Pietro_2003 wrote:After a quick search and a read of the recent post about
waist harness with back problem I got wondering about what the differences in ride and/or feel are with either type of harness.
I have windsurfed for years and much prefer a waist, but have recently started kiting again and am curious if a seat harness would suit me better than my waisty. I am super slim and have no lats to keep a waist harness down around my waist. I have back problems dating back to when I was a teenager (L4/L5), but never noticed a pain difference between the two so luckily that's not an issue for me.
Can one generalise about the affect of each a waist or seat harness has on the type of ride when kiting; hook height and all? I know through windsurfing there is a big difference. Yes, and of course I could borrow one off a mate, but going by the weather report that won't be for a bit...
Cheers!
Will try my best....
I have ridden for years with both types.
Waist:
Higher hook.
Much better for unhooking (or rather, much easier RE-hooking), thus freestyle.
Many prefer this one for waves, as they got a more free lower body and legs.
Can be a bit more "sqeezing" on your body, and not as pleasant/free if really tight (which it has to be, for not sliding up).
Seat:
Lower hook.
You can hold more power, and easier - especially for powered jumps.
For waveriding, you actually get a much more free upper body - so you can turn your upper body more freely.
It also gives you a more pleasant free ride, as you dont have something "sqeezing" you, but just a firm solid connection to your body. This is great if you really like to jump a lot, "oldschool" jumps really high and huge hangtime - and want to enjoy the ride.
You have much more available depower/power - as you can move the bar a lot more on the depower line, because the hook is lower.
I use a seat when out on my raceboard.
And a waist when on my waveboards.
On a TT it does not matter which one (for me).
But if out with the seat and the wind picks up, I can easily pick up my waveboard and ride with the seat, and enjoy the benefits regarding much better upper body rotation and freedom, althoug your lower body is a bit more fixed
And opposite - if out with the waist in windy conditions, and the wind goes down - I can easily ride with my waist on a raceboard - eventhough it is a bit harder to hold power with this, and dont feel just as "good" either - but almost the same
Peter Frank