After years of kiting both strapped and strapless, here is my take on this endless debate.
There are exactly two scenarios in which strapless kiting is better than strapped kiting:
1) The Wind is cross off, so the water is smooth
2) The wind is light and you don't have a foil

IMO, there are no other scenarios in which strapless kiting is better than strapped kiting.

Since most places don't offer safe cross-off wave locations, this only leaves scenario 2.
Onshore wind directions always means the water is choppy as feck. Chop sucks bad on strapless. But before I don't kite at all in light wind, I take my surfboard. And that's the only reason I haven't gotten rid of it.

For any other wave scenario, strapped kiting is so much better. I can attack huge sets very aggressively, whack the tail around, boost over waves and have a huge grin on my face. I'm sure if you're an absolute pro, you can do all that with a strapless board as well. But if you're not, then you can't.

And I'm not worried about not looking cool with my straps... retrieving the strapless board in huge surf every 5 minutes...very uncool.

Disclaimer: This is purely based on my personal experience. But feel free to rip into me if you think I'm full of it.

Hey Kajo,
Good timing on this thread cause I just had a strapped session after being unstrapped for years.
I would have to agree with all comments you mentioned.
However there is more to consider;
I gybe most turns and this was definitely more difficult with feet going in and out of the straps.
I also found going upwind was harder but I think this was because in straps I am further back on the board and the wind was light.
A lot of the time my feet were pulling up in the straps so only my heels were on the board which has led to a mild foot strain/ injury ( please comment on this matter)
But it was a pretty awesome sesh getting over chop with ease and a little air.
And generally cruising much faster I got more waves.

Just learn to ride toeside effectively, it's the way to go when you're riding strapped. Once you become good at it you can go upwind almost as good as on heelside. And riding down a wave, carving from toe to heelside and back is a lot of fun.

Regarding your feet, just tighten the straps more (i.e. screw them in holes further apart from each other). But don't make it too tight. I have mine relatively lose, so that my feet can slip out easily if I get eaten by a big set. It's important because it's easy to twist an angle, which the strapped nay-sayers will no doubt bring up any second now... :)

Yep.

I normally ride strapless, but I kited with my mate last year who was doing huge strapped airs and massive tail slide floaters and the like, and it inspired me to try strapped once again as it looks like so much fun.

Turns out I hated it. I hated having my feet locked in one position. I realised I move all over the board. The airs, although easier to land, were less challenging. I agree you can do moves easier, and land some extreme stuff, and if that floats your boat, go for it. Its all about the fun factor.

But with a pure surfing background, I enjoy the surfing feel, and the challenge and stoke of landing the strapless stuff. Strapped definitely has a place in bigger surf though. The one who is having the most fun wins I recon.

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Kyter said..
I normally ride strapless, but I kited with my mate last year who was doing huge strapped airs and massive tail slide floaters and the like, and it inspired me to try strapped once again as it looks like so much fun.

Turns out I hated it. I hated having my feet locked in one position. I realised I move all over the board. The airs, although easier to land, were less challenging. I agree you can do moves easier, and land some extreme stuff, and if that floats your boat, go for it. Its all about the fun factor.

But with a pure surfing background, I enjoy the surfing feel, and the challenge and stoke of landing the strapless stuff. Strapped definitely has a place in bigger surf though. The one who is having the most fun wins I recon.

Yeh, I move my feet, change toe to heel on waves and on gybes, feet forward for upwind etc... straps just get in the way

When I want to boost I ride strapped on the twinnie though

Best of both worlds, hooks! Easy to slide in out, move around, super easy to gybe and stick like glue when you need them??

Going up wind with straps is easy, take your foot out of the back strap and move it to the front of the pad. That is where your foot should be anyway, strapped or not. I keep em loose. I agree with all of the comments above as far as conditions. I love jumping off waves or boosting over them. I am even enjoying doing kite loops while jumping with the surfboard. We don't have ideal cross off where I live, but when its smooth the pure surf feel without straps is wonderful. I think a place like Peru is ideal for unstrapped.

If only these threads could be deleted as fast as Switch threads. You do you, and Ill do me! Christ, stop tryimg to compare shlong size and just go kite people.

