North Kiteboarding Academy / How to Relaunch a 4-Line Kite

Beginner Kiteboarding Lesson: Crash and Relaunch Your Kite

In critical situations, it can be necessary to use the quick release on your kite.

In doing so, your kite will remain connected to your harness via one line, and most of the kite’s power will be lost.

To open the release, let go of the bar and push the quick-release mechanism away from you. In doing so, your kite will fall into the water and waiver in the wind. Once you're ready, you'll need to prepare your gear for relaunch. Hold the safety line towards you and reassemble the quick-release mechanism. Open the quick release by pushing it up and away towards the bar. Then bring the metal loop end of the chicken loop back into position and secure it by sliding down the reverse release pin into position.

Once you're set, let the quick-release snap back down into position. Now, hook the chicken loop back onto your harness and secure it with the chicken stick. Finally, untwist the lines by rotating the bar in the correct direction. Now that you're ready to relaunch, check that you have the bar color-code the right way around. Grab the floater and pull gently, Let the kite move towards the edge of the window. Once the kite is in the right position, grab the bar and pull on the upper outer side to initiate a relaunch. Once the kite has left the water, slowly fly it to twelve o'clock.

Let's repeat the key elements:

1. Let go of the bar and activate the quick release.
2. Pull the safety line towards you.
3. Bring the chicken loop back into position and slide down the reverse release pin.
4. Secure the chicken loop with the chicken stick and relaunch your kite.
5. Fly it slowly to twelve o'clock.

Release your safety.

Your kite will fall to the water.

Reengage your chicken loop. 

Relaunch your kite.