SCUD... DON'T RUN and definately PRACTICE DUMPING THE KITE and it is imperative to learn to LAUNCH FROM THE EDGE of the window. I Learned a valuable lesson the hard way. I'm only 5 weeks into this obssesion and already visted the ER, and Bone specialist and awaiting final diognoses of possible surgery for a broken heel. Started with a two line 3m trainer and can honestly say felt I was on my way to a awsome new hobby. Picked up a Beamer 3m four line and advanced through flying it with amazing results. Now since I started with the trainer and beamer I have flown both literally every day and sometimes twice a day. I have read tons of info on this site and tutorials on flying on... Coastal Wind Sports and many more. At some point I've read about practiceing killing the kite and launching from the edge. But with the small kites and light winds I'd been flying in I did this only a few times and figured this is boreing and didn't really take it as serious as I should have. My ultimate goal is kite buggying and also picked up an old Land Lizard. So due to my normal low wind conditions in my area the next thing I needed was a larger kite. I picked up a used PL Viper 5m that was as new as if you bought in new, from a member on this site. Very excited to fly it I took both the Beamer and the Viper out last monday evening after work. WSW wind and 8 to 10, wide open school play ground, and away we go. Put the beamer up first to kinda sample the winds and everthing was great. Was so excited about the Viper I just landed the Beamer and parked/staked it. Didn't want to burn daylight packing it up right then. Moved about 30 yrds. south and rolled out the Viper (first mistake). Staked the handles walked the lines and launched dead down wind (second mistake) the pull was like a train, being overwhelmed by the power I begain running to keep up with the kite, became to much and pulled it left instead of taking it to the zenith or killing it.(final mistake) Now I'm about to cross the Beamer lines so I jump them and come down hard on my right heel first. Heard it break, went to the ground and finally killed the kite. The rest is history and I won't be flying for awhile. So Newbies please take note. Clear flying area, Learn to launch from the edge even with small kites, and practice killing the kite instead of yourself. Or you'll be sitting the sidelines like I am.

Ouch! Heal fast.

No pun intended

Ouch. Hope you heal quickly. Easy to do though. The other weekend I put my 4m XT up in 15-20 knots and thought, nah - with the bar out I can downwind launch it.... and promptly did the running forward like a luny trick! Next time I side launched it - MUCH better idea!

You can get away with a lot in sand where you just smoothly scud through the sand when overpowered. But grass is not that consistent and can put tremendous forces on your ankles.

I also noticed it's hard to steer when running forward at full tilt

Hunter, that's bad news but please don't be discouraged. You got off easy (relatively speaking), could have been worse. I am sure you now have a healthy respect for what we are doing. hopefully this will be the worst of your kiting related injuries... :roll:

Sorry to hear that. It sounds like you have been going about things right in general. You don't deserve it.
Don't let it stop you from enjoying a great sport.

Thanks for the cautionary note, I'll take heed... i suppose if you have to break something in the learning process it's best a foot and not a pelvis or back or something...small blessings i know, hope you get flying soon...

tl;dr past the first sentence

Yes, learning to scud confidently will save you a lot of stress, pain and embarrassment

In my down time I'm going to sit down and create a pre flight check list, breaking in down into varying wind conditions and seriously use it. I hope my experience will not be taken lightly by all it this obsession.

Sorry to hear about the accident and glad it was not worse. I am new to this too and am appreciating more and more this kite forum and community. Lots of good guys with great advice... just wish I was closer to some of you all so I didn't have to kite alone so much... like I said in another spot lots of water guys around here but no land traction peeps around.

Dave

i wrecked my heel once (HOOOJ HOOJ jump... minus an effective re-direct ) they take forever to heal... i'm pretty sure i didnt break it, but it turned a lovely shade of purple for a few months!

Practice killing those bad boys, i dont know how many times that has saved my a$$!!

Get better soon!

Quote:

Originally posted by mukluk ...i suppose if you have to break something in the learning process it's best a foot and not a pelvis or back or something...

I would say you don't have to break something.... You just have to have respect for the wind, if you don't she'll spank, possibly brutally!

@ hunter... We're taking you seriously, just that we've all been spanked... It's a bit like an ongoing joke, but even with skills the spanking is always waiting! and btw, the spankings get worse when the kites get bigger!

You've got the respect now, I just hope there's no permanent disability for you. Best of luck healing up!