I have just bought my first power kite just a 3m Ozone:singing:
I should get it this week!

NOW! how many of you wear Body Armour?
All the time no matter how windy it is? or just when its like ie, over 10 knots
And what sort of armour do you wear?

Static flying I never wear body armour - though I have a helmet I don't wear it static.

Any form or traction (boarding or skiing or skating and I always wear my helmet).

I own and have worn elbow and knee pads when boarding and skating but generally don't.

Helmet and gloves all the time. Elbow and knee pads with the helmet and gleove on the dry lake bed. I do not use body armour.

Susan

For kitesurfing I don't wear anything other than a helmet on occasion if the conditions are epic.

For static generally no gear is worn.

For anything where I am scudding, riding a ATB board, buggy etc I wear big "Fat Boy" knee pads and helmet (thinking of going to a full face helmet) at least. Elbow pads are advised. Basicly a full set of skateboard pads is typically adequate. Motocross chest/shoulder pads are a good idea but I haven't found any that I want to wear.

I chipped my femur/knee cap back in April because I went out one time without my knee pads. I'm still quite sore and had to cut my kitesurf session short yesterday because of the pain in my knee!! WEAR YOUR PROTECTIVE GEAR ALL THE TIME.

Scott

I made a point of A: getting a good comfortable helmet and B: putting it on 1st thing every time. Now if I forget it I feel like I'm driving a car without a seatbelt.
Gloves if I'm going to be out for a while. Elbow and knee pads if I'm going to ride standing up or be trying to progress. I have to use elbow pads on the buggy because I bump the back wheels a lot with them.
On the water, Helmet and an impact vest that doubles as a floatation device.
Around here almost everyone wears a helmet.

If the kite's going in the sky a helmet unless the wind's under 5mph. ATB, knee and elbow pads, buggy usually just the helmet unless I'm going airborne or other freestyle stuff.

Down on the dry lakebeds, Full face helmet, knee/elbow pads, kevlar riding jeans. I'll also bring my riding leathers and MC helmet for the days when I'm going for an all out speed run.

static : nothing
snowkiting: helmet, knee pads
snowkiting on ice: elmet, knee pads, snowboard paddy short + elbow pads
kitesurfing: helmet, life vest
landboarding: helmet, knee pad, and elbow pad

i also carry a whistle, and ice picks, on a iced lake in winter, and just the whistle when kitesurfing

Quote:

Originally posted by buzz static : nothing snowkiting: helmet, knee pads snowkiting on ice: elmet, knee pads, snowboard paddy short + elbow pads kitesurfing: helmet, life vest landboarding: helmet, knee pad, and elbow pad i also carry a whistle, and ice picks, on a iced lake in winter, and just the whistle when kitesurfing

GOOD POINT !! Out on the bay water or not I have a whistle.

I ALWAYS carry a safety knife !!!!!! One velcro'd in my helmet with a little pull ball and one in my harness

Good helmet on the head, sailing gloves on the hands, and SixSixOne elbow/ forearm guards.

I used to wear wrist guards/knee pads as the minimum when riding the ATB. Seems I've gotten either lazy/over confidant and stopped.

Time to go shop for some new ones. And a helmet as well. The more I get into buggy'n, the faster I seem to go... and it would be a very wise investment to get a comfortable one (as then I'd be more likely to wear it).

It's so easy to think we'll be safe as we've gone riding without it many a time... but it only takes once to wish it had been put on. Thanks for the reminder about the importance of safety gear.

No need here yet, to have to use any... Only fly static & no Big kites yet to fly, (unless you count Archkiter's 8m Panch, for about 5 minutes down at the river beach one day shortly after she got it & was test flying it... Pulled like a Truck but steered like one too "at the time")

Yup I'm a walking example of only needed the knee pads and helmet once. Which of couse was the time I wasn't wearing them!
I've been ATB riding off and on since 1998 or 99ish. I've only had one major major crash which was this past April. Wow, what a horrible crash. I bounced on my knees three times flipped over and smacked my head Luckily I had scheduled the whole following week off from work. I just layed around with ice bags on my knees.

Later-Scott

i recently cracked my thumb in the axle of a friends buggy think im going to have to invest in some wrist guards and knee pads to protect my hands n knees lol

any protection is good protection it just depends on your own comfort zone

i dont think i can advertise here but on weds i ordered Sixsixone Dirt Helmet, DJ 06 Knee pads, Comp Elbow pads for £40 delivered. NEW.

From a small company, this isnt too bad because I was on PowerKiteShop and they were selling the exact same gear for £78 ish,

Just need some wrist guards and gloves now/

Mate where was that from i'm looking at getting all this stuff?

Helmet always--water included with impact vest. On land helmet, and knee pads except for the HQ demo day. I was so excited to finally fly with "others" and the '08 HQ line, I forgot my knee pads! Oh well!

@ Neb-- you better watch those smaller sails! They catch you out alot faster than the bigger ones! Worst crash Ive had was with my Bego 200! Snatched me off my lanboard, briefly knocked myself out, saw "stars" and I was wearing my helmet, luckily!

pm'd you Lee :tumble:

Got it thats for that!

OK guys and girls, lets get real. If your putting around at any time #@%$#! can happen. If you note most team riders ride fully geared up. I tend to get a little crazy IE: butt scudding at 70 kmh with the Sabre.
I always wear full gear, and it has paid off in aces.
The more people that get hurt in our sport the blacker the eye we all get.
Do we have to get the government to step in and hold our hands and legislate gear.
It seems more and more areas are being closed to kiter's everywhere, would smart and safe help this?
I work in a job were safety is our life, no exceptions and the same with my body armor.
Just my opinion, but I'll stick to it and no one rides my gear unless they are geared up.

Cheers

What kind of winds are you in to butt scud at 70 kph? I guess you would need 80-90 kph winds? And then can you really land any kite in those winds? You need to be dressed like a hockey goalie in your front and rear for those conditions!

Safety is the users responsibility, i.e. flying site and equipment. Last thing you want is more government regulations. Will kiting ever become a glamor sport, maybe-----maybe not. Common sense on when and where to fly and gearing up can only help the activity. Like all extreme sports, a positive attitude and promoting safety should create interest, well lets hope so anyway! Beamer Bob has to contend with them "Dawgs" and Augusta National. Hey Bob, see if those Augusta Nat folks will let us have a go on the range and 18th fairway!

Hey Bob, Wolfee only scuds because the sabre doesnt have that much lift

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob What kind of winds are you in to butt scud at 70 kph? I guess you would need 80-90 kph winds? And then can you really land any kite in those winds? You need to be dressed like a hockey goalie in your front and rear for those conditions!

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude Hey Bob, Wolfee only scuds because the sabre doesnt have that much lift

I think that must be a rumor- one of the reasons that I sold my Sabre was that I had trouble staying on the ground in all but the lightest wind. Or maybe my Sabre was different :frog:

Back to body armor- just helmet and gloves for me. I have a set of knee pads but I don't use them in the buggy but I used to boarding.

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude ! Beamer Bob has to contend with them "Dawgs" and Augusta National. Hey Bob, see if those Augusta Nat folks will let us have a go on the range and 18th fairway!

Augusta National is really picky about who they let in. Maybe if we promised not to play golf, they would let us in for a go on that smooth grass!:saint: I'll stop by during lunch and ask.:wow:

Funny you would mention me dealing with the "dawgs". We play them in Knoxville tomorrow. Look for me. I'll be the guy in the orange shirt.:D: