Several surf readers had noticed it while reading the regatta reports:"Why are all the men and women in the World Cup now riding with hip harnesses?"
To be honest, we couldn't easily answer the question of why the tried and tested seat harness seems to have gone out of fashion in the racing scene. So we put it to someone who should know: Vincent Langer!
Vincent, the rule used to be: if you want to do tricks or surf waves, you need a hip harness, if you want to go fast or even slalom races, you need a seat harness. Is this rule outdated for harness surfing?
Yes, definitely! The trend towards hip harnesses became established among regatta riders around five years ago. At the time, Antoine Albeau was the last of the big names still travelling with a seat harness, but even he quickly switched to a hip harness, especially in strong winds. Today, there is no longer a top rider who rides a seat harness.
What are the specific advantages for you?
It's definitely more than a fad, it's really something. I remember very well how, a few years ago in Tenerife with Matteo Iachino(PWA Slalom World Champion in 2016; the ed.) I tested harnesses. We had all kinds of harnesses with us - hip harnesses, tight seat harnesses and those that offer a little more space and can slide on the body. The result was clear: regardless of the conditions, the hip harness was always faster!
What exactly is the reason for this?
The hook is naturally higher on hip harnesses. In strong winds, we can push our bum and hips out further, which brings the centre of gravity outwards or downwards and ensures better control at the limit. And for us, more control always means more speed. If there is very little wind, you can ride the sail more upright thanks to the higher hook position, provided you have the necessary body tension, which also has a positive effect on planing performance and speed. You simply have more power in the sail. The fact that we can ride the boom higher with a hip harness also ensures that the board flies more over the fin and has a freer planing position - this is a big advantage, especially in light wind conditions. In addition, you naturally have much better freedom of movement in manoeuvres.
Are we talking about the subtleties that only racing pros like you can feel anyway? Or can an ambitious amateur racer travelling with camber sails and a slalom board also feel the difference in speed?
The advantages are also noticeable for good surfing amateurs! However, not all hip harnesses are the same.
What is important for the hip harness?
The contact surface to the body should be as large as possible, the harness itself must sit firmly on the body and must not slip or twist. Some neos also have small rubber pads glued to the hip area so that the harness sits firmly on the body and does not twist. Especially when there is little wind, we professionals work with a lot of body tension and twist the upper body forwards when travelling straight ahead. If a loose-fitting harness then turns on its side, the whole effect is lost.
For hobby racers, switching to a hip harness does not automatically make sense - riding comfort and back strain are important arguments in favour of seat harnesses
What else is important, apart from a tight fit on the body, if you want to use hip harnesses for racing?
It should be as comfortable as possible and ideally thickly padded. It is advisable to try them on in the shop. The very rigid hip harnesses with carbon shells are too hard for me personally, the wave harnesses are often too soft. It should be something in between.
Can the quick-release fasteners withstand the stresses of racing?
I think that the fasteners are now fully developed and you don't have to worry about the quick release flying around your ears. It is definitely helpful if there is a plate under the hook, which also ensures better power transmission and more comfort because the forces are better distributed and there are no pressure points on the ribs.
Many manufacturers used to offer "racing knickers" with a particularly small contact surface. Does this make sense?
You're completely away from that! In the past, the idea behind these small racing harnesses was that they should fit as close to the body as possible and be as light as possible.
In your opinion, does it generally make sense for hobby racers to switch to a hip harness?
I wouldn't say that. As already mentioned, you have to bear in mind that you have to have a lot of body tension when harness surfing in order to realise the advantage of hip harnesses when racing. In light wind conditions, for example, we pros have a much more stretched position on the board than in strong winds, where we push our bum out as far as possible. However, if you have little body tension and "hang" in the harness even in light winds, you not only have no advantages, but rather disadvantages.
What are they?
Above all the riding comfort, because one thing is indisputable: hip harnesses in combination with large camber sails are always less comfortable for harness surfing than seat harnesses and put more strain on the back. Particularly in light winds, the constant tensing of the torso is hard on the back and as a professional you have to counteract this with appropriate fitness exercises. But at this level, of course, we can't allow ourselves to lose an advantage. We have to tweak everything. On the other hand, if you get out on the water ten or 15 times a year and are naturally less in training, it's better to stick with the seat harness for large camber sails.
Many surfers switch back and forth between different disciplines such as slalom, freeride and wave. Does it make sense to use different types of harnesses, such as hip harnesses for waves and seat harnesses for racing?
I did that at the beginning too. However, I realised that the changeover between different types of harness is quite big in harness surfing. If you don't get out on the water that often, you only have disadvantages, in which case it's better to stick to one system, regardless of the discipline. Then you don't have to adjust the length of the trapeze rope every time.
Basic tips on the keystone settings can also be found in this clip .
