Donkey 'Stick' POLL

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Seth would stick it up in his waist band because it feels awesome AND hides it Twisted Evil

Mark · Mon May 12, 08 4:27 pm

Wouldn't Seth just sit around and draw pictures of it? Laughing

scottnorby · Mon May 12, 08 6:19 pm

...going against the grain here for sure.

Maybe blowhard will agree?

But I believe in Josh Mulcoy's ideas about kiting in the surf.

For riding in surf, if you really should be riding the BOARD and the WAVE----and not just get dragged around by the kite. Worrying about the kite takes your mind from the connection with the wave.

You can depower or downloop in all the right places to kill the pull so you can free surf on the wave with just the boards personality......no kite pull.

No need to unhook and I am sure no one can contest Mulcoy can definitely surf with a kite.

If you unhook and try to concentrate on the wave it can mess the whole thing up.
Tried it....can do it.....don't like it.

It doesn't feel like surfing------ it feels like one armed traction.

I surfed 15 years before I kitesurfed ----I see guys riding waves unhooked and it looks sort of tacky. Arm stretched out and pulled as they get toted around by the wind instead of the wave.

Toters.

I think arms close, kite finessed the right way, and surfing with the board ---not just getting toted---- feels good.

And I know my opinion isn't 'cool' but I could give a rats ass.

Wakestyle is definitely not toting.
And I am sure if I were not a surfer, and lived on the river, unhooked wakestyle would be the ideal pursuit---

But then again if I lived on the river and I was a hucker I would probably want to be hooked in all the time in search of the gusts.

How about unhooked huckers...yeah....like the one armed Christ air boosts Lou did in 99 on the movie Flow!?
That is style.

..

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

not riding unhooked yet(at least not on purpose)-this year is the year.
ss surefire bar: love it, no need for a donkey wanger.

"old-school but never old"

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

I don't know what setup you ride, but on my 06 fuel setup I can just push it aside and its fine.
I usually ride with it out, but still attached.
It rarely gets in the way and is really handy to have when relaunching in deep water or light wind.
If you never ride in these conditions, or your kite relaunches super easy, you will be fine without it.
Having it in makes just one less thing to worry about when your kite is down and you're drifting downwind.

On the SS setups its easy enough to take it in and out Shocked

as much as you want.
You just have to give it a good screw Confused

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

I say ride w'out it...so....you learn and it helps to remind you to always keep tension on those lines while you kite.... Wink

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I keep it on... Doesn't get in the way, and there are times when I've used it. For instance, if you have to tow someone with your leash (ie. hooking it to their spreader bar behind you), the last thing you're going to want is to accidently lose your kite.

Rico · Since 13 Mar 2005 1219 Posts Vancouver Photographer

Mine fell off in Padre Confused

Sid · Since 31 Mar 2008 83 Posts Right behind you.

I don't use mine because I use a Slingshot sure-fire spreader bar. For those unfamiliar it is a quick release hook that gives you the option of locking in your loop and opens up with a trigger if things get hairy. I tuck the Donkey Dingis out of the way. It's kinda clunky but it has saved my arse from getting slammed into a massive log last season after getting yarded off my feet in the slimy sand at the bay. It works pretty good for me and I'm used to it so I just keep using it.

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Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped