SAFETY
BE AWARE
READ CAREFULLY THIS USER GUIDE BEFORE USING YOUR KITE AND KEEP IT STORED FOR FUTURE READING.
Using a kite involves inherent risks and can cause severe injuries or, sometimes fatal, accidents if misused. F-ONE therefore strongly recommends to follow kiting lessons in a specialized school be- fore using a kitesurfing kite for the first time. To find your nearest school, please check our website f-one.world/dealers. When kitesurfing, you agree to take full responsibility for your own safety and those of others, which includes informing subsequent users/owners of your equipment of the risks and responsibilities involved. Before practicing, make sure that you are properly covered by an insurance for any damage or injuries caused to third parties while practicing kiting sports. Please refer to your national kitesurfing body or federation to get more information on insurance and responsibilities.
A FEW SAFETY TIPS TO KNOW AND FOLLOW
Specialized equipment contributes to your own safety but constant care and caution remains the best way to avoid any problem. Please keep in mind that wind and weather can be unpredictable and that no-one can be in full control of the kite all the time.
RULE N°1 - YOUR OWN SAFETY
Never ever tie yourself permanently to a kite without a quick-release device. You should always be able to release the kite from you rapidly in case of emergency (tangled lines, strong gusts of wind, injury...). You should therefore rinse your gear as often as possible and perform regular checks of the wear of your release system and all other components.
All F-ONE kitebars are fitted with a quick release enabling you to fully depower your kite and safety leash which can be released to let go the kite completely.
You should never attempt to grab a kite by its lines as they can cause severe cuts when under tensions.
This kite is neither a flying device (such as a paraglider) nor a floating device and should not be used as such.
You should never go riding alone. It is strongly recommended to practice in the company of other users who could eventually call for assistance or help in case of emergency.
RULE N°2 - GET SET UP
HELMET
It is strongly recommended to wear a helmet to protect you from your board in case of a fall or any other unexpected situations and especially when launching and landing the kite from the ground.
WETSUIT
Choose a full-length wetsuit (water T° <19°C) or a shorty (water T°>19°C) depending on the water temperature. Be aware that you will use more energy when you are cold.
LIFE VEST
The life vest can help you with the waterstart and the relaunch of your kite. It might also be welcome when falling hard from your first jumps and will become your new best mate if you ever have to swim back to the shore.
HARNESS
Your harness must be comfortable but strong as it is the link between you and the kite. Seat or waist harnesses can both be used, however seat harnesses are more appropriate for beginners. Indeed, seat harnesses do not move upward as much when keeping the kite right above you which beginners tend to do more.
A few useful accessories for your harness:
- a line cutter
- a loop to attach your board or kite leash.
RULE N°3 - CHOOSE YOUR PRACTICE SPOT
OBSERVE LOCAL LAWS & REGULATIONS REGARDING KITESURF AND AUTHORIZED AREAS.
CHOOSE YOUR SPOT ACCORDING TO YOUR LEVEL
The choice of a good spot is a prerogative for a safe learning. The best spot is not necessarily the spot where you find the most kites. If you just started or if you do not control your kite properly, the best spot is often the least crowded one.
The water and wind conditions also vary, advanced kitesurfers often look for strong wind and good waves where beginners should be looking for calm waters and softer winds. When first starting out it is recommended to look for a place with fairly shallow waters.
CHOOSE AN OBSTACLE FREE AREA
Check that the space on your sides and downwind from you is free of obstacle: no houses, no trees, no cars or jetties.
Under no circumstances should you be riding near electrical posts and wires, or near an airfield or even near a harbor.
WIND DIRECTION
Never ride in strong offshore wind. The wind can die at any moment or a line can break. In offshore wind it is harder to swim back to shore, the wind and the current pushing away from the beach.
It is not recommended to ride when the wind is on- shore especially for beginners as the wind pushes directly onto the beach. This will make your learning harder: you will not be able to do good runs and go up wind, and you will end up on the sand very quickly. This will also be more risky as any gust could send you onto the sand and your kite may fall violently onto the sand.
