Leash question
 

My Father (who is 70 by the way) has been learning in Cabarete for the last year. He is up and riding but as it is wavy and deep he has a leash on his board. He wants me to order a retractable one for him. I am a beginner myself and would like to use a leash although I know it screams "doofus". Has anyone ever used one of those retractables (The Eel) If so, please advise. Thanks and I can't wait to practice more so I can quit looking like a kook.

Someone please post a link to the thread on Kiteforum regarding reel leashes. That may help answer this question.

I have never used mine, but a friend of mine was learning to ride and got his reel leash wrapped around one end of his bar, causing him to be drug thru the water with the kite looping. Fortunately he was not injured as to being in shallow water, away from shore.

Don't do it. Just learn how to get back to your board by body dragging. Boards are a lot easier to replace than body parts. Reel leashes were a decent idea, but they aren't necessarily reliable and aren't necessarily safe either.

Ken,

Take a look at this thread. Read it over very well. This will answer your question: http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t...ht=board+leash

Ken, thread says it all........NO GO BRO. Just learn to body Drag, it will come and you will be much better off....W.

ken..

you will get 10000 no's to 1 yes in this area on this subject. a leashed board is a high risk hazzard. the skill of body dragging is something that you MUST know.

there are people in this area that kite and jump with leashed boards and as far as i am concerned are crazier than Billy Parker doing 20 foot handle passes near the shore line (at least he can just let go)..

those that use a leash are the exact people you dont want using a leash.. they are ones that crash a lot and are getting dragged around and learning to control their kite.

the very last thing you will ever want to have is a flailing board coming at you if you take a dive into the water. when a kiter crashes it usually is topped off with you getting a 10 to 20 foot drag across the water as the kite crashes ... i dont care if you have a reel-leash.. it will still end up with the board get yo-yo'd toward you.

thats not even going into the subject of other kiters that you put into risk.

body dragging is the key.. master it and you will never have to worry again..
if you are doing lots of kiting in the gulf and lose your board a lot.. get one of those inflatable thingys to help you find it..

[QUOTE=bryanleighty;36054]QUOTE] The gojo, good idea Bryan