GEAR: WHY USE A BELT LEASH IN WING FOILING?
To stay connected to their board, the leash belt is a huge favorite among wing foilers. We explain why.
First of all, note that the use of a board leash is essential for your comfort and mandatory for your safety. Although it can be considered a hindrance when getting started or for certain maneuvers, the board leash offers you the valuable asset of being able to recover your board at any time. Just pull on your leash and the board is at your fingertips within a second. A comfort that greatly exceeds the small hindrance. You are also a winner in terms of safety because the leash connects you to an unsinkable object which allows you to float offshore and paddle back in the event of a problem (when the wind lets you down, for example).
Wing foiler: Moritz, GONG team rider, on the Lance FSP 2X, Neutra (Perf Series), Alu V3 mat and Ascent foil.
Ankle leash or belt leash ?
Although the ankle leash totally fulfills its function by connecting you to your board, there are several disadvantages worth mentioning:
- It is more cumbersome on the deck of the board when starting and in certain maneuvers;
- It gets caught more easily in the foil when you are in the water;
- It generates drag when flying;
- It is less accessible if it has to be released quickly.
Practice and the right habits can limit the discomfort of the first points above but you will not escape the drag or the lack of accessibility. We therefore recommend that you use belt leashes to gain comfort and a feeling of freedom:
A belt leash is a real plus when sailing. A classic ankle leash tends to get caught in the legs, even in the toes and we lose the quality of our support when we have our foot on it. As you are connected behind your back with a belt leash, from the moment the leash is correctly placed at the start, it will no longer bother you during navigation.
A belt leash allows you to have the rope close at hand, so it is easier to grab it to get to your board, especially when you have to be quick, such as when going through a shore break.
The belt is closed by a long releasable hook and loop, much more comfy than an ankle leash. A safety loop is integrated over the hook and loop to facilitate ejections, whether in a sketchy situation or simply when exiting the water at the beach.
Wing foiler: Moritz, GONG team rider, on the Lance FSP 2X, Neutra (Perf Series), Alu V3 mat and Avent foil.
Using a harness hook with a belt leash
If you want to sail with a harness hook wearing a belt leash, you just need to use our GONG harness hook which slips on our belt leashes or any other leash whose dimensions allow the passage of the strap (10mm deep by 60mm high ). The design of this hook allows you to retain the advantages of the belt leash because the hook can slide to the side:
- Super useful in the paddling phases lying on the board to get past the waves or to move away from the beach (even to return to the beach when the wind lets you down ;))
- It is also very practical to move your hook during the phases when you get back on your board.
If you want to sail with a harness designed for wing foiling, kitesurfing or windsurfing, in soft or hard shell, we recommend the Quick Release leash or the Quick Release Coiled leash which you can fix to the back of your harness. You benefit from the same advantages as the belt leash with a quick release system you can activate in complicated situations.
Be careful, if you do not use a harness model dedicated to the wing foiling which allows you to slide your hook on the side or with a suitable hook (without any metal parts), you will not be able to paddle on your board and might damage it in the event of a fall or when you have to get back on it. We recommend a harness made for a wing foiling use such as those offered in our shop.
Foil Leash Belt Coiled - 7mm
Foil Leash Belt Perf - 7mm
1 comment
Effectivement le leash ceinture et téléphone est carrément top. De plus on peut le larguer facilement, ce que j’ai dû faire il y a quelques jours après une chute au récif, ce qui m’a permis d’éviter les désagréments d’un contact trop brutal avec ce dernier. Et, chance, ma planche n’a pas eu une égratignure, ni même le mât.