Hey couldn't you easily just connect or tie a thin rope or something around one foot strap, or the middle handle, to put around your arm/shoulder when you need to relaunch kite? Your board would be connected to you and then you're able to use both hands to relaunch again. Easy as!
Just a thought anyway, haven't hit the water yet so I apologise if it sounds stupid 
like this:
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a super short leash is considered by some to be the best option as far as wearing a leash goes. I would never wear any kind though. way rather find the board later than be dumped and summersaulted whilst tied to it and having possibly loose kite lines.
There are dangers either way. I'm sure we can all agree that in the long run we would all be better off wearing one of those 'bear suits' i saw on beyond 2000 as a kid. that thing was sick.
mobility may have been slightly restricted though.
Before we go any further................
www.seabreeze.com.au/.../Should-I-use-a-board-leash_903067.aspx
in case you haven't read yet.
I don't mean to wear it while your standing, just as soon as you eat ****, grab the board and hoop it around your arm, them relaunch and you don't have to chase your board.
totally theorising here lol..
Bodydragging to your board is pretty easy. I eat sh!t all the time and then chase it around. If not drag to the beach, sprint upwind, and go for round 2. Try not to miss it on round 2 or you'll feel like a dumbass
I vote you 'hit the water', and actually see what kiting is like first... Then come and share your crazy idea's with us
You want the board on your feet when you are relaunching. It gives you something to push against to tension the lines which is what you need to make the kite fly.
Yes it is. How do you swim? Or do you never do 'unhooked' moves? If you do, maybe you should attach your kite to you with some thin red string
Seriously tho, I do have a bit of string and a clip I use when I go far out. If I have to self rescue, it makes it easier to keep the board close. But for reasons mentioned here and elsewhere, I wouldn't use that if my kite was powered up.
how does someone get twenty post and not have been on the water dont worry about keeping it close lets see if you can stop spinning when you get it on your feet stop with ideas and first learn how to get up stop posting and start practicle training and not verbal training
if you have a problem relaunching, and the kite drops into the power, or worse does a loop... and you are tethered to your board....... its very likely going to turn nasty.
Body dragging is seriously so easy. Watch any decent kiter out there.. if they lose their board, they will usually be back with it in minutes...
(unless there is an outgoing tide or something)
The kites these days relaunch that easily there's no need to worry about a board leash. When you stack you automatically fall out of your foot straps and end up around 20 meters downwind. How do you expect to attatch your leash if you are 20 meters away from your board. Your leash method may come in useful if the wind stops and you need to swim in with the kite.
leashes are bad news,
i tried a reel leash a few times when learning, i found that if the kite was powered up and pulling me, the board would sometimes react and get pulled under water, (submarining ) and leaving the kiter getting caught in the middle trying to stay afloat and struggling to breath not to mention if the board springs back and takes you out altogether. Needless to say I got rid of it straight away and learnt how to body drag properly. just be careful in river mouths on tidal movements...
"Your leash method may come in useful if the wind stops and you need to swim in with the kite."
This is what I though as well. I've had to self rescue a few times when gear has failed and a couple of times I've had to ditch the board, sort the kite, self rescue then swim back out for the board. A spare "leash" to clip on to the board to free up both hands with you while your sorting out the kite would have made life a lot easier.
^ NAh! If the current is taking your board upwind faster than you can body drag...
you'll need a friendly kiter / windsurfer / etc to get it for ya.
Eg with strong winds, and a board lying with straps down, you may not be able to body drag back up to it.
Or offshore / surf conditions.
Need to choose based on conditions. Early on, instructors, forum of more experienced people, etc would be good for advice on how to choose. Keep posting deX, don't worry about the abusive people - always some around! And enjoy kiting... hope you get good quick!
We all agree kite board leashes can are bad news, but when you are learning keeping the board with you is a bonus and increases time getting on your board and the learning curve.
However there is a way to have a leash and be safe...I did this while I was learning was to attach to your harrness ring 10 very small cable ties and hook the leash to one of them.
If you happen to come off the as we all did while learning and the board stayed in close. If you have a big wipe out the cable tie will break and then attach the leash to the next one and off you go...
As the kiter gains more expierence on the board get rid of the leash and start to body drag.
Just my 2 cents and it does work!!
I don't get it. 90% of my stacks I manage to keep the board on my feet. In that 10%, at least half of the time i am still able to grab it and put it on my feet before relaunching.
Whats the big deal? Keeping the board on your feet will make relaunching easier as you can put more tension in the lines. Why the **** would you try to hold onto it with some sort of ropie thing while you're worrying about a bar and four/five other ropie things attached to it.
And if you're kicking your board off during a stack then you're just a douche. Jam those feet in nice and tight...
Select to expand quoteFooosh said...
^ NAh! If the current is taking your board upwind faster than you can body drag...
if you are in the body of water which is moving your board, you WILL move together, imagine standing on a train travelling at 100km an hour, you drop your keys, you and the keys are travelling together so its like being still. So if in dead calm water you can body drag back to your board, so you will be able too in a current, as long as you stay in the current with your board. Here on the sunny coast we have 3 amazing tidal rivermouths and rarely do people lose their board unless they have had a wipeout of epic proportions and take several minutes to sort themselves, or panic and drag out of the current. like i said its rare and then there is 99% of the time a friendly kiter who grabs the board and throws it on the beach.
just learn to body drag really well
