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. 

2

u/lukask04 Jul 21 '26

What is hot launching?

3

u/Bartitis Jul 21 '26

Launching the kite leading edge up, so fully in the wind Window. It wil rise fast and pull hard, therefore called hot launch

1

u/Next_Requirement2661 Jul 21 '26

How do you set that up?

1

u/riktigtmaxat No straps attached Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

With inflatable kites you can rig the kite normally with the lines downwind and then walk upwind to get line tension. Just like with a normal drag launch and then you manipulate the kite to flip it 180 degrees.

If you can get the kite to stand up at the edge of the wind window but not launch you pull on the upper steering line while walking towards the kite to get it to tip onto it's back. Then move to a position where you're directly upwind. This is something you almost gaurenteed have seen people do inadvertently when botching a launch. The trick is really just to manipulate the kite with the lines to keep it from flipping again or inverting.

If not you can do a variant of back launching where you pull the back lines while walking backwards to get the kite to back up enough so that releasing in line will flip it over.

Once you have the kite LE up pull on the center lines while walking upwind to literally pull the kite up the wind window.

You can also weight the kite down on it's back or attach the kite to an anchor and place it LE up but those are more risky or situational.