Used a retractable board leash for years never had any problems. I used 2 hair ties on the board as a sacrificial breaking point. Anything that is going to nail you will break the ties first.
I actually saw a kook launch off the beach whilst trying to put his leash on. He got slammed pretty hard. Too busy worrying about a piece of sh!t board than himself.
Might help if the wind dies and you have to self rescue but otherwise a waste of space IMHO
How long is the cord . what is everyones idea on this???
what if the cord was like 20 meters long shorly you would be stoped and board far enough away not too hurt you . the hair tie conection sounds like the stuff too.
Yer i left myself open for that one kite devil made me laugh though . got one of those on landcruser do you know how much trouble it is to make them go fast enough so can board with it !!! good fun though . I though the longer cord would be a simple but efective answer too not getting hurt with the retact .
dude, you'll end up with a board wrapped around your lines, flying 10m in the sky and making your kite death loop till your eyes get flushed out ya arse.
less lines equals less potential hazzards when things go wrong imo. why am i adding to this annoying thread that has been done to death so many times... oh thats right, cause i'm meant to be washing the dishes... yeah, thread over hopefully. dishes now.
WTF!! Wayyy more dangerous. No-one seems prepared to tell these guys they are stoopid. 
There always seems to be a lot of talk about impact vests/PFD’s not being ‘needed’ or a ‘false sense of security’? I assume that most people who are saying this are talking about the ‘impact’ protection? 
IMO the main reason to wear some type of PFD, is because no matter your ability, a nice hard impact (or unlucky board to the head) and you’re unconscious, which means you go to the bottom, so the rescue is so much more difficult when seconds matter.
A lot of people have lost their lives wakeboarding because they wanted to look ‘cool’ and rode without a vest. 
my swimming isnt very good but i dont want to look like a kook so ill just drown instead
Yes, I use a reel leash and have for the last two years. I can body drag as well as anybody but have this slight paranoia about sharks that tend to cruise the coast lines all around Australia. I always wear Polaroid sunnies and have seen very large dark shapes swimming under the water as I go gliding by. Dolphin, shark? Yesterday, after a great session, I watched from the beach, a kiter trying to find his board, body dragging for nearly 20 minutes. I wonder what a person in wet suit looks like to the local fish population? When I kite on our local lakes I never use the leash, but to me, it is a calculated risk. I also use a sliding attachment system on my twinnie that only allows the end of the board to sink into the water about a third of it's length. I know this topic always keeps resurfacing, but there will always be two sides of the argument, and when a beginner asks me about the leash , I try to point the inherent dangers as well as the benefits. My observations of the local kiting population here is that 20% use them (mostly reels). The most popular ankle leash are very short (5 feet) non stretch dedicated kite leashes. The main danger with these is landing on your board after a crash. Most kite wipe-outs occur with rider following kite, with board in tow behind rider.
At the end of the day you go out with what you feel comfortable with knowing the risks you pose to yourself.
Hey Gruezi
Never been called a “Super Kook” before, actually been kiting Woodies for the last 6 years so probably my local too ?.
The Dramas on the off shore side was due to my mates kite having a slow leak in the brand new flexifoil bladder he just installed. My Flysurfers never have that problem !.
Was great to get help from one of the Woodies crew, he rescued the kite and I dragged him in to the shore. I have helped out plenty of people on the offshore side of Woodies over the years so would like to think I at least have “Some Clue”
Helmets and impact vest may not look cool, but personally would rather be safe than sorry !
As far as the Oceanus reel board leashes go, tried one when I was learning and almost drowned when it turned my board in to a sea anchor !. Wouldn’t recommend them.
If you do use one you must wear a very ‘un-cool” looking helmet and vest. Hopefully that will be enough to put you off.
Cheers
Mark 
Thanks for all the replies. I didn't realise what sort of can I was opening
I posted the question in the first place as I was out in light wind and got up for the first time for maybe 10 seconds came down and lost the board. It then took me 30 minutes to get the board back which seemed pretty excessive for 10 seconds. Call me a Kook if need be.
I'm a windsurfer originally and started kiting for various reasons ranging from easy to travel with gear, new challenge and new fear factor. My local beach and shop hate and ridicule leashes but I also understand the place leashes have and why people use them. I don't think it’s because they are crazy/dumb or lazy. Surly it’s about maximising time on the water and the buzz it brings!
I'll try and use an additional quick release on the board when launching and see how that goes.
BTW anyone that tells you kitsurfing is easier to learn than windsurfing is dreaming! But that's another post I guess.
Sorry to be disrespectful then, I thought forums were just full of little rat kids.
Keep at it mate, it all clicks very suddenly and really doesn't take too long. Try to get some flat water if you haven't already cos you can really get a pasting out in the surf.
I have only been windsurfing once but I found it extremely difficult 
Not so good experiences for me with a reel leash.
I used one before...not that successful. It stopped to retract at some point which is pretty crap if you have like 2m of leash floating around you and wrapping you up like a parcel...:(
