poster
Visitor
|
Re:footstrap injury - 2006/09/05 18:00
Hi Ricky, sorry to hear about your injury.
I like your idea for a load release footstrap. You should write a letter to some footstrap manufacturers or even go and develop one yourself and make some money. (I would buy some).
I read your post and wanted to give you some tips for next time. Bailing from a jump is not a great idea. you almost never want to bail your jump, or kick off your board in the air, but it depends on the situation. It is usually better to try to land with the board on if you are landing feet first. If one foot comes out in the air, you can try to put it back in the strap, or put it back on the deck of the board, to support the foot that is still strapped in. Land with the board downwind of you, and let your legs crumple so that your butt hits the water (butt check)and take the impact. I have landed many jumps this way and there is usually no problems.
If you really need to kick off the board because you are getting twisted, you can push the board away with the loose foot. If you were going to land head-first, with your feet behind, and you had only one foot in the strap, then you should kick the board off.
But mostly problems happen if the footstraps are too loose or too tight. If they are too loose, the foot gets stuck too deeply in the strap and increases the risk of injury. (this is made worse by wearing booties that can get really stuck). If the footstraps are too tight, you wont have enough grip and you will fall out more often, and find yourself in the one-footed secenario all the time.
When you get on the water, you could try a smaller board (which will have less torque on your ankles).
I hope you have a speedy recovery,
David D.
P.S. If you decide to design your load-release footstraps, please make them with an adjustable release so that the pros can dial in a higher load setting (just like ski bindings).
|
Forum 
