Page 6 of 8

Re: Oceanus kite reels: i still see them

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:13 am
by ronnie
Dave_5280 wrote:
Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:48 am
Someone here once said they used thinner plastic zip ties to act as a pressure release on the leash connection to the board.
Another option is to stick 2 strips of velcro together (to get back-to-back hook/eye) - then use an overlap of the velcro to set your preferred release force. You can manually check how much overlap you need.

Re: Oceanus kite reels: i still see them

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:24 pm
by 1franz
I have since 10 years. I use when I feel I could have problems going back to board….big waves, very light wind…alone in the sea….wind off.
I never had any problem…...obviusly you don't use it when trying new rotation or kitelooping. But for freeriding, downwind can be helpful and avoid to loose the board.

I would not give to a begginner or when doing big airs and rotations.........if u just criuse and do tricks you are confident no risks at all

Re: Oceanus kite reels: i still see them

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:34 pm
by foilholio
Would you like some CURRENT vids of pros using surf leashes? The type of leash unlike the reel leash that acts as a bungee rope and flings the board back at you high speed? Would you like some CURRENT vids of said pros with said leashes flinging boards back at them? Would you also like a good argument on why they would and maybe should still use the leashes?

Re: Oceanus kite reels: i still see them

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:11 pm
by Matteo V
foilholio wrote:
Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:34 pm
Would you like some CURRENT vids of pros using surf leashes? The type of leash unlike the reel leash that acts as a bungee rope and flings the board back at you high speed? Would you like some CURRENT vids of said pros with said leashes flinging boards back at them? Would you also like a good argument on why they would and maybe should still use the leashes?
Drunk post?

Yes there are those here unable to think for themselves, who would easily be swayed to mimic every behavior of "the pros". But most of us here understand that is definitely NOT a good thing to do.

Bottom line is that leashes present a very clear danger to the user. The only time that danger can be justified is when not using a leash presents more of a danger.

And if you do happen to have a real reason to use a leash, please wear a helmet. Getting knocked unconscious by your board with it still connected to you and having a powered up kite in the waves is worse then just being unconscious with a kite alone.

Re: Oceanus kite reels: I still see them

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:25 am
by foilholio
Not a drunk post there is those that use surf leashes including pros that make videos with them, with no helmets and they have good reasons, but maybe not for no helmets.

Re: Oceanus kite reels: I still see them

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 7:53 am
by Peter_Frank
Still amazed of the misconception I can read in many answers, that it is current which is the cause they can not bodydrag to their board :rollgrin:

Current makes no difference regarding bodydragging whatsoever, you are in the same water, the board and you, no matter how strong the current is :thumb:

If it should make a difference, which way would you prefer the current then?
Some might answer: "Towards me" ha haa, but if it was, you would also get dragged downwind yourself, in the very same current.
Would prefer it was "Away from me" actually (words does not make sense though, when you think about it) meaning upwind, as then you got more wind when riding, compared to when launching, and easier to hold ground :naughty:

8) Peter

Re: Oceanus kite reels: I still see them

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 11:35 am
by pākihiroa
Peter_Frank wrote:
Wed Sep 11, 2019 7:53 am
Current makes no difference regarding bodydragging whatsoever, you are in the same water, the board and you, no matter how strong the current is :thumb:
Not necessarily always in the same water.

Case in point: Our local, an estuary, contains a relatively narrow river channel. The strength of the current inside the channel differs markedly from that outside the channel. The current differential is affected by the direction of the tide, with an incoming tide likely providing the greatest differential. The problem occurs when the board is caught in the channel current because it is not possible (for me at least) to contain my body dragging entirely within the channel. The channel is too narrow (perhaps 50 ~ 100 m ?) and too much ground is lost constantly changing tacks over such a short distance. But, doing longer tacks means venturing outside the channel into the weaker current and basically saying :bye: board as it gets carried out to the ocean.

Having learnt this lesson the hard way, now I just make it a point not trying any tricks/jumps in the channel. And, no, I didn't actually lose my board to the ocean. A kind, fellow, kiter grabbed It and returned it to me. :D

Re: Oceanus kite reels: I still see them

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:00 pm
by Peter_Frank
Of course there will always be rare exceptions that goes without saying, but fact is I bet that maybe more than 99% blames current, and are convinced that current will make it easier or more difficult to retrieve their board - which is not correct :roll:

8) Peter

Re: Oceanus kite reels: I still see them

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:28 pm
by tomato
I kite in river mouth. 1 time I lost board, because I could not see the board in waves and it got carried into the sea against the wind. Later found the board 10km away on the beach- same day ordered GoJoe. Never had a problem after. Yes, it looks kooky, but I prefer to have my board when I come out of the water after the session. But reels are not acceptable anyway.

Re: Oceanus kite reels: I still see them

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:42 pm
by jumptheshark
I've never commented on reel leashes because I have a great deal of sympathy for those that have the need for one, and am not callous enough to simply say "these people are not suitable to kite"

I'm really fortunate. I can swim very well. I kite in a pretty small community and one of the original gangsters around here is quite a few years my senior. He has had shoulder reconstruction, and a compression fracture of a vertebrae suffered from incidents outside kiting. He loves to kite every bit as much as I do. He is fit and generally extremely competent with things like kite control and all the many things we as kiters need to understand in order to do the sport safely. Unfortunately he cannot body drag as well as I can. What seems easy to me, is really very difficult for him and he has a very hard time making upwind progress. He fully understands the risks involved with using a reel leash and accepts them in order to kite at our location. We simply have to work directly upwind from the launch in order to clear trees and concrete to get out to the desired riding spots. I get it. It's not ideal, but I get it. Reel leashes are like surf leashes. When I see a pro out at any of the big famous breaks ejecting out the back of some monster close out and they drag their board dangling behind them, I don't second guess their judgment.

There are situation where people have to make the right call for themselves, and I try not to judge too harshly. Someday it will be me making equipment concessions in order to continue doing the sport I love.

I'm not pro leash, but I'm aware there are situations where they facilitate otherwise competent kiters to take part.