I know I have posted multiple posts on my depower, but it's only because i have nobody to physically show me. So I been doing well landboarding (cruising back and forth) in 12-15mph winds. HQ says that the second knot on the bar system is recommended one. Everytime i put it there the kite bowties and what not. don't even ask about the trim strap. if i pull it in. the back lines are too slack and the bar is just flimsy. so i leave it all out. so this is what i do, i have it set to the knot closest to the kite, the last knot. and the trim strap all out. I never have a problem with the kite and it never bowties. but because i am inexperienced with depower it makes me feel the that trim strap is useless if i never use it. the bar feels springing in the center and i leave it as is. but is there something wrong with my bridle? i havn't checked to see if the lines are the same length. maybe i am overthinking this because i only feel safe for now in 10-15mph . and i would be using more trim and other knots with higher wind. any advice on what to check?

I haven't seen a Montana but I think your trouble is more in the trim strap. With the trim strap pulled totally in you have shortened the front lines as much as possible and set it to MAX depower. THAT is why your steering is all soft and mushy. You almost never have your trim strap 100% tight or loose. If you are only leaving it alone leave it around the middle.

Your next conflict is expecting it to act like a fixed bridle. If you want that effect unhook from the chicken loop completely and fly " unhooked ". Adjust the trim strap slightly until you find you like how the kites flying.

When flying it hooked in think hard about if you are applying pressure to the front line ( on your harness ) or back lines ( on your bar ).
When the kite is sitting at the edge of the window flying on the front lines produces the least possible power pulling on the back lines will add power but if you over do it they back the kite up, like brakes.
When the kite is in the power zone flying on the front lines tells the kite to speed to the edge of the window so that speed ='s power. To slow that rush to the edge pull in the bar and slow it down, sort of like adding brakes.

Put the kite back on the knotts suggested in the manual and get more intimate with your trim strap. The changes seem subtle but they are not !

I hope that makes sense ? :duh: