The Apex III has a "leash-free safety system", but to avoid losing the kite, a leash is recommended anyhow. Can anyone tell where is the best place to connect the leash to the kite?

The ozone access is the same way (or at least earlier versions were). I used to attach mine to the landing strap so it woiuld kill the kite if I lost the bar. That's what I'd recommend. Just becarful if you loop the kite as the leash can get tangled.

+1 for that. It only takes one time to get unhooked with a fully powered kite in your hands. It's my policy to include a leash with Apex's and Montanas, and I too recommend the landing handle for attachment. You can clip through the kite stake loop in the center to keep it centered if you want.

I hook my leash to the depower line just above the chicken loop. This way, the leash does not tangle if you loop the kite.

We had an exciting day yesterday and my friend Mike cut his 3m Apex 3 loose after getting lofted and dragged at launch. It went downwind a ways and snagged a line on an ice chunk. Winds were gusting into the 40's so he didn't even bother to pop the hat.

About an hour later I cut a 13m Arc loose in a crash. Same thing drifted downwind till it snagged a flagged. I saw a guy cut loose a Apex 2 7.5m last week and it did the same thing, went a little way and flagged out.

Chris, I'm having trouble envisioning how you attach your leash. Do you mean the brake crossover or an individual rear line?
I just spent 3 hrs reassembling our snowblower and to be honest I can hardly think clearly enough to remember my name so if the answer is really obvious I apologize in advance.

Feyd - When you say "cut" is that figuratively or literally? I am quite new to kiting and I don't have a knife yet but I wasn't planning on getting one because of the safety systems out there. I know the water based kiters seem to carry them more because of tangles. I am thinking you mean figuratively, they "cut" them loose by pulling the release on the chicken loop.

As far as the leash goes, I have an Apex III 10M and I had the same question with my leash. What Chris is talking about is hooking the leash to one of the leading edge power lines (depower lines) on the chicken loop side of the bar so that you can loop the kite without the leash getting twisted. I hooked it up like this when I last flew my kite. However, what I am curious about with this setup is how well the kite stays down with the power lines still shorter than the brake lines. It seems like with the leash there the kite can still power up, which is possible with it on the brake lines as well I suppose (in a reverse launch).

It seems to me that the top hat release is the way to go because it actually releases the front lines. I did that a couple of times to test it and it worked great. I would imagine there is not much of a chance that the kite will power up with the front lines slack.

Sorry, "Cut away" meaning using the secondary and final safety system on the bar that disengages the chicken loop assembly from you and your harness and allowing the kite to fly off leaving you unscathed.

Thanks for clarification on the leash set up. As long as you are only attached to a single line, front or rear the kite shouldn't be able to power up unless the other line is somehow restrained and producing tension.

I'll have to take a look at this leash to line set up on our kites. We don't ride the Apexs that often and since they are essentially the same safety system as the Ozones we flew a few years back we never bothered to try to "improve" the way they function. Let face it, the hat system, though not completely fool proof in high winds, work pretty well 99% of the time.

I'm excited. I like tweaking stuff.

Thanks a lot guys!
I'm new to kiting, haven't even got the kite yet. I found an ad on the internet, a used Apex III 7.5. It will hopefully arrive next week in the mail. I ordered a Peter Lynn Base Harness from a webshop, and my friend has a spare leash.
Feels like a new X-mas coming on... :wee:

Quote:

Originally posted by Feyd Sorry, "Cut away" meaning using the secondary and final safety system on the bar that disengages the chicken loop assembly from you and your harness and allowing the kite to fly off leaving you unscathed.

Potato / Pototo....

I always take "Cut Away" to mean

1. Screaming like a little girl
   
   
2. Resorting to a hook knife.
   

ATB,
Sam

I'm having trouble understanding why a leash is needed , is it a back up for accidental unhooking or accidental chicken loop release.

I think think some people just like the extra sense of security in the event that popping the hat followed by popping the chicken loop safety comes into play. My favorite system was the one that came on the Sabre 1 Flexifoil. It was a hybrid of the hat system and spinning leash. Super clean and worked awesome. If you used the secondary safety the chicken loop detached from the bar, stayed attached to you and the lease was attached to it.

I miss that kite.

the landing line (line between the two rear lines) has a small (inch or so) loop in the center. That is where you should attach the safety leash.

The landing line should be underneath the center lines and so should the safety leash.



I am pretty sure that is the standard place to put it. However, if you loop the kite you need to loop it the other way as the leash will wrap around the chicken loop.

P.S. I hated the red top hat safety. I inadvertently released it plenty of times when pumping the kite through a lull.... Grab the center lines too far up when pumping the kite and... woops!

Quote:

Originally posted by snowspider I'm having trouble understanding why a leash is needed , is it a back up for accidental unhooking or accidental chicken loop release.

Accidental un-hooking from the spreader bar. Easier than you might think.

Quote:

Originally posted by elnica P.S. I hated the red top hat safety. I inadvertently released it plenty of times when pumping the kite through a lull.... Grab the center lines too far up when pumping the kite and... woops!

Ditto. I hate top hats and think the sooner foil kites standardize on the 5th line safety, the better.

Elnica, I think your suggestion makes most sense; when the leash is connected to the landing line, the kite will (hopefully) land if you release the chicken loop? Chris; if you connect the leash just above the chicken loop, wouldn't the kite continue flying if you release the chicken loop?
Guess I need to try out all these before I decide... The weather forecast says 15-20 knots here on saturday, might be perfect for safety testing... :-)

fyi- i do the same as Chris when flying my apex and yes hooking where chris said will NOT depower the kite just keeps it from getting away from you if it unhooks- if you want to pop the safety you still need to hit the red hat. In the example that feyd mentioned "cutting away" if you hooked the leash like chris recommended you would still be sliding across the ground but now with the bar 6 ft away from you and would have to hit the secondary safety on the leash to totally release the kite
Scott

Quote:

Originally posted by flyguy0101 In the example that feyd mentioned "cutting away" if you hooked the leash like chris recommended you would still be sliding across the ground but now with the bar 6 ft away from you and would have to hit the secondary safety on the leash to totally release the kite Scott

Which is why that is commonly referred to as a "suicide leash setup".

Quote:

Originally posted by r-ling Chris; if you connect the leash just above the chicken loop, wouldn't the kite continue flying if you release the chicken loop?

Correct. You are using a "leashless" safety system (activated by the red top hat).

I use a leash in the event I accidentally unhook and loose grip of the bar. This prevents my kite from blowing away, while it stays in the air. Reel in the leash, grab the chicken loop & reconnect.

It may not work well on slick, icy surfaces where you have no traction, but with open cell foils in light to moderate winds, I find that pulling the back strap aggressively will bring the kite down in a controlled manor, better than just triggering the top hat.