Board leash or not?

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 12:00 pm

I have read in a few of the magazines that board leashes are not the best thing to use because of the dangers of getting hit with your own board when you wipe out? It sounds like it makes sense to me but how hard is it to get back to your board without one when you do fall? I just got my board in from Larry this last week and am stoked to get out and try the water for the first time but have not decided to get a leash or not yet? Any input?

cp2616 · Post by **cp2616** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 1:33 pm

I don't think anyone would suggest that you use a leash. Learning to bodydrag upwind is not too difficult and worth the time invested. You really don't have to get upwind, you just have to move downwind slower that your board. If you feel you need to go with a leash, I would suggest a reel leash and a helmet.

Casey

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 2:13 pm

Thanks, that confirmed what I thought to.

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 2:30 pm

The basic rule of thumb is to use a helmet and a leash until you get relatively decent at kiting. Otherwise, you'll never get back to your board if you lose it.

As you progress, your kite-flying skills will improve - and you body-dragging skills will follow.

Especially for Minnesota, where the water is mighty cold for a good part of the year, a leash is a good idea for a while. It can get awfully cold body-dragging back to your board after you loose it - especially if you don't get back to it quickly.

-Coach

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 6:55 pm

I wished I had a leash a few times this spring. Body dragging can cause water in the drysuit and just isn't pleasant.

If you use one be sure to wear a helmet and use one like the Reel Leash.

Also be sure to attach the leash in such a way that it will drag easily, right side up and upside down. Usually means as far to the ends as possible.

Denis · Post by **Denis** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 9:20 pm

Even though I am totally new to this water kiting thing, I have a remark. Something weird happened to me and my board leash when I was at Waconia today.

I was getting on my board and didn't pay attention to the kite that started diving in the meantime. I get yanked. No biggie, happened lots of times before. This time however, I feel a powerful force on my board leash. I bid farewell to the sky as everything turns to a muddy green. Kite is still pulling and I am giving my snap shackle a couple of good yanks. It finally releases and my life vest sails me to the surface. I get on my kite and paddle my way to the shore. Turns out that my board took a dive when I got pulled, and it kept diving with the force of the kite. I didn't touch the bottom of the lake or anything, but the force was strong enough to snap my leash rubber band. I did loose my booties in the process.

Then it was a simple walk/hitch-hike back to the car, barefoot.

Even though I totally agree with Coach about the convenience of the leash for a beginner, I still haven't decided if I like them or not. A reel leash would probably have given the board enough time to float back instead of diving right away.

Denis

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 10:09 pm

Oh come on being put on the rack and stretched while underwater isn't that bad. I hope you had the leash on your harness and not on your foot.

The experience you describe is very common. It usually ends in something breaking. The more power the kite generates the more the board dives, the more the more dives the more it pulls on the kite, through you, and powers the kite...

The usually happens when boards are upside down, ie reverse rocker.

A way to avoid this is to have a breakaway leash. Something that, when under extreme force breaks away, from you. Sure you may loose it a few times though if there is significant force in the system it is either coming back at you at mach 6 or something is going to break.

Early on, leashes keep the whole experience positive. The board is coming off a lot. It takes most of your attention to relaunch the kite, which goes down a fair bit, etc etc. They do make your life easier when you are getting started.

sorry to hear about your incident Denis. Glady to hear you're getting out.

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 11:34 pm

Thanks for all the input on the leash issue. I don't think I am going to use a leash, it just sounds like trouble to me. I know I probably should being I'm just starting out on the water, but I don't want to complicate things anymore than they are going to be when I finally get out for the first time this year, I feel pretty comfortable on a board anyway. The big thing for me to get used to the way I see it will be relaunching from the water when I do take a spill, and of corse getting back to my board when I fall will be a learning experience all in itself. I do allot or reading on the subject and I have learned a great deal from watching other people kiteboard, it will be rough but I have a very positive attitude and am very determined to learn all of this in a fun and most of all a safe way, and putting myself in the position to possibly getting wacked in the head or any other part of my body doesn't seem like a safe thing to do from the get go.

Tighe, I will be wanting to take lessons from you very soon if you have the time in your busy schedule. Just let me know when you have the time open for them and we can get together.

Denis · Post by **Denis** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 12:07 am

Hey Tighe,

yeah I shouldn't be such a cry-baby.

I was just a little surprised when I got yanked under for the first time. I was expecting a front seat to the premiere of my life in fast forward, but it never even came close.

Concerning the board leash, I had it on my foot as a matter of fact. I noticed some people had it on their harness in SF. Any reasons it would be better on the harness?

Denis

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 9:33 am

You have a lot of joints between your foot and your main body mass, therefore you could potentially do more harm. It is harder to resist the pull on your foot cause it is like a lever, the farther from your body the less force needed to twist and turn you.

The downside is that the recoil back to your waist is much closer to your head.

I wasn't implying that you were a "cry baby". Sharing your experience will be helpful to whomever has it next. Valuable for the leash or leashless debate.