Anonymous wrote:Mr Jo a wet suit provides enough flotation but in case you feel unconsious for some reason in the sea it is not sure that you will float with the head up. Floatation or impact vests are designed so that you float head up so thats an extra safety feature that makes them worth buying.
I dont have a vest but now that Dakine has impact vest-harness i will try it.
Yeah they may be designed to do this but most times I've been dragged by a traction kite attached to the middle of my body I got dragged face down, once when I was learning I got dragged on my back and my head was under the water, not fun at all.
I used to wear a pdf when I started windsurfing because there are a lot of things that can knock you out, (mast, boom, board) but I stopped when I started wave riding because a pdf will give a wave a lot more to grab.
I don't use a board leash.
But really this is just how I feel good, your own safety is a very personal thing so I think everyone should decide for themselves and I respect people a lot for using safety gear.
I know I can die kiting, but hell there are worse ways to go waiting for me every day of my life.
I won't fly a kite if it doesn't have a leash because that's not just a question of my life but that of others too.
This is also increasing my chances of a nasty accident where I ride because out of maybe 40 kiters there are about 5 of us who use leashes so if I happen to cross lines disatrously with someone they will probably get out of trouble much faster than me and I'll end up having to release my leash too because even if my kite's depowered on the leash, there's could power up and then it'll be my problem, another reason why I have a QR on my leash.
Most people around here don't use kite leashes and do use board leashes, we still have a long way to go.