5 Common Mistakes When Launching

1. Your lines are twisted or are caught on something on the ground. Check your bridles and all lines before launching.
2. Launching your kite while too far downwind. If your kite is flapping it is a sign you are standing too far downwind. Walk upwind a bit more.
3. Launching your kite while too far upwind. If you start to far upwind, the kite will push the person that picks up your kite backwards, especially in high winds there can be quite a lot of pressure on the kite and the person can get hurt. Make sure you always start downwind and slowly walk upwind to avoid this.
4. Not enough pressure on the bar while launching. For your kite to react to your launching impulse, you need some pressure on your bar, otherwise your kite will not launch off the ground.
5. Too much pressure on the bar while launching. On the other hand, if you apply to much pressure on the bar (eg. pull the bar in all the way while trying to launch) your kite will backstall and fall into the wind window. Especially in low wind, you need to play a bit with the amount of pressure you apply and release the pressure a bit if you feel your kite starts backstalling.

How to safely launch your kitesurfing kite

Infinity Sport Kitesurfing’s visual guide to safely launching your kite whilst kitesurfing.