Compliance saves lives in sports

Compliance saves lives in sports! Let’s see an example from kitesurfing / kiteboarding below.

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ISO 21853:2020 is a standard that specifies the safety requirements and test methods for release systems used in kiteboarding.

The primary purpose of this standard is to ensure that the release systems can reduce the pulling force of the kite and safely disconnect the user from the kite when needed. This is particularly important for preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of kiteboarders during the sport.

The standard is applicable to release systems that can be intentionally operated by the user or another person, providing a clear guideline on the minimum safety requirements these systems must meet. It outlines specific test methods to evaluate the performance and reliability of these release systems under various conditions

For more detailed information, you can refer to the official documentation available on various standards websites such as https://www.en-standard.eu and https://bsbedge.com.

Kiteboarding, also known as kitesurfing, requires a variety of gear to ensure both performance and safety. Here's a brief description of the complete gear used in kiteboarding:

1. **Kite**: The kite is the primary component and comes in various sizes and types, such as inflatable and foil kites. It is designed to harness the wind's power to pull the rider across the water. Modern kites usually have safety systems to quickly depower or release the kite in an emergency.

2. **Control Bar**: This bar is connected to the kite by lines and is used to steer and control the power of the kite. It features a safety release mechanism and often includes a depower system to adjust the kite's power on the fly. This release mechanism in bars is the subject to this article about compliance, which saves lives.

3. **Lines**: These are strong, lightweight lines that connect the control bar to the kite. They typically come in sets of four or five and can be 20 to 30 meters long. The lines are crucial for transmitting the rider's inputs from the bar to the kite.

4. **Harness**: The harness is worn by the rider and connects to the control bar via a hook or loop. It distributes the kite's pull across the rider's body, allowing them to ride comfortably for extended periods. There are waist and seat harnesses, each offering different levels of support and comfort.

5. **Board**: The board is ridden over the water and comes in various styles, such as twin-tip, directional, and foil boards. Twin-tip boards are the most common and can be ridden in both directions, while directional boards are similar to surfboards and are used for riding waves.

6. **Leash**: The leash is a safety device that connects the rider to the kite or the board. In the event of a fall or emergency, the leash helps prevent the kite or board from being lost. The kite leash is particularly important as it allows the rider to depower or release the kite safely.

The list goes on with helmets, impact vests, neoprene suits etc.

If you are interested to see the life-saving mechanism working, please look up for ‘kite bar safety release’ or similar- an example is provided below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwiaM0rUzSI

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