Introduction
Each student receives a personal kitesurfing license from the instructor. The card will be a constant companion, useful for renting equipment or to document the VDWS kitesurfing course for local authorities.
A special sticker on the kitesurfing license card documents the level achieved.
The VDWS qualification system consists of 7 levels and a theory level. Level 5 and the theory level are required for the "classic" basic license.
Tips for newbies
Welcome to the world of kitesurfing - an adventure with the elements of wind and water. Kitesurfing - this also includes lightness, weightlessness, action, sporting spirit and pure fun. You may just want a one-shot kitesurfing initiation, you may discover your future favourite hobby, you may want to enter the higher spheres of kiting, the VDWS-kiteschool definitively represents a professional companion.
Kitesurfing is a sport you can enjoy for a lifetime, and it’s much less physically demanding than many people think. The harness absorbs the pull of the kite, taking the strain off your arms. Thanks to modern equipment, kitesurfing is possible at any age—even into old age.
Physical Requirements:
- Physical and mentally fitness are a must.
- (power, concentration, and stable build), not for those with a fearful disposition.
- Good swimming and diving abilities required.
- Good orientation and quick reactions needed.
- A healthy respect for danger.
- A responsible and disciplined character.
- Good background knowledge of all general rules for watersports.
Age/weight
Age and weight are not very significant. A child of 50kg might not be able intellectually to understand the risk behind a kite. Consent after our surveys:
- Minimum weight: 30-40 kg
- Age – according to location, wind force, equipment, cognitive development: generally not before the age of 6 (only power kiting), very often as from 10 years, in particular cases or on difficult spots 14 years is the required age.
Swimming
Children have to provide a swimming certificate to proof their sufficient swimming capacity (e.g. German youth certificate in silver)
The Basic Licence Course
To learn how to handle a kite safely, your only option is to visit one of the many VDWS kitesurfing schools located around the world (we’ve listed all the water sports centers for you on the “Find Schools” page). There, you’ll receive a thorough introduction to this new trend sport from trained specialists, along with expert advice and instruction in small, personalized groups. VDWS schools are equipped with top-quality beginner gear, which is usually tailored precisely to you and the prevailing conditions. Like all active outdoor sports, kitesurfing naturally carries a certain degree of risk, which we can minimize together by exercising caution and consideration. There are now no limits to the thrill of kitesurfing.
Contents
The training for the International Kiteboarding Basic Licence is divided into 5 practical levels and 1 theoretical part. Depending on previous knowledge, every level takes at least 15 to 20 hours in theoretical and practical training. Your practical kiteboarding skills are tested at each level. After that the students should kite under the supervision of a school first, just to obtain the necessary confidence in handling the kite.
Graduation
It´s possible to repeat a part-exam after an adequate time to learn. The owner of the licence has passed all the necessary practical and theoretical exams, leading to the International Kiteboarding Basic Licence, as soon as he has managed to do all steps successfully and all five steps have been confirmed by the examiner.
Rules and rights
Basic rule of navigation
All rules of navigation are preceded by the following: every navigation participant has to behave in such a way that no other will be harmed, endangered or (more than is unavoidable under the circumstances) impeded or inconvenienced. Precautions required by seamanship or the case's particular circumstances are to be taken.
General rules of navigation
Within the rules scope, every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing. Any vessel must proceed at a safe speed (depending on navigation density, sight and its own manoeuvrability); to make sure it will be able to take adequate action to avoid collision. Vessels must use all available means to determine the risk of a collision. In case of doubt, risk of collision shall be deemed to exist. All actions taken to avoid collision should be positive, obvious and made in good time. A safe distance has to be kept.
Vessels' rules of way
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea do only make a difference as to the vessel's mode of driving. There are no specific rules for pleasure crafts, having the same rights and obligations as professional navigation. Given the considerable stopping distances and turning properties of large professional vessels, it is advisable to change one's course in time, so that no risk of collision will arise. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, a power-driven vessel underway (outside the navigation channel) shall keep out of the way of a sailing vessel. However, any vessel overtaking any other being obliged to keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken, so, an overtaking sailing vessel has to keep out of the way of a slow machine-driven vessel. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea do not establish any difference between wind-driven vessels, thus, a broad interpretation of the regulation will lead to the conclusion that a windsurfer as well as a kitesurfer has to be classed as sailing vessels. Consequently, the rules of way for sailing vessels apply:
- When each sailing vessel has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind to port must give way
- When both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward
- If a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, she shall keep out of the way of the other
- Overtaking sailing vessels have to keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel.
Requirements of giving way and standing on
If two vessels approach each other and the risk of collision becomes evident, both have to act according to the pertinent rules. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea establish a difference between the requirement of giving way and the requirement of standing on. The give-way vessel must take early and substantial action to keep well clear. It should not pass the stand-on vessel's bow but its stern, keeping adequate distance.
The stand-on vessel has to keep course and speed. It may however take action to avoid collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes clear that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking appropriate action in compliance with these rules. In any case, the stand-on vessel should wait until the give-away vessel gets closed so the collision can not be avoided by its sole manoeuvre. When, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision.
Navigation bans
Wind-and kitesurfers are subject to a temporary navigation ban at night and restricted visibility. Additionally, national regulations of some littoral states contain general bans for navigation channels. Apart from that and according to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, sailing vessels may not hamper a vessel's transit within navigation channels. According to the national regulations of some littoral states, wind- and kitesurfers are standard prohibited in bathing zones. For the rest, outermost precaution is required while transiting indicated bathing zones. Indicated swathes have to be used. Outside clearly delimited bathing-zones, too, special attention has to be paid to bathing and swimming people.
The use of restricted area is prohibited. Warning areas are also forbidden if they have to be available for the purposes of field exercises and field trials. Restricted and warning areas and their respective boarders are indicated in the nautical charts. On most canals, sailing is prohibited. As to wind- and kitesurfers, restrictions may exist on domestic rivers.
Nature Conservation
Inland lakes and coastal waters are increasingly being used by water sports enthusiasts to practice their sports. In doing so, they often venture—in their sometimes shallow watercraft—into areas that were previously undisturbed nesting and resting sites for many bird species that have become rare. This has led to conflicts between nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts in many places. Therefore, be sure to familiarize yourself with the applicable rules.
Nature Conservation
Inland lakes and coastal waters are increasingly being used by water sports enthusiasts to practice their sports. In doing so, they often venture—in their sometimes shallow watercraft—into areas that were previously undisturbed nesting and resting sites for many bird species that have become rare. This has led to conflicts between nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts in many places. Therefore, be sure to familiarize yourself with the applicable rules.
