So I got this board leash that looks like a tape measure attached to the side of the harness. Has anyone used them or do u know if they work well?
I got it so I wouldnt have excuses not to go out and practice in fear of not being able to kite back to my board. Also, do you guys find those wind meters any good?

Hi mate

I would recommend learning to upwind body drag to a good level before you even think about taking a board out with you. Upwind body dragging just requires some basic kite piloting skills (keeping the kite still at the edge of the window) combined with the correct body position. As well as this, if you ever want to get into freestyle/aerial tricks, then any board leash is a big NO NO.

If you feel the conditions are to extreme for you to upwind body drag in, then the conditions are to extreme for you to be kiting in.

Short answer, no.
Long answer, Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Reel leashes are dangerous, unnecessary, and a waste of money. Get rid off it on Fleabay immediately.
As for a wind meter - don't bother. You'll get an idea of if you can kite it or not after a couple of sessions with a particular kite. My old rule is if the sand is moving then it's >9m time, if it's just 'blowing' then it's 12m, and if it's light then it's 15m+ territory.

I think your questions would be better answered by your local shop, who you are doing lessons with. That way you can discuss with them the benefits, and have them help you in the future with any dramas you may have.

I think it is best to learn without one. The chances of being hit by your board
are higher when learning with a leash than when your a confident rider cause you fall off more. You should make sure you can body drag up wind before you make any big runs out deep cause then you will be confident enough to get back to your board. The leash will just make you lazy and then as you progress, forget about learning any tricks with it on.

How extreme is to extreme. Body dragging up wind is as important as standing on the board. It's a hell of a lot easier in 30 knots than it is in 10 knots.

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TenBerri said...

Hi mate

If you feel the conditions are to extreme for you to upwind body drag in, then the conditions are to extreme for you to be kiting in.

The only time i can see board leashes being useful is in strong moving currents e.g rivers. As long as u only wanna cruise around i dont see a problem with them.

Hi Danial - welcome to kiteboarding

As for leashes though - just say no.

Even in strong rivers / surf, the thing that makes you want to wear a leash does not take away any of the capability the leash and board have to do damage to you.

Picture courtesy www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Kiteboard-leashes-not-suicide-leashes/

I'm militantly anti-leash, for all the regular reasons.

Yet why haven't any of the leash-users at my local spots lost teeth or had their scalps gouged yet? I think it must be that they ride so conservatively their feet rarely come out of their straps.

I guess I feel karmically ripped-off. Sure, there are plenty of pics and stories on the web, but I feel like one of the guys at my (semi) local must be next in line for a whooping. Maybe I'm a frustrated sadist, or maybe I need some regular carnage to continue feeling justified in all of my anti-leash tirades?

Or maybe, there are kiters for whom board leashes are safe, because they ride so slowly, with their kites so high, that even when they do stack they only land 50cm from their board and the leash never loads up.

Seriously, I saw a guy pump up with his helmet already on the other day. It was all of 17knots, I'd come in bored with being underpowered, and there he was, hadn't even laid out his lines let alone put his harness on but the helmet, you betcha! Needless to say when the harness appeared it was a seat, with - you guessed it - a reel leash hanging trustily by his side.

Perhaps the biggest risk from leashes is just ridicule and social leprosy ...

So... anyone want to buy a leash, can double as a tape measure if u put some markings on it!
Why they sell em at kite stores then? The one i got isnt elastic but slowly winds back in, is that any better?

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Danial said...

So... anyone want to buy a leash, can double as a tape measure if u put some markings on it!
Why they sell em at kite stores then? The one i got isnt elastic but slowly winds back in, is that any better?

A leash is also an aiming device in that if there is enough speed involved, the leash will help the board find its way to you.
When learning, one of the important things is to keep your kite flying and dont crash the kite. You need to be free to fly the kite up in a hurry. With a board leash, that often just gets you and probably the board into a trajectory through the air, and when you hit the water the board is going to be right with you in a second.
With a board leash the board can do impact damage or with a fin, slice you open. To avoid that, you have to ride slow and sheet out when you crash - often crashing the kite too, which teaches you a lot of bad habits and slows progress.

The length of the reel leash is about 13' extended. That isn't enough to make any significant difference IMO - they used to use long ankle leashes in the early days and still got hit.