I'm not sure if other people have the same issues but at my local when kiters ask me for a launch many seem to walk backward perpendicular to the wind. Suddenly the kite catches the wind and I (the person helping them to launch) am buffeted and thrown around by the wind. Many of these people are experienced kiters.
The proper technique is to start up wind or downwind and walk in a semi circle so that your lines are taught and you know when the kite is ready to launch when it stops flapping.
Am I just getting old and grumpy or do too many people not understand how to properly launch a kite?
also its you that's responsible for your position, not the guy launching the kite, f888888g cracks me up watching a kiter pointing the launcher upwind or downwind when he doesn't understand wind positions himself
try hot launching or just chucking it up before they're ready.. Thumbs up is soooo overated!
They wont ask you again if you give them a total shocker or a sandune experience. If everyone did this, we would spend more time on the water, less time launching/landing tommy noob.
Example: you step in dog poop once, it's not a pleasant experience. A pain to get off and you try not to do it again. I see it the same as kite launching.. A good old scare or error switches you on to doing it properly or leanring self launch/land.
Discuss??
actually the proper technique is for the launcher to stand at the ready and you position your lazy arse correctly
Yep, think this is getting old and grumpy!
IMO, my kite, my responsibility when launching.
And if I'm launching for you, you can walk however you like, some ways seem more sensible to me, but your kite, your responsibility. I wont move around much, will wait for you to get tension in the lines, I'll look to see your lines arent crossed or tangled, and wait for your signal. As long as the kite is powered, I'll launch, if its not I might move a little downwind to make it so, but its still your kite. Relax!
Essentially my point is if you are doing someone a favour by launching their kite for them, you shouldn't need to do anything other than pick it and let it go when they are ready.
It is the responsibility of the kiter to position themselves properly and with respect for the person helping them launch.
Too many kiters walk straight back, kite grabs the wind - person helping launch kite gets thrown around
#endrant
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
actually the proper technique is for the launcher to stand at the ready and you position your lazy arse correctly
you are arguing the same point
I walk the kite to where I want it. if the guy starts walking upwind too much before tensioning the lines I walk upwind too...
In short you have legs and a brain. Use them.
Self Launch / Self Land. It solves all my problems, I try not to rely on strangers and any potential problems. That way I don't Bitch about people helping me launch or land. Life's too short for Negativity.
Select to expand quoteNoBS said..
try hot launching or just chucking it up before they're ready.. Thumbs up is soooo overated!
They wont ask you again if you give them a total shocker or a sandune experience. If everyone did this, we would spend more time on the water, less time launching/landing tommy noob.
Example: you step in dog poop once, it's not a pleasant experience. A pain to get off and you try not to do it again. I see it the same as kite launching.. A good old scare or error switches you on to doing it properly or leanring self launch/land.
Discuss??
I know u r up for a laugh and always try to get a bite form every one. I hope that you are joking but from previous experience of your many ****e posts, if you do this to me or anyone i know i will stamp on your face 
, have a wonderful day, my local is Woodies B1 if you would like to meet up.
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
also its you that's responsible for your position, not the guy launching the kite, f888888g cracks me up watching a kiter pointing the launcher upwind or downwind when he doesn't understand wind positions himselfSelect to expand quotecauncy said..
actually the proper technique is for the launcher to stand at the ready and you position your lazy arse correctlySelect to expand quoteCowboyWA said..
... when kiters ask me for a launch ...Select to expand quoteCowboyWA said..
... if you are doing someone a favour by launching their kite for them...
Not that I mean to interrupt your exercise regime of jumping to conclusions but... 
Totally agree cowboy. Solution is not to pick it up until they are downwind first, direct them if you have to, if they don't budge dont pick it up - f$&@'em! Also if you see them walking straight out tell them to go downwind first..
I'll launch anyone who doesnt waste my time.
I can spot the ones I will happily launch.
If someone is taking 10 mins and 2 mates to unwind lines, Ill keep my head down.
If a guy comes down and chucks all his geat on someone elses lines and starts to pump up as the guy is putting his harness on, Ill keep my head down and back to them.
If someone brings their crazy dog down to a no dogs kitesurfing beach...Not worth it.
An old and massive kite no way.
A guy that short tacks, jumps way too close to shore, Insists that I launch him when my kite is half pumped up or my lines are half unwound. Sorry.
Anyone else, bring it on, Launch or land. Im happy to waste 30 seconds on keeping kitesurfing safer.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
I walk the kite to where I want it. if the guy starts walking upwind too much before tensioning the lines I walk upwind too...