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Adam'KiteRepair said..
If only these threads could be deleted as fast as Switch threads. You do you, and Ill do me! Christ, stop tryimg to compare shlong size and just go kite people.

Point taken

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Gazuki said..
Best of both worlds, hooks! Easy to slide in out, move around, super easy to gybe and stick like glue when you need them??

A mate of mine used hooks. He hated them, although they did look much less comfortable than yours.

Ride strapped surfboards long enough and you will top out and get bored. I rode strapped surfboards only and got to where I would only be excited on the heaviest of days. Straps off, learn to jump big again: instant addict. Before long you're riding just as fast if not faster, laying down gybes just as hard, etc. Chop? Tomo MPH boards are awesome in the chop, as well as the Naish skater and others. The only "limitation" strapless might be big, broken whitewash, but then again that just might be where my skill set needs improvement. I'm only going strapped again when the waves are life threatening, everything else strapless is just so much more fun.

Thanx Kajo, Da Fish and others on what I think is a good thread.
So Adam Kite repair do you realise the irony of your post.

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Adam'KiteRepair said..
If only these threads could be deleted as fast as Switch threads. You do you, and Ill do me! Christ, stop tryimg to compare shlong size and just go kite people.

Just when I thought Adams post was the best in a while, I saw the Doctor's strap on.

Sea breeze just got good again

Doctor fix a thread

Damn doc !!!

I like to rub myself in ky jelly to reduce wind resistance.

Must have been quite the adventure searching google for that strap on pic! Ha!

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pepeman said..
Thanx Kajo, Da Fish and others on what I think is a good thread.
So Adam Kite repair do you realise the irony of your post.

No I dont? I assume your addressing my comment about you do me, Ill do you? If thats the case, It tops out the point a thread is made stateing an opinion in a definitive manner. First of all I really dont want to come off aggressively, but ai know I will. apoligies for that. Additionally No offence to Kajo, Im sure he is just trying to help a few peoole make up thier mind. It just reignites all this macho bull**** about who is better and who are idiots when in the end, all that matters is riding. Time after time I see guys being total dicks on the beach to each other over this subject. Why?? Does it actuely affect me if someone is or isnt? NO. I suppose in a way, the guy learning strapless might **** up my wave, ya, but so do the guys learning unhooked tricks in the flats when Im there too. Rather then bash on them, How bout we laugh amd clap, we have all been there after all. Iv got my opinions ya, But Im not keen on putting em across to everyone as "the way to go" when I know there are so many different options. So I stand by my comment, you do you, Ill do me. With any luck, we can all have a beer and laugh as the sun goes down

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Adam'KiteRepair said..

pepeman said..
Thanx Kajo, Da Fish and others on what I think is a good thread.
So Adam Kite repair do you realise the irony of your post.

No I dont? I assume your addressing my comment about you do me, Ill do you? If thats the case, It tops out the point a thread is made stateing an opinion in a definitive manner. First of all I really dont want to come off aggressively, but ai know I will. apoligies for that. Additionally No offence to Kajo, Im sure he is just trying to help a few peoole make up thier mind. It just reignites all this macho bull**** about who is better and who are idiots when in the end, all that matters is riding. Time after time I see guys being total dicks on the beach to each other over this subject. Why?? Does it actuely affect me if someone is or isnt? NO. I suppose in a way, the guy learning strapless might **** up my wave, ya, but so do the guys learning unhooked tricks in the flats when Im there too. Rather then bash on them, How bout we laugh amd clap, we have all been there after all. Iv got my opinions ya, But Im not keen on putting em across to everyone as "the way to go" when I know there are so many different options. So I stand by my comment, you do you, Ill do me. With any luck, we can all have a beer and laugh as the sun goes down

Well said who cares im strapped unstrapped twintipping on a switch
Having fun!

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Adam'KiteRepair said..

pepeman said..
Thanx Kajo, Da Fish and others on what I think is a good thread.
So Adam Kite repair do you realise the irony of your post.

