Wing Foil - Talking About the Various Kinds of Board Leashes

This is Jeff and Ryan at MACkite, and we're here to give you a breakdown of wingboard leashes.

Ankle Leashes

Ryan: The most prevalent one that we're seeing out there is the ankle leash. Within the ankle leash category, you have the option to go with either a straight leash or a coiled leash. When I was riding the ankle leash, I started with the coil leash, as most people do, but eventually I transitioned over to a straight leash. That's because I liked how easy it was to bring the board back to me without swimming for it or reaching for it because there is no give in the straight leash. Just by moving my ankle, I was able to bring the board almost all the way back to me, grab it, and hop up really quick.

The thing that I didn't like, and the reason that I would not suggest most people start with a straight leash, is that there is no shock absorption. If you fall off your board and the board ghost rides, it's going to hit the end of the leash, and that's going to yank on your ankle.

Jeff: The coil leash does have that spring, which is nice because the board does not have any jerk on the ankle or the leg. Even in waves it gives you a gradual feel to your board. I think when you're learning, the coil is really good because it gets the board far away and you don't feel a real hard tug. Trust me, when you're learning, you'll take a lot of tumbles, so the pro of having the ankle coil is that it is comfortable. The board will get away from you, and then you can bring it back to you.

The downside that I found with the coil leashes is that sometimes these coils, as good as they are, can get kind of tangled up and knotted, and that can cause issues. It can get up on the board, and when you first get up on foil or you're starting to get up and moving, sometimes you end up standing on the coil, and you don't want to move your foot because that's where you have to be to stay up on foil, so this is a lot to work around on top of the board when this coil gets knotted. It can also drag behind you and act as a kind of rudder, depending the size. They come in 8, 10, and a 12 footer, so you've got to be careful with these because they can dangle in the water.

Ryan: You brought up the point of standing on the leash. One thing that I liked about the straight leash over the coiled leash is that, when I did step on it, it's a really low profile, so it was a little easier to keep riding and not be as distracted by that. With a large coil, it's really hard to stand on that and continue to ride, so stepping on the leash is another reason why someone may choose one leash versus another, which brings me to our next leash.

Waist Leashes

Ryan: The waist leash is what I've been riding for a while now. The reason that I transitioned from the ankle leash to a waist leash was solely because I was stepping on the leash. It's really easy to step on the leash when you make those foot switch transitions, so having the leash mounted around the waist with the coil up there keeps it off the board so you're not stepping on it with every foot switch. For someone that is to the point where they're consistently switching their feet, a waist leash might be something to look into. Jeff, you've been riding the calf leash quite a bit.

Calf Leashes

Jeff: Yes, I have. A calf leash is nice because that raises it a bit so you get a little less drag in the water. I like the waist leash for my wing, and the calf leash for my board. I do like the calf leash by Kaohi. What's nice about it is a unique straight section between two coiled sections. That keeps it from getting all tangled up, and I have found that to be very nice. It's also got a smaller profile, so because it's attached to the calf, it doesn't dangle in the water. Where it attaches to the board, it has a handle. You can use this handle to pull your board through the water. I haven't used it a lot, but on occasion I have found it to be helpful. Instead of trying to grab the board, I can just grab the handle off the back of the board and pull my board.

I like the calf leash for the board because, when you're in getting into wave riding and you're going through the break, I would prefer to have the pull come from my leg and not from my waist. I do use a waist leash for the wing, and you can get pulled from that too when you get a big wave crashing on it, but I have grown to like having them separate.

Summary

Ryan: In summary, there are lots of different board leashes to choose from. What may be right for one person may not be right for another, and I would say a lot of this has to do with personal preference. The ankle leash is very common, and a lot of people go there by default, but if you're having issues with stepping on the leash, maybe that would be the point where you'd want to check out the calf leash, whether it's a regular coil or the Kaohi that Jeff uses, or even the waist leash. That's where the calf and waist leash really have an advantage over the ankle leashes.

This has been Ryan and Jeff with MACkite talking a little bit about board leashes. If you've got any questions, please give us a shout.

MACkite Subscription Links:

YouTube  |   Instagram  |   Spotify Oddcasts

Contact MACkite Below:

800.622.4655  |   Kiteboarder@MACkite.com  |   LIVE Chat Messenger