Best Bars maybe not so great?

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 561 Posts Hood River Photographer

Did a downwinder from Stevenson to Hood River, well that was the idea... at Viento State Park a gust hit me and broke my bar in half.

Anyone else have this happen? This bar wasn't used more than 12 times.

KiteKarl · Since 02 Mar 2005 213 Posts Stockton, California Stoked

My Best bar broke on me at Sherman a few weeks ago. Had maybe 60 or so sessions on it. The plastic piece that screws into the bar and holds the leader broke. Not the best design since the seam in the plastic is where the screw hole is drilled. The two need to be offset, not a hard thing to do, just takes some design intelligence. I'm using my old cabrinha now and at least that's pretty bomber. The new bars haven't been improved upon. There are a few things Best needs to work on.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2025 Posts Windward

Bar that is screwed or riveted or has eye scoops or metal shit that hits you in the face is no good, also aluminium is out ,
I will use my Old Naish bar which is carbon and no hard anything on my new warpo's

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 561 Posts Hood River Photographer

Some shots...

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

I saw about 10 guys leave from Stevenson doing a down winder to Hood River........I just arrived to Stevenson from Hood River as you guys were launching. The wind in Hood River was at least 7M (22 to 35 mph) and most of you guys left on 12m kites....good for what Stevenson was dishing out at the time.

As I found out you guys were going on a downwinder I thought to myself...Good Luck with that. I was wondering if and how many problems you guys would run into. It must have been a pretty good gust to snap that bar.

Did everybody just leave you and continue on?

Was it fun or was it more survival riding.

I have never done a downwinder but would really like to give it a go, maybe from Stevenson to Home Valley.

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 561 Posts Hood River Photographer

Must have been another group.

I was on a 7 yarga. The largest kite with us was a 9 maybe 10 flat kite.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

Damn that's brutal, I posted it on their forum for you:

edit: Lance already posted it on another thread:

http://forum.bestkiteboarding.com/viewtopic.php?t=2485

adrianczm · Since 06 Mar 2006 89 Posts Cozumel, Mexico

Wow, that was crazy. I have never seen something liek that and I have seen people and I personally have gotten cought by squals one time with my 12mt kite (wont say brand to avoid issues) and work my self to safe place while hardly riding on the kites and never even got a bar bent.

No offend but Cheap is always expensive!!!

Also consider that it might have been an isolated case. Murphys law its called?

Adrian

jahmbi · Tue Jul 04, 06 11:26 pm **bars**

things like that happen...i broke a naish bar around 2000,? floras lake gusty southerlies....the round ones remember??...southern oregon is so awsome ............ deep south...............

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 561 Posts Hood River Photographer

Billy LaMotte and Jeff Gansneder from Best hooked me up with a new set up.

The bar was past it's warrenty but they were happy to fix the situation.

Very Happy

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 424 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

Now that's a good outcome. No one hurt and good service for the company. Did they want you to send the bar back to see what happened?

lance_k · Since 04 May 2005 561 Posts Hood River Photographer

I sent them some high res photo's of the mess. They have since moved on from that bar design.