Jett: While patiently awaiting my semifinal heat of the first-ever short-line competition at High Five House in Cape Town, a commotion upwind caught my eye and I immediately knew there was a problem of sorts. Handing my kite to my caddy, I rushed up the beach to a lifeless kiter who wasn’t breathing and whose eyes had rolled back. I immediately began a sequence of first aid maneuvers, culminating in a vigorous session of CPR, which ultimately led to him regaining consciousness. Fortunately, I have undergone extensive first aid and lifesaving courses, something I believe saved his life – he was practically dead when I got to him.
First aid in my opinion should be a cornerstone requirement of our amazing yet dangerous sport. It was an extremely upsetting experience for the onlookers, who for the most part had frozen in panic. Not knowing what to do in a life-or-death situation can be very distressing. We are hoping to create more awareness around first aid, and together with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), held a short course a few weeks after the competition.
I am so chuffed that Joe, from the UK, made a full recovery, and we have since developed a wonderful bond. Albeit traumatic, a lifesaving situation binds people in an indescribably beautiful way. Let’s all become water and safety wise!
Ruben: If a fellow kiter fell unconscious in the water, would you know how to save them? Could you act fast enough to bring someone back to life? Do you even know where to start? I know Jett Bradshaw does. And we all should.
For 20 years, I’ve traveled the world chasing the wind, pushing my limits, and throwing myself into some of the riskiest situations in kiting. But I never took a basic CPR course. I feel guilty about that. And the truth is, most kiters wouldn’t know how to save a life if the moment ever comes. That’s something we need to change. Now.
The wake-up call came during the High Five competition. The event was wild – riders were throwing next-level moves on 12m lines, keeping the kite ultra-low while still adding in technical rotations and board-offs. Cohan van Dijk took the win with some insane execution, and Stijn Mul had one of the gnarliest contraloops we’ve ever witnessed. This new format is no joke – it’s pushing Big Air in a whole new direction.
But in the middle of all this, something way more serious happened. An unconscious kiter was pulled out of the water and there was a high chance that his lungs were full of seawater. No one else knew what to do, but Jett did. Without a second of doubt, he started performing CPR. After 28 chest compressions, the kiter started coughing up water and regained consciousness. The ambulance – already on standby for the event – rushed in to take over. The comp was put on hold until Jett and Stijn were ready for their heat. A freaky, scary moment. But one that could’ve ended much worse if Jett hadn’t known what to do.
This moment made one thing clear – most kiters aren’t prepared for a life-or-death emergency. Some don’t know CPR, while others are simply afraid to do it. That’s why we decided to act. Just days later, we hosted the first-ever World Kite Club Safety Meeting at High Five. It was simple: we shared stories, answered questions, and got a hands-on CPR workshop from the NSRI. The training was short and easy, but incredibly powerful. One session. One hour. And now a group of kiters is equipped with the knowledge to save lives.
This is just the beginning. The World Kite Club is here to make kitesurfing more accessible, safer, and more connected. And that starts with safety. The water is an unpredictable and unforgiving place. When something goes wrong, calling the coast guard or lifeguards isn’t necessarily going to save you. But the kiters around you could. Your best chance at survival is the person who sees you first – so we need to be ready to help each other. But let’s be real – helping someone when you don’t know what you’re doing can make things worse. Before rushing in, make sure you know how to assist without putting yourself in danger too
