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PROTECTIVE GEAR
W
KITEBOARDING IS AN EXTREME SPORT AND IT’S ALWAYS BEST TO BE
PREPARED WITH THE CORRECT PROTECTIVE GEAR IN THE CHANCE THAT
YOU FIND YOURSELF IN ANY RISKY OR UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION.
1. Never use your kite without wearing a coastguard approved PFD.
2. Always wear a helmet to protect your head from any collisions with the kiteboard or
any other objects.
3. Wear an appropriate neoprene wetsuit for water and air temperatures.
4. Wear polarized eye protection.
5. Wear protective neoprene footwear.
6. Have an easily accessible hook knife located on your harness.
7. Use sunscreen.
CAUTIONS AND SAFETY
Weather hazards
Do not underestimate the power of the wind. Do not underestimate the power of the water.
Avoid offshore and side offshore wind conditions. Be aware of changing and unpredictable
weather conditions. Be sure wind speed and water conditions are within your ability level. Avoid
gusty, turbulent wind conditions. Do not use this product in a thunder or lightning storm. Be
educated on tides and rip currents. Do not use an oversized kite. Consult your wind range chart
for recommended kite size. Listen to others at the beach. If they recommend not going out or
getting of the water please follow! Not all hazards and risks can be completed. The guidelines
and basic rules for kiteboarding apply with those of common sense and are valid for all sports.
BEAUFORT SCALES (WIND SPEED)
BEAU-
FORT
WIND
KNOTS
NAME
SEA CONDITIONS
LAND CONDITIONS
0
Less than 1
Calm
Sea surface smooth and mirror-like
Calm. Smoke rises vertically.
1
1-3
Light air
Scaly ripples, no foam crests
Smoke drift indicates wind direction,
still wind vanes
2
4-6
Light breeze
Small wavelets, crests glassy, no breaking
Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle.
Wind vanes begin to move.
3
7-10
Gentle breeze
Large wavelets, crests begin to break, scattered
whitecaps
Leaves and small twigs constantly moving,
light flags extended.
4
11-16
Moderate breeze
Small waves 1-4 ft. becoming longer, numerous
whitecaps
Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches
begin to move.
5
17-21
Fresh breeze
Moderate waves 4-8 ft taking longer form,
many whitecaps, some spray
Small trees in leaf begin to sway
6
22-27
Strong breeze
Larger waves 8-13 ft, whitecaps common, more spray
Larger tree branches moving,
whistling in wires
7
28-33
High wind, moder-
ate gale, near gale
Sea heaps up, waves 13-19 ft, white foam streaks off
breakers
Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk
against the wind.
8
34-40
Gale, fresh gale
Moderately high (18-25 ft) waves of greater length, edges
of crests begin to break into spindrift, foam blown in
streaks
Some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on
road. Progress on foot is seriously impeded.
9
41-47
Strong, severe
gale
High waves (23-32 ft), sea begins to roll, dense streaks
of foam, spray may reduce visibility
Whole trees moving, resistance felt
walking against wind
10
48-55
Storm, whole gale
Very high waves (29-41 ft) with overhanging crests, sea
white with densely blown foam, heavy rolling, lowered
visibility
Twigs breaking off trees, generally impedes
progress
11
56-63
Violent storm
Exceptionally high (37-52 ft) waves, foam patches cover
sea,visibility more reduced
Slight structural damage occurs, slate blows
off roofs
12
64+
Hurricane force
Air filled with foam, waves over 45 ft, sea completely
white with driving spray, visibility greatly reduced
Seldom experienced on land, trees broken or
uprooted, “considerable structural damage”