Why Is the Safety System So Important?

A kite can generate enormous amounts of power. It can not only drag you across the water but, under unfavourable conditions, also lift you uncontrollably into the air. That’s why it’s essential to know how to reduce the kite’s pulling force and, if necessary, disconnect from it completely.

Modern kite safety systems generally consist of three levels:

• Level 1: Let go of the bar to depower the kite.

• Level 2: Activate the quick release on the chicken loop.

• Level 3: Release the safety leash to fully disconnect from the kite.

Each level serves a specific purpose. It’s important to understand how they work before practising any manoeuvres with your kite.

Level 1: Let Go of the Bar

The first and simplest safety measure is also the one you should remember above all others:

If something doesn’t go to plan, let go of the bar. ALWAYS!

This could happen if you’re attempting a trick and lose control, if you crash and lose track of where your kite is, or if you feel uncomfortable for any other reason.

As soon as you let go of the bar, the kite can depower significantly through its flying lines. It will generally move towards the edge of the wind window, where its pulling force is greatly reduced and it will eventually fall into the water.

The result: the kite loses approximately 60% of its pulling power, and there’s essentially nothing you can do wrong by letting go. In many situations, this first step is already enough. You can reassess the situation and relaunch the kite once you’ve regained your bearings, provided the conditions allow it.

Remember: You don’t have to wait until a situation becomes genuinely dangerous. If you lose control or feel unsure, it’s absolutely fine to let go of the bar.

Keep in mind, however, that letting go of the bar won’t completely depower the kite in every situation. Certain crashes, tangled lines or unfavourable wind conditions can still leave the kite generating significant pull. That brings us to the second step.

What If Letting Go of the Bar Isn’t Enough?

Perhaps your lines have become tangled after a crash, your kite is in an awkward position in the water, or the wind is so strong that you’re still being dragged even with the bar released.

In these situations, you can use the second level of the safety system: the quick release on the chicken loop.

Depending on the bar system, the quick release is activated by a specific pulling or pushing motion. In my video, I show you how this works on most bar systems.

Once you activate the quick release, the chicken loop opens and disconnects from your harness. The safety leash keeps you connected to the kite while the safety system releases the main load from the flying lines, allowing the kite to depower fully.

The kite then moves into what’s known as its safety position. With the system shown here, the kite settles on the water with its leading edge facing into the wind, allowing the wind to push it down onto the water. In this position, the kite should no longer generate significant power or be able to relaunch normally.

Depending on the wind strength, current, distance from shore and the condition of your kite, you may be able to swim back to the beach. However, never assume this will always be possible.

Once on the beach, you can sort out your lines, reset the safety system and get ready to kite again. Experienced kitesurfers may also be able to reset their equipment on the water, depending on the conditions and their level of experience.

Level 3: Release the Safety Leash

The third level is the final step of the safety system: releasing the safety leash from your harness and completely disconnecting yourself from the kite.

At this point, the kite is no longer connected to you.

This step is much more definitive than the previous two. Once you’ve fully disconnected, you can’t simply pull the kite back to you. It will quickly drift away and may need to be recovered by someone else, for example, using a suitable rescue boat.

For this reason, completely disconnecting from the kite is generally the last resort when the situation can no longer be managed safely using the previous steps.

It may become necessary if the kite poses an immediate threat to your life or someone else’s, and the first two safety levels have not been sufficient.

In such a situation, never let concerns about losing or damaging your equipment prevent you from getting yourself to safety.

Remember: Don’t release your safety leash lightly. But if doing so is necessary to protect yourself or others, safety always comes before your kite.

The Three Safety Levels at a Glance

Let’s summarise the three steps.

Level 1 – Let Go of the Bar

Release the bar to allow the kite to depower. This is your first response if you lose control or feel unsure about the situation.

Level 2 – Activate the Quick Release on the Chicken Loop

If letting go of the bar isn’t enough, activate the chicken loop quick release. The safety leash keeps you connected to the kite while it moves into its safety position.

Level 3 – Release the Safety Leash

If the previous steps aren’t enough and there’s an immediate danger, you can fully disconnect from the kite. It will then drift away independently of you.

The most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t wait until a situation gets out of control. You can use the first or second safety level whenever you need to. You don’t have to try to save a difficult situation yourself before activating the safety system.

Final Thoughts

The safety system is one of the absolute fundamentals of kitesurfing. Before launching your kite, you should know how to let go of the bar, activate the quick release and fully disconnect from the kite in an emergency.

Take the time to familiarise yourself with the different safety features on land. Practise using them with your own equipment and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A safety system can only work reliably if it’s correctly assembled, properly maintained and used as intended.