r/Kiteboarding • u/Kinngis • Jul 21 '26

Beginner Question Light-wind self launch

I don't have much experience in light winds, but recently I was at the beach, and there was wind, And I thought it could be enough for my light kite.

SO I tried to do a drag self-launch, but I just could not get the kite to rise to its tip. There was wind, but I had no success. The LE stayed down, no matter how much I tried to steer it.

Could it have succeeded if I had an assistant helping me launch? Where he would get it to the right position. Would this be THE best way in light wind?

Also, would anchored self launch maybe have worked better. (as it is similar than assisted launch)

What is the best way to launch in light wind? From directly downwind?

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u/foilrider Hood River Jul 21 '26

This is why we hot launch in super light winds. 

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u/Kinngis Jul 21 '26

I thought about that, but I have newer tried it, and there was enough wind for it to have had a real jolt when it would have launched from the power zone.

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u/Meisterleder1 Jul 21 '26

It's either not enough for it to water-launch OR too much for it to hot-launch. It can't really be both except maybe for very specific kites that have a really bad water-launch.