Forums > Kitesurfing General

That damn leg rope question again

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Created by SavageCarrot > 9 months ago, 11 Jul 2014
Daniel1973
VIC, 226 posts
11 Jul 2014 10:41PM
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cauncy said...
juicerider said..




I Have no opinion on leashes, but just thought I'd leave this here


id like to offer medical aid to her gash


Is that a north kite? (Just guessing by the bar)




The kite bar that is!

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
11 Jul 2014 9:05PM
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Daniel1973 said..

cauncy said...

juicerider said..




I Have no opinion on leashes, but just thought I'd leave this here



id like to offer medical aid to her gash



Is that a north kite? (Just guessing by the bar)




The kite bar that is!


nah its a brest bar

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
11 Jul 2014 9:06PM
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cauncy said..

Daniel1973 said..


cauncy said...


juicerider said..




I Have no opinion on leashes, but just thought I'd leave this here




id like to offer medical aid to her gash




Is that a north kite? (Just guessing by the bar)




The kite bar that is!



nah its a brest bar



cauncy said..


Daniel1973 said..


cauncy said...


juicerider said..




I Have no opinion on leashes, but just thought I'd leave this here




id like to offer medical aid to her gash




Is that a north kite? (Just guessing by the bar)




The kite bar that is!



nah its a brest bar


sorry I meant best

THE DONG
VIC, 518 posts
12 Jul 2014 12:49AM
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Daniel1973 said..

THE DONG said...

surfingboye said..
nah DM, I totally agree with what you said...
the quote was quoting fingerbone's post!

because boards are disposable...
sure its gonna suck to see a $500 piece of foam get pounded on the rocks, but i'd rather that then the cons of the leash.




hmmm good call on the no leg rope... dont use one but always considered to use one if in sketchy surf spot but thinking about the amount of times my board gets swept over my head or bar and reading this discussion on the legrope getting wrapped around my lines really gives me the heeby jeebies



Plus you'd probably loose a board and get someone you know to shape you a new one so you could paint it the Colours of the gay pride flag! Let's face it you don't use a leggy because they don't make them in vivid purple!


haha... i dont lose boards i snap em and atleast with the gay pride colours theres no risk someones gonna flog it... leash boy!! atleast i dont where gloves softy!!!

dusta
WA, 2940 posts
13 Jul 2014 9:25PM
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Daniel1973 said..

dusta said...

Daniel1973 said..
Hi mate, I see a mix around and I personally use a reel leash. No issues so far (touch wood) but also I don't jump or do tricks or unhook and I'm also on a twin tip. Another guy I kite with occasionally rides a surfboard and a standard leash with no problems, but again he doesn't jump.

I might get canned here but for what it's worth I think if your advanced and jumping and doing tricks don't go near them, but if your not really leaving the water it may be 'safer'. The reel leash never returns your board as it doesn't have the spring to wind up against the water tension. I suspect standard surf leashes would spring your board back a bit more.

The reel leash is normally around your waist area and they are really long so when you come off the board it can be 6-8 foot away from you whereas a surfboard leash goes around you ankle and are normally 6 foot long or there abouts so when you come off and your legs are down in the water the board will end up very close to you.

I think you really need to consider what tricks and jumps etc your doing before going down the leash track, remember how light and floaty surfboards are compared to twin tips.



that is by far the worst and incorrect advice given . Reel leashes are a real danger and i can tell you Daniel that reel leashes can and do return your board at high speed .

i would suggest loosing the reel leash and learn to body drag



Hi Dusta,

Have you ever used a reel leash?


no

and never had a go-joe either.

but i did learn how to body drag

surfingboye
NSW, 2707 posts
14 Jul 2014 11:51AM
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You are retarded, and so are reel leashes.
Ditch it, not worth the risk imo.
But I guess you will disagree regardless anyway...

stamp
QLD, 2791 posts
14 Jul 2014 12:24PM
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Daniel1973 said..


surfingboye said...
You are retarded, and so are reel leashes.
Ditch it, not worth the risk imo.
But I guess you will disagree regardless anyway...




I retract that last comment, sorry surfingboye I didn't mean to imply or suggest that you were a retard. It was actually a synapsids short circuit on my part. I have to remember to be less knee jerk reactionary on these forums. I am actually going to loose the leash when kiting at places like rosebud where it's a lot shallower and easier to retrieve the board and then progress to not using it in deeper water.
I actually can body drag and was using the leash while learning how to get upwind etc... And told everyone that when I got it all together I'd get rid of it. I'm actually at the point where I've got it all together so it's really time to loose it. I guess it's been a combination of laziness and habit that I've kept it!

I know everyone on here is making the suggestions to try and keep everyone safe and I am going to head that advice!

