Safety series
One of the club's aim is to promote fun and SAFE kitesurfing at our local beaches. Our members have asked to continue to focus on safety.
As a small local club, we do not want to reinvent the wheel, and expect all kitesurfers to be familiar with the international 'rights of way' on the water as well as general ‘safe’ behaviour. Guidelines are published by the BKSA and can be found here. The vast majority of kiters will have had lessons or tuition at some point, and would/should have been made familiar with above guidelines as well as self-rescue techniques. If you feel you could use a refresher, have a look at the very useful (but not free) Progression video on this subject, or free video’s on Youtube.
For 2016 we introduce our own ‘Safety Series’ to further encourage safe kiting.
(Completed) Stage 1; Table top training provided for RNLI on the 11th of May. Committee member Ben was approached by the RNLI to provide this training to them, because of his background as yachtmaster, advanced powerboater (providing water rescues as well) and kitesurfer. We are the first kite club in England to have provided such a training, and it was received very well. This training will be repeated at another date for RNLI staff and volunteers that could not attend the first session.
(Completed) Stage 2; Water rescue exercise for RNLI. After the table top training, the RNLI and club have set up a joint exercise where a few kiters joined us in the water to practice ‘being rescued’ by boat. The video that was made has featured in Kitemagazine twice, and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERfXEHG2dEg.
(TBC) Stage 2b; Self-rescue exercise. When the water-exercise with the RNLI was conducted, a few kitesurfers flagged up they felt a bit 'rusty' when it came to self-rescueing and deepwater packdown. Also the RNLI enjoyed the training, and they indicated they would quite like to keep in touch with us, via our socials but also in other ways. They gave us permission to use Marine Lake (so not tide-dependent) on a Wednesday eve, to practice water-packdowns. If possible the RNLI will be there to see if and what difficulties we might encounter. This is NOT a lesson! It is meant to be an informal session where kiters can come and practice (on their own kit) to do a packdown in a relative safe and easy environment. The idea is that we can help each other with tips, and discuss with the RNLI what works best from our and their point of view. We'll let people know via Facebook or email once we've got a date, but invite all kiters to come along! Please do prepare by watching the above mentioned "progression" or other video's.
(TBC) Stage 3; Currents at Weston Bay. We are hoping to organize an evening where the RNLI will provide us with a training to discuss the local currents and rip tides at Weston bay. This is very much still to be confirmed, and communication will be as above via the calendar, Facebook group or email. After this we will try to summarize the information and add this to the website.
(TBC) Stage 4; First Aid Training. Again provided by Ben Peters, Medic and kitesurfer and certified to provide First Aid Training courses. There will be a focus on kite-related injuries (impact injuries, drowning, hypo- and hyperthermia etc) as well as general CPR. You will be awarded with a certificate that qualifies you for ‘Elementary First Aid’ or 'First Aid at Work'. Ben will provide first aid training during a ‘long evening’ session or a couple of days depending on what type of certification is required. NB you will have to renew your First Aid qualification every 3 years. Let us know via email if you're interested and what format (evening non-certified, or what certifications etc) would suit you. Cost TBC, these courses are quite pricey elsewhere but will be heavily discounted for club members.
Although stage 1 and 2 need to be in that order, the others do not have to be so and could of course take place before the others. Keep an eye on the calendar and Facebook!
As a small local club, we do not want to reinvent the wheel, and expect all kitesurfers to be familiar with the international 'rights of way' on the water as well as general ‘safe’ behaviour. Guidelines are published by the BKSA and can be found here. The vast majority of kiters will have had lessons or tuition at some point, and would/should have been made familiar with above guidelines as well as self-rescue techniques. If you feel you could use a refresher, have a look at the very useful (but not free) Progression video on this subject, or free video’s on Youtube.
For 2016 we introduce our own ‘Safety Series’ to further encourage safe kiting.
(Completed) Stage 1; Table top training provided for RNLI on the 11th of May. Committee member Ben was approached by the RNLI to provide this training to them, because of his background as yachtmaster, advanced powerboater (providing water rescues as well) and kitesurfer. We are the first kite club in England to have provided such a training, and it was received very well. This training will be repeated at another date for RNLI staff and volunteers that could not attend the first session.
(Completed) Stage 2; Water rescue exercise for RNLI. After the table top training, the RNLI and club have set up a joint exercise where a few kiters joined us in the water to practice ‘being rescued’ by boat. The video that was made has featured in Kitemagazine twice, and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERfXEHG2dEg.
(TBC) Stage 2b; Self-rescue exercise. When the water-exercise with the RNLI was conducted, a few kitesurfers flagged up they felt a bit 'rusty' when it came to self-rescueing and deepwater packdown. Also the RNLI enjoyed the training, and they indicated they would quite like to keep in touch with us, via our socials but also in other ways. They gave us permission to use Marine Lake (so not tide-dependent) on a Wednesday eve, to practice water-packdowns. If possible the RNLI will be there to see if and what difficulties we might encounter. This is NOT a lesson! It is meant to be an informal session where kiters can come and practice (on their own kit) to do a packdown in a relative safe and easy environment. The idea is that we can help each other with tips, and discuss with the RNLI what works best from our and their point of view. We'll let people know via Facebook or email once we've got a date, but invite all kiters to come along! Please do prepare by watching the above mentioned "progression" or other video's.
(TBC) Stage 3; Currents at Weston Bay. We are hoping to organize an evening where the RNLI will provide us with a training to discuss the local currents and rip tides at Weston bay. This is very much still to be confirmed, and communication will be as above via the calendar, Facebook group or email. After this we will try to summarize the information and add this to the website.
(TBC) Stage 4; First Aid Training. Again provided by Ben Peters, Medic and kitesurfer and certified to provide First Aid Training courses. There will be a focus on kite-related injuries (impact injuries, drowning, hypo- and hyperthermia etc) as well as general CPR. You will be awarded with a certificate that qualifies you for ‘Elementary First Aid’ or 'First Aid at Work'. Ben will provide first aid training during a ‘long evening’ session or a couple of days depending on what type of certification is required. NB you will have to renew your First Aid qualification every 3 years. Let us know via email if you're interested and what format (evening non-certified, or what certifications etc) would suit you. Cost TBC, these courses are quite pricey elsewhere but will be heavily discounted for club members.
Although stage 1 and 2 need to be in that order, the others do not have to be so and could of course take place before the others. Keep an eye on the calendar and Facebook!