Hi ,

First of all this is a debate I'm not a for or against ,I would just like some feedback.

With the increase of sharks I think we may have to start thinking if leashes should be worn.

As you know when you body drag you are a big lure for sharks. I know shark attacks are rare but they are increasing.


I think out of the two,a shark attack or board strike, a shark attack is much worse.

I'm happy to take my chances with the sharks. From what I've sEen on the few people that kite at my local with leashes it encourages bad techniques (especially relaunching in light winds) and results in more time spent in the water as shark bait, not less.

Got to agree with Neptune
I don't know of one Kiter that has been attacked by a shark but I know of at least 50 people that have had to seek medical attention after being hit by there board because of leashes of all types.

You may be a lure when body dragging but why make yourself a self chumming lure

guuy said...

Hi ,

First of all this is a debate I'm not a for or against ,I would just like some feedback.

With the increase of sharks I think we may have to start thinking if leashes should be worn.

As you know when you body drag you are a big lure for sharks. I know shark attacks are rare but they are increasing.


I think out of the two,a shark attack or board strike, a shark attack is much worse.

Specious reasoning Guuy... It's like me taking a rock to the beach when I kitesurf in order to prevent shark attacks. No sharks have attacked me yet so I guess the rock is doing it's job! PM me if you would like to buy the rock off me.

Subculture said...

lostinlondon said...


Specious reasoning Guuy... It's like me taking a rock to the beach when I kitesurf in order to prevent shark attacks. No sharks have attacked me yet so I guess the rock is doing it's job! PM me if you would like to buy the rock off me.

Don't sell your lucky charm..

Business idea - break rock down into smaller pieces.. More product = more profit Remember, keep the biggest piece for yourself

OR... I could start a rock breeding program and keep the Stud rock for myself! This doesn't require me to break my rock. Only problem is I hear rocks can be tricky to breed in captivity... I better get him a good looking rock to mate with...

thats because more people are trying to retreve stuff from
vending machines that they paided for, but is not forth coming

So a Leash attached to your board, board springs back on leash hitting you in the face knocking you out and leaving a nasty open gash pulsating out blood.
Or no leash, learn not to fall off.

Yeh back in 2001 when learning we all used leashes. The only major injury I've had from kiting is having the Board submerge then sling out of the water and crack my head open. Even with my hand up to prevent this, missed it and whacko. But I know why you posted this, few times been body dragging back especially down Denmark way and felt damn vulnerable.

Plummet said...

More people in Aussie are killed by vending machines each year than shark attacks.

I used a vending machine today and had no idea how close to death I was.
Rogue vending machine numders are on the rise.
I know we are in their environment but I think we should start to cull them

I take a vending machines with me. I get lots of looks and its a **** to get out of my boot but iv never had a shark bite.

I really hate sharks, all sneaky like! I don't trust em, they look shifty

yeah mean mothers them venders, ive never seen a shark or lion attack one

This will always be reviewed every season.

If you are educated about the risks of a leash and you feel comfortable go ahead.
When I was learning I started with lessons in flat water with no waves, rips or tidal currents. I was happy not to have a leash.

When I progressed to that next early and somewhat marginal stage in surf, river mouths etc, I was struggling and a leash was a good "safety blanket" for me to get to the next level.

I got advice and the shop I bought the inertial reel leash from wouldn't sell a leash without a helmet. I respected that and bought the helmet and leash and used both without any dramas. Maybe I was fortunate.

When I went to my next stage of riding - a surfboard I was concerned again, not because of my lack of ability body dragging etc, I was concerned about loosing my surfboard and injuring someone else. I didnt want to use a leg rope as it is more dangerous than the inertial reels I used when learning on a twin tip.
I chose not to use one but I didnt use the surfboard if there were lots of people in the surf, I would use the twin tip instead.

I choose not to use a reel these days because I feel comfortable without one and I still am dictated by the crowd whether I use a surfboard or not.

Rudebeef said...

Are shark numbers on the rise?

Yes they seem to have risen in WA. There has been an unusual amount of shark sightings this year and several attacks too, some fatal. Beaches have been closed several times.

However even though it seems that there have been a lot of sightings, I wonder if it is because the coastguard now uses a helicopter and several other new technologies to actually find them. Maybe these amounts have been here for years but we just didn't know about it.

How about you sacrifice a goat to the wind gods each session? chuck it in the water several km away from your flying site. that should keep the sharks interested.

Ps of course vending machine numbers are on the rise. Theres no demand for vending machine door flap soup in asia is there!

My wife and I both used retractable leashes when she started kiting and had no problems. It helped heaps with saving time to get on the board.

The picture above just makes the argument for a helmet more valid imo.

Shark numbers, attacks and perceived risk......

Please look up "Availability bias", for example here:

. www.wisegeek.com/what-is-availability-bias.htm

As well as the "Illusion of control", such as here:

. www.sciencedaily.com/articles/i/illusion_of_control.htm

.....

But the killer is, even being aware of my/your biases, know that its nigh impossible for you to overcome them.