Is it possible to use a harness with handles?

Use a strop.. but figure out a quick release... done deal.

yes, get the quick release down--i saw a 250 lb guy get flipped 10 ft through the air like he was a piece of styrofoam by a 5m kite..... he was sitting in my buggy resting, next thing i know, he's getting tossed like croutons in a salad........

do a forum search for Quick release, there areplenty of posts on the subject.

ohh sweeet, how does a strop work? like can you completely let go of your handles if you were doing a trick or something, and the kite wouldn't go out of control. also can you do like a keyword search for the forums?

There are a few good sourses for releases. I get mine at www.defendermarine.com I also have discovered over time that if I just loosely loop one end of my strop over the top of my handle I can just move my thumb and it will pop off releasing me from the kite.
Either way if you use a harness with FB you need to have a quick way out.

I think you misspelled the link wrong. And i did a search for quick releases and its all over my head. if anyone can explain the idea of what one is and what i would need i'd greatly appreciate it, thanks!!

top left of pkf you should see the search
search for strop and wichard
strop is easy and cheap ... basically consists of a strong piece of line that links the top of the handles together via the loops or pigtails coming off the back the top of your handles. The strope then goes through the loop in your harness. takes all the pull from your arms. this will not allow you to let go of the handles and the kite fly by itsself for a extended period of time.

If you do this make sure you get a good wichard to release when you need to quickly become un-hooked for safety. This is the expensive part. To get the correct one that has been proven to work without fail (knock on wood) it will run you upwards of $70 -$100. I can't remember the number off hand of the wichard. Yes there are cheaper ones out there and yes they may work just fine, but maybe that one time you need it to work it doesn't :puzzled:

ohh alright i'll spend the extra dollars then. and i found some of them and they are pricey. but is it possible to let go of the handles at all?

wichard 2375 is pretty much the standard

Here is GA kiter Chris Dover on Jekyll Island beach sometime back
note the pulley block and the QR is just under

what kind of pulley is needed?

I use a Holt Allen snatch block. It is a pulley where the side sheath snaps open so you can slip the rope strop in then snap it shut.

looks convenient.. ill have to pick one up. but in dakitez post he says that you can't let go of both handles for an extended period of time, would a couple of seconds be alright?

yes that is about right. But one-handed flying for longer is possible, giving you time to say, crack open a beer.

You don't need a pulley to use a strop, just a harness. A pulley would make it travel more smoothly, I suppose. You can either buy your own pre-made, or make one out of amsteel line or leader lines. Here's a link for rigging a quick release:

http://kiteboarderz.piczo.com/projects?cr=6&linkvar=0000...

Cheers.

Perhaps this will help (see the picture)
Safety release and kite killers set-up.
(bit of an overkill, but it works well)

Quote:

Originally posted by kiteetik yes, get the quick release down--i saw a 250 lb guy get flipped 10 ft through the air like he was a piece of styrofoam by a 5m kite..... he was sitting in my buggy resting, next thing i know, he's getting tossed like croutons in a salad........

I'm not clear how the quick release was going to be of much good for your friend ? I expect he was lofted far before he could react.

Don't get TOO concerned about quick release unless you choose to go to a captive system. Learning how to take the power out of your kite without letting go is a far more valuable tool.

I keep it simple. Strop ( rope ) between handle tops and a hook spreader has served me fine. I don't like going captive! THAT seems like trouble on so many levels to me?


Dakitze can't let go of ONE handle for any length of time ! :P

The only problem with using a spreader bar is, the harness i'm planning on using is made for rock climbing. so unless you know of some cheaper but still good harnesses its cheaper to use the other system.

Get an appropriate length windsurfing harness line and a windsurfing pulley spreader bar.

Attach the harness line to the top of the handles with the main powerline between the velcro on the harnessline.

The windsurf harness line has a plastic tubing over the rope and acts to keep the handles steady plus it is easy to move through the pulley spreader bar.

It's hard to explain how to attach the harness line but you'll see pretty quickly how to do it.

This method has worked for me for many years now.

Don't fly in high gusty winds and you won't get lofted. Pretty simple.

-Scott

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Quote: Originally posted by kiteetik yes, get the quick release down--i saw a 250 lb guy get flipped 10 ft through the air like he was a piece of styrofoam by a 5m kite..... he was sitting in my buggy resting, next thing i know, he's getting tossed like croutons in a salad........ I'm not clear how the quick release was going to be of much good for your friend ? I expect he was lofted far before he could react. Don't get TOO concerned about quick release unless you choose to go to a captive system. Learning how to take the power out of your kite without letting go is a far more valuable tool. I keep it simple. Strop ( rope ) between handle tops and a hook spreader has served me fine. I don't like going captive! THAT seems like trouble on so many levels to me? Dakitze can't let go of ONE handle for any length of time ! :P

yeah, my friend probably couldn't react in time--i was flying another kite at that same time and took a quick look over and saw him flying thru the air.........

Yup, usually to QR happens after the intial problem so things don't get worse . Usually that gust or miscalculation happens faster than you can react.