Windsurfing life hackHow to prevent flattened foot straps

Tobias Frauen

 · 22.10.2025

The problem: when the tensioning strap is tightened, the foot straps are pressed together
Photo: Tobi Frauen
When boards are strapped to the roof in stacks, the foot straps suffer and can become so flattened that you have difficulty slipping in on the water. This life hack will keep your straps perfectly adjusted!

The vast majority of windsurfers transport their boards on the roof of their car, and if you put two boards on top of each other, you will inevitably pinch the foot straps of the upper board when tightening the straps. This can be tolerated for a short time, but on longer journeys the plastic reinforcement in the loops can become permanently deformed. On the water, you can then no longer get into the loops, or it presses painfully on the instep.

The solution for keeping the loops in shape on the roof: PET bottles! Simply insert a closed, empty 0.5 litre bottle into each loop! These keep the loop open wide enough to avoid problems later, but are flexible enough not to leave any marks.

Tennis balls, on the other hand, are not a good choice as they are usually too hard and only concentrate the pressure of the tensioning straps on one point. This can leave marks in the underwater hull of the lower board or on the footpad. PET bottles, on the other hand, offer enough resistance to stabilise the strap, but are flexible and soft enough to prevent damage to the boards!

For the photos, the boards are strapped "naked" to the roof, but the problem also occurs with board bags. This lifehack also works for wingfoil boards with straps!

Do you have a life hack for other windsurfers, wingfoilers or SUPers? Please send us an email to redaktion@surf-magazin.de!


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