Does your harness ever feel more like a sports bra than part of your kiting equipment?



An ill fitting harness will hinder your riding, hamper your up-wind ability and make all those moves you’re dying to go for near impossible.



You should be able to lean into your harness at a comfortable 45 degree angle, enabling you to tilt your shoulders back, engage the rail of your board and edge up-wind effortlessly. So if you find yourself sitting on the toilet with a straight back (image above), it’s time to check your harness size.

Waist harnesses are really the culprit here, not all of us ladies are the right shape for them. Yes, they are far cooler looking but if your riding is suffering there is no shame in returning to the seat harness.

To state the obvious, a Waist Harness should be around your waist; if you are looking down onto a spreader bar between your cleavage, your harness is too big or not done up tight enough.

Waist Harness


Seat Harness


A good way to tell if your harness is the right size or not, is that when it is done up to the point of not being able to breath, you should still have about an inch or so left to pull it in tighter (remember when it is wet it will give). However, if when done up to the max you are right on the end of the spreader bar, your harness is too big.

An old windsurfer once told me a good trick to getting your harness done up nice and tight is get it wet before you put it on! I live by this and it works a treat!

Your harness is an important part of your equipment; get it wrong and you will suffer endlessly, get it right and you will reap the benefits!

My clothes may be a Medium but my harness is an Extra Small...

Have a look around the beach next time you’re there; it’s not just the ladies who are getting support in the wrong area from their harness!