Ok, I'm having sleepless nights worrying about what gear to use. To top things off, I mashed my thumb with a hammer today.
Recon the best for me is to use what I'm used to and that's a sb without straps, but with a leash if very windy. I am going to get destroyed, but who cares. However, I do not want to be embarrassed either.
So much to do still. Read and study the kn manual, make a training run (there are guys who have been training for weeks); and the thing that scares me the most is........... if I come in 45 min. after the winner it is a non event for me, its not even acknowledged that I did the crossing.....sort of like being expunged from school or not hitting past the ladies tee.
And worst, I still don't have my "assistant." Take deep breaths, relax.
Being a race, the idea is to go fast. So I would think it is obvious you could go faster with straps on your board.
I would think the best option is a small heavy surfboard to cut through the chop, or a old school long skinny twin tip. They were made to go fast and not bounce around too much.
Its a long way, and if you can keep up the speed and not fall off I would think anyone is in with a chance.
Is there an upwind leg put into the course? That would make it interesting.
Yeah Gruezi, what cb said, put some straps on You will be flying over lots of waves, unless you want to go unhooked as well ?
I have a very, very fast, skinny twintip(140*36) if anyone wants to use it, as I was not one of the chosen few
. PM me.( although judging by weather forecast, unless youre light you'd probably be better off on a surfboard).
Gruezi, mate I know you just want to be Uber cool and go unstrapped, and you will have a melt down at the finish line when you scream across in second place, beaten by metres to a strapped kiter. Nick, I know you will be pulling little chop hops jumps all the way across Gage Roads with tiny uber grabs thrown in for the helicopter camera men.
My advice to go fast Nick and be coooooooool, go unstrapped, with super lite epoxy surfboard around 5ft and 22" wide, no rocker may be a Firewire sweet patato, the smallest fins you can find, maybe even use as a twin fin so take out rear fin, no wax, no leg rope and just wear board shorts, bare chested, with the compulsory emergency flare strapped with gaffa tape to your manly thigh.
Nick, maybe....... just one last thought, don't use a harness at all, and race unhooked ...... 
Nick you will be "RED BULL"
We did a downwind island to island here...
I also suggest to use a Strapped Surfboard!
Not a race board or you will be dead after 30 minutes....
If is really down wind put some bigger fin..
Bye Jankie
OK, I'll be serious now.
For those interested in actually completing the race with a little pepper, you'll be best served by a comfortable twin tip. Speed will not win this race alone. It's a race of stamina and who can cope with the most pain.
If I had my choice it would be a North X-Ride 140. The X-Rides are made for speed, have great flex to make the rough going easy, have performance fins for speed and comfy straps.
If not a X-Ride, pick a larger board, set up a comfortable stance, make sure it is flexy and has bigger fins.
Fastest gear will not win this race unless it is under 15 knots.
Choose wisely or you'll spend half the race plonked with kite at 12, like shark bait massaging the knots out of your quads 
Cheers,
DM
I Have a North X Ride 141" 2008 if any one wants to borrow. I'll be at the finish line and you can hand over the carton then. 
Go hard or go home - toeside all the way baby
Forecast is more Southerly and lighter than we've been having the last few days - so it could be almost a little upwind - slower & much harder on the body!
It will definitiely be a matter of selecting the right board AND kite PLUS going as fast as possible without falling off - very easy to clip a bit of chop at speed and go flying over the handlbars LOL.
I'm personally hoping for lighter winds ;-)
I have asked the organizers what the minimum wind speed they will start in but no received a reply yet. Be interesting to see if they start if we have 12-14 knots @ 2:30pm but the forecast is for 18-20??? If they delay, how long will they be prepared to wait for???
I think that its going to be pretty hard on the legs, popping around to toeside for a distance then back again is going to be my strategy to cope.
I like the idea of tacking up wind a little higher then carving downwind alittle to relieve the pressure on the back leg.
I'll be using a 132 TT, going to make sure my pads are setup for comfort not pop. (bring them in for a shorter stance)
Hey Ian what board are you going to use ?
Is the rail fin going to come out and play ?
Unfortunately I don't think you riding toeside is going to give the rest of us an advantage .
Didn't you kite from leighton to lano going toeside once ?
I agree with skinner - comfort not pop and Ian, buddy, Toe-side all the way would be radical, however 20kms of toe-side my make your hips wanna fall apart Sunday morning 
See you on the ferry buddy
get blind friday at work function, wake up half cut, get to rotto, get to bakery, get to kingston barracks, hold the fk on for an hour and get to leighton, lots of red bulls, then big hitout at after party. i reckon thats a pretty solid strategy
Heard Felix Pevic won the Ledge to Lancelin a few years back by heading straight out to sea and upwind before hooning straight downwind...everyone else were stuck in the pack trying to head straight downwind.
Generally stronger at Rotto so I would rather be going downwind in lighter winds towards the end than trying to go upwind.
Didn't get a start myself but if anyone needs a pfd and flare, give me a yell.
Does anyone have a strategy, for those of us not competing, for dealing with the jealousy. 
Go your hardest and enjoy pioneering this -without a doubt- classic event. Hope you all set the bar high for future events, may the most mediocre kiter win and the rest of you have a great time.
I hope to hear, see and read all about the great time i miss.
i really should've found a way to get to the vic state titles this week.
Does anyone know what time the race will start?
I haven't been able to find any expected time stated on the WAKSA or Redbull sites.
Also, are there any arrangements for spectators at the finish line/ where would be the best spot to watch everyone come in?
[edit]- it's ok, I just put my eyes back in.
2:30 launch means the first to arrive will be around 3:10ish right?
Na Mike not using my Rail Fin coz we don't need serious upwind ability & it still has a Tunl on it which catches weed :-(
I'll be riding my usual - 174 Spleene Zone wave board.
I think the start could be the make or break so this is re-posted from another thread:
21.3 of ISF Rules:
"During the last minute before her starting signal, a kiteboard that significantly
slows down or stops, and is no longer making material forward progress, shall keep clear of one that has not."
So if you plan to sit in the water on the start line with kite overhead waiting for the green flag & horn PLEASE look behind before you move your kite!
Some others from the rule book to consider when overtaking:
When not overlapped, a kiteboard clear astern shall keep clear of a kiteboard clear ahead
When overlapped, Windward kiteboard shall keep clear of a leeward kiteboard
When kiteboards are overlapped the outside kiteboard shall give the inside kiteboard mark-room
All these rules and regulations......fark, I'm just going to stay out of everyones way the best I can......stop making my head spin Ian.
Gruezi I am in the same boat as you!
IAN stop with your nonsese please, lets just race
LOL - Just look behind you at the start before you move your kite or risk being taken out by someone coming through at speed ... could be ugly 
Lot's of Bundy&Coke kills the pain
