Launch & land with an assistant

1 Learn

1

Launch at the edge

Your assistant holds the kite at the edge of the window, at 9 or 3 o’clock from you, leading edge into the wind. You walk back until the lines are tight.

The kite should sit quietly in the assistant’s hands. Flapping? It’s past the edge: take a step upwind. Pulling hard? It’s too deep in the window: take a step downwind.

2

Signals

Thumbs up — “ready, launch”. The assistant lets go without throwing the kite.
Pat on your head — “I want to land”.

Never launch until you’ve checked downwind is clear and your assistant knows what to do.

3

Up the edge to 12

After the release, keep the bar calm and let the kite climb along the edge to 12. Steer only to keep it on the edge. A kite steered into the middle during launch shoots through the power zone — that’s how people get dragged up the beach.

4

Landing

Signal, then fly the kite slowly down the edge on the assistant’s side. The assistant catches the middle of the leading edge — never the lines — and you walk toward the kite so the lines go slack.

The landed kite is secured on the sand with its leading edge facing the wind, weighed down so it can’t take off.

2 Try it in the simulator

Complete the missions in order. Each one ends with the same move to try on the beach.

The simulator needs JavaScript. The missions are listed below.

Launch up the edge — Your assistant holds the kite at the edge, at 3 o’clock. Give the thumbs up, then let the kite climb along the edge to 12.

Land on the left edge — From 12, fly the kite slowly down the left edge to 9 o’clock, where your assistant catches it.

3 On the beach

On the beach

Now do it for real

You need: Your instructor, a kite and bar, a clear beach with nobody downwind.

Practise the signals with your instructor: thumbs up to launch, pat on the head to land.
Be the assistant first: hold the kite at the middle of the leading edge, at the edge of the window, and let go cleanly on the thumbs up.
Swap: walk back until the lines are tight. Watch the kite in your assistant’s hands and step upwind or downwind until it sits quietly.
Check downwind, then thumbs up. Let the kite climb the edge to 12.
Pat your head, bring the kite slowly down the edge to your assistant, and walk toward it once it’s caught.

Tick each step after you’ve done it with your instructor.