In kitefoiling, the decisive point adds to the usual kite care: the foil is metal in salt water and corrodes without care , seized screws are the most common problem. Here’s the honest routine, part by part: what to use, what to watch for, how to dry, and where to store it over winter.
The 5-minute routine after every session
- Rinse: kite, bar, lines, board, foil and wetsuit with fresh water , the foil especially thoroughly.
- Get the sand out: of valves, the bar and the foil box.
- Dry: airy and in the shade, only pack it away dry.
Kite, bar & lines
For the kite, bar and lines the same applies as in kitesurfing: rinse, roll up dry, check the lines and safety. The detailed guide is in Caring for and maintaining your kitesurf gear.
The foil: the most important part
- What to use: plenty of fresh water, the right Allen/Torx key, some anti-seize (assembly paste), a torque wrench helps.
- What to watch for: check all screws for corrosion and a firm fit. Aluminium foils with stainless screws tend to suffer contact corrosion , the screws seize.
- After salt water: rinse the foil thoroughly. Loosen the screws regularly, clean them, reset them with a little anti-seize , otherwise you won’t get them out one day. Dry the mast/fuselage/wing joints.
- Drying & storage: dry it off completely, caps on mast and wings, store in a padded foil cover, dry and protected from knocks. Protect the sharp edges (and yourself from them).
Mum says: Loosen the foil screws regularly and reset them with anti-seize , that’s the difference between five minutes of care and a sheared, seized screw in spring.
Board & wetsuit
- Board: foil box and screws tight and corrosion-free, pads seated, seal small dings.
- Wetsuit: rinse cold, dry through on a wide hanger in the shade (wetsuit calculator, musty smell).
Storing it away: the winter check
- Dry everything completely, store no part damp.
- Loosen the foil screws, clean them, reset them with anti-seize, then they won’t seize over winter.
- Kite loose, foil with caps in the cover, board dry, wetsuit hanging.
- In spring: check screws and torque, test the safety.
In short: what really matters
- Rinse everything, the foil especially thoroughly.
- Loosen the foil screws regularly and reset them with anti-seize.
- Care for kite/bar as in kitesurfing, check the safety.
- Foil with caps in the cover, protect the sharp edges.
- Rinse the wetsuit cold and dry it gently.
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