Therefore always ride while the wind is side or side- on, this will let you go downwind while keeping a safe position in case of an emergency.
THE AREA DOWN THE WIND
Be cautious and check that there are no obstacles going down wind. You should always consider room for error. Keep in mind that the risk is to go down wind, beginner or not.
There is always a risk of breaking a line, losing your board, or breaking your harness... therefore the beach down the wind should always be accessible. Think that you may have to walk back alongside the beach (check that there are no rocks, cliffs, fences, or jetties blocking your way).
If you are just starting out or if you cannot entirely control your kite, be careful as to where you stand on the spot: if the spot is big enough, it is better to stand upwind from other kites to avoid crossing your lines with theirs. It is less tricky for you and them, this will allow you to concentrate on your flying and less on others.
RULE N° 4: CHECK THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
Check with the local weather forecast, (radio, web, harbor crew).
How strong are the winds and from which direction? You must know how the speed of the wind and the direction are going to evolve during the day.
You should not ride during stormy weather, the kite may attract lightning!
Also check on the tides schedule and the areas for rip currents.
RULE N°5 - RESPECT & HELP OUT OTHERS
PUT AWAY YOUR MATERIAL
Be careful not to unwind your lines on top of others’. The same applies when you put down your kite, be careful not to do it on top of someone else’s lines. This can become hazardous if he or she re-launches his or her kite without noticing your lines.
If you leave your kite on the beach, to get some rest or just waiting for better conditions, think of rolling up your lines on your bar to clear up the spot. Disconnect the lines from the kite if you are going to leave the kite on the beach unattended.
AVOID THE KITE AT THE ZENITH
Avoid if possible staying with the kite at the zenith while you are still on the ground, better to take it down in order to get some rest. This could be hazardous for you and the others: you are not safe from a sudden lack of wind or a strong gust that could pull you away.
On the ground or the beach, falls are harder and they hurt. Your kite at the zenith can also disturb the others from landing and launching their kites.
HELP OUT OTHERS
Always keep an eye on your surroundings, and pay attention to others. Do not hesitate to help out others launching and landing their kites, or going after a struggling kitesurfer.
RESPECT THE PRIORITY ON THE WATER
When two kitesurfers are passing each other, the one closer to the wind origin should raise his kite and the kite surfer under the wind should lower his kite to avoid a tangling of the lines.
When two kitesurfers are facing each other, the kite surfer riding with the wind coming from starboard (right hand forward) according to the path followed has the priority over the kite surfer who’s wind comes from port side (left hand forward).
The kitesurfer riding starboard should maintain his or her trajectory and the one riding port side should move further down the wind in order not to cross their paths.
Before any jumps or direction changes, make sure there is enough room and that you are not going to cross anyone’s path.
RESPECT BYSTANDERS
Inform the spectators of the power of the kite and of the potential risk by staying downwind from a kite surfer.
Do not lend your equipment to a none kitesurfer.
RULE N°6 - LEARN TO USE YOUR SAFETY SYSTEMS
Do not fly your kite without a proper safety system allowing you to instantly reduce the power of the kite and without a safety leash connecting you to the kite once you have killed the power, this leash should also be releasable in case of an emergency.
Frequently check the wear and tear of your safety systems. Do not wait for trouble to learn how to operate your safety systems. Chose a wide open area to practice your release of the kite.
WARNING - HYDROFOILS
Product presenting sharp areas - Risk of injuries Protection helmet and impact vest are strongly recommended during use.
When falling, the board and foil can keep their pace for some time before stopping. Beware of impacts. The board and foil can drift away at higher speed than a normal single board. Do not leave your foil unattended in the water for too long or it could drift far away from you rapidly.
The foil modifies the weight and size of the board. When immerged, the foil generates more force op- posing the drifting force of the kite. The board does not slide on the water the same way as a single board. Handling movements should be soft and controlled. Beware any hasty or abrupt movement.