In short you have legs and a brain. Use them.
That is so bad Plums! I would never move when launching a kite for someone. The kite is where they placed it and I will move only if it seems the kite is in the way of other people, lines, objects, etc. But essentially I generally simply pick up the kite, hold it above the ground a bit and ONLY let go if they give me the thumbs up! I won't even pick up the kite until they are looking at me with their "I am ready" look. Too many times I've seen guys pick up kites straight up and the kiter has not even hooked their lines in or untangled them. Essentially, it is s/he that has to move to be ready to launch it themselves. After all, an assisted launch is nothing more than you keeping the kite upright, which any one with self-launching skills has to do anyway on their own.
I can't believe I've wasted 2 mins writing this up. Who & How Launching threads are getting old had now.
Select to expand quoteBeanz said..
Totally agree cowboy. Solution is not to pick it up until they are downwind first, direct them if you have to, if they don't budge dont pick it up - f$&@'em! Also if you see them walking straight out tell them to go downwind first..
**COUGH** Down wind? Are you ****ing stupid or what? You never launch a kite downwind. Both you and the kiter or vice versa must be at the edge of the wind window with the kiter slightly up wind enough for the sail to stop flapping and he should give you the thumbs at that moment. If they don't then I park the kite and walk away.
Can we stop with these ridiculous ways of assisted and self-launching. Next thing we'll see are threads on dogh... what is a kite... dogh!
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..Plummet said..
I walk the kite to where I want it. if the guy starts walking upwind too much before tensioning the lines I walk upwind too...
In short you have legs and a brain. Use them.
That is so bad Plums! I would never move when launching a kite for someone. The kite is where they placed it and I will move only if it seems the kite is in the way of other people, lines, objects, etc. But essentially I generally simply pick up the kite, hold it above the ground a bit and ONLY let go if they give me the thumbs up! I won't even pick up the kite until they are looking at me with their "I am ready" look. Too many times I've seen guys pick up kites straight up and the kiter has not even hooked their lines in or untangled them. Essentially, it is s/he that has to move to be ready to launch it themselves. After all, an assisted launch is nothing more than you keeping the kite upright, which any one with self-launching skills has to do anyway on their own.
I can't believe I've wasted 2 mins writing this up. Who & How Launching threads are getting old had now.
If the guy is in the correct place I don't move. if its obvious he is way to far upwind and I'm going to be pounded by a powered kite as soon as he tensions the lines then I move. simple as that.
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..Beanz said..
Totally agree cowboy. Solution is not to pick it up until they are downwind first, direct them if you have to, if they don't budge dont pick it up - f$&@'em! Also if you see them walking straight out tell them to go downwind first..
**COUGH** Down wind? Are you ****ing stupid or what? You never launch a kite downwind. Both you and the kiter or vice versa must be at the edge of the wind window with the kiter slightly up wind enough for the sail to stop flapping and he should give you the thumbs at that moment. If they don't then I park the kite and walk away.
Can we stop with these ridiculous ways of assisted and self-launching. Next thing we'll see are threads on dogh... what is a kite... dogh!
No I am not stupid but you obviously haven't read the thread. Saying walk upwind from a downwind position not launch it from downwind...duh!!! thanks for the great tip though on launching from the edge of the window ... Duh!
Here is a story:
I was out alone with the wind picking up steadily until I had to get out and change kites. I had a rope set-up for self landing, but the landing spot gets some turbulence and on that angle wasn't nice. There was a man on the beach who had been watching me for a while, so to keep things safe I went and asked him if he was comfortable to grab the kite, did he know how to do it (yep, done it before), sure, sure... I lower down the kite about a meter infront of him and he just stands there and stares at it. 3-4 seconds, a gust picks the kite and myself has to fight it up and down and calm it down a bit. Man yells: oh, sorry, I though you were going to pass it right to me. ?? I should have told him to go away then and self-land.
Take two, I lower the kite pretty much on his head so he doesn't have to exert himself, he runs away! I got the ****s, the wind gusted at exactly that moment and the kite shot downwind into some rocks. Nothing major, saved it and self-landed it, just a small tear - you make your own conclusions.
Nowadays I treat landlubbers and newbies the same: If there is enough room to self-land and no-one else around, I don't ask. Otherwise, yes it is safer to get any help, but be prepared for some major excitement, especially when you have to let go of the bar and go fetch you kite.
