| You
have been bitten by the KiteSurfing bug, you can’t wait
to hit the first current to propel your body screaming 40-feet
into the air and crashing into the water. With each gusts
of wind your elevated high off the surface and breaking each
wave as you land. The thrill associated with the sport of
KiteSurfing has many able-bodied thrill seekers flocking to
the beaches across the world to set sail and fly across the
top of the ocean.
KiteSurfing
is by far the latest craze
in extreme sports. The idea of using a kite to enhance speed
and gravity for the surfer seems like a new and exhilarating
challenge, yet the art of KiteSurfing dates back to the 13th
Century Chinese when it was used as a simple mode of transportation.
KiteSailing, as it was known, was a medium that used the wind
as an aid to harness its momentum and energy to mobilize their
canoes across water.
You
are ready to take on the extreme sport of KiteSurfing, you
are ready to pound the surf and soar across the water and
above the waves. In order to start you will need an equipment
that will provide both safety and quality. The last thing
you need happening is equipment failure as you jet across
the ocean at a high rate of speed.
Many
accidents can occur, but with the proper training and safety
instruction the risk can be reduced significantly. Make no
bones about it; KiteSurfing is a radically extreme sport.
It may not be as dangerous as parachuting out of an airplane
but it has other hidden dangers that aren’t always noticeable.
Before
you set out you will want to purchase:
| • |
A
setup that is cost-effective and will provide protection.
You want to be safe and you want the equipment to work
at all times. |
| • |
A
wet suit is a necessity. You never know when you may lose
your kite in the water and you will need to keep yourself
warm. |
| • |
You
will also need a life jacket, or as it is known a buoyancy
jacket, that will keep you afloat while swimming into
shore or after your kite. |
| • |
A
safety release strap that is attached to you and the control
bar. Once attached it allows you to add slack to one side
of the kite and guiding it down into the water safely. |
The
price of the kite will range from $500 to $1,500. You can
find many places on the web as well as in surf pro shops that
will get you started from about $300 and up.
The last piece is the board. Most boards are rigid, thus there
is very little movement involved. A typical board can range
from $500 to $1,200.
Remember,
your safety and well-being are tied to the equipment you use,
it is wise to do research on the various brands available
and if at all possible try them out before you buy them. This
way you can tell if it fits you well and is easy to maneuver.
Follow
these simple rules and you can keep yourself as well as those
around you safe during launch and re-entry to the beach.
| • |
Never
launch kites in crowded areas |
| • |
Do
not lay your lines out along the beach |
| • |
Whenever
possible try not to launch kite from the sand |
| • |
Be
willing to help KiteSurfers as they re-enter the beach |
| • |
When
making jumps in the water, measure the downwind zone |
| • |
If
you can not swim far distances avoid going deep into the
ocean |
| • |
Use
your self-rescue signals when killing power to the kite |
| • |
Always
wear a life-jacket or a buoyancy jacket |
By
Jakob Jelling
www.kitesurfingnow.com
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