I USE A OCEANUS REEL LEASH!!! [}:)]
There, I've said it. I used it as a beginner, and I used it last season as a slightly more experienced kiter, and I'm using it again this season too
I love it, and at no time has it tried to kill or maim me
I don't consider myself a beginner any more - I can body drag if I need to, stay up wind, go toe side, jump a little, carve a turn, ride a swell - but I'm certainly no expert. I learn a little each time I go out, and nothing in my kiting experience so far has turned me away from using my leash.
Yes, I've had a few stacks where I've lost control of the kite and it has whipped me straight out of the water again, and the board has been at the full extent of it's leash, but there is no elasticity in the leash so the board did not want to 'ping' back to it's attachment point - me!
There has been a couple of occasions where my leash has been a real
bonus :
One of these times my kite has somehow managed to invert and get tangled in the lines, to the point where I have not been able to re-launch it and have had to drift into shore. I did not have to worry about hanging onto my board because it was on the end of my leash, all safe and secure and not heading off down the beach somewhere. It was one less thing I had to worry about.
The other time was when I went out and the wind dropped to the point where I just couldn't re-launch the kite easily. I spent a bit of time drifting down wind whilst trying to get the kite back up in the air. Once again, didn't have to worry about where my board was, and could focus all my energy on getting the kite up again. Got the kite up, reached back and grabbed my waiting board, and off I went.
One kiting spot I sometimes use has a very narrow beach for rigging, and the water is quite shallow for a fair way out. The launch is done from the water. I simply attach my board to my leash, get my bar and wade on out to my launch position, my board trailing along beside me. Kite is launched and my board is right there next to me, not drifting down wind or sitting back on the shore. It also works well when you come in. Just step off the board, land the kite, disengage your rig and walk into shore with your board trailing along after you. Sweet
To the guy who says the leash is good because he can see it and keep well away from the user because it signifies he is a noob and obviously incompetent -
fantastic! I'm happy to have plenty of room on the ocean, and feel no shame in displaying my leash to all and sundry. Stay well away from me, I don't care. Whisper and point at me with your cool friends. Once again, don't care. Maybe it's an 'age' thing
Just about everything in life is a choice, and you make your choice based on information you gather, both positive and negative. You weigh up the risks against the benefits, as you see them, and base your decision on that. Everyone is different, and what is a high risk to one person may be seen as a very low risk to someone else. Whatever choice we make, we must be prepared to accept the consequences of that choice.
My attitude to my leash might change if I start to do more jumping, but for now, I wouldn't be without it
