Another strapped/unstrapped thread

ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Peeps,

I don't see why this topic is a debate. By calling it a debate? You are assuming there is the possibility of a clear winner and a loser or a right or wrong. Kitesurfing is diverse and means different things to different people. Assuming we should all adopt a similar riding style takes away from the best thing about this sport, the freedom and diversity it brings. For me, It's always been about the personal challenge. If you get good at a particular aspect of it, to mitigate boredom, you can add difficulty multipliers.

Personally, I love unstrapped for most situations because most surfboards respond to micro adjustments of foot pressure and trim. I can eek out a little better upwind, or bottom end, or top turn or gybe or whatever by moving my feet a few centimetres in whichever direction suits my purpose.

Straps also has it's place. In Mauritius recently, the cross off conditions and huge swell in the fast out going current of the pass, made huge steep waves to go across and with the hecticness and danger of the situation with other riders , straps were a much better option to getting out, although once on the wave, I prefer without. It's so much more challenging and satisfying to getting it right. There is almost no challenge to doing small airs off chop or waves with straps, but take the straps off and a 1m air can be challenging and really great fun.

So lets call it a discussion on the merits of both. One is definitely not BETTER than the other, just DIFFERENT.

Ride your own way and don't try to influence other riders with your style. If you ride hard and make it look good, you may influence others without saying a word.

DM