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Safety
This is the
single biggest issue in kiting today.
Please read
ALL
of the following carefully it may
SAVE YOUR LIFE!!
(I know
it's a long read and some items sound simple or ridiculous BUT
please read, understand and follow the guidelines)
SAFE KITEBOARDING GUIDELINES
Updated to accommodate both standard C-kites and the new "bow" or Supported
Leading Edge (SLE) kites
July
10th, 2006
These safe kiteboarding guidelines have been prepared in an attempt to improve
kiteboarder and bystander safety and access to ride. These procedures have been
derived from other guidelines and from lessons learned from actual accidents.
Kiteboarding can be potentially dangerous to the rider and to bystanders,
particularly if practiced without adequate training, safety gear, knowledge and
caution. NOTE: Riders must accept that even if these guidelines are followed
that accidents, incidents and/or injury may occur in the "extreme sport" of
kiteboarding. Kiteboarders should follow these guidelines, area specific
guidelines if applicable along with other prudent and safe practices appropriate
for local conditions. Seek local, competent knowledge regarding safe local
practices. Safety automatically increases to some degree once the rider becomes
both aware of and takes potential hazards seriously. By contrast, ignorance and
indifference raise the hazard level subtantially. These guidelines are updated
regularly so please check here on a regular basis for the latest version.
GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
1. Readily help other riders with launching and landing using reliable
communication techniques. Whether you are starting out or are almost a pro, your
help may avoid a serious incident/accident and possible restrictions. Get
involved with your local association or club (Manitoba Kiteboarding Association) and with
area riders to try to preserve access to kiteboard. Riders are solely
responsible for their safety and that of effected bystanders. If you are new to
an area or visiting, seek out local kiteboarders, shops and/or associations for
local guidelines and rules BEFORE riding.
Don’t ruin things for the local
riders.
2. All kiteboarders, particularly beginners should seek adequate
instruction. Beginners must avoid crowded areas (Grand Beach, Gimli Beach &
Patricia Beach...) as most bystanders aren't aware the potential hazards and
kite control will be uncertain early on. Beginners should walk / body drag out
at least 300 ft. (60m) from shore prior to water starting and should always
stay
out of guarded or restricted beach areas.
3. Know your equipment’s limitations as well as your own. If you are
IN DOUBT, DON’T FLY! Always maintain an energy reserve while out
kiteboarding. Hydrate regularly and wear adequate exposure clothing (wetsuit/dry
suit), to deal with extended time in the water.
Don’t kiteboard alone or further from
shore than you are readily able to swim in from.
4. Make sure you have proper safety equipment, i.e. a
tested, well maintained kite depowering leash attached to your body, a
good well fitting helmet, impact vest, gloves, whistle and hook knife.
Regularly test and maintain a reliable chicken loop
or spreader bar release . Relying upon manual unhooking alone is unwise based upon the
accident experience. The rider needs to understand and accept that in an
emergency, a quick release MAY NOT be accessible
or function correctly. It is up to the rider to avoid the emergency in the first
place and to aid proper function of the release through practice and
maintenance.
5. Give way to the public on the beach and in the water at ALL TIMES. Be
courteous and polite to bystanders. Complaints have frequently led to bans and
restrictions on kiteboarding in some areas. NEVER launch, ride or land upwind of
nearby bystanders.
6. Is the weather acceptable, free of storm clouds and
excessive gusty winds? New kiters should practice in lighter, side or
side onshore winds. Onshore winds have a much higher injury rate even among
experienced riders. Offshore winds should be avoided along with excessively
gusty winds caused by recent passage over land. If storm clouds are moving in,
land and disable your kite well in advance of any change in wind or temperature,
if necessary solo land while still away from shore. Learn about unstable weather
in your area. Are water and wind
condition within your experience, ability and appropriate for your gear?
Offshore and onshore winds should be avoided.
REMEMBER: TWICE THE WIND – FOUR TIMES THE POWER!
7. C-kite
riders should work to stay unhooked
and depowered (using the trim strap) while on and near landing and to get
well offshore at the earliest opportunity. If you
decide to be "hooked-in" (which may be a better option due to location, wind
speed or other reasons) be prepared to use your safety release at any time.
Always use a safety leash.
"Bow"-kite riders should be hooked-in and
depowered (using the trim strap)
while on and near landing and to get well offshore at the earliest opportunity.
Always use a safety leash.
8.
If despite all precautions you are lofted AND have time to react, depower
your kite as soon as you land. Depowering should occur before being lofted and
still offshore and away from hard objects. Multiple gusts can hit over a short
period and you may be lofted a second or third time, so ACT to depower your kite
as soon as you can. DO NOT ASSUME that you will have a lull between loftings,
sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t. It would be wise to accept that
YOU CAN BE LOFTED AT ANYTIME you have a kite in the
air. To pretend otherwise is to invite injury one of these days.
PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST
1. Make sure your launch is open, FREE OF DOWNWIND
BYSTANDERS, hard objects, nearby power lines, buildings for
at least 200 ft. (60 m), and preferably more.
