Do real men go strapless?

[harleyboy]

Santa just brought me a new 6' rocketfish. It came with straps but should I even put them on? I have some surfing experience...I would say intermediate level. However, I have never learned to jibe(sp?).

I am going to head out in the flat water and some small swell to learn to ride this baby. Where should I start? Do I put the straps on or just skip them and learn strapless?

If you think I should put the straps on then how should I position them to get me started?

Thanks for the help.

[R Soul]

Skip them...
Most certainly, if you have surfing experience.
Riding strapless is not as hard as people think...
Straps on a surf orientated board are so wrong!
Enjoy, and let us know how you get on.

[kite-dork]

Leave em off or throw them out,especially if you already are a decent surfer.I guess if your riding in really choppy shitty waves then they may have some benefit in that sense.I realize sometimes straps are ok.
Dont take the easy road like so many other kiters,learn to surf,it will look and feel so much better in the end.

[gotwind]

My favorite way 2 ride is w/ just the front strap helps when throwing big sprays because u have something that keeps your feet in place. If the surf is big then u but on both because u always want your feet in. But having 2 straps makes it a little harder to Jib. No starps is good if there's little to no surf.

[Windrider]

All the tow-in surfers use straps.

I like straps because it keeps the board tight with me on jumps. I can move my feet out of the straps when I want to. Either way is okay, I like having straps better. But, I ride about 25% of the time with my back foot out of the strap.

Straps give you the advantage of using the kite for a big power boost, or for a lift when you need it. Strapless riders have to learn how to constantly limit the power of the kite to avoid too much lift or acceleration (dragged off board). Strapped riders can do all that, and still be able to utilize big boosts in power and lift when wanted because the straps will keep the board with you.

A more important decision, IMHO, is "hooked-in" or "unhooked."

[mv]

Real men ride the way they want and do not care about what other people think.

Try the board without straps and with straps in a variety of conditions then make up your own mind. Do not listen to anyone else. especially people that say you are wrong for riding a certain way.

[Windrider]

Try the board without straps and with straps in a variety of conditions then make up your own mind. Do not listen to anyone else. especially people that say you are wrong for riding a certain way.

Exactly! But, just don't ride goofy foot or everyone will think you're gay....

(just joking. )

[Drande]

dont listen to much to those wanabesurfers. strapless is for pussys who are afraid to use power of theyr kites
Both are good and offering quite different possibilities

[scklandl]

if your always riding the same wave and its very consistent size with consistent windspeed then go for the straps and find the right place for them. If your always hitting something different or the winds always changing your straps will always be in the wrong spot trim wise and will probably be in the way.

[windmaker]

Real men ride the way they want and do not care about what other people think.

Do windsurfers ask themselves weather they should use straps or ride unhooked ? Why do some kitesurfers have this problem ?
It's a question of style and what you want to do. If you want to introduce proper jumps and aerials to your sailing straps offer more possibilities. If you just want to surf, you can get away without them and jibing will also be easier.