I would very agree with TrustnoOne on this issue. Having done soming damage to my hip and tearing a bicep tendon in my shoulder on two separate occasions. I have had a few other misshaps with less serious injuy. In nearly all cases hitting the safety release was out of the question as these things tend too happen too fast. However, one of my accidents can be attributed to myself ignoring the weather forecast and flying the kite on the beach quite happily in 10-15mph winds when 30mph winds were being forecast. The 30mph winds came as I was flying my kite. (ouch).

What backup / safety is there for waterusers at WK? I know that in Watergate Bay they have trained lifeguards with jetskis to rescue people in distress.

What equipment do the lifeguards in the landrover at WK have if someone gets into trouble on the tide? Should this be addressed before someone dies?



Sounds dramatic but from what kenmorton says it doesn't sound too far off!

There is a lifeboat service based at WK and Hoylake. In the summer there are lifeguards on duty at west kirby. However ultimately you have to take responsibility for your own actions.



The most important point I have to say is have lessons with a qualified instructor and the best way to get started is to do either two weekend courses or a weeks course (briefly where it is warm and sunny). As it takes about 4 sessions to get up and running and have that 1st kite surf on the board.



Meanwhile, I had a good kite surf on the tide, in the sunshne, at lunch time today. Just enough wind to get the board going and enjoy it.



Dave



p.s plenty of injuries from doing forwards Ken!!

Thing is windsurfing injuries tend to be minor.

Even when learning more extream moves like forwards the majority of injuries come from colisions with you kit - in my case very bruised ribs, dislocated jaw, twisted knee ligaments but the reported injuries to kitesurfer seem to be much more serious.

I am still keen to learn kitesurfing but I think I need some reasurance that applying a little common sense can reduce the risk of a bad accident to an acceptable level.

Ken



Have you ever been skydiving. Kitesurfing is similar, it lets any goon out of the plane without an instructor or a lesson.

Though i think kitesurfing is fairly safe with good instruction. I got banged up at the weekend on underwater rocks but if i was on a windsurf board i would have almost certainly got my face smashed up. As it was i only got a bruised elbow and back.



Let your daugther out after some lessons. West Kirby however isn't probably the best place as it is often the wrong direction and the tide makes you take any time on the water possible. Rhosneigor or Newborough must be a pretty safe bet. Good luck to you and your daugther.

I've decided against kiting for the time being due to the fact that I'm very much an intermediate windsurfer with plenty to learn; and have decided to go for a big board and rig to get my light wind fix.

However, I used to live in Southport and to the untrained observer like myself Ainsdale looked an Ideal place to learn, as if it goes wrong you have sand to be dragged along which has to be better than concrete, and time to ditch your kit before anything too nasty happens.

I'm sure someone will correct me if there's a good reason why Ainsdale isn't suitable.