strapless

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

I tore a meniscus in my knee a few weeks ago, I decided to go with rest and ice and then run strapless for the rest off the season instead of surgery now. So yeasturday was my first highwind strapless day what a blast. I did not relize how much moving you back foot around lets you carve and snap the board harder.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

I made a strapless cruiser board for my
broken leg recovery
I can ride it a least twice as long as my TT

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Yesssss!

Also you may want to consider a helmet - mine was more of a vestige from my kayaking days - but I find I launch the board skyward at least every other session and damn if it doesn't sometimes seem to zero in on my noggin.

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

I agree that strapless is fun. I ride with the straps mounted to my board, but I think my feet are out of the straps about 50% of the time. Sorry to her about the meniscus
tstansbury!

biggins · Since 19 Jun 2006 31 Posts

Hey speaking of strapless...I'm riding a skim now, and trying VERY hard to jump with it. I just can't figure out how to "whip" the kite AND catch the board for a jump. I can catch the board, but I dont' know what to do with the kite...if I flick it back like a jump with a twin, then how do I re-direct it? I can leave the kite parked but I only get max of 5-6 feet which just isn't enough hang to put the board back under my feet. Sad

Any help appreciated...I'm dying to get a jump with a skim and land it! That's the only thing I miss about my twin is not jumping, even if only a few feet.

thanks much,

j

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Sorry to hear about your knee dude, strapless is definitely a way to keep yourself from going so hard. Its also great fun in lightwind, especially on the skim. As long as I can stay upwind I am happy, don't need 30 knots... though that is fun too to ride the surfboard and swell.

Biggins - let me know if you get any closer or start having success. Hopefully now that its warming up and we can start removing layers, I'll be more flexible and can reach down to grab the skim better. Right now its damn hard / impossible, and I don't have the ollie skills to pop it up into my hand yet.

My shuv-its are getting better but still not 100%, especially in funky wind / choppy water. I'd love it if Tybo would have a clinic again like they did last year, I missed it last time (too busy working on my dangle-pop Confused

)

jsj · Since 11 Sep 2006 83 Posts Hood River

many others are the masters of high wind strapless, but here's the deal:

it's fun.

get yourself a surfboard. wax it old school style.

blast back and forth from heel to toe.

blow downwind chasing swell, ignoring all that lies in your way.

rinse.

repeat.

jsj

p.s. wear a hat since the fins are sharp and remember - moving your feet around on the board teaches you more about weight distribution than anything else out there. it will make you a better rider on a twintip pretty much immediately.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

3 days of highwind strapless swell rideing. I can't believe how much better the board tuns when you slide your backfoot all the way back and how much better it goes up wind when you slide it forward.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Couldn't agree more....After I had surgery, all I could really do is mow-the-lawn...
Then I got out my surf and skim and I am having more fun than I ever had!!!!

And I agree again, THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER STRAPLESS EVENT THIS YEAR FOR SURE!!!!!

Strapless in the swell!!!=YES
Strapless at the coast!!=YES
Strapless on flatwater!!=YES
Strapless in the lightest wind possible!!!=YES

www.losethestraps.com -sorry Phil Wink

saleeba · Since 05 Mar 2006 238 Posts Masshole Stoked

started riding my surfboard strapless a month ago. haven't used a twintip since. too much fun!!

scottnorby · Thu Jul 10, 08 12:52 pm

Couldn't agree more.
But in the surf I have found the perfect ideal is one strap---in front---for getting out in the surf.

That way your back foot can walk all over and really use the board.

The main difference between strapless (or one strap) and strapped is that you actually ride on TOP of the board and can walk around on it to adjust to every situation.
Strapless is when kiteboarding becomes more of a a 'board sport' and not just wakeboarding with a kite.

The 'Y board' I have been riding is the light wind ticket for strapless....by far.
So stoked.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

I have been thinking that one strap on the front might be the ticket for the waves but I think you would want it lose so you don't fall with 1 foot stuck in the strap.

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

It'd be interesting to see some footage of Ben Wilson riding out over waves to see how he does it. I guess its possible that in a lot of the spots he rides there is a nice channel / rip where the waves don't break.

In Maui on the big days we were lit on 7's trying to boost over the white water and sometimes not making it... probably 80% of the riders there were on strapped surfboards, didn't see many (if any) strapless.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

I also thought it would be interesting to try two rear straps in the waves the forward one for going out and the rear one rideing the waves. It does seem like when I am rideing up wind strapless my rear foot is in front of the most forward rear insert and on a swell I am slideing it back behind the inserts.

joeag · Since 13 Apr 2007 7 Posts New Member

I tore a ligament in my knee when one foot came out of the straps and one didn't. Now I ride strapless and wouldn't recommend only a front foot strap - too easy to end up getting twisted in a fall.

scottnorby · Fri Jul 11, 08 7:44 pm

Yep.
One strap really loose.
So loose you can't really feel it unless you are lifting and going out.
Won't hurt your knee if it comes right out.