Ive been riding surfboards for a few years - mostly strapped but can also ride unstrapped in selected conditions but have recently been in a situation where a leg rope would have provided some peace of mind !!

Having never surfed Ive not used a leggie before so wondering how it will go ? Plus I have the complication that I do switch feet when I jibe, unlike surfing where ur back foot is always ur back foot!!

Im kind of expecting the leggie to get in the way and be a bit of a PITA ?? Does anyone have any insights/ tips ? do people use leg ropes when they switch feet ???

I only use a leg rope when it's kinda sketchy. When you jibe with a leg rope it really doesn't make any difference at all, the only thing is standing on the actual leg rope occasionally, it doesn't really get tangled. I have a short leg rope and it sometimes gets caught around my harness and I can't stand up lol, so if you get one like 7-8ft+.

I dont kitesurf on waves so not the best person to give advice but I have seen people with the leg rope attached to the back of their harness rather than their leg.

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Lambie said..
Ive been riding surfboards for a few years - mostly strapped but can also ride unstrapped in selected conditions but have recently been in a situation where a leg rope would have provided some peace of mind !!

Having never surfed Ive not used a leggie before so wondering how it will go ? Plus I have the complication that I do switch feet when I jibe, unlike surfing where ur back foot is always ur back foot!!

Im kind of expecting the leggie to get in the way and be a bit of a PITA ?? Does anyone have any insights/ tips ? do people use leg ropes when they switch feet ???

I ride with leg rope 80 percent of the time. Just be mindful that when things turn ugly (ie you crach your kite in waves) your surfbord can easily cross you lines, which means your introuble if you go to relaunch your kite. Just need to always be aware where your board is.

Ye I ride no straps no leggie majority of time and I switch every run/wave the only time I use a leggie is if it is well over and offshore. Leggie is a pain in the arse, sometimes getting tangled, just like when you surf it can get caught around your leading foot, but at the end of the day its a bit off security.

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Tractorguy said..
just like when you surf it can get caught around your leading foot.

I really don't know how that could happen if you put your leg rope on yr back foot whilst surfing?

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Holysmoke said..
I dont kitesurf on waves so not the best person to give advice but I have seen people with the leg rope attached to the back of their harness rather than their leg.

Bad idea. Important to have easy access to your leggy incase you have to bail your board or it gets wrapped over bar/lines.

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Holysmoke said..
I dont kitesurf on waves so not the best person to give advice but I have seen people with the leg rope attached to the back of their harness rather than their leg.

Bad idea. Important to have easy access to your leggy incase you have to bail your board or it gets wrapped over bar/lines.

I try to avoid the leg rope but it is a necessary evil sometimes, when there is a danger of getting your board washed up in the rocks or you just cannot afford to lose your board for any other reason.

I also see others attach a leash to their harnesses but I would NOT recommend that as the board is more likely to hit your body (I have seen a bad injury from this) - they also tend to use shorter leashes than those used as leg ropes. I once rescued a guy that lost his harness in a crash, complete with kite and board attached! If I lose my kite, the board is a good "security blanket".

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Richoa said..

Tractorguy said..
just like when you surf it can get caught around your leading foot.

I really don't know how that could happen if you put your leg rope on yr back foot whilst surfing?

I have 2 back feet.

avoid using a leg rope just is you surfing in front of the rocks and never try do airs using a leg rope and helmet is a good option

nope never. Actually that's a lie - i kited at Gnaraloo once and wore a leggie as there was zero chance of recovering my board if i crashed and it got washed over the reef and into the cliffs. In normal conditions i would just accept that poccasionally my board will wash ashore and might get damaged. Boards can be fixed easier than my head. You could always use a cheap surfboard as a sacrificial board thinking about it.