board leash?
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 15:46
Just wanted to hear some people's thoughts on whether or not a board leash is something i should look into getting as a beginner. I've been watching the Progression Beginner video, and they say to get a board leash and a helmet. If yes any recomendations on which one works best (leash and helmet)? Im still undecided on the leash, but definately leaning towards getting a helmet....
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 16:15
#2
no on the leash-
no on the leash-
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 17:13
#3
I agree no leash even with a
I agree no leash even with a helmet. The board could still hit you in the back of the neck so what good would a helmet be. Plus its fun body dragging, its like fishing for realy big fish.
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 17:40
#4
Just a note from one newbe to
Just a note from one newbe to another. I started kiting last summer, thought losing my board was a pain, and got a self retracting leash. I went out late last year in a strong side shore/on shore wind and rain with a 11 meter Turbo 3 at Nahant. The attachment point on the leash got stuck in the lines and I couldn't get the kite to die. But for an amazing guy who was out in the surf who literally parked his kite at 12 and ran half way down the beach to land the kite, I would have been dog meat. No more leashes for me. I've seen a few of you folks out there and I'm looking forward to Revere and Nahant. Can you wear a 4.5 wet suit this time of year or do you need a dry suit?
Thanks in advance.
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 17:59
#5
Outside of leashing a board in the severe cold when it could be a matter of survival, it's not a good idea.
I have a retractable leash and a helmet that I never really used, but I wouldn't even want to give it away for fear of someone getting hurt.
You don't need a leash of a GoJoe. Learn to bodydrag, it'll be your best friend.
Also leashing your board while relaunching your kite at PB might save some swims, but that's more of a crash the kite, leahs your board, relaunch, unleash, and go sort of thing.
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 18:07
#6
Leash = injury
Leashes are just dangerous. This includes the retractable ones. I have seen guys get hit in the back of the neck and in the middle of their spines. The best thing you can possibly do for yourself is keep practicing body dragging upwind. Seriously, the faster you perfect that single skill the better the rest of your time on the water will be. I completely understand wanting to just get out and ride. But until you can effortlessly drag upwind you will always be losing your board and spending half your day in the water flailing about waiting for some one else to help you.
The last thing that ever crosses my mind when I set up to try some thing new is "what if my board comes off". These days I am just wondering if there are any Advil left in my center console.
On the other hand, a helmet that does not cut your vision is a good investment
Have Fun,
Jay
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 18:21
#7
I have a retractable leash. I
I have a retractable leash. I think it is OK but once I get better, I don't think I will use it. It is just another thing to worry about. Just have to practice and practice body dragging fast enough to get the board. Losing a $500 - $800 can be a pain...but losing your life would be worse 
I have GO JOE also. Will try to use that more this summer. 
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 18:46
#8
Agreed.
1. I agree that leashes are dangerous.
2. I agree that body dragging is one of the most fundamental things that you MUST learn.
And just putting this out there...
3. say NO to GO JOEs. I think the tackiness outweighs their usefulness. See #2.
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 21:14
#9
RE: Leash..
Helmet, yes. Ever seen somone with a cast on their head? Enough said.
Keeps you warm. You can even get a styley one with a brim and will keep you out of OT, I've had 2 friends
with brain injuries, trust me, you are never the same. I can appreciate no helmets too, it's an extreme sport and it's nice to go minimal. I go barefoot and the booty crowd thinks I'm crazy, too each his own.
Leash = no
If you have to, you can attach your kite leash to your board if you fall and then relaunch the kite,m then move leash back to kite from board.
Better yet, learn to relaunch quick and body drag upwind to board. Besides buying a GO Joe you can put a kids floaty around the handle, a lot cheaper and not as crazy big as the GO-Joe.
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 23:57
#10
F the leash
Thanks everyone for all the info! I have heard before that the board leash can do more damage than good, and it seems everyone pretty much agrees on that. So the leash is a definite NO! and the helmet seems to be a good idea so ill grab one of those too. if i remember correctly OceanExtreme was selling the Pro-Tec helmets to us for pretty cheap, about $30. Now i see a lot of body dragging practice in my future.....the next time i get out on the water ill practice and practice (however long it takes) until i can drag upwind, think i was about halfway there last time. once i got that down, ill bust out the new Aboard and then be doing kite loop handle passes in no time. haha. thanks again, see y'all at the beach.