Some riders
have needed in excess of 500 ft. (170 m), to regain control in violent dragging
or loftings.
2. Check to see what size kite other kiteboarders are rigging and get their
input on conditions. Do not rig too large a kite for conditions and carefully
consider advice of more experienced riders. Failure to act on prudent advice has
cost some riders severe injury.
3. Check your kite for tears or leaky bladders. If you have leaky bladders or
tears in your kite, repair them before flying.
4. Check ALL kite, harness, control bar lines, webbing, pigtails, bridles, the
chicken loop and leaders for knots, wear or abrasions. If the line sheathing
shows any breaks, replace them. The pigtails should be replaced no less
frequently than every 6 months on inflatable kites. Inspect and test your quick
release. Wear a safety leash.
5. Make sure your flying lines are equal as they will stretch unevenly with use.
If they have knots that can’t be easily untied, replace your flight lines.
6. Solo launching and landing are NOT recommended
and should be avoided in stronger winds. If solo launching make sure your kite
is properly anchored with a substantial quantity of sand and is draped downwind
to avoid premature launch. Rig your kite for solo launch at the last minute and
launch without delay AFTER CAREFUL PREFLIGHTING as serious accidents have
happened in only minutes during this stage. If you leave the kite unattended,
wrap up your lines, deflate the kites leading edge and roll it up. It is best to
place the kite in a bag to avoid UV and wind damage.
7. Walk down your lines and examine them carefully. Just
before launch pick your bar up and carefully look down the lines for twists and
tangles that could cause the kite to be dangerously uncontrollable. While you
are holding your bar up look down the lines, shake your bar to make sure the
center lines are connected to the leading edge of the kite. Be particularly
careful, slow and methodical in high winds. Multiple, careful preflighting in
higher winds is strongly advised.
LAUNCHING AND GETTING UNDERWAY
1. Pull in your trim strap or to a point that will allow stable
kite flight with existing wind conditions, to properly depower the kite before
launching and so that you can readily hold the bar and release it if necessary.
Always maintain minimum clear downwind buffer
zones. Physically and mentally rehearse managing
emergency situations including just "letting go" of your bar.
2. Announce your intention to launch and then launch promptly. In many cases the
kite should be launched towards or preferably from the water. Assisted launches
are always preferred. Use the "thumbs up" signal to show that you are ready to
go.
3. To try to avoid lofting or involuntary lifting.
DO NOT BRING YOUR KITE much above 10 to 30 feet (3 to 9m), above the surface, within 200 ft. (60 m) of ANY HARD OBJECT (on water or
land). NEVER BRING YOUR KITE TO THE VERTICAL WITHIN THIS 200 ft., preferably
more, of hard objects. DO NOT FLY YOUR KITE CLOSE TO AND UPWIND OF HARD OBJECTS.
This careless practice has killed and maimed riders. DO NOT fly your kite near
vertical or sloped surfaces that can cause uplift (walls, buildings, hills, tree
lines, etc,).
"Keep it LOW & GO"
4. Go offshore at least 300 ft. WITHOUT DELAY after launch. Stay beyond 300 ft.
until time to come in. If there are substantial waves where you need to put on
your board consider body dragging outside the breaker zone first. Be aware of
and properly react in advance of low flying aircraft coming into your area.
5. Yield the right of way to all others in the water.
Riders must yield to others when jumping, maneuvering, or riding on port tack
(left hand forward). Starboard tack HAS the right of way! Kiteboarders
should not jump within a buffer zone of at least two hundred feet (60 m) of
others and objects that are downwind. Incoming riders give way to those
launching.
6. All kiteboarders are encouraged to master body dragging to facilitate board
recovery. Use of a board leash may prove to be hazardous
to the rider due to board rebound. Wearing a helmet is always advised but
a helmet may not provide adequate projection against board impact as the boards
can and have violently hit any part of the rider.
7. If you are in the water for an extended period of time, frequently signal
that you are "OK" to the shore by placing one hand on your head, palm down for
ten or more seconds every 15 to 20 minutes to try to avoid an unnecessary rescue
attempt.
LANDING
1. Approach the shore slowly with caution. Take care to avoid causing an
accidental jump in well powered conditions by slowing suddenly while approaching
the shore. Keep your kite low (ideally within 20 ft. of the surface), to try
avoid lofting.
2. Arrange for assisted landings at least 200 ft. (60 m) from bystanders, power
lines and vertical surfaces. Do not use non-kiteboarders
for assisted launches or landings. Use mutually understood, hand and
voice signals to improve launch and landing safety. Pat
your head with an open palm at least 3 times to signal that you are ready to
land.
IF IN ANY DOUBT, ALWAYS SAFELY SOLO DEPOWER
AND LAND your kite in
the WATER well away from shore &
bystanders - let your kite go to your safety leash
and swim in.
