Kitesurfing can be deadly but good habits minimise most risks

In her 12 years of kitesurfing, Lison Mage has never experienced anything like her recent brush with death.

While preparing to launch off a Gold Coast beach last month, she felt overpowered by her kite as it began dragging her away from the water.

Lison Mage broke her spine, ankle and toes after being thrown more than 10 metres from the beach onto land. (Supplied)

"A gust of wind propelled me and then next thing, I'm above the trees."

She said using the quick release, a crucial safety measure in kitesurfing emergencies, might have averted what came next, but the panic and pace of the moment overcame her.

"The line of the kite went through the trees and I was getting [pulled in] and that's where I did the release," Ms Mage said.

Ms Mage landed on the road after she was thrown more than 10 metres in the air.

She sustained a burst spinal fracture: a severe injury in which the vertebra crushes in multiple directions, as well as a broken ankle and toes, and impact to the chest.

Ms Mage believes she could have been paralysed if not for her helmet, impact vest and strong harness.

Australia has had at least five deaths in kitesurfing since 2003, with almost all involving an impact with a structure or object after a wind gust.

Gold Coast-based former competitive kitesurfer Anna Williams said the sport came with two key dangers.

"Inconsistent wind can get really dangerous and nasty," she said.

"And also launching. I think launching is the most dangerous part of the sport."

Lison Mage has kitesurfed in Australia, Fiji and Europe for more than a decade and done more than 250 skydives. (Supplied)

Gusts are more likely when wind travels from land to sea, conditions Ms Williams said were best avoided.

Onshore winds on the other hand, while generally safe, can push the rider towards physical hazards along the beach if they don't have full control of the kite.

Ms Williams said safety came down to experience level and choosing an angle of the beach that worked well with the wind direction.

Ms Mage said wrongly evaluating the wind proved perilous in her case.

Research shows most serious kitesurfing accidents resulted from being blown away by wind and hitting solid objects, falls from height, and being unable to break free from the kite.

Kitesurfing is widely considered an extreme sport but the numbers suggest the risk of injury or dying is low.

Findings from a survey of more than 3,000 people in January found an injury rate of 4.8 per 1,000 hours of kitesurfing, in line with the average injury rate of contact sports.

It found the most common kitesurfin