First Solo Snowkiting

collinwood · Post by **collinwood** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:38 pm

I am headed out for my first solo run on a new kite. I have been out a couple times on a similar kite, but with two people on the setup. First, where do I get ice screws? I am picturing myself just weighing the kite down with my board while pumping and doing lines. Then throwing in an ice screw to secure the bar, while I take the board off of the kite...

Any other suggestions for setting it up?

Thanks!

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:45 pm

Ice screws - REI, Midwest Mountaineering

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:09 pm

What type of kite do you own? Does it have a 5th line (to the Leading Edge or Trailing Edge?) or does it have reverse launch capabilities? I'll do my best to provide a step by step procedure for you, depending upon the kite.

If you have an inflatable I don't know if it would be a good idea to secure the bar with an ice screw. Secure the kite not the bar.

collinwood · Post by **collinwood** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:45 am

Thanks guys.

It is a 5 line 13m Slingshot Diesel with ATL.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:12 am

Question, why do you have a 5 line system on a Deisel with ATL? An easy way to self launch one of these on the snow is to set the kite's nose into the wind so the wind holds it down, throw some snow on the front if you need to to get it to stay securly, then run your lines , double check to make sure that you connect the right way, outside lines to the trailing edge and center lines to the forward edge. When you are ready to launch meaning you have your harness on correctly, snowboard boots on board ready to go, walk out to the bar, pick up the bar check again to make sure you have the lines connected correctly, connect safety leash, connect to the harness, now with very light pressure hold the lines off the snow if you can and walk the lines around the kite, meaning walking the lines out to a 90 degree angle tothe kite, keep walking now with more tension on the lines on the kite, the kite will start to slide around and the wind is going to catch the inside of the kite and it's going to slide down wind of you. Now the kite should be straight down wind of you, when you are ready to launch use the ATL whichever way you want to launch the
kite, pull on the outside left to roll it and launch it to the left same with the right side and if you want to reverse launch it pull both outside lines together and it will back up in the air, kite in air get into your board and off you go, real easy, although not recommended to do this self launch stuff in ANY high wind conditions, bodily injury or even death may occur.

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:39 am

nice setup. ATL for relaunch and 5th line for trimming and as a safety.

Here's what I would do. I'm sure there are quite a few options.

Take kite out of bag.
Grab the center of the Leading Edge and with your back to the wind, flick the kite downwind so that the wingtips unroll, underside of the kite up.
Attach your pumpleash to the kite.
Pump up the kite. Don't worry as long as your feet are on the pump the kite isn't going anywhere.
Grab the kite and turn it over, LE on the snow, wingtips downwind.
Place a weight on the canopy just behind the leading edge. I use a $10 backpack I bought from target filled with cat litter (easy to carry out onto the ice). Anything with some weight will work, just be sure it does not have anything sharp that could hurt/tear your canopy.
Lay out and attach your lines, downwind or across the wind.
Put on your harness etc, get ready to go.
If you're on skis put your skis on.
Then grab the bar and put a slight tension in the lines and work your way in a big arch upwind of the kite. This will rotate the kite around till the underside of the kite grabs the wind. As soon as it does that it will push the weight off the top of the canopy and you can use your ATLs to roll or reverse launch your kite just as you would if it went down on the snow or water.
If you're on a snowboard you could walk out the big arch, then pull in the 5th line to reduce the pull, while you put on your board.

When you want to take a break, let go of the bar, the 5th line engages, and the kite will fall from the sky. Tie off the fifth line to your weight or an icescrew or your ski in the snow and walk to the kite. Turn it over and put snow or your weight on it.

Sounds like you have a great setup. hope this helps

enjoy.

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:45 am

I can't wait to get out in the fluffy stuff this year!!! Hopefully this weekend I will be able to get out, I have surgury on my throat today and recovery should be quick minus any infections or anything else. It's been awhile since I have gotten out in some deep snow!!

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:46 am

Opps,
I started my post, got my daughter on the bus, then finished it, in that time Scott had posted a good description. Good job Scott. Funny how similar the posts are. Great minds think alike eh Scott?

If you haven't already Scott you might try and use your 5 line Machine bar with your 15m Deisel. It will give you a cleaner safety, and the ability to trim your kite like the Machine (better upwind, more high end, etc). Not needed obviously for relaunch though as you pointed out.

ride on.

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:51 am

I'll give it a try, I have a problem with my Machine 5th line right now, it seems to short now after the upgrade, I'll just add a few pigtails to the line but the problem is the set screw that holds the cowl by the chicken loop, it dosen't hold and gets pulled up to the bar all the time? Even if I lengthen the fifth line it still creates anough pressure to pull that up to the bar because the set screw does not hold, so I went to the hardware store to get a stop for it, I have to put it on yet to see if it works, it should though, I'll show you what I mean the next time I see you if I rememeber.

collinwood · Post by **collinwood** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:26 pm

Thanks guys! I can't wait to get out on the snow. I will have some people periodically watching from shore in case anything gets out-of-control, but this seems straightforward enough.