im pretty sure ive got the window wrong but when i self launch in 20 kn winds i get dragged down the beach, a bit like bull riding,and when i get the kite up and im riding but i cant keep the power going ,the kite is either @12 with no power or down low with no power,the only time im moving is when the kite is powering through the range,but its pretty radical to keep it going cheers
Find the sweet spot where your kite flys nicely without having to work it too much if the wind is good. This can change each time you go out depending on wind strength. Don't choke the kite by barring in too much when the kite is near the water. This will feel like a lack of power, but it's not, just bar out and let the kite fill.
@subculture,yes your correct i am a tight arse but i did pay 200 dollars for a lesson .with my wake boarding back ground i was able to get riding at end of lesson. with the advice from the instructor ,you should be good to practice on your own but dont get over confident,good advice.how ever they failed to show me how to self launch as id told her id had the kite up on an oval a few times,but only in light winds,with no one in sight to injure.but add a little bit more wind and yes things go wrong,my beach is almost deserted and i have since found pro lesson via kite shop for 60$,far more reasonable than 120 per hr,no wonder people skip them,but thanks for the dvd advice however your condasending downer tone was a bit much,lighten up we got to start somewhere **** happens especialy with people who think they can do any thing (me)theres plenty of warning signs but they come with every thing these days,i did as much reaserch as possible before a lesson,mabye you should have to sit exam and be licenced before you go on public beaches,im surprised its not illegal,very dangerous sport for beginers,but thats the problem,everyone must be a beginer at some stage.a pro sold me a 12m for my first kite mabye thats a bit big. to everyone who posted thank heaps good to get advice from someone whos done it before.
Dude, with all due respect, I PMd you, for a full lesson for a carton of beer, you are ignorant, 95% of kitesurfing if about controlling the kite, with one hand, you are a danger to others and future access to the beaches we are are allowed to use. your learning progress will be super long and you will be a danger to anyone that is close to you. Being a beginner you have no idea and are ognorant. good luck. The warm social feeling of a competant learner wont happen. Learn the hard way as I did in 2003 with kites that will bust you up. your going to bust someone else up. Prepare for the consequences.
thanks for the repy dave i havent worked out the thread thing so i couldnt give you a direct reply i did try.thanks for your generous offer much appriciated,i found out today a guy who works for me has kited for 4yrs and will take me out in coming days.as to your comments of ignorant and arrogant,your out of line,im not interested in the warm social feeling or what ever i have other agendas.sorry for causing you experienced riders grief i understand how annoying it can be for the inexperienced coming into your world but try to show a bit of patiece and support and you might have a better chance of protecing your sport. no disrespect intended.
you can improvise a tethere'd self launch off of a post on the beachif you rig up your leash to ride 'suicide' then change back once launch'd. same basic principle as a towbar launch......probally too much for this stage however
mort69, some information on:
* wind window (& power) kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/wind/wind-window
* self launching kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/progression/self-launching-your-kite
Once launched, it sounds like you are bringing your kite to the edge of the wind window where it has little power - both above you and horizontal.
Self launching is an intermediate skill and should only be attempted when you have some experience handling the kite. Maybe after 30+ sessions, and then with some instruction.
to any one who wants to know what i was doing wrong was letting the bar out to de power position after i got moving,now i keep the bar at about half and the power stays on and i stay on my feet,and i was launching the kite direcly down wind,oops,was ok when there wasnt much wind.
have you booked in some lessons buddy?
For a self confessed tight arse you will probably hate hearing that you have totally wasted $200 on your single lesson.
I would front the instructor and demand my money back.
And while ur about do us all a favour. Tell him/her to stop robbing people, seriously endangering people and threatening our sport. All at the same time.
Any instructor offering & delivering lessons like you paid for is morally, ethically and responsibly bankrupt. 
The general consensus seems to be self launching & self landing are advanced skills rather than intermediate. So I reckon this is 30+ sessions.
^^^ disagree Peter. Self launch/land are basic and easy kite skills which should come before board skills.
^^^^unless your a tool who tried to self launch directly downwind when a 30 second google search and 5 minutes research would have told said tool otherwise.
People just have no attention span.
i now know how to launch,simple, but i couldt find any vids that were not confusing the cabrina one was best but the camera angle changes to much.how could somthing so easy be so hard to reserch
well I seem to be out of whack with most on here re self launching.
I don't teach a self launch since you shouldn't be kiting on your own particularly when learning. It amazes me when crew self launch when there is half a dozen kiters standing right there and their kite slides down wind very often with people down wind. The other thing is unless you have a manicured beach eventually you will damage your kite.
^^^ are you serious?
What if there is shorebreak?
What if it is 25kn? The wind will turn the kite around and off it goes...
i didnt know any one who kited when i started so i was as green as it gets,this is not the only sport i do,but there is a lot of negative energy when it comes to newbs,when i see somone about to get in trouble ill help as long as its wanted ,but to be critical and offer nothing but condasending ramble is a fast track to having this sport end up where you self rightious majority say it will,so try being proactive,newbs will always be in the way so change your attitude toward them or loose.i dont care how ****ing good you are if you cant stand learners get a new sport
