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SAFETY
Rule n° 3: Choose your practice spot
Observe local laws and regulations regarding kitesurf and the usage area.
Choose your spot according to your level:
The choice of a good spot is a prerogative for a safe learning. The best spot is not neces-
sarily the spot where you find the most kites. If you just started or if you do not control your
kite properly, the best spot is often the least crowded one. The water and wind conditions
also vary, advanced kitesurfers often look for strong wind and good waves where beginners
should be looking for calm waters and softer winds. When first starting out it is recommend-
ed to look for a place with fairly shallow waters.
Choose an obstacle free area:
Check that the space on your sides and downwind from you is free of obstacle: no houses,
no trees, no cars or jetties. Under no circumstances should you be riding near electrical
posts and wires, or near an airfield or even near a harbor.
Wind direction:
Never ride in strong offshore wind. The wind can die at any moment or a line can break. In
offshore wind it is harder to swim back to shore, the wind and the current pushing away
from the beach.
It is not recommended to ride when the wind is on-shore especially for beginners as the
wind pushes directly onto the beach. This will make your learning harder: you will not be
able to do good runs and go up wind, and you will end up on the sand very quickly. This will
also be more risky as any gust could send you onto the sand and your kite may fall violently
onto the sand.
Therefore always ride while the wind is side or side-on, this will let you go downwind while
keeping a safe position in case of an emergency.
The area down the wind:
Be cautious and check that there are no obstacles going down wind. You should always
consider room for error. Keep in mind that the risk is to go down wind, beginner or not.
There is always a risk of breaking a line, losing your board, or breaking your harness…
therefore the beach down the wind should always be accessible. Think that you may have
to walk back alongside the beach (check that there are no rocks, cliffs, fences, or jetties
blocking your way).
If you are just starting out or if you cannot entirely control your kite, be careful as to where
you stand on the spot: if the spot is big enough, it is better to stand upwind from other kites
to avoid crossing your lines with theirs. It is less tricky for you and them, this will allow you
to concentrate on your flying and less on others.
Rule n° 4: Check the weather conditions
Check with the local weather forecast, (radio, web, harbor crew).
How strong are the winds and from which direction? You must know how the speed of the
wind and the direction are going to evolve during the day.
You should not ride during stormy weather, the kite may attract lightning!
Also check on the tides schedule and the areas for rip currents.
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Rule n° 5: Respect and help out others
Put away your material
Be careful not to unwind your lines on top of others’. The same applies when you put
down your kite, be careful not to do it on top of someone else’s lines. This can become
hazardous if he or she re-launches his or her kite without noticing your lines. If you leave
your kite on the beach, to get some rest or just waiting for better conditions, think of rolling
up your lines on your bar to clear up the spot.. Disconnect the lines from the kite if you are
going to leave the kite on the beach unattended.
Avoid the kite at the zenith
Avoid if possible staying with the kite at the zenith while you are still on the ground, better
to take it down in order to get some rest. This could be hazardous for you and the others:
you are not safe from a sudden lack of wind or a strong gust that could pull you away. On
the ground or the beach, falls are harder and they hurt.
Your kite at the zenith can also disturb the others from landing and launching their kites.
Help out others
Always keep an eye on your surroundings, and pay attention to others. Do not hesitate to
help out others launching and landing their kites, or going after a struggling kitesurfer.
Respect the priority on the water
When two kitesurfers are passing each other, the one closer to the wind origin should
raise his kite and the kite surfer under the wind should lower his kite to avoid a tangling of
the lines.
When two kitesurfers are facing each other, the kite surfer riding with the wind coming
from starboard (right hand forward) according to the path followed has the priority over the
kite surfer who’s wind comes from port side (left hand forward). The kitesurfer riding star-
board should maintain his or her trajectory and the one riding port side should move fur-
ther down the wind in order not to cross their paths.
Before any jumps or direction changes, make sure there is enough room and that you are
not going to cross anyone’s path.
Respect bystanders.
Inform the spectators of the power of the kite and of the potential risk by staying downwind
from a kite surfer.
Do not lend your equipment to a none kite surfer.
Rule n° 6: Learn to use your safety systems
Do not fly your kite without a proper safety system allowing you to instantly kill the power
of the kite and without a safety leash connecting you to the kite once you have killed the
power, this leash should also be releasable in case of an emergency. Frequently check
the wear and tear of your safety systems.
Do not wait for trouble to learn how to operate your safety systems. Chose a wide open
area to practice your release of the kite.
SAFETY
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