Kiteboarding Safety

Simple Kiteboarding Safety Tips:
Always launch your kite away from land...and get in the water....we’ve seen too many accidents resulting from people hanging out too long on the beach with their kite in air. Water is much softer than pavement, trees, and rocks.

Know Your Swimming Capabilities and the Weather:
Only kiteboard from shore as far as you can swim.
Be aware of the wind direction and forecast. Never go kiteboarding with an offshore wind.

Kiteboard with others:
this helps in more ways than one....from launching safer to watching out for each others kiteboarding safety on the water.

Take Care with Your Lines:
Lines 1: Keep clear of lines....in almost all circumstances this is beneficial. For yourself and bystanders. Most observers on the beach think “oh look a big kite”.... “isn’t it beautiful” .....yes indeed and it also has a lot ofpower and potential danger. The lines can be razor sharp when taught. Keep clear of bystanders when launching kiteboarding in general.

Lines 2: Check and double check your line set up before launching. Too many accidents happen from a simple L to R shift. The wind calls but checking lines properly can save you time in the long run as well as risk.

Carry a line Knife:
A less intuitive safety tip. Keep a knife in your harness pocket...you think you wouldn’t have time to use it, but we’ve heard many stories of quite the opposite. For example getting a leg-line tangle in the water and drifting slowly with the kite....then the knife comes in mighty handy.

Steer Clear of Inexperienced Kiteboarders:
Also, watch out for other riders launching when you are coming in from a session. Remember that not every rider has the experience you may have. "Pay attention" is probably the most important kiteboarding safety tip of all time.

Use a Safe Release System.
Some kiteboarding setups are too difficult to release when the time comes or they get jammed by the salt water corrosion. Check your gear!

Gear Up:
A helmet and floatation device is recommended...wetsuit floatability won’t keep you from drinking water when you’re unconscious. Chest protective safety vests are sold for impact....water can be very hard when hitting after a big air. The vests protect your ribs and keep you from a potential kiter K.O. in the water.

Know two simple signals and live by them!
A hand pat on the head means a rider wants to land their kite. A thumbs up means they are ready for you to let a kite launch. The most common launching mistake we’ve seen is someone letting go of the kite before a thumbs up has been given...and then bad things happen.

Curb Your Kite:
When any kite is not in use or being set up- place sand or weight on the kite to keep it from flying off. Always keep your lines unattached from at least one side until ready to launch again.

Do Not Go Kiteboarding in Swim Only Areas:
This prevents risk and also keeps kiters on the good side of most city officials that could get complaints from area lifeguards....keeping our beaches kite-legal. Consider attaching reflective strips on your helmet or wetsuit shoulders...especially when learning.

Stay Hydrated:
You’d be surprised how much water you lose when tearing it up on the water...especially in a wet suit

Let Someone Know Where You Are:
Leave a note on your car when you launch from a different site or plan a ‘downwinder’ this way the police and firefighters can save the trip from the call your friends made when they found your car and not you....and keep mom from worrying.