Help:
Does anyone have an opinion on the placement of foot straps for white water, should they be offset or should they be even, and if even where ? at mid point, or slightly astern, and offset then where?
I guess the question is, do you want both feet in all the time or just one at a time.
If I was going to put straps on mine, I would make them even so I could pick what foot was going in, as I paddle staggered footed 99.9% of the time. But I have no idea what benefit straps on my board would do me, as I have no idea what a roll looks like and can get back on my board pretty damn quick after I fall.
I recommend NO foot straps :)
I agree with Nikki... no straps .. you want to be able to move about on the board
Corran
We've been playing with straps on our river wave boards. The straps enable you do airs and gives you more control when doing big turns. As for going down river with foot straps, I think it is something worth exploring. River SUP is way to new to dismiss the use of foot straps. It's worth experimenting with. Foot straps have enhanced the way we ride river waves, it may do the same for river running.
Good luck
Evan
Quote from: Evan Lloyd on May 24, 2010, 08:49:20 AM
As for going down river with foot straps, I think it is something worth exploring. River SUP is way to new to dismiss the use of foot straps. It's worth experimenting with. Foot straps have enhanced the way we ride river waves, it may do the same for river running.
I would agree, it's way to new of something to dismiss any ideas. I remember when everyone thought something as now mainstream as sub 9' surfboards, quads, etc where horrible ideas. Hell, handles on decks where looked at poorly less than a year ago.
I just don't know what benefit foot straps are for me, so I'm not sure how to place them. I have seen some guys be able to roll a SUP, but looked like more trouble than it was worth.
Not trying to derail the topic, so maybe a new thread on the merits for or against may be in order. Unless the OP doesn't mind. I'm just as interested in figuring out good placement as SASpaddler...
With all the respect in the world for you foot strap lovers.... if they help performance so much in surfing then why don't SUP surfers use foot straps while surfing the ocean waves? Unless they are and I'm living in a cave. ;D
Also, when I wipe out on the river (which is a lot), I personally don't want my feet to be attached to my board in any way. Why? I could get thrown by a wave or hole....then my body could be contorted in such a way that I twist my knee or ankle if my feet are in still connected to the board via foot straps.
As Corran mentioned, many times I need to move my feet quickly to AVOID falling
Sometimes when I fall in a rapid I need to get AWAY from my board as quickly as possible and may not be able to accomplish that if my feet get stuck in straps. (i.e. going right towards a big rock or sieve) Every second counts in critical situations...I don't have time to worry about my feet stuck in some straps...
The foot straps could get in the way when you are moving your feet around on the board.
I'm not saying that foot straps are the devil, but I'm not convinced there is any use for them thus far. :)
Nikkis last line sums it up... I'm not convinced they bring something additional to the table YET... note the YET. it IS early and who knows.
I did experiment with straps 2 years ago, and my feeling was the restricted movement - I had no idea how much I move about the board constantly until I couldn't. I also tripped over them when I did get my feet out and was moving. My board is big and wide and really stable and I don;t fall off it much, but I do move all over it all the time and so I have a hard time seeing how to use straps without restricting this necessity.
However, the one place is on drops -as the drops are getting bigger I'm having a harder and harder time keeping contact with the board... 10'... 15'... not sure how to deal with this and maybe straps will be the answer.
Who knows. Stay tuned to this discussion in 2 years ;-)
Corran
Here are some pix of the board with straps
http://2imagine.net/blogger2009/rapidfire_in_whitewater.html (http://2imagine.net/blogger2009/rapidfire_in_whitewater.html)
(http://2imagine.net/blogger2009/photos/boards/Rapidfire.jpg)
(http://2imagine.net/blogger2009/photos/chambly/101B5850.jpg)
(http://2imagine.net/blogger2009/photos/chambly/DIGI0222.jpg)
(http://2imagine.net/blogger2009/photos/chambly/101B6060.jpg)
Quote from: NRG on May 24, 2010, 03:36:43 PM
With all the respect in the world for you foot strap lovers.... if they help performance so much in surfing then why don't SUP surfers use foot straps while surfing the ocean waves? Unless they are and I'm living in a cave. ;D
A lot of people use foot straps for surfing, just not SUP... yet. Although I'm pretty sure that Ivan was messing around a while back.
And don't get me wrong, there is no way in hell I'm throwing straps on any of my boards yet. I think over all, they are a bad idea FOR ME. But I'm not about to discount it as an option, as maybe it hasn't been done right yet.