Again apologies from your friendly retard!



*synapsis *lose *heed.

use google if spelling is beyond your comprehension...(normally i wouldn't care, but you seem to like to pick on other people's spelling & grammar mistakes).

stamp
QLD, 2791 posts
14 Jul 2014 12:37PM
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keep using that reel leash tiger. don't let the opinions of those with years of experience influence you, probably best to ignore them....

Daniel1973
VIC, 226 posts
14 Jul 2014 1:40PM
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stamp said...
keep using that reel leash tiger. don't let the opinions of those with years of experience influence you, probably best to ignore them....


There we go stamp, I've deleted my posts and replies for the whole and sole reason that I think you are reading them and for whatever reason taking offense. Was never my intention for you to take it personally and I'm sure if we ever met on the beach we could both stand back and have a little chuckle. I will think long and hard about any future posts I put up now and always think back to this thread. You have actually taught me a fair bit today about the written word, interpretations and human nature.

It is a fact that we are only 2 chromosomes away from chimpanzees and I'm afraid in my case it definitely shows.

I do respect that you guys are a lot more experienced and trying to help. Although an old man I am still very new to the sport and enthusiasm sometimes gets in the way of common sense! We all make mistakes, it's what makes us human (or at least monkeys with shoes).

stamp
QLD, 2791 posts
14 Jul 2014 2:16PM
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i don't take it personally at all-to be honest, i couldn't care less if you use a reel leash or not.

i just thought you were blindly ignoring good advice from dusta & surfingboye.


apologies for having a dig- you seem like someone who can swallow their pride & there was no need for me to take the pi55. hope to see you on the water one day

sir ROWDY
WA, 5366 posts
14 Jul 2014 12:23PM
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I think the problem is this - people who use a reel leash (or other leash) are often the type of person who is just getting into kiting, they often lack the control that is needed to ensure a flick back of the board doesn't happen and are also un-aware that such a situation could end badly.
Leashes aren't safe, but neither is kiting... You are making calculated risks all the time whilst kiting, whether you use a leash or not is up to you and should be based on your own assesment of how much risk is involved in you using such a device.
I've been riding a surfboard unstrapped with a leash since about 2004 and never had an issue. That's not to say it's not possible, but I'm aware of the risk in using one and plan accordingly. Sh!t can always happen, just be prepared for that outcome if it arises.
I know that Keahi has had at least one situation over the years of flick back to laceration, so it is a real issue, just be aware.

Daniel1973
VIC, 226 posts
14 Jul 2014 2:35PM
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sir ROWDY said...
I think the problem is this - people who use a reel leash (or other leash) are often the type of person who is just getting into kiting, they often lack the control that is needed to ensure a flick back of the board doesn't happen and are also un-aware that such a situation could end badly.
Leashes aren't safe, but neither is kiting... You are making calculated risks all the time whilst kiting, whether you use a leash or not is up to you and should be based on your own assesment of how much risk is involved in you using such a device.
I've been riding a surfboard unstrapped with a leash since about 2004 and never had an issue. That's not to say it's not possible, but I'm aware of the risk in using one and plan accordingly. Sh!t can always happen, just be prepared for that outcome if it arises.
I know that Keahi has had at least one situation over the years of flick back to laceration, so it is a real issue, just be aware.


Totally get where your coming from and a guy that I kite with who is really experienced has said I should loose the leash when I start to get competent. I started using it because I wasn't riding the board more than 30 meters before falling off and a 2 hour session would be an hour and a half body dragging. I got the leash to maximize my time with the board and learn calculating that I wasn't going fast enough to extend the leash anyway. I always said when I was better on the board I would loose the leash. Now I'm still novice but can get upwind with no issues, don't fall off (usually) and am starting to play in small bay waves of only a couple of feet I think it's time I gave it a miss and got rid of it! I'm not jumping yet and really don't intend to because my legs are old and had it, but playing in small waves and having fun carving around is probably the time where it's better to minimize the risk.

At your level it's all a bit different because years and years on the kite should equal more control etc.... Not to say something wouldn't go wrong bit your probably more in control than me if something did go wrong.

I will loose mine apart from Brighton northerlys because that place on a northerly has pockets of air that dissapear and even the most experienced blokes can't relaunch a kite when they are close to shore on a northerly there.

For me, I have listened to the other guys on here and I think habit and laziness are excuses for me that are wearing a bit thin.

SimonDreyer
WA, 82 posts
14 Jul 2014 12:39PM
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I use a leash but I attach it with two small cable ties, one at the board end and one slightly larger at the reel end . Every fith or sixth time I fall it breaks free. Simple, 95% of the danger averted. It is simply not strong enough to come back at me. I thought that maybe a considered engineering solution might be usefull.

surfingboye
NSW, 2707 posts
14 Jul 2014 3:33PM
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Good choice Daniel1973...
Soon you'll be body dragging directly upwind and you'll have no need for the reel.

