Main category: kitesurfing holidays
Subcategory: kitesurfing holidays portugal
How to rescue a Kiteboard:
This tutorial is the easiest way for a free and cold beer after helping out someone in trouble
In this how-to we will elaborate about the question: how to rescue a Kite board.
This post will start with some background information about how things were ‘back in da days’..
After that we will of course explain to you how to rescue someone else’s board.
We’re quite sure that one day you will need this information, and we think you can count on a cold beer from the person you helped out getting back his / her board 😉
Read on, and enjoy!
“I believe that with simple steps a safer experience with Kitesurfing is easily achievable. Safety first.”
– Tiago Rocha, Owner & Founder of Kookproof
Just like in normal life: treat others the way you want to be treated 😉
How to rescue a Kite board?
How things were back on the old days
When I started kitesurfing it was common that we helped each other. We often lost boards or had difficulties, and we were just a few, so it was necessary to count on your friends to get your board or help you. Even if you had never tried or if you weren’t that confident you would still give it a go and help as next time you might need help, and you would appreciate the same gesture.
The first times we came to Esposende we didn’t have the school here neither we owned a boat. With the current being strong we often needed to help each other to get the board back to the beach. In 2004 the common thing was to do board off tricks so sometimes we stayed far from the kiteboard. As time passed more and more people started to do kitesurf and now in the spot, we only know a few persons, and so people don’t care so much about the recovery of the other person’s boards. Now we have a rescue boat, and so people expect the board to be retrieved by it. However, it’s a lot easier and faster if the kiters get the board out like it used to be done back in the beginning. We have most of the people coming for kitesurf camps, and so they come most of the time to do beginner training, and we often don’t get to this stage of the teaching. On the more advanced kite camps, we can focus on these skills and help you acquire them. Esposende in Portugal is perfect for practicing these skills as it has currents, river, and ocean allowing you to practice in a lot of different conditions to make sure you get all the skills dialed in.
So how show we rescue a kiteboard: a step by step tutorial
First, we should make sure the owner is not trying to body drag back to it. If he is, we can observe and keep an eye, but we should give him room to get back to his board by himself. If he is not near the board and that board needs rescue, then you should take action.
1- approach the board on the upwind side and slowly. Grab the board and place it on your lap. The fins should be down so you can easily stay on your lap.
Then you need to send the kite to the water start movement, and you should use both hands for that. Once the kite starts to pull you can take your front hand off the bar because you will only need the backhand to pull the kite back. The front hand should grab the rail of the board and make the board rotate around you to go to your back.
Once the board is on the transporting position is is comfortable to carry it. You can even drop it and hold on the foot strap.
Then you can either get the board to the beach or take it to the person. If you decide to take the board back to the rider try to leave the board in front of the person downwind of him instead of getting it super close. It’s more disturbing for a beginner to get another kite close than doing a small body drag downwind to get to the board.
For this skill, the handle is also not a great help as it stands a bit in the way of where you want to hold. Using the handle for transport is not the easiest either. But we don’t know what board we will have to get. If it has a handle, I don’t recommend using it for transport. The wind force on the board will make the board either tip down or up making it hard to ride with the board.
If you never tried to rescue a kiteboard. You should consider practicing it. In the worst case scenario, you body drag with the board.
It’s also a required skill if you want to become a kitesurf instructor.
It’s always a nice thing to do for others and to show the kitesurf spirit of helping and caring.
I hope that with this tutorial video and posts you feel more comfortable to go and rescue the boards when you see them laying around in the water instead of passing by and letting them get lost in the ocean. I’m sure the owners will be super happy with your actions and will thank you later over a beer when discussing the amazing kite day you both had.
And ride on…
Rider: Tiago Rocha
Pleased to meet you!
PORTUGAL
Portugal is a destination that has deserved the attention of a fast growing number of travellers, which can be explained by the enthusiastic discovery of some of the most well kept Portuguese secrets. We are about to disclose one of those secrets, located in the northern littoral of this small south-western European country, with its 850km of Atlantic coastline, warm weather, and kind people. Set your adventure mode on, pack your summer clothes and jump on to the next plane to Portugal.
ESPOSENDE, A PRIME BEACHFRONT LOCATION
This well kept secret is called Esposende, a small fishing town located 45 kilometres north from the city of Porto. The natural features of Esposende gives this spot a uniqueness in all Europe for the practice of a great range of both on-land and nautical sports.
If you have a strong drive for intense moments and are open to building up some lifelong friendships outside your everyday life, you have all the good reasons to try this destination.
From the endless beach days, improving your kitesurf skills or learning new ones, to having dinner in the best local restaurants discovering the amazing Portuguese flavours. Toping that up with a night in the local renowned night clubs around, such as Pacha and Bib’Ofir, you have all the ingredients for some awesome vacations.
See you on the water!
Hello, we are Kook Proof! We offer a range of camps, activities and accommodation for all levels, all ages, and all genders!
Join us in Esposende, Portugal and progress while enjoying amazing surf lifestyle and the local culture together with riders from all over the world. No matter your style or level, here is something for you. We take great pride in our professional staff and we will do our outmost to make you feel like home during your vacation.
Do you have a question? :
it’s free….all we want is to help
You want instant response ?
get in touch!
2500+ FACEBOOK LIKES
We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, because we can show you how great it is to do what we do. Follow us to not lose what you’ve found..’caus one day you’ll be joining us!
NEED SOME ANSWERS?
ASK TIAGO
Stuff that cannot wait for you? No problem!
Send us an app and we’ll get back to you..
Send us a whatsapp message to +351 93 999 0070 ..
Obrigado!
Google Rating
