| LAUNCHING WITH A PARTNER 1. Before launching, re-familiarize yourself with your Quick Release system in the event that you must engage them. Make sure you have them properly set up. 2. Next, thoroughly check your lines, your gear, and your launching and landing sites; if all is okay, you are ready to launch your kite. Be certain your kite is properly inflated; this is imperative to the re-launchability of your kite. 3. Before you launch, organize a clearly defined release signal that you and your partner both understand, 4. Disengage the Override ball, 5. Next, engage the security pin, 6. Have your partner stand with the kite at 100° off of the wind, 7. Your partner should hold the kite in the middle of the leading edge, with the leading edge vertical and pointing into the wind. 8. Your partner should stand behind the kite and not to the side or in front of the kite, 9. Also, your partner SHOULD NOT touch the bridle or flying lines, 10. With the control bar in your hands and at chest height, take a few steps back to take the slack out of the flying lines, 11. Signal your partner to let go of your kite. It is important that your partner lets you steer the kite out of his or her hands, {g> 12. CAUTION: Your partner SHOULD NOT throw the kite into the air. Instruct him/her against doing this BEFORE you launch. {§> When the kite is thrown into the air, it hinders the ability of the kite to launch properly. When thrown, the kite may either launch too abruptly and powerfully or it may not launch at all. It is potentially a very dangerous way to launch. 13. Once your partner lets go of the kite, have him/her move upwind of you and out of your way 14. SLOWLY steer the kite to the edge of the power window. DO NOT make any abrupt motions. The slower you steer the kite, the more in control you will be. 15. With the kite at the edge of the power window and the wind at your back, walk slowly to the water's edge, keeping in constant check with the kite. You should know what the kite is doing at all times. 16. If anything goes wrong with the launch, you should be ready to push the control bar away to depower the kite, 17. CAUTION: the more wind there is during your launch, the faster everything will happen. That is why it is important that you launch the kite slowly. 18. When you are an appropriate distance from any obstacles, you may engage the override ball. You will then need to use force to push the bar past the Override ball to immediately depower your kite, LANDING A KITE TO YOUR PARTNER 1. Prior to launching, make sure your partner has been instructed on how to land your kite properly 2. Also, you should always determine adequate landing spots before you launch your kite, 3. Having done that, make sure that when you are heading toward shore, that your landing location is still un-crowded and un-obstructed. 4. Never land your kite over, on top of, or near others, especially if they are downwind of you. You should have an area clear of people, pets, power lines, trees, and other obstructions. 5. As you approach shore, keep your kite low near the water, at the edge of the power window. 19 |