Afternoon all

I'm looking for a safety system I can use with my fixed bridles, as an alternative to kite killers. I like killers, but I find they get in the way a bit, and obviously restrict my hand movement.
More recently as i'm getting better flying hooked in in the buggy I would like to be able to fly one handed more when i'm just cruising, save having to twist round constantly.

I'm thinking about putting a loose strop between the brake sides of tw handles, and attach that strop to my harness via a kite leash (With QR)

Do you reckon this Is a good idea ? Would it be a safe alternative ? And would a kite leash be strong enough, as there can be quite a tug.

Tim

You can always do what 99.9% of us do around here and drop the killers all together.

Killers have there place I don't want to revisit the annual debate.

If you don't have enough space downwind to let go of one or both handles then you are putting yourself and whatever is downwind in danger . Before letting go there are options to kill the power. Hit the brakes hard, drive the kite to the edge, or nose dive the kite. Simply dumping to killers every time things get interesting will slow your progression. The safe road but a slow one full of agro'.

Thanks bladerunner

I have thought about binning the killers all together like you said, as I am pretty experienced with power kites (5 years flying) and I can't remember the last time I had to use the killers, however I like knowing I have a safety system in place just in case ! And obviously when youre hooked in it doesn't make a difference killers or not.
That's why I thought of flying with the system I described, seems like the best of both worlds ?

Sometimes I do fly with no killers. Makes me a feel a bit naked. Like wearing no watch, lol.

2nd vote for dump the killers, but we all knew that.

S

Sounds like you're thinking of what Ozone do on their Turbo bars...

Plus one for Kami's picture. I use the Turbo Bar on all my fixed bridles - except the 9m Riot which doesn't like it that much. I use it so I can fly one handed and operate the camera with the other and I like the fact it has exactly the same primary safety feature as my depowers....pull the red 'handle' and it dumps the kites onto the brakes and is easy to reset.

Plus when buggying I can pull both brakes on a little one handed and I can sit facing more forward in the buggy. If you have Centurys or Reactors or similar kites that like being flown from the front lines, they won't work well with the bar.

I'll see if I can put together a vid later today....

I felt the same as you just 6 months ago. Now, I'm flying with no kite killers or any other safety system and I have 0 regrets. I have had to unhook and let go twice and both times my kite only went 30 or so feet until it dropped and stayed there. Thus far, I haven't remembered to let go of just one but I will get there one day lol.

In my opinion, the best safety system is knowing when to let go. It's also not a bad idea just to practice it a few times. I'm going to start practicing grabbing a brake line with a gloved hand and letting go of just one handle. There was a time when I was being dragged by my kite after being ripped off the back of the bug and I couldn't reach the handles for what felt like an eternity, I finally just grabbed my strop and yanked it off my bar. That's a time when I could've just grabbed a brake line but didn't think of it in the rush of being dragged by an out of control kite. Thankfully it was on the sand.

Eventually, you will abandon the safety system all together and do what the majority of us do...go naked!!