get a velcro piece on your board and on the leash so that it only holds the board when your not moving fast.
dont do as ive seen some and have a plastic coated steel wire tied to your harness and board

sunseeker said...there's just as much risk of being hit by your board when surfing as there is kiting.

Mate, I'm going to call bull**** on that comment-it's a whole different ball game kiting in the waves and surfing them as far as getting smacked by your board-waaaay more dangerous to wear a leash kiting-the ONLY time I wear a leash kiting is when in Indo and kiting the reefs-lose your board end your session-otherwise there's pretty much NO reason to wear a leash IMO-particularly for someone inexperienced that's prone to getting launched off their board-which if attached to them by a leash-becomes a missile to be explode on the back of their head-if you need a leash you need more experience body dragging.

Just a few cents worth-which these days-ain't much

I had a leg rope on the first day I had all my new gear, and I was trying to water start, body drag etc etc.

I found it to be a huge pain in the arse. The thing gets wrapped around your leg and often you have to spin your board around to get the foot straps right. The leg rope just becomes a hinderance. All this is going on while you are trying to hold your kite in a depowered position at 12 o'clock. Thats not to mention this sudden realisation that the sidecut of my board was suspiciously starting to look like a knife edge... After my first day I ditched it and didn't look back.

Ideally, when you are learning try to find a spot that has water you can stand up in... knee to waist high. Then you can stand up when you ditch, and wade back to your board, or stand up and wait for your board to drift back to you.

The reality is learning to kite involves a lot of body dragging. As you get better you can fall off, hold the board onto your feet by curling your toes and use the kite to get yourself ready to go. If you lose a foot out of a strap you eventually can control the kite and grab you board off your other foot and recover within 10-20 seconds. And being able to upwind body drag also helps when you realise you have not left yourself enoungh in the tank and all you can do is lie on your board and body drag back to shore ;-)

In the UK a lot of people use them because the tide currents can be stronger than the wind and no amount of upwind body dragging will allow you to catch up. I still persisted with no leash. If you really get separated from your board someone usually come and help you out. I got caught in a tangle off Middle Park (Melbourne) and after landing back on the shore with a birds nest to contend with and a snapped line, one of the better riders showed up with my board in his hand. Champion. The fact is while you are learning you need to be in an area where there are a good number of people around to help you out if things go a bit pear shaped.

Choady said...

A quick look in the lost/found section reveals 31 lost boards since 01 Jan 2008, and one lost girlfriend

This is a phenominal loss rate of about one board per day And these are only the boards reported lost on this forum. If each board is say worth an average of $1000 to replace new, thats $31,000 worth of kit been lost in a month.

Im still only a relative beginner to kiting, and one of those 31 boards was mine. I have read all the board leash threads on this and other forums, and seen the gruesome pictures too - but am not convinced that board leashes are all evil and wearing one will result in the inevitable hospitalisation as some seem to think.

Its all about risk management, and only taking on extra risk if the benefit of taking the risk outweighs the risk itself. In my workplace we constantly manage risk at meny different levels, and wearing a board leash can also be managed effectively. Just being out there kiting carries extra risk of injury than watching from the beach. The benefit is the enjoyment you get from kiting, so you have judged the risk as acceptable.

Wearing a board leash also carries a higher risk of injury than not wearing one at all, but then there is the risk of losing ones board. All we need to do is mitigate this risk by wearing an impact vest and helmet, and using a modern retractable leash. By doing this, you are effectively reducing the probability of an injury from occuring from say "probable" to "rare". Not jumping with a leash also reduces the risk injury. The risk of losing ones board vs being injured has now been mitigated - but not removed.

The benefit of wearing a leash is a massively reduced chance of losing your board should you become separated from it, and all the comments of 'learn to body drag' mean nothing when your in a strong current and the wind is the wrong way. In this case youve got no chance of dragging back to your board - as I found out the hard way. They didn't tell me this in my lessons

Finally, all risk is an individual choice. What is acceptable for one is not to another. All those who so strongly advocate against wearing a leash (especially when learning) are obvously risk averse, and I would hope they walk to the beach, because the risk of serious injury in a car accident is far greater than wearing a board leash with vest and helmet. Perhaps they all wear fame retardent racing suits, racing helmets and 5 point harnesses, and have their cars fitted with roll bars - as this is the only way to 'reduce' the risk of injury in a car.

There are plenty of freak accidents in all sports and even day to day life. Kiting is no different - leash or not. BUT, with 1 board a day getting lost - I can only wonder how many boards would have been saved in the last month if a leash had been worn ? I personally think the risk of beginners losing boards is much higher than injuries they will get from wearing a reel leash with the safety gear. Its just up to the individual as to whether or not they are willing to mitigate, and then accept this extra risk.

