JakeFarley wrote: ↑Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:40 pmWould not 2 straps be more conducive for riding toeside?
Think about it - even TT boards have the straps set at an angle ... why? Because riding with your front foot pointing somewhat forwards is a more comfortable, natural position than having your feet & body completely sideways to the direction of travel. Once you're toeside, the inline strap means your front foot has to be at a more acute angle forcing you to contort your body even more . An angled strap allows you to keep the front foot at a less acute angle & so less twist in your upper body.PullStrings wrote: makes going toeside more natural /comfortable & puts more weight on the rail in the water
I couldn't see your video before, for some reason. Looking at it now it totally reinforces what I'm saying: your lower leg is contorted in an unnatural, even dangerous-looking, way compared to your upper leg & torso. There's no doubt that you can make it work - lots of people do - but there's no way that it's a "natural" stance. Riding strapless allows you to shift your feet around in whichever way you choose, including switching stance before the turn, so it offers the best range of options for foot position. Most people have never had the opportunity to try a 3 strap configuration, because, weirdly, no production board (that I'm aware of) offers it, so they really have no idea what it feels like. It's certainly true, however, that it's possible to make any style/configuration work - if I had Airton's level of skill, I don't think I'd bother with straps either!purdyd wrote: ↑Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:00 pmI agree there should probably be more choices in footstrap placement, including 3 strap options and angle of straps. And I agree it is more natural to have the front foot angled forward.
However, in a single strap placement, you seldom are putting your foot straight in. In fact, notice in flyboy's video he is not putting his foot straight into the strap on his 3 strap setup. Instead he is putting his foot parallel to the rail.
[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/199488450[/vimeo] (RIP Gord Downie)
That type of stance would not be natural for me and I would end up with my heel in the water on that board with that strap setup and with my preferred stance.
Different people like different things and have different bodies, water conditions, board, and styles.
There is probably a little too much following the trend and not enough doing your own thing in the sport. That sort of behavior is not limited to kitesurfing.
I happen to use two straps. I find that my foot position is the same, including my foot angle, as when I don't use straps. In fact I picked the strap placement by riding the board without straps and i have set the strap loose enough to allow freedom to rotate my foot.
Notice my front foot is angled to the front.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/03MULLpvsTw[/youtube]
But I do agree that there should be more productions boards with three strap options but they obviously are going to increase the price. Honestly, even finding boards with strap inserts is getting harder to find as we go into the latest trend of strapless surfboards.
Anyway it is all good. Like I said, I have seen guys rip on 0, 1, 2, and 3 straps. I find it interesting to see all of the different styles that kiters have adopted. It is good for the sport.
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