Johnno Keys has alleged that Corey and I are bitching because it wasn't a day that suited straps, as it was light with small waves. I dont think either of us are bitching, but simply saying that the event is so well organised that it would allow time for both strapped and unstrapped contests instead of so many age categories.
I am not trying to advocate either for straps or no straps just for a fair and level playing field. Seperate categories reflecting equipment choice is done across the spectrum of sport. I dont think in cycling for example you would give a guy extra points for turning up at the Tour De France on a mountain bike.
The awarding of more points for unstrapped guys is in effect a handicap system. But in an already subjective sport the big issue is what handicap should apply? The bigger the waves and the stronger the wind the more of a handicap that unstrapped riding becomes so how do you factor that change of conditions in.
Certain boundaries mainly aerial ones can be really pushed by skilled guys when they put on straps. Its exciting to watch but impossible unstrapped so why not be open to 2 categories? By levelling the playing field the judging would be fairer and objective rather than the currently subjective judgement of "How hard is that move with no straps? or vice versa".
Personally i would go unstrapped next year if divisions were combined to avoid judging bias, and I would enter both strapped and unstrapped divisions if given the choice.
"Dude, have you heard about the 2 points rule?"
"Yeah man, unstrapped riders get scored 2 points more."
"Why dude? Is it because unstrapped riding is harder?"
"Harder? Who told you that lie, man?"
"Are you saying unstrapped riding is easy, dude?"
"Gybing's easy, foot placement, trim ...it's hell easy, man."
"So why the scoring bias, dude?"
"It's all about the look, man."
"What look, dude?"
"Unstrapped is badass, man. Don't you want to look badass?"
"Hell yeah dude, I want to be totally badass."
"Then lose the straps, man."
"Pass me the screwdriver, dude."
"Right man."
I think its just a SHAME if the wave comp gets split into 2 styles - which in my opinion it isn't -
just adds up with less people at each comp, less styles of wave kiting to witness on day, more hassles for organisers & WAKSA to sort out, me not getting to watch the best WA strapped / un-strapped kiters at 1 comp all year, etc, etc, etc.
And without the efforts of Russ, Juddy and a few no wave comps at all. Nial & Corey not alleging you guys are bitchin at anything - more a comment on all of this strapped/unstrapped dribble. IMO the more kiters & styles at a organised comp/day out the better for the sport we all love.
P.S. Kite racing coming up over next few months - super fun in lite winds & just about tooooooooo crazy in 20 plus knots, Damo & boyz from Airrush have 6-8 Demo race boards on day so just turn up & give it a go if you are into speeeeeeeeeeeed. Just bring your normal kites any will do, and have WAY to much fun when the surf is flat & wind sub 15 knots. 
read todays the post on - Raceboard tips?
First of all I wish to congratulate all those people involved who spent a great deal of their own time to organize a great event. There will always be conjecture on strapped Vs unstrapped, and for the progression of the sport, my opinion is there should be 2 different diciplines. 4 different comps could be run in 1 day. Strapped open, strapped Legends over 40, unstrapped Open, and unstrapped legends.
If Kelly Slater can win at 39, I dont think waves and surfing to a high level is a barrier to youth.The best surfer on the day wins. I can do so many more tricks on a surfboard with straps, yet I land 2 out of 10 unstrapped on a good day. Im not saying this is better than that, but unstrapped takes a lot more time to perfect critical moves. This is not a critisism of the judges, organisers, or anyones opinion. Guys like Johnno, Ryland, Ben Wilson are from a purely surfing background and want to delelop the sport and want to progress the sport from that experience. Put straps on those guys and myself, and upwind F-16's are easy on a wave, and so are many other tricks, Barrels with straps are easy as your board will not get washed away by the foam-ball, power your kite and your out of there.
Did I see straps on Ryland's board at Cloudbreak
if there was more wind i'd have shown you what can't be done with a stapless board
forgot about the switch riding, when entering maybe you should declare yourself as goofy/reg, probelm being it would be an extra thing for the judges to keep an eye on.
from what i can see the strapless thing is perth peer pressure, nothing more nothing less, monkey see, monkey want to do
geez man all the fuss.
Just ride, its easy to tell who's rippin more - regardless of straps or no straps.
