The KS2 safety label The kiteboarding craze is spreading all over the world, at different paces and with different practices and styles, yet the one thing these countries have in common is that their riders have all shared a scary if not fatal accident. KS2 safety label "In December 2002, IKO sent a press release, concerning the need of better safety systems on bars and the benefits of a norm that would be internationally recognized, resulting in the launching of the KS2 label.The KS2 label aims at testing all safety systems and certifying the products that pass a series of test, in laboratory and in live situation. Indeed, the only way to know if a system functions or not is to test it in live and extreme situation. The KS2 would also help all brands to develop satisfactory safety systems, bringing them all to proficient efficiency. The KS2 label gives the opportunity to the consumers to have the functionality of their bars’ safety certified before purchasing them. At present, a few brands have shown their interest but none have actually made a step towards a more formal engagement. The causes of accidents are well known today. Sudden strong winds and turbulences are the most common, followed by bad equipment setup. These accidents could be avoided if the safety systems were functional and adapted to each case or if the safety systems users’ guide were more explicit in the safety system’s functioning. The defects of the existing systems are also known, as well as the means to have functional safety systems." |