Following DHKITE's thread "Lofted by a 54 kmh wind gust while jumping with my hydra 3.5M = Brocken ankle in 2 places" definitely got me thinking. Mother Nature can be full of surprises any of us could find ourselves in a similar situation. So what do you do? Can someone explain REDIRECTION in terms of life saving maneuvers?

relax, stay balanced, keep hands centered, fly it out if there's time ..

otherwise brace for impact and be glad you are wearing pads.

and the roll thing, feet/leg first ..para something tuck and roll it out. it actually works. couple vids around ???

Always try and get the kite back to the zenith for optimal float down while redirecting. It gusty conditions especially high wind scenarios make sure to take the proper safety precations.

I remember launching my FS 17m PsychoII while on a snowboard at a NH ice covered lake Winni saying," yes it's 10 with a gusts to 30mph but I want to see the top end"
The self launch was great and I made one tack but on the way back I spun the bar and got a gust at the same time - up and away I went.
I had enough time to center the kite so it overflew me and went upwind to depower although I have since learned this is the hardest way to land - better to have forward speed by keeping your kite flying.
I also had enough time to think through the landing - I reminded myself, "whatever bones are sticking out after I impact I have to pull the safety or it will be even worse"
I landed hard but straight - knees hitting chest compression- and on the rebound grabbed and pulled my chicken loop release. As I was getting dragged downwind by a non-FDS/FLS FS I checked and everything was in place - by then I had a snow berm between my legs and just sat against it to relax. Took me 30min to wind in that kite and lines and another 30min to walk back to the group.

Sold the kite the next week. Not a single loft since I didn't enjoy:Ange09:

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Originally posted by PHREERIDER relax, stay balanced, keep hands centered, fly it out if there's time .. otherwise brace for impact and be glad you are wearing pads. and the roll thing, feet/leg first ..para something tuck and roll it out. it actually works. couple vids around ???

tuck and role was my thought as I watched the ground coming closer and closer, when the kite powered up again, I only got as far as the tuck and then rag dolled me down the beach 50 yards before I wrapped up the lines around my body. Makes my chest hurt just talking about it.
The problem I have found is that once the GUST ends the kite has a tendency to loose power and fall from the sky. Redirecting isn't always an option.

I remember thinking that My kite was at some point level with me during the Second loft, I knw nothing about Re-direction, Fpl Landing, and Was not on a de-power So any attempt at brake input would have to have been with only one arm on the bar ( kiteloop ) and in a panik Would have likely collapsed the kite, as Did happen I was unable to hold on completely when I Pendulumed from that height ( arm with the safety Release slipped ) I do remember the feeling of the Kites Drag resistance against the fall and it seemed ( up untill the point of kite failure ) that I had slowed the decent somewhat.... was a scary place to be though, And I'm used to pushing my fear envelope on a regular basis.

I will save jumping ( till i Gain much experience ) for something to do Over Water.

Got some old Mtb 8" travel forks around, Maybe I can set some up with ultra slow rebound and make a safer contraption for jumping.. I am thinking a Suspended land board. who knows I got nothing but time now . lol

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Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER relax, stay balanced, keep hands centered, fly it out if there's time .. otherwise brace for impact and be glad you are wearing pads. and the roll thing, feet/leg first ..para something tuck and roll it out. it actually works. couple vids around ??? tuck and role was my thought as I watched the ground coming closer and closer, when the kite powered up again, I only got as far as the tuck and then rag dolled me down the beach 50 yards before I wrapped up the lines around my body. Makes my chest hurt just talking about it. The problem I have found is that once the GUST ends the kite has a tendency to loose power and fall from the sky. Redirecting isn't always an option.

This is why I would hope that I would 1st react with a kiteloop. To keep speed in the kite while I think about the next move. If after the loop , I might hope to ride it out but am sure I would blow it.

Had a major scare launching the 10m psycho II as well. Fortunaely pulled the pin just as my ballast buddy and I were being lifted. So much power the newly installed FDS line severed and the kite flew a long way away. Landing just before the river. I sold my phsycho II as well!

...There's no substitute for being ultra aware of what the wind is doing and choosing not to fly and / or going down a size or two when the wind is bad. I find the longer I fly the more aware I am of when the wind will go mental. Thus far my wind awareness is what has kept me injury-free, managing a big lofting is desperation material.

many of the folks who have gone through a bad lofting, esp. with the smaller kites, usually wish they had chosen not to fly. This is a problem for beginners / intermediates as the wind sense is not so finely honed by experience. Inland one is rolling the dice a bit more, onshores on a beach are much more reliable.

Also kite size is very important. smaller kites (3-5m range) are extremely fast in the window when overpowered and it is really hard to manage the redirects safely in a lofting situation, when on the bigger kites the kite is still moving slow enough so it is possible to manage the redirects with a better degree of control.

All due respect to the folks above in this thread (who are answering your question more directly and maybe assuming my comment as granted / no need to be said...) , but being aware of potentially lethal wind and choosing not to fly is the first step in managing the risk of a lofting.

just my $0.02...

Don't jump on the land with small kites ... like it says in the Flysurfer manual - "You've got a paraglider above you" - but I wouldn't want to be dangling under a small kite, especially not on handles. Of course I can't help myself either :D

Big kites in lighter winds is fun

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Originally posted by Kamikuza Big kites in lighter winds is fun

$100 12m Ace FTW for this cheap-arse dude (me...)

best with lots of room downwind....

but for sheer adrenalin rush nothing like my 3.2 crossfire I ! Yep not smart, but since when did smart = fun?

ifyou took awayy the randim and the unknownand the potential for injury then it wouldnt be fun, as it sits now I know not to rest at zeinith and will not jump over land, I will keep it low and keep having fun doing long bodydrags.

Can anybody reccomend a Windguage?? I am interested in getting one to have a better understanding of the windspeeds ( not that beaufort and windsocks dont tell me these things also )

"I had enough time to center the kite so it overflew me and went upwind to depower although I have since learned this is the hardest way to land - better to have forward speed by keeping your kite flying"---Sorry how do you all do the "Quote" feature on here??

If you get lofted, is there danger in just parking the kite over your head? After I redirect I let it work its way to the zenith and it seems to lower pretty soft.

I am not sure I understand..is there a danger of it overflying the zenith? It seems like if you are not indexed to the ground you would just start to float backwards with the kite as opposed to it shooting past you. Obviously a danger of landing moving backwards, but collapse?

Mind you my highest jump so far is about 5 feet on my 7.7 twister, some clarification?

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Originally posted by Txshooter38 ---Sorry how do you all do the "Quote" feature on here??

click on the thing to the left of the word report in the upper right corner of the person you want to quote.

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Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by Txshooter38 ---Sorry how do you all do the "Quote" feature on here?? click on the thing to the left of the word report in the upper right corner of the person you want to quote.

Sweet!!! Thanks.

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Originally posted by Txshooter38 If you get lofted, is there danger in just parking the kite over your head? After I redirect I let it work its way to the zenith and it seems to lower pretty soft. I am not sure I understand..is there a danger of it overflying the zenith? It seems like if you are not indexed to the ground you would just start to float backwards with the kite as opposed to it shooting past you. Obviously a danger of landing moving backwards, but collapse? Mind you my highest jump so far is about 5 feet on my 7.7 twister, some clarification?

a few different things going on here. Resting with the kite at the zenith in gusty conditions is a no-no. Resting with the kite at the side is safer. NOT safe, but safer.

Bigger kites don't move so fast and are much less likely to overfly the zenith than the smaller ones. You're much more likely to begin floating downwind with the kite as you get lofted. I've not flown the 7.7, but the Twister IIs have the best reputation for stability among the jumping kites, and that stability will tend to make it slow down as it gets to the edge of the wind window in a jumping situation.

The smaller ones can shoot way upwind in a lofting, but at some point they will go so far upwind that the wind will blow more on the upper surface of the kite rather than the lower, then you get dropped.

Btw, I get about 15-20 feet with the good jumps on the best wind days on my blade 6.5 and ace 8, with the ace 5 I'm not so confident and generally put it away once I get over ten feet. I like jumping on my 3.2 and 2.5, but with those I'm nervous and edgy -- makes for a wicked adrenalin rush tho -- and jump no higher than I'm willing to fall, about head-high. With the really big steady winds and the smaller kites, I'm not sending it, I'm doing a little move like from 11:30 to 12:30 right at the top and with a couple quick steps upwind at the right time that gets me up!

Hope all that helps....

Onshore beach winds and soft sand make a massive amount of difference, I doubt I'd be at all comfy getting up high over wet grass or hard-pack dirt in an inland situation.

Big kites will overfly the zenith too - I've gone dangling under my SA and had it collapse and me splash down ... key word : splash down. No ouchie.

3 to 5 meters? You're nuts I used to go diving at the local pool from the 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 meters boards (cheap sky-diving thrills) and jumping like that on land would scare the poop out of me ...!

That helps thanks. I have not been flying the 7.7 in anything above 15 so the wind is a little more steady. The twister does anything but fly fast so I have not run into it trying to overshoot. I will be mindful of it now though.

I'm with you on the 11:30 to 12:30 couple of steps to jump thing. With the twister this is all I have to do alot of the time. I am really happy I got the 7.7. The wind here gets more gusty the harder it blows so I find myself flying in 12 and under regularly.

