Another leash idea?

[joekitetime]

Hey there addicts-

Been buying and selling and trying and failing.

Recently (well Friday) I quit using a harness. Got the Duotone Dlabs and they fly so efficiently that I'm back to no harness riding. Regardless, I started thinking of an alternative leash idea - it can't be revolutionary or un-tried - the idea is to simply rope the wing to the board. One leash, keep your gear connected.

Anyone tried it and can offer thoughts?

I think I'll try it out today for good measure and report back.

[tkaraszewski]

You have to attach to the front of the wing, so if you attach it to the back of the board it's going to get in the way every time you tack or gybe or otherwise pass the wing from one side to the other.

If you attach it to the nose of the board it's going to be flapping around in your face, and it needs to be long enough to hold the wing fully extended over your head, but if you hold the wing down behind you (for surfing) it's going to be dragging in the water or around your feet.

[joekitetime]

Great points!

Terrible idea!

[Peter_Frank]

Great points!

Terrible idea!

Not true, a good idea and some experiment with this.

But as pointed out some downsides depending on where you leash. .

Peter

[Dingus]

I bet if I attached the wing leash to front of board, I would fall off and watch a riderless luffed wing foil away! I would be left watching thinking get **** it is not that easy!

[JZB]

I haven't tried it yet, but the local wing foiling instructor has attached a 10-ft straight surfboard leash from the board back connection point to the wing. He says it works great and when you fall the board and the wing pretty much cancel each other out in the water as far as drifting. Thinking about going down to the local surf shop and getting a leash to see how it works. I actually don't think that it would be flapping in your face it would just sort of hang there. It's worth a try.

[joekitetime]

I haven't tried it yet, but the local wing foiling instructor has attached a 10-ft straight surfboard leash from the board back connection point to the wing. He says it works great and when you fall the board and the wing pretty much cancel each other out in the water as far as drifting. Thinking about going down to the local surf shop and getting a leash to see how it works. I actually don't think that it would be flapping in your face it would just sort of hang there. It's worth a try.

Yesterday I attached a 7' piece of rope to the back of my wingboard and to the regular leash spot on my wing. It worked like magic! I went thru a lot of mental gymnastics regarding how to not get tangled or whatever, but after a couple of minutes I just ignored any thoughts whatsover, and just rode. The leash did not get tangled, it was easy to deal with and really, really worked like a charm. That wing instructor who came up with the idea nailed it!

This is how I'll ride for now on!

[JZB]

Ok I did it.
9 ft surf leash to back of board.

Pro:
Works great no tangles or dragging
Feels amazing with nothing on you
Put leash over you front hand and always out of the way

Con:
Experimented with letting the board-kite drift and it blows down wind fast. Not as advertised. In lite winds no big deal but a big yard sale fall in high winds ocean could be dangerous in terms of loosing the board.

Conclusion. Right time and place works great but needs more time to prove out safety issues.

[consumer]

@joekitetime is an absolute boss for coming up with this idea and experimenting!! thanks dude.

also @JZB for trying it. you guys rock.