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Ok folks,

I've never ever been a advocate of kiteboard leashes, in the 8 years of riding I've only ever worn one once at it was at a rather good surf spot where loosing your board involved a very very long bodydrag in (about 800meters).


However, recently I have been entertaining the possibility of wearing one only with a surf board mind you. There are occasions where a loose board is dangerous to other beach users, and the resulting body drag if you loose yoru board is not great for you or the other folks around you.

My question is.....

Have you started wearing a leash for your surfboard, if so then what type, low elasticity would be desirable, so it won't ping back at you. short length?

Im thinking 5' or 6' comp leash, I.E. 5mm core, the risks are still there of course but can they be mitigated, bearing in mind kites these days do not pull you underwater for 5-10 meters every time you crash.

PS, if you start up some rant about leashes and twintips well its not related to the question here, of course that is not ok! I will never advocate a leash for a twintip.

peace1

i have a 5' leash that I throw on sometimes, feels like the perfect length for me. I wouldn't go longer than 6' for sure.

Yes there are times when a leash might be the safer alternative.... that said i still don't use one. But i'm on a Mutant TT in the waves not a SB.

Anyway. Consider a helmet if you don't already wear one if you are going to leash up.

Wear now only strapless in 3 to 4 meter waves.it can save your life and in some cases be dangerous its a trade off,shorter the better,6 ft i go with.TONY

How ldo you keep from tripping over it everytime you switch feet??

ive been using a roll type leash for the last 1.5 years, really perfect, jump do everything with it, no problems, does not spring back at you at all! just comes gently back when you are ready again. I ride a TT mainly in deep lakes with about 2 kms to the shore, when the water is 6 degrees and you loose your board you die....and yes i ride mainly alone! and yes i can body drag but if you kite on lakes you know a leash is a must have....did try a surf leash at first...very dangerous and not very practical.....roll-leash worth the extra money!

borntofli wrote:How ldo you keep from tripping over it everytime you switch feet??

this was really the biggest problem I encountered, along with trying to water start and having the leash wrapped around you

it's kind of a pain but it's not something that would keep me from using a leash when the conditions call for it

dyyylan wrote:

borntofli wrote:How ldo you keep from tripping over it everytime you switch feet??

this was really the biggest problem I encountered, along with trying to water start and having the leash wrapped around you

it's kind of a pain but it's not something that would keep me from using a leash when the conditions call for it

I kitesurf strappless and I only use it when my board could get smash into a rocky shore. Another kitesurfer advised me to use a 9' leash, this way it would be more out of the way if you wiped out on a wave and it got drag under, what do you guys think.

turfAndsurf wrote:

dyyylan wrote:

borntofli wrote:How ldo you keep from tripping over it everytime you switch feet??

this was really the biggest problem I encountered, along with trying to water start and having the leash wrapped around you

it's kind of a pain but it's not something that would keep me from using a leash when the conditions call for it

I kitesurf strappless and I only use it when my board could get smash into a rocky shore. Another kitesurfer advised me to use a 9' leash, this way it would be more out of the way if you wiped out on a wave and it got drag under, what do you guys think.

I really think the longer the leash is, the worse it would be for getting wrapped around you and dangling around in the way. i use a 5' one now, if i was to replace it today i would probably get a 6'. not any longer

How about attaching to the back of the harness? It might be a bit more out of the way!