I like having the hiking straps on the T, but I don't ever use them for the intended purpose. when you have the kite up and its windy enough to be sitting up the top near the skipper, but not yet enough to be on the wire - I like to hook my rear foot under the strap and then support my front foot on top of the the strap (well side on) it allows you to keep enough weight over the side and stops you from sliding back down the trampoline if you hit a wave or lose your grip. they are also handy to steady yourself when you have weight foreward down to leward on the lighter days.

what a coincidence you show that particular boat in your photo, as we had the owner of CRO 2 over for the aus nationals just recently (there are only 2 in croatia) he did quite respectably placing 8th overall seeing as he'd never sailed a T before, borrowing a refurbished reg white boat and bringing the sails from his new marstrom.