Nice to have vs. Must Have - Safety Equipment

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

lessons, wetsuit, brains are a must! If you cant swim don't learn to kite!
the rest are up to you. I have a 3/4 suite and a shorty. I am fine in all conditions with those two suits. In the early season I wear my shorty under my full. Its a good idea to always wear a suit especially if its your first season of kiting. you will be doing alot of swimming and its better to be warm then cold.

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

I think the PFD is junk as it is just one more thing with tons of straps to get your lines caught up on. I used an impact vest when I was taking lessons... So my first two times kiting. After that you don't really need it IMO.

wylieflyote · Thu Jun 23, 11 7:20 am

I always have a kite knife at the ready. I've never used it, but on rare occasions I've read horror stories where a knife would've helped.

I have air bags in my cars and I've never used one of those either.

Helmet- almost never
Life vest - never
Impact vest- sometimes for added warmth, and new trick hits.
Board leash- never (but considering one for a directional Ft Stevens day)

FYI, I place a second kite leash out of the way on the opposite hip that is only there for those annoying times when a kite is in the water and miserably tangled. This provides a leash to the $600 board that is slowly drifting away while I'm focused on the kite problem.

Nak · Thu Jun 23, 11 7:46 am

Part of it is personal experience. I'm a better swimmer than most, yet I always wear some type of flotation. Why? I almost drowned once. Didn't like it at all. For me, I think the risk of injury in this sport is high enough that I want to be able to float while mostly incapacitated. That said, I think a CGA PFD is too bulky, and straps are a hazard as well. I'm a big fan of the Liquid Force impact vests. No straps, and they're compact enough that they don't interfere with your movements at all. (Most of the time I don't even notice I'm wearing it. ) Enough flotation to help you a bit if you're conscious. They will, however, degrade your upwind capability during bodydraging just a little bit.

Line knife. Not too many military trained pilots would kite without one of these. Old training dies hard. Start getting wrapped up in lines and bad things happen. Even a fairly mild incident could result in drowning if you're not wearing flotation. Hopefully, you'll never get tangled up in your lines. If you do, or you see somebody else who has, a hook knife could be the difference between life & death.

Helmet. I don't wear one as much as I should. (Or ever really... Embarassed

) If you're in shallow water or near hard objects, could be a deal breaker. I witnessed one incident where the guy was merely hurt; had he not been wearing a helmet he would have been dead. On the con side, I've seen arguments that the "cupping" effect of hitting the water at high speed with a helmet could cause neck injuries. I have no idea if that argument is fact based or just an urban myth.

Cold water gear. (wetsuit, drysuit, booties, etc ) Dress for the swim, not the ride. Every time you ride.

Common sense. Never leave home without it. Don't ride out further than you'd be able to swim back. Check for other river traffic on EVERY tack. etc

Swimming skills. Hit the pool occasionally. Swim some laps, polish your technique. How far can you swim? Do you really KNOW? Or do you just think you're in great shape and therefore can swim a long ways? You might be really surprised by your limits. Best to find those limits when your life isn't on the line. How many kiteboarders have practiced swimming in rough water? Not very many. Rough water swimming is a whole other skill set, one very kiteboarder should learn.

Different situations may call for other gear. For instance, on winter downwinders I carry a cell phone in a waterproof case, one I can make calls with while the phone is in the bag. I have 911, my wife, and an appropriate taxi service programmed in to the speed dial. (Try dialing with neoprene gloves and cold hands... ) Other situations might call for other gear.

krueg · Since 16 Feb 2010 51 Posts Wenatchee Wa **CGKA Member**

Must have: 6 pack of good beer!
This is for the guy who retrieves your board, drags you out of the barge lane just in time, untagles your rats nest after a kitemare, etc. It's the most common currency among kiters of any nationality, and goes along way in boosting your status among kiters.

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 485 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

I've noticed the NPX bamboo charcoal wetsuits don't seem to provide as much buoyancy as a conventional suit.

I have a 543 NPX Zealot but that combined with a liquid force harness isn't enough to keep me floating without treading water. I picked up the NPX cult impact vest and have been really happy that I did. Just enough flotation now and no noticeable restriction in movement, I can even still grab indy which was always a challenge for me. the impact protection is nice too although its hard to tell how much it actually helps. I still feel like my shit gets worked pretty good at times. haha

I wear a helmet about half the time. for some reason helmet straps combined with saltwater gives me a rash on my neck where the chin strap rubs.

I keep a kite knife on the front of my harness too. never needed to use it but I kite alone a lot and figure its a good idea.

buddy system and emergency game plan are always nice to have too.

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

Like NAK, I would prefer not to drown. I just went with a Hyperflex AMP K 5/3 suit. Do I need more buoyancy from an impact vest?

I'm not really worried about impact at this point, but I have this thing about drowning...

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

All required safety equipment is pictured below.

I'm surprised that no one had yet mentioned the abrasion resistant qualities of cut-off jeans...

krueg · Since 16 Feb 2010 51 Posts Wenatchee Wa **CGKA Member**

Hell Yea!!! Stylish and has the balls to fly a two line kite! he's Freakin Superman!

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Where do you even find a 2 line kite? Large trainer?