Kiteboarding

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Kiteboarding is an action sport that combines aspects of wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding, and sailing into one extreme sport. The kiteboarder harnesses the power of the wind with a controlled large kite force to be pushed across water, soil, or snow. On water, a kiteboard, similar to a wakeboard or a small surfboard, with or without footstraps or bindings, is used. Kitesurfing is a special kiteboarding style for riding waves, which use standard surfboards or boards that are specially shaped for that purpose. On land, mountain boards or horse-drawn carriages used when skiing or snowboarding can be used in the snow,

There are various kiteboarding styles, including freestyle, freeride, speed, course racing, wakestyle, big air, park, and surf.

With the development of the Internet market for second hand goods, used kiteboarding equipment but reliable has become much cheaper, significantly reducing the barrier to sports adoption. In addition, this sport is really convenient in terms of transportation and storage, because the kites can be folded and boards smaller than surfboards and rowboards.

Compared to other sailing sports, kiteboarding is both cheaper and more convenient. It's also unique because it harvests wind energy from a much larger atmospheric volume, compared to screen size.

In 2012, the number of kitesurfers is estimated by ISAF and IKA in 1.5 million people worldwide (pending review). The global market for kite gear sales is worth US $ 250 million.

Video Kiteboarding

History

In the 1800s, George Pocock used a larger-size kite to push the carts on land and ships on water, using a four-line control system - the same system commonly used today. Both carts and boats are capable of spinning and sailing against the wind. Kites can be flown for sustained periods. The goal is to build kitepower as an alternative to horsepower, in part to avoid the horse taxes that he hates were picked up at the time. In 1903, aviation pioneer, Samuel Cody, developed a "human lifter kite" and managed to cross the English Channel on a small, folded canvas boat that was moved by a kite.

In the late 1970s, the development of Kevlar then Spectra's flying line and more controllable kites with increased efficiency contributed to the practical kite traction. In 1978, Ian Day's "Torni Catamaran" Katrina Tornado exceeded 40 km/h.

In October 1977 Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise (Netherlands) received the first patent for KiteSurfing. Patents include, in particular, water sports using a floating board of a type of surfboard in which a pilot stands on it pulled by a wind catcher of a parachute type attached to its seat belt on a trapeze belt. Although this patent does not generate commercial interests, Gijsbertus Adrianus Panhuise can be considered as the originator of KiteSurfing.

Throughout the 1980s, there were successful attempts to combine kites with canoes, ice skates, snow skis, water skis and skates.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Dieter Strasilla of Germany developed a ski-parachute and then refined the kiteskiing system using homemade parallax and swivel swivels allowing pilots to sail against the wind and uphill but also to fly into the air as they pleased. Strasilla and his Swiss friend Andrea Kuhn used this discovery in combination with surfboards and self-made snowboards, grasskies and pirates. One of his patents depicts in 1979 the first use of the inflatable kite design for kitesurfing.

Two brothers, Bruno Legaignoux and Dominique Legaignoux, from the Atlantic coast of France, developed kitesurfing kites in the late 1970s and early 1980s and patented the inflatable kite design in November 1984, a design that has been used by companies to develop their own products..

In 1990, a kite buggy was practically pioneered by Peter Lynn at Argyle Park in Ashburton, New Zealand. Lynn combines a three-wheeled wheel with a pioneer of modern parafoil kites. Buggy kites proved popular all over the world, with over 14,000 buggies sold until 1999.

The development of modern kitesurfing by Roeselers in the United States and Legaignoux in France is done in parallel with buggying. Bill Roeseler, a Boeing aerodynamic, and his son Cory Roeseler patented the "KiteSki" system consisting of waterbirds powered by two delta-style kite lines controlled by a bar combined with a winch/brake. The KiteSki was commercially available in 1994. The kites have an imperfect water launch capability and can go up against the wind. In 1995, Cory Roeseler visited Peter Lynn at New Zealand's Clearwater Lake in the Ashburton Alpine Lakes area, demonstrating speed, balance, and wind against the wind on his 'ski'. In the late 1990s, Cory's skiing evolved into a board similar to a surfboard.

