I have read the many posts bagging Board leash use and it seems pretty logical to me that they are a no go so wont be going down that path. My problem is (besides being a noob) is that I lose my board far too often and hate relying on people to get it for me. (twice yesterday, twice last weeknd)
When kiting at Cotton tree in 20kt SE on the run out tide, 10.5m Core GT, there is no way I can drag fast enough to catch the board..I have enough kite control to keep the kite at the edge of the window both sides and use my body as a rudder etc as I was told by instructor, but can not seem to catch the board...
I have a feeling I am going to be told this is life and will happen less as time goes on...or....find another place to kite.....or..become a better body dragger...or....both..
Any suggestions much appreciated.
Dude heres your answer 
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/kiting/go_joe
Have used one before and they work awesome as it flips the board upright and the wind blows it back to you... it doesnt get in the way as you kite with your feet in footstraps.
Youll have peace of mind knowing that the current aint gonna take it anymore. When learning to jump and it drops maybe 20 feet away from you - it comes back in no time
Once you learn to stay on your board prpoerly, it will be rare that the board gets too far away from you to bobly drag to it. then sell it too another noob 
ps Dont over pump it - its not a kite !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
give gason a bell at west oz KB if theres none over your way
You mean a board leash. Yep, bad idea.
A kite leash is the leash between you and your kite, usually attached to the flagging line of your kite. Good idea.
"find another place to kite.....or..become a better body dragger...or....both.."
or don't kite on the run out tide... or ...don't fall off.
hey grillsy, everyone finds it hard to catch a dropped board in the current @ maroochydore, everyone helps out & most of the time someone will grab it. Even worse is not being able to relaunch your kite (have seen 4 kites this month shredded on the rocks at pin cushion)
Very few use board leashes and for good reason.
yeah get a go joe and a board leash. also a bucket hat too.
You will look awesome and also people will stay away from you.
It's a win win situation if you think about it.
For what it's worth, being in a runout tide makes no difference when it comes to getting back to your board - you are in the moving water just like the board. A bit of practice should do it!
I saw an awesome tight arse go joe the other day. A guy was having the same problem, so he got a strut bladder from the wing-tip of an old kite, blew it up a bit, tied it loosely around his handle and blew it up fully. It actually didnt look as rediculous as you might think. I had to give him credit.
"The advice from within this community touches my heart more and more"
Also when I teach upwind body-dragging I always use a board and throw it 15m upwind of the student. We teach body-dragging to get back to the board, so use the board when teaching it!
4 looks at the board, 4 seconds apart, and tack slowly.repeat the process. Your hand must be as close to the centre of the bar as possible for good kite control. The body must be completely horozontal in the water with the arm acting like a rudder. Due to apparent wind theory the slower you body-drag the higher into the wind you can tack.
Hope this helps, but Im only a windsurfer, I dont kite
I've been using the liquid force heel straps for around a year (I've no vested interest). They're magic.
They cost around $10 (search accessories on this site), I rarely lose my board from both feet at the same time. If I've had big stacks they've let my foot go; so I don't think there's a huge risk of injury. You can easily tuck them away if you're kiting close to shore and want to exit quickly, and they're comfy.
