The circle of trust

[kgb]

No chip

It’s just a game, it’s nice to see what other people think,
Sharing isn’t putting words in people’s mouths or reading minds

ESL? What’s that please? Not everyone is as educated as you or familiar with your local abbreviations

I guess it’s not important to you, the differences between items being touted as safety equipment?

Impact vest, mitigates impact, often minimal flotation but provides sense/false or otherwise of security

Floatation vest, foam neoprene combo minimum 50 newton flotation. Bulky and usually not with kite/windsurfing in mind. But helps with flotation and provides assistance

Life vest
http://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/Lif ... ories.html
From 100 -275newtons

Provide no additional use/protection until activated and then render Kiting impossible due to the position they put you in, on your back face up.

[naishdude]

@ the beach:
Questioned: excuse me can I ask you a question...?
Yes,
I have seen people with kiteboards with boots on,
Yes,
is that because they do not have to swim after their boards when lost, then I would like that too...

[Hugh2]

ESL = English as a Second Language. Try imagining this forum in Xhosa and then understand how it is not always easy for everyone to understand your meanings.

[peppedurso]

To all the people who are against helmet and impact vest, please give us a reason not to wear it.
Not just “I don’t like” or “it’s not cool”, but a reasonable and argumented opinion.

[plummet]

I wear a helmet and impact fest. You can mock all you like. But yourl probably be mocking me from the beach when I'm out in conditions your too scared to rig up in.

[pj sofine]

To all the people who are against helmet and impact vest, please give us a reason not to wear it.
Not just “I don’t like” or “it’s not cool”, but a reasonable and argumented opinion.

I don't wear a impact vest because in 18 years I've never seen a need. I ride hard, crash hard and have never had any injuries that an impact vest would have helped. I have a helmet but rarely use it, it does have my gopro mount on it. I do like the ear protection, but then again never had any issues . That's just me,I really don't have a strong opinion, do what makes you feel more comfortable .

[Adventure Logs]

To all the people who are against helmet and impact vest, please give us a reason not to wear it.
Not just “I don’t like” or “it’s not cool”, but a reasonable and argumented opinion.

I kite as therapy. I can have the shittiest day in my life and after 10 minutes on the water, all the stress washes off. This is why I mainly hydrofoil now. I listen to music during my session and I essentially dance on the water.

A helmet and impact vest would ruin that feeling for me. It would inhibit my feeling of freedom and basically one with the ocean.

For me the risk of not wearing this safety equipment is well well worth the benefits. If I were required to wear it, knowing myself, I would end of kiting less and less because I’m not getting the feeling I love from the sport. I’d rather risk death than give that up.

=Jason-

[jumptheshark]

Hey man, its all good. this is kiting, were inclusive.

I foil. I wear a helmet, and a vest that finally works with a waist harness. That shit took years. Anyway. I get that peeps in the tropics ride in boardies only. I probably would too. But I live here. It's usually wetsuit weather. I get about two maybe three weeks a year in shorts with no neo on. Rode today in only 2 C. Normaly Im a 6 C guy, but today was sunny and it was saweeeeet. Huge beach, clean swell, questioning my sanity while rigging alone but fully redeemed in my thinking while packing up. This sport rocks.

[peppedurso]

I'm sorry but I still do not see any reason not to wear helmet and vest. I respect your opinion and the fact that you might kite in "easy" conditions, still safety gear can safe life. Try to have an idiot landing on your back with 25knots of wind, then we'll talk about.
10 years ago in Europe no skier or snowboarder was using helmets, nowadays rarely you see someone without.
Same thing for safety belt in the car, I'm sure that most of us do not need it, until we need it. So I'm assuming you guys do not wear safety belt?
I'm trying to understand the psychology behind it, no harsh feelings!

[Adventure Logs]

My job is significantly more dangerous than kiting without a helmet. And again it is my choice, my decision on what’s worth the risk. I won’t give shit to you for imo being over protected and you leave me alone on my “recklessness”. Deal