Hi guys,

I'm fairly new to powerkite landboarding and I'm enjoying using handles on my quadline flexifoil bullet.

So just a quick question really for a bit of guideance.

I see most people use the bar and saftey system, do you think I will be loosing out using handles when I try to perform certain tricks or manouvers? I'm so use to the handles now that I feel I get more feel from the kite

Is it down to personal prefernece on what you use or is the bar system the way forward?

Is it safer to use a bar system - and also how do I connect my handles to a harness what type of cord do people use ??

Regards

H

It is a matter of preference. Bars are not not safer; just different. You give up the finesse offered by application of brakes but gain the occasional use of a free hand.

Not all kites do well on a bar.

To hook in to a harness with handles, you use a strop, a line connected between the tops of the handles. That's what the leaders or loops on the tops of the back of the handles are for.

Do not hook in to to a harness until you have mastered the kite and know what it will do next in all conditions. That is because you will not be able to unhook when things go south, when you need to the most. There has been much talk here recently about quick releases. Do a search on "Wichard 2375"

I spent a bunch of time playing with bars and Fixed Bridle kites with mixed results.

The 2:1 Crossover setup for the bar was best ( pre Turbo bar )

My 4.5m Bullet was awful on a bar. My 7m Bullet was the kite that took to one best ?

Bottom line . EVERY kite I had flew much better on handles . + I was truly controling the kite . Not just steering it.

I think I was going to the bar to make up for lack of fly skills ????

Most of us flying with a bar are on depower kites. Stick with the handles and become master of break control. FAR better experience and will make you a much better flier !

Depowerable kites such as most surf kites, Frenzy, Access, Montana, Apex, Neo, Peter Lynn Twinskins i.e. Chargers, Venoms, Synergys etc... and others must be flown on a control bar for the depower system to work. These types of kites are designed around a control bar system and will not really fly very well (or at all) on handles. I don't recommend converting the depowerable kites to handles.

Fixed bridle kites can be flown on handles or control bar and I fully agree with the comments made above regarding the differences.

Most of the video's of jumping high or surfing are all made with people flying depowerable kites. Depowerable kites are normally preferred for those wanting to get big airs and for board style riding. Fixed bridle kites are normally preferred for land flying and buggy style riding. This is the norm, you can use basically any kite for either activity.

I posted a blog regarding Handles vs. Control bars if you want more in depth information. The blog post can be found here:
http://kitethoughtsfromthefield.blogspot.com/2010/03/power-k...


Hope this helps.

cheers guys,

This is very helpful information, I agree with every post, for now I think I will stick with the handles and ensure Im always in control firstly before I hook up to a harness for sure. Thanks for the blog awindofchange that was good reading.

I will just keep practising when the weather gets a bit better here and when I have time, hopefully by summer I will be on youtube with my own videos :D

What size of Bullet are you flying ?

A word of warning. The Bullet is designed with PULL in mind rather than lift. I have seen both the 4.5 and 5.5m turn on skilled pilots when trying to jump with them. They have a bad habit of taking you and slamming you into the ground when you think you are setting up for a jump. It happens very fast and is pretty violent. Never hesitate to let go with these kites.

Great kite for learning but not so much for jumping.

Hook in and learn to fly using the brakes. See how flying on the front ( harness lines ) speeds the kite up through the window. See how applying even the brakes slows it down. See how speed equals power. See how you can steer properly by using only brake action on each side. When hooked in hold your han dles straight horizontal like a bar. Perfect this style of flying and moving to depower will be easier. Riding with fixed bridle will be better using this style as well.

Jumping is best done unhooked + using more of a push , pull technique.

4.5 bullet it's deffinately got the pull granted. I havent tryed jumping with it yet, Im in no rush.

whats the push pull technique?

Like flying 2 line.

Pull left to turn left....

Doing brake turns it is apply left brake to turn left without pulling in the handle....

oh right . well weather is dreadful here in Manchester UK, so the kite is sitting pretty for now its soannoying im desperate to get out and start building my confidence :D

Do you have a harness yet ?

People have different opininions but I think hooking into the harness early is good. Tie a rope ( strop ) to the top back side of your handles. Just for resting up, walking upwind etc. at 1st. You can fly more in a session and it's all about putting in fly time. You should obviously unhook when trying anything that makes you uncomfortable but will find you stay hooked in more and more as you progress.

I like flying on a bar still but with a depower kite. If you are riding ATB you may prefer depower to?

The area you fly in too matters to me.. alot of time on the beach I need to work a small area and Handles Rock.. But when I have Long Runs I love the bar and just lay back and enjoy... :wee: