Author: Tantrum

Performance Kitesurfing in Tarifa, Spain.
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Kitesurfing – Rules of the Road Part 1

Kitesurfing - Rules of the Road
Kitesurfing - Rules of the Road

Kicking off a new series of posts on kitesurfing rules of the road, today we’re going to look at who has right of way when leaving the beach.

I was out kitesurfing the other day and after being cut up several times, having one guy ride up right behind me and basically force me onto the beach and then some other chump simply turn into me I thought I’d better do a few refreshers on basic kitesurfing etiquette and rules of the road as it seems very few people actually get it, or are ever taught it. Rules of the road are vital especially as spots get more crowded due to the increased popularity of kitesurfing. They help prevent collisions but also prevent too much stress appearing on the water, I really don’t want to see the day when kitesurfing becomes like surfing and there’s so much anger out there that people are literally fighting on the beach.

So this ones easy it simply states that the the kitesurfer leaving the beach has right of way over the kitesurfer coming into the beach. This rule is true as long as the rider leaving the beach it trying to get through the white water. As soon as they are ‘out back’ into the green un-breaking waves other rules will apply. But if your heading out from the beach and struggling with white water you have right of way.

The logic behind this rule is fairly obvious the rider trying to get over the white water is having a much harder time of it than any rider coming over the back of the waves and so should be given plenty of room to get themselves out of the impact zone in into the big blue.

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Are the Kitesurfing Pro’s out of Touch with Kitesurfers?

A few years ago now Lewis Crathern jumped the Worthing pier (he’s now done the Brighton one as well!). Posted on You Tube multiple times it is thought that well over a million people have seen this video.

If you haven’t seen it have a watch of his Brighton jump, it’s awesome:

By comparison the PKRA would tour Thailand video 2010 has only 8,218 hits many years later. Surely this is sending a message to the kitesurf media and the kitesurf world tours, both of which are struggling for publicity at the moment.

People aren’t interested in seeing a triple back loop, kite loop to blind….or whatever the hell it is, I’ve been kitesurfing in Tarifa for 13 years and I have no idea what that is nor do I particularly care.

People want to see big air and massive spectacle, that’s why Ruben Lentons videos rank so well on You Tube, as he is well known for huge jumps and insane powered kite loops.

The “wow” factor in these videos is something everyone can identify with kitesurfer or not, hell even my accountant saw the video of the Worthing Pier..and wrote to me to tell me to watch it!

Now I know we can’t go around jumping piers and such like and I certainly don’t recommend the world tours adds this event to their schedule but if the world tours don’t take heed from this and give the people what they want, ie spectacle, we could find that kitesurfing becomes increasingly marginalised as it becomes harder and harder to promote to the general public.

Over the last few years the King of the Air has become the most widely anticipated event in kitesurfing.

Held once a year in Capetown the concept is simple, jump as high as you can. This event draws massive crowds and has big media coverage, indeed it’s streamed all over the world live to loads of viewers.

Can we have more of this please?

To check out this years King of the Air click here >>

Or watch this video for last years highlights:

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Ten Top Tips to Improve your Kitesurfing

Learning to Fly

Riding strapless, you should understand how your board feels while in the air. This feeling is like standing on the beach on a windy day and angling your board into the wind so it hangs on your fingertips. First, find a balanced point on your board. Then, with lots of speed, start hitting little waves and letting yourself “float” through the air. Don’t ollie; just let the board come up slowly. Avoid grabbing the board — that’s not balance, just force. Mastering this will help you learn airs and also keep your feet glued to the board when just riding around. — Jon Modica

Keep Growing

You don’t ever want to become too comfortable and grow stagnant. I mean, you’ll do two tricks to your left and one to the right for months — but really never try anything else. To counter this, step outside the box, visualize a new move and then make it happen. Sometimes we focus too much on tricks we already know and don’t keep growing with the sport. — Damien LeRoy

Visualize Success

When pulling any trick, visualization is a really important factor. If you can’t see yourself pulling a trick in your head, it’s going to be even harder in the water. I’ve used visualization for years. I’ll study videos and use slow motion replay to understand what the person is doing and what the kite is doing. Once you’re able to visualize everything, walk yourself through the trick on land, so your body gets a feel for the motion. — Damien LeRoy

Upwind Anchoring

The key to staying upwind is to set specific landmarks, so you know your position in the water at all times. Before your session, assess the wind direction and your riding location. Look for points on the water and on land you can spot while riding. Your goal should be to get back to these points on each of your tacks. — Matt and Keegan Myers

Spin Control

When learning spins, it’s important to maintain control of your kite throughout the rotation. Many riders will initiate the trick but then lose control of the kite. First, mentally process how you’ll control the kite, and most importantly, know which hand you’ll use to get the kite in the proper direction for landing. For nearly all tricks, you’ll use your back hand to send the kite and lead hand to direct the kite down for landing. — Matt and Keegan Myers

Geared Up

Always make sure you’re 100 percent confident in your equipment before you get out on the water. You should know how to tune your kite, so when it’s fully powered up, with the bar all the way to the chickenloop, it’s not over-sheeted — where the rear of the kite is pinched together. Over-sheeted kites are very common, and they can destroy your session even before you hit the water. If you completely understand how your kite functions, you’ll get the most out of every session. — Matt & Keegan Myers

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How to Maintain Your Kite’s Bridle System

The Hybrid Kite

One of the most overlooked — yet extremely important — parts of a kite is the bridle system. The bridle is composed of the lines supporting the kite’s shape as well as the pulleys that slide along these lines to change the angle of attack. On most systems, when a bridle line breaks during flight, it can completely disable the safety system, resulting in a total loss of control. Because of this risk, you should routinely check the bridle for wear and tear before each session.

The most common forms of bridle wear:

— Jammed, rusted or worn pulleys caused by sand and/or normal use
— Broken or popped stitches on the loops at the ends of each line
— Frayed lines caused by the lines rubbing against one another or by contact with rocks, shells or old pulleys

Locations and components that should be inspected regularly:

— Check pulleys for proper use and smooth rolling.
— Check sheaths — the braided coating on all lines that protect the internal Spectra lines — for wear.
— Check connection points along the kite’s leading edge, which often touches the ground when not flying.
— Check main flying-line connections that get connected and disconnected with every use.

Replacing and fixing bridle components:

— Most repair centers can build replacement lines for any kitesurfing kite, so don’t buy a completely new bridle.
— The easiest way to replace a line is to remove and measure the corresponding line on the opposite side of the kite. It’s best to replace both the broken line and the good line to assure they are even in length and strength.
— Lay the line out and measure from one end to the other end, including the loops at the ends.
— Never tie a broken line back together with a knot! This shortens the bridle and can create a dangerous imbalance in the system.

Repair costs (estimates based on local Tarifa prices):

— A replacement sewn bridle line ranges from 10 € to 20 € per line.
— Replacement pulleys are 4 € to 7 € each.
— Pigtails are (roughly) 5 € each, or you can get a complete eight-piece set for 25 €.

If you’re looking to prolong the life of your kite and bridle, remember to inspect and replace worn lines immediately, while replacing pulleys at least once a year. Regular maintenance combined with a little cleaning will not only ensure your entire system lasts much longer, but it will also provide you with a better return when it comes time to upgrade or change kites.