Leashes and Straps

A wing leash is the essential safety leash for wing foiling, which permanently connects the rider to the wing. It ensures that the wing is not uncontrollably swept away by the wind in the event of a fall or if it is released, and protects the sports equipment from being lost.

Design and operation

• Interfaces: The leash is attached on one side to a sturdy loop (leash loop) on the front tube of the wing. On the other side, it is usually secured to the rider's wrist with a Velcro fastener.
• Shock absorption: If the rider falls, the wing floats freely in the wind and remains within reach. The leash is designed with elasticity to absorb the sudden jerk during a fall and protect the material.

Features and characteristics

• Coiled leashes (telephone cord style): These leashes are coiled in a spiral shape. When not in use, they retract compactly, so they do not hang in the water or between the rider's legs, minimizing the risk of entanglement.
• Hip leash (belt/waist leash): Many riders attach the wing leash to a waist belt instead of their wrist. This keeps their hands completely free for maneuvers and gripping the handles, which many athletes find more comfortable.
• Highly durable materials: The core is usually made of a robust bungee cord or Dyneema line, encased in a protective fabric sleeve that is UV- and saltwater-resistant.

 

Foot straps (also called footstraps or straps) are adjustable holders on the top of the foil board. They provide the rider's feet with a secure hold on the board and enable a direct, mechanical connection to the entire foil system.

Design and operation

• Installation: The straps are screwed into the designated threaded inserts in the board's deck using screws and special washers. The position (stance) can be individually adjusted using various rows of holes.
• Power transfer: The rider places their feet (usually the front foot or both feet) into the straps. This allows steering inputs and weight shifts to be transferred directly to the board without delay or slipping.

Features and characteristics

• Direct board control: Foot straps prevent the feet from slipping off the board in choppy water, swell, or during hard landings. They also make it possible to actively pull the board up during pumping, which speeds up the take-off in light wind.
• Enabling jumps: Foot straps are essential in freestyle. Only with a secure hold on the board are jumps, rotations, and aerial maneuvers possible without the board separating from the rider in flight.
• Safe entry (ergonomics): Good straps are stiff enough to slip into easily, but flexible enough to quickly release the foot in the event of a fall. Many models are thickly padded (neoprene/EVA) to prevent pressure points on the feet.