How to Kite Alone

Author: Matt and Keegan Myers
Published: Oct/Nov 2004 issue of Kiteboarding Magazine, www.kiteboardingmag.com

Kiteboarding is a solo sport.  No matter how you look at it, when you are out on the water, the only person you can completely rely on is yourself.  Whether you are kiting in a pool of fifty other riders, or pioneering some desolate spot miles from civilization, when you hit the water, you must be prepared to take care of yourself in any situation.  Here are some pointers to get you on and off the water independently.

Kiteboarding alone is not recommended.  However, the reality is that many of us have no option but to ride alone.  Before you hit the water for a solo session, make sure you know what you are doing.  First off, NEVER kite alone if:
1. Wind and water temps are below the 50/50 rule.  You can expect to survive in 50 degree water for about 2-5 hours with a wetsuit.
2. The weather is volatile or has the potential for sudden change, either increasing or dying off completely.
3. The wind and wave conditions will take you away from shore if you have trouble.

The key to kiting alone is using common sense.  Know your limits and do your best to understand the weather.  Make sure you are comfortable with your selected riding location, and have a plan of attack ready for any rescue situation.  Here are some tips to keep in mind when kiteboarding alone:
1. Always notify someone of where you are riding and when you expect to return.
2. Avoid sketchy launches and areas that will fill up with beach-goers by the time you come in to land.
3. Ride in an area that has a safe downwind take-out in case you break down.
4. Ride conservatively.  It is not the best time to work on that new move that keeps spanking you.
5. Know your exit strategy at all times.  Pilots always have a plan if something happens and they have to do a forced landing.  A plan helps prevent panic and saves precious time when things go bad.
6. Get off the water if the weather is threatening or the wind picks up beyond your kites range.  Hanging on to a kite too big can make it difficult to self land safely.
7. Only go out as far as you are willing to swim in.  This is a no-brainer, but what doesn’t seem very far out can be a really long swim.
8. Have your self rescue technique wired.  This means having practiced it before, don’t just think you know what to do.  Reading about it and doing it are two different things, so on a light wind day, go out and practice these pointers!

Self Launch
Have you ever showed up at the beach to discover perfect conditions, but not a knowledgeable soul in sight to help you get your kite in the air?  Instead of trying to teach an elderly sea-shell collecting beach-goer how to hold your kite, learn how to set your kite up for a self launch.  In some cases, self launching is one of the safest ways to get your kite in the air.  It requires that you can asses the current conditions, confidently set-up your gear by yourself, and keeps a launcher out of harms way.  There are two safe ways to get your kite launched independently; a beach launch and a drift launch.  If you are kiting at a location with a beach, utilize the beach launch method.  If your riding spot does not offer a wide open space, try using the drift launch technique.

Beach Launch
1. Set your lines up as usual and place your kite at the waters edge.  Hold the kite in the air from the bottom wing tip to find the exact angle you should set your kite on the beach.
2. Fold the bottom wing tip over and pile sand on it to weight the kite down and hold it from flying away.  Make sure to pile sand only on the fold of the wing tip, not on the inside of the kite canopy.  If the wind is strong, you will need to pile a good amount of sand to keep the kite still.  Make sure your lines are not wrapped around a strut or crossed.  Lay them on top of the pile of sand.
3. Hurry back to your bar to secure your leash.  Do not waste time from the point of setting your kite up to attaching your leash.  Your kite is vulnerable to fly away if a gust hits the kite or you did not pile enough sand on the wing tip.
4. Pull in your de-power strap all the way and prepare to launch unhooked.  Slowly walk back away from the kite, gradually filling the kite with wind.  If the top wing tip keeps racing forward toward the ground, your kite is too far downwind and will launch hot.  If the kite keeps falling back and is not filling with wind, the kite is too far upwind.
5. Once you find the right angle to the wind and your top lines are taut, quickly step backwards pulling the bar evenly, and pop the sand off of the bottom wing tip.  Visually assess that your lines are attached properly.
6. Steer your kite up to about 45 degrees, hook in, grab your board (which should be waiting for you at the waters edge) and get in the water.