In 1996, Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin were instrumental in demonstrating and popularizing kites off the coast of Hawaii on Maui while in Florida RaphaÃÆ' luk changed the name of the sport from flying surf to kite surfing by starting and promoting the industry's first commercial brand. Kitesurf ".

In 1997, the Legaignoux brothers developed and sold the groundbreaking "Wipika" kite design that incorporated the already established inflatable pipe structure and simple restraints for the wingtips, both of which greatly assisted the relaunch of water. Bruno Legaignoux continues to improve kite designs, including developing a kite flying design, which has been licensed to many kite manufacturers.

In 1997, a special kite board was developed by Raphaà «Ã« Salles and Laurent Ness. By the end of 1998, kitesurfing had become an extreme sport, distributed and taught through a small group of stores and schools around the world. The first competition was held in Maui in September 1998 and was won by Flash Austin.

Beginning in 1999, kitesurfing became a major sport with the influx of windsurfing key manufacturers namely Robby Naish and Neil Pryde. The single directional board derived from windsurfing design and surfing becomes the dominant form of kiteboard. From 2001 onwards, bi-directional twin-tip boards became more popular for most flat water riders, with directional boards still used for wave conditions.

In May 2012, the kitesurfing style racing course was announced as a sport for the 2016 Rio Olympics, replacing windsurfing. However, after a vote by the ISAF General Assembly in November 2012 (in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland), RSX wind pilots were restored for Men and Women, this was an unprecedented decision when ISAF constituency members overthrew the decision made by the ISAF Council therefore, Kitesurfing remains a non-Olympic sport until the earliest 2020s. The mid-year ISAF meeting in May 2013 proposes finding the eleventh medal to include kitesurfing by 2020 at the same time there is a commitment made to maintain 10 other existing classes such as for 2020 and even 2024 including RSX windsurfing for men and women.

Kitesurfing was named the official event at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

Record jump (height, length, time)

Nick Jacobsen reached the world record for the highest jump jump measured by WOO Sports on February 19, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa, during a session with 40-knot winds. Jacobsen jumps to 28.6 meters, with a run time of 8.5 seconds.

Jesse Richman holds the record for a hangtime in 22 seconds, set at Crissy Field in San Francisco, California.

Note speed

Kitesurfer France SÃ © Â © bastien Cattelan became the first sailor to break the 50 knot barrier by reaching 50.26 knots on October 3, 2008 at LÃÆ'¼deritz Speed ​​Challenge in Namibia. On October 4, Alex Caizergues (also from France) broke this record with a 50.57 knot run. The same speed was achieved by windsurfing at the same location by Anders Bringdal and Antoine Albeau, 50.46 and 50.59 knots respectively. This speed is verified, but it must still be ratified by the World Record Council. Earlier on the show, on September 19, American Rob Douglas reached 49.84 knots (92.30 km/h), becoming the first kitesurfer to set a world record straight at sailing speed. Previously the record was only held by a sailboat or windsurfing. Douglas also became the third sailor of the knob above 50, when on September 8 he performed a 50.54 knot (93.60 km/h) run.

On November 14, 2009, Alex Caizergues completed another 50.98 knot run in Namibia.

In October 2010, Rob Douglas became the record holder for a short distance of 500 meters with 55.65 knots. SÃÆ' Â © bastien Cattelan became the record holder of France and Europe with 55.49 and was the first rider to reach 55 knots.

On 13 November 2017, Frenchman Alex Caizergues became the holder of a new world speed record in France (Salin de Giraud) reaching 57.97 knots or 107.36 km/h.

Remote

Famous trips

Louis Tapper completed the longest recorded kite journey, completing 2000 km between Salvador and Sao Luis, Brazil. The journey was completed between July/August 2010 and took over 24 days kitesurfing. This journey is also the longest solo journey, completed without a support crew, using a single kite and 35 liter backpack.

The longest recorded kite ride ever by Eric Gramond completes a 13-day journey of 1450 km along the coast of Brazil.

Straits Bering Strait

Constantin Bisanz, a 41-year-old Austrian, crossed the Bering Strait 50-mile strait from Wales, Alaska on August 12, 2011 at 4:00 am, and arrived in eastern eastern Russia two hours later, after which he was returned by boat to Alaska. It happened after 2 previous attempts failed, the first occurred on July 28, 2011, where an incident occurred where he found himself floating in water 36Ã, Â ° F without boards, kites or GPS units for 1 hour before being rescued. On his second attempt on Aug. 2, he and two friends sailed half a distance before turning around due to poor wind conditions.

Transatlantic crossing

A team of six kitesurfers, Filippo van Hellenberg Hubar, Eric Pequeno, Max Blom, Camilla Ringvold, Ike Frans and Dennis Gijsbers crossed the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to the Turks and Caicos Islands some 3,500 miles (5,600 km) from November 20, 2013, to December 17, 2013. Each of the six spent four hours each day surfing, split into two sessions of two hours each, one day, and the other at night.

Maps Kiteboarding

Government

Kiteboarding has undergone many changes in sporting governance on the world stage. Currently all world cup events are approved by the International Olympic Committee through World Sailing. World Sailing then divided the government between the Global Kitesports Association (disciplined expression) and the International Kiteboarding Association (racing discipline). GKA then divides the discipline of expression, choosing to run its own Wave and Strapless Tour, while allowing the World Kiteboarding League to run the freestyle and Kite Park League to run the park.

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Styles

Several different kitesurfing styles evolved, some of them crossing.

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Technique

Kiteboarding can pose a danger to surfers, beachgoers, observers and others on the water. Many of the problems and dangers that may be encountered when learning kiting can be avoided or minimized by taking professional instruction through the learning center. Kitesurfing School provides courses and lessons to teach skills including kite launches, flying, landing, use of bars, lines and security devices. Basic skills include:

• Turn on, especially "heels"
• Fly under control and jump, major sporting attractions
• The board is contested, the trick is done when the rider jumps or has gained air from appearing by grabbing the board in a number of positions with both hands. Each grab has a different name depending on which part of the board is taken and with the hand that reaches it. These names generally come from other board sports such as skateboards and snowboarding

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Wind

Wind power and kite size

Kitesurfers change the size of a kite and/or line length depending on the strength of the wind - stronger winds calling smaller kites to prevent overpower situations. Kitesurfers will determine the strength of the wind using an anemometer or, more typically, visual cues as shown in the Beaufort scale. Modern kites dedicated to kitesurfing provide a choice of "depower" to reduce strength in the kite. By using the depower, the angle of the kite attack into the wind is reduced, thus capturing less wind in the kite and reducing power or pull.

The kite arc has a wider wind range than C-overpass, so two kite sizes (like 7 mÃ,² and 12 mÃ,²) can form vibrate effectively for winds ranging from 10 to 30 knots for a 75 kg rider ( 165 pounds).

Wind direction and speed

Cross-coast and cross-sea breezes are the best for kiteboarding without help. Direct ground winds carry the risk of being thrown on land or trapped in shallow water. Offshore wind poses a danger of being blown away from the beach in case of equipment failure or loss of control. However, offshore winds can be very suitable in limited waters, such as in lakes or estuaries, or when safety boats are helping.

Kiter must maintain a clear perception of wind direction but also wind speed. The Beaufort scale is helpful in helping users assess the situation. The wind range of up to 33 knots includes conditions for a safe workout for experienced riders. A less experienced person should avoid riding with more than 15 knots. Most twintip boards and inflatable kites can hardly be driven under 11 knots, therefore for most cases users should focus on moderate to strong winds.

Apparently the wind

Even if there is no wind blowing, kiter can act on the kite line and force it to move, and then, as with a row, it generates the power generated from the air event to the kite surface. In a gentle breeze, if a user action increases the air velocity around the kite 10 times, the resulting force increases 100 times, because the wind force acting on the kite is proportional to the square of the wind velocity acting on it. Thus the relevant idea of ​​ is clear wind, which is the actual wind acting on a moving, sailing or winged kite.

The visible wind is measured by taking the moving kite as a reference frame, therefore another name is relative wind . By contrast, the wind measured relative to the ground is called the true wind .

