Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2002 10:47 pm
This is a reply to a question asked by toby in the accident thread, i started this new thread because I find it inapropriate to discuss technical issues in the other thread.
@toby
an arc comes stock with no safety system at all (shame on the manufacturer), you have to add one - but regarding the construction an arc is probably one of the safest kitesurfing kites available today.
When you leash one frontline (powerline) and deploy the safety it stretches out like a flag and hangs on the safety with no spins and minimal pull (you can easily hold the kite(s) with two one hand on the safety leash.
From my own experience the safety even works with a Stack of two Arcs (1120 and 840) in winds of over 50 km/h (sudden gusts that surprise me a while ago, windspeed comes from three different measurement points and should be accurate.
You are able to deploy the leash with no danger to you or others anytime and the kite will immediately loose all power and floats to ground. Restart is possible most of the time.
New 2002 Wedged arcs have no noticable performance drawbacks compared to up to date inflatables, only difference is the lighter steering (less force required, therefore maybe some drawback for very advanced spintricks)
In General I would suggest that any kitesurfer should not trust any socalled safety device sold by kite manufacturers. most of the equipement is neither load tested nor manufactured properly compared to e.g. climbing gear.
Always use load tested snap shackles with welded release rings and load test your setup before use. If you use two knotted 300kg Lines as frontlines than you can expect a braking strenght of about 500 kg static, up to 50 percent less if a very sudden shockload (e.g. extreme gusts) occurs.
So it would be wise to load test the shackle / chickenloop assembly to at least 500 kg for proper release.
I carefully load test all my equipement before use, how many of you do ? and how many manufacturers tested their products ?
If you have Tested the safety system of your kite, preferably in extreme real world conditions please post the results so others who are not so familiar with technical issues can read up and build the necessary knowledge for safe kiteboarding.
Fellow Kitesurfers please use your brain and do not follow questionable trends (kitesurfing with no kite safety) like stupid lemmings !
Paul
@toby
an arc comes stock with no safety system at all (shame on the manufacturer), you have to add one - but regarding the construction an arc is probably one of the safest kitesurfing kites available today.
When you leash one frontline (powerline) and deploy the safety it stretches out like a flag and hangs on the safety with no spins and minimal pull (you can easily hold the kite(s) with two one hand on the safety leash.
From my own experience the safety even works with a Stack of two Arcs (1120 and 840) in winds of over 50 km/h (sudden gusts that surprise me a while ago, windspeed comes from three different measurement points and should be accurate.
You are able to deploy the leash with no danger to you or others anytime and the kite will immediately loose all power and floats to ground. Restart is possible most of the time.
New 2002 Wedged arcs have no noticable performance drawbacks compared to up to date inflatables, only difference is the lighter steering (less force required, therefore maybe some drawback for very advanced spintricks)
In General I would suggest that any kitesurfer should not trust any socalled safety device sold by kite manufacturers. most of the equipement is neither load tested nor manufactured properly compared to e.g. climbing gear.
Always use load tested snap shackles with welded release rings and load test your setup before use. If you use two knotted 300kg Lines as frontlines than you can expect a braking strenght of about 500 kg static, up to 50 percent less if a very sudden shockload (e.g. extreme gusts) occurs.
So it would be wise to load test the shackle / chickenloop assembly to at least 500 kg for proper release.
I carefully load test all my equipement before use, how many of you do ? and how many manufacturers tested their products ?
If you have Tested the safety system of your kite, preferably in extreme real world conditions please post the results so others who are not so familiar with technical issues can read up and build the necessary knowledge for safe kiteboarding.
Fellow Kitesurfers please use your brain and do not follow questionable trends (kitesurfing with no kite safety) like stupid lemmings !
Paul