VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

240: I saw some talk about using a board leash while kiting a couple days ago. I thought I would post this here to make sure it was heard. Bad idea all around! Kite in conditions you are comfortable with and get used to retrieving your board quickly before you charge out in overhead conditions. Most of the time you can get your board before it hits the beach if you choose the second or third wave. Choose the first, and you may regret the new features on your previously shiny surf board! We have rocks here, and your board will land on them when it hits the beach, that is for sure. Do not go out with a board leash, tangle up, and find you and your board hitting those same rocks, that will be for sure as well! Choose your battles boys! There ain't no sissy waist high waves, with steady 18 knots with a sandy beach around these necks. Board leash in technical winter kiting wrapping around yours lines equals a DEATH WISH! Use your imagination on the worst case scenario when you go out in swell like that, and be prepared for it to manifest when you are out in the thick of it. It is challenging enough out there, lets not add to it. Cheers - Friday November 15, 9:31AM
Kayakdoc: Interesting discussion on board leashes. I never saw a leash when kiting when I lived on Maui, (at least not by anyone that spent a lot of time in the big stuff...(I saw leashes on tourists....and a lot of other things on tourists as well...but that is another story)) BUT I have heard that some of the guns use them in Australia (in the big stuff). I have also heard that Keahi De Aboitiz, uses one, but again I have never seen it (including in his videos). Personally I have never used one, including the really big days on Maui, although I think this may be because that is how I learned...and I have never had a use for one in the big stuff, always having gotten to my board (knock on wood). I am rethinking carrying some sort of leash/line though. This is because of needing to keep the board close when messing with the kite offshore. Plus towing people in it helps to have something to attach gear to, but this is probably a different issue than the one being discussed here. - Friday November 15, 10:03AM
Juandesooka: Leashes: KdA definitely uses one, can see it in the videos...check out strapless kiting vids in kiteboarding thread. I can see the need, doing big moves in serious conditions...certainly will lose your board at times, and maybe danger of having wave take it away is worse than danger of it snapping back at you? (think those slabs where waves break right on shore....lose your board, it's gone). Maybe would help to have a velcro safety that releases under extreme pressure...no catapulting board snap backs? - Friday November 15, 10:35AM
Martyd: I only use the leash when it gets BIG. I am talking double overhead +. The reefs here are quite a ways offshore and if I have to ditch my kite(almost happened) then I don't want to be out there without something to help me back to shore. There is a chance for a tangle up and I am not saying everyone should use one. But you can release a leash and as long as you are not yarding yourself around violently it can be very helpful. Most riders were wearing leashes here on the big days. - Friday November 15, 10:39AM
Kayakdoc: KdA must be using one on occasion, but not always, because he sure doesn’t use one in the Hawaii Sessions video (my favorite). I wonder what his criteria is? I might be able to ask Phil Sobolev at Cabrinha (KdA is somehow related to Pete Cabrinha...nephew or cousin I believe). - Friday November 15, 10:53AM
Kayakdoc: Hey Marty, The leash thing is a tough one to get a handle on. The worst incident I ever saw in Maui was a monster day at Pier 1, the issue was so bad that the rider ditched both the board and the kite (very experienced kiter...surfboard straps though). A twin tipper tried to save the guy, but couldn’t. Finally a guy on a strapless surfboard (no leash) went out to get him. We were all gearing up to go out and help. The guy made it but man he was in a sorry state when he got in. I sure like how the Maui vibe is to assess and then go get the guy in trouble. I have had a few very heartfelt thank-you’s from overwrought wives and girl friends after heading out and dragging in overzealous husband/boyfriends. This has been paid backed big time. Mostly when your gear is gone and you think it is gonna get thrashed and the swim in is gonna be a long one and the next thing you know someone has grabbed your gear and your dragging behind another friend back to shore. l love that vibe. - Friday November 15, 11:15AM
Juandesooka: I like to hear that kdoc. Might be some teasing of newbs, but in the end, got their back...just as someone covered for you when you started...and keep paying it forward. Great karma vibe! - Friday November 15, 11:21AM
Eric: I agree with 240lbs Jordy on this one. The large surface area on the board makes them susceptible to catching wind and flying over your head, thus a likely scenario of going through or around your lines. - Friday November 15, 12:01PM
Nanmoo: I always thought 240 referred to his IQ?!?! :-O - Friday November 15, 12:57PM
240: Just make sure you don't drop in on me now Nanmooooo. You might understand what 240 means after that. - Friday November 15, 1:15PM
Kus: see, now there is another good use for a leash

