I don't want to start the debate again "to wear a leash or not too". But the attached link is a good reason why not too!
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=6445
This happened yesterday In Yamba Nsw. (A mate sent me the picture) the guy wasn't sure how it happened, as he was a bit shaken up. But he had a leash on and either the board flung back out of the water and hit him or he came down form an air with it dangling below him and he landed on it. Either way that's one nasty cut!!!!
He had a wetty on but it had worked up his leg during the session. He was about 400mtrs to sea when this happened, he then pulled the wetty down over it and body dragged back in, fellow local kiters secured his kite and rang an ambulance. Luckily they could get a 4wd onto the beach to pick him up, where they could then meet the ambo in the car park.
The ambo didn't think it was to bad till they got this wetty off then half this leg was hanging down. Last I heard he was taken to Grafton for surgery.
So if your thinking of getting a leash look at the picture and think again.
Gerard.
OUCH. Thats a decent wound. I've seen so many people with leashes lately, most have helmets, some don't. But there are obviously plenty of other places a rouge board can go.
I bet he won't be wearing one any time soon.
That is rather nasty like.
Board leashes do have their place in wish washy waves when there's too much current and your trying to get barreled.
Other than that no way Jose!
were we kite in australind the water is nee deep 800m out and 8kms long i love it
NICE ONE!!!!!
well, I've always said board leash was a no go, now I even have pics to back myself up...
(even though... I remember in Egypt we sometimes had to stitch injured kitesurfers ourselves if we were out at sea (the job was often cleaner than local hospitals any way!), I should have taken pictures of their skulls then, it would have turned some off too... There's nothing like 7 stitches on the back of one's head to make a beginner get rid of his leash...)
FOR THOSE TARDS WITH LEASHES
Basic physics says no leashes ok?
Elastic leash on an anchor right? You in the middle. A big-ass powered up Traction kite pulling you.
Which do you think will snap first? the 200KG dynema lines? you? or that board that wants nothing better than to keep heading back to you?
Plain and simple. Leashes are retarded.
(off topic) first time I ever tried surfing i used an jelly rubber leash, got caught while stretched on a reef underwater...nearly drowned...no leashes for me.
Yeh it kinda does look like a reel leash sort of rip.
It gets worse every time I look at it.
But I cant stop looking at it. 
You would think the laceration was caused by a fin or similar not by the leash. I used a reel leash when learning and still think its a good idea when learning, but once you start jumping and migrate into tricks its time to put it away, by then you should be competent enough to retrieve your board in any conditions.
Can see why anyone would contemplate a surfboard leash though… scary!
Nasty cut.
Why blame a leash ?
You can land on your board,leash or no leash.
Also,why blame Reel Leashes ? They don't spring back.
The best thing you can do,is take the sharp edges off the back of your fins with some sandpaper.
When i was learning to kite, the instructor told me
"if you are not good enough to be able to body drag back to you board after you loose it, you shouldn't be using a board yet."
I can't think of any reason to be using a board leash!!!
I take it that is his calf muscle that has been sliced open? will definately need to be sutured back together and will require 3-4 months of rehab before he even thinks about getting back on the water. that is a seriously nasty cut, must have been from the fin?
It wasn't a reel or a surf board leash but a proper kite one apparently, it was semi stretchy? Like some of the harness safety leash's.
quote:
Originally posted by gerard
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=6445
Oh geez I usually use a webbing one like that in Gnaraloo.
Makes me think twice.
Can be worst than that body dragging fetching a board over niger heads or speed reef.
Man I've got to stop looking at that picture.
quote:
Originally posted by waveslavequote:
Originally posted by gerard
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=6445
lol, not.
"leash or no leash" ?
An old question....a 'reel' chestnut.
Here's another question....(smart-arse answers welcome).
What's the difference between attaching a leash to a kiteboard....
and attaching a leash to a meat-cleaver ??
I thnk leashes are fine as long as your wearing as much padding as either a motor cross rider or a grid Iron player..
My second session on a board back in 2001 I was wearing a leash and got hit in the back with the board. I took it off immediately not even knowing I could body drag back to it. I worked that out over the next 3hrs..
Meat cleaver I like very funny :-)
Ive just arrived in Yamba the other day, is anyone heading out in the next few days? which beach? dont worry I'll leave the leash behind
learn to kite first, then if you need it at a certain spot, or you loose your board alot use a leash.
p.s. not using a leash can be as dangerous or more dangerous to other water users if you loose your board alot, especially in the surf.
well its a pitty that the people who take the time to look up the risks dont take them and the guys you have to explain this scenario to dont even look at the forum.
I have spoken to people i have seen while learning to be wearing a board leash and told them of the risk and an easy solution [velcro] but one of those times i had to show them how to connect their kite leash as well as it was on the wrong ring 
. the leash was a rubber coated cable... probably a 150kg breaking strain connected from harness to foot strap.
quote:
Originally posted by gerard
I don't want to start the debate again "to wear a leash or not too". But the attached link is a good reason why not too!
Jeezuz!
If you must wear a board leash then, at least, insert a weak link in it so that it will break when it is likely to become dangerous-er. I used one, once upon a time, and I know how dangerous they are... you are better off body dragging.
Seriously!
Also, if there is a leash on your board, there should be a helmet on your head... coz guess where the board usually is aimed at on the recoil.
Cheers,
AzzA.
quote:
Originally posted by kitecrazzzy
well its a pitty that the people who take the time to look up the risks dont take them and the guys you have to explain this scenario to dont even look at the forum.
I have spoken to people i have seen while learning to be wearing a board leash and told them of the risk and an easy solution [velcro] but one of those times i had to show them how to connect their kite leash as well as it was on the wrong ring
?
