Waist harness - which doesn't become chest harness

Wearing an impact vest will stop it riding up
ive got an np harness that doesn't ride up if properly adjusted

Thanks Iggypop

I tried that though, and didn't help much.
I'm quite long, so when it slips up, my bum goes down and hits the waves ( ), so I would put on a very short harness lines, and the whole geometry would be skewed. I had to go to the seat harness, and all clicked after then. (for windsurfing)

Now a waist harness with straps, (thanks weebitbreezy) that sounds good.
I knew of a combo waist/seat by Flying Objects - with a full seat, and riding high, but after trying it on...nothing wrong with it, just didn't feel right.

I'll have a look at the one North and Ocean Rodeo. Thanks

>>Try getting your belly above the harness....
What are you implying here

I like seat harnesses, however the hook is low and I feel that the pull is tipping me backwards. A seat harness with a high hook would probably work well.
I'll try to learn more about the "rope slider". Not quite familiar with what it means.

>>. I have never had my waist harness ride up
I only have experience with one, so maybe it was just a bad fit.

>>when powered, keep your at a right angle to your lines.
Good point flyingcab.

Still, I think a hybrid - waist with leg straps is probably the way to go (for me) . It will take me a while to adopt the correct stance.

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Obelix said..

was hoping for some advice on which waist harness doesn't slip up?

Hi Ibelix
The waist harness that wont slip up, is the one that fits you the best.
Its a bit like asking someone what pair of shoes are best. You have to try on lots of different makes and models to find the one with the best fit.
Go to a few different kite shops if you can, and try on all their models, wear them for some time and try swinging from a bar. Don't look at the price just the fit.

All well and good until you need to put the kite over your head (don't you do sent jumps?) or fall over and get dragged.

If you're the wrong shape, no harness will avoid riding up.

Definitely try before buy. I agree it has to feel good immediately.

Thanks a lot for finding time to help me with the advice guys.

I'll visit a few shops on Saturday. See what fits.

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Go to a few different kite shops if you can, and try on all their models, wear them for some time and try swinging from a bar. Don't look at the price just the fit.

I have done this and kite shops understand that for you to get a good fitting harness you might not be supporting your 'local'.
So if you are worried about rocking up with a competing companies product, don't.

Also in regards to the dedicated wake style riding, I used to send my kite to 12 all the time, but now i find i can get way better height by popping then sending.
I find that the harness doesn't ride up as much as you are accelerating yourself initially, and the kite just provides assistance. When you rely on the kite, you get the harness riding up a lot more as its essentially pulling you off the water.

Using a waist harness is all about correct technique and correct adjustment.

As a newb you will spend a lot of time with your kite at 12:00 so a waist harness is ok to stop that.

Once you get skilled you want to keep your kite relatively low. It then pulls the harness down onto your hips. Good stance helps. Front leg straight. This is good for a waist harness. Back leg slightly bent and trimming the board. Back straight. Hips forward. Shoulders back. Arms straight. Steer and sheet from your shoulders and not from bending your elbows.

You don't want a waist harness too tight. If it is tight and gets pulled up then it gets stuck on your ribs. You can't breath and the harness won't come back down again. Looser is better so the harness can slide up and down, and from side to side for toe side riding. In general, do it up fairly tight when it is dry. When it gets wet it will ease off and be just about right.

I would not recommend an impact vest to keep a waist harness down. Usually the waist harness pushes the vest up. One of my worst memories from the early days of kiting is being choked by a vest pushed up around my throat.

I am not a fan of seat harnesses because I ride toe side a lot, and ride fairly aggressively. When you're cranked hard over on toe side the seat harness is like a big spanner trying to twist your hips. It caused all sorts of low back pain. A waist harness rotates more easily and put less stress on my hips and lower back. In fact, the torso strengthening I got from kiteboarding excessively with a waist harness has meant my lower back pain has gone for good.

fly your kite lower!