Daniel1973
VIC, 226 posts
14 Jul 2014 3:56PM
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surfingboye said...
Good choice Daniel1973...
Soon you'll be body dragging directly upwind and you'll have no need for the reel.



Speaking of which, due to my laziness I haven't had to body drag now for maybe a few months, prior to getting the leash I could body drag fairly well and this might be a topic for the newbie section but, what's the most common upwind body dragging mistake? Trying to go too far upwind? Waiting too long to start with the kite at 12?

A few tips for an ex-leashed kiter would be good!

fingerbone
NSW, 921 posts
14 Jul 2014 4:22PM
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Trees cause more damage to kiters than reel leashes....


thorn
WA, 172 posts
14 Jul 2014 6:34PM
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Boring!!!!!!

ezza
NSW, 561 posts
14 Jul 2014 8:53PM
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This should be a sticky: If you are inexperienced enough to ask on SB forums whether or not you should use a leash, you shouldn't.

IanR
NSW, 1322 posts
14 Jul 2014 9:08PM
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Daniel1973 said..

Speaking of which, due to my laziness I haven't had to body drag now for maybe a few months, prior to getting the leash I could body drag fairly well and this might be a topic for the newbie section but, what's the most common upwind body dragging mistake? Trying to go too far upwind? Waiting too long to start with the kite at 12?

A few tips for an ex-leashed kiter would be good!


The four most common mistakes I see are:
1) Keeping the kite at 12 o'clock or close to it. The best place is between 10 and 11 o'clock when going left and between 2 and 3 o'clock when going right.
2) Diving the kite to hard when you try and start moving. You only need a little power to start moving.
3) Trying to go straight into the wind. It's better to go across the wind, the angle is similar to the angle you would be going on a twin tip
4) trying to reach up wing to pick up the board. Sail past the board come back and pick it up when you are upwind of the board

Daniel1973
VIC, 226 posts
14 Jul 2014 9:33PM
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ezza said...
This should be a sticky: If you are inexperienced enough to ask on SB forums whether or not you should use a leash, you shouldn't.


Cheers, thanks for the input ezza! By the way you have a great rack!

Daniel1973
VIC, 226 posts
14 Jul 2014 9:36PM
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IanR said...
Daniel1973 said..

Speaking of which, due to my laziness I haven't had to body drag now for maybe a few months, prior to getting the leash I could body drag fairly well and this might be a topic for the newbie section but, what's the most common upwind body dragging mistake? Trying to go too far upwind? Waiting too long to start with the kite at 12?

A few tips for an ex-leashed kiter would be good!


The four most common mistakes I see are:
1) Keeping the kite at 12 o'clock or close to it. The best place is between 10 and 11 o'clock when going left and between 2 and 3 o'clock when going right.
2) Diving the kite to hard when you try and start moving. You only need a little power to start moving.
3) Trying to go straight into the wind. It's better to go across the wind, the angle is similar to the angle you would be going on a twin tip
4) trying to reach up wing to pick up the board. Sail past the board come back and pick it up when you are upwind of the board


Thanks, it's good to get a refresher. Might jump in and ditch the board for a few minutes and go for a refresher drag or 5

Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
14 Jul 2014 9:39PM
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The simple answer to a solution without a leash and its risks, is .... Drumrolllll....

The Go Joe!!!!

Or alternative balloons of your choice. i choose Ezzas of course.

ezza
NSW, 561 posts
14 Jul 2014 10:29PM
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Daniel1973 said..



ezza said...
This should be a sticky: If you are inexperienced enough to ask on SB forums whether or not you should use a leash, you shouldn't.





Cheers, thanks for the input ezza! By the way you have a great rack!




Gee thanks Daniel. Sorry for the brevity of my earlier reply. I do use a surfboard leg rope at times, but usually only when unstrapped at places where I consider the risk/dangers of being caught inside in large surf without my board outweigh the benefits of the legrope, like at Cloudbreak on a big day. Or indeed any reef break.

ezza
NSW, 561 posts
14 Jul 2014 10:36PM
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Loftywinds said..
The simple answer to a solution without a leash and its risks, is .... Drumrolllll....

The Go Joe!!!!

Or alternative balloons of your choice. i choose Ezzas of course.


Cheers Lofty, here's to built-in flotation devices!!

Robbo2099
WA, 751 posts
16 Jul 2014 1:36PM
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Have used both TT Reel Leash and surfboard leash while kiting. ANY leash on a TT is potentially dangerous. Only a matter of time before it loads up and does you damage -- even with a helmet. Beginners are the ones most at risk of getting into the situation that will cause trouble. Learn to body drag. It's not that difficult.

