F. K .A.
FLORIDA
KITESURFING ASSOCIATION
SAFETY
GUIDELINES
&
RULES OF THE ROAD
The following guidelines are intended to aid kitesurfer
safety and that of
bystanders. It is important that kitesurfers follow
these guidelines and
other prudent and safe practices to attempt to ensure
continued access to
beaches for kitesurfing.
1. All beginners should seek professional
instruction. Beginners should
drag out two line lengths from shore prior to water
starting.
2. Never kitesurf in conditions, which are too
extreme for either you or
your
equipment. Assess conditions, layout and potential
eventualities to avoid
getting into bad situations. This may assure a good
kitesurfing session at a
minimum and the preservation of your health and safety in
the extreme.
3. Minimum Suggested Safety Equipment: A helmet,
PFD (lifejacket), gloves
and hook knife. Check your gear before and after every
session; replace any
worn or damaged parts before going out.
4. A safety release and leash must be attached to
your body, prior to
launching any water-launchable kite. DO NOT ATTACH BOARD
LEASH until kite is
launched and in the neutral position.
5. Always give way to the public on the beach when
about to launch and
inform them of the danger as few onlookers realize the
possibility of
injury.
Be patient and particularly courteous and cautious. Call
out when you are
about to launch. Avoid launching and landing at public
guarded beaches.
6. Kite flying in potentially violent or unstable
weather is not
recommended.
7. Only fly and/or launch your kite in areas where
you are able to maintain
a 200' safety zone downwind of you that has no
obstructions, including
people. If anyone or thing enters this zone, immediately
fly your kite to
the
overhead neutral zone until the obstruction is clear. If
you are unable to
consistently maintain this safety zone then land and
collect your kite until
you are in a position that is safe to re-launch.
8. Assisted launch and landing is
recommended. While you are setting up
pay
attention to incoming kiters and assist in landing their
kites
9. If lulls occur and/or kite stalling is likely,
the kite should be flown
in "figure eights" overhead to maintain
sufficient forward kite speed to
avoid kite stalling and falling.
10. Kitesurfers yield right of way to all other beach and
water users.
Riders must yield to kitesurfers when jumping,
maneuvering, or riding on
port
tack (left hand forward). Incoming riders give way to
those launching.
11. Grounded kites must be sufficiently weighted (sand,
if available) to
offset strong gusts and if unattended, disabled by
disconnecting all lines
from one side and roll your lines when not in use.
12. Beach jumping or extended traction kite flying on the
beach is NOT
encouraged, particularly in congested beach areas!!
13. Jumping kiters sacrifice right away. Jumping
kitesurfers should avoid
shallow water.
14. DO NOT COME WITHIN 200ft OF guarded or congested
BEACH OR SWIM AREAS
UNLESS LAUNCHING OR LANDING and then only if locally
permitted! ! Approach
the shore slowly with caution. Take care to avoid
causing an accidental
jump
by slowing suddenly while approaching the shore
15. BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECT THE LIFEGUARDS, PARK
OFFICIALS, COAST GUARD AND
OTHER PUBLIC AUTHORITIES. If they request that you stop
kitesurfing please
comply, find out the reasons (without arguing), and then
bring them to the
Florida Kitesurfing Association.
This is by no means a final and definitive list of safety
guidelines. This
sport is in its infancy and is still evolving. We
welcome all members of
the
FKA to provide feedback on safety guidelines to the
Association.
Join the Florida Kitesurfing Association kitesurfer
database. You will be
assured of getting timely information on kitesurfing
access developments,
events, incidents and other important information to
kitesurfers in the
State
of Florida. Your participation may make the
difference in your beach as
well
as others, staying open to kitesurfing.
Thank you,
The FKA
FKA REGISTRATION FORM:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FKSA/files
WATERSPORTS UNLIMITED INC. &
KITESURF U S A
301 SEABREEZE BLVD.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL. 33316
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