I had this idea on board retrieval, whether it's a good idea or not is yet to be seen, and so I put it out there for scrutiny.
The current solutions that I know of are:
1.) Board leashes / Reel Leash
2.) Inflatable GoJoe


So board leashes are dangerous as they have the potential to create tension in the line and snapping the board back in your general direction, more specifically your face neck and head. GoJoe is a more suitable option but you look like a complete twonk and it's not always convenient to have an inflatable cushion between your legs.

So why not take the best of both and combine it into one product?

My idea was to set up a reel leash to a release mechanism so when the line reaches enough tension it pulls the pin to a gas canister which inflates a visible balloon making it easier to find your board after a big stack, I thought if the leash line was long enough or the tension in the line wasn't high enough to rip the board from the water then the line would stay connected and you could pull the board back in, if the crash was big enough or the line came under too much tension then the pin would be pulled and the balloon would inflate allowing you time to recover and locate your board which would hopefully be easier to find.

I had a crack at sketching up how I thought it would work

Yeah that would work in theory but I see many disadvantages. For example, leash catching and triggering, parts corroding, mechanism being a distraction, balloon bursting, canister blowing up in car due to the heat, etc.

Maybe ok for cruising around but I wouldn't have anything like that attached to my board when unhooking, looping, boosting big or smashing surf. Leaving this product useful for me never.

Board recovery is simple, you drift downwind until you sort your kite out, your board is always directly up wind of you, so you body drag in an even zig zag motion about 100m each direction and you will always eventually find it, just as quick as if it had a balloon on it.

Or, by far the best solution to said problem, just get boots and never have to body drag or lose your board again.

Board recovery is simple, you drift downwind until you sort your kite out, your board is always directly up wind of you, so you body drag in an even zig zag motion about 100m each direction and you will always eventually find it, just as quick as if it had a balloon on it.

I am not sure I would like to body drag 100m away from my board.

The colours used on some new boards dont help.
White boards are very hard to see lying upside down with sun reflection.
Some fluro paint would be better and safer than a leash.

dave...... said...
An analogy....... Occy straps are now banned at any hardware store when carrying a load.

Learn to body drag. When teaching I always did body-dragging with a board. If you havent done this as a beginner you should. Get set, and get someone to put the board 10m upwind of you. Go one way, slowly as high upwind as you can go. Use your hand in the water as a rudder and lie as flat as you can. Count to 5 and try to catch a glimpse of the board. wait another 2-3 seconds and slowly bring the kite to 12. Change direction and repeat the process. Within 3 tacks you should be back at your board. If your not, do it again.

Repeat at 20m, it should take you 4-5 small, SLOW upwind tacks. If your riding powered, depower your kite, going fast means going down-wind.

This is not done in just about every lesson Ive witnessed, yet is essential before jumping on a board.

Like turtle hunter said, he used a leash AFTER 8 years of kitesurfing. I use one at reefbreaks, or where there are swimmers/surfers in the water. It is dangerous, twice Ive had the legrope wrapped around the bar/lines.

Most good surfing legropes have a tab/loop to lift it off the velcro. Tie a piece of rope, it helps for a quick release.

In flat water????? Do what I wrote above and any beginner would feel different about the zimmerframe

Try it, BODYDRAG

fingerbone said...

Board recovery is simple, you drift downwind until you sort your kite out, your board is always directly up wind of you, so you body drag in an even zig zag motion about 100m each direction and you will always eventually find it, just as quick as if it had a balloon on it.

I am not sure I would like to body drag 100m away from my board.

What are you sure about fingerbone? Are you sure you are a phalange?

I did say "about", possibly give a bit if in surf, and take a lot if in flat water. Anyways, you distract from my point.

In case someone does build this thing I'd like to hear the test results. Maybe a cycling Tyre canister inflator could be adapted.

silly idea, my board comes off every few minutes when I kite becuase of I dont just mow the grass

a silly idea with potentially some merit.

not any use for a beginner crashing every 10 seconds. But might be a worthwhile safety device in extreme locations.

I'd say make a remote activated unit that self activates when the board is more than 100m away from the pilot/

So it works only the first time you lose your board?

Scenario 1:
If you have to "reset it" when do you think a beginner would be able to do so?
Lose board, find it thanks to balloon, ride back to shore, self land, reset balloon. self launch, go back out?
Sorry to say. But anyone who can self land/launch has no need for a balloon marker.


Keep in mind you may lose your board 100 times in a session

do the "skkiing in powder trick" and stick 3m of fluro ribbon up your leg.

when you loose your board theres a trail of coloured ribbon dragging out the back.

easy to see and easy grab!

Go Joe Pro mk2.....I can hear the paperwork already at the Trademark Attourneys office...They've sold outa Go pros for Christmas I hear.

I had a similar idea except have a like carbon tent pole which was hinged and sprung( a spring like the one pushbike stands have ) off a handel bolt with a flag on it and a small size foam ball on it (tennis size). The pole would lay flat on board with your feet in board toes ,foot over it to hold it down then when you fall off and the board goes up side down the pole would spring up hence the float would turn board over and the flag would act like a little sail and push board back to you and you could easly see it .
I was really going to make this and paten it then i just learnt to body drag dont need it know but some one might want to build it .

This thread is one big troll right?