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I'm going to Cabarete for 2 weeks, and as I heard, it is sufficient to wear shorts and a lycra when kitesurfing.
On the other hand, I have had some quite painful crashes already when wearing a wetsuit (e.g. bad jump, crashing onto the side or landing on your backside). I am wondering how this will be with just a short and a lycra. Probably quite painful, I fear.
How do you guys handle it when you kitesurf in warm water?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Nico

do u mean water-impact or crashing on land?

Of course water impact

I am always using a NeilPryde impact vest/buoyancy aid. Also when it's warm. It helps me a lot, not to get nervous in deep waters.

Greg

Hhhm. I really hate wearing that stuff, since I find it restricts my movement more than a wetsuit. May be I will try without one first and then see how it goes.
Thanks for the advice,
Nico

hey nico ... you're riding X2 kites!

i always thought that the x2 grants perfect and smooth landings


also, i'm pretty sure that the water in cabarete is much softer than the german water

Well, I dont have them yet.
But I will tell you how many ribs I cracked lol

Cracked ribs can be a reality for kiteboarders. Robby Naish broke some a couple of years ago. Dimitri Maramenides of Hatteras cracked some ribs recently. I suspect that many other strong riders have dinged their ribs through hard impacts. The vast majority of these riders don't wear impact vests. I have worn one for almost four years and think it saved me from breaking some ribs at least twice. It also has saved me some pain from quite a few major body slams following busted landings from high jumps. It is interesting that pro wakeboarders are now commonly wearing impact vests and helmets. Wonder if they know something that we don't? Then if you have a nasty onshore lofting incident, an impact vest and helmet may make a major difference in the degree of damage you come out of it wiith. I generally forget I have my impact vest and helmet on after 10 to 15 minutes. The vest also helps to keep you warm in the cooler months.

Fly safe,
Rick Iossi

Good point. I might get one in that case

nico, try the one from http://www.gunsails.de
cheapest one i know, and good quality.