I don't know why LEI kite manufacturers don't simply sell one of these with every kite...
www.powerkiteshop.com/peter-lynn-ground-stake.htm
It seems only fixed bridle or foil kiters are aware of them and have been using them for years for self landing and launching, and it works a treat. I even saw one guy use a long shovel to do the same thing. He never asked anyone to assist in his kite landings/launchings and was happy as larry!
I just don't put their kite in a position that will power it up/allow it to take off until it looks like they are nearly in a good spot.
You can just wait holding the kite like you do when you walk with it, then do the final flip when they are ready.
I've done the ground screw thing at the beach before, I didn't find it all that appealing, wet beach sand on your shaft and all. 
Hi,
I have developed a Sand Anchor and it for sale on Trademe in New Zealand
I have sold more than 100 so far and had no complaints.......only praises
www.trademe.co.nz and search for sand anchor in the kiteboarding section
I have three videos on the site where the anchor is sold and you can watch a typical launch and land, the installation of the anchor and the holding power of the anchor in the sand
I have used mine for more than two years now and it is fantastic as it gives me complete independence to launch and land my kites
I kite two to three times a week and use it every time............
Cheers,
Blue
www.beachhook.com
Using a teather is a good option in clean wind.
Be very careful in turbulent gusty wind. the kite can surge foward and drift back on the teather. when its drifting back it can catch and tip get rolled over and blast through the power zone.
Don't use one of those small ground stakes kazan links. they will just be ripped out of the ground.
In those conditions I find a normal drag launch to be more reliable.
Select to expand quotethe gibbo said...NoBS said..
try hot launching or just chucking it up before they're ready.. Thumbs up is soooo overated!
They wont ask you again if you give them a total shocker or a sandune experience. If everyone did this, we would spend more time on the water, less time launching/landing tommy noob.
Example: you step in dog poop once, it's not a pleasant experience. A pain to get off and you try not to do it again. I see it the same as kite launching.. A good old scare or error switches you on to doing it properly or leanring self launch/land.
Discuss??
I know u r up for a laugh and always try to get a bite form every one. I hope that you are joking but from previous experience of your many ****e posts, if you do this to me or anyone i know i will stamp on your face , have a wonderful day, my local is Woodies B1 if you would like to meet up.
Hahahaha! Post of the year so far....
Please let me know nobs if your going to meet gibbo cos Id like very much to watch...
Select to expand quotecauncy said..Kazan said..
Disagree. I have one (a longer one actually with a screw-cork rod) and it is as solid as a tree! Sometimes I have to dig around the stake to get it out! Saved me a lot of pain, especially with foil kites.
how can you disagree when your comparing 2 totally different kites and products, ill exstend my gratitude to you also with the $4.99 ground stake to launch your kite, ill dig out a photo of what force a kite can produce on a fixed object, also got me f888ed why the hell would you dig it out when you could unscrew it , a bit beyond your brain skills it seems
Get fkd dhead! You're telling me you can't use one of these screw type stakes for ANY kite? You obviously have no clue(less). They can almost hold back a car's force, so they have enough to withstand a kite's 200lb/inch pull. Furthermore, I've used them on both types of LEI and foils and I've only had one situation where the kite took off without me touching the lines. And guess what bird-head? It went from one end of the wind window to the next and crashed. So what? It held the kite there never the less. No harm done to anyone or anything. I simply went over to the lines, hooked in, relaunched and Bob's your uncle.
Furthermore, unscrewing one of them (mine is longer) from the sand takes ages. I'd rather just pull it out and if not, I'd dig it out with my hands until it's loose.
Any further comments from you are simply to win brownie points. Oops I forgot. You're already full of "brownie" points.
Select to expand quoteBluefalcon888 said..
Hi,
I have developed a Sand Anchor and it for sale on Trademe in New Zealand
I have sold more than 100 so far and had no complaints.......only praises
www.trademe.co.nz and search for sand anchor in the kiteboarding section
I have three videos on the site where the anchor is sold and you can watch a typical launch and land, the installation of the anchor and the holding power of the anchor in the sand
I have used mine for more than two years now and it is fantastic as it gives me complete independence to launch and land my kites
I kite two to three times a week and use it every time............
Cheers,
Blue
www.beachhook.com
Thank you Blue! Precisely what I am trying to educate these bafoons with. If you're really paranoid about self-launches and landings, get a portable anchor - aka a ground stake as stated above. Done!
