*Constantly Kiting’s Beginner Series - LESSON 3: Safety System

Some safety system tips:

• All safety systems are different, but all designed to make sure that the kite doesn’t hurt you or continue to pull you when you’re in a dangerous situation.
• Make sure you’re correctly connected to the kite through your chicken loop. The safety leash ensures that if you need to break away from it all, you don’t lose your kite.
• Should a situation arise where, as a last resort, you need break away from your kite entirely, you don’t have to hunt for your final break away switch.
• There are plenty of safety systems on the market, and they’re being upgraded all the time. Safety systems differ from one brand to the next.
• Most modern day kites really only require you to let the bar go while still attached to the kite, switching the kite off instantly and allowing you to get yourself back together before bringing the kite back up and getting moving on the water again. Bow kites or SLE kites perform this function best. 
• C shape kites (C-kites) are not as forgiving and require more awareness with regard to the whether a safety system needs to be engaged or not. 

What to do first:

• Firstly let go of your bar - this will allow for the kite to switch off and bring you to a standstill in the water or on land. At this time you can decide whether or not you have to break away from your chicken loop.

What’s next?

• Secondly break away from your chicken loop and disable your kite. Most modern kites use a center slider line to bring the kite down. This is the line attached to the safety leash though the center of the bar and runs to one of your kite lines.
• When the chicken loop is pushed or pulled away, depending on the design, the kite should come to a standstill and depower completely.

Fifth Line kites:

• The fifth line can be found on most hybrid and C-kites.
• The fifth line is not only used for re-launching and depowering the kite, it also adds stability to the kite for better riding performance.
• When you push or pull away from the chicken loop system your kite should depower straight away, turn the kite upside down and allowing it to land on its back, giving you time to get yourself back together and start re-launching the kite.

Completely breaking away:

• Your final safety system or break away can be found on your leash.
• Any safety leash should have a final break away or kill switch.

*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