The age old board leash question. To use, or not to use. The lines are being blurred these days with the popularity of strapless surfing, and some say the images of professional riders using a leash is giving the wrong message to learner kiteboarders. 

What do you think? We've all heard the stories: teeth missing, slices cut from limbs, gashes to heads and worst of all, being knocked out and drowning. But what about the 'safe' alternatives? We give you the low down on what's safe, and what's not safe to be using out on the water. 

The Surfboard leash
Used for generations on surfboards, the polyurethane leash (or 'leggy') is rarely a problem on a surfboard. Surfers use them all the time after all! They jump and ride big waves and get barrelled and stuff, so why can't kiteboarders use them? For starters, they're not long enough. most surfboard leashes are less than 10ft long, with some as short as 4 foot now. The second reason, is the fact that you've got a kite attached to you, which happens to be real good at providing an energy source to stretch the leash, and have it slingshot (excuse the pun) your board right at you. 

The "really long coiled leashes with a swivel on the end" 
It doesn't matter how many coils you've got, or how many swivels, or how long the whole damn thing is. If it's made of plastic, rubber or elastic or nylon. You're in trouble. All of these things stretch, and even if they recoil slowly, whether you like it or not the board will hit you eventually. It might be softly, but you don't need a hard hit on your neck for things to get ugly. 

The retractable leash
These overly complicated dog leashes are commonly sold as the 'safe' alternative to a leash. Their super long strap of nylon puts lots of distance between you and the board and then gently reels it in after you're done crashing. What could go wrong with that? Lots, and it doesn't matter how long the leash is, your board can still catch up pretty fast. Here's how it works. Kite, rider, leash and board (in that order) all go flying through the air after a big crash. Kite hits water, rider hits water and they both stop in a hurry. Board and leash hit water, and continue skipping along until BAM! Hello Mr Maclean, the friendly dental surgeon.

The 'Rectractable leash with weak link and line extension and a helmet and impact vest'
No matter how many excuses you bring up, expect that chunk of wood and fiberglass to come hurtling right at your face eventually. If you expect it, you won't be upset when it happens. But the truth is, nothing can protect your neck, and not much can protect your face while kiteboarding. And those are the two places you're likely to be hit. 

What if there's big waves and you're on a strapless kite surfboard? 
Use one at your own risk. The chances of your surfboard hitting you are still very high so unless you're absolutely sure you need one, leave it on the beach. The professionals use leashes when there's a shallow reef downwind of the break, because there's no possible way they'll get the board back if they lose it. So unless you've got a razor sharp reef break downwind of YOU. There's no real reason to wear a leash. 

So what do you do? There's tide and current and crocodiles and sharks with frikkin' laser beams so you NEED a board leash... 

Body drag. You learnt how to do both upwind and downwind drags in your lessons, and it's pretty easy to do. It also helps you get back upwind, which can be very handy when it comes to getting back to the beach. If you've forgotten how, or you're struggling with the whole 'upwind' thing, here's a few tips. 

Forget about where the board is, but don't forget about where the board is. Concentrate on your dragging angles, go sideways and the board will come to you. But don't go too far or you'll never find it again. 

Don't point your hand at the board. It never works, no matter how close it is. You can't drag straight into the wind. 

Instead, point your hand 'a little bit' upwind of 90 degrees to the wind direction. If in doubt, 90 degrees to the wind. As long as you're going sideways, your board will always float back to you. 

Don't move your kite. Keep it still, and in the air. It doesn't matter where, as long as it's not in the water. 

Do short drags, around 20m each way, then you won't lose sight of your board. 

Stand up when you turn around. Even if you can't touch the bottom, it keeps you from drifting downwind.

So - who needs a board leash now? 

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