UPDATED-Safe Kiteboarding Guideline, got questions look here

[RickI]

I just did some updating to the Safe Kiteboarding Guidelines to bring them more in line with current ideas. They are long, then again, why can't they put everything a hang glider pilot or Scuba diver should know on a small index card? Reality can be inconsiderate sometimes, but it is, what it is. And, as they sometimes say, ..."ignore this at your peril!", that is the necessary depth of knowledge for safe kiteboarding. Input on this is welcome. There are other related documents out there including this illustrated guide at:

http://kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=5521

and the "Ten Ideas for Safer Kiteboarding" document in multiple languages at:

http://kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4053

and a great deal of other references at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kitesurf/ ... EFERENCES/

I will do a final update of this version in a few days.

Good winds,
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

SAFE KITEBOARDING GUIDELINES - February 27, 2003

These safe kiteboarding guidelines have been prepared to attempt to improve kiteboarder and bystander safety. These procedures have been derived from other guidelines from around the world and from lessons learned from actual accidents and incidents. Kiteboarding can be potentially dangerous both to the rider and to bystanders, particularly if practiced without adequate training, safety gear, knowledge and caution. 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 and other prudent and safe practices in an attempt to maintain safety and continued access to beaches for kiteboarding. Using good judgment is key to kiteboarding safely. These guidelines are updated regularly so please check the FKA website for the latest version.

GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES

1. Readily help other riders with launching and landing. 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 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.

2. All kiteboarders, particularly beginners should seek adequate professional instruction. Beginners must avoid crowded areas as most bystanders aren't aware the potential hazards. Beginners should 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 aren't 100% healthy OR IN DOUBT, DON’T FLY! Always maintain an energy reserve while out kiteboarding. Hydrate regularly and wear adequate exposure clothing 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 kite depowering leash attached to your body, a good well fitting helmet, impact vest, gloves, whistle and hook knife. Rigging a frequently tested, well maintained and reliable chicken loop quick release is recommended.

5. Give way to the public on the beach and in the water at ALL TIMES. Be courteous and polite to bystanders. Complaints have led to restrictions on kiteboarding in some areas.



6. Is the weather acceptable, free of storm clouds and excessive gusty winds? If storm clouds are moving in, land and disable your kite well in advance of any change in wind or temperature. Consider organizing an alert air horn and flag signal for your launch as a warning to riders of pending unstable weather. Are seas 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!

PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST

1. Make sure your launch is open, FREE OF DOWNWIND BYSTANDERS, hard objects, nearby power lines, buildings and walls, within at least 100 ft. (30 m), and preferably 200 ft. (60 m). Avoid kiteboarding near airports and in low flight path areas.

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 very dearly.

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 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.

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. 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, disabled by disconnecting all lines from one side and roll your lines when not in use.

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 are advised.

LAUNCHING AND GETTING UNDERWAY

1. Avoid hooking or snap shackling in while onshore or near hard objects. CONSIDER LAUNCHING AND LANDING "UNHOOKED" or not connected to your chicken loop. Pull in your trim strap or rope entirely 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. 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.

3. To try to avoid lofting or involuntary lifting. DO NOT BRING YOUR KITE much above 30 degrees off of 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.

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). 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.

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 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. If in doubt, safely solo depower your kite in the shallows well away from shore and bystanders and swim in.

3. Properly anchor your kite, disconnect and wind up your kite lines. The kite should be placed in a safe area well out of bystander and vehicular traffic.

© FKA, Inc. 2002,2003

LOCAL KITEBOARDING GUIDELINES FOR ______________________________
(e.g. necessary area specific precautions and restrictions )
1.

2.

3.

An example follows:

LOCAL KITEBOARDING GUIDELINES FOR BOCA RATON, FL

The following guidelines have been prepared to aid kiteboarding safety and access privileges at the City of Boca Raton Beach in the vicinity of Spanish River Blvd. These practices and other appropriate procedures should be followed while kiteboarding off this beach.

1. New kitesurfers must seek adequate, proper instruction BEFORE or while kiteboarding here.

2. Launch and land north of lifeguard stand #20 located due east of Spanish River Blvd. No launching or landing is permitted at guarded beaches.

[Guest]

Looks good rick.
Couple of quick questions....

Do they still fit nicely on one sheet of paper or are we up to 2 yet?(I know that it will take several sheets if printed the size of your font here)

WHY are you using such large type font on the forums as of late? I think it's actually harder to read....maybe I'm just loony. I personally think you looked better in smaller letters. AT least I didnt have to move my eyes back and forth as much and scroll as much to read it all.

Do you still copyright them wishing that people NOT repost them without written permission from the FKA?(I think this actually hurts the promotion of these guidelines much more than it helps is why I ask)

Should we submit to you for your next revision the guidelines that we try to enforce in the Tampa area?

AIGHT! Keep up the good werk and gracias in advance for your time.

Johnny

[Warrior]

Thanks! Have you thaught of making a video to go with the different subjects? Keep on the good work

[RickI]

Looks good rick.
Couple of quick questions....

Do they still fit nicely on one sheet of paper or are we up to 2 yet?(I know that it will take several sheets if printed the size of your font here)

WHY are you using such large type font on the forums as of late? I think it's actually harder to read....maybe I'm just loony. I personally think you looked better in smaller letters. AT least I didnt have to move my eyes back and forth as much and scroll as much to read it all.

Do you still copyright them wishing that people NOT repost them without written permission from the FKA?(I think this actually hurts the promotion of these guidelines much more than it helps is why I ask)

Should we submit to you for your next revision the guidelines that we try to enforce in the Tampa area?

AIGHT! Keep up the good werk and gracias in advance for your time.

Johnny

The last version fit on one sheet from June 2002. I suspect that this version will as well. Once the content of this version has been finalized in a few days, I will see if it can still be made to fit on a page.

I find the larger font easier to read myself but I am for what works the best for the majority of people.

The reason for the copyright is basic. Twice now, I have had other parties use my content, copyright it and in effect potentially deny me the ability to use my own work product. So, most things are copyrighted but in the vast majority of cases it is quite easy to use the documents. A simple email is normally all it takes. Nothing is simple out there it seems.

Thanks for the input and good winds on the left coast!

FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

[RickI]

Thanks! Have you thaught of making a video to go with the different subjects? Keep on the good work

Actually, I have thought about that. I even got a powered up desk top specifcally for video editing. Have a ton of stock footage already, now just need to figure out how to use Premier or one of the other applications.

I thought of putting together a privately hosted site with downloadable video clips of instructional content and safety ideas. This will come to pass, just need to find the time!

Thanks for your input!