An overview of kiting injuries

December 03, 2008

{5 comments}

 
Kiting injuries
 
Strapped to a high-performance kite a kiteboarder can surf across the ocean and get seriously big air, all while throwing amazing maneuvers. By being strapped to a kite the hang time for kiteboarding “big airs” is often long, thus allowing competitors to perform aerial tricks with more expressive style, grace and complexity. But, this all comes with a price tag … in other words the increased risk of injury!

It is important to avoid the injury or at least know how to avoid the risky situations, recognize the injury, and manage it correctly when it occurs.

A relatively new extreme sport, kiteboarding hasn’t received the kind of scientific scrutiny found with other more traditional sports. Currently, the pattern and rate of kiteboarding injuries are largely unclear, but according to a 6-month study that included 235 kiteboarders, this new water activity can be considered a high-risk sport (Nickel, 2004).

According to the statistics there are 7 injuries for every 1000 hours of practice but this is doubled in competition time (16.5 injuries for every 1000 hours of competition) (Nickel, 2004).  
The most common cause of injury is a lost of control of the kite due to technical mistakes, oversized kites, or overpowering wind condition, causing a direct trauma against things such as stones, boats, and windsurfers on the water or beach (Petersen, 2002).

In a study performed by Nickel (2004) it was found that 56% of kiting injuries were attributed to the inability to detach from the harness or quickly de-power the kite. The injuries that did occur where the kite-surfer was able to activate a quick release mechanism were not as severe. This seems to be confirmed in a study performed in South Africa (Exadaktylos, 2005) were 25/30 patients were not able to detach from the kite.

The most common areas to be injured are:

  • The foot, ankle and the knee (45%); injuries in this region occur when the rider is thrown from the board or the board is twisted under the rider by the force of a landing or by a wave.
  • The head (18%) most head injuries occurred in those not wearing a helmet and wearing a board-leash which resulted in the board being jerked back into the head.
  • Neck injuries included whiplash to muscle strain.
  • Back pain/strain often occurred from pumping up the kite but may extend to spinal fractures from shore landing
  • The chest/ trunk (16%)
  • The upper extremity (18%): Injuries here range from simple overuse, tennis elbow or epicondylosis to shoulder dislocations

The type of injuries encountered with kiting

Contusions, lacerations and abrasions seem to make up the most common superficial injuries (37%) most often from being lofted on land or by a strong on-shore gust and then landing on rocks and shore structures.

Sprains and strains make up about 26% of the kite surfing related injuries.

Fractures make up 14% of injuries related to kiting. 

So, in summary, the most common situation of injury usually seems to include an experienced kite-surfer, an on-shore wind and either on the initial launch of the kite or on a transition jump close to the shore.
Any areas may be affected by injury but for most kitesurfers the lower limb is most at risk.

Protection gear in the form of a helmet, a wet-suit and chest armor would still be highly recommended for the upper body.




5 Comments
Add your own comment to 'An overview of kiting injuries'

1 Eugene 12/8/2008 12:04:18 AM

Interesting, BUT - you have to look at the date when the above mentioned studies were done - 2004. I mean a lot has changed since then, Bow kites, quick releases, 100% depower, etc. Would be great to see an updated study on this and at the same time not just the injuries are but also what pre-cautions one could take to avoid them and once they've occured .... etc.

2 Tiaan 12/10/2008 1:19:30 AM

That is still less than 7 injuries for 666 rugby games. MM who says kiting is a hazardous sport?

3 Simon 1/1/2009 2:03:28 AM

Anyone genuinely interested in avoiding accidents visit Rick Iossi's "lessons from the hard side" at florida kitesurfing assocation http://www.eastcoastkiteboarding.com/safety.html

Many, if not most kite accidents are avoidable mistakes. US statistics show that the rate of accidents does NOT decrease with years experience and skill. Why? because experienced kiters simply take greater risks and have about the same accident rate as novices.
Yes, kiting can be a much safer sport than rugby, particularly if some simple precautions are taken. However, just like scuba diving, a relatively safe sport, if you fail to observe the safety 'rules' for the sport you can pay a very heavy price.
Most kite articles and reviews ignore safety and focus on 'performance'. I would like to see less emphasis on how to fly like Ruben Lenton and how to avoid a trip to the hospital.
Another quick comment - despite several hours of training from so-called IKO certified trainers almost none of them paid any attention to real safety and NONE gave any form of written training or safety advice. The sport is great fun, but will be a great deal safer if IKO took safety seriously and put written instructions and even a written test into the certification process (much like obtaining a diver's licence). This is not big brother stuff: its just sensible.

4 Alex 7/9/2009 5:16:25 AM

Since I am currently immobilized from a kitesurfing accident, I might just as well add a comment. I broke one bone, another was torn apart and I have serious injury to ligaments etc in the region of my left ankle. Fortunately, everything is going to recover, but it takes a lot of time (and a permanent steel plate in my leg).

Simon, what you are saying offends me a little since it makes me feel I could have prevented the accident. I agree that safety is one of the mayor causes of injury for kitesurfing, but I think you underestimate the unavoidable dangers of kitesurfing.

I have been windsurfing for over 10 years and decided to go kitesurfing beceause this would ultimately allow me to jump higher than in windsurfing. In 10 years I only know of a few incidents in windsurfing, never had one myself (not even in gail wind, waves 3+ meter). While I am only kitesurfing for three years, ambulances arriving at the beach and even deadly injuries seem to be all too regular.

Everyone kept telling me there are three important things to keep in check when you go out kitesurfing; safety, safety, safety. I took into account all safety measures, but this finally did not help me when I made a (relatively) small jump (1.5 m). Beafort 5 wind, 10M kite, easy going, no gusts, checked it all in advance. To much forward speed, a little rotation and some misjudgement about the landing placement of my board culminated in a post-crash (we are talking 0.5 seconds after I landed) accident wherin my kite pulled my leg apart in about 0.5 seconds. It appeared my board hacked into the water during the landing, thus thrusting my foot into the foot pad, allowing my kite to focus power on twisting my ankle. No human possesses the reaction time to let go of the bar or take preventive action in this time.

In agree what Simon mentions about experienced kiters; equal number of accidents partly due to increasing risk-taking. This proves my point that accidents are not always related to safety; when this would be the case, beginners would suffer more incidents, since all experienced kiters once were beginner kiters who quickly learn to take safety measures seriously.

My conclusion is that kiteboarding is too dangerous, i will go back to windsurfing.

Regards,
Alex

5 Simon 7/9/2009 5:34:43 AM

Alex,
I apologise, my comments were not intended to offend, and certainly not make light of anyone's injuries. I was trying to differentiate between genuine accidents, like yours, and avoidable incidents which are the result of taking excessive risks and failing to follow safety procedures.
You are 100% correct, windsurfing is much safer. You drop the rig and there is instantly no power... with a kite there are many seconds from when you let go until there is no danger. Worst accident I had windsurfing was nearly drowning when I capsized and got stuck under the rig in shallow water.
I hope your ankle improves quickly. My wife tore her anterior cruciate ligament skiing (ACL in knee) last year and is still recovering, so all sports have some risk of injury.
Simon

Leave a Comment