While other wind sports can produce very clear winds, their wind power is limited by the movement of the user platform, since it is mounted more or less rigidly to the wings or screens. In this aspect, kiteboarding looks unique among other wind sports, as it allows the user to generate a clear wind regardless of the user's platform, board movement. For example, in an early kiteboard technique called waterstart, while the user prepares to start in water, the kite is sent aggressively, producing a driving impulse. Then the resulting movement of the board increases the tension on the kite line, which is controlled by the user to adjust the driving speed and to navigate at will. The motion composition of both kites and boards, offers the user plenty of navigation flexibility and creativity, including the possibility to jump significantly, making it a true 3 dimensional sport.

Wind power, control path, and kite path

In some ways, all wind sports harvest wind energy. The greater the atmospheric volume available to be harvested by the screen, the greater the energy available to drive users. Because the higher sailing boats harvest more energy from the wind, so does the kiteboarder with longer lines. Compared to kiteboarder, windsurfer can extract wind energy ratios higher than available atmospheric volume, but because the volume is much smaller, the energy produced can be much less than in kiteboarding.

To increase strength, kiteboard usually moves kites along an S-shaped path, increasing the energy harvest as it traverses most of the atmospheric volume around it. This S-shaped movement is most common when the kiter requires a moderate increase in power. If the user needs an intense power boost, it will rotate the kite. This kind of loop is stronger when the circle radius is large, and traverses the larger atmospheric volume. Kite flying is an advanced exercise, and its power can be very dangerous. With most of the modern kites and control bars, to end the kite loop, the user just pushes or releases the blades.

Regarding the length of the line connecting the kite with the user, the longer line allows the user to harvest wind energy in larger volumes. Due to the longer layer boundary effect it is also possible to harvest stronger winds higher in the atmosphere. However, longer lines make the kite slower respond to user actions on the control bar, because the lines form a more prominent caste. Therefore, kitesurfers, which need to react quickly to incoming waves, tend to use lines that are shorter than other kits. For security reasons, newcomers to sports are usually trained with short lines, limiting the building power.

Window

Window wind is a 180 degree angle of sky against the direction of the rider where the kite can be flown - about a quarter of the surface of the ball, whose radius is the length of the line. This is the atmospheric volume in which kiter can navigate the kite to harvest wind energy.

If the rider is facing the wind on the surface, like the ocean, the wind window covers approximately the entire area the rider can see, starting from the sight of the rider's rim on one side, along the horizon to the other, and then directly above back to the first side. If the rider somehow places the kite out of the window - for example, by riding the wind too fast and sending a kite directly above and behind, the kite will gain time and often fall from the sky.

The inefficiency of the kite can prevent it from reaching the edge of the wind window. In such cases the magnitude of the wind window can be reduced to as little as 120 degrees arc, not the expected 180 degrees.

Window is centered at the user's location. Because the user is carried by the board, the wind window is affected by the movement of the board. Therefore the wind window rotates when the board moves and produces a clear wind into itself. For example, when the kiter navigates perpendicular to the correct wind at the same speed as the actual wind, the visible wind feels on the board rising 42% compared to the actual wind, but spins 45Ã,º towards movement. With such a rotation, even if the user creates a kite at the very end of the wind window to try to pull it toward the journey, the kite line will be at a 45º angle from the board direction, forcing the kiter to edge the board to oppose its tendency to sneak up against wind direction. Creeping such boards is an indispensable technique for navigating winds up, and can be made with far more extreme angles to the kite line, almost up to 90º.

Wind window rotation degrades performance when driving fast in the wind direction against the wind. To minimize the rotation of the wind window and sail against the wind as much as possible, the kiter must maintain the slowest board speed without sinking the board due to lack of hydrodynamic lift. High flotation boards such as surfboards are preferred in such cases. In addition, keeping the kites high in the window, attracting users and boards, is quite efficient at addressing both with hydrodynamic reduction of the board and by reducing the desired board speed.

Temperature and humidity

Experienced workshop players often associate with humid and hotter air, a significant decrease in kite performance. The fact is the lift style of the kite is proportional to the air density. Since both temperature and relative humidity are important destructive factors in air density, the subjective judgment is correct.

In the range between 10Ã,ºC and 40Ã,ºC the kite loses about 0.4% of the elevators per degree Celsius. This means that kiter who practice one day in the Baltic, and then travel to the Mediterranean, can experiment 10% less interesting using the same kite at the same wind speed.

