BigSiler - 21-8-2006 at 10:31 PM
Hey 
How do I make a harness strop?
I just got the Blade IV with Handles and need to figure it out.
What would I use? and how to attach it ? How Long?
Thank YOU for any and All Help.
---------------------------------
Samurai 3m
Blade IV 4.9m
Ground Industries Patrol
coreykite - 22-8-2006 at 10:32 AM
Hey Big,
I've been making strops for my harness since 1991.
I've used lots of different materials.
Perhaps my favorite is 5mm or 6mm braided perlon, used in the climbing sport as a utility rope and gear sling.
I've used "mule-tape" - A flat, woven cord used to pull wires in industrial electrical situations.
The 16" round, woven strop from Ozone Kites is near perfect, for store-bought.
The length depends on you.
Where your hook is...
Where you like your handles (How far in-front? How much elbow-bend at "even"?)
What kind of hook?
If you end up with a plastic-tube covered type strop, the wheel allows that particular strop to slide easier.
I prefer a windsurfer spreader and hook over the kiteboarding hook.
The kiteboard specific hook has too much "hammerhead".
I like the down-facing hook from windsurfing.
It allows me easy-out whenever I want.
Secure under power, the strop simply falls away when I take the pressure with my arms.
First step, after getting comfortable with the kite, might be to tie a 16" string between your handles, just below the top lead.
It takes some a-bit-of-getting-used-to with that limitation on your steering inputs.
You learn to minimize your efforts and maximize your returns.
I think I read this in a book...
Safen Up! Buggy On!
"Often wrong... Never in doubt"
the coreylama