Surfboard Straps or Strapless

SpanishGirl · Since 27 Jun 2010 35 Posts

Got a lot of good info. Feels like I will go for a strapless board. Super stoked! Now what size and type of board should I start with. I'm 5'5 and a buck ten.

Pete · Since 29 Oct 2007 843 Posts Opinionated

Although I found it easier to jibe without straps, I actually find it much more fun to kite strapped on a directional. Especially in side-off conditions.

Probably because I suck so bad.

Pepi · Thu Jul 08, 10 8:35 am **Re: Thanks for all the responses.**

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

Any board is good as long as it has lot's of deck pad. Wax is just so mess, martha stewart reccomends, NsI padding all over your deckish.

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

cheap surfboards can be found on craigslist all the time. Buy something cheap, borrow ervrything you can, and when you figure out what you like then spend the money. and yeah 5-5.6 should be great. Almost any surfboard can be fun when you are first transitioning from tt. Oh yeah, and a regular cheap surfboard will typically have more bouyancy (yet less resilence) than a kite specific board. This can translate to easier jibes when learning

wjb · Since 14 Aug 2007 223 Posts Nor Cal Stoked

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

Straps vs strapless seems is a religious topic. They're both fun and both have unique challenges. I personally ride strapless in the gorge and strapped on the coast. It's good to know how to do both, but in my opinion doing one over the other doesn't make you a rockstar.

It's definitely safer to ride without a leash, so I think riding with straps on the coast is a good idea unless you are super proficient riding strapless and don't mind having a higher chance of getting drilled by big waves. Having straps also helps for jumping over the waves on the way out. The comment that your board will float to the shore is absolutely true, but losing your board in big waves is all about trying to get out of the impact zone ASAP. Trying to body drag yourself out of 10+ ft waves is something to avoid if possible, IMO. I saw a talented strapless kiter get hammered on Maui this year in 18ft waves when he lost his surfboard. On a small surf day, you could go either way and live to tell about it.

Surfboards are a blast when there is decent swell. If not, then it can be pretty boring, IMHO. A good freeride board gives you 75% of the surfboard slash but still lets you jump, do tricks, and have a good time independent of conditions. A strapped surfboard can jump, but it feels like you're landing a barge. Plus accidentally landing switch or sideways can be hell on your knees. A good freeride TT can also eat up chop much better than any surfboard I've ridden.

It's all about trade-offs and the conditions...

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

Learning to jibe a surfboard is much easier to do when you manage the kite position. Make the turn and come out switch. Once you're comfortably up to speed, bring the kite up to ~11 o'clock. The upward pull of the kite will lighten your feet so that the board will be much less squirrelly. I like to bear off wind slightly since it seems to add to the stability, too. Put your back foot forward so you are temporarily pigeon toed and then immediately put your old front foot back. The foot movement should only take a second or two. Eventually, you will get to where you can move both feet simultaneously in a single movement. As you get more comfortable with jibes, you can play with kite position and get more ballsy.

There are probably other ways to do it, but that's what got me going.

rju66 · Since 09 Jul 2010 1 Posts New Member

hi,
if you like strapless riding, here're 2 links with lots of sick vids on vimeo and youtube dedicated to strapless kitesurfing :
http://www.youtube.com/user/rju66#p/c/AD8F94211AC1DEEE
and
http://vimeo.com/channels/straplesskitesurfing
Very Happy

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB