SoCal Kite Surfing
Water Safety Checklist

Instructor:
Date:
Student name:

Initial – Student attests that student:

• can swim in the ocean and will not venture further than can comfortably swim to shore
  
  

• has practiced release of quickrelease in air, and leash, and knows when to use them
  
  

• understands how to water relaunch
  
  

• knows how to self land on the beach and on water and run up center line to secure the kite
  
  

• knows how and when to self rescue in the water
  
  

• knows the hand signals such as waiving for 'help' and fist on head for 'I am ok'
  
  

• understands that the swimmers and beach goers always have right of way
  
  

• knows the practice area limits (lifeguard tower 12, white buoys) and will return to shore
  
  

• knows and agrees to obey the right of way rules among vessels and other kites
  
  

• knows to body drag out to a safe distance when preparing to waterstart (2 kiteline lengths)
  
  

• knows to body drag in when returning to shore focus on kite control not the board
  
  

• understands that if losing kite control at any time release the bar with both hands
  
  

• knows beach rules including: must wear a leash, no jumping or hard turns within 200 ft of shore
  
  

• knows to stop quickly sit down in water, put out or release bar, or bring kite slowly to 12
  
  

• knows to avoid buoys, stay on downwind side, if tangled be prepared to release kite and swim away
  
  

• know to not kite in offshore or sideshore winds and if caught going offshore to activate quick-release & self rescue
  
  

• knows to come back to instructor if radio helmet contact is lost
  
  

• know to avoid standing on shore with kite at 12, and to avoid flying over the claremont launchramp