Windsurfing harness
Encyclopedia
The harness is a trapeze
used in the sports of windsurfing
and kitesurfing
to connect the rider to the rig
by a line attached to the boom
or kitesurfing
bar. It consists of a girdle-like contraption that is worn around the body, with a hook for attachment. Hooking-in the harness is done by pulling the sail toward the body and hooking into the harness lines on the boom. The harness turns windsurfing into a long lasting activity, taking the weight of the sail off the arms of the windsurfer.
in about 1974. It consisted of a vest-like nylon jacket to which a hook was attached. The sailor used the hook to attach to lines attached to each of the wishbone booms.
When future world champion Robby Naish
began using a harness in Kailua in 1975 when he was twelve years old, he had problems with his chest being painfully squeezed by the force on the hook. Mike Horgan and Larry Stanley developed a spreader bar to balance the load and prevent the harness from squeezing the wearer's chest. The spreader bar is now in almost universal use.
Many companies have developed the harness over the years with major innovations coming from DaKine
and Windsurfing Hawaii.
Trapeze (sailing)
In sailing, the trapeze refers to a wire that comes from a point high on the mast, usually where the shrouds are fixed, to a hook on the crew member's harness at approximately waist level...
used in the sports of windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and kitesurfing
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
to connect the rider to the rig
Rig
Rig may refer to:* Rig, Something that a dog pulls when Mushing* Rig, a slang term referring to a tractor unit* Drilling rig, a structure housing equipment used to drill or extract oil from underground* Gaming rig, a PC built for high-performance gaming...
by a line attached to the boom
Boom (windsurfing)
A boom ,in the context of windsurfing, is a piece of equipment that attaches to the mast, providing structural support for the sail. Early booms were tied on to the mast, using rope, but most newer booms use a clamp mechanism for attachment. Booms are commonly made from aluminum, or carbon fibre,...
or kitesurfing
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
bar. It consists of a girdle-like contraption that is worn around the body, with a hook for attachment. Hooking-in the harness is done by pulling the sail toward the body and hooking into the harness lines on the boom. The harness turns windsurfing into a long lasting activity, taking the weight of the sail off the arms of the windsurfer.
Types of harnesses
There are four basic types of harnesses:- The waist harness: Worn around the waist and lower back, providing back support.
- Crossover Harness (ie Dakine XT) Fits around the backside but has padding and support for the back as well.
- The seat (or slalom) harness: Fits around the backside, with straps that pass between the legs.
- The chest harness: Fits over the chest like a vest, providing buoyancy and padding for protection.
History and development
The first truly functional harness was developed by Pat Love and Ken Kleid of Windsurfing Hawaii in Kailua, HawaiiKailua, Hawaii
Kailua is a census-designated place in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. It lies in the Koolaupoko District of Oahu on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. It is in the judicial district and the ahupua'a named Ko'olaupoko. It is northeast of Honolulu - over Nu‘uanu Pali...
in about 1974. It consisted of a vest-like nylon jacket to which a hook was attached. The sailor used the hook to attach to lines attached to each of the wishbone booms.
When future world champion Robby Naish
Robby Naish
Robert Staunton Naish is one of the first athletes to have gained long-lasting international fame in the sport of windsurfing. At a young age, his father, competitive surfer and surfboard shaper Rick Naish, moved the family from California to Kailua, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu...
began using a harness in Kailua in 1975 when he was twelve years old, he had problems with his chest being painfully squeezed by the force on the hook. Mike Horgan and Larry Stanley developed a spreader bar to balance the load and prevent the harness from squeezing the wearer's chest. The spreader bar is now in almost universal use.
Many companies have developed the harness over the years with major innovations coming from DaKine
DaKine
DaKine is an American outdoor apparel company specializing in sportswear and sports equipment for alternative sports. It was founded in 1979 in Haiku, Maui Hawaii. The name of the company comes from the Hawaiian Pidgin word "da kine" .Dakine sells backpacks, apparel and accessories for men, women...
and Windsurfing Hawaii.