The only safety advantage of running lines out downwind is preventing line crosses. It is easier to run lines out from upwind as wind assists untangling and second if kite does take off unexpectedly (if not weighted with sand) you are on the safety immediately without having the kite run two line lengths first before safety activated. Familiarity is probably the biggest issue... do what works for you but is a pain if launch site is small and people are doing upwind and downwind rollout.
Personally I run lines out obliquely upwind to launch point, attach and then position kite so lines run behind LE (downwind wingtip just catching wind) return to bar and self launch... too easy nowadays.
For self launch I do this (except I usually launch with the kite pulling towards the water, and I put my lines downwind so I don't need to worry about them getting stuck under the kite)
Nothing wrong with the wombat (I don`t own one). If you do own one I bet you only got to step on it once and you wont do it again. Or you`re just dopey.
I know a chap down my way that uses one all the time. Not once have I seen him have problems with it. I`ve seen him set his kite up on it`s side ready to fly while he checks his kite and lines. A good idea I think, easier to check your kite for tiny holes etc while it`s filled out by the air than sitting flapping on the beach. Keep thinking I should get one but I`m too lazy to carry more stuff down to the beach.
pulling on the rear line and then flip the kite over...looks easy. tried the other day at my local beach but the beach isn't flat. xxxx thing wouldn't flip as it scooted up the ramped up sand. think you need a flat beach?
imagine if we all took wombats to the beach it would be like a mine field
Just stirring Saffer
Only a couple of inches stick out but he sticks the handle thingy into the ground next to it with his bar pouch flagged to it. Yeh and it`s amongst the rest of his gear, bag etc so no idiot should be stepping on it anyway????!
Unlike a few of the kiters up my way (me included) who tend to set right on top of everyone else 
he tends to find his own space away from us. So if anyone stands on his koala and bag etc they derserve the pain.
Attached to the wombat is a short chain and a carbine clip wich he clips to the chicken loop. I think when he is setting up he also attaches the safety leash to it (not 100%sure).
I don't understand why self-launching and landing is such a problem. It is easy. It is safe. Once you can do it you can kite anywhere.
It even includes safety margins to deal with the kite not sitting exactly where you land it, and more importantly, how not to freak out if the kite moves or misbehaves at all.
Going kiting without being able to self-launch/land is like driving a car but not being able to start it or back it out of a parking spot.
More importantly, once you can do it properly, hopefully you will also have the judgement to know when and where to do it. I see so many guys getting assisted launches then dropping their kites on bystanders or onto trees and shrubs, or standing around on an empty beach wondering what to do next.
The only thing worse than not being able to self-launch/land, is standing on the beach with your head up your bum ignoring people coming in that might want a land.
No one has mentioned the good old Sand on the wing tip technique Has worked everytime for the last 8 years. But the new method with a bow kite is just as easy.
1. Set up kite and lines as normal
2. Flip kite over
3. Fold wing tip about 60cm from tip
4. Load up tip with loads of sand and make sure lines are not under tip
Kite will sit there in any wind
5. Walk back to your bar, hook in.
6. Walk to the edge of the window and walk backwards away from kite. The tip will lift and sand fall away.
The kite will be at the edge of the window and away you go.
Here is a stupid animation that shows the technique.http://www.abc-of-kitesurfing.com/info/launching-alone.asp
Krispy
