Kite Surfing Accidents | Kite Surfer
Kite surfing is a relatively new sport that combines elements of windsurfing, wake boarding, and paragliding. Over 100,000 people worldwide regularly participate. Kite surfers control a kite while strapped into a harness on a surfboard. On occasion, the wind can lift kite surfers up to 60 feet in the air and carry them at speeds of over 30 miles per hour. While kite surfing is one of the most exhilarating sports, there are obviously many inherent dangers with this sport as well.
For example, in Cape Town, South Africa where kite surfing is extremely popular, there were 30 kite surfing rescues over a 7-month period. Twenty-five of these 30 rescues were caused by one of two reasons: the inability of the kite surfer to detach the kite from the harness in strong winds away from the shore causing loss of control or from the inability to launch the kite because of weak winds. Luckily, only five of the 30 kite surfers actually sustained injuries that required significant medical treatment. All of these injuries occurred in males with an average age of 26 years old. Two kite surfers were hit by their boards, two were dragged out into the open sea when the kite failed to detach, and one kite surfer suffered both of these fates. Getting hit by the board can give a person a concussion or knock someone unconscious. In addition, if a kite surfer is dragged out to sea, it is very difficult to make it back to the shore because of strong currents and because kite surfers are already exhausted since the sport demands about 80% of your maximal aerobic capacity to perform. Overall, it has been estimated that a person will sustain one injury for every 200 hours of kite surfing performed. Although this is not a high injury rate, when injuries do happen, they are often life threatening.
Other studies have reported that the most common injuries were to the foot and ankle, skull, chest, and knee. Interestingly, most injuries occurred in those kite surfers who were most experienced. This is probably because advanced kite surfers attempt more risky maneuvers.
There are several ways that injury risk can be reduced. First, lightweight helmets should always be worn since the risk of falling into the water headfirst is always present. Second, a life vest should always be worn for two reasons to aid with flotation in the event the kite surfer is dragged out to sea and to slow the effects of hypothermia due to prolonged water exposure. Finally, since most injuries were because the kite surfer could not release from the harness in time, all who participate in this sport should use a quick release system.
Additional tips for safe kite surfing include:
- Do not kite surf in bad weather.
- Do not attach yourself to the kite while launching, landing, or near hard objects.
- Go slow and be especially careful in crowded places.
- Do not drink alcohol while kite surfing.
Make sure you are physically fit enough to endure the sport of kite surfing. Kite surfing is rugged and requires a lot of strength and endurance. Pay attention to your nutritional needs as well. A diet of whole foods rich in natural vitamins is highly recommended in order to feed muscle tissue the nutrients it requires to maintain strength. While many may depend on vitamin supplements to meet nutritional needs, concentrated whole food supplements such as organic aloe vera juice are highly recommended.
Overall, kite surfing is a relatively safe sport. But, as with most other sports, injuries are more likely in those who fail to prepare for all possible scenarios. By heeding just a few simple precautions, kite surfing can be enjoyed by everyone.
Contributed by:
Dr. Linda Kennedy MS SLP ND
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