Getting Into Kiteboarding

If you've ever had a go at water-skiing or wakeboarding you'll know how quickly you get tired from trying to hold on to a powerful boat as it seemingly attempts to ditch you off the end of the rope. The harness is a indispensable secret weapon that people don't appreciate when they first watch kiteboarding. “You must have to be very strong to kitesurf and hold onto that big powerful kite.” they say. “Well, I am pretty strong actually.” you can reply. Whether you tell them that it's actually your harness that takes all the load around your waist and off your arms is up to you. It will usually depend on whether they're a hottie. But that's for another beach lover's guide...

You have a choice when it comes to which harness you decide to go for. The two basic harness styles are 'waist' or 'seat'. A waist harness simply fastens tightly around your waist and offers support from the base of your back to roughly halfway up your spine. It's main benefit is the range of movement it offers, something which becomes more important the better you get. A seat harness usually sits a little bit lower on your body and has a pair of straps that support you between your legs. As you can imagine most men choose the waist option, but usually after six months or so of experience gained in a seat harness. Instructors usually advise a seat harness to begin with because it's a bit easier to hold the kite's power down as you can 'sit' into it and keep your weight lower. A waist harness is more comfortable in general, but does require a more refined stance and technique to be able to hold the same amount of power and achieve the same level of riding stability without getting pulled over the front of the board.

But it's not only beginners and the kinky that like to wear seat harnesses. A lot of speed kiters and racers wear them as it allows the rider to hold a lot of power and therefore achieve high board speeds. You can buy shorts with seat harnesses built into them which have a bit more of a modern look and many find more appealing.

A good combo is a hybrid harness that combines the benefits of both a seat and a waist harness. Two have just come onto the market from Ocean Rodeo and Dakine. The Dakine Sonic has no leg straps and is designed to have the support of a seat harness with the freedom of a waist harness. The Ocean Rodeo Session 2 has removable leg straps. www.dakine.com / www.oceanrodeo.com

Girls: there are many girl-specific harnesses on the market, which although are generally much prettier, do have some subtle differences which are mostly about sizing and fit. Don't worry if you find yourself preferring a men's harness. If it's a good fit, it's for you.

Most modern harnesses offer a huge amount of comfort and support via an inner elasticated belt that hugs you tightly (supportingly, not constrictively) while the outer shell of the harness is padded for protection. 

Whichever style of harness you go for it should have strong leash attachment points and a sturdy grab handle on the back (or secure points which you can attach a leash handle to) so that someone can get a good hold of you for your security when launching a kite or when you're walking along the beach with your kite. Ideally you should buy your harness new. They are a very important item and it's important they work properly. They are built to last, but stitching can wear and anything bought second hand will have lost a certain amount of 'life'.

OCEAN RODEO SESSION 2 - Clip-on clip-off leg straps - Handle-pass quick-release - Bomber construction - Moulded thermo foam padding - Huge harness height adjustment - Buckle covers - Ergonomic spreader pad SIZES: XS – XL www.oceanrodeo.com Ocean rodeo session 2	DAKINE SONIC HYBRID - Combination waist and seat harness without leg straps - Compression moulded lumbar panel - Pre-curved P.E.B inner support structure - Adjustable spreader bar height - Independent primary and secondary Power Belt - Stainless steel leash attachment rings - Combination windsurf or kite harness SIZES: XS – XL	Dakine sonic hybrid
	DAKINE RENEGADE - Knife / key pocket (knife not included) - Pre-curved P.E.B. inner support structure - Compression moulded lumbar pad - Integrated handle and leash attachment - Independent primary and secondary Power Belt - Buckle covers - Power Clip buckle system SIZES: XS – XXL www.dakine.com	Dakine renegade