Kiteboarding Safety Rules

Several rumors have surfaced surrounding the Florida kiteboarding shark incident. Because of the inherent safety concerns surrounding the sport, as well as ocean wildlife, we have prepared the following kiteboarding safety guide.

1. Rumor 1: Sharks ate the Florida kiter. According to sources, the kiter was bitten once on his right thigh. It just so happened to hit a major blood vessel. He died from blood loss. Sharks eat fish, not people.
   
   
2. Rumor 2: The shark attacked him. As many have noted, sharks, like fish are migratory animals. They go where the food is.  Research shows that during feeding, sharks often lose sight and other senses while they “frenzy.”  Sources report it was a coincidence that he fell in the water right at the “daily feeding spot.” He simply got in between predator and prey and  was not “attacked.”
   
   However, an awesome Australian marine biologist has enlightened us on "shark attacks." He states that sharks are top order predators, especially the Great White Shark. They are very intelligent and can tell the difference between us and more natural prey like sea lions and fish.
   
   While they would rather eat a seal or a nice fat tuna than us, if your unlucky enough to be in the vicinity of a hungry shark and there's no seals/fish nearby, you will get attacked, be it surfing, diving, kiting, windsurfing, sailing or swimming. Sharks should be feared just as with Lions, Crocodiles and Bears. But more importantly, you should respect sharks as this will lead to acceptance.
   
   
3. Rumor 3: You can’t stop nature. Just about any kiteboarding related injury / death can be prevented by following core safety rules. They are all major contributors to a less than awesome experience. All it takes is to overlook one of these, and you’ll likely find yourself in a stressful situation.  If ever in doubt about any of these core safety rules, keep your kite grounded:
   
   
1. Know the area. Fully understand everything about any and every riding spot you choose. This includes wind patterns, tides, currents, underwater obstacles (reefs) and local wildlife. As stated in the article, shark migration patterns are VERY common in the area he was kiting. It is a well known fact. Know your area and all the risks before launching your kite.
   
   
2. Know & follow local rules. Many launch areas in and around larger towns have very specific kite rules. Whether set by the local kite group or government. Learn the all the rules and follow them. They are there for a reason.
   
   
3. Know the weather. Every localized area has weather trends. Do your research and understand how weather affects wind direction, speed, gusts, rain and electricity. Be very critical of short term forecasts. While trends may be used as a general guide, know the current weather, and what’s forecast for the next 12 hours BEFORE launching your kite. 
   
   If you would like to learn more on Weather Forecasting and how to predict your next session, visit air's kiteboarding science series here: 
   
   
   1. What creates wind?
      
   2. What influences wind?
      
   3. Observing wind ...predicting your session.
      
      
4. Know your skill level. Fully understand your skill level. Only launch and ride in conditions you feel 100% comfortable in.  
   
   
5. Know your equipment.  Only attempt to use gear suited and tuned to your level. And, know the safety systems in and out. Also, be sure your gear is well maintained and in great condition. Inspect it thoroughly before each session.
   
   
6. Keep your fitness up. A healthy body reacts faster, recovers quicker, and can sustain more stress than an un-fit body.  Plus, when you’re in great shape, you’ll simply have better sessions as you’ll have more endurance and be pulling more tricks than ever!
   
   
7. Kite within safe swimming distance. We often see kiters riding out into the horizon. While the “kite high” is an easy thing to get lost in, remember, Mother Nature can strike any time. Be ready at any moment to swim back to shore in case of trouble. Never ride out further than you want to swim in.
   
   
8. Kiteboard safely with friends. Keeping friends close is simply smart. We’re dealing with wind, water and wildlife. Plus, having friends around is more fun.
   
   
9. Spread out! Keep a safe distance to others and objects. When it comes to non-kiters, everyone else has the right away. Period. Always keep full attention for other people around you at launch areas and in the water. Be sure to keep a minimum of two kite lengths away from everyone at all time (this includes other kiters and surfers). There’s more chance of you hurting them, than the other way around.
   
   
10. Keep safety skills tuned. When was the last time you practiced using your safety systems and techniques?  You work on those tricks all day long, but how well can you save yourself, or another kiter, in an emergency situation?  If you want to survive and reduce injury risk, then we suggest keeping your safety skills in top condition. Practice them in controlled conditions. Often.

Kite-surfer killed by shark in rare attack off the coast of Florida

February 5, 2010 - Associated Press A kite-surfer has been killed by what may have been a great white shark in a rare attack off the coast of Florida.

Daniel Lund, a lifeguard who survived a shark attack 21 years ago, risked his life to try to save Stephen Schafer, 38, by swimming into the midst of a school of circling sharks. He pulled the stricken surfer on to a rescue board after spotting him flailing a quarter of a mile from Stuart Beach.

“Upon nearing, Lund saw blood in the water and heard the male screaming that a shark had bit him,” said Detective Sergeant Drew Patterson, of Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Ignoring the risk from the predators Mr Lund, 46, cradled the dying man’s head in one arm and paddled his board back to shore with the other. At one point waves knocked them both back into the water before they could reach the beach.

“The victim was talking to Lund as they swam but eventually stopped,” Mr Patterson noted in his incident report. Paramedics tried to resuscitate Mr Schafer on the beach but he never regained consciousness and was certified dead at hospital.

“They did their best,” said an eyewitness, Jim Smith, who watched the frantic resuscitation attempts, adding: “The guy just wasn’t moving.”

Marine experts speculated that a juvenile white shark may have been behind the brutal assault. The fish have been known to make rare appearances in Florida waters, Surfers also reported having seen bull sharks, which are highly aggressive, gathering in the area, while spinners, lemon sharks, tiger sharks and hammerheads are also known visitors.

Pathologists were set to examine tooth marks on Mr Schafer’s body — which included a bite spanning eight to ten inches (20 to 25 centimeters) on his right thigh — to determine whether the species that gained notoriety in the 1975 film Jaws could have been behind the brutal assault.

“Could it have been a white? Well it’s possible,” said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History, in Gainesville.

“The odds are pretty high in favour of it being one of the others. Whites are cold-water sharks that make periodic forays into Florida only during the coldest times and don’t get much beyond Cape Canaveral. They are generally juveniles, around two meters or so.”

It was the first fatal shark attack off Florida for five years, and only the 14th since 1882. However, the state is known as the shark bite capital of the world, recording 32 incidents in 2008, the majority classified as “bump and bite” encounters involving small sharks accidentally nipping swimmers while chasing bait-fish in the shallows.

Mr Lund had his leg shredded in 1989 during an encounter with a shark less than a mile from yesterday’s incident. His Achilles tendon was severed by a bite that also damaged his calf muscle. It took him four months to recover from his injuries.

“People should not be afraid to go back in the water,” Mr Burgess said yesterday. “But they should be cautious — and they should be every time anyway, the reason being that when you enter the sea you are engaging in a wilderness experience. It’s never guaranteed 100 per cent safe. It’s a wild world that we are entering and it’s no different than going to the Serengeti and walking out across there without thinking about the dangers you can face.

“At this time of year we have big aggregations of sharks in south Florida, you can almost set your clock by it.”