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?

Other KnowledgeHub articles

Hoe lang blijft een gehuurde kiteset in goede staat?

Een gehuurde kiteset blijft 2-3 seizoenen in optimale staat bij professioneel onderhoud. De kwaliteit hangt af van materiaalklasse, gebruiksintensiteit en onderhoudskwaliteit van de verhuurservice. Professionele kitesurf abonnementen vervangen gear regelmatig om prestaties te waarborgen. Ontdek waarom huren vaak voordeliger is dan kopen, welke tekenen wijzen op versleten gear, en hoe verhuurders kwaliteit garanderen. Met maandelijkse abonnementen vanaf €60-80 krijg je toegang tot premium uitrusting zonder hoge aanschafkosten van €2000-4000 voor nieuwe gear.

Read more "

Hoe wordt een gehuurde kiteset onderhouden?

Ontdek hoe professioneel onderhoud van gehuurde kitesets werkt: volledige verzorging door specialisten, inclusief reiniging, veiligheidsinspecties en reparaties. Bij een kitesurf gear abonnement is alle uitrusting volledig verzekerd met slechts €35 eigen risico per incident. Gebruikers hoeven zich alleen te focussen op het kiten, terwijl gecertificeerde technici zorgen voor optimale veiligheid en prestaties door regelmatige controles en preventief onderhoud.

Read more "

Kun je ook een harness en wetsuit huren?

Ja, je kunt harnesses en wetsuits huren bij kitesurf verhuurservices! Dit biedt beginnende kitesurfers de perfecte mogelijkheid om de sport volledig uit te proberen zonder grote investeringen. Huurkosten variëren tussen €15-40 per maand, afhankelijk van merk en kwaliteit. Je kunt verschillende maten uitproberen voordat je eventueel eigen uitrusting aanschaft, en profiteert van professionele reiniging en onderhoud. Ontdek alle voordelen van huren versus kopen.

Read more "

Wat zijn de beste kitesurfmerken om te huren?

Ontdek waarom premium kitesurfmerken zoals Core, Cabrinha, North en Naish de beste keuze zijn voor verhuur. Deze merken bieden superieure duurzaamheid, betrouwbaarheid en prestaties voor alle niveaus – van beginners tot gevorderde kitesurfers. Leer hoe je het juiste merk kiest op basis van jouw vaardigheidsniveau, rijstijl en budget, en waarom huren vaak voordeliger is dan kopen voor toegang tot de nieuwste technologie.

Read more "

Welke accessoires krijg je bij het huren van een kiteset?

Bij het huren van een kiteset krijg je een complete uitrusting met alle essentiële accessoires voor veilig kitesurfen. Standaard ontvang je harnas, bar met lijnen, pomp en veiligheidsuitrusting, plus de mogelijkheid om extra items zoals wetsuits bij te huren. Alle accessoires zijn afgestemd op jouw niveau – van beginnersvriendelijke uitrusting tot performance gear voor gevorderden. Met volledige verzekering (€35 eigen risico) kun je zorgeloos kitesurfen zonder zorgen over schade. Ontdek welke specifieke accessoires bij jouw kiteset horen.

Read more "

Want to test out your new kite first? Which can! Plan your Try & Fly!