Mate with a leash the board will catapult right back at ya

imagine a good fast lofting traveling downwind at speed with a board

flailing behind you cause its leashed to you

you will stop faster than it does when you hit the water

IMO loosing a board is far better than your head/neck/back whatever

loosing your board hurts but a board wedged in the back of you

somwhere will probably hurt lots more

Fly,

A mate and I were going out kitesurfing one day, I met him at his place before we headed out and while he was getting his stuff I noticed a leash attached to his new board, one of those coil types, anyway I pointed out to him that the leash is not a good idea etc, etc, but he was afraid of losing his new board and I couldn't persuade him otherwise so we headed out.

This same day, the first use of his leash; we met up after our session and he told me that the leash was a bad idea. He showed me what was left of it and it was completed stretched out and had snapped clean in two about half way down the coil.

HOW? What had happened was that at some point, probably after a stack the kite had lifted him completely out of the water, his feet not in the straps on his board, he was lifted until the coil became straightened, his board acted like an anchor, so while the kite kept lifting him, or attempting to (only 20kts that day) the board held him down until SNAP, the leash snapped.

So my advice don't get one. They are bad news.

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

couple of threads here documented.

one under beginners

one under equipment i think

A 30cm leash aint gona catapult much and since it's attached to your ankle it's not going to hit u in the head either.

I've been hit pretty hard by the board on my arm that's why I'm exploring alternatives to a real leash.


Maybe board ankle bindings so it doesn't leave your feet.

I shall experiment.

dont be a dunce. learn to body drag upwind properly and write your name and phone number on your board.