Drift Launch
1. Set your kite up as usual.  Hook your leash up, grab your bar and walk to your kite.  Do not trip on or tangle your lines.
2. Grab your kite from the center of the leading edge (while holding onto the bar) and walk into the water.
3. Set your kite leading edge down into the water and begin walking backwards as the kite drifts downwind.
4. When the lines are tight and the kite is in the belly of the power zone, flip the kite onto its back as you would for water re-launch.
5. Once the kite is flipped on its back, point your bar at the kite so that your bottom wing tip lines are shortened and your top lines are lengthened.  This will allow the kite to creep to the edge of the window without trying to launch.
6. With the kite at the edge of the window, gently pull back on the top wing tip line and launch the kite.

Self Rescue
Breaking a line or blowing out a leading edge are two common problems you might incur while kiteboarding alone.  Each situation requires you to wind your lines while swimming in the water.  This sounds easier than it actually is.  The key to a successful self rescue is to not panic.  Webster describes panic as “a sudden, unreasoning, hysterical fear, often spreading quickly.”  If your kite is down in frigid cold water with a blown out leading edge and you notice that as you pull your lines in, one of them is wrapped around your feet, do not panic.  If you panic, you will only make the situation worse.  Instead, slow down what you are doing, conserve your energy, think through your rescue plan, and swim upwind of your lines with your arms.  Gradually pull your feet free of the line and continue to wrap it around your bar.  Keep your cool and stay focused.  Remember that even “warm” water is below your average body temperature and will weaken you.

Pro Tip:  When riding alone, stuff an extra leash in the back pouch of your harness.  You can use this leash to attach to your board when wrapping your lines in deep water.

Line Breaks
1. Begin to wrap one line around your bar while you swim upwind to keep free from the other lines in the water.  Wrap the line until your kite is completely de-powered (approximately equal length to the span of your kite), and then continue wrapping all of the lines.
2. Once you reach your kite, secure the lines by hitching the lines around the end of your bar.  This will keep your lines from falling off.
3. Securely grab one wing tip of the kite while you pull along the leading edge, working your way to the other wing tip.  This step can prove to be quite difficult and should be practiced.
4. Hold each end of the wing tips and open your arms up to allow the kite to fill with wind.  Aim the kite towards shore and let the wind do the rest of the work.

Blown Leading Edge
1. Begin to wrap one line around your bar while you swim upwind to keep free from the other lines in the water.  Wrap the line until your kite is completely de-powered (approximately equal length to the span of your kite), and then continue wrapping all of the lines.
2. Once you reach the kite, grab one wing tip and begin to roll the kite around your bar.
3. Roll the kite completely up with the struts fully inflated.  This will be your temporary raft for the swim in.
4. Lie on top of the kite and swim in as you would on a paddle board.

Self Land
So you just finished an epic sunset session only to realize that there is no one around to land your kite for you.  Don’t fear the answer to self landing is here!  Self landings can be done quite easily as long as you understand what you are doing.  Self landing in strong on-shore wind in never recommended.  If possible land your kite in a wind shadow; otherwise make sure you keep your kite away from shore and downwind of any pedestrians on the beach.

Self Land
1. Unhook from your harness loop and steer your kite down towards the water, away from shore.
2. With the bottom wing tip in the water and your kite leash securely fastened, let go of the bar to let the re-ride safety system take over.  In high wind, the kite will lift off the water and drop back down like a flag blowing in the wind.  Ensure that you have plenty of room downwind free of sharp obstacles that could rip your kite or worse yet, hit a person.
3. Keep your kite leash attached and pull in on your leash line all the way to the kite.  Only pull in one line to ensure that your kite does not re-power.
4. Securely grab the kite and place it on the beach.