Good Leash Set Up For Beg. Who Like their Boards.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

This is a set up I learned from a buddie from Florida.

Take a cheap 6inch bungee, ya know the kind with a little black ball at the end and a loop of 1/4" elastic. You can buy about 20 of em for 5 bucks.

Attach it to the center loop of your board, not either end of the board. If attached at the end the board tends to straighten out on recovery and gain unwanted speed. I've never been hit, but it doesn't do this if attached to center of the board.

In the picture you can see where one of the black balls has sheered off. This is the beauty of this set up. When stressed it will pop that ball off and the leash will recoil without the board.

I've used this set up for 3 years without a hitch!

I wear a helmet when on the coast, but not when I'm in the gorge. On really windy days I will hook up until I'm warmed up and feeling dialed in. I keep the leash on my harness just in case I have to rescue another board.

See you on the water

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

The best leash setup is no leash setup!

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

leashes are for __ __ __ __.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Friends don't let friends wear leashes. Unless she's a Ho, then put that biaatch on a leash.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

I agree with Phil. I don't think you should be kitintg in the river until you can comfortably body drag upwind for your board. Some times shit does happen, and you may lose your board, but that is better than shit happening and getting stictches or worse because of your leash. I had a similar setup that was supposed to break free and not recaoil, and I used the reel leash. It still snapped back at enouch speed to carve a gash in the back of my knee. That was the last time I ever wore a leash.

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

What if you really like your foil board? Would you really want to put a leash on that one? I envision a heavy, swinging blade-like contraption flying towards your face after getting tea-bagged.

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

As Pancho says, dog leashes should be left to the dogs.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Leashes are dangerous and there is no such thing as a good leash set up. All a leash will do is set you up for injury. So set yourself up for something better and learn how to body drag upwind.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I see your point about leashes, but don't agree. Leashes are a transition point.
There are times when leashes are not needed. I don't need a leash. I also don't have to wear a helmet.

My OSR ring on my kite is not needed in some cases.

If I feel like I don't want to spend time body dragging because I'm trying a trick etc. I leash it.

Leashes work

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

With all due respect to everyone, I feel that leashes should not be used under any circumstances whatsoever. Besides the kick-back injury potential, the board leash becomes yet another line that can get wrapped around something and cause problems.

To each their own, but I will not teach anyone with a leash.

Eric

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

Here's a story I use to talk folks out of using a leash:
Gusty 14m day at 3rd Ave. Some guy body drags into the lower beach, dumps his kite and lays in the water. My wife (a nurse) runs down to help. He had sliced open his leg and broken his femor. If he landed further south (no help) he would have bleed to death. Turns out he had a leash attached to the board handle and the board slamed into his leg. There were scrape marks on the fins from the bone and pieces of wet suit wedged under the fins.
Dump the board leash.

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 614 Posts pdx Addicted

don't do it

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

Board leashes = most useless piece of kiting gear

= most dangerous piece of kiting gear

= lamest piece of kiting gear

All-n-All = just a really bad idea.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

In general I agree that board leashes are dangerous. All though I find it funny that all everyone is so concerned about safty of leashes and yet almost no one uses helmets. I always wear a helmet and have a retractable board leash that I can clip on if I drop my kite or when self landing or drift launching.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder