Does anyone race wearing kite killers? Does anyone feel kites should remain attached to the flyer if one lets go of their kite? Are loose kites accross the race course safe?

Kite Killers: If on releases the handles In an emergency the kite will stall, and stay connected to you.

never used them in my 10 years of buggying. when I let go, the kite loses all tension and falls a few feet forward to the ground in a ball.

do i think we need them? probably in the club / beginner class.

than again, some rules state that you can NOT be connected to your kite.

my wooden nickel thought

I agree, I don't wear them much myself, when entry level kiters ride there buggies, some won't ride at all with out them, I handed my kite off, he landed it, took kS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s off his handles and stuck them on mine. I didn't say anything, but I was like...cool man!

I feel bad for the guy that drops his kite, it slides accross the buggy course, and hits another buggies tire and kite instantly shreds.

In no mans land with no one around, sure, don't use them, but with all the bans going on on kite spots, One spectator getting hit by kite lines can get the whole area shut down. Same goes for kiting responsibly in a crowd, You should always avoid situations where your kite can crash in a busy area or walkway.

If all you have is tight areas, then kite a bit underpowered, use kS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s or captive to avoid any accidents.

The danger of flying handles is greatly increased if you have snatch block and snap shackle attached to the strop. Those stainless yacht fitting weigh lot more than a set of handles. For those using this set up, you need to have a release that keeps the hardware with your harness. Otherwise that block is going packing the same kind of load as a set of nanchucks in first seconds of flight.
S

I see no difference in the race circuit, if the kite falls across the track or lands 20 feet away. I don't use them harnessed in as they don't work anyways, unless you unhook but then you just attach the KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s to the harness out of the way. I only use when at a park where people are upwind, and then it's usually static as I am hooked in when I do any traction.

NPW
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I'm with Pablo...you have personal liability issues and you're responsible for the safety of the people around you. If some spectator gets cut with a line or you put your kite over a powerline you can count on a visit to the courthouse and thats not just your problem it becomes everyones problem.

Keep your kite leashed.

Quote:

Originally posted by GlideGuy you put your kite over a powerline you can count on a visit to the courthouse

Not if if your kite killers are attached, unless the morgue is downstairs.
S

Well now, good thing they're not mandatory then, So we can chose, All I know is that I don't want to be the one to get a local flying spot shut down and I most certainly don't want to head into someone elses local spot and cause greif for them.

I stay tethered, Pulley has to go with the handles no matter how you do it, QR should stay stuck to the harness. I don't let kites loose, if it's sketchy I'll fly 1-2 sizes smaller and be happy to be moving around the park.

To each their own though.

Well, Everyone I have seen buggy so far doesn't use kk. But for me being new I don't fly without them. Call it what you will it makes me feel safer. And any time I have not had them on and had to let go for what ever reason My kite never just fell in a ball and stopped I have had to chase it for days on top of being twice a tangled up. I guess its personal prefference. It has its advantages and dis-advantages.imo.:P going to NBAX this year so I hope to learn many different ways of flying. Bars pulleys, I have not had a chance to see to many different ways to fly so I stay with what feels safe for now.

One thing about flying without killers that I have found is that it forces me to fly out a bad situation and forces me to learn better kite control. I also dislike the fact I can't let my free hand hang low when cruising single handed. My rear axle is dreadfully short and I have driven over my killers as well.
As folks mentioned for the purpose of avoiding trouble I'm starting to use them but I sure don't like them
Funny thing is I've never had any issues with not using them. It is in using them that I have had troubles.
While I'm ranting, I also hate how you must fly out a twist rather than just give the handles a spin on the fly

I got in the habit of using them when I flew static. It is something to have to get use to while in the buggy They are a pain But a security for me. I am glad I am adjusted to wearing them.

I don't use the killers. Remember lines under tension cut. When the kite is tethered to you via kite killers the brake lines will be under various amounts of tension depending on wind speed. A loose kite drifting downwind has very little to no line tension. Hopefully, the kite canopy will get snagged on a tree, bush, log, trash etc. When this happens the lines will be under zero tension. Also, there should be no obstructions/people downwind of you for a reasonable distance.
Here's a picture I have posted a couple times of a cut finger due to line tension.
Later-Scott

Quote:

Originally posted by speleopower lines under tension cut

I am in complete agreement with Scott on this one. After my recent threads on this forum and racekites, and the web sites of Flexifoil and Ozone, I have come to the conclusion that killers are probably more of a danger than they are a safety feature.
S

Quote:

Originally posted by speleopower I don't use the killers. Remember lines under tension cut. When the kite is tethered to you via kite killers the brake lines will be under various amounts of tension depending on wind speed. A loose kite drifting downwind has very little to no line tension.

Honestly a kite deployed on kite killers with enough scope on the brake lines will have very little tension, and not enough to cut. Maybe if if I was going fast in the bug, killed the kite and got the line hung on someone, the movement of the line over them could cut like a saw, but I would kill the bug by then with a skid anyway. The few times I've deployed KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s for real were OBE's and that does a good job of arresting forward motion.

Yes they can be a pain in the butt and contribute to tangles. In my small bug I have gotten them close enough to under the back wheel to make me think twice, but keeping them rigged with the right scope keeps them out of trouble there.
I am in a position often enough to hand a kite to a complete stranger and it is comforting to be able to tell them to just let go if they get nervous.
I am aslo stupidly fortunate to fly at a place where local governement promotes me rather than restricts me, so anything I can do to preserve that by demonstrating what looks to be safe habits is a good thing and worth the trouble.

Nice cut! Thanks Angus. I agree any time I have let go there has not been that much tension on the lines. Killers or no killers to each there own. I use them to make me feel safer And I don't thing wearing them endangers anyone else.

Most likely the lines will not be under tremendous tension and probably wouldn't hurt if caught on clothing. Problem is the lines get snagged on anything. The nightmare situation that comes to mind is dropping the kite on killers and snagging an ear. :o

The cut required microsurgery. My friend got very lucky becuase we had been kitesurfing hours and hours per day for almost a year when that happened. He had massive callouses that saved his finger.

To each their own I guess. As long as you are following basic kite flying rules, it doesn't matter whether you use kite killers or not because noone will be downwind of your kite. :saint:

Oh, as an aside there has been two times while kitesurfing that I've had my kite snatched out of my hands. If I would have had killers it would have been a mess. But I was close enough to shore that the kite landed on land instead of in the water:singing: go me!

I gotta cruise up to Jekyll Island. Can you ride jetskis in the ocean near shore at Jekyll Island?

Scott

Now kite killers in water? No. I would not use them in water. dont know about the jet ski thing.

I always wear 'em .I don't want to lose a $600 kite in the bay or dunes. Wednesday I was ridin' and it was gusty as hell. I OBE'd teh jrek was so hard it flipped the buggy and RIPPED! the handles out of my hands.If I had not had k.k.s on I would not still own my Flexifoil 4.7 rage. I was flying over Chesapeake bay. But I don't wear harness often either,I'm sure that makes a diff.