Setting up your kite

It is only imperative that you know this basic step for this is one of the first things you should do when you arrive at the beach, ready for a day of Kite Surfing.

Inflating the kite

There are four steps in setting up your kite: inflating the kite, untwisting the lines, connecting the lines and inspecting the whole setup.
Before rolling the kite out on the beach, check the wind direction first by holding the kite in one of its wingtips, roll it out, and stand with the wind behind you.
Fold over the wingtip and put some sand on it to prevent the kite from getting blown away. You will see later why the wingtip must be folded.
Start inflating the small struts by holding the nozzle of the pump perpendicular to the valve. If the stopper does not work, tightly squeeze the valve near its base while inserting the plug.
If a pump leash is available, use it to keep the kite in place. A pump leash also makes it possible to operate the pump with both hands. This will increase the life of your pump considerably.
As the leading edge becomes more and more inflated, the folded wingtip will flip over, allowing you to keep pumping and you won’t have to walk over to the wingtip to take the sand off yourself. Inflate the kite until there are no visible wrinkles on the leading edge. Give it a few more pumps and make sure that it is properly inflated.
Once the leading edge is inflated, stand in front of the kite. Make sure you have the wind in your back, and then turn the kite over. Secure the kite with enough sand - don’t be too stingy!

Kite lines

After the kite has inflated, the flying lines need to be laid-out and untwisted. By taking the ends of the flying lines and pushing them into the sand, you will be able to get some tension on the lines while unwinding. Lay out the lines, beginning at the back of the kite and walking downwind. Using the downwind setup method makes it easier to do the final check on your lines before launching.

If the kite is upside down, the bar should be the same. Normally, the red side of the bar is on the left side, now it will be on the right.

When picking up the lines, note the order in which they are done - the red-sheathed outside line is next to the red-sheathed centre line. If the lines are very twisted, you can walk through the four lines or you can walk first through the outer lines, then into the centre lines. Let the lines flow through the thumb and index finger of your front hand to help untwist them. Apply some more pressure if the lines do not untangle easily. Check the knots, a line with a knot will break much easier!

Lay out the lines in the same order as you hold it in your hand. Place the outer lines outside the kite, and the center lines in line with the kite.

Therefore, the outer lines are placed outside the kite while the center lines are near the kite.

Attaching the lines

When your lines are laid out properly, they can be connected to the kite.
The side of the kite with the big strut is called the leading edge, while the other side is the trailing edge.
First, connect the centerlines to the leading edge of the kite. After that, connect the outer lines to the trailing edge.

Connect the centerlines to the kite's front attachment points located on the leading edge. Usually, there are more knots on the attachment points of the kite. If you are not sure about this, use the centre knots to connect the lines - the other knots are for trimming the kite. Trimming the kite will vary among different kites, - read the kite manual for more information about this.

There is only one correct knot that can be used to connect the lines. This is one of the few knots that you will be able to undo after a day on the water.

Checking the lines

An important step of your kite setup is to check whether the lines are connected correctly.

One great advantage of setting up your kite lines downwind from the kite is that the checkup can be performed easily. Check that the lines are not twisted and that the outside lines are connected to the trailing edge side of the kite. The centerlines should be connected to the leading edge of the kite.

Tips and Tricks

* Make sure that there is enough air in the leading edge. If you under - inflate the leading edge, it will not keep its shape. This can give problems when re-launching.
* Do not expose your kite to too much sand or you will have to replace your kite after a year. If you stop kite surfing for a while, roll up your kite and put it in the shade.

When setting up your kite, you should make safety as your consideration. The Kite is a powerful piece of equipment that might put your Kite Surfing adventure into jeopardy. Check and inspect are the keywords when setting-up. Always check your lines and inspect your kite so as not to derail your Kite Surfing attempt.