Kitesurf kites:A frequently asked question when it comes to kitesurf kites is how best to take care of them.  Although not much

maintenance is involved, the little bit of care listed below will ensure that your kite lasts much longer.

 

Maintenance steps for kitesurf kites

 

1.      The arch enemy of all kitesurf kites is sand.  Always clear away all sand before packing away your kite as sand rubbing against the kite can wear through the cloth.

 

2.      Always ensure that your kite is dry before you pack it away as stowing a wet sail could result in mildew, unpleasant odors and occasionally colors will run on wet kites.

 

3.      Avoid obstacles, snags, tangled lines and scraping by leaving the rigging and pumping up of your kitesurfer until you get to the beach.

 

4.      Do not self launch, especially if you are using bows and C shape kitesurf kites since these launches inevitably involve scraping on the sand, leading to wear and tear in the long run.

 

5.      Care for the kite pump’s hose by storing it separately from the pump it self.  If you leave it attached to the pump, it is likely to bend and tear, rendering the hose useless.

 

6.      Prevent knots from forming in your lines as each knot reduces the strength of the line by fifty percent and could lead to a line breaking.  Always wash the bar in fresh water before packing away your kit as salt water on the bar will damage your lines.

 

7.      Kitesurf kites should be laid out flat before being pumped up in order to prevent bladder twist from forming in their leading edge, as happens when kitesurf kites are allowed to unroll by themselves when being pumped.  Also note that the kite valves will stretch if you put the pump nozzle to deep into the valve

 

8.      Protect kitesurf kites by keeping them in their bags during transporation as their fabric is easily damaged by objects such as board fins and other parts of your kitesurfing kit.

 

9.      Don’t hold onto your kite if it drops into the water.  Kitesurf kites will stretch if there is tension between the kitesurfer and the kite and the waves will most likely tear it so rather let it go, even if it means you will end up in the drink.

 

10.  Kitesurf kites should never be left at the mercy of the elements as exposure to the sun will make them brittle and faded while surface fatigue will result if they are left to flap in the wind.

 

Injuries sustained when using kitesurf kites

 

Nothing beats doing breathtaking stunts while enjoying big air on a high-performance kitesurfer and it is not surprising that kiteboarding enthusiasts are forever striving for more impressive and graceful performances containing movements of increasing style and complexity.  Unfortunately, the more complex the moves, the higher the likelihood of injuries

 

Every effort must be made to avoid injuries but should one occur, the kitesurfer should be able to recognize it and know how to respond.

 

Kiteboarding is still a fledgling sport and not enough time has passed to build up a reliable idea of the frequency and pattern of injuries that take place.  However, a six-month research project involving 235 kiteboarders indicated that kiteboarding falls into the high-risk category when it comes to water sports (Nickel, 2004).

 

The research indicated a ratio of seven injuries per thousand practicing hours but this ratio doubled during competitions when it rose to 16.5 injuries per thousand competition hours (Nickel. 2004).  The major cause of injuiries was identified as being loss of kite control due to technical errors, too large kitesurf kites and too strong wind conditions that led to collisions with stones, sailing vessels or the beach (Petersen, 2002).

 

Nickel’s 2004 study indicated that 56% of kiting injuries were caused by the kiteboarder being too slow in detaching from the harness or de-powering the kite.  Injuries that occurred when quick release mechanisms were employed were less serious as was also found in a South African study (Exadaktylos, 205) where 25 out of 30 subjects could not detach themselves from their kite.

 

Kitesurf kites and the location and type of injuries incurred

 

Parts of the body that are most commonly injured:

 

§  Injuries to feet, ankles and knees happen when riders are thrown from the board or the board twist beneath them as they land or by a wave (45%)

§  The majority of head injuries occur when kitesurfers are not wearing their helmets and boards are pulled back onto their heads by board leashes (18%)

§  Neck injuries are caused by whiplash and muscle strain

§  Back pain and back strain may result from pumping up kitesurf kites and fractures to the spine could be caused by beach landings.

§  Chest or trunk injuries (16%)

§  Upper extremity injuries include overuse, tennis elbow or epicondylosis and dislocated shoulders (18%)

 

The types of injuries that occur vary, with contusions, cuts and abrasions making up most of the superficial injuries, most commonly caused by being picked up by strong on-shore gusts and dropping onto objects on the beach or on land (37%).

 

Other common kiteboarding injuries are sprains and strains (26%) and fractures (14%) .

 

Situations identified as containing most risk for kitesurfers seem to be when experienced enthusiasts encounter strong on-shore winds while launching or when landing on or close to the shore and the lower limbs are the areas of the body that are most at risk of injury.

 

It remains advisable for anyone heading for the beach with their kitesurf kites to ensure that protective gear in the form of helmets, wetsuits and breastplates form part of their gear.