Kiteboard Leash – Why not use one?
Website design By BotEap.comA kiteboard leash is any tether that connects a kiteboarder or kitesurfer to their kiteboard, not to be confused with a kite leash, which is an essential piece of kiteboarding safety gear. The idea behind the kiteboard leash is to help the kitesurfer not lose the board when the two get separated. The problem lies in the safety of this motto, and what can happen when things go wrong.
Website design By BotEap.comFirst of all, learning to retrieve the board when it falls is a step in the learning process that comes before learning to ride a kiteboard. We can refer to the kitesurf board recovery process as upwind body drag or directional body drag. If you can’t confidently drag your body onto your board every time, you’re not ready to try riding it. Perfect example: Imagine driving a car for the first time on a busy city highway during rush hour. Hmm, not how you learned to drive, me neither. Most of us went to driving lessons or with parents and learned how to drive in a parking lot. Keep in mind that sooner or later your kiteboard leash will break, if it doesn’t break you first. When it does, how are you going to get back to your board? Before becoming a kiteboarder, the savey individual will be an expert kiteboarding retriever. Safe and Independent, please.
Website design By BotEap.comThe second point is that kite leashes are dangerous. Try doing an internet search for the following; kitesurf kitesurf board leash crash kitemare. Dig a little and you will find some horrible stories and often graphic images of kiteboard leash carnage. I often hear people say in the same breath that they wear a strap, but they also wear a helmet. The truth is that a helmet won’t protect your face, it won’t prevent your leash/board from getting tangled up in your flylines and a host of well-documented mishaps and tragedies. In fact, dragging the body to retrieve a board is easy, most of my students learn the technique in 20 minutes or less.
Website design By BotEap.comThe last point is the economy. I hate to use this argument, but too many people think an accident won’t happen to them and therefore ignore the safety argument. OK, the idea behind a board leash is to prevent one from losing a kiteboard. Given that production plates cost $500-$900 new, and custom plates even more, it’s a reasonable concern. However, buying a $79 head trauma cord is not the answer. If you’ve come across any stories about kite leash accidents, you’ll know that many of these ended in hospital visits. So the economy finally comes into play. Buy a new board vs. trip to the hospital. I think a trip to the hospital would cover the cost of many new boards. Hey, why not buy a cheap used board, if your body dragging upwind is unmarked and yet you insist on riding a kite board?
Website design By BotEap.comAside from the safe and independent, and the dangers of serious injury or even death (yes, there have been leash-related fatalities), and, oh yeah, and the inexpensive,… I really can’t think of any other reasons to do not wear a kiteboard leash. Oh wait, they look silly, people will think you’re a wacko, girls hate them, your mom wouldn’t approve, and your family deserves you to come home in one piece. You will surely see many good riders using kiteboard straps. And some professional kitesurfers use them… on triple overhead reefs with nasty rocky shorelines. That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to wear one.
Website design By BotEap.comIf you still insist, do an internet search for “safe alternative to board leash”, you will find a product that is MUCH safer.