No I dont? I assume your addressing my comment about you do me, Ill do you? If thats the case, It tops out the point a thread is made stateing an opinion in a definitive manner. First of all I really dont want to come off aggressively, but ai know I will. apoligies for that. Additionally No offence to Kajo, Im sure he is just trying to help a few peoole make up thier mind. It just reignites all this macho bull**** about who is better and who are idiots when in the end, all that matters is riding. Time after time I see guys being total dicks on the beach to each other over this subject. Why?? Does it actuely affect me if someone is or isnt? NO. I suppose in a way, the guy learning strapless might **** up my wave, ya, but so do the guys learning unhooked tricks in the flats when Im there too. Rather then bash on them, How bout we laugh amd clap, we have all been there after all. Iv got my opinions ya, But Im not keen on putting em across to everyone as "the way to go" when I know there are so many different options. So I stand by my comment, you do you, Ill do me. With any luck, we can all have a beer and laugh as the sun goes down

Lol That's a huge passionate comeback. Chill out. It's not any of the above.
Your post seem to suggest that we should all be kiting instead of posting and yet you yourself are here posting and following this thread and hence the irony of your post.
I know some threads get crazy but this wasn't one of them. Not yet anyway.
I was getting some good info from this thread.
Be happy to buy you a beer for the laugh I got over your comeback.
+1 for he who has the most fun wins.
I kited yesterday :)

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pepeman said..

Adam'KiteRepair said..

pepeman said..
Thanx Kajo, Da Fish and others on what I think is a good thread.
So Adam Kite repair do you realise the irony of your post.

No I dont? I assume your addressing my comment about you do me, Ill do you? If thats the case, It tops out the point a thread is made stateing an opinion in a definitive manner. First of all I really dont want to come off aggressively, but ai know I will. apoligies for that. Additionally No offence to Kajo, Im sure he is just trying to help a few peoole make up thier mind. It just reignites all this macho bull**** about who is better and who are idiots when in the end, all that matters is riding. Time after time I see guys being total dicks on the beach to each other over this subject. Why?? Does it actuely affect me if someone is or isnt? NO. I suppose in a way, the guy learning strapless might **** up my wave, ya, but so do the guys learning unhooked tricks in the flats when Im there too. Rather then bash on them, How bout we laugh amd clap, we have all been there after all. Iv got my opinions ya, But Im not keen on putting em across to everyone as "the way to go" when I know there are so many different options. So I stand by my comment, you do you, Ill do me. With any luck, we can all have a beer and laugh as the sun goes down

Lol That's a huge passionate comeback. Chill out. It's not any of the above.
Your post seem to suggest that we should all be kiting instead of posting and yet you yourself are here posting and following this thread and hence the irony of your post.
I know some threads get crazy but this wasn't one of them. Not yet anyway.
I was getting some good info from this thread.
Be happy to buy you a beer for the laugh I got over your comeback.
+1 for he who has the most fun wins.
I kited yesterday :)

I was sitting on the throne for both posts. My longest posts yet. Hi fibre diet. lol. you probably have a point but Im still shell shocked from the past strap/no strap posts.

Here in sleepy small Adelaide where our beaches are big and crowds are small we don't have any of the bulls**+ you speak of.
We are a very multicultural group and are happy to mix with anyone whatever their flying.
We have to because there is seriously not that many kiters on any beach on any given day.
Strapped and Unstrapped SB riders are actually all on the same team and will even speak to a guy with a twintip
In fact even having a strapped SB here in Adelaide is cool.
Face planting trying new tricks is even cooler.
Adam I empathise with you about your post, wtf is wrong with some people

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pepeman said..
Here in sleepy small Adelaide where our beaches are big and crowds are small we don't have any of the bulls**+ you speak of.
We are a very multicultural group and are happy to mix with anyone whatever their flying.
We have to because there is seriously not that many kiters on any beach on any given day.
Strapped and Unstrapped SB riders are actually all on the same team and will even speak to a guy with a twintip
In fact even having a strapped SB here in Adelaide is cool.
Face planting trying new tricks is even cooler.
Adam I empathise with you about your post, wtf is wrong with some people

wow! yall talk to twin tippers?!.! lol. nah. sounds like my old inland/snowkite crew. could be worse though. could be europe with thousands out at once.

