Power Kite Forum

Moving On

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 07:01 AM

I have become proficient on a landboard and can easily controll my ozone kite while on the board but I have started to see the huge advantages of a harness and control bar.
However I need some help with:

What is a good (cheap) harness?

What is a good 4 line control bar?

Are there any bar/ harness types that are more suited to landboarding that will work with my Ozone Flow 4m??

Any help would be great as I really want to take kiteboarding to the next level.

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 07:14 AM

The only bar that can be considered truly appropriate to a 4 line fixed bridle kite is the Ozone Turbo Bar. It costs an astonishing $200 - $250, but is the only fixed bridle bar I have ever seen that comes anywhere close to giving true handle-like control over a fixed bridle kite. The Ozone Turbo Bar works quite well on the Ozone Flow. I highly recommend it. I purchased mine from Kent at awindofchange.com, but he doesn't have it on his site yet. You should try calling or emailing him.

As for a harness, most people are fairly happy with the Ozone Access harness, but there are plenty of other options. There is a bit of benefit to be seen from a bulkier (better padded) harness, since you'll be on a board and won't have to worry about wedging yourself into a buggy with it.

EDIT: Additionally, the Turbo bar includes all the same safeties as the bars for Ozone's depower kites.

indigo_wolf - 8-6-2010 at 08:04 AM

I thought I had mentioned the Custom Color option to you a while back. They had always done custom colors on their paragliders, so I was pretty sure they would be up for doing it for the upper tier kites.

It is just more apparent for the paragliders because the product pages included colorizers, like this:
http://www.flyozone.com/paragliders/en/products/gliders/elem...

Thanks for confirming the price.

Last time I checked, the turn around on Custom Ozones was 23 days.... not too bad.

ATB,
Sam

This is the one I wanted.

Custom_Access.jpg - 99kB

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 08:13 AM

I knew they had custom colors, I just didn't know that they were a mere $75 per kite. I'd have expected more like 20-30% mark up and that would have been way too much.

indigo_wolf - 8-6-2010 at 08:24 AM

Apparently they buy Sharpies in bulk. :lol: And hire trained cats on the cheap to do the custom color work.

Hey.... weren't you blackmarketing cats for a while.... I had a hunch I knew where they went. ;)

ATB,
Sam

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 08:40 AM

How did you think that I could afford all these Ozone kites? Kitten slave labor.

indigo_wolf - 8-6-2010 at 09:16 AM

Take your next kickback as a custom kite. :ninja:

ATB,
Sam

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 10:02 AM

how about the much cheaper ozone 4-line traction safety control bar?? or am i missing some knowlege about how the systems work??

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/accessories/ozonesamuraicontrol...

It does say on the page that it works with the Flow.

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 10:07 AM

Also which is better for boarding: a seat harness or a waist harness??

indigo_wolf - 8-6-2010 at 10:09 AM

It (ozone 4-line traction safety control bar) will work with the Flow and is the standard bar you get with the Flow if you order the control bar option.

The Turbo Bar is better by an order of magnitude. When you turn with the Turbo bar, the included pulley system applies a bit of brake on the opposite side, which speeds up the turn.

Trimming/adjusting the brakes is also nicer.

If you search the forum, there are a couple of reviews on it.

Turbo Bar manual can be found here:
http://www.flyozone.com/landkites/downloads/Turbo_Bar_A4_Man...

If you're running a No-So, is it a safe guess that you are in the UK?? I know a couple of US riders have No-Sno boards,but...

ATB,
Sam

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 10:20 AM

The Turbo bar is way, way better than a standard 4-line traction bar. Actually Wolf, a normal cross-over bar will apply a little brake with the turn, the Turbo bar is closer to turning with the brakes and adding just a bit of the power lines :D. It really does work beautifully. It allows you almost as much finesse as handles. I really can't emphasize enough how much better a Turbo bar is over a regular bar or a cross over bar. It adds all the ease of a bar, while retaining almost all the control of handles.

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 10:22 AM

Good Guess.
I love my NoSno - light and best bindings you'll get anywere.

Cheers for the advice, I will have to see if my local shop will do a deal or if i can find one on ebay.

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 10:25 AM

Almost forgot - How about the harness??

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 10:25 AM

You won't regret it. I was honestly expecting to be unimpressed with mine when I got it, but it truly is that good. Plus, it'll be good training if you start flying depower kites as it's very similar.

indigo_wolf - 8-6-2010 at 10:44 AM

Harness is very much going to be a matter of preference. Not only between waist and seat, but also between manufacturers.

If there are any other kiters in your area that could let you try their harness, it would make the process easier.

Are you near enough to one of the physical locations for powerkiteshop.co.uk, www.ukkiting.com (Turbulence Extreme Sports), www.atbshop.co.uk, or one of the other UK retailers?

I went with an Ozone Access harness which is like a waist harness, but which leg straps.

If I was into leaping over tall buildings in a single bound, I might have chosen something with a bit more padding, but for my purposes the Ozone is fine.

The Ocean Rodeo Session I or Session II harness are very nice, but a bit spendy.

A lot of folks are very loyal to Dakine and Mystic harnesses.

If you are on a budget, used harnesses in good nick are a viable option and if a particular one doesn't suit you can always resell at a modest discount, move on, and not take too much of a financial burn.


ATB,
Sam

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 10:55 AM

looking at online shops and at other riders in my area it seems a Dakine or Mystic is the way to go. and I think a waist looks better for boarding as there is less restriction on the legs, but this is me just looking at pictures.

markite - 8-6-2010 at 10:59 AM

Hey Chirnside
Where are you located in Scotland?
Mark

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 11:02 AM

St.Andrews, so my local flying spot is the West Sands beach there.

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 11:11 AM

I've been there! I wouldn't mind living in Scotland except that I'd have to import Mountain Dew :ticking:

indigo_wolf - 8-6-2010 at 11:38 AM

Shoot for the Mountain Dew sponsorship. You could even have it delivered to you in cases.

They might even throw in a free cooler. :rolleyes:


Soon, you'll have Mountain Dew on the brain 24-7.... can Mountain Dew 'jammies be far behind? :o


ATB,
Sam

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 11:46 AM

Back in college I used to drink 4 to 6 20oz bottles of Mountain Dew a day. After college I cut back to two cans a day... Still Manta's with a Dew logo would be pretty sweet.

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 11:49 AM

We dont get that over here, but it looks like Sprite. Do you get that in America??

Maven454 - 8-6-2010 at 11:52 AM

Yeah, we have Sprite. It's nothing like Sprite.

Irn Bru isn't too bad, but it's just not a substitute for my addiction.

Chirnside - 8-6-2010 at 11:53 AM

AHHHHH, Irn Bru a proper Scots drink

markite - 8-6-2010 at 12:48 PM

Quote:
St.Andrews, so my local flying spot is the West Sands beach there.


Ahh St Andy's, I know it well. Are you getting out with Owen once in a while. The TK Scotland forum has been a bit quiet the last year but always posts on St. Andrews.
I'll have to hook up next time I'm over (girlfriend lives on the beachfront Broughty Ferry) so I'm riding West Sands quite often when I'm over - heard it's raining today there.