Self Rescue Techniques are a vital skill for any rider who learns to kite surf or kiteboard. There are a number of situations which may require you to self rescue ie a broken flying line, damaged equipment, tangled lines after a crash, excessive wind increase or completely dropping, wind direction change to offshore, torn kite, etc etc.

There are two different techniques we will discuss here, the pack down self rescue and the kite propelled self rescue.

The packdown rescue as this can be used in ALL situations regardless of reason. If you are to be rescued or the wind has changed offshore or damaged gear, firstly roll your lines around the bar in the water (see tip #16 for how). Once you retrieve the leading edge of the kite, deflate the LEADING EDGE ONLY.

Do not deflate the struts as you will no longer have the floatation security of the kite. Once the air is all escaped from the Leading Edge, make sure to replace the valve stopper or you will have a kite full of water later. Place the bar and lines into the roll and roll the wingtips together around the struts and then lash the kite into the roll with the excess safety leash line from the bar or put your harness around the bundle to prevent it from coming undone. Once the kite, bar and lines are a nice tight bundle, use it to keep yourself afloat and start to paddle your way back to the shore. You can also use the excessive leader line on the safety leash to tie the board to the bundle through the footstraps. This makes it easier to handle for a rescue craft to deal with.

Holding Self rescue handles

Self Rescue in Action!

Remember : Lines cut hands, never tie or loop lines around any part of your body whilst rescuing.