Emergency bar release

richshunter · Since 22 Jun 2008 11 Posts St. Louis, MO New Member

While watching kiters perfecting new tricks at Stephenson, I was impressed with their natural tendency to just release the bar when out of control, and the kite would almost totally depower. This of course, was the last thing I would want to do with my older kites, and I hope I can get into the habit of releasing the control bar when needed with the kites I purchase.

However, I noticed the kites, though not pulling hard on the rider with the bar released, often crashed hard onto the water. This is certainly not good for the kite. Rider safety is certainly more important than the kite, so I presume I should become aware of when to bail and when to maintain a grip on the bar to try to keep the kite off the water.

Of course this has the drawback that if I miscalculate while disoriented in the air or water, the kite could crash even harder while maintaining a hold on the bar.

Is this an accurate observation and assessment of new kite emergency bar releases? Also, do the kites tend to usually crash hard with a bar release if they are already heading down at release, or any other position at the time of bar release?

An aside, I don't think I have ever just released the bar on water going back to my first body drag Sept 99, as I would also have had to unhook/uncleat and that would have been the end of the session with a self rescue, so this may be a very tough habit to break now.

In one instance at the end of my 2nd kite session in 1999 with a two line 5.0 Wipeka with no safety system at all, I tried to set the kite down on the sand bar off the Event site, after a mostly body drag from The Hook. I was overpowered, tea bagging, with no way to drop the kite without loosing it and possibly injuring swimmers at the Marina. While bouncing the kite on the sand being drug horizonally, I tried to uncleat the caribiner that the right power line was attached to the bar with an I-bolt. During this effort, the bar twisted while still hooked, and I was holding it backwards unknowingly. I was violently drug side to side down and over the sand bar all the way to the Marina dragging a saucer shaped wake board at the end of a leash attached to my ankle. I finally realized it was backward, untwisted it, and body dragged into the shallow Marina swimming area. I yelled for help and a outgoing windsurfer, who may have never seen a wanabe kiter, jumped off his board and grabbed the kite.

Rich

laura · Since 22 May 2007 111 Posts Stoked

just buy the new kites, have some nice new experiences, enough of blah blah blah....

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 264 Posts Obsessed

Have C-kites evolved a lot compared to 3-4 years ago (re-launch and de-power)? Or are they just slight improvements? I realize the bows are much different, since I've had both, but haven't tried the new Cs. Even if I rode the new C kites, I don't think i could make a comparision based on my previous experience since I never made the commitment to be a proficient rider until last year, and thus, never gave the old c-kites a decent chance.

richshunter · Since 22 Jun 2008 11 Posts St. Louis, MO New Member

OK PKH and Laura, I guess I am over thinking this. I'm afraid demo-ing these new kites has infected me with "thought bacteria." As soon as my emergency immune system activates, I'll purchase the new kites.

By the way, how do I get beyond the "Kook" moniker/label. Is it based on the number of posts? I was hoping it was based on the number of words posted. Smile

In fact, how did I get the "Kook" label it in the first place? I think it used to be blank like Laura's. I see Nick with Naish is a "Kook" too, so I am clearly in good company. My assumption is it is the default label if one doesn't have an avatar.

I tried and failed to add an avatar, which I thought would give me a text box to get rid of "Kook". Lawn Mower, sometimes if it means going back and forth with demo kites. Kook, no way it it means "reckless" as I suspect. Where's a glossary for kitesuring? We three kitesurfers in St. Louis don't talk like this. Razz

Rich