No Leash! i would rather loose a board than have a board fling back and hit me. Some of the wipeouts ive had and seen...... Just learn to lift your legs up and try to keep the board on ya feet.
Body dragging is easy anyway its not hard to swim and hold a kite - you rocket upwind if you learn the technique. or just keep an eye on the board and run up the beach. In the surf most of the time the waves push the board back into the beach anyway.

I reckon you all should wear a leash, caus theres nothing better watchin guys cop a flogging and that board is just waiting for a chance to smack em in the back of the head.

Sorta like guys that unhook and ride a suicide(death) leash and multiple kiteloop it as they get dragged thru the water.

Its just entertainment!!!
Wish i was back in the day of Romans and lions.....MMMMMmmmmmmm

leash = geek
just learn how to drag upwind IT'S SIMPLE.

I remember Air Sickness where Flash, Robbie and the guys were doing 900s on HUGE waveboards and at the end of the movie Lou totally ripping it with slimchances, kgbs, mobes and whatnot, TRUE wakestyle... and that was like 10 years ago!! The King is ALIVE!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Ryland

NO LEASH KEEP IT SAFE

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Like Ry said...Oh and wear protection..
Boards are cheaper than heads!

interesting
agree no leash necessary for flat water lawn mowing

seems pros have different ideas in the surf

at gnaraloo felix and mates all had leggies on

great shot on slingy website of kiter hooking in the pocket, whats on his leg??

I would strongly advise not using a leesh.. specially when you are learner cause you might get a few trips looping and bouncing around and whatnot. A leesh that doesn't stretch is just not good enough. Say you are thrown down a few meters in the air, hit the water, the board still in the air continuing towards you and hit you in the head. That can get ugly. I've never used a leesh in my life, riden dozens of different boards in different conditions. Waves, flatwater, rivers, open ocean, side,on,offshore, and never lost a board.. I really can't understand how you can lose a board it's beyond my comprehansion.

Maybe if you kite teahupoo and don't wanna swim for 2 kms over the reef to get your board I can see using a leesh, but apart from that, leeshes are no-go. Besides, most boards don't even have anywhere to attach the leesh. Isn't that a sign good enough?

I'm with davespruce on this one.
Leashes are a No No.
Best thing to do is practice bodydragging just practice for 30min and you will surely get it and will never even want to wear a leash after.

I was taught to body drag one way for about twenty seconds then back the other and have never since had a problem finding my board. sometimes the glare can be a problem but if you sheet in a little with the kite higher you can lift out of the water a little and get a better look.
If you are in the surf your board will probably be on the beach before you get there.

Lastly helmets are a must if you insist on wearing a leash, but remember they do not protect your face, your neck or your back or any part of your body and a flying board can really really hurt.

Wow, the old thread lives. Its older than most peoples kites :)
As I type this I'm sporting a bump on the back of my head courtesy of my leash today. Kind of surprised me as it has always been either along side me or returned the board very slowly - actually I usually have to pull it in as my board thinks it is, in fact, a submarine and the reel pays out a long way.

I have been saying I'll get a helmet since I got the leash but I'd been lulled into a bit of a false sense of security by its convenience and lack of incidents. I'm under no illusions as to how much worse the knock could have been and I'll be ante-ing up for a helmet immediately. I also have a MASSIVE bruise and broken skin on the back of my leg from last time where the board must have hit me (dont remember it happening but I sure felt it when I got home).

Of course, I've had at least triple the board-time since getting the leash - as other people have pointed out, you can spend a much higher proportion of time bodydragging back to the thing, and a couple of times I've thought I'd lost it (as it prefers to turn upside down in the water). Its certainly convenient and I think will make you learn faster.

While I hope to one day (soon!) increase my competence to a level where I can get rid of it (ie not being totally unco' riding to the right) I find even small waves from 20kt+ winds at a place like botany bay get annoying when youre in the water and I got sick of taking in mouthfuls of water, receiving wedgies of a magnitude I never dreamed possible (from my harness) and just generally exhausting myself constantly dragging upwind. The bottom line being that there is a level of risk in kiting and undoubtedly an increased level of risk associated with using a leash - you mitigate that risk by the use of a helmet/vest and accept what remains or simply stay at home. (or learn to enjoy bodydragging). I thnk as long as you go in with your eyes open, they are a great aid to learning and reducing the piss-off factor during that period.

Sk

You only need a leash if your kitting in a dangerous spot where loosing your board will cause you more injury than a big gash in the head, arm or face... It only takes one session to get over not having a leash. DON'T WEAR ONE!

I am new to the sport and I just bought my gear off ebay and the kit came with a leash. I didn't use it the first time and I did find it time consuming keeping an eye on the kite and then having to retrieve the board. I am now using the leash (and I went and bought a helmet too) and now I only need to concentrate on flying the kite, maybe when I get the hang of it I will get rid of the leash.

Hey I can't believe how old this topic is, but the fact is that it will always be relevent. I recently bought the retactable leash and as long as it attached to one END of the board, this will eliminate 99% of problems such as tombstoning, followed by liftoff such as one of those missiles in Iraq! All of my friends use leashes and helmets and have yet to have a accident with the board. This is a extreme water sport and it will always have risks. I did try a couple of sessions without a leash and my riding time was reduced by half, mainly due to my very average skill level! One day I may have the confidence to ditch it, but not yet.