Windstruck
Posts: 3338
Registered: 5-16-2015
Location: St George, UT, USA
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Mood: Get in my buggy!
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Foot straps necessary for casual kite landboarding?
I'm thinking about picking up a mountain board for some casual low tide beach kiting. Nothing hairball with me harnessed in or anything; rather just
me jumping on a board and rolling around a bit while holding my z-bridled NasaStar. We spend time in San Diego in the Spring and there is a great
stretch of beach I did a lot of static flying on this year that would be perfect for this.
Question: how necessary is it to use foot straps? I like the idea of just having a flat board top that I can easily hop on and off of, plus my feet
are huge and when I had a board about five years ago I had trouble getting in and out of the foot straps.
Also looking for recommendations for setup. I'm 6' with size 14 feet and weigh, err, well let's just say I weigh more that 225. What size deck and
tires?
Thanks!
Born-Kites:
RaceStar+ (3.0m, 5.0m, 7.0m, 9.0m, 14.0m)
RaceStar (9.0m, 11.0m)
NasaStar-4 (2.5m, 4.0m, 5.5m, 7.0m)
NasaStar-3 (custom 3.2m)
Flysurfer Kites:
Peak-5 (2.5m)
Buggy:
Peter Lynn BigFoot+ nose & tail; midsection VTT rail & seat kit; home-brewed AQR
NAPKA Member US2815
SWATK Member UT0003
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tomdiving
Posts: 404
Registered: 3-4-2017
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Mood: thankful for this site
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based on the idea of snowskates, my guess is that you'd be fine. this was posted on this site some time ago - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RdSEIhaRY
also, when my brother started with his mountainboard, it was with the bindings removed, in a movie theater parking lot. he and his wife had no
problems using it that way. as he started using larger and larger kites, and began leaning back into the pull, he put the bindings back on.
i do not have any idea of how the greater friction of sand travel would affect this whole idea, though.
tom
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B-Roc
Posts: 3159
Registered: 3-9-2006
Location: Massachusetts
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If you are primarily doing down winders and flying underpowered you are probably fine without bindings but if the sand gets soft/sticky or the power
picks up and you have to hold the kite down or tack hard to get upwind, I think you will realize the value of bindings really quick,
Depower Quiver: 14m Gin Eskimo, 10m Gin Eskimo III, 6m Gin Yeti, 4.5m Gin Yeti (custom bridle and mixer)
Fixed Bridle Quiver: MAC Bego 400, JOJO ET Instinct 2.5 & 5.5, Lil Devil 1.5, Sting 1.2
Rides: Ground Industries
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Ed Cline
Posts: 638
Registered: 5-25-2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
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Mood: Truth, Justice, and The American Way.
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When you are learning (not me, you) the rule seems to be without straps will save your knees at first. Mr Max was doing it on gravel and cutting
upwind without a problem.
Made me jealous. 
Flying mostly single skins, with some orphans, the American flag, and a PL buggy. US01
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abkayak
Posts: 2271
Registered: 1-7-2012
Location: a.b. NY
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Mood: loving life and becoming wise in simplicity
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imo
sorry, I'm the other way. can't imagine riding or even learning strapless
find yourself a flexboard haze if you can, big board w/ big 9" wheels
you want strapless go in a parking lot w/ a dropdeck skateboard which is a good
first for any aspiring mountain boarder
US-31...Cquad set/ 2.5 Bullet/ 2.6 Viper/ 2.9m Reactor/ 2- 3.5m Bullet/ 3.6 Beamer/ 4m Buster/ 4m Toxic/ 4m Ikon dp/ 4.5 Bullet/ 4.9m Blade/ 5.6
Twister/ 6.6m Blade/ 7.5 Apex/ 9m Fuel/ Phantom I 9,12,15,18/ 2 Flexibugs/ PL Big Foot/ landboards
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Windstruck
Posts: 3338
Registered: 5-16-2015
Location: St George, UT, USA
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Mood: Get in my buggy!
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Thanks to all! Helpful for me to understand about the foot straps. I can certainly see why they'd be important once I actually get proficient with
this style of Kiting. For learning (read falling) I like the idea of starting strapless but then bolting them back on after a while.
The MBS Comp 95 series has caught my eye. The standard 95 comes stock with T3 200x50mm (8") wheels. They sell a 95X that comes with T2 250x50mm (9")
wheels but also a fancy brake system that I don't want or need. I sent the company an email to see if they would sell a hybrid (95X without brakes),
or if you like, a 95 with 9" wheels. Their new model has a nice brown deck with birds on it that I liked. Didn't make me feel like I needed to pull my
pants down my butt and wear my hat sideways.
Born-Kites:
RaceStar+ (3.0m, 5.0m, 7.0m, 9.0m, 14.0m)
RaceStar (9.0m, 11.0m)
NasaStar-4 (2.5m, 4.0m, 5.5m, 7.0m)
NasaStar-3 (custom 3.2m)
Flysurfer Kites:
Peak-5 (2.5m)
Buggy:
Peter Lynn BigFoot+ nose & tail; midsection VTT rail & seat kit; home-brewed AQR
NAPKA Member US2815
SWATK Member UT0003
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Bladerunner
Posts: 9679
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Vancouver
Member Is Offline
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Strapless on the beach = struggles stopping or staying upwind.
