Reel leash for strapless riding, why aint they more common?

[flyingfishza]

Just watched a clip of someone using a reel leash in some reasonably consequential waves.
I dont like helmets, that is another discussion together with why I still smoke when I have a beer.

I dont like leashes either but some spots the risk of losing the board out ways the risk of a haircut.

It does seem to have benefits over a ankle leash. Primarily for me is not getting yourself all tied up by the ankles when switching feet or kicking the board around but yet reel leashes are scarce to see on wave riders.

Worth buying and trying or someone got a opinion?

[alamos_kiter]

I would never use a board leash with a kite, of any kind, ever. Not only the hair cut or getting knocked out by the board, but there are enough strings already to get wrapped in. So if it's too risky for strapless, I grab a strapped SB. If I lose it, I make me a new one.

[flyingfishza]

Arguments over helmets and straps aside I will assume no one uses them apart from a balsy dude in some cold climate on some substantial waves.

I will join said balsy dude in his reel leash purchase and maybe save my melon and make it back to the beach.

[wedge]

There's also the risk of drowning. If your board or leash wraps some submerged object, as the kite pulls laterally, you will be forced under water. Even if you somehow manage to cut loose the kite, your 25 ft reel leash hooked into kelp or an anchor line or whatever could kill you. No Q.R. on a reel leash that I'm aware of...

Good luck with that

[Laughingman]

Arguments over helmets and straps aside I will assume no one uses them apart from a balsy dude in some cold climate on some substantial waves.

I will join said balsy dude in his reel leash purchase and maybe save my melon and make it back to the beach.

Kite, strapless in the surf with a board leash?
What for?

[juandesooka]

I have never heard of anyone using a reel leash for a surfboard. I suspect the connecting line might be just as in the way than a regular surfboard ankle leash, don't see much advantage there.

In the videos of the pros kite surfing consequential reef waves, where losing your board is a bad situation, you do see quite a few wearing leashes now. But all I've seen are regular surfboard leashes. Way I see it, is if there was an advantage to a reel leash, they'd be using them. Go with what works.

The only people around here who still use leashes are some of the older guys who can't body drag effectively. One friend was almost drowned when his kite bar got tied up with kelp, kite powered up, and his leash caused board to "fish lure" him under water. He still uses a leash, but he added a velcro break ... so that if it the pull is more than say 20 pounds, it automatically releases. That might be a safety item worth considering.

[Slappysan]

The only reason to use a leash in the surf is if there are submerged rocks or a rock beach in the wash zone.

[RickI]

If you were riding at that level, you would have your own answer already. In the meantime, I would avoid particularly dangerous breaks until you work up to them and leashes too, reel or otherwise.

They can mess you up and there is nothing to say your board will nicely hit your helmet & not cut through it, vs. knocking your teeth out or cutting your throat, as has happened. Ignoring the risk of rebound, the relatively short reel leash keeps your board close to you and if propelled by incoming waves can do a real number on your head speaking from very long past experience.

Some visuals dealing with the use of board leashes for kiting. There have been many more worldwide than these few cases.

http://www.kiteboardleash.com/index.php ... stimonials

[flyingfishza]

The sport was not developed by people doing something because that is what everyone else or the pros do.
There are risks involved in riding substantial waves, I manage the risk at some spots with wearing a leash, these spots have small launch areas with a rocky coastline, losing your board will mean dumping the kite and swimming in.
Yes the waves are worth the risk, if I have to explain risk to reward here we are not on the same page.

QR on reel leash is not that hard to add, the main benefits to me seemed that if attached to the back of the harness the leash wont wrap around my feet when shuffling around on the board.

Anyway seem like enough naysayers to make me wanna try one

[Mossy 757]

If you were riding at that level, you would have your own answer already. In the meantime, I would avoid particularly dangerous breaks until you work up to them and leashes too, reel or otherwise.

Good advice. I'd default to the safest possible system until such a point as you know, not think, that it's "less dangerous" (vice "safe") to do otherwise.