Used a retractable board leash for years never had any problems. I used 2 hair ties on the board as a sacrificial breaking point. Anything that is going to nail you will break the ties first.

How long is the cord . what is everyones idea on this??? what if the cord was like 20 meters long shorly you would be stoped and board far enough away not too hurt you . the hair tie conection sounds like the stuff too.

Yer i left myself open for that one kite devil made me laugh though . got one of those on landcruser do you know how much trouble it is to make them go fast enough so can board with it !!! good fun though . I though the longer cord would be a simple but efective answer too not getting hurt with the retact .

less lines equals less potential hazzards when things go wrong imo. why am i adding to this annoying thread that has been done to death so many times... oh thats right, cause i'm meant to be washing the dishes... yeah, thread over hopefully. dishes now.

There always seems to be a lot of talk about impact vests/PFD’s not being ‘needed’ or a ‘false sense of security’? I assume that most people who are saying this are talking about the ‘impact’ protection?
IMO the main reason to wear some type of PFD, is because no matter your ability, a nice hard impact (or unlucky board to the head) and you’re unconscious, which means you go to the bottom, so the rescue is so much more difficult when seconds matter.
A lot of people have lost their lives wakeboarding because they wanted to look ‘cool’ and rode without a vest.

Yes, I use a reel leash and have for the last two years. I can body drag as well as anybody but have this slight paranoia about sharks that tend to cruise the coast lines all around Australia. I always wear Polaroid sunnies and have seen very large dark shapes swimming under the water as I go gliding by. Dolphin, shark? Yesterday, after a great session, I watched from the beach, a kiter trying to find his board, body dragging for nearly 20 minutes. I wonder what a person in wet suit looks like to the local fish population? When I kite on our local lakes I never use the leash, but to me, it is a calculated risk. I also use a sliding attachment system on my twinnie that only allows the end of the board to sink into the water about a third of it's length. I know this topic always keeps resurfacing, but there will always be two sides of the argument, and when a beginner asks me about the leash , I try to point the inherent dangers as well as the benefits. My observations of the local kiting population here is that 20% use them (mostly reels). The most popular ankle leash are very short (5 feet) non stretch dedicated kite leashes. The main danger with these is landing on your board after a crash. Most kite wipe-outs occur with rider following kite, with board in tow behind rider.

poor relative said...

At the end of the day you go out with what you feel comfortable with knowing the risks you pose to yourself.

I think that's the first sensible post I've seen in this thread, well done PR :)

au_rick said...

poor relative said...

At the end of the day you go out with what you feel comfortable with knowing the risks you pose to yourself.

I think that's the first sensible post I've seen in this thread, well done PR :)

Both the most balanced and sensible posts on SB in ages. Rellie said what I was trying to in 1/4 of the space and double the clarity!

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't realise what sort of can I was opening

I posted the question in the first place as I was out in light wind and got up for the first time for maybe 10 seconds came down and lost the board. It then took me 30 minutes to get the board back which seemed pretty excessive for 10 seconds. Call me a Kook if need be.

I'm a windsurfer originally and started kiting for various reasons ranging from easy to travel with gear, new challenge and new fear factor. My local beach and shop hate and ridicule leashes but I also understand the place leashes have and why people use them. I don't think it’s because they are crazy/dumb or lazy. Surly it’s about maximising time on the water and the buzz it brings!

I'll try and use an additional quick release on the board when launching and see how that goes.

BTW anyone that tells you kitsurfing is easier to learn than windsurfing is dreaming! But that's another post I guess.

DILLIGAF2 said...

...
I posted the question in the first place as I was out in light wind and got up for the first time for maybe 10 seconds came down and lost the board. It then took me 30 minutes to get the board back which seemed pretty excessive for 10 seconds. Call me a Kook if need be.
...

man i was in the same boat as you a little while back! loosing the board is such a pain! went out for a session with a mate, he was having a blast while i spent probably 1 min on the board and another two hours either body dragging to my board or searching for it!

The best advice i can give is to try and learn somewhere where its;
1. relatively flat
2. you can stand up in
3. cross shore winds so you can body drag into shore and find your board

when i found some flat water it was a 'gazzilion' times easier and couple that with being able to walk up wind to the board it was easy to learn the basic board riding skills!

dutchy1985 said...

DILLIGAF2 said...

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't realise what sort of can I was opening
......
BTW anyone that tells you kitsurfing is easier to learn than windsurfing is dreaming! But that's another post I guess.

These 63 year old ladies don't seem to think its too difficult...
www.aarp.org/magazine/
hope that makes you feel better

Thanks Dutchy I failed to mention I'm going on 60 myself

LEASH = BAD

End of Story!

DILLIGAF2 said...

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't realise what sort of can I was opening

I posted the question in the first place as I was out in light wind and got up for the first time for maybe 10 seconds came down and lost the board. It then took me 30 minutes to get the board back which seemed pretty excessive for 10 seconds. Call me a Kook if need be.

I'm a windsurfer originally and started kiting for various reasons ranging from easy to travel with gear, new challenge and new fear factor. My local beach and shop hate and ridicule leashes but I also understand the place leashes have and why people use them. I don't think it’s because they are crazy/dumb or lazy. Surly it’s about maximising time on the water and the buzz it brings!

I'll try and use an additional quick release on the board when launching and see how that goes.

BTW anyone that tells you kitsurfing is easier to learn than windsurfing is dreaming! But that's another post I guess.

The best thing you can do is find a learning spot with knee deep water. You can stand on your board, put your feet in the straps, rock back and do your kite dive. When you come off you can wade back to your board.

A lot of the frustration comes in that moment when you are trying to keep the kite at 12 and put the board on your feet. Don't stress about it. Kite control is everything. Even if you don't think you are getting better, you will be.

I think kitesurfing and windsurfing have some parallels between snowboarding and skiing. (I learnt to ski first but now snowboard) skiing is like windsufing - the basics are easy to pick up but the progression is slower a lot more technical. Snowboarding is like kitesurfing - its more punishing on you in the early stages (when you make a mistake you know about it!) but then the penny drops and you progress so much faster!

Not so good experiences for me with a reel leash.
I used one before...not that successful. It stopped to retract at some point which is pretty crap if you have like 2m of leash floating around you and wrapping you up like a parcel...:(