What's the story on board leashes in the GKA? Does the GKA have a rule requiring them? For special situations maybe? Everyone is using them in this wipeout clip.
Board leashes are cool for wave kite?
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zerogee_ca
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BWD
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
Im a recreational rider. I’ve used a leash when the shore was mostly rocks and cliffs with only pocket beach exits. Its a calculated risk. You cant lose the board in some situations. For event competitors, there are timed heats, they can’t chase their board for 10 minutes, the heat will end. Sometimes it makes more sense to have a leash than not. You have to be careful though.
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longwhitecloud
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
there is no doubt they are close to getting smashed hard out in the head but it is the situation..
potential smashed head vs kite down and getting smashed in inpact zone without a board and with bad rips/sweep...
there is something else- wear some neoprene even in the tropics - you dont need much to flat you, mind you it isnt going to help much as you get smashed in 10 ft heavy impact zone
potential smashed head vs kite down and getting smashed in inpact zone without a board and with bad rips/sweep...
there is something else- wear some neoprene even in the tropics - you dont need much to flat you, mind you it isnt going to help much as you get smashed in 10 ft heavy impact zone
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BWD
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
I forgot to mention, when using a leash i wear a helmet, just like I would when foiling.
A helmet is always a good idea when there is potential for faster, bigger crashes and collision with objects or terrain. I wear one most sessions lately.
A helmet is always a good idea when there is potential for faster, bigger crashes and collision with objects or terrain. I wear one most sessions lately.
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Toby
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
excactly.
They nee dto get back to the board quickly.
If they loose it they loose time and the board gets smashed onto the rocks.
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FLandOBX
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
That raises the larger question for me. I understand why these competitors use a board leash in a timed heat with rocky shoreline. But using the leash increases the risk of head injury. So why do they not wear helmets when using the leash? (Chime in, "bucket effect" folks.)
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Toby
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
everyone is responsible for their lives...FLandOBX wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2019 2:02 pmThat raises the larger question for me. I understand why these competitors use a board leash in a timed heat with rocky shoreline. But using the leash increases the risk of head injury. So why do they not wear helmets when using the leash? (Chime in, "bucket effect" folks.)
Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite??
The bucket effect is primarily an issue with a helmet that fits too loose or a chin strap that has not been tightened. If you have good fit, and manage your chin strap, you minimize this effect to where it is extremely unlikely that you will ever experience the bucket effect, let alone be injured by it. But do not put yourself at risk by using a loose fitting helmet or loosely adjusting the chin strap. Personally, I would also fear the bucket effect if my helmet was too loose and would just go without. But I would score a new good fitting helmet the next day.
While a sample size of one person does not make for a completely reliable statistic, I have not had a bucket effect injury in all my years windsurfing and kitesurfing. I have, however, been saved from impacts that damaged the helmet (would have knocked me out) on almost a dozen occasions. Thus 11 saves to my head (keeping me from drowning), and 0 issues with my neck, makes me believe the helmet is worth it.
Oh, and I have not used a leash on any directional since the "reel leash" on TT's along time ago. When I progressed to directional boards, I was good enough to body drag in pretty much any condition. That said, if rocks or a dangerous reef were an issue at a location I could not avoid, I would definitely consider using a leash.
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- FLandOBX (Mon Mar 18, 2019 3:53 pm)
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Re: Board leashes are cool for wave kite?
WOW that clip is totally rad!
95% of my riding is non-rocky beaches so I only put the leash on my board when it's really big or when I travel and kite a rocky place, since a helmet is horribly uncomfortable and bulky (to me) I use a bump cap liner in either a baseball cap or my dakine indo-hat. it has already saved my head a few times, yes not as safe as a helmet but I think is a great compromise between safety and comfort.
I actually bought several to test out and this one is by far the more comfortable one.
https://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Skuller ... &s=gateway
95% of my riding is non-rocky beaches so I only put the leash on my board when it's really big or when I travel and kite a rocky place, since a helmet is horribly uncomfortable and bulky (to me) I use a bump cap liner in either a baseball cap or my dakine indo-hat. it has already saved my head a few times, yes not as safe as a helmet but I think is a great compromise between safety and comfort.
I actually bought several to test out and this one is by far the more comfortable one.
https://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Skuller ... &s=gateway