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Location

Each location with consistent coastal winds (10 to 35 knots), large open bodies and a good launch area suitable for kite surfing. Most kitesurfing occurs along the ocean coasts, usually offshore, but can also be done in large lakes and inlets and sometimes in rivers. Because kiteboarding relies heavily on good and consistent wind conditions, certain locations tend to be popular and searchable by kiteboarder.

Maui, Hawaii

Maui is considered one of the best kiteboarding destinations in the world. Tropical Kite Beach has warm waters, strong winds and soft waves.

Tarifa, Spain

Tarifa is a 10 km long bay with wide sandy beach. The town of Tarifa is located at the NE end of the beach. There are different places along the beach. Wind conditions vary with time throughout the year, but the wind is generally more consistent from May to October.

Cumbuco, Brazil

With strong daily side beach breezes and wide sandy beach lagoons, Cumbuco deserves the nickname "Kite Paradise". The best season is from August to December, although January and February can be nice as well.

Nabq_Bay, _Egypt "> Nabq Bay, Egypt

It is a beautiful coastal city, with shallow and flat waters. The wind is blowing at least 20 knots on most days.

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Tools

Electric kite

An electric kite is available in two main forms: leading inflatables and kite foil .

Inflatables at the forefront

Leading inflatable kites , also known as inflatables , LEI kites , usually made of polyester ripstop with a blowing plastic blast spanning the edge front of the kite with a separate small sac that is perpendicular to the main bladder to form a chord or foil of a kite. Inflated bladders give the kite its shape and also make the floating kite once fell into the water. LEIs are the most popular choice among kitesurfers thanks to their faster and more direct responses to rider inputs, the easy relaunchability of falling to water and hardiness. If LEI kites touch water or soil too hard or exposed to large wave activity, the bladder may explode or may tear.

In 2005, the Kite bow (also known as LEI flat kite ) was developed with features including a concave trailing edge, a shallower arc in the form of a plan, and restraints typical with many attachment points along the cutting edge. These features allow the angle of kite attack to be changed more and thus adjust the amount of power generated to a much greater degree than the previous LEI. These kites can be completely lowered, which is a significant safety feature. They can also include a wider wind range than a comparable C-shaped kite. The ability to adjust the angle of attack also makes them easier to relaunch when lying in front first on the water. The kite arc is popular with riders from beginner to advanced. Most LEI kite producers developed variations of bow kites in 2006. The kite arcs with a straight trailing edge are named Â'deltaà © kites, given their triangular lines.

The early bow kite has some disadvantages compared to the LEI classic kites:

• They can be inverted and then not flying properly
• They can be restless and unstable
• Heavier bar pressure makes them more tiring to fly
• Lack of "sled boosting" effect when jumping

In 2006, a second generation LEI flat kite was developed that combined almost total depower and easy, safe launch with higher performance, no performance penalty and reduced bar pressure. Called Hybrid or SLE kite (Leading Edged Leading), this kite is perfect for beginners and experts.

In 2008, Naish introduced another kite design, with their "Sigma Series" kites. This kite is an SLE design and features a unique "flying bird" shape with a swept back kite center to place many sailing areas behind the crane point, which Naish claims has many benefits.

In 2009, the performance revolution showed no signs of slowing down. The stitched design is more similar to the C-kite, and the five-line hybrid has better depowering capabilities than ever before. There are more than thirty leading kite inflatable manufacturing companies. delta has grown in popularity since 2008 with about 12 companies offering delta-kites since 2008/2009.

Between 2009 and 2013 kite technology continues to grow. Kites become lighter, more durable, easier to launch and more secure. Manufacturers continue to add new security features. This has resulted in a growing number of new riders, both younger and older. In 2013, there are at least 20 major "kite" kites, each with several models available. Many manufacturers are on their third or fourth generation kites.

kite foil

Kite foil is also mostly fabric (nylon ripstop) with an air bag (air cell) to provide it with a lifting rope and a fixed strap to maintain a kite arc shape, similar to a paraglider. Foil kites have the advantage of not having to have a bladder manually, a process that, with LEI, can take up to ten minutes. Foil kites are designed with open or closed cell configurations.

