rectifier - 3-11-2012 at 12:12 PM
Went out for my first snowkite session today! Flying my new 3.2m, the wind was good for scudding about 20' up but no ground level wind at all.
The trick is getting my board on... run to launch, try to park the kite and strap both feet in...
I was not successful once in an hour! Anyone have a trick? Plate bindings? Haha
area429 - 3-11-2012 at 01:12 PM
Hey Rectifier!
Ok so let me say I am no expert so take what I say with a bucket of salt.
I have been using my 3.5 m Hydra (closed cell) for a few sessions on the snowboard and I find that in order to even ride, I need enough wind to park
the kite on the ground leading edge up on the break line, strap in, then pull the bar in and the kite shoots up.
In marginal winds I have tried parking the kite at the zenith and straped in. This is way more work and kind of annoying. With a bar you can easily
fly with one hand but I don't think you can with handles (I have never used them).
I think for your situation with no wind at the ground and handles you might just have leave the kite on the ground, strap in and then try to get the
kite in air with a good yank on the power lines.
Just my two cents,
Good luck! Wish we had wind and snow here!
canuck - 3-11-2012 at 02:27 PM
I was wondering if you would try it today - you are experiencing the "new to you kite" curse where the wind dies as soon as you are ready to fly. It
looks pretty calm today everywhere but the airport (reporting SSW 18kph G30)
You need enough wind on the ground to make it sit on the brakes at least 50% filled, then you'll be able to strap in, pick up the handles, and rotate
the top of the handles toward you to launch. I was never successful parking it overhead with both handles in one hand, while bending over to adjust a
buckle. Kite killers get in the way too.
If you are really good (and lucky) on days like today, you run to launch, convince your wife to fly the kite while you strap in 
, and then take the handles from her with the kite overhead. :Ange09: Then she can
x-country ski while you fly.
Hope we get better winds soon...
Bladerunner - 3-11-2012 at 03:17 PM
Using a bar you can fly one handed but handles are creating a problem for you.
With experience you will be able to handle the kite hooked in and single handed but that is a grown skill.
I am not sure how the Crossfire takes to a bar but using one will simplify your experience until you are wanting more fine control out of the kite.
rectifier - 3-11-2012 at 09:42 PM
Thanks all,
Canuck it is definitely the new kite curse. However the Crossfire does fly great (when there is wind), it pulls like a truck when powered up and the
power delivery is super smooth. Real fun to fly!
Unfortunately one jerk wouldn't get it into the wind today, it took about a 50' run to get off the ground, turn and climb into the window. Then it
powered up good and I could scud back to my board and try to strap it on. There was not enough wind to park at apex reliably, I had to keep it moving
which was obviously a big problem trying to put on my board.
Bladerunner, The Crossfire were sold with a bar as an option but personally at this stage of the kiting game I find bars a little scary, I like being
able to let go of the handles in case of disaster instead of having to pull a release. Haven't seen many horrible accidents with handles and I can't
get badly wrecked or I can't do my job (physical work).
In the end I gave up on the board, flew high in the window and had some fun scudding around in my snowboard boots. The wife was too scared to fly, I
will get her started on the 1m on a windier day. Hope some real wind blows up before the snow all melts!
Bladerunner - 4-11-2012 at 08:53 AM
You don't have to hook into a harness or even use one at all with a FB on a bar accept for the Turbo bar. Typically you just let go of the bar and the
kite either flags to 1 line or both back lines on leash . Flying FB with one hand on a bar is actually pretty easy. You lose that fine brake control
as your trade off.
I think you don't see a lot of people getting into trouble with FB on handles and snow because so few actually stick with handles on snow ? I have
seen people struggle and learned with a FB, 3 - 4.5 - 7 quiver the 1st season.
Flow binding and strap
mdpminc - 4-11-2012 at 11:19 AM
Try Flow bindings on your board.
These are the best bindings for snowkiting; really easy to get in and out when needed.
I keep my really loose to maintain that "water" feel
Also you can just slip in and closed them while already on a move.
When I flown FB's, I've used a strap connecting the top (front lines) of handles, so I could hook into the harness for one handed control when needed
or to take the load of the arms during long cruises.
Release type strap is the best for safety reasons ( I had a kite killers on at the same time)
acartier1981 - 10-11-2012 at 06:46 PM
I second Going with Flow or K2 Cinch Bindings or Gnu has some rear entry bindings now.
stetson05 - 10-11-2012 at 07:18 PM
Ha, I got some old clicker bindings and boots and use those. I got them at a ski swap. I bet the new ones would be so much better though