What safety precautions do you need
to take prior attempting to kitesurf?
R.V.: The most important thing is
knowing the direction of the wind,
and making sure that the wind is
a good condition for kitesurfing.
Then you need to choose the right
equipment. For example, if you are
going kitesurfing on a day when the
wind is onshore Force 5, you need to
choose the right location, the right
size of kite and board, and you need
to pay attention to other people in
the water. When jumping you need
to make sure that there is nothing
and no one downwind of you, so that
you do not get hurt, otherwise it is
very easy to injure yourself or those
around you.
Is kitesurfing suitable for anyone to
try?
50
R.V.: Kitesurfing is not ideal for
children, as you have to be attentive
and know what you’re doing at all
times. The youngest kitesurfer I met
in Malta was 15 years old. However
this does not mean that you cannot
kitesurf if you are young, you just
need to be very careful and stay
alert, as it can be very dangerous
is you do not know what you are
doing. The oldest kitesurfer I know
is a friend of mine, who is about 45
years old, so not too old either. In
Malta we were only 5 people in the
beginning, when the sport was just
starting; but now in the last 5 years
or so, we have gone up to about 50
people. Obviously we are never all
together on the beach! The most we
have been is about 20 kites.
Can you kitesurf alone? Or should
there always be someone with you
to help you if needed?
R.V.: You can kitesurf alone
theoretically, however I never did, as