kiteboard footstraps and pads setup

The position of the footstraps on your kiteboard can make the difference how you ride, jump and land. Nowadays there are several options for placing your pads and straps on the board. On this page we explain what the possibilities are

Different footstraps positions on a kiteboard

• The distance of the footpad.
• The corner of the footpad.
• The position of the footpad.
• The width of the footstrap.

The position of footpads and footstraps is important to have a good feeling with your board. Everyone has a different setup of the straps and pads for a comfortable feeling. You can lose a board that is not comfortable around your feet and your jumps and tricks will not run smoothly if the setup of your pads is not properly adjusted. Below we explain the different settings and what they influence while kiting

The distance of the footpad

If you buy a board that already has the pads and straps on it, these are standard in the center of the board. This is generally a good starting point to watch as a rider how the board is performing.

Most boards have 3 inserts to screw on your pads. As a golden rule: If you are tall, you put the pads a little further apart, if you are short or small, you put the pads closer together.

Use as guideline:

• The further apart the pads are, the more stable you are on the board. You can also absorb more pressure during jump landings.
• Pads that are closer to each other ensure faster rotational movements and less board control. This is especially useful for carving and toeside riding.

The angle of the footpad

First, it is important that both footpads are always in the same angle. This is in contrast to snowboarding, where you can choose to adjust your fixed forefoot a little more straight than your back foot. With kite surfing on a twin tip board there is no question of a fixed forefoot or hind foot. Because you sail back and forth, you will always change your forefoot with every turn.

What the right angle is for you also depends on how you normally position your feet. Jump into the air and look at the angle of your feet after landing. Let that be the angle of your footpads on your kiteboard.

Keep in mind that:

• The more upright your feet are, the more stable you are. This has a particular advantage when landing on water.
• If you place the footpads  in a more sideway  position, you can turn more easily and, in general, this is also more comfortable.

The position of the pads

The position of the pads is standard in the center of the board. If you have small or large feet, it is nice if you can change this position, so that your feet are centered on the board, while your pads are not.

Putting your pads backwards that your feet are more in heelside position has the advantage that you can bend more easily, making it easier to jump and carve. The disadvantage of this is that you are less stable and riding toeside is also difficult.

The width of the footstrap

Nothing is ​​more annoying if the straps do not fit well on your feet. Too loose then you always lose your board and if they are too tight, it can get irritated. And in an emergency you must be able to “kick out” your board easily.

What you can use as a guideline:

• If you slide your foot into the strap you will feel a slight pressure.
• The board sticks to your foot without having to raise your toes.

Try different positions that suit your foot the best and that give you the best feeling. Nowadays you have straps with double strip closures, where you can adjust the toe and foot arch separately. So that you can adjust it even better on your foot.