General Disclaimer

1What this disclaimer covers

This General Disclaimer applies to everything published on kitesurfculture.com (the “Site”) and on our related social media channels and newsletters: articles, spot guides, wind and season data, maps, forecasts, school, shop and stay listings, reviews, photos, videos and comments. It forms part of our Terms and Conditions and should be read with them.

The Site is run by Gabriele Fabrizio Sbalbi, trading as Kitesurf Culture. Kitesurf Culture is an independent project by kitesurfers for kitesurfers.

2Information only, not training or professional advice

Kitesurf Culture shares information about kitesurfing in all its aspects and disciplines. Much of it is the personal experience, opinion and curiosity of the authors and of our readers. All material is for general information and inspiration only. It is not instruction, a teaching method, a “best practice” to apply as it is, nor professional, technical, legal, medical or safety advice.

Some of our authors hold instructor certifications (for example IKO), and the information is written in good faith, from the best data available when it was written. But reading a page is never a substitute for proper training with a qualified, certified instructor in a recognised kite school, for supervised practice, and for your own experience.

3Kitesurfing is dangerous: your own responsibility

Kitesurfing, and the activities around it (travelling to spots, launching and landing, swimming, rescue, using gear), involve real risks of serious injury, permanent disability and death, for you and for other people. Wind can change suddenly, water can hide hazards, equipment can fail and mistakes by others happen.

You decide whether, where and how to take part. You are responsible for your choices and for your safety: assess the conditions on the day, never ride beyond your level or alone in doubtful conditions, keep away from people, obstacles, roads, power lines and airports, use suitable and well-maintained equipment and safety gear, and follow the instructions of lifeguards, authorities and local riders. If in doubt, do not go out.

4Accuracy of spot, wind and travel information

Spot guides and other practical data (wind directions and strength, seasons, water and beach type, tides, crowd, hazards, access, how to get there, equipment advice, suggested kite sizes, coordinates, distances, prices) are general indications. They are compiled from our own experience, from contributors and from public sources, can be incomplete, subjective or out of date, and conditions change with the weather, the year and the construction or closure of beaches.

Before you travel or ride, check everything yourself on the spot and with local sources: local riders, schools and shops, harbour or beach authorities. In particular check:

• whether kitesurfing is allowed at that place and in that season (bans, designated zones, protected areas, bird-nesting periods, swimming areas, boat traffic, permits);
• the local rules, access rights, fees and parking, which may restrict or forbid what a guide describes;
• the marine and weather conditions, warnings and tides of the day, and the real wind direction relative to the shore.

Maps, pins, routes and coordinates may be inexact. If you find something wrong or missing, please tell us and we will correct it.

5Weather, wind forecasts and data from other sources

Forecasts and maps shown on the Site, such as the Windy.com embed, and map tiles, are produced and provided by third parties. We do not create, check or guarantee them. Forecast models are estimates and can be wrong, sometimes by a lot, and they do not show local effects such as gusts, thermals, shore breaks or squalls. Use official weather services and your own observation to decide.

6Equipment and product information

Articles, reviews and size tables about kites, boards, harnesses and other gear are opinions and indications, based on the tests and experience of their authors with the gear available at the time. They do not replace the manufacturer’s manual and safety instructions, a check by a qualified technician, or advice from your instructor. Specifications and prices may change. Never use damaged or unsuitable equipment, and always use the safety systems the manufacturer provides.

7Health and fitness

Kitesurfing demands good physical condition. Nothing on the Site is medical advice. If you have a health condition, are unsure about your fitness, pregnant, or recovering from an injury, ask a doctor before you practise the sport. Know the basics of first aid and sea rescue, and never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

8Schools, shops, stays and other businesses

The Site lists and mentions independent third parties: kite schools, instructors, shops, accommodation and other services. We are not their agent, partner or employer, and we are not a party to any contract between you and them (lessons, courses, rentals, purchases, bookings, stays). Information about them is provided by them or taken from public sources, and certifications, languages, prices, opening times and services are shown as declared by the business unless a listing is clearly marked as verified.

A listing, a mention, a rating or a badge is not a recommendation or a guarantee of quality, safety or insurance. Before you book or buy, check the business yourself: its certification, insurance, equipment, safety procedures, rescue boat or cover, conditions and cancellation rules. Any dispute, refund or claim is between you and the business.

9Comments, reviews and content by users

Comments, reviews, spot reports and other content published by visitors, members and businesses reflect their authors’ views and experience, not ours. We moderate according to our Comment Policy but we do not check or endorse everything, and we cannot guarantee that it is accurate, complete or lawful. Do not rely on it for decisions about your safety. To report content you think is illegal or wrong, follow the notice procedure in our Terms and Conditions.

10Affiliate links, advertising and free products

We believe you should know when money or goods are involved. On the Site:

• Affiliate links. Some links and posts, here and on our social channels, lead to a product or service for which we receive a commission if you buy. It costs you nothing extra. Where it is not obvious, we say so.
• Advertising and sponsored content. Banners, paid listings, premium badges, priority placement and sponsored articles are clearly marked as such and are kept apart from our editorial content.
• Free products and trips. We independently test most of the products we write about, but manufacturers or businesses may sometimes give us free products, services or invitations to try and write about them. When that is the case we tell you.
• Independence. None of this changes our honest opinion. Reviews are not influenced by the companies, and a commercial relationship is never a reason for a recommendation.

11External links and embedded content

The Site contains links to, and embeds from, websites and services we do not control (schools, shops, forecast tools, maps, video platforms, social networks). We do not endorse them and are not responsible for their content, availability, accuracy, privacy practices or security. You use them under their own terms and at your own risk.

12Insurance, licences and local law

You are responsible for having the insurance (civil liability, accident and rescue/repatriation cover that includes kitesurfing), the qualifications or licences and the permissions that the sport requires where you ride, and for obeying the laws and regulations of the places you visit, including those on water use, nature protection, drones, privacy and photography of other people.

13Photos, videos and trademarks

Photos and videos are credited where we know the author. Names, logos and products of third parties belong to their owners and are shown only to identify them, without implying any affiliation. If you are the owner of a picture or a mark and want it credited, changed or removed, write to [email protected] and we will act promptly. If you appear in a photo and do not want to, tell us and we will remove it.

14Limits to our responsibility

To the fullest extent the law allows, we do not accept liability for loss, damage or injury arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information, content, links or services on the Site, nor for content by third parties, or for the acts and omissions of schools, shops, stays and other businesses. The Site is provided “as is” and as available; we do not promise it is always online, complete, accurate or error-free.

This disclaimer does not limit anything that the law does not allow us to limit. In particular, nothing here excludes or restricts liability for death or personal injury caused by our fault, for fraud, for intent or gross negligence, or for the legal rights of consumers (for example under Directive (EU) 2019/770 and the unfair contract terms rules). The full rules are in section 12 of the Terms and Conditions.

15Changes and contact

We may update this disclaimer as the Site grows (for example when we add reviews, stays and shops). The date at the top shows the current version. For questions, corrections or concerns write to [email protected] or use the contact form.