Safety Clinic Summary / Tips

Hi All,

Yesterday we held a safety clinic at Pinnaroo Point, WA and I wanted to share the contents of this clinic for the benefit of the community along with a few pictures/videos.


What's a safe kitesurfer?

Knowledge:

Someone with good Knowledge of the rules/regulations, who can analyse the pros/cons/dangers of any location, who can assess the wind conditions (strength and direction) and who understands and respects the right of way rules.

Equipment:

Someone who uses up to date equipment with appropriate and functional safety systems allowing instant kite flagging when activating the chicken loop quick release. Someone who uses the appropriate size of kite for the given conditions. A safe kitesurfer doesn't use a board leash when learning to kite.


Skills:

Someone who has great safety reflexes such as letting go of the bar when things go wrong and who has the ability to quickly activate all safety systems especially in panic situations. Someone who has the ability to perform a basic deep-water self-rescue (using the kite as a sail to get back to the shore). A safe kitesurfer should also have the ability to quickly and safely end their session without any help by using their safety systems.

General Safety Tips

-Understand your local wind and weather patterns. Avoid storm fronts when learning.When learning, avoid direct on shore and avoid off-shore winds unless you're at a kiteboarding center equipped with a rescue boat.

-What's your real skill level? Do you have the necessary skill level to enjoy kitesurfing safely in a given location and in the conditions of the day? Avoid waves, shore breaks and strong currents when learning.

-Avoid narrow beaches or busy beaches with lots of obstacles nearby when learning.Avoid learning to fly large overpowered kites on land. You're always safer in the water including when launching the kite with an assistant.

-Are you ready for deep-water? Do you have sufficient training and skills to kitesurf in deep-water? Make sure you are competent at deep water self-rescue, upwind body drag (board recovery) and kite relaunching, all in deep-water.


- Do you have a plan if/when something goes wrong? Where will you end up drifting to if things go wrong?

- If you choose to kitesurf over long distances (i.e. downwinder) do you have a phone in a water proof case?

- Are you aware of your local DOT rules? For WA rules see: www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/kite-and-windsurfing.asp

- If you or anyone else around you end up being separated from their equipment (kite and/or board) it's very important to report it immediately to your local water police (WA water police: (08) 9442 8600). Anyone seeing equipment drifting will assume someone might be in trouble which often results in deploying search & rescue operations.

- Ensure your equipment is in safe condition: check your bar and lines regularly, looks for signs of weakness in your lines and replace them before they break. Ensure your safety systems are always operating smoothly.Make sure your kite has no leaks and always close your strut valves in case you get an accidental deflation. Closing your strut valves will also allow you easily detect any leaks in your kite at the end of each session.

What type of safety system is your kite using? It is safest to avoid using dual front line safety systems which have practically disappeared from the current market.

- Are you competent enough to help other people? If you decide to help someone else in trouble, ensure you have the necessary skill level to do so. Many kitesurfers end up in trouble themselves when trying to help others in trouble.

- When helping someone to launch a kite, ensure that there are no tangles (i.e. bridle tangled around the wing tip) before releasing the kite. Always use clear hand signals when launching or landing the kite. As an assistant helping someone launch, never let go of a kite until you have seen a clear thumbs-up.

- Spend some time educating other kitesurfer around you. Go talk to kitesurfers at your local spot who are unsafe and/or breaking local rules/regulations.

- Avoid self-launching and self-landing when anyone or any obstacles are present downwind of your kite. Use help whenever available, especially on a busy beach.

Safety systems presentation

Watch this free 7 minutes sample about safety systems:

Train your safety reflexes. Activate your safety systems numerous times while the kite isn't flying. Practice activating your chicken loop quick release after someone has safely landed and secured your kite. Take your friends by surprise while the kite isn't flying by tugging on their safety leash to see how quickly and how easily than can reach for it and release it. Avoid using a long safety leash with the safety release attached to the back of your harness. If you do not do any unhooked maneuvers it is strongly recommended you use a short leash.


Do you have a hook knife?

Many kitesurfers ignore hook knifes even exist. A hook knife could potentially save your life (or someone else life) in the very rare scenario when lines get tangled around your body and the kite (or multiples kites) is (are) still pulling you.Self-Rescue presentation:

Self-rescue is the most poorly taught skill in kitesurfing/kiteboarding. Most students coming out of lessons either didn't have the self-rescue covered at all or only did a demonstration/practice on the beach or in shallow water with the instructor's assistance. Self-rescue needs to be practiced in deep water without any assistance during your lessons to ensure you are fully competent at this skill.

Basic Self-Rescue presentation (using the kite as a sail)

Method 1: Wrapping your lines to get to the kite and creating a sail

Pros:
- In theory it's an excellent idea to have all your lines secured around the bar before starting to sail in.
- Relatively easy and safe to do in very light winds (below 15 knots) or when your kite had an accidental puncture.

Cons:
- Too difficult to wrap lines in strong winds and deep water. Many kitesurfers forget to wrap the safety line around the bar first which ends up sending the kite in a death loop.
- Very time consuming, you will lose a lot of ground by the time you (maybe) finish wrapping your lines around the bar.
- Very difficult to neatly wrap the lines around the bar in strong winds and deep water.

Method 2: Getting to your kite without wrapping any lines and using the kite as a sail

Pros:
- Very quick and easy to get to the kite even in very strong winds.

Cons:
- Lines can get tangled around your body if you swim and/or kick your feet a lot.
- If you stay calm and avoid kicking or swimming during the entire rescue process, there are no reasons for your lines to get tangled.
- This method should not be attempted when self-rescuing through large waves or when lines can potentially get caught in any other objects, reef, etc.

Method 3 Get to the kite without wrapping any lines. Once at the kite, grab your bar and easily wrap and secure all remaining lines any way you like.

Pros:
- Very easy to wrap lines once at the kite even in very strong winds.
- Keeps all your lines clear of any potential tangles while you sail back to the shore

Cons:

- You must avoid kicking and swimming while getting to the kite to avoid tangling lines around your body

Full video demonstrating all these self-rescue techniques:



Self-rescue tips:

Flip the kite close the wing tip using the wind at your advantage. It will be very hard to flip the kite from the middle of the leading in deep water.

You will create the most efficient sail by using the bridles of your kite and moving back towards the opposite wing tip. Self-rescue handles are a lot less efficient than the bridles to create a sail. Avoid over-pulling the bride which will make a less efficient sail

If you are already experienced at self-rescue you can use your board at your advantage to create a more efficient rudder.




Self-rescue methods comparison:

Read more here: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Self-rescue-experiment-methods-comparison?groupID=102

Full pack down self-rescue (wrapping lines) and deflating the kite:


This self-rescue method is rarely used.

An option to consider if you get caught in off-shore winds and you are about to get picked up by a boat or if you kite had an accidental deflation.

Tips: ensure all your struts are closed before deflating the leading edge. If you don't have a long leash, use your harness to wrap around the kite.

Pro's: the best option if your kite has an accidental deflation and your only option is to swim in or get rescued by someone else (other kitesurfer or boat).

Con's: you will lose a lot of visibility if you choose to deflate your kite's leading edge. Do not deflate your kite if you can use it as a sail to get you back to the shore.

Regardless of your skill level and experience, it is recommended you practice self-rescue procedures at least once a year.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, etc.

Christian

It was an awesome clinic so much better to hear it live from Christian and other experienced kiters.

Thankyou