Mellow,

I recently typed this above reply in the gear review section about reel leashes, but thought it would be good to put here too.

Ultimately, wearing a leash holds more risk of injury. Jumping with a leash increases this further. The risk to others kiting if you wear a leash is no different to if you dont wear a leash, so your not being jack if you wear one. If you do wear one, mitigate the risk of injury, wear a helmet and vest, and only use reel leashes which help reduce (not eliminate) the slingshot effect.

You dont have to wear the leash all the time, you can unhook it when learning/performing jumps, and if you stack your kite, you can just re-hook it onto your board (assuming its nearby) whilst getting it re-launched so you dont lose it. Then remove it again if you want.

I personally think they are a great tool to assist learning and reduce the amount of board losses. They are not so good once you are up and going in all conditions confidently.

Only you can decide what risk of injury your willing to accept, and whether or not you wear safety gear. Doesn't matter what sport you do, there is always a chance of getting injured. Its no different with kiting.

Just remember - sometimes, if the wind and current conspire against you, then you physically may not be able to body drag back to your board. If there is no one else around, you may just lose your board - as happened to me and 30 others in the last month

loco4olas said...

sunseeker said...there's just as much risk of being hit by your board when surfing as there is kiting.

Mate, I'm going to call bull**** on that comment-it's a whole different ball game kiting in the waves and surfing them as far as getting smacked by your board-waaaay more dangerous to wear a leash kiting-the ONLY time I wear a leash kiting is when in Indo and kiting the reefs-lose your board end your session-otherwise there's pretty much NO reason to wear a leash IMO-particularly for someone inexperienced that's prone to getting launched off their board-which if attached to them by a leash-becomes a missile to be explode on the back of their head-if you need a leash you need more experience body dragging.

Just a few cents worth-which these days-ain't much

Note that I said pros wear them in heavier conditions - like you just described in Indo and kiting reefs. Nowhere did I say that you should wear one if you are "inexperienced that's prone to getting launched off their board". I was answering Blaster's question about riding strapless. Maybe I should have made it more clear - only wear a legrope on a surfboard if you are riding strapless and are experienced and if you lost your board would end your session. In heavy conditons you have to be prepared to throw your kite as soon as you can after crashing unless you can use it to get you out of trouble. I probably should have said that for experienced riders. For myself when riding strapless on a surfboard I feel at much at risk wearing a legrope as I do when surfing. If you were inexperienced and getting launched all over the place then it would be a different story. I would never feel safe wearing a legrope on a TT.

Heel straps are always another option

Choady said...

lol.
Crayrope for a leggie.....
and carpet for footstraps.
hahaha

I couldn't agree more Darren, I actually learnt to kite through AKS and on my first lesson I was taken through the normal safety, body drag, self rescue stuff and didn't even pick up a board from memory. I was going to book another lesson but my instructor told me to go away and just practice flying my kite for a while and practice body dragging, and when I came back he reckoned he could get me up on the board. Well I did that and also took my instructors advice and didn't bother trying to get up on the board until I could place it on the beach and drag out a fair way then drag back to the same spot. I never did get back for that next lesson but have never had a problem body dragging back to my board since and with the easy relaunch of todays kites (well my Bandit anyway) there is no excuse for wearing a leash. Just make sure you can hold ground whilst dragging and you should be right and in time you will be able to go upwind enough to cover most currents, having said that i appreciate that maybe with the tidal currents at some rivermouth locations it may be a bit difficult, but if your board is in a current then so are you so I can't really see there would be a problem.
So I say throw away the leg rope.

couldn't have said it better

Kitehard said...

This topic cracks me up.

If you start with a leash as a beginner you are obviously not good at upwind body dragging, hence the need for a leash. I fail to see how once you get "better" you can suddenly do without a leash. I mean, your not practicing your body dragging if you're utilising a leash so how do you get proficient at it without practice?

Using a leash is a dead giveaway that you're a noob with no skills and most likely a noob that has been told by their instructor (assuming they have had lessons) to not use a leash, which makes you obstinate and inexperienced. A scary combination!

Instructors advocating the use of leashes are leaving themselves open to liability should a student cop a board in the back of the neck and be crippled. Helmets don't protect you enough.

I've said it before, There is no need for a board leash when you can body drag upwind. If you lose your board a lot in the learning phase then you will get lots of upwind body dragging practice, that you obviously need!

