Board leashes are cool for wave kite?

[Peter_Frank]

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.

WOW that is some rad wipeout shots, love it

Peter

[kite_hh]

I really do envy those with good wave riding conditions.

Unfortunately waves in my region only show up when it is really windy. This usually means chaotic waves all over the place. There is white foam everywhere, small waves breaking, big ones rolling through, waves crossing, currents, etc. Wiping out in a bigger wave usually means you can kiss your board goodbye. Sometimes for good.

Even if you find it after a while it would still in that time have been dangerous obstacle in the sea for anybody riding. I see it as duty to protect others and myself by using a leash when I am chasing waves.

Wearing a helmet in those conditions totally makes sense even without a leash. In my experience it rarely is a problem that you get hit by a backspringing board, but by a board you lost upwind that then gets lifted and thrown at you by the wind.

[Flyboy]

Awesome video! We almost never get to see clips of guys wiping out on the waves - they always seem to stick the most impossible looking off-the-lips descending into white water. When I try that it rarely ends well - now I feel a bit better! But yeah - what a beautiful wave!

[Flyboy]

Is it possible they wear the leashes in competition to avoid wasting valuable time in a heat retrieving their boards?

[Peter_Frank]

Is it possible they wear the leashes in competition to avoid wasting valuable time in a heat retrieving their boards?

Yes, that IS the very idea of it, as others have mentioned

Peter

[Flyboy]

Is it possible they wear the leashes in competition to avoid wasting valuable time in a heat retrieving their boards?

Yes, that IS the very idea of it, as others have mentioned

Peter

Oops - missed the first page of posts.

[tomtom]

Its just me - or are all these guy WAY owerpowered for waveriding? Do i loose sense of reality by riding almost exclusively HF?

[PullStrings]

Its just me - or are all these guy WAY owerpowered for waveriding?

With straps it would be less of a problem to ride overpowered like that.....a good percentage less wipe outs...leash still needed for competing on the clock

[zerogee_ca]

It looks like they are using longer leashes too. For years, I used a 12 foot big wave leash (distance is your friend and thicker too, for no slingshot effect). There are things you could do to further reduce the slingshot because you can feel where and what the board is doing behind you. I get hit in the head by my board WAY more without the leash.

Without the leash, the board beats me downwind and sometime beats me to the beach. If it doesnt run me over in the process.

If it's big out there, I go straps and no leash. If it's a rocky shoreline, I will use a leash. I was amazed at how much more free the surfing felt when I stopped using the leash though.

It is a great wipe out clip. Pretty sure I have had a few look just like those.

[jumptheshark]

Its just me - or are all these guy WAY owerpowered for waveriding? Do i loose sense of reality by riding almost exclusively HF?

Also though they look a little overpowered.