Over the years it has been greatly improved the safety systems in kitesurfing until today, when to activated cause the kite loses all power immediately.
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PASSIVES SECURITY SYSTEM
They are those that we have to activate us so that they work and perfom their function.
We have different security systems. The most important is the chicken loop and another that would only be used in an emergency is the safety leash.
Thequick release and chicken loop systems, as well as the safety leash are different depending on the brand, but the mechanism is always the same.
Our recommendation is that when you buy a kite and leash you activate it and reassemble it until it is natural and you are able to instinctively activate it and easily reassemble it to get to know your security systems well.
Chicken loop
The most important safety system in kitesurfing is the chicken loop that is hooked on our harness with a quick release system that we can activate immediately with one hand quickly and make the kite lose all its power.
It will normally be activated by pulling out the red piece of the chicken loop in the hook of the harness.
In the chicken loop there is a line with a ring (safety line) that is usually attached to 1 power line (the kite would lose all power) or some older cases to 2 lines (there is always some traction left). It is to this safety line in the ring that we will hook the safety leash that is attached to our harness. This pulls the ring when we activate in chicken loop removing all power from the kite.
Safety Leash
There is also another security system that is the safety leash that is attached to our harness. Note that the part of the leash where it has a safety quick release system is the one that will be connected to the harness, to be able to activate it in case of emergency.
The function of the safety leash is to keep the kite attached to the safety line of the kite, pulling on it by activating the safety of the chicken loop causing the kite to lose all power by maintaining tension on a single power line.
In case that when activating the chicken loop the kite continues pullin you without being able to control it, we should activate the safety of the leash to release and let go all the equipment.
This should not be activated except in case of emergency since what it does is to pull the safety line of the kite depowering it and keeping the kite with us.
The connection of the safety leash in the harness should be in the front of the harness for greater security and to be able to activate it in the easiest way in case of emergency.
In the harnesses there are several rings, as well as a line at the rear of the harness but we recommend especially to beginners and riders that they are not going to un-hook, always connect the safety at the front of the harness or, where appropriate, on the side. If placed in the back in case of being in an emergency being dragged by the kite it will be very difficult to find the leash release system.
Here you have a video of Duotone where you can see in a very representative way how the kite’s safety systems work
ASSET SAFETY SYSTEMS
They are those who act at all times protecting us, without needing to be activated.
HELMET
Very few people use the protective helmet, but it protects us from any blow we
may suffer to the head, be it with a kite, a board or any obstacle that we can
find in the sand or in water.
Helmets will always be used in kitesurfing courses since the safety of our students is always the most important thing.
VEST
We have different types of vests. Impact and buoyancy.
Buoyancy vests are mostly used in kitesurfing courses.
Impact vests are important because in addition to giving us a bit of buoyancy it will protect us from blows especially when we are practicing new tricks where we will have falls from height.
