Hi
I been flying for about three years now and still have a rough time landing the kite and Keeping it down.
I fly alone in this town.. I'll brake it down okay, and Ill reach up on the brake lines about a foot and give it a tug to get it flat..
Problem is when there is a wind above say 15 the damn thing Refills and powers up.. Never time to leave the handle and get to the kite .

If I set it out of the window on the side it just blows and ROLLS all the way down into the window again,but now its knotted..If I kill it and just drop it in the window it wants to power back up..

What do YOU guys do on windy days when YOUR alone ??

Thx
3 years of rough landings... lol

What kind of kite BigSiler? Handles or bar?

SIMPLE !!! Don't ever go home when it's still windy


I've had my best luck dropping it at the edge of the window and then pulling in the at least the length of my kite on the upwind lines allowing the other wingtip to flag out downwind. I wrap the slack on my bar / handles and then secure my bar / handles as best I can. Usually to my ride. I then walk to the kite holding ( but not getting caught in ) those upwind lines. Fold the upwind edge over and toss some weight on it.

I've also just grabbed the brake lines hand over hand and hurried to the kite . Not recommended.

The book usually says to drop it the way you do and the let it blow back against a stationary object but that's not always practical.

You maybe grabbing too much brake after you land it. You want to keep the front half inflated and the trailing edge flat on the ground. with most kites, this happens naturally when you stake the kite by the loops at the bottom of the handles, or lacking such loops, when you put the end of the brake lines and the bottom of the handles around the stake.

The inflated front half of the kite pushes down in the wind, and the back half with the trailing edge forms a seal aganst the ground, keeping air from getting under. If you pull too much brake and try to get the kite completely flat on its back, the trailing edge will lift, air gets under, and you have a flailing monster.

Below is a shot of my Blade parked thusly. It is sitting a bit taller than most of my kites, though. But you can see the TE pressed against the ground.

About the only time I have to land at the edge of the window is when the bridle is gimped/ tangled/ bowtied/ brakes un-evenly rigged or when I am over-powered in strong winds, such as when a squall rolls in. In the case of the latter, I drop it at the edge, let it roll up, wad it in the bag lines and all and run for cover.

YES I agree about everything above. The methods I described are when it's too windy to be safe and you are shutting down . If it is just big wind and an unstable kite on the ground too much break is likely it !!

I should have added that in snarly, gusty winds, especially when of variable direction, any kite will break loose. For thiose days, or for any time I need to keep a kite parked unattended for a period of time, I keep a 2-3 meter length of 5/16" chain with me and toss it across all four lines near the kite.

When I need to unstake the kite, such as working on the lines or winding them to pack up, I lay the chain along the trailing edge, on top of the brake lines. Good way to set up for launch too, as the chain rolls off at take-off.

(5/16" is the diameter of the steel, not the whole link)

Thanks Everyone.
The photo helped,because I would have thought it was sitting to high. I must be pulingl mine to flat and letting the air get under it.. I am on the beach and this time of season winds coming from inland and across the dunes before it gets to me so its gusty and hard to read with it switching all the time... the gust just keep picking it back up.. I'll try today with letting it sit like in the photo you posted...Higher then normal

Thanks All

Another thing you can do is to stake the kite by the leading edge lines and park it upside down. This does not allow the kite to inflate at all and it will sit there all day long without bobbing up and down which could eventually work your lines loose from your stake. The higher aspect ratio kites will also stay ofon the ground better when landed and staked leading edge down.

If we are going to be leaving our kites on the ground for any length of time...or have changed sizes and don't want to pack the other one up right yet, we will simply walk to the kite and stuff most of it into the kite bag. If your bag happens to be really small then just purchase a larger nylon bag from Wall Mart or other mega-store for a couple dollars and stuff your kite into it while it is parked. Leave your lines out and staked, that way when your ready to launch just pop the kite out, walk to your stake and your off.

One thing to keep in mind. The kite material will fade/deteriorate over time when left out in the sun for extended periods. We probably get a lot more sun here in Vegas flying out in the desert than other parts of the world but it is still a concern. We have some pilots here that will stuff the kite inside of an old buggy tire to keep them from self launching. The chain idea from Angus is another great method of keeping the kite on the ground when you need it to be.

Hope this helps.

If you are on a beach and don't have a spike you can hook the handles / bar to your ride and bury it in the sand.

I find that letting the kite flag and then folding the upwind wingtip and covering it with sand settles everything down quick. Then you can go back and deal with the lines without worry.

I put my board (kitesurf or ATB) out and catch the kite on the board at the edge of the window. If all goes well the sail or the bridles get around the board and it holds it steady while either winding lines are walking out to anchor it with sand or sand bags.
I have used this method for many years and have never had a problem. Once in a while I'll miss the board and have to try again.
Scott

That's a GREAT TIP !!!!!

I'm going to try that. I see a small chance of damaging a bridle though ?