Hey,
I'm a perpetual intermediate rider on either an 07 or 08 Waroo with an 07 bar, and generally ride with the leash attached to the ring on the chicken loop setup (never ridden unhooked).
All the instructional stuff i've been reading and the Best promo videos say that the best way to self land these kites is by coming down on the side of the window, catch the kite edge close to the ground, and yank on the top centre line to pull it round so the leading edge is facing into the wind.
Tried doing this in light to medium winds and was really not having any luck with it whatsoever, and at some points found the kite falling back a bit and putting me in some rather sketchy positions, which preferably i'd rather avoid.
Pretty much, when it comes to that point, i just don't care about resetting it afterwards, and simply want to get the thing down the quickest safest way.
I would have thought the safest thing i could do would be:
Unattaching the leash from the centre ring and reattaching it to the OSR on the velcro bit, then pulling the safety and letting go of the bar.
I'm assuming what will happen will be:
a) bar rushes up the lines away from me
b) other end of leash stays attached to my harness
c) kite flags out lengthways
d) kite falls to the ground
e) I sit around putting my safety back together, but don't really care cause i've finally got the thing down which was the primary concern.
Can someone please just confirm for me that these steps will work and is the preferred course of action here.
Similarly, as opposed to pulling the safety, presumably i could also just unhook completely and let the bar go (ie. therefore not have to reassemble the chicken loop afterwards)? But would this potentially increase the power substantially when I do it?
And last option, with the leash still attached to the ring on the chicken loop setup, simply pull the safety, and let it fall out of the sky that way. (guessing this isn't as safe as going to the OSR though, because the kite could fall in any direction)
Thanks heaps
Ok the easiest and safest way to land your kite is to use the OSR. The method however is like this:
Did you know!!
Did you know that you can easily pilot the kite to the edge of the window, allowing the wingtip to rest on the ground and . Whilst in this position you are able to relax and let go of the bar enabling it to depower. The kite will stay resting there until such time that you reach forward and apply pressure to the bar to fly again.
This process allows you the chance to easily transfer your safety leash from the Chicken loop ring, to the OSR toggle.
Once you have attached to the OSR toggle, check that the other end of the safety is attached to you (harness), and also check that there is no person, or objects down wind of you.
If you are certain that the path is clear, then simply reach down and grasp the Chicken loop and unhook it from your harness. Let it go!!. The bar will slide freely along the outside line, and the kite will flag out. In some cases the kite may spin or roll a couple of times.
When the kite comes to a hault on the ground, walk along the line with your hands until you reach the kite, and then secure. Keep you safety attached when doing this in case you accidentally let the line go etc. then it will still be attached to your safety.
Secure your kite, then walk back to your bar, and pull it back out the distance of you liness allowing you to sort the bar before packing up.
Hope this helps.
That ring under your bar near the chicken loop is a gimmik safety system. It does nothing that letting your bar fully out will do. Think about it before bashing me on this.
I reckon the 08' bar has oh sh!t handles on the middle lines. If it is very windy or sketchy conditions then simply connect your leash to one of those ohsh!t handles.
Safest bet is to undo the little bit of velcro on the ohsh!t before pulling your quick release. You can use the ohsh!t handles on the bar ends to flag but I've found that the kite will loop around and make a mess. Middle lines are best if you have the flagging rings.
Simply have kite at 12 oclock and pull release.
As for the pro method. fly kite to edge of window and have it resting on the sand.
Grap the upper middle line and walk around into the wind as you pull in that upper middle line. That should stop it from hovering up a bit and turning pear shaped. The kite should flip over and sit nicely on the beach facing into the wind.
Helps to give that line a good yank just as the kite flips over to help it point into the wind.
If it looks to be turning pearshaped, quickly pull in a shyte load of that top middle line so the kite flags out. Unhook and walk up that line til you get to the kite.
Thanks for that.
ARSA - are you suggesting unhook and release the chicken loop whilst the kite is sitting on the ground at the side of the window? or is it taken back to 12 first, or at the edge of the window but off the ground?
also, I may be mistaken, but I thought that releasing the safety attached to the centre ring was actually equal to twice the depower of just letting the bar out?
ie, when hooked in, it has two lengths of the same line that loops around, but when you release the chicken loop, it releases one end of the line out, so in effect, the length of the depower range would become twice the distance that the bar fully out (with two connected lines), would ordinarily have.
Mate just get someone to show you, its a heap easier than trying to explain it, and
a lot safer too.
If you don't have flagging rings on your centre line take the bar to a kite shop and have them fitted its only a couple of bucks.
Then to self land:
1 - Pilot the kite to the edge of the window.
2 - Disconnect you leash from the attachment point on the CL and attach it to the top centre line flagging ring.
3 - let go of the bar
4 - unhook or pop the QR
The kite will now be 100% depowered and on the ground.
I ride an 07 waroo, and find the easiest way to self land is to softly dive the kite and grab about a half a metre up the centre lines. (around about the depower strap). The kite will flag to both centre lines and won't roll. You may have to walk around a bit so it is directly downwind of you before walking up the lines.
There's a video on this somewhere on youtube, but I can't find it anymore.
I have a a much higher rate of success self landing my 08 waroos by having the kite at the edge of the window but wing tip about 3 to 4m off the ground (not touching). Then steering it quickly down pulling on the top centre line so it self lands with the top side of the canopy into the wind. it goes best if you get the kite to over fly the window then gently fall the last bit. Even in stronger gusty winds, I prefer to try this before flagging down wind as at crazier times I haven't enjoyed walking up a single line with soggy hands in strong gusty conditions.
If no one else is around and its hectic conditions I try my way whilst ready to do the flag to one line down wind way if it gets dodgy. Not so hard to do as long as you think first and are ready. Just get good at it in normal conditions and have nothing down wind in dodgy conditions.
Another way that I have found on my 07 that works, is to do what the cabrinha kites do. Just hold the kite at twelve then let go of the bar. The kite depowers and dropes to the ground once on the ground walk towards the kite a few steps and it will fall onto the canopy. Grab the two centre strings and walk up to your kite.