Open Cell

Open cell sheets rely on constant airflow to the inlet valve to keep increasing, but it is generally impossible to relaunch if they are on water, because they have no means of avoiding deflation, and quickly become soaked.

Closed Cell

Closed cell foils are almost identical to open cell sheets unless they are equipped with an inlet valve to hold air in the chamber, thus keeping the kite elevated (or, at least, making deflation so slow) even once in the water. Water is relaunched with a simple closed-cell foil kite; a steady pull on the power line usually allows them to take off again. An example for a closed-cell kite is the Arc Kite.

Size of kite

The kites come in sizes ranging from 0.7 square meters to 21 square meters, or even bigger. In general, the larger the surface area, the more power a kite has. The power of the kite is also directly related to the speed, and the smaller kites can be flown faster in stronger winds. The size of the kite - the wind speed curve decreases, so going to the larger kite to reach the lower wind span becomes useless at wind speeds of about eight knots. Kites come in various designs. Some kites are more rectangular; others have a more pointed tip; each design determines the flying characteristics of a kite. The 'Aspect ratio' is the ratio of range to length. The high aspect ratio (kite like ribbon) develops more power in lower wind speeds.

Kiteboarding is seen as a high to medium intensity physical exercise, but freeriding can actually be a low intensity exercise such as walking, and is usually performed in long sessions of up to 2-3 hours. This is acceptable for almost any age, at least from teenagers up to 70 years or older. This can be seen as a supplement or substitute for other fitness exercises.

Regular practice of kiteboarding can bring very specific benefits such as:

• Full body fitness training.
• Development of body movement coordination.
• Consolidate swimming capacity and addapation to aquatic environments, currents, waves, etc.
• Attention, as exercise releases endorphins and requires constant attention, develops the capacity to focus the mind at this point, and recovers from daily stress, which also aids the immune system.
• Develop community competencies, as practitioners need and have many opportunities to share experiences and help each other. This is very common and even the sports etiquette norms that unknown people help each other and exchange experiences. And it's not just during the dreaded summer summer heat, where everyone just sits side by side in front of the plane, exchanging annedocts while waiting for the wind to take.
• Develop an attitude towards the environment, because handling and relying regularly on nature itself is arguably an excellent education to respect the environment.
• Developing perseverance and character in facing challenges. If it was not for nature itself shocking and challenging even the most experienced practitioners, kiteboarding encompasses a diverse set of variations and modalities, each with their own new tricks and special nuances.
• Inspires practitioners to travel to new locations, and searches for famous places from new perspectives, such as freeride along the coastline as opposed to driving along coastal roads.

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Dangers and security

Electric kites are powerful enough to attract riders like boats on wakeboarding and to lift their users to the heights of diving. Uncontrolled flying can be dangerous, especially in difficult environments. A rider may lose control of a fall or from sudden wind blows, which can occur in the presence of strong winds from storms or storms (collard).

It is possible to be seriously hurt after being lifted, dragged, carried away, blown down or broken, resulting in collisions with hard objects including sand, buildings, terrain or power lines or even by hitting the water surface at sufficient speed or altitude ("kitemare", portmanteau kites and nightmares). Adequate quality kiteboarding training, careful development of experience and consistent use of consistent assessment and safety equipment will result in fewer problems with kiteboarding.

Weather

Weather forecasts and awareness are key factors for safe kiteboarding. Lack of awareness of the weather and understanding of the numbers often occur, but avoiding weather problems is possible. Unsuitable location choices for kiteboarding where the winds over land create a shadow of the wind, rotor with gusts and clear pauses have also been taken into account in many accidents. Paying attention to the weather and staying within the limits of the ability of the rider will provide the safest experience. Kitesurfing close to the storm front can be very dangerous because of the rapid change in the strength and direction of the wind.

The aggravating factor

The lack of sufficient downwind buffer spacing between the kiter and hard objects has contributed to the accident reducing the distance and time available for the reaction. Jumping and airing in inappropriate places such as shallow water or near or floating objects can be dangerous. Collisions with wind surfers, other kite boarders or water crafts are a hazard, especially in busy locations.

