What type of harness is preferred for kitesurfing racing ? and why?

I have never really seen anyone using a waist harness for racing.

And would also use/uses a seat myself, unless I am out on a waveboard and the wind drops so I change to the raceboard just for being able to have more fun out there for longer.

The opposite also happens - out on a raceboard with a seat, and the wind and waves pick up and I change to waveriding with a seat - works awesome too actually, when used to it.

As I have said before - ups and downs for both types of harness in waveriding although waist often preferred, but for racing I see no advantages at all with a waist

Seat because you have better leverage - able to push the board harder - able to lean more "out", or "in", able to control heavy loads for longer time.

Besides the obvious power/trim advantage

Peter

I use a waist harness. Its what I have, and prefer, but have not really tried the seat harness tho.

Bryan Lake and Adam Koch both use waist harnesses

Have never ridden a raceboard. However, always thought a waist harness would give you a better angle off the kiter to keep the board flat and engage more fin. It seems that riders that use a seat harness tend to keep their kite higher, lean back more, and use more edge. My kite is usually 45 degrees or lower when I ride and I honestly don't think I would be able to go upwind as effeciently if I used a seat harness with a surfboard. So, I would think that this would be similar to a raceboard that is more dependent on the fins. But, if the top guys are wearing a seat harness while they race, then what do I know.

Not sure who the guy in this clip is, but he seems to be hauling ass on his raceboard with a waist harness. Also notice the angle of his kite and how flat he keeps his board.


http://vimeo.com/22176503

That would be Adam Koch

I think it may be Adam in the early shots but it looks like rista for most of it. He also is credited at the end.

Has anyone tried a full sailing trapeze harness yet? Waist harness have a tendency to rub the rib on my left side that I broke and healed funny and I haven't found a seat harness that is just right. Body position it feels like riding a trapeze when the fins are in the groove. Anyone out in the bay ride one?

That is Paolo Rista. ...or Adam Koch wearing a Paolo Rista suit.

Hi, I think we could give some hints about racing harness.
We just answered generic questions about our new JAY XT hybrid harness on this topic http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2374801&start=20 so have a look.

This harness has been designed taking under account all disciplines including kiterace, as we did designing DYNABAR.

Sliding hook is the main feature, it lets you to move your body as you like and put body weight on legs more efficiently. If you like to test this feature attach a dyneema to the front of the harness or spreaderbar, insert a carabiner and attach CL to it (or send email to us ).

JAY XT harness's leg straps are attached only to spreaderbar and let you move your legs and waist as you like, again allowing the kiter to distribute weight more efficiently.

This has been tested for a while now and we are quite sure it gives some benefits to the racer