QLD
2070 posts
Hi Tom, try using the search function here on SB.
This subject has been raised many times & discussed over & over.
The general consensus is that they are dangerous and that you are much better off learning how to body drag upwind than get a reel leash.
QLD
123 posts
Don't do it Batman.
Just learn to body drag. Your progression will be much faster if you jump in the deep end
VIC
9 posts
Firstly, awesome website Tom! As a noob myself, it is great reading about the things I was having trouble articulating.
Take this with a grain of salt (new myself), but I would really avoid a leash. Boards are reasonably heavy considering how many sharp edges they have on them so even with a helmet and vest, eventual injury seems inevitable. My instructor aptly pointed out to me that making it back to the beach safely is far better than not making it back to the beach attached to your board. I don't hesitate to ditch my board when in trouble and drag back to it in 2 tacks (one out and one back). Having only ever kited at St. Kilda, I got a lot of practice upwind dragging when I used to lose my board every 2 board starts. With that said, the surf makes it a lot harder so I understand why it would be so tough where you were. I have vowed that I won't try to kite in surf until I am much more experienced (also note that kiteboarding is my first foray into water sports so surf scares the crap out of me in the first place).
I have my name, phone number and "St. Kilda Beach" on my board so should I ditch it at some point, it will hopefully eventually find its way back to me.
Glad to hear that you got your board back. Keep up the great work with the website!
VIC
116 posts
Tom
Whilst Point danger is a great place to kite it is not really a beginners area. Wind shadows, rocks, high tide issues, wind dropping out, low tide reefs etc. I only scanned your blog but wind was probably slightly offshore which makes even more challenging.
That being said stick away from the board leash and if you really have to do not jump while attached as thats when will get hurt.
Cheers
VIC
9 posts
Thanks guys,
I really was guttered when I lost the board and my only thoughts were that I should have had it attached to me. I did try retrieving it by body dragging but with the swell I lost sight of it. Now it wasn't a big swell by any means but enough for me to lose it.
I think I'm going to stick to a shallow area for a while until I am more confident with Kite control and riding without coming off. My issue is I get too much speed and end up losing the board once I hit a bump or something.
The wind at point danger was really gusty and thinking about it not conditions for a beginner.
NSW
1716 posts
If there are any experieced kiters reading this thread please keep an eye on the new guys and pick up their board if you see that they are having difficulty. Either return it to the beach or dump it down wind of them. It's a nice thing to do, takes no time and you'll make some guy really happy.
NSW
4382 posts
http://www.kiteboardleash.com/index.php?page=testimonials
Wear a leash and something like what you see on that website will most likely happen to you, so don't, just do what I suggest below.
But dont worry about the expensive Go jo thingy, just got to Bunnings, buy a $10 wheelbarrow inner tube, remove your board handle slip the tube under it and just inflate it eash session with a bike pump, never have to worry about finding your board again and learn to body drag when you do retrieve the easy to see board.