3. ALL riders should be comfortable with depowering their kite immediately even
in deep water to avoid being lofted or dragged in sudden gusting winds.
4. Properly anchor your kite and wind up your
kite lines (particularly at Sunset Beach). The kite should be placed in a
safe area well out of bystander and vehicular traffic.
5. Know how to properly assist in landing.
Technique differs with different kites. If you don't know - ASK.
Grabbing a LEI or "bow" by the trailing edge can damage the kite or send the
kite (and rider) out of control - only grab the kite by the leading edge close
to the center of the kite. On a Peter Lynn kite - grab the front (leading
edge side) of the lower tip batten and pull it into the wind.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASSIST IN LANDING
SOMEONE - ASK.
Local Kiteboarding GUIDELINES
for Manitoba Kiters
1. Avoid crowded beaches - at Grand Beach, launch and land on the North East
side of the channel (East Beach). At Gimli find a uncrowded area - walk
(it won't kill you)
2. Wind up your kite lines while not in use (particularly at Sunset Beach
or on crowded beach days)
3. Avoid the rocky pier at Winnipeg Beach - this place is so dangerous - there
are also abundant submerged rocks
4. Know the
local weather conditions - Lake Winnipeg / Lake Manitoba
can go from flat and calm to 30+ knots
and big wave in minutes.
If there are storms in the general area -
DON'T GO KITING!!
5. Avoid onshore conditions - we have
options available to us - a short drive could save your life!
6. If you
feel you need help - PLEASE ASK - we will NOT be
bothered by your questions!
7.
WEAR A
KITE LEASH!
8.
Only park in designated parking areas
9. Join the
Manitoba Kiteboarding Association
10. KNOW HOW TO OPERATE YOUR
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
TEST YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT
BE READY TO USE IT AT ANT
TIME
10 Golden Rules
1. NEVER LAUNCH OR RIDE WITHIN 200 FT. OR 60 M UPWIND OF BYSTANDERS OR HARD
OBJECTS ...land, boats, rocks, walls, buildings, powerlines, roads or
prominent vertical surfaces or steep slopes that may cause uplift. Depower
your kite as early as possible if trouble threatens. Waiting may remove the
option to do so safely. Riders have been injured and killed by ignoring
this. In kiteboarding "DISTANCE IS YOUR FRIEND" and may sometimes help to
forgive bad luck & errors in judgment.
2. AVOID STORMS & SQUALLS. CHECK WEATHER RADAR, WIND & FORECASTS & BE AWARE
OF WEATHER CONDITIONS WHILE RIDING. Storms & squalls have injured lots of
kiteboarders & are a serious threat. Actual weather may differ from
predicted conditions so stay alert. If you see squalls or storms, LAND,
remove the lines & SECURE your kite in advance of any change in wind or
temperature. Riders have been injured by reacting too late or not at all.
Avoid offshore & onshore winds.
3. TAKE ADEQUATE KITEBOARDING LESSONS FROM A GOOD
KITEBOARDING TEACHER carefully build
experience in manageable conditions. Lessons cost but you should be
kiteboarding faster, easier & safer for your investment. Also you could save
your expensive gear & yourself from damage & our access to ride.
4. CAREFULLY PREFLIGHT YOUR GEAR, make sure lines are equal, in good
condition, free of tangles/snags, are properly attached & no leaks are
present. Repair gear before launching. Test your safety
releases. Check your leash.
5. USE SAFETY GEAR ... a suitable helmet, impact vest, tested kite leash,
reliable chicken loop quick releases and/or a spreader-bar
releasegloves &
hook knife(s). Practice mentally & physically reacting to emergency
situations, e.g. lofting & dragging, to try to reduce critical reaction
time. Test & maintain your quick releases before each use to improve
reliable performance.
6. BE CAREFUL IN & CONSIDER AVOIDING HIGHER WINDS while kiteboarding, that
is potentially winds much greater than 18 knots or 20 mph. Kite forces &
flight speeds can be much greater & conditions far less forgiving of errors
in judgment & simple bad luck & have resulted in serious injuries.
7. BE PREPARED TO USE YOUR SAFETY RELEASE AT ANY TIME
8. HAVE AN EXPERIENCED HELPER LAUNCH & LAND YOUR KITE who understands your
instructions without error. If conditions permit, it may be safer to launch
your kite near or from the water.
If launching
someone elses kite - YOU are responsible for that kiters safe launch.
If something doesn't
appear right - DON'T LAUNCH!
9. KEEP YOUR KITE LOW & NEVER BRING IT TO THE VERTICAL WHILE NEAR HARD
OBJECTS OR LAND TO TRY TO AVOID LOFTING. GET OFFSHORE WITHOUT DELAY.
10. AVOID COMPLAINTS TO KEEP KITEBOARDING FREE & AT WILL. Jump to help
kiteboarders. If you see someone doing something reckless, grab your friends
& go talk with him. We are all in this sport together so pitch in & be ready
to help to keep riders safe and to work to preserve access.
BE SAFE & HAVE FUN
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