There are 5 different categories of equipment that a beginner kite surfer needs. These are the kite including the kite’s bridle, the lines, the kite control device including safety release system, the board including fins, foot strap or binding and leash and the kite surfer including harness, life jacket, water shoes and helmet.
Any traction kite, which is a large controllable kite that can generate pull while flying, can be used for this sport. Kites that are relaunchable and high performance are the most desirable. Relaunchable kites are ones that are relaunched from the water after a fall and high performance can be used for jumping and upwind sailing. Another desirable trait of a kite is power control; this is the ability to control the power of the kite dynamically on the water, producing a wider wind range for the kite. There are three types of kites on the market today, all with a certain amount of relaunchability. These types are inflatable kites, framed single skin kites and Ram airfoil kites. For a beginner, the inflatable kites are best.
The numbers of lines to use are 2, 3 or 4 and depend on the type of kite the surfer is using. Most kite surfers use a 2-line kite surfing system because the simplicity and a 4-line system for more control of the kite. The line type should be any good traction line. The characteristics to look for when looking for a line are to use either Spectra or Kevlar lines, use floatable lines, use 400-500 pound lines for the main lines and 200 pound for the brake lines. Line strength is actually a function of kite surfer’s weight. In a 2-line kite, the lines should have a minimum strength equal to 2.5 times the surfer’s weight. In a 4-line kite, the main lines should have a minimum strength equal to 2 times the surfer’s weight while the brake line should equal the surfer’s weight. Tie these lines to the kite’s bridle using a lark’s head knot at the end of the line. Spectra and Kevlar line cannot be tied to itself, so a sleeve will need to be used with the knots being tied in that section. Tying these knots will reduce the strength of the line by 30-40%, so if using knots, multiply the line strength by 3/2. To avoid this loss, sewing the sleeves together to form a loop is an option or splicing the line. The length of the lines used depends on the size of the kite and the wind condition, although line lengths between 20m and 40m are commonly used.
The kites are normally controlled by a control bar with either 2 lines or 4 lines, depending on the type of kite it is. A 2-line control bar is used for a 2-line kite, a 4-line control bar for a 4-line inflatable kite and a pair of handles or a 4-line control bar for a 4-line foil. Control devices allow a kite surfer to pilot the kite to fly anywhere within the range of where the surfer’s eyes can see when facing straight down wind. A deadman safety release system should be on any control device being used. This safety release system has the capability to disable the kite completely even if the surfer is unconscious. This system will also make retrieval of the kite and the control device so the kite will not be lost.
Kite surfing boards can be anything from water skis, wakeboards, windsurfing boards, or boards make specifically for kite surfing. There are two types of kite surfing boards, bi-directional and directional. Bidirectional boards are normally very thin, barely floatable with out a kite and use straps or bindings to attach the surfer’s feet to the board. These boards are used for jumping and exotic moves in high winds. Bidirectional boards are the choice among most kite surfers because they are easier to control when jumping and jibing. Directional boards a slightly thinner than a normal surfboard, has sharper edges and has 2 or 3 footstraps. These boards are used for speed and light wind conditions, but can be used for jumping and exotic moves. They are not as popular with surfer’s wanting to do jumps and exotic moves because they are larger than bidirectional and are harder to control in high wind conditions. These boards may or may not have fins or leashes depending on the preference of the surfer. Board selection is important and depends on the conditions at the beach such as high winds or light winds. A good rule-of-thumb for board selection is that the board surface should be proportional to the square root of the rider weight.
The kite surfer is also another important piece of equipment used with this sport. With this in mind, a kite surfer body will need a harness system that temporarily attaches to the control device, a life jacket, water shoes, a thick wet suit and a helmet. With this equipment, the kite surfer is ready for an exciting journey.
