Kitesurfer jumping high-five - kiteboarding tricks and watersport fun
Hand signals in kitesurfing

Hand signals for clear communication among kitesurfers

On the water and on the beach, kitesurfers use a language consisting of hand signals and gestures. This allows them to communicate regardless of their native language and, above all, over long distances. The hand signals are clearly defined and recognized internationally. They allow you to express yourself clearly and unambiguously.

Kitesurf Handzeichen - Female kitesurfer in wetsuit showing thumbs up for kiteboarding watersports

Clearance to proceed

You visibly extend your arm and clench your fist with your thumb pointing upward. Thumbs up! That means:

Kitesurf instructor showing thumbs down hand signal for kiteboarding safety at beach

Launch abort

You show the other person your arm with your thumb clearly pointing downward. This means:

Kitesurf Handzeichen showing OK hand signal kiteboarding instructor demonstrating essential water sports safety signs

OK

Show your hand to the person across from you. Touch the tips of your thumb and index finger together to form a circle.

Kitesurf Handzeichen instructor demonstrating kiteboarding hand signal with arm raised overhead in KBKC wetsuit

Please land

To signal to your spotter that you want to land your kite, tap your head with your hand held flat.

Kitesurf Handzeichen instructor demonstrating kiteboarding hand signals for safe water sports training

I'll land your kite

To signal to other kitesurfers on the beach that you're ready to help land their kite, tap your head with the flat of your hand. Raise your other hand high in the air.

Kitesurf hand signals - Kitesurfer demonstrating overhead hand signal for kiteboarding communication at beach

Kite landing on the water

To signal to other kitesurfers on the beach that you're ready to land their kite, tap your head with the flat of your hand. Raise your other hand high in the air.

Kitesurfer demonstrating hand signals for kiteboarding safety - water sports instruction

Go right / left

If your kite instructor points in one direction with both hands, it means you should move in that direction

Kitesurf instructor showing hand signals for kiteboarding - water sports safety and communication

Kite position 12 o'clock

Your kite instructor will signal for you to steer your kite to the 12 o'clock position in the zenith.

Kitesurf hand signals 1-11 instructor demonstrating kiteboarding safety signs for water sports beach training

Kiteboarding Schedule

Your kite instructor will signal for you to steer your kite to the 9, 10, or 11 o'clock position by extending their right hand in the respective direction.

Kitesurf instructor showing kiteboarding hand signals - water sports safety and beach communication for kitesurfing

Change of direction

If you want to change direction and signal to other kitesurfers that they should give you space in the new direction, raise your index finger and circle it.

Kitesurf instructor showing hand signals - kiteboarding safety and communication for water sports

Stop!

To signal to your partner to stop (while kitesurfing) or to wait (during a kite launch), extend your arm forward so that your palm is facing your partner.

Kitesurf hand signals - Kitesurfer demonstrating essential kiteboarding hand gestures for safe water sports

Come closer

To show you that you should walk toward your kite instructor, they hold their hand up with the back of their hand facing you and move it back and forth in short, quick motions.

Kitesurf Handzeichen showing kiteboarding hand signals for safe kitesurfing and water sports at beach destinations

Look here!

Your kite instructor will point to their own eyes with their index and middle fingers formed into a "V," which means you should look at them and maintain eye contact.

Kitesurf instructor Handzeichen demonstrating kiteboarding hand signals in water sports gear

Hop on the board

To show you that it's time to step onto the board, your kite instructor will use hand gestures and the foot diagonally opposite to demonstrate how to step onto the board.

Kitesurf hand signals guide - kitesurfer demonstrating essential kiteboarding safety signals for beach water sports

Let go of the bar!

To show you that you should let go of your bar, your kite instructor raises both hands in the air and rotates them from bottom to top, mimicking the motion of letting go.

Kitesurf instructor Handzeichen demonstrating kiteboarding hand signals in black gear with harness for water sports

Body drag upwind

To show you that you should perform an upwind body drag, your kite instructor will extend one leg to the side and stretch the arm diagonally opposite it far up and to the side.

Kitesurf Handzeichen demonstrates stretching in black kiteboarding wetsuit with KKBC logo

Perform a self-rescue

Your kite instructor will signal that you should perform a self-rescue by standing on one leg, leaning to the side, and holding both hands high above their head with their fingertips touching.

Female kitesurfer in KKBC wetsuit making hand signal - kiteboarding water sports gear

Lost equipment

If you want to let the other kitesurfers on the water know that you've lost your gear, place your flat hand on your forehead and look off into the distance.

Kitesurf Handzeichen - Woman demonstrating kiteboarding hand signals in RKBC wetsuit for water sports safety

I need help!

If you need help, raise your hand, wave, and maintain eye contact.

Kitesurf Handzeichen demonstrates kiteboarding hand signals for water sports safety and kitesurfing communication

I need help right away

If you need urgent help because you're in a dangerous situation, raise both arms high in the air, wave them widely, and cross your arms over your head.

Kitesurf Handzeichen - Woman in KBKC kiteboarding gear showing water sports hand signal for safe kitesurfing

No signal.

If your kite instructor is standing there looking completely relaxed, without making any recognizable hand signals, it means they don't have any information for you.

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