Posted this cuz of another thing today: I missed totally that Wade had lost his board when he was wrapping up his kitelines and the board got toasted on the rock. I feel really bad about it I wasn't even dressed yet so maybe I could not have been much help but perhaps, who knows....anyway, thinking about it I thought, if it was me and I had to clean up the kite while not wanting to lose my board, maybe if not wear the leash all the time but perhaps a large plastic w/ stainless biner on a short strap?? that way it bobs around your waist while you get the kite figured Just a thought and.....sorry Wade dood I totally would have snagged it, not paying attention

Its all good Markus, You didn't realize.

The waves/wind didn't warrant a board leash today (in my opinion) I will use a SUP leash on certain bigger days. Feel having my board close outweighs the dangers (just my opinion).

I always have a second bar leash on my harness for hooking my surfboard, I've had a few situations where it has proved way way more difficult to relaunch in light winds and self rescue with a strapless surfboard and no leash (high risk of losing your board). I actually used it once earlier in the day to relaunch in the swell on the point without losing my board.

In the situation where my board got crushed I had lost hold of the board before being able to hook it and my kite was heading towards a ton of beach debris in the back eddy of the river/shore break, it would have been a fatal path of destruction where I definitely would have had to eject my bar and lines and say good bye to my kite. I decided to wrap my lines as fast a possible and save the kite (priority over the board in the beach break)

Just my bad luck that my board was being rolled over repeatedly on the shore by a huge log.

I bought that board used recently. Got a few sessions out of it. Pretty much cost me 70$ a session.... cheaper than snowboarding

CTK wrote:I bought that board used recently. Got a few sessions out of it. Pretty much cost me 70$ a session.... cheaper than snowboarding

Ouch! But good positive spin on an otherwise sucky situation.

I have a "leash" on harness too for self rescues, good for mako, but discovered mine is too short to attach to surf board. Tried something I've never done before, sat on board surf style while winding lines, worked really well. (though tinier low volume board is a balancing act)

If wearing sup leash in surf, could consider some kind of a breakaway velcro strap -- where it keeps your board nearby in normal situations, but if forces are strong enough to get you a serious backlash (like lofting or deathlooping), then that safety will trip. Maybe that is best of both worlds?

wondering how much going with straps would help when learning to kitesurf the waves!!

just bought a kite specific board that I can actually use with straps and am thinking of sending it a couple times to try it out... might beat up the board a bit but could be pretty fun!!!

I know some just keep the front strap on...


tips???

abetanzo wrote:wondering how much going with straps would help when learning to kitesurf the waves!!
just bought a kite specific board that I can actually use with straps and am thinking of sending it a couple times to try it out... might beat up the board a bit but could be pretty fun!!!
I know some just keep the front strap on...
tips???

For me, my surfboard came with one strap, so I rode it that way for a while. Now 2 straps. Helps with chop and high wind. Less likely to lose your board. And better chance of being able to do this:




But it's a hassle to switch your feet and you don't have freedom to move your feet around to where they are optimal, such as long upwind tacks.

I practiced strapless in summer, but didn't get confident enough yet to do it in significant surf. That's a next season project for me.

Get rid of the straps for good! It will take a bit more time but you will excel faster once it catches.