The Five-Finger Rule

Before we even head to the beach, there’s a simple rule that helps you make sure you don’t leave anything important at home. You have one hand with five fingers, and you need five essential items to go kitesurfing:

• Kite

• Bar

• Pump

• Board

• Harness

Before you leave, take a moment to check that you have everything. Depending on the weather, you might also need a wetsuit, although it isn’t essential for every session.

After all, what could be more frustrating than arriving at the beach, finding perfect wind conditions, and then realising you’ve forgotten your pump?

So remember your five essentials!

Step 1: Check the Wind Direction

Before setting up our kite, we always check the wind direction first.

Here’s a simple trick: close your eyes and slowly turn your head from side to side. When you hear the wind at roughly the same intensity in both ears, you’re facing more or less directly into the wind.

Wind direction is crucial in kitesurfing, wingfoiling and windsurfing. It determines how we position our kite for setup, which direction we lay out the lines, and how we handle our equipment safely.

Step 2: Unpack and Secure the Kite

Once we know the wind direction, we can stand with our backs to the wind and unpack the kite.

Don’t simply leave your kite or kite bag lying around on the beach. Depending on the wind strength, either of them can easily blow away.

I start by placing a handful of sand on my kite bag to keep it in place.

Next, I roll out the kite and hold it in the middle of the leading edge. You can identify the centre by looking for the central strut and the attachment point for the pump leash.

This small leash on the pump is connected directly to the kite to keep it secure while inflating it.

Step 3: Connect the Pump and Inflate the Kite

Before connecting the pump hose to the kite’s valve, I pump a few times with the hose disconnected. This helps blow out any sand that might be inside.

After all, we don’t want to pump sand into the leading edge!

Most modern inflatable kites feature a one-pump system. This means the smaller air tubes, known as struts, are connected to the leading edge. When you inflate the kite through the main valve, the struts fill with air as well.

With my CORE kite, connecting the pump is straightforward: I push the hose onto the valve and turn it about 45 degrees until it locks into place.

How Much Pressure Does the Kite Need?

You’ll find the manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure next to the valve. For the kite I’m using in this video, the recommended pressure is 8–9 PSI.

PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is the unit used to measure the air pressure inside the kite. My pump has a pressure gauge that lets me monitor how much air I’ve pumped in.

One important thing to remember: always follow the recommended pressure for your specific kite model. The correct pressure can vary from one model to another.

Once the kite reaches the recommended pressure, I disconnect the pump hose and carefully close the valve.

Step 4: Position the Kite Correctly on the Beach

Now our kite is inflated, and we can position it on the beach.

I continue holding the centre of the leading edge and rotate the kite by 180 degrees so that the wind pushes it down onto the sand.

There’s one important detail to keep in mind: don’t drag the wingtips — the two outer ends of the kite — across the sand. This can cause abrasion or small cuts in the material.

Instead, walk around the wingtips as you turn the kite.

Once the kite is in the correct position, I place a few handfuls of sand directly behind the leading edge to weigh it down.

Make sure the kite is lying securely and cannot be lifted by a gust of wind. Never leave an inflated kite unattended on the beach.

Step 5: Lay Out the Bar and Lines

Now we come to one of the most important parts of setting up: laying out the lines.

There are several ways to do this. My preferred method is to connect the lines to the kite from downwind. Depending on the available space and wind direction, you can lay the lines out directly downwind or slightly to the left or right.

Why Do I Prefer This Method?

The main advantage is that you can clearly see the bridle system and the attachment points while connecting the lines.

There’s also an important safety consideration. If the kite catches the wind for some reason while it is positioned upwind of the bar, it will have to drift downwind before the lines become fully tensioned. Since kite lines are extremely strong and can cause serious cuts, this can give you a little more time to react.

How to Lay Out the Lines

First, take the four line ends and place them on the ground downwind of the kite.

Then walk backwards, letting the lines unwind as you go. Keep an eye on them and make sure they lie as straight as possible in front of you without getting tangled into a knot.

Take your time with this step. It’s much easier to sort out small twists now than when you’re ready to launch the kite.

Step 6: Position the Bar the Right Way Up

On my CORE bar, the markings help me identify the correct orientation. The CORE logo marks the side that should face upwards during normal riding, while the STOP logo is on the opposite side.

However, when connecting the lines to the kite from downwind, the bar needs to lie on the beach in the opposite orientation. In this case, the STOP logo should face upwards!

Step 7: Sort Out the Four Lines

A standard kitesurfing bar has four lines: two front lines and two steering lines.

The front lines connect the bar to the kite through the bridle system. The steering lines attach to the wingtips and allow us to steer the kite.

On my CORE setup, the lines are colour-coded. The left side is red, and the right side is black. These colours help me keep track of which side is which.

First, I take the two outer steering lines, holding one in each hand, and position myself over the central power line. At this point, the central power line is a single line that splits into two separate front lines further up.

I walk along the line until I reach the point where it splits. Here, I take one of the two front lines in each hand as well, then continue walking towards the kite.

By the end, all four lines should lie neatly in front of you, clearly separated from one another.

Before connecting them, double-check that no line crosses over another or is wrapped around another line.

Step 8: Connect the Flying Lines to the Kite

Now that all the lines are sorted, we can attach them to the kite.

The steering lines have loops at their ends, while the front lines have knots. The kite’s attachment points are designed to match this connection system.

However, the exact connections can vary depending on the manufacturer and model. Always check the markings, trace each line carefully, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Attaching the Steering Lines

I start with the red steering line on the left and connect it to the red attachment point on the left wingtip.

On this kite, there are three knots that allow you to adjust the line setting. I use the knot indicated by the arrow.

To attach the line, I pass the loop through itself, place it over the designated knot, and pull the connection tight.

When tension is applied to the line, the connection tightens further. Make sure the loop is seated correctly and is neither twisted nor only partially attached.

Repeat the process for all the remaining lines.

Final Check: Is Everything Ready?

That completes the basic kite setup!

Before launching, take a moment to check everything one more time:

• The kite is inflated to the recommended pressure.

• All valves are properly closed.

• The kite is secured on the beach and cannot launch uncontrollably.

• All four lines are untangled and correctly attached.

• Each line is connected to its designated attachment point.

• All loops and knots are secured correctly.

• The bar and safety system are set up according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Remember: setting up your kite is only the first step. To launch and ride safely, you also need to understand the wind conditions, the spot, the safety system, and how to control your kite properly.

If you’re a beginner, learn these procedures with a qualified kitesurfing instructor before attempting to launch a kite independently.