Safety issue of connecting kite leash to the back or side of Harness

[bragnouff]

It's critical to have a short freeride leash when using the front connection to the harness. I had my long leash snag around the end of my kite bar, causing kiteloops. Now I exclusively use a short (30cm) freeride leash connected to my spreader bar and had zero problems. I can unhook too, just no handle passes or unhooked kiteloops with my arms stretched out.

Can you do a stretched out raley with a short leash? Or whack a top turn on a surfboard while unhooked with a stretched arm? Those, to me, are "feel good" parts of freeride kiting. Pretty simple things you'd do just because it's satisfying, not to show off in front of anyone. I'm getting old and battered, riding hooked in 99.9% of the time like most, but when the conditions do align, it's f*in awesome to have that option to unhook. If you're exclusively into foil racing, then I do understand it's a moot point.

Agree you don't want anything too long dangling in front of you. I have my leash attached on my right side, and going behind my back to take most of the slack. But fair enough, in some cases it might be harder to release that 2nd level safety than when it's attached to the front. In conjunction with a very dependable QR and flag out system, this is a minimal risk I can accept.

[sarc]

30cm leash attached to side of spreader bar you cannot stretch your arms fully when unhooked; you would need something longer (maybe 50cm?)
To prevent longer leash snagging around chicken loop (means you cannot even release QR!) or snagging around your bar ends, make it very stiff by sleeving it thru a rigid tube (like insulation foam, etc. I use plastic tubes to sleeve my leash). Then it's OK. I can post a picture if needed . I had a few bad experiences doing fast waveriding turns and my longer leash flapping around until it caught on my bar end causing 1/2 a deathloop, I was always able to untangle it right away but no fun when you have a big wave right behind you. Now no problems with short leash+sleeving.

It's critical to have a short freeride leash when using the front connection to the harness. I had my long leash snag around the end of my kite bar, causing kiteloops. Now I exclusively use a short (30cm) freeride leash connected to my spreader bar and had zero problems. I can unhook too, just no handle passes or unhooked kiteloops with my arms stretched out.

Can you do a stretched out raley with a short leash? Or whack a top turn on a surfboard while unhooked with a stretched arm? Those, to me, are "feel good" parts of freeride kiting. Pretty simple things you'd do just because it's satisfying, not to show off in front of anyone. I'm getting old and battered, riding hooked in 99.9% of the time like most, but when the conditions do align, it's f*in awesome to have that option to unhook. If you're exclusively into foil racing, then I do understand it's a moot point.

Agree you don't want anything too long dangling in front of you. I have my leash attached on my right side, and going behind my back to take most of the slack. But fair enough, in some cases it might be harder to release that 2nd level safety than when it's attached to the front. In conjunction with a very dependable QR and flag out system, this is a minimal risk I can accept.

[dice]

What's wrong with the side? It's perfectly reachable for me and less clutter in front of me.

both hands?

Both hands? It's designed for one hand only.

[iriejohn]

What's wrong with the side? It's perfectly reachable for me and less clutter in front of me.

both hands?

Both hands? It's designed for one hand only.

Sure, but when on side can it reached by left hand and right hand?
Imagine your break your hand/arm/shoulder etc that is the one on the side of the release.

Better to have in front, so EITHER left or right hand can reach it...

[dragnfly]

Mines on the side. I don't like the way it dangles between my legs when its at the front. There's also no attachment point at the front on my RE harness. I'd never attach to the back, although I know plenty of people that do even though they never unhook - and I've warned them about it, but they still do.

[Toby]

Mines on the side. I don't like the way it dangles between my legs when its at the front. There's also no attachment point at the front on my RE harness. I'd never attach to the back, although I know plenty of people that do even though they never unhook - and I've warned them about it, but they still do.

If you have a short one like Core offers, it does not dangle.
A dangling leash that could catch your leg is dangerous...should be as short as possible...and even more so if you don’t handle pass.

Yes, I still see many people with leashes connected to the back...trying to inform them why they should change...

[ScoopZ]

It should be addressed to the manufacturer's, the provision is often not included or you have to buy an extra eyelet like the new mystic stealth bars. Safety should come before profit.

I connect to the side (not through choice) on a mantra harness with a short ion leash, works out centimetre perfect.

[Da Yoda]

It should be addressed to the manufacturer's, the provision is often not included or you have to buy an extra eyelet like the new mystic stealth bars. Safety should come before profit.

Where Mystic came up short for 2019 imo was the lack of a knife & holster supplied on their Stealth bar. Or if that could not be safely integrated, then not supplying their 2019 harnesses with their updated knife and making one have to buy it separately was definitely a "profits first, safety last" approach.
They could have also made the holster on the Battle Belt accommodate their older knife design so people could've had the option to reuse their older Mystic knives, but NO.

It would have been nice if Mystic sold their Stealth bar with the Leash Eye included to make sure that safety is paramount for those upgrading "lower tier" 2019 Mystic harnesses or older harnesses with the double 1" straps (2019 top tier harnesses include the Leash Eye).
They should also be informing those that are upgrading that they MAY need to buy a new knife & holster to mount on the adjustment straps (or somewhere else)... especially if their harness is not a 2019. Currently they do not inform this!

[BernieTomic1]

Thanks for the video Taabsr. It highlights a potential problem that I have been neglecting.

My setup is a Manera Exo harness with a Core short leash.

exo front.JPG (59.78 KiB) Viewed 957 times

Exo back.JPG (77.02 KiB) Viewed 957 times

Core short.JPG (35.71 KiB) Viewed 957 times

As you can see from the images, there is no connection point in the front, and not really on the side either. There are rings placed laterally, but probably a little bit behind center.
The leash uses rope on one side, fixed by a metal pin.

Your suggestion would be to create a front connection point using rope and a metal ring as illustrated in your video?

Related to this question: a leash like this one is somewhat of a problem when you want to use it as a impromptu anchor. Which leashes can you recommend that have carabiners on both sides?

[taabsr]

Thanks for the video Taabsr. It highlights a potential problem that I have been neglecting.

My setup is a Manera Exo harness with a Core short leash.

exo front.JPGExo back.JPGCore short.JPG

As you can see from the images, there is no connection point in the front, and not really on the side either. There are rings placed laterally, but probably a little bit behind center.
The leash uses rope on one side, fixed by a metal pin.

Your suggestion would be to create a front connection point using rope and a metal ring as illustrated in your video?

Related to this question: a leash like this one is somewhat of a problem when you want to use it as a impromptu anchor. Which leashes can you recommend that have carabiners on both sides?

On the right side of the image, you have the straps that connect to the spreader there is the black and metal-plastic piece that has one large strap up and a smaller one on the bottom. There you have a little hole. You can pass the line there. Even using the harness you have as it's a line harness should work.

I prefer the rope ones rather than the carabiner.

To use as an anchor to self-launch I think the carabiner in both ends is easier and you don't even need to use a leash just a line works fine. (i think that was your last question)