Hi all just joined and looking forward to getting some info on which harness to use.
I have been looking at kite harnesses for windsurfing seeing I have a sus back.now what do ya think the best is sitharness or just the back harness by its self .I do not know anything about this .I have been doing windsurfing on a 80s mistral board in sweden on a fresh lake for about 10 years and now near golden beach QLD and looking to do the next step in windsurfing. I should of got a harness years ago instead of hanging on for dear life with my hands.
I am 34waist and 80-85 kg and tall if anybody has a harness for me to buy.

THANKS
Barry

Hi Barry,

Try and find a Dakine impact harness - it's basically a bouyancy aid / impact vest with a built in harness. After a major back op a couple of year ago this got me back on the water. I think other companies make them now.

Best bet for beginner gear is to spend some cash and get the good stuff. Second hand beginner boards cost a fortune in this country... but then they really hold their value well and you can sell them for good money when you need to progress.

Would recommend buying a good boom (preferably brand new - I highly recommend Prolimit - you can get them for about $250.... do not cut corners on a secondhand boom - you'll save $100 maybe and it'll probably have most of the life gone from it).

Would also recommend buying a 2007 or later 4.7 - 6.0 sail (maybe a local with better knowledge of the conditions can advise on size) ... any brand, as long as it doesn't have cams. Wave, freestyle or freeride will be good for you.

Also recommend purchasing a decent carbon mast from new - buy the right thing (60% Carbon 430 mast) and it'll last you for years.

Seriously, don't skimp - it'll really slow your progress down. The latest gear is sooooo easy to sail on compared to older stuff. It's light, easy to control and the board technology has really moved on in the last ten years.

If I were you (assuming that you're at / getting to the point of waterstarting) I'd be looking out for the following:
JP X-cite Ride 110 - 120 litres (relatively new) or simillar
Prolimit Boom
Gaastra Poison / Naish Force or something similar (all sail manufacturers build something that will be suitable) - basically a wave sail with plenty of x-ply - it'll be stronger and more likely to resist your attempts to damage it as you learn to use the harness.

Sit or Waist Harness -there is a question ...I started my windsurfing career on brand new sit harness and every time after day on the water complained on terrible back pain. Hardly can walk and took me up to 7 days to recover especially when some wave sailing was involved. Since I changed two years ago to waist harness never had this problem again ? Works for me and never want return to sit harness again. I am 48 y.o and 81kg. Harness I have is Neil Pride with hard and strong back support not softy. I did try borrowed when forgotten mine once old softer one with terrible result - back pain again.
Happy to hear others experiences sit vs. waist harness.

thanks all for that great info ,great site this.
I am looking at a 2008 Cabrinha vest harness for 100 bucks.

I would say I am a very experienced 80s style mistral windsurfer got fast for that old girl I thought but my hands killed me with no harness .The old mistral being like a tugboat was great to ly on when stuffed in the middle of the lake. I tried in turkey a newer lighter board but not much wind and that was hoples being no wind

I am moving in a weeks time 4streets from that event (golden beach ) yeahhhhhh.
already tried the rental block out there for a surf but at 30 bucks for an hr buying a setup is easy getting the money is another thing

thanks kenho .
its time for some grub then F1 and watch Webber catch ya next time and thanks agin to all

It will depend on what part of your back is crook.

I have a bad lower back and find that after using my seat harness it all seems to re-align and feels great for weeks. Bonus is that I can use my bad back as an excuse for more windsurfing.

pepe47 said...

sboardcrazy said...

JUst my 2 cents.. I'd think that a seat harness would be better for a crook back? If you start to get hassles you can sit more and take the weight off your back..?

My thoughts exactly. The waist harness could create sciatica, whereas the seat harness would actively support the lower spine. But in saying this the waist harness is good for waves and the seat harness is best for flat water blasting.
Guess it's down to which discipline you're into.

I feel I have more lower core power from a seat harness with the bonus of less back pain during and after. Maybe the blokes have more upper core strength to favour the higher centre of gravity?

FlickySpinny said...

To clarify my original response, I find that waist harnesses offer far more support than seat harnesses - my problem was in the lower back. However, I haven;t sailed a seat harness in ten years, so who knows.

I came back to the sport last year in a similar situation (lower back injury) still on going ; as supportive as a waist harness feels (I use both as pepe47 said waist for waves and seat for slalom etc) I find the seat allows me to draw power more from my pelvis and upper legs and not straining my lower back as much; unlike the waist to me support isn`t as much the issue as much as where and which muscles are being used ; especially if they`re already prone to spasm .

sboardcrazy said...

JUst my 2 cents.. I'd think that a seat harness would be better for a crook back? If you start to get hassles you can sit more and take the weight off your back..?

contrary to mine tho sboardcrazy..I started using waist harnesses 4yrs. back and it helps my mild to severe back pain by holding it tight and rigid, not so tweaked. I find it's more comfy as the day ends. However, mine was on the lower back sclerosis as the chiro said..right term? I hate sleeping on my boobs

FlickySpinny said...

To clarify my original response, I find that waist harnesses offer far more support than seat harnesses - my problem was in the lower back. However, I haven;t sailed a seat harness in ten years, so who knows.

My seat harness is 15 years old.. I have a muscular upper back problem..
We sound like a pack of old crocs!! Who'd believe that people that are in to such a full one sport could do so with injuries..?

sboardcrazy said...

jp747 said...

sboardcrazy said...

JUst my 2 cents.. I'd think that a seat harness would be better for a crook back? If you start to get hassles you can sit more and take the weight off your back..?

contrary to mine tho sboardcrazy..I started using waist harnesses 4yrs. back and it helps my mild to severe back pain by holding it tight and rigid, not so tweaked. I find it's more comfy as the day ends. However, mine was on the lower back sclerosis as the chiro said..right term? I hate sleeping on my boobs

How do you breathe sleeping face down..? Yick..

After so many years? right leg bent, left leg straight..face pointing right with pillow underneath one/half the face..if uneasy start all over again with same procedure on the left I wonder if missus is having a hard time figuring outhmmmm

jp747 said...

sboardcrazy said...

jp747 said...

sboardcrazy said...

JUst my 2 cents.. I'd think that a seat harness would be better for a crook back? If you start to get hassles you can sit more and take the weight off your back..?

contrary to mine tho sboardcrazy..I started using waist harnesses 4yrs. back and it helps my mild to severe back pain by holding it tight and rigid, not so tweaked. I find it's more comfy as the day ends. However, mine was on the lower back sclerosis as the chiro said..right term? I hate sleeping on my boobs

How do you breathe sleeping face down..? Yick..

After so many years? right leg bent, left leg straight..face pointing right with pillow underneath one/half the face..if uneasy start all over again with same procedure on the left I wonder if missus is having a hard time figuring outhmmmm

Hmmm, you realise you're sleeping in the port tack position? Now you just need to mount a portion of a boom next to the bed...problem solved.