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Leashes are not good, Don't use them, please don't.
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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1342 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
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PostTue Jul 10, 12 1:49 pm     Reply with quote

pjc wrote:
...it ended badly, but maybe I had the wrong mug.

Dude, you are on a roll! "Winning the 'cool death' lottery" - will remember that one, thanks.
Edged out the "someone stole my skimboard" thread for today's windless entertainment.

Sigh, back to pretending to work. Rolling Eyes

Leashes are bad, mkay?

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genek

Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB



PostTue Jul 10, 12 2:25 pm     Reply with quote

cosmodog wrote:
Question for peeps who use a leash in the surf - does the leash ever get caught in the kite lines after a going over the falls? I really wanted a leash riding strapless in San Carlos, but the thought of tangled lines spooked me.


It's happened to me before, but it's quite rare and I was able to recover from the problem without disaster. I think the board leash wrapped around all 4 lines after going over the falls. San Carlos, Scott's (upwind break on the ledge), Gnaraloo, and similar places can be nice with a leash if strapless. Everywhere else suck it up and drag to your board.

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nickdward

Since 11 Aug 2008
130 Posts
Seattle
Stoked



PostTue Jul 10, 12 3:12 pm     Reply with quote

genek wrote:
cosmodog wrote:
Question for peeps who use a leash in the surf - does the leash ever get caught in the kite lines after a going over the falls? I really wanted a leash riding strapless in San Carlos, but the thought of tangled lines spooked me.


It's happened to me before, but it's quite rare and I was able to recover from the problem without disaster. I think the board leash wrapped around all 4 lines after going over the falls. San Carlos, Scott's (upwind break on the ledge), Gnaraloo, and similar places can be nice with a leash if strapless. Everywhere else suck it up and drag to your board.


I wear a leash if it's big enough that I don't want to waste my time dragging back through the shorepound (e.g. overhead by real standards, not kiter standards-- OMGZZZ quadruple overhead at the white salmon bridge!!!)

I've had my board go completely through my lines during a big wave rinse cycle. After the next wave hit, my leash snapped, problem solved.

Comp leashes really aren't that strong and will break under most circumstances that I'd want it to.

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pjc

Since 06 Mar 2005
649 Posts

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PostTue Jul 10, 12 8:47 pm     Reply with quote

well, thanks for being a good sport and letting me tweak on your story genek.

it's a really good story.

but if it had happened to me, i'd probably still be there, bobbing in the water trying to wrap my mind around the topology of the whole thing ... like one of those japanesse soldiers fighting world war II on a remote part of Fiji until the Eisenhower Administration.

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kitezilla

Since 22 Jun 2006
453 Posts
gorge
Obsessed



PostWed Jul 11, 12 6:45 am     Reply with quote

nickdward wrote:


Comp leashes really aren't that strong and will break under most circumstances that I'd want it to.


What is a "comp leash"?

Rather than counting on a leash to break, wouldn't it be better to have one designed to automatically release from your body, when the force on the leash gets to a certain, predetermined level? And also, wouldn't it be better if the rider could release the leash, from his body and also from the board connection, at the first sign of a "mummy wrap", or other danger?

Here is a picture of a leash that I made, which could be viewed as a model, for those with real inventive skills, to use in developing a better leash design. I used telescoping tubing, rather than webbing or rope, in the expectation that it would be less likely to tangle or wrap around equipment or lines, and would be easier to identify by feel, when the kiter is being blindly tumbled. The automatic release disengages at a "tug-force" of about 70 pounds.


   re-leash 1.JPG 

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nickdward

Since 11 Aug 2008
130 Posts
Seattle
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PostWed Jul 11, 12 7:33 am     Reply with quote

A comp leash is a lightweight surf leash. You know surf leashes are designed to be taken off when needed right? The ankle cuff should have a big loop...reach down, pull it, and the velcro comes undone...not much harder than pulling some kite quick release.

They design it this way so you can easily eject rather than drown if your leash gets wrapped around a rock or reef.

Your setup looks neato for twintip riding, but a surf leash works just fine on my surfboard.

It seems to be the general consensus that Theres really no reason to ever where a leash on a twintip though, eh?

All that said, be careful wearing a surf leash, especially if you're not entirely in control.

Here's an example of my head winning the battle, haha (surfing-related):


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My Blog: http://straplesskitesurf.blogspot.com/

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kitezilla

Since 22 Jun 2006
453 Posts
gorge
Obsessed



PostWed Jul 11, 12 11:44 am     Reply with quote

nickdward wrote:
A comp leash is a lightweight surf leash. You know surf leashes are designed to be taken off when needed right? The ankle cuff should have a big loop...reach down, pull it, and the velcro comes undone...not much harder than pulling some kite quick release.




