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Tow-up, the technique of towing a kitesurfer aloft before gliding off, has reached a milestone with Jake Scrace's successful attempt. The British kitesurfer climbed to a height of 1,587 feet (484 meters) above the natural scenery of the Needles. This record, almost twice as high as the previous one (277 meters), raises a number of technical questions for kiteboarding professionals.
A large-scale technical organization
The project mobilized a team of thirty people, including water safety personnel, pilots, aerial cameramen, divers and technicians in charge of the measuring devices. To ensure the validity of the record with Guinness World Records, each stage was documented using drones, GPS, on-board altimeters and synchronized recordings between take-off and landing. At the end of the operation, the maximum height was confirmed at 484 meters.
Tow-up by paramotor: balancing traction torque
Jake Scrace was towed aloft by a paramotor piloted by Chey Anich. Paramotor tow-ups present a particular dynamic: the ascent speed must be sufficient to maintain tension in the lines, without exceeding the maximum stresses borne by the kiteboarder's equipment and body. Traction angle, engine power, load distribution and centering are critical parameters.
Free flight and return to sea: a complex aerological zone
Once altitude was reached, Scrace voluntarily released the traction. The glide then continued all the way to the water. The Needles area, exposed to thermal breezes and westerly gusts, presents marked aerological constraints. The descent was planned with several rescue scenarios in mind. Divers were positioned at sea to intervene in case of difficulty.
Choice of materials and mechanical tolerances
The choice of kite, lines and harness was central to the planning. The materials used had to combine low weight, resistance to elongation and high tolerance to dynamic traction. Line lengths, release equipment and redundant safety systems were specifically validated prior to the trial.
A record-breaking year for aerial sports
This feat is no mere aerobatics act. It opens up new perspectives on the use of tow-ups in kitesurfing as a sporting practice, provided that the technical and regulatory requirements are met. It's also a life-size test of the ability of modern kites to fly at high altitudes in free flight, in acrobatic or exploratory contexts.
In short, this performance invites us to think differently about the boundaries of kitesurfing, by shifting our reference points from the horizontal axis to a hitherto little-exploited vertical exploration.
