rescueme said...How do bindings cope with chop - are they best for flatter water riding? Or is it just the style of riding that suits flatter water also suits bindings? (if you know what I mean!)
Starting to do bigger jumps and transitions and rolls I'm finding I'm getting sore heels as my foot isn't secure in the footstrap and gets a bit of slap on landing - never used to have this problem with wakeboarding so I'm seriously considering moving to the darkside
I guess my main concern is with the disadvantages with bindings - will they also be cool for me to tool up the coast from Cott to Trigg with my mates on a downwinder? From what I read the disadvantages are:
1. awkwardness in getting bindings on while controlling kite
2. ???
3. profit
1. Awkwardness in getting on - Not too much of an issue with the new ones, they open right up. If its direct onshore, open them up, put them on and then ride upwind without tightening them, then once you have a little more space, stop and tighten them. When you land, loosen the laces when you're a couple of meters from shore, sit on your ass in the water and kick your legs out and pull them back in as quickly as you can. This will pull one or both out of the bindings and you're safe to land.
As far as comfort is concern, if you get the right ones, then comfort is not an issue. Sometimes the old ones were a little uncomfortable initially but the new ones these days are ultra comfy. In the old days you had to put the bindings on your feet in hot water or put wine bottles down the binding to soften them up and stop them killing the front of your ankle but the last pair I got I didn't have to bother with it. If you're really worried about comfort, you can get a softer boot (there are stiff models and soft models - the soft ones offer less support but are easier to get to grabs. most of the brands offer both so you can choose one for your preference) or you can get the heat moulded ones from Ronix where you can mould the boot to your foot which offers higher levels of comfort and even those come in stiff and soft so you have a choice for your riding style.