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Originally posted by Kamikuza Don't jump on the land with small kites ... like it says in the Flysurfer manual - "You've got a paraglider above you" -

As noted, it would seem that once you are in the air you are essentially flying a somewhat inefficient paraglider. Although I am new to kiting sports, my past experience with other sports tell me that when it comes to landing, generally landing into the wind is best ESPECIALLY is you are landing on your feet!
Lets say you are in a 20 mph wind and while "free flying" you and your kite move through the air at 15 mph. If you land into the wind your landing speed (horizontal) is only 5 mph...not bad. If you land downwind your landing speed would be 35 mph....YIKES! Can you say RUN!!!! Good luck. Of course vertical speed is important also, so that would need to be part of the equation.
Also, I still haven't read any good explanation of what "redirecting" is.
BOTTOM LINE: There comes a time when crashing becomes inevitable. In some sports you have a good bit of time to plan your crash. In kiting sports, it would appear that there is little time for planning. Having a plan in place and rehearsed (in your mind...practicing crashes...not so good LOL) would be worthwhile. With that in mind, it would seem t be prudent to have and thread in the "Flying Techniques - Tips & Tricks" section on "How to Crash"

Horizontally I;ve crashed into rocks roots and gnar going 60-80 kmh, Wearing full armour. If I had had even a little more horizontal speed the crash would have skipped me more,m resulting in less damage I believe, it was that I was dropped to Vertically that all the force compiled on my pooor ankle.. and SNAP..

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Originally posted by Leojim Also, I still haven't read any good explanation of what "redirecting" is.

I don't think there is any one single best explanation for redirecting, unless it is that one must keep the kite from overflying the window while one is in the air.

What that action will be be, specifically, varies a lot.

I view redirecting as after the kite gets you off the ground directing the kite over your head in a manner that it lets you down softly. Again exact flight patterns most likely vary.

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Originally posted by Txshooter38 I view redirecting as after the kite gets you off the ground directing the kite over your head in a manner that it lets you down softly. Again exact flight patterns most likely vary.

That makes some sense. Certainly a kite that's off to the side will not provide any lift to reduce ones descent rate.

Yes. And a kite to far off to the side may superman ya too!

Need some paragliders in here to teach us to "fly" our kites down safely from updrafts and gusts. Redirection is simply steering the kite into your intended direction - and why almost all beginning boost tricks include a back hand grab so you can redirect with your front hand and land with some forward speed.

Now > 10m up and you might need to redirect and then back and repeat to step your way down and control your forward movement- make sense?

Advanced? Yeah - throw in the kiteloop - I'll met you there as soon as I can nail them confidently closer to the ground.

On foot or landboard - don't jump so high until you know what to do - stakes or much higher. My newly "improved" ankle (though not titanium) can predict the weather now after a mighty high jump up at Nahant several years ago.

Enjoy...

Hey there, I'm actually writing this from the U.S. Army Airborne school. (jumping out of planes with parachutes) and as for landing, here we do something called a parachute landing fall, or PLF, that works spectacularly. I'm sure you can find tutorials of it on youtube, as friends have told me this is the case. Roughly speaking, you keep your feet and knees together (most important point, they brace each other and lead into the rest of the roll naturally once you've practiced a little), keep knees slightly bent until you hit the ground, then you let your knees collapse/roll under you after shifting them to the side you're landing on so that after the balls of your feet hit, your calves and thigh are next. From there the side of your butt should hit followed by your "pull-up muscle" on your side. For this to work properly one must also keep their chin tucked in tight to the chest so that it isn't whiplashed out and slammed on the ground, how you avoid this with skill is by directing the momentum of the roll/fall/landing along your opposite shoulder after it hits your side, this will shoot the energy up through your legs which you'll let spin around and up naturally. One last note, though this shouldn't be an issue with kites, don't let your elbows break your fall at all, keep them tucked into your chest or in front of your face. When learning, a helmet is highly advisable.

Oh and... yes, it's designed to make you fall. It's safe as all hell done correctly, just not exactly graceful. Now if the landing isn't as bad as you thought it was going to be, just absorb it with feet and knees together, which braces them against each other anyway, and you're ready just in case you were wrong!

That was a lot longer than I had hoped... guess it's really not that simple verbally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgpaOFAwF6U

Personally I only get airtime in onshore breezes. Lumpy wind is not worth playing around in and the cost for getting an unexpected lofting can be high as many have found out. That being said, I have had unexpected loftings and I think there's a lot of value in reacting quickly and instinctively. Last time I was lofted I left the kite at zenith while I adjusted something on the buggy. Stupid thing to do in gusty conditions but as soon as I felt the buggy lift I pulled hard on whichever hand was still on the handles to get the kite out of the top of the window and off to the side. A quick reaction time meant I was only lifted 5 or 6 ft. before the kite got out of a position where it could lift me any further. Of course if you find yourself airborn make sure to keep the kite moving above you as others have mentioned. The last thing you want is the kite overflying the window and collapsing on you when your 15+ ft in the air. Just my 2 cents