MARK MY WORDS
“SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT; THE EXTREMELY BRIEF HISTORY OF SURFBOARDS UNDER A KITE. WE ALL STARTED STRAPPED AND A LARGE NUMBER OF RIDERS NOW SHUN THEM. THE BIG QUESTION IS WHY?”
After last issue’s ‘Foil or Tube Kite’ commentary, I’m going to swiftly move on to another hot topic in kiteboarding – whether thou shalt ride waves strapped or strapless. It’s another question that seems to induce certain factions of the kiteboarding population into zealous over-excitement. This topic recently hit the limelight again after Kevin Langeree finished third at the Cape Hatteras Wave Classic event in the US... with (cue surprised gasps and horrified looks)... footstraps!
Let’s start with a small history lesson and then we’ll refocus on the current nitty gritty.
Since the beginning of
