quite easy but you need to know what you're doing and it all really comes down to one word - kite control, kite control, kite control. Ok two words!
You must be 100% with you and your kite. Note I said YOU and YOUR kite. Both of you need to be in control, but of course your kite can only be controlled by you. The wind is a random anomaly really. So if you get to that point in time when you know you can launch a kite and control it from the water, then there is no reason why you cannot do so from land. The kite performs exactly the same! It has to go onto its wing tip either way and catch the wind. So it's worth giving it a go on land. Because believe me, once you do it and see how easy it is to self launch when the kite simply flips onto its wing tip and up, you won't go back.
kazan its wind and conditions dependant, if you self launched and landed at my local during the last couple of days youd have a high chance of a damaged kite due to beach debris, and a high chance of visiting the local hospital as an un weighted kite would just take off, all the locals here tether lanch from post and shackle which i installed, some are new to the sport and some have been at it for over 10yrs but we all agree its the safest option at our local
Hi guys,
I strongly recommend you don't use the AKS video (but awesome that AKS are putting up helpful content) method for self landing in anything but light winds. If you stuff it, the kite can easily roll/ slide back in the wind window and relaunch. i have seen this happen too many times and been frightened by too many beginners!
I also do not agree with the idea of just hand over handing down the front lines. This will work but if the kite goes back down the window or a gust hits it will cut hands and the kite will be gone. I saw a beginner doing this on Sunday and it was scary.
I believe there is an easier, safer and more reliable way to self land bow and many hybrid kites (longer front bridles makes this easier).
1. Let kite sit on the beach nicely (no bar input - hands off)
2. Grab the front lines above the bar and Run up wind of the kite - you sometimes need to time this as the kite bounces back down to ground and also back in the wind window
3. Run until you are directly up wind and the kite is lying on its back with its legs in the air. (Don't steer the kite, but do make sure you keep the lines from tangling and you keep tension in the front lines the whole time)
4. Kite is now totally depowered and can't go anywhere
5. Now hand over hand down the front lines towards the kite. But you must keep tension in the front lines. A wrap around your harness hook is the safest bet (especially in strong winds)and you can work down the lines like this. Stay clear of the other lines. Before starting down the front lines you can drop the bar to prevent tangles. I always loop my front lines around my harness hook while detaching my bar and safety.
6. Grab the kite.
I have never seen anyone else use this technique, but I use it every time and it has never failed me. High wind or low.
You should try this in your own kite to see if it works (do it in easy conditions first). Often as you try to run up wind the kite will slide up wind. This is about timing and you will get the knack after 2 or 3 goes and some kites like this less than others. Of course even if the kite slides forward you are still in a safe, ready to relaunch, position. The only limitations to this technique are sharp beaches and kites with no or very short front bridals. I think this method will be difficult and may even be impossible for real c style kites.
Who else out there uses and recommends this technique?
What kites does it work on? (My old switchblades, naish helix and new ozone reos are all yes)
I tether self launch and land most of the time but when unable due to lack of fixed point, I use minor variations of the AKS videos above. Works every time except once on the launch. Kite was dragged to dead downwind and launched straight into the power zone. Had a hand on the quick release and just dumped it. No problem. Always fully depowered on launch and land and keeping one hand ready to fire the safety are the key points.