Tarmac is for strapless.
Look for a flexboard haze.
I think cleanline surf sold them?
Kites: 2.5m Profoil , Quadrifoil XL kitesurfer, NPW 5 Danger.
Flexifoil: 1.7m Sting, 4.9m Blade 3, 9m Blade 2.
Flysurfer : 19m Speed 2 SA, 7m Pulse
Peter Lynn :18m Phantom, 15m Synergy, 10m Synergy, 1200 Farc, 460 Sarc, 130 Tarc, 5m Peel, 4.2m , 6.4, 8.5 C-Quads, 3.5 LS2 single skin.
Rides: Flexi / P.L. Frankin'Buggy , Shaped + straight skiis, sand skis, Coyote blades. Core 95 ATB. RKB R2 ATB .
Ken (K2)
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Snake
Posts: 480
Registered: 7-5-2012
Location: Midwest
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Mood: Boost to the moon
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I'd say footstraps are almost required with a kite. On the bumpy grass here you would get bucked off almost immediately without them. On a smooth
beach you could possibly do it.
With straps you also have more control over the board. I always do little hops to regain my balance or to change when the board is pointed when I'm
not moving. Can't do that without straps.
I remember the pain of first using straps after years of street skating. I really hated being restrained. I got used the them pretty fast though. It's
similar to steering a buggy with your feet feels strange at first.
Arcs - Charger I 8m, 10m, 12m, Venom I 13m - F-Arc 1200, 1600
Single Skin - Born-Kite LongStar2
Fixed Bridles - Pansh Legend 4.5m - Peter Lynn Voltage 3m
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B-Roc
Posts: 3159
Registered: 3-9-2006
Location: Massachusetts
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Let's not forget that bindings should never be so tight that you can't kick out. You want them snug but you keep the board on by wedging your feet
against the posts in a duck foot stance and you want the bindings loose enough that you can easily kick out by straightening your feet. Bindings DO
NOT have to be tight to be effective. Foot position is the key.
Depower Quiver: 14m Gin Eskimo, 10m Gin Eskimo III, 6m Gin Yeti, 4.5m Gin Yeti (custom bridle and mixer)
Fixed Bridle Quiver: MAC Bego 400, JOJO ET Instinct 2.5 & 5.5, Lil Devil 1.5, Sting 1.2
Rides: Ground Industries
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NeverBoard
Posts: 18
Registered: 11-18-2016
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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I strongly prefer no straps! No straps forces you to ride balanced and smooth and I like the feeling. I haven't figured out a good way to pop the
board, so I think a good use of straps is for jumping or riding powered up (the controlled, or semi-controlled, power slide!). I respect people who
ride like that because they are gnarly. I'm more interested in turns than jumps. There is a whole set of skills to develop around turning (look at
freeride hydrofoiling for inspiration). My local spot is bumpy grass with sand traps, and I would rather get away from the board and slide out on my
hip than get thrown over the bars. My local spot is also small and full of benches, trees, people and dogs, and the beach I ride at is notoriously
gusty... I ride smaller kites; I like that too because it forces you to actively fly the kite (loops!). In short, strapless rules.
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Ed Cline
Posts: 638
Registered: 5-25-2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
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Mood: Truth, Justice, and The American Way.
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Strapless to an informal event, How gauche. 
Flying mostly single skins, with some orphans, the American flag, and a PL buggy. US01
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abkayak
Posts: 2271
Registered: 1-7-2012
Location: a.b. NY
Member Is Offline
Mood: loving life and becoming wise in simplicity
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theirs always one...right?
good for u NeverBoard, would like to see that sometime
i see some of the waterguys strapless on surf and skimboards and have a world or respect for them
please get us some video if u could
US-31...Cquad set/ 2.5 Bullet/ 2.6 Viper/ 2.9m Reactor/ 2- 3.5m Bullet/ 3.6 Beamer/ 4m Buster/ 4m Toxic/ 4m Ikon dp/ 4.5 Bullet/ 4.9m Blade/ 5.6
Twister/ 6.6m Blade/ 7.5 Apex/ 9m Fuel/ Phantom I 9,12,15,18/ 2 Flexibugs/ PL Big Foot/ landboards
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Feyd
Posts: 2956
Registered: 1-3-2009
Location: Norther New England
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I will say from my experience, no straps and 5.10 stealth rubber WORKS AMAZING unless it's nukin'. I don't get to play on the mountainboard
regularly so I really appreciate being able to just step on or off as needed.
I'm able to go anywhere, upwinds etc ..
Chris Krug-Owner @ Hardwater Kiting. Authorized Dealer of Ozone, Flysurfer, HQ kites.
www.hardwaterkiter.com 603-986-2784
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Windstruck
Posts: 3338
Registered: 5-16-2015
Location: St George, UT, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Get in my buggy!