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 17:40
#11
Body drag
PeteCat wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the info! I have heard before that the board leash can do more damage than good, and it seems everyone pretty much agrees on that. So the leash is a definite NO! and the helmet seems to be a good idea so ill grab one of those too. if i remember correctly OceanExtreme was selling the Pro-Tec helmets to us for pretty cheap, about $30. Now i see a lot of body dragging practice in my future.....the next time i get out on the water ill practice and practice (however long it takes) until i can drag upwind, think i was about halfway there last time. once i got that down, ill bust out the new Aboard and then be doing kite loop handle passes in no time. haha. thanks again, see y'all at the beach.
You should be able to body drag with your next day of practice. If you are not getting up wind you need to have someone show you how (maybe an instructor). If someone shows you, you will get it right away. Also, I would not waste too much time practicing the skill just by itself. I think the primary benefit of body draging practice is getting used flying a big kite. Also, you should have someone show you how to body drag while holding the board. Its a great skill to have as a beginner in that its critical to getting yourself and the board far enough away from shore to give you the margin of safety you need in deep water to practice water starting.
Sun, 04/12/2009 - 10:53
#12
Body Dragging Tips
Pete,
You are on the right path. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind while body dragging...
1) When you crash and burn. Take a quick look back to get a bearing on your board. And start dragging in the same direction you were going when you wrecked in the first place. Every time you change directions you need to bring your kite overhead. When your kite is overhead you go faster down wind. Minimize direction changes.
2) Get your kite down towards the water and get it de-powered. You will still need enough tension to steer it, but de-power it so it is flying on the front lines. When the kite is on front lines it will be closer to the edge of the window which is closer to going up-wind. More power, deeper in the window, pulling you down wind away from your board.
3) Keep your kite low to the water as possible as you drag. Other kiters will be able to get past you if you are in the middle of the field, possibly even be able to help you as your kite will not be in the way. The higher your kite is in the air the more downwind you will go.
4) Take a good long tack on your first drag, keep your body rigid as a board angles up wind, look over your shoulder once in a while to keep an eye on your board location. You want to be able to get back to your board on the return tack. You really should be able to get your board in two tacks. One out, one in.
5) When you do change direction, bring your kite slow and steady overhead. No sudden moves, you don't want to lift yourself out of the water or tangle with a passing kiter or someone trying to help you. As the kite comes overhead, instead of letting yourlegs fall behind you, push them forward and spread as you were sitting in a V position to stretch. This will help act as a brake in the water. Your knees will end up being a little bent, don't worry your not a ballarina, your just trying to get back to your board quickly.
6) Slow is steady, steady is fast....
I am sure others will have some tips for you as well. You might find certain things work better for you than others. Practice, practice practice. You will be glad you did.
Have Fun,
Jay
Mon, 04/13/2009 - 11:53
#13
What other riders can do
This is more for your friends or other riders that are out with you. I always try to keep an eye on someone who is down, whether relaunching or other. I try to spot the board and see if any help is needed. We all know what a pain it is to locate and then body drag back to your board after a hard spill and long dragging relaunch (luckily not as prevalent with bow kites). Anyway, I will try to scout out boards and either bring them back to their owner or to the beach.
I think if you are new and/or just not comfortable picking up a wayward board and riding with it to a downed kiter, don't do it. But at least you can sit in the water next to the board, with your kite up, keeping an eye on the board and the rider. And if possible let the person know where their board is. Granted they probably will think you're trying to get it for them, but you can always ride downwind to tell them, then ride back and keep an eye on their progress.
With the currents we have at some spots around here, body dragging to your board, even for a competent ride, can be quite difficult. So, be aware of other people and their predicament. That and write your name and number on the board AND your kites.
Just my 2 cents.
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 12:31
#14
update
A friend just showed me this site... I thought I'd share. I love the fact that someone took the time to do this:
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 13:05
#15
ewwwwwww !
Jermy wrote:
A friend just showed me this site... I thought I'd share. I love the fact that someone took the time to do this:
J, thanks for sharing.
that website is GRUESOME !
got a few ugly shin scars from a bungie type leash when I was learning.I made butterfly stitches out of athletic tape and kept kiting instead of getting stitches at the ER, 4-5 stitches ain't worth the hassle.
