Okay first thing I was wondering about was in the manual for my Profoil 3.5m it says "NOTE: Profoil is not designed for use with kite killers". What is that about? Why wouldn't you be able to use killers on it?

Second I was wondering if anyone knew if and how the Profoil could be rigged up for two line bar style operation. Has anyone had any experience with this? Just curious if I wanted to try some land boarding.

Thanks

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Originally posted by aldoushoffman Okay first thing I was wondering about was in the manual for my Profoil 3.5m it says "NOTE: Profoil is not designed for use with kite killers". What is that about? Why wouldn't you be able to use killers on it?

Ted wrote that in when a customer got pissed when they pulled a brake bridle out when dumping the kite in high winds. Go ahead and use kite killers; it will be fine

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Second I was wondering if anyone knew if and how the Profoil could be rigged up for two line bar style operation. Has anyone had any experience with this? Just curious if I wanted to try some land boarding. Thanks

Why a 2 line bar? Try it with a 4-line control bar and it will be fine. You will get better turning, since the 4-line bar applies a bit of brake for you in the direction of the turn.
For a 2-line, you could bridle the brakes with the mains, but I can't see the point.

Ive deployed kite killers on my 3.5 in 20+ mph winds with no problems. I was using the flexi bungy style which most likely helped. Fly your 3.5 on handles. It doubles as a stunter. Much better control and they do fly better on tight brakes. Ive flown the 3.5 on water using my sons 10' longboard. The control required for that was easy on handles. Dont think I could have pulled that off using a non depower bar config. For me, flying a Profoil on a bar would be like kissing my sister. It aint happening.........................

Yeah I wanted to know if you could fly it on a bar for landboarding purposes cause it seems like it would be difficult with two handles. I've read about setting up the quad handles on a harness hook system which seems like it might work for the way I want it. And you're right, I've taken the Profoil out 3 days in a row in 5-12mph winds and as I get more proficient at controlling it I could see why bar rigging this thing would be treason.

This traction kiting thing is truly the coolest thing I've ever done...I can't wait to start buggying, boarding, and surfing...all in due time right?

Oh WOW i just realized that a 4line bar does exist...i thought depower and 2 line were the extent of the bar control realm. I'm still not sure exactly how this would function but I'm going to look into it...it sounds fun!

run a strop between the handles and hook in that way... Just be comfortable flying hooked in before you add some wheels. THe profoils always seem to like a little brake action now and then and fly best on handles (... that's just my opinion). Cool kites though... very resposive and fun to fly.

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Originally posted by aldoushoffman Oh WOW i just realized that a 4line bar does exist...i thought depower and 2 line were the extent of the bar control realm. I'm still not sure exactly how this would function but I'm going to look into it...it sounds fun!

quite simple.........the power lines attach the the bar end leaders. The brake lines to the center leaders. The brake lines should have a safety system (kite killer attached) so when you unhook from the bar in an emergency the tension is applied to the brake lines/kite killer and the kite stalls/falls. Again, Id go with the handles first before you experiment with a bar. A lot of safety variables associated with a bar, especially when your just starting out. As Taper stated, a strop line connecting the handles works very well and you maintain handle control. If fly my Profoil and Blade this way on the land board and longboard (water).............

The center leaders on a four line control bar take the brake lines, as Tridude said. There is usually a pulley there between them that the brakes slide through. The Power lines, the bar and the brakes form two opposing right triangles. When you move the bar to turn, the geometry of the triangles change, and this causes the brake line in the direction of the turn to be pulled through the pulley, thus applying brake in the direction of the turn.

here are some pictures of a strop set-up...
http://www.coastalwindsports.com/BetterBuggyBasics.html#15A

I have a crossed over pulley system rigged to my 3.5 on a bar. The farther the bar is turned the higher the ratio of brake tension so you get very subtle power line only control at first and can really crank the kite around quickly at the extremes. The kite can be spun in place at a couple of revolutions per second. I found the diagram on this forum but can't remember the exact place. It's a good setup and easy to build: I made the bar from an old straight bicycle handle bar, bar ends, a bit of webbing and a couple of pulleys. If you are interested I can take a photo next time I'm out.

I'd like a picture of the setup. I was thinking of using this bar as a base : http://buyslingshotsports.com/s.nl/it.A/id.58/.f