AKSonline said...
Hi Plummet,
Age old question and there has been a lot written about it in the past. Problem is, it's hard to get a non biased opinion. It seems that the kitesurf community has polarised into two very distinct opinions and rarely do the two meet.
I ride straps and strapless, and hooked and also unhooked. My decision on the setup to ride is based solely on the prevailing conditions. Some conditions can only be ridden strapped and some offer the choice. The choice then is yours.
Strapped is easier for sure and under normal conditions. Comparing two riders strapped to unstrapped can't really be done in terms of performance or difficulty if they are both performing the same manoeuvres. However, if the strapped rider is a good rider and fully exploiting the use of straps to pull of tricks or moves which will never be pulled off strapless, then the level of difficulty is similar.
In general, strapped riding is for when the wind is above 25 knots. In these conditions, the water becomes like a washing machine with gnarly chop making it hard to stay on an unstrapped board. Most one eyed unstrapped riders will continue to ride unstrapped and will be bounced off and pulled over the front of the board fairly regularly making it a bit difficult for others in the break to avoid them as they body drag around for their board.
In bigger onshore frontal conditions, you simply cannot ride strapless. The need to boost over 6 foot walls of foam is the only way you'll get out the back. Straps are essential for this riding. I've never seen any unstrapped rider get out in a strong westerly in big surf, seen a few try, but fail.
Wave size is irrelevant in terms of strapped or strapless. Any size can be successfully ridden if conditions are clean side, side/on or side/off. You can even ride offshore if you have a kite that de-powers enough.
If you stop worrying about what everyone else thinks is cool or acceptable and push your own ability in all conditions all the time, using the tools at your disposal, then you will be a much better balanced and all round kiter.
Go ahead and do your own thing and worry less about what's cool or acceptable. Dicover your own boundarys and then push them to the limit. If you're totally comfortable, then you need to push it a bit further.
Have fun, both are sweet when applied to the correct conditions. The only way you'll know what works for you though, is if you have a go yourself and take others advice with a pinch of salt.
DM
As always a good rational response thanks DM.
I'm not interested at all in whats cool and whats not. IMO the cool guys limit themselves by only being allowing themselves to do cool things. Stuff that i'll do what has the biggest fun factor regardless of coolness factor.
I started this thread to get an idea why other people ride either strapless or not. but as you say a logical response seems difficult for some posters.
