Bringing New Life to Old Equipment

Modern kiteboarding equipment has come a long way in terms of durability, but it never hurts to have a quick refresher on how to properly take care of your gear and/or get a quick refurbishing in. We're going to help make sure you enjoy every moment on the water rather than worrying about your gear.

Kite

- Rather than just tossing your kite into its bag after every session, you'll want to make sure you've taken care of a few key things. First off, sand is terrible for your kite during storage. Sand causes unnecessary abrasions and can enter your valves and cause issues. Additionally, you'll want to make sure your kite is completely dry. Putting your kite away after a session with moisture on it can lead to mildew, mold, and discoloration. Be sure to dry your kite completely soon after your session if you have to leave the beach during a downpour or the kite went swimming a few times.

- Check your canopy regularly for signs of wear - tears and holes can lead to larger rips over time if they're not taken care of right away. If you notice a hole or rip in the canopy, be sure to use some ripstop tape on both sides of the canopy with sufficient coverage to be sure the hole or rip doesn't expand. Also, if you notice rips or tears in the dacron of the leading edge, leave the kite pumped up for a few hours to ensure that you don't have any holes in the bladder.

- Kite Pump. Denatured Alcohol, light lubricant. There isn't one specific recommended brand that works best, so any light lubricant will do.

- Bar. Rinse with fresh water, dry out of the sun. Check lines for stretch and replace them if necessary. Check any depower lines, chicken loops, and pigtails for signs of excessive wear - replace them if needed.

- Harness. Rinse with fresh water, dry out of the sun. Check your leash for effectiveness.

- Board. A new set of straps can really make the difference. Straps tend to wear down and get soft over time, so picking up a set of supportive and comfortable straps could make that old board feel like new.