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 12:40
#16
Yikes, that is pretty
Yikes, that is pretty graphic... Kind of turned my stomach
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 20:09
#17
I was told from the begining
I was told from the begining "NO board leash" body dragging is as much a part of kiting as any other aspect of the sport. After seeing those pics it is a no brainer!!
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 21:43
#18
The otherside
I think that by not learning to body drag you simply put off the inevitable. Yeah dragging sucks to learn but besides the board recoil you want to consider your ability to drag to safety. By relying on a leash you never get to realize that without your board you can go upwind. Some times wind directions change or you loose your board. Basic skills a like dragging, relaunching, and self rescue cannot be skipped.
But Pete we all know since this post you have decided to get wet and practice
This advice is for anyone
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 23:00
#19
Wow
Thanks Jermy for sharing that site.
I have been using a reel retractable leash because I am lazy at body dragging, but that is no excuse. After reading from that website and seeing those pictures, I going to try to kite without the leash.
Thanks again.
TN
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 10:56
#20
Board Leashes, skulls and Body Dragging Clinic
Pete and all newbies,
Board leashes in my experience and opinion are not something I recommend. Yes people say if you get one get a helment and that is sensible advice but they are dangerous for a few reasons. Most likely you will get one that is a retractable (doggy leash) style. This takes away the snap and stretch of say a surfboard leash which is super dangerous. However, the amount of webbing in a retractable can get tangled up in you or on some object or someone else in a worse case scenario. That's a recipe for disaster. Second that thing is an added weight to you. It's not much but it is and there is no quick release for that.
I used to wear a surfoboard leash many years ago and I wiped out pretty bad my 12ft leash attached to my board stretched and snapped back like an elastic and my board flew into the back of my head. I was almost knocked unconscious but managed to keep awake. Ever since then I never used a leash again and I forced myself to learn to body drag.
I teach all of my students to body drag and recommend against any board leash. Stay away from them and practice your body dragging. Jay Stebbins posted a really good post on how to do this but if you notice most riders don't use them.
If anybody is unclear on how to do this I will put together a clinic specifically for this and other things if there is interest.
Skipper
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 07:49
#21
Go Joe
Though the dork factor may be high (kind of sad that this deters people from using safety gear like helmets or flotation aids), the GO Joe works. Holly's been using one down here in Ecuador this week and it makes it much easier to retrieve your board, saving energy for kiting and preventing the ingestion of lots of sea water. Also makes it easier to spot your board in 3 foot swells/chop.
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 21:30
#22
Go GoJoe
I just attached a frickin' laser to my frickin' GoJoe and hung a little mini water-repellent disco ball from the horizontal member to trick it out and make it a cool thing. Check that out!
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 22:45
#23
Hi my name is Steve and I can't bodydrag
I admit that I have a problem. That's the first step right?
Sometimes I can retrieve my board quickly and sometimes it takes forever and tires me out. I haven't figured out why it is inconsistent. Maybe it's when the board lands with the footstraps down and doesn't blow down to me? Probably not that simple.
I've practised body dragging a lot but I don't think I'm going upwind. I think I just keep from going downwind while the board drifts to me.
I thought about trying bindings but they look like they could make a fall really hurt. Also, the first thing I do when I lose control is to kick off my board. That really helps me keep my kite from crashing but I couldn't do that with bindings.
I just bought a GoJo, haven't tried it yet. I am a newbie and I look like a newbie, so I don't have much to lose in the cool dept.
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 23:30
#24
Just say no...
to the GoJo and the board leash.
Just get out there without your board and learn how to body drag upwind and downwind. It's also an essential skill to have in an onshore wind condition. It will allow you to get away from the beach, 50-100yds so when you start riding you are not 3 inches from the sand and swinging kites over the general public's head!
Wed, 01/06/2010 - 20:47
#25
If the gojo keeps you from using a leash its a good thing.
If the gojo keeps you from using a leash its a good thing. Better thing to do is just learn how to body drag upwind.
or i just remembered JD has a Go-Jo he said i could borrow. Is that a better way to go?
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