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Heel Straps - More Safe or Less Safe?

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Created by drewpweiner > 9 months ago, 1 Feb 2017
drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
1 Feb 2017 10:36AM
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The worst scenario with board straps is one foot coming off and the other staying in leading to a broken foot/leg like this poor bloke @8:02:



From a physics standpoint, both feet are much more likely to stay strapped in with heel straps which would make it "safer" than just straps alone. The way I see it is there is two safe options here, one is having heel straps with tight top straps; the other is having the foot straps VERY loose with no heel straps at all so that you can rotate your foot in and out of them if the board ever rotated while still being attached to only one foot. The standard tight strappings with no heel strap that majority ride seem like the most unsafe imo.

True or False? Explain why...

noodelsrominov
VIC, 265 posts
1 Feb 2017 10:05PM
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Straps without heel straps make the board easier to kick off if **** goes wrong. If one foot is locked in you're more than likely going to twist it awkwardly when the board catches the water.
Also, what's the point of heel straps if I want to be locked in get boots, I ride straps cause I like board off tricks.

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
1 Feb 2017 9:23PM
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noodelsrominov said..
Also, what's the point of heel straps if I want to be locked in get boots, I ride straps cause I like board off tricks.




More time consuming and difficult to put on, look incredibly dorky, can't feel water or air on your feet... oh and they are f*cking expensive! I won't bag out on them if they are on advanced riders though, then it is totally reasonable!

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
2 Feb 2017 10:57AM
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noodelsrominov said..
Straps without heel straps make the board easier to kick off if **** goes wrong. If one foot is locked in you're more than likely going to twist it awkwardly when the board catches the water.


Yes but the thing that is missed here is that sometimes people don't get the chance to kick it off mid crash and that is when one foot stays locked in. If however the straps were loose the stuck foot could easily slip out. If you had heel straps then one foot wouldn't come loose to begin with (ideally).

Plummet
4862 posts
2 Feb 2017 3:42PM
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I used to run heel straps. Crashes are harder because the board doesn't come off. Repositioning the board back for a water start takes longer and it's downright dangerous going through the washing machine in the surf.

i guess the straps helped in the early days When I lacked board control. But soon enough I ditched the straps and never looked back.

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
2 Feb 2017 9:45PM
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Plummet said..
I used to run heel straps. Crashes are harder because the board doesn't come off. Repositioning the board back for a water start takes longer and it's downright dangerous going through the washing machine in the surf.



What do you mean harder to reposition? Aren't your feet already in? Or do you mean harder to get into launch position of the body rather than launch position of your feet in the straps? You are right, I don't think I would run it in waves, I wouldn't run twin tip in waves anyhow.

Did your feet every come out of the straps?

Plummet
4862 posts
3 Feb 2017 1:39AM
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When you crash you crash face forward most of the time. So you need to drag the board through the water back in front of you. That's a pain in the arse.

Why the hell not ride a tt in the waves? That is where the biggest boosts are to be had off the wave lips.

That's like saying I wont take my 4wd offroad!...

You just need to watch the king of air to understand why TT's in waves is awesome.

www.redbull.com/int-en/events/red-bull-king-of-the-air-cape-town-south-africa

SibboV1
368 posts
3 Feb 2017 11:11AM
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Select to expand quote
Plummet said..
I lacked board control.


Get out, this is the first comment of yours I don't believe. You are the wave to wave boosting god, you couldn't have been mortal at one point.

flyingcab
VIC, 942 posts
3 Feb 2017 3:22PM
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Stop making useless threads loftywinds

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
3 Feb 2017 3:02PM
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Plummet said..
When you crash you crash face forward most of the time. So you need to drag the board through the water back in front of you. That's a pain in the arse.

Why the hell not ride a tt in the waves? That is where the biggest boosts are to be had off the wave lips.

That's like saying I wont take my 4wd offroad!...

You just need to watch the king of air to understand why TT's in waves is awesome.

www.redbull.com/int-en/events/red-bull-king-of-the-air-cape-town-south-africa


Sorry I thought you meant "wave-riding" not boosting. I would use my surfboard. I understand what you meaning about crashing.

Did the heel straps ever come off when you used them?

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
3 Feb 2017 3:03PM
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flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds


This isn't useless by any means. I would really like peoples opinions on how safe this is and how much risk I am putting myself in to. Other peoples experiences are invaluable when it comes to these things

Plummet
4862 posts
3 Feb 2017 5:41PM
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SibboV1 said..

Plummet said..
I lacked board control.



Get out, this is the first comment of yours I don't believe. You are the wave to wave boosting god, you couldn't have been mortal at one point.


You should see me trying to jybe a hydrofoil in 25knots. Freaken terrible.

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
7 Feb 2017 6:49PM
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My foot slipped out on my last session, if my board had rotated anymore I could have easily snapped my ankle. I will be riding only loose foot straps from now on, no heel straps and when I will just do my usual technique of landing on my back with my feet in the air still attached to board. I love my ankles, stupid idea

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
8 Feb 2017 2:26PM
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Select to expand quote
flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds


LMAO

gold

Plummet
4862 posts
8 Feb 2017 4:28PM
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Select to expand quote
NorthernKitesAUS said..

flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds



LMAO

gold


How many loftywinds are there?
I can't keep up.

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
9 Feb 2017 9:04AM
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Select to expand quote
Plummet said..

NorthernKitesAUS said..


flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds




LMAO

gold



How many loftywinds are there?
I can't keep up.


Neither can I

Gorgo
VIC, 4911 posts
9 Feb 2017 12:55PM
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Select to expand quote
drewpweiner said..




flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds






This isn't useless by any means. I would really like peoples opinions on how safe this is and how much risk I am putting myself in to. Other peoples experiences are invaluable when it comes to these things



Virtually every question you've asked on this forum gets answered by experienced people. You proceed to tell everybody they're wrong and will continue with whatever half-baked idea you've cooked up. Why should this thread be any different?

The first thing new kiters do when they experience difficulties is look at changing the gear. They keep coming up with all sorts of "good ideas" that will fix the problem. Thing is, the only problem is the incompetence of the kiter. Get better. Practice more. All the problems will go away.

A lot of difficulties are imagined. Boards do come off and can twist around one foot. I've have never heard of legs or ankles breaking from it. It is certainly very rare.

As for heel straps, you get all the inconvenience of boots without the security. The straps are a pain to get into position when you start and a pain to get off when you stop. They don't do much to help keep the board on your feet. One solid whack and you're out whether you want to be or not. Even boots are designed to let your feet out in extreme crashes.

I am not a fan of loose straps. They are too loose and come off unpredictably. Your feet can slide too far into them and then any twisting of the board locks you in and makes things worse. In the worst cases your foot can go right through the strap and you have a board attached to your leg. It has happened.

The best thing is properly adjusted straps so that your feet are tightly gripped when pushed all the way in. The board will stay attached to your feet most of the time. In extremes they will come off safely. If the board twists it usually twists off your foot and falls away harmlessly.

As for landing on your back, really? You're trying to save your ankles by splashing in on your back? As a newb learn to gently parachute in with the bar in and the kite above your head. Even better, learn to time the kite so you send it forward and do butter soft gliding landings. It's not that hard.

flyingcab
VIC, 942 posts
9 Feb 2017 11:52PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
NorthernKitesAUS said..

Plummet said..


NorthernKitesAUS said..



flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds





LMAO

gold




How many loftywinds are there?
I can't keep up.



Neither can I


You are just another lofty

Gateman
QLD, 409 posts
10 Feb 2017 1:18PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Gorgo said..

drewpweiner said..





flyingcab said..
Stop making useless threads loftywinds







This isn't useless by any means. I would really like peoples opinions on how safe this is and how much risk I am putting myself in to. Other peoples experiences are invaluable when it comes to these things




Virtually every question you've asked on this forum gets answered by experienced people. You proceed to tell everybody they're wrong and will continue with whatever half-baked idea you've cooked up. Why should this thread be any different?

The first thing new kiters do when they experience difficulties is look at changing the gear. They keep coming up with all sorts of "good ideas" that will fix the problem. Thing is, the only problem is the incompetence of the kiter. Get better. Practice more. All the problems will go away.

A lot of difficulties are imagined. Boards do come off and can twist around one foot. I've have never heard of legs or ankles breaking from it. It is certainly very rare.