I would not want a kiteboarding designed leash attached to my ankle. I would rather have it attached at my hip, and if attached there, then I would think that a "push-away" mushroom quick release would be a better design. It would be easier to locate and reach.

I wonder if the light weight comp surf leashes are designed to break at a pre-set stress level.

I also wonder if a kite surf leash which was designed to automatically release at a certain level of strain, would be considered legit, if used at one of the breaks, that require by law the use of a leash. Probably, the intent of the law would be that the board needs to stay with the waterman, come hell or high water...take your chances with your own board.

Thanks for explaining about comp leashes.

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Jonpnw

Since 22 Jul 2010
1327 Posts
Pacific Northwest
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PostFri Jul 20, 12 10:09 am     Reply with quote

So was the consensus don't use a leash ?

Laughing Laughing Laughing

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blowhard

Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts

Windward



PostFri Jul 20, 12 10:53 am     Reply with quote

not if you don't need it

dragging to a board too hard

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jackZ

Since 13 Apr 2008
355 Posts
Devon Alberta ca.
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PostFri Jul 20, 12 5:32 pm     Reply with quote

MarkWorth wrote:
Three things you can do to avoid loosing the board:
If you are falling off the board, fly the kite. If the kite is in the sky you can get to the board. If the kite is in the water and you cannot relaunch you will not get to the board. If you keep the kite in the air and dive it to the edge of the window on the side you were moving toward, you will not be pulled up in to the sky. Instead, you can bodysurf to the side, actually moving up wind as you slow down. Then bring the kite over the top and you will find the board across the wind waiting for you. (If the kite crashes when you are riding, keep the board with you by holding it or pushing it out in front as you use both hands to relaunch.)

If you separate from the board with the kite down in the water, take a bearing on the drift line of the board. If you identify a line that the board will drift down by lining up two objects on shore, you will know where to look for your board after relaunching your kite.

When bodysurfing up wind keep both hands on the bar in light wind and do a soft power stroke. When bodysurfing up wind in wind strong enough to park the kite, use one hand to fly the kite and put the other hand on your hip palm forward. This creates an edge to take you up wind. You need to control the role of your body by deflecting the bar left and right beneath you. This keeps you at the correct angle and keeps you from going belly up.

You can see a complete description in the on line school on my website:

http://gorgekiteboardschool.com/cgi-shl/12-online.pl?Touch=&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kiteboardhoodriver.com%2F&ResNumber=&AccCode=-1&PageNumber=Bodysurfing

Leave the board on shore and invest twenty minutes on learning to bodysurfing well and you should be good to go.



Yah what he said !
My first lesson on South Padre @ air Padre years ago with Jeff , he said " just get rid of that ( leash ) , those things are dangerous "!
2011 , I was in some good overheads on Maui riding strapless and of course I had several spills , I'm a prairie boy and seldom get to ride real waves . So anyway I had watched a kiter early in my trip body dragging sooo fast , he was to his ankles out of the water and shot forward like a bullet . He did this several times and I thought " oh cool " .
i tried the same and sure enough , fly a tight figure eight and there it is , FAST .
I had opportunity to use this method .
I took a good spill and once I got it together and could see , I saw my board flipping off the wave in front of me into the air , great I see it ! Now I have to get it , fast , before the next wave pushes it further . Yessirree in a flash I was at my board and just made it before the wave broke over me . Up and going on the next wave ! I have never used a leash . I have not yet lost a board , knock on wood .
Practice your body drags . Learn the fast way too .
Go immediately into your upwind body drag position when you wipeout and you'll get your board back fast , my experience so far .
JackZ

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pjc

Since 06 Mar 2005
649 Posts

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PostFri Jul 20, 12 8:20 pm     Reply with quote

Jonpnw wrote:
So was the consensus don't use a leash ?

Laughing Laughing Laughing



i thought the consensus was Gman's helmet is totally pimp!

Seriously, this is probably not the right place to look for consensus. But my summary is "leashes .... sometimes useful, but more likely to be overused"

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knotwindy

Since 25 Sep 2011
615 Posts

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PostFri Jul 20, 12 9:30 pm     Reply with quote

yup, in anything but waves bad idea

in waves sometimes but rarely and if can not tell if you need it or not, you probably don't

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