Judge similar to asp - where risk is rewarded, critical moves on the critical part of the wave. Style, flow, wow factor and all that jazz. Overall impression wins the heat.
Obviously if 2 guys (1 strapped, 1 unstrapped) do the same air, land ride away..the unstrapped guy winds that battle.
You would just have to expect the strapped guys to ride harder and go for big stuff...I wouldnt reward someone for riding switch either, thats the riders call. If they think they can rip more on their opposite stance, great, bring it on!
Should fly Rowdy over to judge, he'll sort it all out
here is some reverse circular logic for you...
if riding unstrapped lets you get better weight distribution and trim - which i suspect it does...when you get the hang of it
then shouldnt unstrapped be marked lower as it allows you to rip harder ?
meanwhile the strapped guys with feet stuck in 1 position get scored higher to allow for the handicap that is straps.
with 1 point being deducted each time either style of rider looses the board and has to body drag through the break looking for the board.
there you go- i fixed it.
totally agree with Tightlines, what a stupid thing to say Dacurls.
Generally we do what we want once over the peer pressure teen years.
Unstrapped just happens to work well with local shorebreaks. Try getting stuck in straps in 2 inches of water and see how long your ankles last.
The true beauty of kitesurfing is its versatility. DO what you want with it.
I think people are getting way to hung up on it all and should just go kiting for themselves. screw this competition, testosterone manmade attitude.
You can clearly see why so many ripping pro surfers, windsurfers, kiters, snowboarders etc. etc. give up the competiton to just ride.
Hopefully thats what ill be doing again this arvo!
I think this thread (for a change) was not about strapped vs unstrapped. The original posters were about judging them in a competitive setting. Most seem to agree, that it is damn hard to work out a fair scoring system, so separating them in a competition may bring out the best of both styles.
Seeing the top riders together trying their best is a great learning feast .... saying this with a bitter taste in mouth, as I could not make it this time...
conditions on the weekend suited strapped,hooked in toeside riding, i went for an unstrapped session in the morning to get used to conditions and all i did was fall off wouldnt have scored very good at all.
Yep good call radman.
Me and raddy were up North for the week before the comp and he rode strapless all week but assessed the conditions on the day and went strapped.... it paid off for him.
It's funny people say that strapped is for strong wind but I have more trouble staying on my board strapless in light winds.
After being strapless all week, fairly well lit on a 7, I found that I just couldn't do anything but fall off on the comp day with the big slow kite and should have gone strapped as well.
"Dude, I really love strap fights."
"Wow man, I really hate it when crew call straps training-wheels."
"Dude, I love that uppity sh1t."
"And man, I really hate it when crew say strapless riding feels closer to surfing."
"Dude, I love it when crew say you need more finesse when riding strapless."
"And man, I hate crew who say lose the straps, kook."
"Dude, I love hating on strapped riders."
"And man, I hate crew who make stupid sex-jokes about strap-ons and stuff."
"Dude, I love it how some crew really have a stick up their arses about strapless."
"And man, I hate how crew feel so goddamn superior because they ride strapless."
"Dude, I love the fact that strapless isn't hard to do."
"And man, I hate how crew say STOP RIDING YOUR KITE."
"Dude, I love how crew say START RIDING YOUR BOARD."
"And man, I hate how you can't go super vert or mega-smash lips going strapless."
"Dude, I love it how strapless riding needs to be cautious ...akin to surfing without a leggie."
"And man, I hate that LOOK AT ME, I'M STRAPLESS tude."
"Dude, I love ego-driven fads."
"And man, I hate crew who say straps, no straps, ....it's all good."
"Yeah dude, I hate that fence-sitting, diplomatic bile."
Waksa, since you guys did a great job I'll let you use my model just this once! I'll have to charge for upcoming photo shoots.
Cheers
Rich
I have enjoyed this thread.
I had a great day at wedge, thanks to all who organised.
The hijacking of the thread to discuss the old debate
"Strapped versus Unstrapped" Love it,
Strapped versus Unstrapped?
Bras versus no bra?
Underwire versus soft cup?
Pushup versus sports?
Real versus fake?
Big versus small?
We love them all
any way weres the vid ,i saw rather large video camera on the beach the earlier heats should look good before the sun got into it.
