seriously? are you that out to lunch!
Harder landings......... HARDER.... MORE POWER.... BIGGER AMPLITUDE....
what part of any of this is tough to understand?
Two guys throw the same move. Guy in straps can go as big and powered as he can handle. Guy in boots can go bigger and more powered cause he can handle a harder landing.... He's also more likely on a board with more rocker. Its slower and requires a slightly bigger kite so again the power level goes up. He's most likely got a slightly wider stance and slightly more weight which slows rotations so again to get a double in he needs more height and amplitude. He also cant just kick off the board when things go sideways requiring additional commitment just to attempt the same move.
Which guy should get the higher score?
This is not a trick question.
Like another poster mentioned earlier, for simple front and back rolls, s-bends and what not its not much if at all "harder" in boots. Slower, more laid out and more stylish maybe, but not really harder. To pull a double handle pass? or any move with powered kite loops you bet your ass its tougher and requires more commitment in boots.
There is nothing wrong with straps. They will always be around, but we have all seen countless clips of super quick, super dangly, super underpowered freestyle moves. When people learn handle passes they are generally dangle passes first with a lot of pull up action. You just cant land stuff like that in boots. Your only going to get 2/3 the way through it before you hit the water. It takes more power to do it on a proper wakestyle board. And a rockered board in boots lends itself toward throwing your rotations with enough power that you can make your passes without requiring any amount of pull up motion.
Man. I kinda thought all this stuff was simply intuitively understood by watching a couple clips, but I guess its tough for some to think outside their box. Your comment that a session in boots would be the most boring of your life speaks volumes. you preach open minded acceptance in this sport but you are the most pigeon holed rider I can think of!