Some tips for kitesurfing over the summer holidays here in Australia (via the AKSA) are:
- Check your gear thoroughly before heading out, especially it hasn’t been used for a few months
- Avoid crowded beaches, there will be a lot more people using the beach and water
- Do not kite after drinking, save it till afterwards
- Keep clear of flagged swim zones, they extend 500m from shore
- Keep clear of no boating zones - designated by yellow buoys.
In previous years, a couple of incidents resulted in injuries to non kiters, we must avoid anything like that happening again. Specifically:
- Avoid flying your kite on the beach near other beach users, they do not understand kites and may walk into your kite or lines, or grab hold of them.
- When doing downwinders or kiting in the surf zone pay attention to any surfers or swimmers, they may be under the surface or behind whitewash and not visible initially.
- It is best to either avoid known swimming/surfing spots, or do a slow approach to carefully check if anyone is in the water before entering the surf zone at each beach you pass.
It was very lucky that no one else was injured during these incidents, so remember to:
- land your kite in a safe location
- secure your kite once landed
- use a kite leash that disarms the kite so it does not fly away.
If you have not yet renewed your membership with your local kitesurfing association, remember that you have to be a paid up to be covered by the their public liability insurance policy
Have a safe Christmas with lots of great wind and time on the water.
External links
- Safety and rules - Kitesurfing Handbook
- Kite rips down power lines - Kitesurfing - Seabreeze Forums
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