Minnis Bay – 16 November 2025
On Sunday 16th November, the East Kent Kitesurfing Community held its inaugural Safety Awareness & Deep-Water Pack-Down Training Day at Minnis Bay — and it turned out to be one of the standout community moments of the year.
Despite cold, wintery conditions, riders showed up ready to learn, ready to practise, and ready to support one another in building safer habits on and off the water.
Professional Instruction & Strong Turnout
Huge appreciation goes to instructors Graeme, Morgan, Sarah and Steve, who volunteered their time and expertise. Thanks to their planning, riders were split into small groups, allowing everyone to get genuine hands-on coaching and personalised feedback.
The session opened with a shoreside briefing covering key safety topics, including:
-
Right-of-way rules
-
Beach etiquette and safe setup
-
Pre-launch checks and risk awareness
-
How to avoid common incident scenarios
Once the essentials were refreshed, groups moved into the water for the main practical elements:
deep-water pack-downs, self-rescue, buddy assistance and emergency recovery scenarios.
The cold made it challenging — which was exactly the point. Everyone pushed through brilliantly, gaining confidence in a realistic environment.
Why This Training Matters
Even seasoned riders benefit from revisiting the fundamentals. Safety skills fade when not used, and training days like this keep the whole community sharp. Several instructors mentioned how impressed they were that riders chose to prioritise safety over simply going for a session — a clear sign of the shared culture EKKC is building.
There’s already excitement around making this an annual training day, expanding the format and encouraging more experienced kiters to help pass on their knowledge.
Community Vibes & A Well-Earned Warm-Up
After the training wrapped up, a group headed to the pub at Minnis Bay for a warm-up, a laugh, and a well-earned beer together. It was a great way to finish the day — swapping stories, comparing notes from the session, and strengthening the community bonds that make EKKC what it is.
Thank You, Everyone
A massive thank you to the instructors, participants, and supporters who made this such a positive, valuable day.
Your energy and commitment set the tone for future events — more training days, more community meetups, and more opportunities for EKKC riders to progress safely and confidently.
See you all on the water (and maybe in the pub after)!
