What is a kite harness?
It is the connection between you and your kite, transferring the pull of the kite from your hands to your body. Harnesses are built to handle a great deal of power, so it’s essential for kitesurf beginners to learn about the different harnesses that exist. Kitesurfing is more expensive than a sport like skateboarding but far less expensive than skiing, snowboarding, or wakeboarding. Unlike other sports, lessons are required and you’ll need to pick up more than just a board.It’s a similar kind of board, but the normal surfing construction is usually not strong enough for kitesurfing. Imagine this: if you’re prone surfing your paddling for 95 percent of the time and maybe you’re standing on your surfboard only 5% of the time.Cons of a kiteboarding seat Harness: Less range of motion: A big supportive seat harness with straps on your legs will limit flexibility. Can be less comfortable: This is subjective, so trying a harness on first is essential. Some people love the feel, while others do not like the leg straps or the lower hook point.Most of the time, you won’t have any need for your floatation vest while kiteboarding. But when things do go sour, and they inevitably will, that vest becomes critically important. When I first started kitesurfing, I’ll admit I had no intention of wearing a floatation vest.
Are windsurfing and kitesurfing harnesses the same?
There are two main differences between a kitesurfing harness and a windsurfing harness. The hook on a kitesurfing harness is more closed meaning that it is harder to get in and out of. For kitesurfer this is perfect as they only hook in once to start, and hook out once to finish. Without question the most commonly used knot by kite flyers, the Larkshead Knot is used to attach kite line to the bridle of many single-line kites and dual-line stunt kites. It also comes in handy to attach your kite line to some stunt kite wrist straps.For single-line kites, an add-on tail will add extra drag and help keep your kite pointed into the wind. This can be especially helpful if you are flying in fluky, turbulent wind where a little extra stability will help keep your kite flying steady.