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Sounds like we are getting a plurality of responses to my question. Imagine that! 
I'm not looking to get airborne at all and don't see this as a way of getting gnarly; I've got my buggy and race kites for that. This endeavor, if I
even go this route, is for some chuckles on the beach with my 2.5m NS4 and 3.2m NS3 flown on 10 meter lines and handles. No hooking in.
If this gets fun for me I could see re-attaching the footstraps down the road and having a go at this more aggressively at IBX, Fall SOBB, etc, but
still not hooked in. After my freak gasoline fight accident I swore off hooked in kiting without an AQR. I love my bride and want to keep my second
and final marriage strong.
Born-Kites:
RaceStar+ (3.0m, 5.0m, 7.0m, 9.0m, 14.0m)
RaceStar (9.0m, 11.0m)
NasaStar-4 (2.5m, 4.0m, 5.5m, 7.0m)
NasaStar-3 (custom 3.2m)
Flysurfer Kites:
Peak-5 (2.5m)
Buggy:
Peter Lynn BigFoot+ nose & tail; midsection VTT rail & seat kit; home-brewed AQR
NAPKA Member US2815
SWATK Member UT0003
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skimtwashington
Posts: 1758
Registered: 3-22-2011
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Based on your safety goal after your accident...How do you do AQR set up on the board? ...or can you?
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Ed Cline
Posts: 638
Registered: 5-25-2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Truth, Justice, and The American Way.
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You hook up between your wallet and your mind. 
Flying mostly single skins, with some orphans, the American flag, and a PL buggy. US01
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Windstruck
Posts: 3338
Registered: 5-16-2015
Location: St George, UT, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Get in my buggy!
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Good question. I should have been more descriptive. I intend to only Popeye from handles without hooking in. Idea being that I won't pull myself up in
the air barehanded.
Born-Kites:
RaceStar+ (3.0m, 5.0m, 7.0m, 9.0m, 14.0m)
RaceStar (9.0m, 11.0m)
NasaStar-4 (2.5m, 4.0m, 5.5m, 7.0m)
NasaStar-3 (custom 3.2m)
Flysurfer Kites:
Peak-5 (2.5m)
Buggy:
Peter Lynn BigFoot+ nose & tail; midsection VTT rail & seat kit; home-brewed AQR
NAPKA Member US2815
SWATK Member UT0003
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Ed Cline
Posts: 638
Registered: 5-25-2016
Location: Raleigh, NC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Truth, Justice, and The American Way.
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I did notice in my brief experience at knee pad testing on my little MBS Constellation that while in the bug I sometimes pull the kite, I was better
off on the board if I let the kite pull me.
I remembered being told that when I was trying to water ski, " let the boat pull you" I never did really get it with a kite or a boat though?
The main thing Steve is to always wear the helmet with the gopro mounted on 
Flying mostly single skins, with some orphans, the American flag, and a PL buggy. US01
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skimtwashington
Posts: 1758
Registered: 3-22-2011
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I thought or assumed all your kites were flown on a bar and didn't know you flew off handles also, or had that option.
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Windstruck
Posts: 3338
Registered: 5-16-2015
Location: St George, UT, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Get in my buggy!
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A fair thought Tuck. I string my NasaStars with z-bridles so they can be flown alternatively on a bar as three-liners or as four-liners from handles.
Born-Kites:
RaceStar+ (3.0m, 5.0m, 7.0m, 9.0m, 14.0m)
RaceStar (9.0m, 11.0m)
NasaStar-4 (2.5m, 4.0m, 5.5m, 7.0m)
NasaStar-3 (custom 3.2m)
Flysurfer Kites:
Peak-5 (2.5m)
Buggy:
Peter Lynn BigFoot+ nose & tail; midsection VTT rail & seat kit; home-brewed AQR
NAPKA Member US2815
SWATK Member UT0003
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Jack.Oh
Posts: 184
Registered: 4-12-2019
Location: Aurora, Oh
Member Is Offline
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There is a Half Strap that could provide safety while learning and something to hold the board.
https://kiteboarding.com/proddetail.asp?prod=slingshot_foot_...
US417
Custom buggy "Zephyr II"
Pansh A15 9m, 12m, 15m
Pansh Genesis 4m, 6m
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Windstruck
Posts: 3338
Registered: 5-16-2015
Location: St George, UT, USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Get in my buggy!
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That's a great suggestion! I'm no longer heading in the direction of doing this, but had I been those half-straps would have been interesting. Thank
you.
Born-Kites:
RaceStar+ (3.0m, 5.0m, 7.0m, 9.0m, 14.0m)
RaceStar (9.0m, 11.0m)
NasaStar-4 (2.5m, 4.0m, 5.5m, 7.0m)
NasaStar-3 (custom 3.2m)
Flysurfer Kites:
Peak-5 (2.5m)
Buggy:
Peter Lynn BigFoot+ nose & tail; midsection VTT rail & seat kit; home-brewed AQR
NAPKA Member US2815
SWATK Member UT0003
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