I used to think that using a leash on a surfboard was OK, since there's not the same potential for the board to toombstone and load up like a twintip.

Then, one day in big surf at the Longy Bombies, I kited up the face of an approaching, unbroken wave in about 28 knots of cross-on wind. As the tip of my surfboard climbed up and over the face, a big gust of wind caught it underneath and blew the board out from under my feet, over my head and straight through my bar and lines, now with the legrope attached to my ankle and the board in the water on the other side of the bar, and just in time for the wave to break. As the wave broke, it grabbed the board and pulled it under, with the legrope now yanking the bar hard to the left and causing the kite to crash into the water. The same wave that grabbed the board now grabs the kite, dragging me underwater by my left ankle, attached to the legrope, forcing me to let go of the bar.

With no hope of getting the board back over the bar, my only chance was to unhook the rope from my leg, while still underwater, without air.

Unable to do this on first attempt, I struggled to the surface for a breath to find the next wave now landing on top me. Inhaled a bit of air and water combined as that wave now grabs the kite and drags me back under water again by the ankle. Luckily, this time, I manage to get the legrope off my leg before running out of air, and eventually get washed to the beach with lines, kite and gear in a big tangle, feeling lucky to be alive.

No more legropes, unless the wind is super light and just having a chillout cruisey session...even with a surfboard....

kitingtopher
SA, 313 posts
16 Jul 2014 3:24PM
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when I was learning on a twin tip early 2000,s ,( no one around to say do not.) I put long (4m) leash 50mm back from end of board. had a tendancy to dive quite deep under pressure which pulled you up some what, was a pain in the ass for tangles .

never had a problem except once in shallow water in strong winds. fixed point potential.( about when i learned to body drag properly.) seems stupid now but gave me confidence at the time with losing boards long way from beach. definitely has a place in surf if you are by your self along way from the beach
better than losing a board.

kemp90
QLD, 1694 posts
16 Jul 2014 4:19PM
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Robbo2099 said..
Have used both TT Reel Leash and surfboard leash while kiting. ANY leash on a TT is potentially dangerous. Only a matter of time before it loads up and does you damage -- even with a helmet. Beginners are the ones most at risk of getting into the situation that will cause trouble. Learn to body drag. It's not that difficult.

I used to think that using a leash on a surfboard was OK, since there's not the same potential for the board to toombstone and load up like a twintip.

Then, one day in big surf at the Longy Bombies, I kited up the face of an approaching, unbroken wave in about 28 knots of cross-on wind. As the tip of my surfboard climbed up and over the face, a big gust of wind caught it underneath and blew the board out from under my feet, over my head and straight through my bar and lines, now with the legrope attached to my ankle and the board in the water on the other side of the bar, and just in time for the wave to break. As the wave broke, it grabbed the board and pulled it under, with the legrope now yanking the bar hard to the left and causing the kite to crash into the water. The same wave that grabbed the board now grabs the kite, dragging me underwater by my left ankle, attached to the legrope, forcing me to let go of the bar.

With no hope of getting the board back over the bar, my only chance was to unhook the rope from my leg, while still underwater, without air.

Unable to do this on first attempt, I struggled to the surface for a breath to find the next wave now landing on top me. Inhaled a bit of air and water combined as that wave now grabs the kite and drags me back under water again by the ankle. Luckily, this time, I manage to get the legrope off my leg before running out of air, and eventually get washed to the beach with lines, kite and gear in a big tangle, feeling lucky to be alive.

No more legropes, unless the wind is super light and just having a chillout cruisey session...even with a surfboard....



aww mate that sounds like a kitemare from elm street, lucky to get out of that one.

bigkiterida
NSW, 6 posts
24 Aug 2014 2:07PM
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I think it depends on your level or experience as well. I used a leash for a while when I was first learning and it was fine because I wasn't doing anything crazy, but once I started going nuts trying out new moves I got rid of it because it's too risky.

Hybrid_Z
VIC, 382 posts
24 Aug 2014 2:13PM
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bigkiterida said..
I think it depends on your level or experience as well. I used a leash for a while when I was first learning and it was fine because I wasn't doing anything crazy, but once I started going nuts trying out new moves I got rid of it because it's too risky.


Yeah nothing crazy can happen when you are learning.

dave......
WA, 2119 posts
24 Aug 2014 8:00PM
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Go Pros are unnecessary, yet not that stupid.

leg ropes the same, but with 3-4 blunted knives attached to a slingshot.
If you still drop your kite lots and think you will lose your board, you're probably not ready for the waves.




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"That damn leg rope question again" started by SavageCarrot