It is one of the more frequently asked questions and, since taking care of the gear is an important subject to practice kitesurf safely, I indicate some guidelines to keep in mind for a good maintenance of it.
To maintain the kite in good conditions you should avoid leaving it opened on the beach for a long time. As a matter of fact, sun rays may ruin the tissue and heat the air inside of the bladders, causing their explosion in the worst cases. When you leave your kite parked in the sand for hours, the kite flaps so you will notice a wear and tear on the trailing edge.
So you should try to get it out of your backpack only when you are going to use it and save it immediately when you finish your kitesurfing session. It is very important to be sure to keep it dry and sand free, and it is not necessary to rinse the kite in fresh water if you are going to continue using it. You only have to do it occasionally, above all when you’re not going to use it for a long time. The best way to dry a kite is to fly it for a few minutes.
For what concern the lines and the bar of the kite, it is convenient to rinse them in fresh water after each use, and the best way is to leave them submerged in fresh water for a couple of hours. This will ensure that the salt does not deteriorate the lines and the safety systems continue to work perfectly.
To take care of the harness and the neoprene it is advisable to rinse them in fresh water after each session and let them always dry in the shade to avoid them to get fissured and to keep the heat sealing at its top. You should also avoid hanging the wetsuit with a clothes hanger, as if it were a shirt, because in that way you would ruin the area of the neck, so it is best to hang it folded at waist height.
The kitesurf board is the one that needs less maintenance, but it’s not a bad idea to rinse it in fresh water and, occasionally, tighten the screws, check edges and see if a small hit or friction has damaged the outer foil in order to repair it as soon as possible.
Nor it is advisable to leave your kites locked in the car: the valves could get unglued with a consequent air loss.
By following these simple steps you will keep your kitesurfing material in perfect condition for years.