| A kiteboard leash is a any tether which connects | | | | documented tragedies. Fact, body dragging to |
| a kiteboarder or kitesurfer to his or her kiteboard, | | | | retrieve a board is easy, most of my students |
| not to be confused with a kite leash which is an | | | | learn the technique in 20 minutes or less. |
| essential piece of kiteboarding safety equipment. | | | | Last point is the economics. I hate that I have to |
| The idea behind the kiteboard leash to help the | | | | use this argument but too many people think that |
| kiteboarder not loose the board when the two | | | | an accident won't happen to them and thus ignore |
| become separated. The problem lies in the safety | | | | the safety argument. Ok the idea behind a board |
| of this devise, and what can happen when things | | | | leash is to prevent one from loosing a kiteboard. |
| go wrong. | | | | As production boards cost anywhere from |
| Firstly, learning to retrieve your board when fall | | | | $500-$900 new, and custom boards even more, |
| off of it is a step in the learning process that | | | | it is a reasonable concern. However buying a $79 |
| comes before learning to ride a kiteboard. The | | | | dollar line-tangling-head-trama-cord is not the |
| kiteboard retrieval process we can refer to as | | | | answer. If you found some stories about |
| upwind body dragging or directional body dragging. | | | | kiteboard leash accidents you know that many of |
| If you can't confidently body drag back to your | | | | these ended up in hospital visits. So the economics |
| board every time, you are not ready to try to | | | | finally comes into play. Buy a new board vs. trip |
| ride it. Perfect example imagine driving a car for | | | | to the hospital. I think that one trip to the hospital |
| the first time on a busy city freeway during rush | | | | would cover the cost of many new boards. Hey |
| hour. Hmm, not how you learned how to drive, | | | | why not buy a cheap used board, if your upwind |
| me either. Most of us went to driving classes or | | | | body dragging isn't dialed in and yet you insist on |
| with parents and learned to drive in a parking lot. | | | | riding a kiteboard. |
| Keep in mind that sooner or later your kiteboard | | | | Other than the safe and independent thing, and |
| leash will break, if it doesn't break you first. When | | | | the dangers of sever injury or even death thing |
| it does, how are you going to get back to your | | | | (yes there have been leash related deaths), and, |
| board??? Before becoming a kiteboarder the | | | | oh yah and the economic thing,.... I really can't |
| savey individual will be a expert kiteboard | | | | think of any other reasons not to wear a |
| retriever. Safe and Independent, please. | | | | kiteboard leash. Oh wait - they look dorky, people |
| Second point is that kiteboard leashes are | | | | will think you are a kook, chicks hate them, your |
| dangerous. Try a internet search for the following; | | | | mom wouldn't approve and your family deserves |
| kiteboarding kitesurfing board leash accident | | | | to have you come home in one piece. Sure you |
| kitemare. Dig around a bit and you will come up | | | | will see plenty of good riders wearing kiteboard |
| with some horrible stories and often graphic | | | | leashes. And some pro kitesurfers wear them.... in |
| pictures of kiteboard leash carnage. I often hear | | | | triple over head reef breaks with nasty-rocky |
| people say in the same thought that they wear a | | | | shore lines. That does not mean it is a good idea |
| leash, but they also wear a helmet. The truth is | | | | for you to wear one. |
| that a helmet will not protect your face, will not | | | | If you still insist, do a internet search for "safe |
| prevent the leash/board from tangling in your | | | | alternative to the board leash" you will find a |
| flylines and a host of other mishaps and well | | | | product that is FAR safer. |