SAFETY
FIRST – SAFETY FIRST – SAFETY FIRST
Once you have completed your lessons and you are up on the board you have only accomplished the easiest part. Practice is very important in this sport and you need it to become experienced. Prudence is the key to becoming both a safe and advanced rider.
Things
to remember when you are “unleashed” with
your own gear:
• Remember that during the course you were being assisted and supervised in a secure surrounding where you were protected by the instructor’s experience. You now have to make your own decisions.
• By going on your own or by yourself, you will be facing situations that you never encountered before and must know exactly what to do and be able to react quickly.
The lack of experience in these situations can turn your Kite Day into a “kitemare”…
n Be prudent. If you are unsure of the conditions when you get to the launch, don’t go. If you see more advanced riders waiting it out, don’t go. If you do not have the right kite size for very windy or gusty days, don’t go.
n Be realistic about your ability and choose a day to practice when conditions more suit your skill level. The first step to becoming a good rider is knowing your limits.
A
MENTAL CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU GO:
•
Kite choice: Make sure to use a kite that
suits the wind conditions. It is better
to be underpowered and in control. Watch
what more experienced riders use and use a smaller size kite. Do not go if you do not have the right size kite.
•
Lines: Make sure your lines are set up properly and clear. Undo knots and tangles, double-check attachments
and make sure your lines are not crossed.
• Launching Area: Pay attention to the wind and launching area.
Watch the direction in which experienced riders launch their kites.
Spend some time before launching and feel the wind, pay attention to periods
of gust, direction, wind-speeds, and the water conditions. Look around for bystanders, other kitesurfers, rocks and shallow
conditions. Scan the area, get to be familiar
with it. Look for potential danger such
as rocks or other obstructions. Scan the
water for shallow areas, jetties, rocks, buoys or markers. Know the tides and how the area changes with
the tide.
The
following Table summarizes the chronological steps to prevent you from putting
yourself into critical situations. Sometimes things get out of hand, despite our best efforts. Should this happen, you need to remain calm
and have a way out: (details in “EMERGENCY EXIT” in table below):
1.
KILL THE POWER OF THE KITE
2.
NEUTRALIZE THE KITE
3.
SELF RESCUE
KITEBOARDER
SAFETY PLAN | |
| PREFLIGHT
GENERAL
CHECK UP · Anticipation · Prudence · Self-judgment | q Wind conditions : Strength ? Direction/beach, consistent, Squalls, Clouds, Forecast q Launching area: Where does the wind blow? Local regulations, Obstacles, Current, Crowd q Equipment: Size? compare to others, Set up lines , double check control bar, no bladder Leaks, Quick release and kite Leash equipped. q Gear: Harness, Impact/flotation vest , Helmet, kite knife, Wet suit q Personal limits: Never Alone = Notify others. Not overconfident, Body prepared (Stretching, Rest , drink, food) |
| RIDING
CONTROL
· Level · Respect · Safe | q Kite
and board control: Stay Upwind, Handle overpower situation, Retrieve board q Rights-of-Way: Crossing, Tacking, Jumping, Assist each other q Respect limits: Designated area, respect bystanders, swimmers q Safety ready: quick release and leash on, Emergency Exits , Rescue and Self-Rescue Ready |
| EMERGENCY
EXIT = FACE ANY SITUATION · DEPOWER KITE · RETRIEVE KITE · SELF-RESCUE | q KILL POWER OF THE KITE: -Activate kite Leash or Quick-Release system -Use your kite knife if the leash or line is tangled -If by yourself: kite low along neutral zone and de-power above water q RETRIEVE AND NEUTRALIZE KITE: -Climb ONE line towards kite (Do not grab the bar! Do not wrap line around your finger!) -Swim or walk in arc away form other lines (tangles!) -Grab the leading edge first -Wind-up line, hook kite leash to board q SELF
RESCUE -Grab kite tips and body-drag (downwind, side, upwind) -If Main Bladder Deflated: Close valve, roll kite, wrap w/harness, then SWIM on top like surfers -If offshore: stay with kite = float and visible…and pray! |
• Remember that you will be held responsible for any incidents that may occur that result in death or injury.
• 90% of incidents HAPPEN ON THE SHORE DURING LAUNCHES AND LANDINGS
• Do not let non-kiters handle the kite or “help” you with the gear. This is a common mistake that rarely ends well.
By
being safe you : SAVE YOURSELF
SAVE OTHERS
SAVE
THE SPORT
EXAMPLES OF CRITICAL SITUATIONS (That require an Emergency Exit)!
q Messed up Launches or Landings! The worst = Maximum Danger for everybody.
q Over-powered with immediate downwind obstacles, the shore, or people.
q Caught in a bad squall = wind picks up to 35 knots …Urgent!
q Kite lines tangled after water-relaunch = kite spinning full powered
q The kite doesn’t re-launch from water= Drifting to shore, or to people
q Kite collapses when on the beach or close to obstacles = Don’t wait for the Kite to re-power up in full window two meters above the ground, let go!
q Missed jump with a fast uncontrolled landing toward shore (or any obstacles at that point
q
You cross lines with someone (regardless of
who had the right of way). Very BAD= both kites are spinning full powered and
leash are not working (tangled!)