How to self land your kite

September 06, 2003

{20 comments}

Almost everyone knows how to self launch their kite, but how many people can self land their kite? It's actually pretty easy and it's an essential skill that every kiteboarder must have.

To self land your kite, follow these simple steps (and download the video clip) :

1) Hold the kite at about 45 degrees, as you would normally when someone is about to catch your kite.

2) Unhook.

3) Grab hold of your leash line. Make sure that your leash is attached to the top of your kite. If not, you'll have to land your kite in the opposite direction. This is essential to landing your kite successfully.

4) Dive the kite towards the ground., and then let go of the bar, while holding on to your leash.

5) Let go of the bar, but don't let go of the leash.

6) With a little bit of practice your kite should land perfectly everytime.

Immediately run towards your kite, and secure it properly. (Do not run over your lines.)

Download the video clip to see how to self land your kite. (Clips size : 600 kb; requires DIVX player / codec.)


20 Comments
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1 wiskey 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

I think you have to run very, very fast to be able to catch you kite in windy situations.
But works for me in 70 % of the cases.

2 Forrest Gump 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

I once let go of my 5.5 in 30 knots of wind and ran for 3 km's before my kite got stuck behind a dune. If it wasnt for that there would have been no way to catch the kite.

But that is why we have something like safety leashes - if you let go of your kite hold onto your safety leash!

3 Laird 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

i disagree with the concept of landing your kite, you should kitesurf until the kite is so tired it crashes itself.

4 Ollie 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Landing your kite in the trees is a much more advanced and entertaining approach - especially if its not your kite.

5 Houston 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Rob: Turn your sound on :-)
It should be at a frontline, otherwise you will have a problem landing this way..

6 FlyMyAssOff 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

If the wind is that strong, wouldn't it be better to keep your safety attached???

7 Roderick 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

can anyone give me some tips to land my kite perfectly, coz I got dragged on the ground last time.

8 Rob 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Does it matter if the leash line is on the front or rear line? Looks like it's on the front line in the video.

9 J. Faragher 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Also, make sure you depower your kite before attempting this, you can still get quit a pull even from about 15m above the, ground which is when I start my self landing. Depending on your leash setup you can also give your safety leash a good tug which will bring your LE into the wind more. Unless you have a Cab with new RECON system I don't know of any other way of self landing solo on land.

10 Dimitri 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

This tecnique of self landing your kite works really well without damaging you kite at all, but as Justin says depower your kite completely, because as you unhook your chicken loop will move right up against your bar powering the kite up. If anyone would like anymore info on this tecnique or a demo contact me at Cape sports centre.

11 Elliott 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

wouldn't diving the kite into the ground damage it?

12 Huascar 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

Why not simply landing it in the soft-zone with the "stairs" method (a little going down a little recover not to crash it).... is there something better in this method? or something wrong in the "stairs" method?

13 Eduardo 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

I Seen it on action and works perfect, if you kite without assistance.

14 Swanie 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

I launch and land my kite by myself 100% of the time....this method is good but the problem that I have is twisted lines...however I use this method in over powered conditions and worry about the lines when the kite is secure.
In normal or underpowered conditions I fly my kite close to the beach (hooked in), then give a sudden pull on the bar to drive the kite into the beach. I grab front line at the point that the bladder make contact with the sand and pull the kite towards me so that the kite twist into the "normal left on the beach" position. Then I drop the bar, unhook the safety and run to the kite. secure the kite and lay my lines out behind (downwind side) of the kite.
This might seem a crude method for guys who are used to having people arround, but I havent had any damage in all the time doing it.

15 Carlo 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

I find that this technique works really well. It is really meant as a backup system - when there is no one to catch your kite, and not as a means to land your kite after every session. It sure does a lot better job than just letting go and watching your kite go in a death spiral.

I find it also works really well if you walk towards your kite as soon as you unhooked. This takes even more tension off the lines and slows down the falling speed of the kite - so much that the kite just glides down to a soft landing.

16 joop 9/25/2005 8:32:06 AM

but how does this worh with a 12 meters kite in 25 knots?

17 Niples 10/16/2006 6:53:12 AM

Ok... What if the kite turns back the other way and continues to fly? Are you completely screwed or just a little bit?

18 Niples 10/16/2006 6:53:13 AM

Ok... What if the kite turns back the other way and continues to fly? Are you completely screwed or just a little bit?

19 Jeroen 6/13/2007 9:31:38 AM

You can also wind your safety or leash to a tree or something, let go and run towards your kite...

20 Prof. 11/2/2008 1:44:43 AM

My method is simple. I bring the kite to the beach on its ear. I then attach a shock cord from my harness to the front line de-power. I then take off my harness and attach it to a tree, pole or fence etc. I then stroll liesurly to my kite which is happily waiting for me. I use a waiste harness and do not know if the procedure will work as easily with a seat harness. Prof.

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