Who Should Use kiteboarding Boots & When

[@galzohar]

I ride boots purely for unhooking. If I'm not planning to unhook during the session I attach my footstraps. In the winter (stronger winds, bigger waves) I leave the boots in the car just in case but rarely use them. For big air I'm doing better and feeling safer with straps. That said, I find more straps really bad, I use the Naish Apex straps and you should really try different brands until you find the best one. Crashing megaloops with boots is quite scary, and so is getting rolled over by a big wave. I find they don't really help when you aren't unhooking. I think I even jump better with the straps, but it might be because I rarely jump hooked in with boots to begin with. I'd strongly recommend using boots for unhooked freestyle only, and use straps for everything else - But make sure to get a good pair, even if from a different brand than your board!

[@bentonkareem]

Been wakeboarding for years kiting just about a year. I cannot get the same feel with straps. Gonna put on some boots for my next session. I got some hyperlite systems I think I'll use first just to make it easier to get in and out.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Hey, Dude-I'm right there with you. 🤙🏽 As a wakeboarder, it's really hard to understand riding with two wimpy little straps on your board, right? Took me a long time to get used to that too. I've not ridden Hyperlite Systems, but I think they would work great for kiting. Good winds to you, my friend! -Aaron

[@konstantinosmakrykostas5267]

Hi Rygo, great video dude. I am contemplating giving boots a try especially for the winter. Kiteboarding with booties and straps is a nightmare to me. Quick question is it true that you get more injuries like broken ankles and knees with boots, or this is just another myth?

[@rafan9480]

i ride boots my dad rides straps ive never torn anything my dad tore his acl with straps on a jump so yeah

[@skywarrior1122]

Great question, i am wondering the same.

[@MACkiteboarding]

If you’re attached to the board it’s the same danger as snowboarding. There’s always the risk of more pressure on the knee. That said, high level pro freestyle riders have injuries for the same reason big air riders do. They ride overpowered and are pushing the limits. I’ve used boots for 9 years with no problems. If you want to try, check out the Vadatek step in bindings that release on a hard impact. Solves 90% of the concerns with boots! - Rygo

[@galzohar]

I don't think those are good reasons to ride boots. See my comment above.

[@BastiaaNED590]

Last session I dropped my kite in the shore break practicing flat 3's. Well that was not nice at all! I was trying to relaunch but me and my kite were constantly being hit by waves, after deciding to quick release, I was still being thrown around in waist deep water, unable to get up. It did take time to get out of my boots. All was good, but all was very unpleasant at the same time. The point here is that boots are definitely an extra risk to take into account when riding in the waves. For me, I will always keep riding my boots. They enable me to do things I otherwise would never be able to do. BTW I fully agree on kiteboarding going backwards the last few years! I hope guys like Liam Whaley, Jess Richman and Oswald Smith keep unhooking in KOTA as it's soo much more extreme!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yeah, waves can be a tough one in a heavy shore break!

[@aaronjohnson311]

RyGo and TyKo! 😂🤙🏽 My dudes. A few benefits to riding boots are the ability to hold down a lot more kite (leverage), no body dragging for your board (unless you double-eject), and easier water-relaunch (board is always on). Thoughts? Cheers, amigos.

[@MACkiteboarding]

Oh yeah, all good points. The relaunch is actually a big one. - Rygo

[@desmoMarco91]

is it easier to jump big on straps? Boots should give the opportunity to edge harder but i am wondering if ankle reduced mobility has a role in big boosts..

[@MACkiteboarding]

You have more support and I used to find it easier since holding down a ton of power is easier in boots. But for big air straps is my go to now. Mostly because it’s safer when moving into kite loops. So it’s best to get used to them early on. True big air slams are just not fun in boots haha - Rygo

[@desmoMarco91]

@@MACkiteboarding Thanks Rygo you're the man

[@chrisbobryk9792]

Appreciate the shoutout boys! lets get some more sessions!!!

[@bentonkareem]

What up Chris. Haven't seen you at the cable but I'm kiting now! Mostly at Matheson.

[@marojet4668]

Kiteboarding could have used Vadatek's 10 years ago:)

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yes!! I wish! - Rygo

[@b0nd999]

Hi Rygo, I kite in in a coast that more often than not has small 2-3 foot waves but always fancied boots from a wakeboarding back ground would this still be ok?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Like a few people mentioned, boots in waves can be tougher. It comes down to what you want to do and where you are at. If you want to use waves as kickers for wake tricks boots are awesome. If you’re just sending big airs I think straps are fine. Personally I prefer boots. 🤙🏻 - Rygo

[@galzohar]

If you know how to deal with waves, they aren't a major issue for boots, but still crashing in a wave can be dangerous with boots, so only use them if you really need them and know you can handle the potential trouble. You should probably be both very comfortable with riding boots and extremely comfortable with riding in wavy conditions before you try to mix them together.

[@konstantinkroger2812]

I think you forgot another big negative point about riding boots which is actually another good reason to not change all too early. If you want to get into jumping higher and practicing hooked in rotations like backrolls and frontrolls or even downloops and kiteloops boots can be extremely dangerous since you can´t get rid of your board if you rotate wrong or mess up the loop. If you live in a place with changing wind conditions it happens more often than not, that you think you go out for a nice freestyle session on a 10m in 18knots and find yourself in +25knots later wanting to practice your big air skills. Since I changed to boots I found that it really keeps me from trying new things because there´s just no escape plan if smth. goes wrong 10m in the air.

[@galzohar]

I always carry my straps and screwdriver with me to the beach and swap if conditions change. I also change the settings on my kite for big air anyway.

[@konstantinkroger2812]

Really? I could never do that... I’d be so stressed that I’d loose the screws everywhere in fear of missing the best part of my Session out on the Beach mounting and demounting :p. But I guess if you have the money a second smaller twintip with pads for the stronger days could be worth the investment, especially considering you decrease the risk of injury and don’t have to step back on going high!

[@galzohar]

@@konstantinkroger2812 I'd rather carry the straps and screwdriver than an extra board, plus it's much cheaper, although I suppose you could get a proper big-air board this way (but then again the freestyle board work fine for jumping in strong winds). I try to change them in a place with no sand, just in case I drop a screw, but I place a lock-lock plastic box on my board, put boot screws in, take strap screws out, and then lock the box and put it back in the bag.