Is Kitesurfing Safe?

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If you are planning a trip to the beach the first thing you need to consider is whether or not the kitesurfing spot you’ve chosen is safe. Kitesurfing can be dangerous especially in areas where there is a high volume of traffic. Choose a spot where you won’t feel cramped or too close to other people. You should also make sure that you have plenty of space to the left and right as well as downwind. That way you can focus on your kite and not on other people.

What are the risks of kitesurfing

While you’re on the water you’re more likely to run into obstacles like rocks. While kitesurfing is often a safe sport there are some risks of this sport that you should be aware of. For example kites can get caught in tree branches or tangle with other kites or trees. If you’re not careful you could find yourself in serious trouble.

While it’s unlikely to cause serious injury kitesurfing can still lead to serious consequences. In one study 194 participants logged 16816 hours of kitesurfing. Compared to 5.2 injuries per thousand hours of windsurfing the number of kitesurfers reported a higher injury rate. Injury rates also increased with experience so it’s important to take safety precautions when kitesurfing.

The most common mistakes are not as obvious as you might think. Usually these two mistakes are the cause of most problems. First your kite isn’t properly tuned. Secondly you may have a strong wind. Without the right tuning you won’t get much lift and could land on your head. If you can avoid these two mistakes kitesurfing can be safer than ever.

Can you get hurt kitesurfing

Injuries can occur during all aspects of kitesurfing. The most common injuries are caused by launching the kite incorrectly losing control of the kite and collisions with other kitesurfers. A lack of knowledge of common kitesurfing injuries may prevent these from occurring. Listed below are common injuries and how to prevent them. When injured seek medical attention immediately.

If you are new to kitesurfing you should always practice in moderate wind conditions before attempting to jump in the water. Also wear protective clothing and never use a board leash. Kite relaunch lines can cut your face hands or throat. Some people have even been injured by having their teeth broken when they couldn’t detach from the kite. Even if there are no risks it is important to practice safety measures.

While there are a small number of injuries sustained in kitesurfing it is low in comparison to other contact sports. Injury rates among competitive kitesurfers were as high as 10.5 injuries per 1000 hours. This rate has not decreased with the development of the sport. The risk of serious injury is still present but the sport has improved in recent years. The injury rate was still similar to previous studies and did not increase with the advancement of equipment.

Is surfing more dangerous than kitesurfing

Although the two sports share many similarities kitesurfing is considerably more dangerous than surfing. Both sports rely on forces of nature that are difficult to predict and cannot be controlled and a kitesurfer is not necessarily able to control the conditions. Despite these differences both sports are safe if practiced properly. While surfing is generally more dangerous than kitesurfing in stormy winds it can still be extremely fun and rewarding.

The incidence of injuries among both windsurfers and kitesurfers was compared using injury statistics from both sports. Although injuries to kitesurfers are much higher the rate of wounds in windsurfers is lower than for kitesurfers. The authors suggest that separate designated areas for kitesurfers and windsurfers to prevent collisions. A study in Australia found that kitesurfing is considerably safer than windsurfing although both sports are equally dangerous.

Safety tips for kitesurfing

As with any other sport kitesurfing has its risks. To ensure your safety you should always remember to follow the appropriate safety procedures when you’re kiteboarding. For instance you should never try to kiteboard in onshore winds as these are not safe at all. Always use assisted landings and avoid jumping more than 200 feet offshore or upwind of any hard object such as cliffs or buildings.

If you’re planning to kitesurf you should check the wind direction and quality before starting your session. The power of the wind will determine the size of your kite. You must also monitor the wind strength and direction throughout the session. If the wind is strong or unexpected you run the risk of crashing into rocks or worse hurting yourself or someone else. Knowing this you can be more prepared for unexpected problems such as black clouds. You should also check the currents and tides before you set up and learn about the wind direction and speed.

Dawn Seagull

Dawn Seagull

We all know surfing is life! The thing is you sometimes need better info to catch the good wave or the best wind.
So I want to share what I found from years on the waves - with or without the kite.

About Me

We all know surfing is life! The thing is you sometimes need better info to catch the good wave or the best wind.
So I want to share what I found from years on the waves – with or without the kite.

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