Know your area

Before you start kiting, get a feel for what the wind is doing. What direction is it? How fast? What’s the quality of the wind? Is it gusty, and if so how long do the gusts last? Does the wind change direction when it gusts?

If possible, walk around the whole of your flying site to feel for any variations in wind. If in doubt, don’t fly – if you’re a beginner and the wind is very gusty you might be better off flying another day.

Think about your surroundings. Where will your kite go if you do have to bail out? Is there enough room downwind to ditch your kite and still be able to retrieve it? Do you have enough room on either side to land your kite there if you should have to?

How much space you need depends on your line length. For a 30 metre (100 feet) line you should have at least 150 metres (500 feet) clear space downwind. That might seem extreme, but not if you take into account your line length, 100m (330 feet) or so of being dragged or lifted along and then space for the kite to come down in after you've bailed out.

Safety first

Never fly near overhead cables or in a storm. Never fly your kite higher than 60 metres or within five kilometres of an airport – you don’t want to be mistaken for a low flying aircraft. Finally, Flexifoil recommend that you don’t fly alone (this is especially true for beginners) and that you don't fly near roads, buildings, people or animals. Please refer to your product instructions for a full list of safety warnings.

Of course avoiding people is easier said than done. Kiting can be a magnet for the curious (isn’t that how you first got interested?). Just be pleasant and patient. If necessary stop flying and wait until they are gone. Never be rude - remember, you’re an ambassador for the sport and other people have just as much right to use the area as you.