| 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 to purchase
KiteSurfing 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 you will need to keep
yourself buoyant as you swim, sometimes a long while to recapture
your kite and other times into shore when your kite goes out
to sea.
You will also need a life jacket or as it
is known as a buoyancy jacket that will keep you afloat should
you tire while swimming into shore or after your kite. A board
leash, perhaps the only thing that keeps your board on your
feet, the board leash straps around your ankle and stays attached
when you crash or land in the water.
A safety release is strap that attached you
to 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. A safety release can be 2 or 4 line and also can be
used for inflatable and framed kites. Foil kites must be carefully
navigated downwind to bring them down into the water.
There are three types of kits: inflatable
kites, single skin framed kites and ram air foil kites. All
of these kites can be launched from within the water. Inflatable
kites are blown-up with a pump on the sand and are slowly
lifted as the surfer approaches the beach line. Special precautions
must be held so that innocent passersby do not get hurt. It
is much better for any kite to be launched from within the
water instead of the sand.
There are several quality kite makers that
supply the various shapes, colors and sizes including: Wipika,
Naish, Sea Jump, Seasmik, KiteSki, C-Quad, Banshee, Concept
Air and fOne. 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. Some people have been creative and created their own
kites.
The last piece is the board. Most boards are
rigid, thus there is very little movement involved. Your feet
become harnessed to the board and a leash is recommended so
you do not lose the board after a crash or re-entry from the
sky. 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.
The
History of KiteSurfing |
How
To KiteSurf | Choosing
the Right Kitesurfing Kite For You |
Kitesurfing
Equipment | Great
Places to KiteSurf | KiteSurfing
Kit |
Do
new kite designs make kiteboarding easier to learn?
|
