Kiteboarding Rules-of-Navigation Video

[Lokihel]

I am picturing a kiter ploughing through others shouting "starboard!" :-0 you could do it all day long mowing the lawn, on the trick spot. Epic!

It's called match racing
If you're so good at match racing that the others get upset and start yelling at you to get out of their way, it means you're the best.
Just remember to yell "STARBOARD" and flip them off as they crash out of your way.

[alamos_kiter]

Spot on, and make sure to spray their sorry asses when you're shouting STARBOARD at them

That's why racing has their own, more complicated set of rules: special situation, makes it more interesting, and all the racers know the rules.

The "give way to outgoing kiter" rule is simple: outgoing is going through the shore break, which makes it more difficult to control in usual side-on and onshore conditions. Incoming kiter can always gybe and give way.

[Matteo V]

The "give way to outgoing kiter" rule is simple: outgoing is going through the shore break, which makes it more difficult to control in usual side-on and onshore conditions. Incoming kiter can always gybe and give way.

Incoming rider CANNOT always jibe and give way. The best example of this is the case for a strapped rider in overhead conditions, or for chest high when considering a strapless rider. A rider with the bad luck to be right at the wave when it has gone vertical is more likely to get stopped by that wave resulting in a crash, then having some time down in the water as the "least maneuverable vessel". If facing down a vertical wave you cannot get over, you now have the right of way to jibe and get out of its way.

Point is, when YOU assume "right of way", YOU are responsible to watch the "give way" rider as they may quickly assume the "right of way" from you by a crash, or being forced into a wave they cannot safely get over. It is a dynamic situation. Having the "right of way"' means you could lose it at any time. Not having the right of way means you could gain it at any time.

[Matteo V]

2) land is hard, give way to riders going out.

This one seems pretty logical for vessels which can float indefinitely in water and are safer at water than by land.
But it doesn't make much sense for humans which are safer, faster and more maneuverable when standing. Imagine swimming pool saying swimmers entering the pool/lake have right of way because swimmers in water have "more freedom". Doesn't make very good sense, does it?

1. Land presents more danger to kiteboarders than water does. Look up kite accidents on YouTube. You will see pros accidents happen while pushing the limits of possibility on the water. Everyone else, you and me, will have our accidents on land at the launch.

2. If a kiter on the water has the right of way to stay right in front of the beach, they could indefinitely hold other kiters from getting out to the water. Imagine 1 pro, 5 intermediates, and 2 beginners standing on small beach with their kites in the air waiting for a kiter on the water to let them out. Not a good outcome on that one.

We let outgoing have the right of way to allow the dispersion of kiters. Kiters, save racers, do not do well when confined in a small space - be it land or water. Typically, there is much more room out on the water than on the beach.

[jeromeL]

2) land is hard, give way to riders going out.

This one seems pretty logical for vessels which can float indefinitely in water and are safer at water than by land.
But it doesn't make much sense for humans which are safer, faster and more maneuverable when standing. Imagine swimming pool saying swimmers entering the pool/lake have right of way because swimmers in water have "more freedom". Doesn't make very good sense, does it?

1. Land presents more danger to kiteboarders than water does. Look up kite accidents on YouTube. You will see pros accidents happen while pushing the limits of possibility on the water. Everyone else, you and me, will have our accidents on land at the launch.

2. If a kiter on the water has the right of way to stay right in front of the beach, they could indefinitely hold other kiters from getting out to the water. Imagine 1 pro, 5 intermediates, and 2 beginners standing on small beach with their kites in the air waiting for a kiter on the water to let them out. Not a good outcome on that one.

We let outgoing have the right of way to allow the dispersion of kiters. Kiters, save racers, do not do well when confined in a small space - be it land or water. Typically, there is much more room out on the water than on the beach.

Don't launch your kite until water is clear so you can get out right away... If someone is coming in land them.
When you come back to beach land.

I have seen a few case of people asking for launch when clearly either someone is about to launch upwind of them or closer to water, or when someone is about to come in...

[alamos_kiter]

Incoming rider CANNOT always jibe and give way. The best example of this is the case for a strapped rider in overhead conditions, or for chest high when considering a strapless rider....

C'mon, that's purely academic. In overhead conditions, you make sure your way is free when you're going out. You don't ride into an incoming rider in high waves on the back of some rule, unless you are a complete idiot. And on a wave I can always quickly gybe 'n gybe back with the kite low, to get a line length downwind and out of the way.

Nevertheless, going out through shore break is harder than coming in with wind in the sail and speed. So: coming in should give way to the guy fighting his way out. It's always been like that.

[grigorib]

2) land is hard, give way to riders going out.

This one seems pretty logical for vessels which can float indefinitely in water and are safer at water than by land.
But it doesn't make much sense for humans which are safer, faster and more maneuverable when standing. Imagine swimming pool saying swimmers entering the pool/lake have right of way because swimmers in water have "more freedom". Doesn't make very good sense, does it?

...
...Imagine 1 pro, 5 intermediates, and 2 beginners standing on small beach with their kites in the air waiting for a kiter on the water to let them out. Not a good outcome on that one.

Funny but if you imagine 1 pro, 5 intermediates and 2 beginners trying to land and waiting for someone on water next to beach fooling around and calling it "getting out". That situation would suck not less.

I get the rule, I too want to have a clear beach before coming in

A good logical rule would be - don't hang out and don't show off in water near the launch, be a newbie or a pro - it's hindering everyone's ability to come in and out.

[Do-it]

Haven't watched vids or looked at comments........simple answer=stay upwind of kooks.
Kooks can easily be identified;
Leashes
Go Joes ( sorry or)
Helmets
Foil kites
Goggles
Sketchy launches from gf
Twin tips in ocean
Down winders In perfect conditions
Riding core

[edt]

I love a twin tip in the ocean. And Downwinders. And foil kites. I'm getting a little bit of a kooky feeling but it's not enough.

I am missing a sketchy launch from a kite gf. That's what I need.

[Do-it]

I love a twin tip in the ocean. And Downwinders. And foil kites. I'm getting a little bit of a kooky feeling but it's not enough.

I am missing a sketchy launch from a kite gf. That's what I need.

Nobody said kite gf.