The latest "Are you a member of AKSA" troll post got me thinking, what life/injury insurance do people have (if any)?

I'm good at missing small print, so I wonder how many insurance companies wouldn't pay out for a kite related injury/death.

You might find that some insurance agencies will cover you, but will not cover you in the event of kiteboarding, so that if you pass away whilst kiteboarding you are not covered. Best to check if thats a concern for you.

bigmark100 said...

As I have recently had a baby, I have arranged pretty comprehensive cover.
It is important to inform your provider of all the activities you do , so that you are covered. I was suprised to find that adding kitesurfing, and cycling (and having a baby) did not make a huge difference to the premium. In fact - it made no difference. (I think this is different if you complete)

Ouch, did it hurt?

StinkyPete said...

Anyone know how many people have died kite surfing??

Rick Iossi is your man, according to this post there were 20 worldwide last year.
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2362798&p=638315

Not sure how many ever in Australia, not many I would think.

Thanks for the replies guys, I was reading an article about some ocean going sports fanatics unable to get life insurance, which worried me a bit, so I thought I'd see if anyone else had looked into it.
Seems we're not as extreme as we think :)

Hmm, just read the kiteforum "kiting deaths" link and the issue of "depower" creating a false sense of security resonated for sure.

Just last week I came in after a few hours out at Brighton (VIC) on my 7m. While I had been a bit underpowered for some of the session that last hour it'd been just right. The kite feels smallish for a 7m and I weigh about 78kg.

So, I land my kite and immediately a euro (he had an accent) who looked about 70kg asks me for a launch. I see that he's wearing "kook-likely" types of safety gear and that he's got a 12m kite ready to go. I flat out refused to launch him. He was a bit miffed but I pointed out that not only were guys still on the water well powered with 8m and 7m kites but that also some dark cloud lines were fast approaching and it may pick up even more and very quickly.

No sooner does he meekly agree that maybe he should wait for friendlier conditions than I turn round to see a young woman trying to instruct what looked like maybe her dad to launch her 9m. He obviously had no idea how to hold a kite for launching, and she obviously had no idea of the need to have a launcher who knows what's up, so I yelled at him to put it down as I ran towards him. Thankfully he got it down leading edge into the wind.

I had a closer look at the would-be kiter and I'm guessing she was 55kg, and by the way she'd been holding her bar, I'm guessing she was a beginner. I pointed out that Bernie (about 90kg eh big fella?) was well powered on his 8m and perhaps a 9m was a lot of canvas for her. Like the previous guy she was a bit annoyed, but decided to pack up.

So, what would've happened if I'd given these kiters what they wanted and launched two beginners into a gnarly Melbourne front with way too much kite? Who really knows, but perhaps the statistics would've gotten another boost?

I just never cease to be amazed at some people's inability to assess conditions for themselves, or even to take their cue from the kite sizes already on the water. Whatever the kite-death statistics, you've got to be a lot safer than average by simply checking your gear regularly, knowing your conditions, and knowing safe launching, landing, on-water and self-rescue procedures.

Rant over. Happy and safe winter kiting.