Hey mate
I lost my first board cause I didnt spend enough time learning the boring body drag stuff. Then I bought a retractable board leash which just sucked from the day I first used it to the day I threw what was left of it in the bottom drawer labelled useless stuff.

Now I dont use a leash so I can ditch the board during wipe outs.

I dont go out in off shore wind.

I dont go out too far( further than I can swim back with a deflated kite)

If strong wind and currents are going against each other you just wont get back to your board.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5424


www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4179


Theres heaps of usefull stuff here as well as this subject discussed by others.

Good luck!

Don't be a wimp!

Use a leash!

Know how ya feel dude. I lost my board the first day of my 2 month kite trip. So i researched what everyone thought. (check above forums) Ignoring the advice i got a leash and cable ties that would give way under too much strain. What i found was this- It becomes your anchor. Stay away from it dude. Learn to body drag better, It'll come. You'll hear this over and over again.

I do not recommend a leash. You should be competent enough in the water to drag back to your board/land. Having a leash could not only damage you but swing and crack someone else in the head.

Leashes are great at dolls point due to the current (3-4 knots). Having said this, leashes should only be used when you’re learning to get up "beginner" and not when you’re leering how to jump.

I used a leash when I started kiting but also wore a helmet and impact vest (still do). Now that I've started jumping I've taken it off due to the fact there is time you want to kick the board off your feet and have it no where near you when you land in the water.

There's generally a lot of guys and girls out at dolls and if you lose your board some one will drag it in if it goes past them.