Kiteboarding Magazine

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2010-06-15 12:29:25 | 2131 views | 1 Comments

Davey Blair, Jason Slezak, Brandon Scheid, Susi Mai and Aaron Hadlow weigh in on the benefits and disadvantages of kiteboarding with boots and straps.

Pro Boots

“Boots are legit, and straps are whack.” — Davey Blair, Ocean Rodeo team rider

“When it comes to fast, powered take-offs and landings or riding rails, hands-down, it’s boots! Fo sho!” — Jason Slezak, Liquid Force team rider

“I love riding boots in flat water or in small-wave kickers. You can take landings so much better and keep your speed and kite angles respectable without exploding on impact. — AH

“I ride rails where straps just aren’t allowed.” — DB

“Boots give me full support and allow me to hold down more kite, which adds power to my style.” — Brandon Scheid, Liquid Force team rider

“When hitting sliders, I like the secure feeling that a full boot binding provides.” — BS

“Riding boots, for me, was just a natural extension from my snowboarding background. It just feels right!” — JS

Pro Straps

“Learning a new trick in straps and then moving to boots will save you time and spare you lots of painful wipeouts.” — Susi Mai, Cabrinha team rider

“I only enjoy riding boots in really perfect conditions: either nice, flat water; rails; or small-wave kickers. Everything else is strap territory.” — SM

“Boots are great in the right conditions, but I would never use them when I am kite looping on my 7-meter in 40-plus knots, that’s when you need straps.” — Aaron Hadlow, five-time world champion

“Straps are good for those choppy, gusty days. I get so frustrated riding boots in the wrong conditions.” — AH

“On those days when it’s nuking, straps are good.” — BS

“Boots, straps, strapless — they all have their time and conditions, depending on what you want your session to be.” — JS

“Sometimes, when the wind is borderline and you’re groveling in boots, straps might save the day.” — SM