Good winds,

atomic said...

get a velcro piece on your board and on the leash so that it only holds the board when your not moving fast.
dont do as ive seen some and have a plastic coated steel wire tied to your harness and board

That actually sounds like a pretty good way to attached a leash somewhat safely. You'd just have to attach it such as it only took a few N of force to rip the velcro off. Of course that depends on how frequently a board submarines on a crash.

Ive only been posting for a short time, but have been reading most posts on this forum over the last 7 months.

It is very frustrating when someone new asks a simple question, and other posters get so wound up around their own personal opinions that they

- either dont actually answer the question,
- veer off on weird tangents,
- or do answer with such overt and strongly worded know it all opinion that it may cause people to be reluctant to openly share in the future to avoid being smacked down. I certainly felt this way when I first started reading this forum and is why people generally read a long time before actually posting.

1. No where did anyone state that instructors should advocate the use of a leash.
2. No one has stated that a leash should replace lessons and lots of practice body dragging upwind.
3. No one is arguing that "once you get "better" you can suddenly do without a leash".

People have just been acknowledging that once one becomes more proficient and they start jumping and attempting other tricks - it therefore increase the chances of being hit by a board if you wear a leash, compared to someone who just rides out and back doing slide turns all day. It may therefore not be wise to wear one then.

The original question was "Do people use legrope or leash on their boards, to stop them wandering away after a stack? If not, why not? " He also indicated he has been taught to body drag up wind.

Making a statement like "

"Using a leash is a dead giveaway that you're a noob with no skills and most likely a noob that has been told by their instructor (assuming they have had lessons) to not use a leash, which makes you obstinate and inexperienced. A scary combination!"

This response really doesn't answer the guys question. It is rather insulting actually - especially to some experienced kiters all round the world who do use leashes. We all start off he same - inexperienced. If the guy wants to hook on a leash while he gets his kite sorted, and to maximise his time on the board each session - its his choice.

I would have thought what the 'experienced' kiters should be saying is to:

Learn to body drag upwind to reduce your chances of losing your board. Using a leash is not recommended as you increase the chance of hurting yourself - it is also not recommended by the IKO. If you do wear leash, make sure you use a reel leash and wear the correct safety gear. People have copped nasty injuries (& even been killed) by sling shotted boards. Even wearing the safety gear and using a reel leash still doesn't eliminate all the risk.

Clear statements - Its that simple.

At the end of the day - it is each individuals personal choice if they do or dont wear one. Let them know the risks - but leave the choice to be theirs rather than so arrogantly smacking others down after stating their views.

Statements like "If you start with a leash as a beginner you are obviously not good at upwind body dragging, hence the need for a leash." are also ultra opinionated.

I know several guys that arnt blessed with living on the beach, and have to drive an hour 25min each way. When you allow the time for pump up and pack up, it only leaves a few hours of kiting for a half a days effort, and they wear leashes to maximise their riding time in the half day a weekend they get due to their families commitments. They have obviously accepted the increased risks and would rather get up and going faster to maximise their time - especially in the surf when their boards would often get washed up. And yes - they have both had lessons and know how to body drag too

By the way, for the record - I dont wear a leash and I lost my board several weeks ago. I took 8hrs of lessons when I started, can body drag upwind (recovered my board on many occaisions on that day I lost it). But there is little you can do when a very strong current and lulling wind conspire against you not long before dark - you get separated from your board, the wind lulls but there is enough wind to keep you and your downed kite moving slowly towads hazards (rock groin, nav beacon and a jetty) - while the river current takes your board sailing away in a different direction with not enough wind to relaunch the kite. I chose to save the kite and try swim for the board once ashore, but once in the water in chop with glare from a low sun in the sky - I could not find it. Even some watchers on the shore said they lost site of it in the glare. A leash would have been handy for me in this instance.

It would be so nice if one could state a view without the smackdowns by obviously experienced guys - many of whom seem to suffer from a little tunnel vision, lack of open mindness yet have the "we'll do this as a team and do it my way" kind of approach. They seem to have forgotten what it was like when they were new.

Just give me a minute to put my Flame suit on

And like the crusty old shellbacks with 1000+ posts say :-

Goodwinds......

The kite itself is FAR more dangerous than a board leash.

The dangers of a leash are greatly exagerated.

"It'l take yer head off"

"People have been killed " etc,etc.

The injuries from leashes are minimal.

Please provide proof of the deaths.

Many people have been injured by their boards WITHOUT using a leash.

user said...

The kite itself is FAR more dangerous than a board leash.

