Get protection

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a pro, you need protection.

We advise a minimum of helmet and kneepads. For kite landboarding, some kind of additional bottom padding is useful to protect your coccyx.

Beyond these basics you could consider shin pads, elbow pads, knee and shin combination pads, gloves and various kinds of impressively hi-tech body armour.

Footwear is trickier. On one hand, flat-soled shoes are great for sliding while skidding or landing. On the other hand, ankle support is important and most boots with support tend to have a grippy sole. If you can find flat-soled boots then give them a try.

Clothing-wise, an old pair of PVC waterproof trousers can make great protective gear. On damp grass the material minimises friction allowing you to slide easily without trashing your clothes or suffering embarrassing friction burns.

Another tip is to empty your pockets before flying. Even something as innocent as coins or a bunch of keys can do serious damage in the right (or wrong) circumstances.

Being dragged

Part of being protected is knowing how to fall and take advantage of your protective gear. For example if you’re wearing kneepads you can fall onto your knees then slide forward on the pads.

If you fall it’s likely you’ll be dragged. In this situation try to keep your upper body off the ground so you can maintain control of the kite. Keep hold of the handles, your eyes on the kite and with a bit of luck you’ll be able to regain control.

If you do have to let go, intentionally or otherwise, use your safety system. If you've chosen your site wisely then you'll be able to retrieve your kite. If the worst happens and you can't retrieve it, it's better to lose a kite than lose your life.

One last thing - if you’re unfortunate enough to lose your kite at sea, take the time to inform the local coastguard. This means they won’t spend hours searching for a missing person they might otherwise assume was flying the kite. Don’t expect the coastguard to help retrieve your kite.