Hi All,
Can anyone give advise on easiest, safest & most kite friendly self landing technique for the Switchblade3?
I've just come over from an old Crossbow that I used to do the 'flip' with. The Crossbow had a front line attachment for the leash. The SB only seems to have the oh sh*& handles as flagging lines.
I was happy to do the 'flip' with the safety on the top front line cause when I got it wrong it just rolled back through the window (a little bit of a bugger to untangle, but no drama). I don't think the SB3 flagging to a back line will be as relaxed if the 'flip' goes bad.
I've seen youtube vids of the dive from 3-4m up approach but it just looks a bit vicious on my nice near-new toy.
*** by 'flip' I mean drop down to the edge of the window, grab the top front line & pull it over***
I'm sure you guys are self landing these things so what is the best technique?
Advice appeciated,
Thanks.
I have a 12m SB3 and do the following.
Before I plan to come to shore I move the safety clip to the flagging line which is on your left.
Next I depower and fly kite to window edge, yank on centre lines, if the kite does not go upside down immediately (I also pull on the back line in lighter winds) I release from the chicken loop and kill it to 1 line.
Yea, in all those vids you only see the perfect landings for marketing purposes. The wind in that vid is not very strong, and I do not recommend his method for high winds.
Practice in light winds.
You can also just forget about even trying to fly to window edge and just release to 1 line when in doubt.
The method shown in the previous video (moon guy) seems to be quite straight forward. I also have a SB2 and have wanted to see a straight forward approach to landing these suckers. Thanks
It works well on my REV too. With any Hybrid or Bow it will work. When you pull in your centre lines the kite will flip on its back and sit there ready for you to walk towards it along the centre lines.
The new Cabrinha IDS system is just a system that automates this for you but you don't need the IDS to achieve this result.
Mate use a sandbag or some other solid object with a carabiner attached, and clip your chicken loop to it while kite is at the edge of the window over either sand or water, over-ride stopper popped off. Then release the bar, unclip your safety & walk up to kite and restrain it.
have a look through the past threads, we have discussed this a few times.
IMHO, this is the only safe way to self land and launch the SB3 in "strong winds" (25+ knots).....all the dive it down methods rely on the kite staying still on the sand.....I think this is questionable once the wind gets near 30 knots, especially if the sand is smooth.
Just finished 3 weeks at Lizard in winds ranging from 18knots (min) to 35knots (max we rode in) on the SB3 8m and this was the technique we were using every day. No problems. In 35kn the kite is leaping around a bit and I wouldn't like to try in much stronger than that.
Andy
I agree with you on the self launching in strong winds - it can get a bit sketchy. With this method for self landing, the kite actually goes directly downwind of you on its back exactly as if you had a 5th line. I've done it in about 28kts on a SB2 and it felt really smooth and safe. There was not much pull on the centre lines at all and the kite stayed safely on the ground. Its completely different to the other dive down methods at the edge of the window.
Buy one of these http://www.rapidanchor.com/wombat/ and screw it into the ground (takes all of about 60 seconds max) and attach a rope with a carabiner to it so you have more flexibility in moving around. It holds 400kg's, you can self land in confidence without worrying about the sandbag moving. If a gust is strong enough to snap the 400kg breaking point, then you probably don't want to be holding the lines or still attached to the kite because thats one big &^$# gust.
As a bonus, its also Aussie designed and made so you can feel patriotic about your purchase.(in WA too)
The real solution to landing a bow or hybrid kite is to buy and only use a North Rebel!!
If you rely on sandbags and other devices and don't bother with learning other techniques, are you not limiting yourself.
Are you going to carry one of those devices on your back when you do a down winder?
What about when you are travelling around? Do you then have to carry this extra bit of metal in your board bag?
Select to expand quote
And pray tell us how this gets left in the sand to rust? You screw it in before you ride and you unscrew it when you leave. At $70 its hardly something you're just going to leave behind to rust.
Do you leave a bloody steel auger sticking out of the sand whilst you are on the water for hours? Sounds pretty irresponsible to me [}:)]
General Dud
be nice to people & make some friends 
0r be nice & avertise for some friends 
Guarantee someone will always be up for it at your local
cheerz
SharkBait attached to hook & line 
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the advice.
I'm having trouble viewing the Video (maybe I should be doing work instead!!!)
But can understand the advice given - thks Sunseeker.
I will try this next time. Basically as you say looks same as the IDS system.
In response to the anchor & shackle idea - I've tried & don't like this much. It seems pretty safe & surefire, but a bit cumbersome.
Thanks all,
CJ
Hey CJ,
I carry a sand steak with me that I bought at big W for $5. Its 50cm long and made of black plastic with an open loop on one side at the top and a closed one on the other so you can hook a carabina and line type arrangement to it and/ or put your chicken loop right over it safely . It can be hard pushing it into the sand so I also carry a small wooden block about the size of my hand to act as a hammer. I have used it without problems in 25 knots. The steak is fairly light, will not damage your gear, is cheap enough to loose, fairly smooth if someone steps on it in the sand and still does the job. Obviously its not as secure as the 'spike from hell' that the other guys are lookin at but it works for me!
If you are worried about it pulling out on a big day use 2 - one for the chicken loop and a second 'safety' for the flagging line via the carabina and extention line if the first one fails.
Jim
I use the wombat in Gero - 12m kite only had it pull out on me once when only one stake was in so always screw down 2 now, on angles to each other and connect them up.
I also bought a little flag (pirate flag) from the 2 buck shop and taped it to the top so it is easy to spot and not walk on.
seems to do the trick.
Get a realy nice girlfriend who will land and launch you cause you told her it was realy realy dangerous by yourself and you might not be able to make it to dinner with the parents if you get hurt!!!Works well 
I am using the wombat, I was at sep point had it right up against the dune (was a bit soft) but on the same angle as the dune so I guess Kite could pull it... had to move it towards dune as cars come through and there was random mass weed
It was wound down till only the flag was poking out and the d-shackle. (top inch+ 1/2)
There was a fair bit of weed at sep point which as the kite was sitting on the window bounced up then caught the wind snagged one of the lines on the weed as I was walking towards it to flip it and it . I had my hand on one line which pulled through nearly slicing hand (just string burns)
So my lesson flat compacted ground at 90deg to kite pull, flags save stubbed toes, and tyres! but don't stop people coming up to inspect it and kick it to see what it is - the flag draws attention both ways - I leave all my gear surrounding it but curious buggars still want to toe poke it!