Please provide proof of the deaths.

Many people have been injured by their boards WITHOUT using a leash.

Google is useful for questions like these:

Injuries detailed here:
from http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:izPmCpzoE2IJ:www.kitesurfstudie.de/kitesurfstudie.pdf+kitesurf+%22board+leash%22+injury&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7

Eight of 14 head injuries occurred because the board leash pulled al ost kiteboard against the head of the athlete.

Some nice photos here, gotta love Instructables! :
www.instructables.com/id/E9VDR5GIEZES9J4YGT/

Fatality described here:
fksa.org/showthread.php?t=558

Rick Iossi's web site is a trove of good safety info if you're interested.

Personally, I used a board leash a couple times when I was learning, and I got hit by my board. I also had the board get wedged underwater in the surf against the sand while my kite was powered up, and since I had the leash attached to my ankle, it felt like my knee was getting pulled out of it's socket. That was long before I learned to go upwind, but it was the last time I used a leash.

These days, almost no one uses a leash, but you still see a few die hards out on them. Usually when I find a lost board, it's got a broken leash attachement on it. Because most folks who ride with a leash never learn to bodydrag upwind, so when they finally do loose the board, they can't get back to it.

When I teach friends, I don't let them try the board until they can body drag upwind. Takes most of them just a couple tries, and it's useful later too. If the wind is too light to ride upwind, you can still bodydrag upwind out of a tight spot. Handy if you like to ride on reefs or other sketchy spots. With the bow kites these days you can just depower and swim back upwind for a short distance too, although body dragging is faster and easier for longer trips.

Of course, strapless surfing unhooked and with no kite leash is a different story. Those guys are usually riding in offshore winds too, so safety isn't really a concern - they have a jetski or two to pick up all the pieces after a good crash.

If you really can't make it upwind, try a Go Joe or make your own. They actually work - the board goes downwind faster than a kiter with the kite at neutral does. My sister used it while she was learning, and so did my girlfriend. They both got mad when I finally took the Go Joe off. It has the added advantage of loudly proclaiming "I'm a beginner, look out" to every other kiter on the beach, so they know to give you lots of room. Kind of like a board leash does, but more visibly. :)

Good on you Mellow yellow

I remember when i was taught by a very renowned instructer in perth and legropes were the norm.(Was a long time ago)

Firstly, I have done a quick search and have drawn a blank on this issue.

I guess, as a beginner, my board and I will become separated quite a bit, so it would seem to make sense to use some sort of a leash to keep it close whilst I sort out my kite. (And yes, I have been taught to body drag tack up wind )

Do people use a legrope or leash on their boards, to stop them wandering away after a stack? If not, why not?

you asked a question expecting advice from experienced people on this forum.

99.9% of the obviously experienced kiters on this forum replied with....... dont wear a leash

however you............

The wind gods, and those that govern my work roster, have finally got together and allowed me several days in a row to get my new gear out onto the beach and into the water. Yay.

My 'new' kite, North Rebel 9m, is a fantastic kite for the beginner. It virtually re-launches itself, has complete depower, and some good rigging (5th line) and bar. My seat harness seems to work well, and my Gath helmet fits comfortably on my noggin, but the best thing I have spent my money on is .... wait for it ....

An Oceanus EEL board leash !!!!!

Before anyone gets stuck into me, I can body drag upwind if need be, but with this reel leash, I don't have to. The time I now spend in the water is pretty much 100% with my board, trying to get up and going. I've had a few stacks, both as a forward projectile and a backwards skipjack, and the board has been ripped from my feet, but not once has it even looked like flying back at me with murder on it's tiny mind I do wear a Gath and am impact vest though. Keeps the wife happy too.

As a beginner, this leash certainly makes things more enjoyable for me. I can see how it might be a little more dangerous when doing big jumps and tricks, but that's a long way off for me at this stage, so until then I will be 'leashing it up'.

p.s. a huge thank you to my mate Troy for taking the time to teach and encourage me these last few days. I look forward to being more of a kiting asset with you when next season comes around, rather than the beginner liability I am now, but hey, each day i've gone out i've improved, so there's hope for me yet

choose to wear one anyway .A rather bizzare decision IMO but i guess it is natures way "natural selection" as they say.

as i said recently on another post

If you can body drag you dont need a leash
If you cant body drag you need more practice or more lessons

Seriously mellow yellow go down to the beach and have a look at the good kiters feeriders and wakestylers and count just how many are wearing leashes my tip is NOT ONE WILL BE WEARING ONE
so they must all be a bit daft... or .... maybe just maybe you are