Publicité
SAFETY
RULE N°3 - CHOOSE YOUR PRACTICE SPOT
OBSERVE LOCAL LAWS & REGULATIONS REGARDING KITESURF AND AUTHORIZED AREAS.
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 necessarily 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
recommended 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.
16
Publicité