As for heel straps, you get all the inconvenience of boots without the security. The straps are a pain to get into position when you start and a pain to get off when you stop. They don't do much to help keep the board on your feet. One solid whack and you're out whether you want to be or not. Even boots are designed to let your feet out in extreme crashes.

I am not a fan of loose straps. They are too loose and come off unpredictably. Your feet can slide too far into them and then any twisting of the board locks you in and makes things worse. In the worst cases your foot can go right through the strap and you have a board attached to your leg. It has happened.

The best thing is properly adjusted straps so that your feet are tightly gripped when pushed all the way in. The board will stay attached to your feet most of the time. In extremes they will come off safely. If the board twists it usually twists off your foot and falls away harmlessly.

As for landing on your back, really? You're trying to save your ankles by splashing in on your back? As a newb learn to gently parachute in with the bar in and the kite above your head. Even better, learn to time the kite so you send it forward and do butter soft gliding landings. It's not that hard.


Thumbs up Gorgo, seems Drew asks all the questions, gets the answers (from experienced kites) that he doesn't like so goes ahead with his hair brained idea anyway .... he is stubborn but he will learn, most likely through pain ??

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
10 Feb 2017 1:22PM
Thumbs Up

Dear Drew, have a big bank balance sunshine, 'cause you're going to have to shout a lot of people here some beers/drinks for the time they've taken to answer your questions and yet you still refuse to see reason.
Trust me sunshine, don't be another Lofty

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
10 Feb 2017 12:56PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Gorgo said..

Virtually every question you've asked on this forum gets answered by experienced people. You proceed to tell everybody they're wrong and will continue with whatever half-baked idea you've cooked up. Why should this thread be any different?

The first thing new kiters do when they experience difficulties is look at changing the gear. They keep coming up with all sorts of "good ideas" that will fix the problem. Thing is, the only problem is the incompetence of the kiter. Get better. Practice more. All the problems will go away.



There can only be one explaination for why this is and it is because YOU ARE WRONG Now... back to my experiments...
Select to expand quote
Gorgo said..

I am not a fan of loose straps. They are too loose and come off unpredictably. Your feet can slide too far into them and then any twisting of the board locks you in and makes things worse. In the worst cases your foot can go right through the strap and you have a board attached to your leg. It has happened.


Fark, i didn't even think about that! Thanks Gorgo, I don't think I will be wearing it that loose then. See, if I never bothered to make this thread then I wouldn't have come across that good info!



Select to expand quote
Gorgo said..
As for landing on your back, really? You're trying to save your ankles by splashing in on your back? As a newb learn to gently parachute in with the bar in and the kite above your head. Even better, learn to time the kite so you send it forward and do butter soft gliding landings. It's not that hard.


Afaik this has been a great technique for me for keeping the board connected to my feet while crashing. I wasn't talking about crashing softly from a big launch but from something like a frontloop where you are a bit discombobulated.

drewpweiner
WA, 501 posts
10 Feb 2017 1:09PM
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NorthernKitesAUS extolls violently..
Dear Drew, have a big bank balance sunshine, 'cause you're going to have to shout a lot of people here some beers/drinks for the time they've taken to answer your questions and yet you still refuse to see reason.
Trust me sunshine, don't be another Lofty



Select to expand quote
Gateman spews..
Thumbs up Gorgo, seems Drew asks all the questions, gets the answers (from experienced kites) that he doesn't like so goes ahead with his hair brained idea anyway .... he is stubborn but he will learn, most likely through pain ??


I just like to experiment myself. At my local, everyone uses others to launch where as I just self-launch all the time. Maybe assisted launching aids in social reciprocation but i just see it as a massive impracticality and danger as it is so close to the trees. Some people are just like that though, they look at established norms and opinions then think about them and then test them. If no one did that, then science wouldn't exist and we would still be praying to hughey to send us a good forecast for next week In other words, don't blame me, blame the scientific method... hate the game not tha playa




3CPO
VIC, 12 posts
1 Mar 2017 10:15AM
Thumbs Up

I have felt the twist of a TT when one foot slipped out of a strap which could have easily resulted in a twisted ankle. This is why I am converting to a strapless surfboard; it is a more comfortable ride too.



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"Heel Straps - More Safe or Less Safe?" started by drewpweiner