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Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

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Pedro Marcos
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Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby Pedro Marcos » Sun Aug 19, 2018 11:28 pm

So my back is getting destroyed after each session of race praticing / boosting, normally now riding with 17m in 12-14 knots, 15m in 16 knots on short lines. I really hate seat harness and also the balance is completely different and i feel ive to re-learn most stuff. Whats the best waist harness for that (if exists) or do i really need to use the seat harness.

Thanks!

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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby BraCuru » Mon Aug 20, 2018 5:26 am

Pedro - your negative approach to seat harnesses might change if you find out a proper one and spent some time to get use to the new techniques.
I've been riding last 6 years only in a seat harness and no issue with the pain anymore.
Even I used to use it while wave riding too.
My choice is a np race seat used by rsx windsurfers.
Ultra light and comfortable.
Highly recommended:
https://www.npsurf.com/products/race-seat-std

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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby Qiter » Mon Aug 20, 2018 5:59 am

I can only echo the above. The NP race harness is the best, made a big difference to me.
The good thing about seat harnesses in hydrofoiling is that they "lift" you well when f.ex. doing the foot switch or during tacks, much better than the waist harnesses which sometimes just slide up.
I still TT and use the waist harness, but hydrofoil is the seat harness all the way!

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Pedro Marcos
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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby Pedro Marcos » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:53 am

I own a very similar one: Dakine Vega, but only tried it 1 time and because the balance is totaly messed up didnt give it any time. Ill try it again for abit more time.

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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby ciscokitesurfer » Mon Aug 20, 2018 5:52 pm

seat harness allows me to keep riding due to back problems. Demo seat harness until you find the best one that suits you. I started with a wait harness and hate the seat harness but now I can ride for hours and no back issues

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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby mcfly777 » Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:29 pm

Pedro I also had back pain with a waist harness hydrofoiling. You may be positioning yourself so that a lot of power comes from your lower back. You can try straightening your back so that the power comes from the legs. The racers are all bending at the waist, so you may be doing the same, except they are all on seat harnesses. If they were on waist harnesses they would be hurting. I now switched to a seat harness (Dakine Vega) and you have no option but to use your legs since it's much lower. It also gives you more leverage over the kite so you don't have to push so hard. I really like my seat harness now and it makes transitions easier as mentioned.
Leo

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Pedro Marcos
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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby Pedro Marcos » Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:47 pm

Today i tried the seat harness again, no doubt i can hold ALOT more power, its like another world but the major issue for me is the hook position being alot lower then the waist that makes the balance in manouvers complety diferent.

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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby mcfly777 » Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:56 pm

Pedro Marcos wrote:
Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:47 pm
Today i tried the seat harness again, no doubt i can hold ALOT more power, its like another world but the major issue for me is the hook position being alot lower then the waist that makes the balance in manouvers complety diferent.
Very true, but you get used to it :)

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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby BraCuru » Mon Aug 20, 2018 7:36 pm

Pedro Marcos wrote:
Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:47 pm
Today i tried the seat harness again, no doubt i can hold ALOT more power, its like another world but the major issue for me is the hook position being alot lower then the waist that makes the balance in manouvers complety diferent.
Maybe extend a main power line between a hook and a cleat.
Try this with a bar only: hook in and lift your arm above your head (holding a bar). It should be the new length.
This should neutralise the imbalance due to a lower hook's position.
Looking on your webpictures I believe that the extension should be around 15cm long!
Hope it helps.

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Pedro Marcos
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Re: Riding powered: Seat vs Waist Harness

Postby Pedro Marcos » Mon Aug 20, 2018 7:45 pm

BraCuru wrote:
Mon Aug 20, 2018 7:36 pm
Pedro Marcos wrote:
Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:47 pm
Today i tried the seat harness again, no doubt i can hold ALOT more power, its like another world but the major issue for me is the hook position being alot lower then the waist that makes the balance in manouvers complety diferent.
Maybe extend a main power line between a hook and a cleat.
Try this with a bar only: hook in and lift your arm above your head (holding a bar). It should be the new length.
This should neutralise the imbalance due to a lower hook's position.
Looking on your webpictures I believe that the extension should be around 15cm long!
Hope it helps.
Thats exactly what i feel! Im used to do manouvers with the bar over my head or at least over my shoulders and now ive to do it much lower, about chest high to have the same feel. I use hook and normaly chiken loop, so ive to add a cable that attach to the hook and then to the chikenloop, any sugestion ?

thx


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