Harness choice?

[<Learner>]

What type should I buy, the waist one or the hip type? What is the difference? I am quite new.

[sukhdev]

The waist harness has a higher hook than seat or hip type. This promotes a more relaxed stance, allowing for more maneuverability. On modern designs the back support is more than on seat designs.

Seat harness on the other hand allows for more aggressive drive of the board via the feet and toes. For racing this means being able to hike out more and pressure the board; while loading the hook with your body weight to handle powerful sails.

In the early stages I believe its alot easier to learn with a waist harness. Hooking in and out is more intuitive, you can use a reasonable boom height and line length. Not everyone would agree with this though; best way is for you to try both and see which is easier.

There is no real hard and fast rules; for example Matt Pritchard uses a waist harness in racing and if i'm not wrong Vidar Jensen uses a seat harness in waves.