Solo kiteboarding has often been the cause of accidents; luggage players should try to kite with friends and keep an eye on each other. A kitesurfer can be farther from the beach than an easy swimming, which is the main reason kitesurfing in the offshore wind is discouraged. Sea hazards include sharks, jellyfish, sea otters, dolphins, and even crocodiles, depending on its location. Drowning is also a factor in severe accidents and may have been avoided in some cases through the use of flotation aids or appropriate impact vests and the development of acceptable swimming skills.

Security equipment

Some kite designs from late 2005 onwards have incorporated direct and almost fully integrated depower with control bars and an improved fast release mechanism, both of which make the sport much safer. However, the lack of adequate emergency exercises to reduce the kite and exit in too strong or unstable weather may reduce the benefits of very low kites. Another important part of safety equipment is the impact vest, which doubles as a better float device. This reduces the severity of the eventual impact, but also increases the user's durability in the long self-sustaining procedure in deep waters, which almost every freeriding kiter experiences sooner or later. It is also important and ignored as a complementary harness, blocking to climb along the chest during a strong kite loop, which would otherwise hurt the ribs.
Another important part of a reasonable safety kit is a safety knife for cutting tangled lines, helmets in high visibility colors, wet clothes with reasonable thickness, depending on water temperature, and possibly neoprene shoes if the beach has many shells. or hard rocks.

Statistics

Accidents can cause serious injury or even death. 105 accidents were reported in the Kiteboarding Safety Information Database between 2000 and September 2003, with 14 fatalities. In South Africa between October 2003 and April 2004, 83% of searches & amp; rescue missions involving kitesurf are in offshore winds with kites still attached to the harness, uncontrolled in high winds or impossible to relaunch in a weak wind. At 30 missions, there were no fatalities but five injuries: two suffered broken bones after being beaten by their boards, two others suffering from hypothermia and critical fatigue and the fifth fatigue and tearing.

While some countries have specific rules about flying kites that may also apply to kitesurfing, most do not. However, a kitesurfer must abide by the shipping rules governing water crafts in many countries, such as US Coast Guard rules. Developed from general rules a specific set of rules or kitesurf recommendations has taken shape since the beginning of the sport.

The first rule is the precautionary rule : with so many people just discovering water sports, you should not assume others have enough knowledge, training or even the proper attitude, and prepare to observe the distance take care of yourself and always let others see clearly the intention and the intended path.

Watertarters have priority : riders who leave the beach are always a priority over incoming riders.

Kite High Rule - Kiter who is fighting the wind (closest to the wind) should keep their kites to avoid the line that crosses the people who are against the wind. Likewise, wind turbines battling the wind should keep their kites low to avoid their line across the kite against the wind. This applies regardless of whether the kiter is in the same field, or against.

Permission Rules - A kiter when jumping must have a clear safe zone of at least 50m downwind as they will move against the wind during a jump. The driver must also have a clear safety zone with a wind speed of 30 m to jump when the line can touch a kite or other lines near the rider (see Kite High rules). It is also important to consider potential hazards against wind and wind blowing from riders such as people, buildings, trees and other fixed obstacles. Due to permission rules, jumpers never have a way right.

Kiter is also considered a sailing ship - so all standard sailing rules apply like:

Starboard Rules When the kiter approaches from the opposite direction, the kiter that has the wind on the right of the ship (right side, right leg/arm pointing toward the journey) has the right path. Kiter that has a wind on the left side (left side, left leg/arm pointing toward the journey) should be away from the other way. In simple terms, this means "stay true" with the kiter coming in the opposite direction passing on the left.

In terms of voyage, a sailor or kiter with the right of the right shall be entitled to "insist" to exercise that right (warning the opposing warrior) by shouting "right" clearly and in good time.

In 2012, the number of kitesurfers is estimated by ISAF and IKA in 1.5 million people worldwide (pending review). The global market for kite gear sales is worth US $ 250 million. The market associated with kiteboarding continues to grow at a very attractive pace, as seen in this statistic from 2012:

• 60,000 new kits annually
• 180,000 kites sold each year
• 75,000 boards sold annually
• 14 board builders
• 19 builders

Evolution of kite sales, Worldwide:

• 1999: 29.000
• 2006: 114 465
• 2008: 140,000
• 2012: 180.000

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Source of the article : Wikipedia