It came to my attention yesterday that local kiter Lloyd Wakewood rescued a fellow kiter in distress recently (onya lloyd) . It is something that most of us would do anyway .My point here is that as we were chatting a few things came up .the guy rescued was an experienced kiter .Lloyd went by and checked that he was OK and the guy wasn't . So take a leaf out of Lloyds book and don't assume that if the kiter down is experienced or even the most experienced that they are OK .Swing by and check
Also this might explain drownings of experienced water people .if you get into strife and aren't getting anywhere take stock of the situation .you only have so much energy and it WILL run out .Use your brain and take the action that will best preserve your life .
Life vests also came up .there was general agreement that perhaps life vests aren't such a bad idea (i know that this is controversial but i thought worth mentioning.)
Life vests are a great idea. I use one every session. After crashing my kite and not being able to relaunch (didn't pump kite enough) and lines inverting, I would have had a seriously hard time getting the kite in the air if it were not for my PFD.
I'm not saying everyone should use one but if you're beginning and don't have the most experience in the world, a PFD can make you much more confident on the water.
After kiting for hours you do get tired and it does impact on your ability to stay above water if something goes bad.
Not all PFD's look dicky either. You can find some pretty slim buoyancy vests, if you're concerned about your 'look'. lol.
There are some decent impact vests around that work well with a waist harness they will give you some extra flotation, some of them like the LF one are even a certified life jacket. It is definatly a good idea to have one in your kit even if you dont use it every day, there are some places that you will be fined for kiting if you dont have one, luckily the rules dont get inforced much but in the future i can see people being pulled up more often.
2 thoughts:
If you can't swim you shouldn't be kiteboarding.
Don't go out further than you're willing to swim in.
Totally agree, especially if injured. Just thought I would add something different.
any half experienced kiter should know how to self rescue, when self rescuing you have a big assd kite for flotation so a pfd is almost irrelevant... even when the kite is in the drink floating down wind of you it still gives enough pull to give you some form of floatation, enough to get yourself sorted and get a self rescue going.
not saying pfds are a bad idea at all, i am just saying that when you are a experienced kiter, well actually as soon as you have finished all the relevant lessons you should have enough knowledge to rescue yourself.
if you do not know how to self rescue or create a pontoon from your kite i suggest you get yourself down to your local kiteschool so you can learn how.
i had a kitemare a couple of seasons ago and was getting sucked out to sea on a ever darkening late session. wind was a very slight sou'wester but im pretty sure a strong current got hold of my downed kite?? I only had the waist harness on, kite was down, lines twisted, fairly new to the game, getting pulled under water every so often! anyways had to release the kite completely and swim a fair distance back to shore. kite was never to be seen again and i reported it to the water police that night.
Lesson learnt
next day bought a Dakine impact vest which gives me enough buoyancy to stay above water without restricting movement when all goes to ****e. now i don't kite without it
The most important thing is to remain relaxed.......90% of people will naturally float, add a harness and or wetsuit a relaxed attitude and its pretty hard to drown even when injured.
If you cant relaunch due to broken gear etc.... get to your kite.... if you are unable for whatever reason to roll it up and paddle for a self rescue you may find that by simply spreading your weight across one wingtip of your kite ( whilst it is upside down ) . you can then reach up with one arm and grab the line to the other wingtip ( top side ) and use the kite a bit like a sail ( half your kite anyway )
Obviously you cannot beat upwind like this but it does provide enough push to take you accross the wind and back to shore ( handy if you kite in cross/ off ) and or have an injury and are somewhat limited in movement or strength.
How about, just don't kite in any thing that won't eventually blow you back to land 
Isn't that one of the first principals taught?
I've never lost a kite, board or anything else in the 4+ years I've been kiting and I think this has a pretty big part to play in that fact. 
D
