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I've had some lessons and want to venture out on my own but I'm worried about losing my board to the ocean as I will inevitably become separated from it even though it's strapped. Any advice? Practice more upwind body drag first? Tie a surfboard leash to the handle? Rely on other kiters to bring it in? Hope it will wash up on the beach?

you need to learn to rely on yourself.

This starts with good body dragging!

Maybe add a GoJoe from Ocean Rodeo (google it), this way you will see your board easier and it floats faster downwind towards you.

A leash only, if a roll leash. Any type surf leash can kill you. Never ever. Roll leash is ok.

And two of the golden rules in kiteboarding are:

- never go out alone
- never go out too far

Check the story with the missing girl in Argentina...you don't want to be next:

viewtopic.php?t=2410474

sub5mango wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:59 pm

I've had some lessons and want to venture out on my own but I'm worried about losing my board to the ocean as I will inevitably become separated from it even though it's strapped. Any advice? Practice more upwind body drag first? Tie a surfboard leash to the handle? Rely on other kiters to bring it in? Hope it will wash up on the beach?

you know, I got the same fear as you when I was learning... I did use a roll leash and an GoJoe from Ocean Rodeo... all I can tell you is this, the leash prevented me from learning how to body drag properly. Today after over 150 sessions since I started kiting, I can tell you that body dragging is super easy once you got it and I have never lost board since. I still have the GoJoe in my board primarily to be able to see them easier in the water as I kite in choppy waters and it can be difficult to see at times... I can probably do without now, but my girl is new in the sport and she loves to have the added visibility.

Not kiting along will help a lot as other people can help you bringing the board downwind for you. I do this anytime I see someone struggling getting the board. I would just practice closer to shore, that helps and really practice recovering your board! Practice makes perfect

Happy learning.
G.

Body dragging is secondary IF you stay pretty close to shore. The only requirement is to see the board at all times. Steps:
1. Crash and lose board upwind.
2. Try to body drag to board. Can’t get it? no big deal — body drag to shore without waiting too long.
3. Wait on shore until the board ends downwind of you. If in a hurry, you can walk upwind on the beach. BUT, you must see and know where your board is.
4. Body drag DOWNwind towards the board. Problem solved

The only two situations where a leash is essential is i) in the surf with offshore wind or ii) when you surf waves in front of a rocky shore. Body dragging to your board in offshore wave riding is not possible as the board is rapidly washed away from you by the waves. And you don´t want to loose your board and have board and yourself smashed on the rocks.
As a beginner you shouldn´t find yourself in those conditions.
In all other conditions: Learn to body drag to your board. Very easy once you learned it.
Be cautious if you´re riding in very strong currents. Could be difficult to get to your board if the current goes upwind.

Haven't got that much to add really, but regardless of how good you are at body dragging boards do get lost occasionally. I'm not especially good at it, but under normal circumstances I have no issues getting my board back. Even so I have crashed hard losing sight of my board in big waves. Usually that isn't an issue either, but if you add to that being overpowered you could easily end up in a situation where it doesn't matter how good your body dragging skills are, you won't find your board. Doesn't mean I ride with a leash in those situations, but I kind of accept the fact these things can/do happen.

I don't necessarily recommend using a roll leash as body dragging is a useful skill to know in any case - and by having a roll leash you might not ever body drag until you end up in an emergency, but to get you going and becoming more confident it might not be the worst thing in the world. Especially if you don't fancy having to spend €500 on a new board if you lose one.

Best thing is to ride with someone that can keep an eye on you. So in case you do lose your board and you can't get it back then they can pick it up for you (even if boards still occasionally do get lost this way as well - but then we are talking being seriously unlucky).

One place I like to kite has very large chop, you lose sight of your board in a few seconds plus there are cross currents. Body dragging has worked for me even when losing sight, if you guess well enough where it is. I get a little worried about a leash since there is reef near by and if the leash were to wrap around the coral and my kite pulls me the other way, no thanks...

For situations when it may not work, I got myself a GoJoe. And if that doesn't work and I bought myself a $30 GPS tracker (https://tracki.com/) and put it into a waterproof pouch (https://www.swimcell.com/products/armba ... 2577547213) and strap it to my GoeJoe/ kite handle. If I totally lose my board at least this way I should be able to track it down and save myself the +$700 of buying a new board.

Even if you are good at body dragging it’s possible to lose a board if there are strong currents. Write your name and phone number on your board. I had mine returned after losing it a couple years ago.

DDC wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:09 am

Even if you are good at body dragging it’s possible to lose a board if there are strong currents. Write your name and phone number on your board. I had mine returned after losing it a couple years ago.

^^^^^
what he said... putting the phone number under a clear tape is the best "bang for buck" advice you can get...
then you can get poor people's "go joe" made out of kiddie inflatable shoulder floaty for $3 if you still struggling with body dragging..
get super bright color board (red, yellow, green).. stay away from carbon gray,etc.. yes shop by color..
you may end up not getting the best board ever but the difference will likely be just 10% .. since you are asking this question, you are likely not to notice any difference.. I have a red board and after 50+ thousands of jumps it's still with me..
but don't buy this claim that you'll never lose a board if you know how to body drag...
I know plenty of people with 1000s of hours in the sport who ended up losing or almost losing a board..