OK, genuine question here...

Why don't kiteboarders use leashes on their boards?

I understand that the experienced kiters like to do big jumps and take their boards off mid-air, but is there a safety reason that the beginners aren't attached to their boards?

The reason I ask is that I was discussing this with a bunch of other windsurfers the other day, and there was lots of speculation but no facts. Both a mate and I occasionally rescue boards whilst out of St. K (obviously after checking there isn't a kite nearby!) and bring 'em into the beach to reunite them with their owners.

Not that I mind doing this at all (I've had gear brought back to me by kind-hearted souls - what goes around comes around) but kiteboards (floating around on their own) aren't exactly the most visible thing when out on the water and there is discussion about the damage it could inflict if you hit one whilst traveling flat out on a windsurfer.... the consensus is that it wouldn't be a lot of fun and could be very painful / expensive.

I've learnt to be careful if there's a kiter in the water doing the upwind-angle-swimmy-thing because it probably means there's a board somewhere around, but sometimes they just pop out of nowhere and the kiter in question is already on the beach.

Anyway, genuine question - I've had a search and can't find it on the forum - in order to end the speculation on the beach by the "poleys".

Cheers,

Ian