Strapless

[Scuba]

Thinking of taking the straps off my foil board, how many of you ride without straps?
I just think to lessen the ankle and foot injury.

I have been watching the video from Horue
http://youtu.be/62k3D6Jb69s
Make it look so easy.

Cheers
Scuba

[Hawaiis]

Strapless is actually quite easy.

[cglazier]

The main difficulty with strapless is doing the waterstart. It takes a bit of manoeuvring of the board to get it ready and lined up with your feet. With practise it gets easier.

Once up and riding on the board it is easy, you don't need straps at all.

CG

[darippah]

Take them off to enhance the magical feel

[Peter_Frank]

Scuba, have you seen this post: viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2384132

Agree, the "Magical feel" is top, strapless

For learning, straps is a must, definitely.
For racing, straps is a must, definitely.
For jumping, straps is a must, definitely.

But for going fast on racewings, or for waveriding, meaning ANY kind of freeride apart from learning/racing/jumping - strapless feels IMO far better

PF

[Scuba]

Sounds good guys , the straps are off ready for the big outing tomorrow arvo YEAH!

[revhed]

For learning, straps is a must, definetly.
PF

I respectfully disagree and will state;
A front foot hook is a must for learning, definetly!

You have read my thoughts concerning this on another thread but maybe others reading this now have not and for their ankle health I submit my strong feelings!
Even a loose strap can cause damage to ones ankels ,knees and legs if you do the dreaded up wind board rollover, or other crashes!
Once again last week another guy hurt himself becaue of this.
A NSI foot hook with half the horizontal part cut off and edges rounded well will all but eleminate this!
I have never heard of someone, anyone who has been hurt using a front foot hook, not to say it will not happen.
For a beginner 4 things are aided by this,
Hopefully someone has established the correct position to mount said foot hook, therefore the nubie has correct front foot board placement.
For the water start the foot hook allows just enough board control by using your toes under the foot hook.
If it happens to be run aground, MUCH less impact on both the KBHF and rider, period!
Most important when the inveitable crash happens you come off the board easy.
I even suggest after a certain time to use foot hook ONLY for H20 start and simply move your front foot back away from foot hook just a little to be flying strapless.
I almost always do strapless H20 starts but because of my much beloved front foot hook if I get tired,in big swell or waves and ,or super strong wind I use it.
The only safer way is fully strapless.
Which leads me to another point.
A good close friend who is increadble on a strapless surf (back rolls, ect) never used a strap or foot hook to learn to foil and he is now a most confirmed pilot!
So it is possible to learn to foil strapless but most will find it extreamly difficult.
I post this in the hope that injurys will be prevented!
And if you are still inclined to learn with a front strap please make it SUPER loose.
And never attempt to learn with a rear strap, period!
Please do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
You do not need a back foot strap or foot hook to learn, know it!
Be carrful!
R H

[boardjockey]

Using straps while learning is bad advise because there is a good chance of foot and ankle injuries. I think beginners should learn the correct strapless water start technique instead of risking injuries with straps.

[discojuggernaut]

Danger while learning with straps can be somewhat mitigated by an instinct to jump out of straps at the sign of a crash. Loose straps make this easier, as does using the kite to keep one aloft for slightly longer.

[Starsky]

How about the opposite end of the spectrum. For foiling in light air, strapless looks the most appealing, but what about the guys that will push for speed records. How long before someone does a back to the future and mounts one of the newer foils to awake set up for speed runs?