Kiteboarding Wisdom
Kite Etiquette, Safety, Common sense,
a bit of Respect
and keeping the Stoke
UP - UP, Down - Down, Middle - Middle
When UP-Wind of another kiter, keep your kite UP High ( above 45 degrees )
When DOWN-Wind of another kiter, keep your kite DOWN Low ( below 45 degrees )
When in the middle of 2 kiters... , keep your kite in the middle at 45!
Right of Way / Yield
In Boating the correct terms are "give way" and "stand on vessel". Since the purpose of this page respect, safety, and sharing the stoke, lets keep it simple and use the terms "Right of Way", or " Preference". "Right of Way" is easy to remember.
When 2 people are headed in opposite directions.
The person on Starboard Tack has preference. Not the easier phrase to remember so
we prefer this one:
Starboard Tack = Right hand forward = Right of way
Port Tack = Left hand forward = Left out
Ready for a pop-quiz?
Who has the right of way / preference?
Hint: Which person or craft with the least mobility / Maneuverability?
Sailboat or Powerboat? sailboat
Surfer or Sailboat? surfer
Surfer or Windsurfer? surfer
Windsurfer or Kiteboarder? windsurfer
Surfer or Kiteboarder? surfer
Beginner kiter or Advanced kiter? beginner
Swimmer
or Surfer? swimmer
Swimmer or shark? The swimmer "should" , but try explaining that to the shark.
Give right of way ( yield ) to everyone else. ALL surfers, windsurfers, kayakers, etc
Kites have excellent fast maneuverability and kite lines that can kill.
Don't fly your kite over the heads innocent beach goers. Kids, grandmas, fisherman,
or anyone else that might be on the beach just doing their thing.
Jumping / Tricks
BEFORE Jumping, check to be sure the area is clear downwind of you.
For sure, always visualize nailing that perfect jump.
Expect the best outcome, but be prepaid for anything!
If a line was to break, or you were to biff your jump
or trick,
you NEED TO BE SURE there is no one in close proximity downwind of you.
It's amazing how often I see boneheads throwing down maneuvers with
surfers or even other kiters, within their danger zone downwind.
When another kiter just upwind of me does that "cool" is NOT the word that comes to mind.
Beginners
When kiting near a beginner
stay as far away as possible and always expect the unexpected.
Why do you think we call them beginners?
Kite lines on the beach
When landing your kite or getting rigged up to ride.
Keep your kite lines off of the lines of other kites and out of the way of others.
Head Tap
If you're on the beach and someone is approaching the beach and
tapping the top of they're head. They are signaling you to assist with landing
their kite.
Kite Leash
Always use a kite-leash. In other words: ALWAYS USE A KITE-LEASH.
Its important
that you have a way to instantly kill the power in your kite.
You need to be a little smarter than that frontal lobotomy patient on YouTube who advises
the opposite.
Kiting without a leash is like driving a wave-runner/ jet ski without a wrist lanyard.
Or like riding a horse without reigns. Or driving a car with Bald tires on a rainy day.
Not very bright.
Where to connect your Kite Leash? 3 Places.
IF you're like most kiters and Not doing handle passes, The safest option is to connect your leash to the front or side of your harness. ( NOT to the rear handle pass leash). Connecting it on your side will allow you to quickly find and grab your leash when needed.
IF you're advanced enough to be doing "Handle Passes" then use the Handle Pass leash connect in the back of your Harness. The downside is getting dragged backwards.
IF you're a beginner, flying a small kite, and don't own a harness, no worries, use the
velcro wrist cuff.
Unpredictable
You only think you are 100% in control. The fact is, you can be hit by an unpredictable wind gust, a kite line can break, or a tangle or malfunction can occur. Speak with any kiter,
most all have a story to tell.
Safety Systems.
Check , Test, and Rehearse
Learn, Understand and Test your kites "safety system" to make sure it works as designed.
Each session, Mentally rehearse triggering your quick-release safety system just prior to
launching your kite.
Just before I launch my kite I feel a bit like a gun-fighter in an old western movie hands hovering over the trigger... "ready to draw".
Triggering your safety release needs to become an automatic response. In an emergency, you wont have time to think about it in a true emergency.
There are many brands and models. Safety systems are NOT all the same. They Vary!
Front line releases, Back line releases, Push-up releases, Pull down releases,
Finger trigger pull pin releases, 5th line, Mini 5th, Kites that sheet out to kill the power, and
others that sheet-in ( over-sheet ) to kill the power.
The important point is that you must learn to use the system that is on YOUR kite
TEST it
BEFORE you need it.
Maximum Riding distance from the beach
I see many kiters riding 1/2 mile or further out from the beach. When riding out, look back and ask yourself.. " Would I mind swimming this distance back to the beach? " If your answer is...
"NO, I wouldn't want to swim that far!" ..then you are riding too far from land.
NEVER kite a longer distance than you care to swim! Things "can" and do break.
Assisted Kite Launching
When your assistant is holding your kite..
Be sure to walk back at an angle 90 degrees or a bit more down-wind.
NEVER more up-wind (less than 90 degrees).
Initially when setting-up for a launch you want your kite to be UNDER-Powered.
Following this simple rule will allow your kite lines to tighten while your kite is under-powered
( kite will be flapping / fluttering a bit )
and giving you a chance to check that your lines are clear, tangle free, and rigged correctly.
Once your lines are tight, and everything looks good, slowly walk a bit upwind until your kite is trimmed. (stops flapping).
Signal the assistant to release your kite and then steer it up slowly.
The mistake I see, far to often, is the kiter walking back and up-wind of the assistant causing the kite to quickly power-up and launch before the lines are double checked.
If your assistant looks like they are wrestling / fighting to control your kite then you are TOO FAR up wind.
The person assisting you should NOT have to deal with trying to control excessive power in your kite.