Based on what I experience on a daily basis around the Perth metro area the agro between different riding styles is pretty much non existent, maybe I am peacefully oblivious to it but for the most part kiters tend to be very friendly helpful people.

It seems like the only rivalries that exist are mostly just online and serve the sole purpose of giving us something to argue about and hang sh#t on each other which I have definitely been guilty of at times and lets face it is a major part of the breeze landscape but it is nonetheless entertaining

Oh and on a small sidenote your all a bunch of dangerous looks that should be banned!!

I look dangerous..........

Hi Peeps,

I don't see why this topic is a debate. By calling it a debate? You are assuming there is the possibility of a clear winner and a loser or a right or wrong. Kitesurfing is diverse and means different things to different people. Assuming we should all adopt a similar riding style takes away from the best thing about this sport, the freedom and diversity it brings. For me, It's always been about the personal challenge. If you get good at a particular aspect of it, to mitigate boredom, you can add difficulty multipliers.

Personally, I love unstrapped for most situations because most surfboards respond to micro adjustments of foot pressure and trim. I can eek out a little better upwind, or bottom end, or top turn or gybe or whatever by moving my feet a few centimetres in whichever direction suits my purpose.

Straps also has it's place. In Mauritius recently, the cross off conditions and huge swell in the fast out going current of the pass, made huge steep waves to go across and with the hecticness and danger of the situation with other riders , straps were a much better option to getting out, although once on the wave, I prefer without. It's so much more challenging and satisfying to getting it right. There is almost no challenge to doing small airs off chop or waves with straps, but take the straps off and a 1m air can be challenging and really great fun.

So lets call it a discussion on the merits of both. One is definitely not BETTER than the other, just DIFFERENT.

Ride your own way and don't try to influence other riders with your style. If you ride hard and make it look good, you may influence others without saying a word.

DM

To further the discussion I would like to ponder who is the best strapless rider and who is the best strapped rider???

For the best strapless rider I would say it is a toss up between airton cozzolino and keahi de aboitiz.

For the best strapped rider I would say...........
Oh that's right no one f##ken cares!!!

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Youngbreezy said..
To further the discussion I would like to ponder who is the best strapless rider and who is the best strapped rider???

For the best strapless rider I would say it is a toss up between airton cozzolino and keahi de aboitiz.

For the best strapped rider I would say...........
Oh that's right no one f##ken cares!!!

The strapless movement has outrun the strapped by miles even though its harder. Darren Marshall has the right attitude, its what ever floats your boat. I would say that you have to have done both for at least a season each before really making a call.

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ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Peeps,

I don't see why this topic is a debate. By calling it a debate? You are assuming there is the possibility of a clear winner and a loser or a right or wrong. Kitesurfing is diverse and means different things to different people. Assuming we should all adopt a similar riding style takes away from the best thing about this sport, the freedom and diversity it brings. For me, It's always been about the personal challenge. If you get good at a particular aspect of it, to mitigate boredom, you can add difficulty multipliers.

Personally, I love unstrapped for most situations because most surfboards respond to micro adjustments of foot pressure and trim. I can eek out a little better upwind, or bottom end, or top turn or gybe or whatever by moving my feet a few centimetres in whichever direction suits my purpose.

Straps also has it's place. In Mauritius recently, the cross off conditions and huge swell in the fast out going current of the pass, made huge steep waves to go across and with the hecticness and danger of the situation with other riders , straps were a much better option to getting out, although once on the wave, I prefer without. It's so much more challenging and satisfying to getting it right. There is almost no challenge to doing small airs off chop or waves with straps, but take the straps off and a 1m air can be challenging and really great fun.

So lets call it a discussion on the merits of both. One is definitely not BETTER than the other, just DIFFERENT.

Ride your own way and don't try to influence other riders with your style. If you ride hard and make it look good, you may influence others without saying a word.

DM

Your right about the sensitivities of surfboards. I tried to stick straps on an old board I had but the problem is if you set them up for turns then it pearls when your tacking. Vice versa if you set it up for tacking then you cant turn it...

Straps on a proper kitesurfing SB are definitely the go in V high winds. Otherwise I hate my feet being stuck in the one spot in normal conditions.