*Constantly Kiting’s Beginner Series - LESSON 1: Site Assessment

Before setting up your kite and lines, I always recommend a site assessment. When finding an ideal place to setup and kite, here’s what you should look out for:

• What’s downwind from you will always be a concern for any kiteboarder.
• Set-up space is also important, so make sure – as far as possible - that when selecting a setup area, you’re clear of all obstacles and people.  There is no hard and fast rule as to how much setup space you need, however, a great rule of thumb: two times the length of your kite lines is plenty of space to ensure you don’t hurt yourself or anyone else.
• When I am setting up with my students I always leave some margin for error… planning for the worst! I.e. should you make a mistake or your equipment should fail, there should be enough space for you to break away from your equipment and avoid hurting anyone else. 
• Obstacles Upwind from you can also become a hazard later on.  Be aware of them and make sure to avoid them.  
• Also avoid setting up too close to parking lots, trees, houses and power lines.   
• Large buildings and boats can cause quite a bit of turbulence. Therefore try to steer clear of these obstacles.
• Always bear in mind that conditions change throughout the day: wind speed and direction, as well as the tide, will affect your sailing day.
• Make sure the wind direction is in your favour. Beginners sometimes forget that an onshore or offshore condition is not suitable for learning, and kitesurfing should be avoided in these wind directions until you’re properly edging upwind. Ideal wind direction for beginners is a cross-shore and cross-on wind. These directions are when the wind is blowing parallel to the beach and allow you to drag or kite to and from the beach safely.
• Your launching and landing site may also become taken over by other kiters, or may also have been affected by tides. So be sure to check out your landing site before you land back on the beach.

*This Beginner Series was brought to you by Wesley Fourie of Constantly Kiting. Please note that online instruction is never meant as a replacement for kitesurfing lessons. Wesley Fourie and Gust Magazine recommend safe kitesurfing practices, whereby all beginners should go for lessons before attempting to kitesurf on their own. A helping hand from a buddy is never a good replacement for professional instruction. For kitesurfing lessons, contact Wesley either via his website or by email: info@constantlykiting.com