Kite Tether Invention Kickstarter

Dude. Take this as constructive criticism.

That video is so amateurish, it turned me off in the first 5 seconds. If you aren't willing to invest in quality marketing to raise funds then I'd question both the quality of your product and your commitment to its success.

That fact that it is your first post doesn't help either.

Regardless goodluck. :)

brad your a kitesurf instructor who cant self launch?!?

i liked the music at start of the video but the rest was stupid, special mention goes to useing a really popular video of a kiter hurting themselves like a decade ago to scare kiters into being your customers... good job america

http://www.flxkiters.com/launch-rite/

took me AGES to actually find a photo of your "invention" basicly everyone its a bit of rope and caribener like everyone uses except he also has a second bita rope with a smaller little caribiner connecting to the safety line. instead of useing rope or chord hes useing wire... you know cause salt water and steel cables is great idea...

anyways my only question for you brad is whats the best trick you can do? i get feeling you havent been kiteing very long despite being an instructor and if you HAVE then you should not only know how to self launch safely in your location but be teaching your students to do so aswell!! seriously man i cant believe you even got the school to host this ****. in the event YOU ARE the school owner, please leave the instructing upto your instructors because my faith in your lessons has been shattered by your apparent need for this invention. oh and your ocean rodeo jacket and hood and helmet and boots and etc etc etc etc etc can you pile on some more safety gear there ? maybe some shoulderpads and shinguards would be a good idea

I'm a hypercritical of the concept of tethered launching. But this guy's video shows exactly the conditions when a tethered launch is required (very narrow beach covered in logs and rocks). If his device makes it a bit safer then good luck to him. Not sure about using a shear pin but at least it's simple.

Hi Brad,

Anything that can genuinely improve kite safety is worth sharing. Having learned kiting myself in that part of the World I agree that a lot of beaches aren't suitable/safe for sliding launches and tethered launching is often the best option.

You can have the greatest product/idea in the World but ultimately it's the way you present it/market it that's going to make the difference between success and failure in the long term.

Don't get put off by the harsh comments of some posters on here, your idea is great and worth pursuing.

Although I have to admit there are improvements to be made on your video. I'm no professional on video editing myself but If I had to sell a product or a service worldwide I would not hesitate to spend a few hundred to a few thousands $ to hire a professional for shooting and editing. For example, the audio narration in the video has various levels, and that's an easy fix that would make the video more uniform and professional looking.

Maybe think of opening a Facebook page for the product (and your school?) as well. Share the video on Youtube, etc. to gather more attention and traffic to your project page. Facebook targeted advertising works a treat for those kind of projects and well worth every $ you spend.

But I would first start by re-shooting and re-editing the video professionally and make a much shorter version of it as well (30 sec to 60 sec) for social media / advertising which would re-direct people to your project page and the longer more technical video.

Essentially what you're selling is safety, and from experience, I can tell you that safety is hard to sell...so you must find a way to really WOW people with your product.

Hope this helps and good luck with your project,

Christian

I thought you would connect to your safety line first then attach to the chicken loop.
In one of the videos he does the opposite.
Anyone else notice this.
If something went wrong there's no point in having the tether.
Maybe take that bit out of the video.
I do like the product and hope it works out.

The tarp is pretty much what they did at Squamish, although also with marine carpet which is a step up in style...

FLXkite - I'm a bit interested to understand why you went down the path of having a shear pin on your 'invention' ?
I have a few launch locations where space is very limited (beach depth) but do have 4WD access so simply use a strong rope and large quick clip looped around the bull bar and just launch the kite - not a drama in the last 8 years ??
Importantly - always fully depower the kite at the bar before standing the kite on its wing tip at the edge of the wind window - I reckon that little hint negates the need for your 'shear pin' ?? Your device looks like you have put a lot of thought in to it - but its simply over engineered to my way of thought

I cant see how your invention would change anything that I would do currently so like the TV Show 'the shark tank ' - no I wont be investing but good on you for turning your mind to a need you have in your location!!

That looks like a shop. I can tell by the pixels.

Thank you for the continued interest in discussing the device (albiet with some malice).
We believe that most would agree tethered depowered kites can still generate a tremendous amount of force on a tether once directly entered into the power zone.

We have had tethered kites rip sand anchors out of the ground and become projectiles, tethered kites tomahawking into bystanders and tethered kites flying above riders heads and they cannot reach their bars.

We understand Oz has the safest kiters in the world but up here - you name it, its happened with tethered kites.