Agree with what Jem Hall says, i generally go footstraps first if im consciously thinking about it. But it's more of a mix and match a lot of the time.

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Paducah said..

Shifu said..

Paducah said..

Shifu said..
Hook in, then front foot, then back foot. 100% in all conditions

That's a good way to get blasted off the board in wicked conditions.

Yet, I don't.

If you want to go over 3-4 ft chop in 4.5 conditions without straps and hooked in - be my guest. If it works for you, great. My concern is for the newbie reading your comment and getting launched.

I am learning footstraps(newbie) and I can confirm that is more easy first goes in straps then hook in.When I first hook in in gusty condition it is easy to catapult when try put foot in back strap..
If sail pull forward (dowind course)instead on side it is easy to catapult when try back foot in strap,then I go a little bit upwind and it is easy to put back foot..

Exactly this type of crash often happend to me on 1:12

I hook in first most of the time. Can't remember what I did when learning (too long ago), but I'd probably recommend straps first or else you'll go over the handle bars a lot.

I learnt foot straps first, otherwise as Harrow said, i too was over the handlebars with a full body rotation without the kit.

When it's light wind i hook in for maximum the mast foot pressure. When it's howling, foot straps first and water start in howling wind, both foot straps, pop out of the water and straight into the harness

What ever system works best. My system is, hooking in first then front strap then back strap. If I'm really over powered, I'll do front strap, then back strap and then hook in.