Lesson 2.4

How can I kitesurf safely?

Safety comes first. But how?

In this article we delve into the safety measures regarding kitesurfing and answer the question of whether kitesurfing is safe. The short answer: Yes, kitesurfing is safe, as long as you handle your equipment and yourself responsibly!

We will cover the following topics:

  • Your own skills to prevent emergency situations and to deal with them properly if something goes wrong
  • What are important considerations before you go on the water
  • What should you pay attention to when purchasing new or second-hand kitesurfing equipment?
  • Circumstances on the spot

Lessons, lessons, lessons! For you and others' safety!

Kitesurfing is not a sport that you can teach yourself easily and, above all, safely. We recommend everyone to take lessons from certified IKO kitesurfing instructors. During your lessons you will learn important skills such as self rescue and how to handle your equipment when you end up in an emergency situation. So really take lessons before you go out on the water!

BROMFLY - A checklist before you go on the water!

The Dutch Kitesurfing Association has made a good checklist before you go on the water. The BROMFLY checklist was devised by a very experienced kitesurfer:

buddy: As a beginner, never go out on the water alone; if necessary, ask on the side if someone can watch you. Together we ensure that it is a safe sport.
Release: Can you find this blind? Have you ever tested this? Very important, because your release is your first resort.
Oobstacles: Look carefully at the obstacles at the spot where you will be kiting. Obstacles such as rocks that you could end up in or large obstacles such as a quay that can influence the wind. Unsure? Check the Spot card from the NKV for more information about spots.
Mblade: Your blade should be on the side of your harness. In an emergency situation where both release systems no longer work, a blade may be your last resort. Before your session, check whether your blade is in your harness. Unsure? Feel free to contact us to check it out!
Forecast: Certainly not unimportant: the weather forecasts for your day. Make sure you go on the water with enough wind, but also that you have enough wind during your session. When it rains you can expect gusty winds, where you can experience strong winds during a rain shower, but after a rain shower the wind often drops. So; don't sail too far! 
Read more: How and where do I read wind forecasts?
Leash: Check whether your leash works properly and is properly attached to your harness.
Yes: Yes? Ready to rumble! Have fun on the water!

The right material

As you can imagine, we may not be completely objective and we would prefer to see every kite surfer with brand new GoShaka material on the water. However, if you opt for second-hand material, pay attention to the following points.

After we have made a number of bad purchases on Marktplaats of second-hand equipment in poor condition, we can share a number of lessons for purchasing equipment:

  • No board leash! This is only offered for very old boards, but we strongly advise against it! The leash can cause the board to come back hard in the event of a crash and cause injury.
  • Material from 5+ years old is a no-go as far as we are concerned. No, we are not biased here – we simply run out of material.
  • Repairs are not necessarily a no-go, as long as they are done professionally. So ask where repairs have been carried out.
  • Damaged pigtails can have a great effect on the flying quality of your kite. So check this out, if you have any doubts – contact us!
 

Then last but not least: Place your name and number on your board. This way you can always get your board back after you lose it. Pro tip: Order the NKV/KNRM sticker here!Order cheap BeTraceable stickers from the KNRM here.

Occasion Lease

Do you want to use good quality gear for the lowest price? Then take a look at us Occasion Lease offer. This is material that has already been used once in a subscription and has subsequently been thoroughly professionally checked for damage. This means you are assured of safe material in good condition for a bottom price!

What does GoShaka do about security for subscribers?

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