attaching the chicken loop through the hole on spreader bar

[bnthere]

based on the shape of most harness hooks and the design of many harness loops, I would also be concerned about the harness loop jamming in the harness hook after releasing.


I would like to know why everyone is so paranoid and uncomfortable about getting unhooked by accident.

you get unhooked by surprise, you let go of the bar, the kite flags out, you reset it and keep going.

what is the big deal?

eventually, you'll realize that you can just grab the harness loop with one hand in order to fly the kite with power control while you hook back in.

if you think flagging out a kite and resetting it to continue riding is a problem, you need to practice it.

[herbert]

I agree with the comments concerning the safety of attaching the through one of the sides of the hook. I tested it a bunch of times on dry land on three of my bars. While it released every time, sometimes it wasn't a clean release. With hard traction, the loop deforms with nearly a kink in the plastic loop. If it was placed such that the released end hits against the neighboring hook side, the friction along with the kink can inhibit a quick and clean release. While the risk is probably small, it may be highest when you least want it, being dragged face down across the beach toward a rock jetty.

The think the idea of pinching the hook a bit (just a bit) might be safer.

An accidental release is inconvenient. An accidental non-release is very serious. Several unlikely events happening together is how deaths occur.

All that being said...if you don't ride unhooked, as per Taut above, just consider getting the boardriding maui CS bar (and even remove the hook if you wish).

[dblass]

I would also be concerned about the uneven force aplied to the hook in this configuration increasing the possibility of your hook breaking.

I solved the accidental unhooking by covering the donkey dick with plastic tubing.

Never had a accidental unhook after adding the "condom" to the dick. Safe kiting!

[NHKitesurfer]

based on the shape of most harness hooks and the design of many harness loops, I would also be concerned about the harness loop jamming in the harness hook after releasing.


I would like to know why everyone is so paranoid and uncomfortable about getting unhooked by accident.

you get unhooked by surprise, you let go of the bar, the kite flags out, you reset it and keep going.

what is the big deal?

eventually, you'll realize that you can just grab the harness loop with one hand in order to fly the kite with power control while you hook back in.

if you think flagging out a kite and resetting it to continue riding is a problem, you need to practice it.

It's one thing to accidentally unhook on the beach when launching, landing or just standing there and all can be frightening. But it's 10x worse when you are jumping and as you rise you accidentally unhook. This happened once and it was a $hit show.

So far problem solved by adding material to donkey dick.

[Johnny Rotten]

I would like to know why everyone is so paranoid and uncomfortable about getting unhooked by accident.

you get unhooked by surprise, you let go of the bar, the kite flags out, you reset it and keep going.

what is the big deal?

I agree unhooking should NOT be a big deal, however I disagree with your approach, just grab the chickenloop and hook it back in.

Not being able to handle your kite unhooked is kinda like not being able to body drag to get your board. Improve your skills. There are cases in the surf where a steel ring on a rope makes a lot of sense but still you should be able to handle it.

I understand that handlepasses aren't everyones cup of tea, but go out and throw some raleys and stop being ignorant on how to handle your kite.

[nherbold]

+1

[Laughingman]

Hi Laughinman!

Do you have a picture?

Thanks!

Not exactly but I do have a sliding ring on my spreader bar and I pass my chicken loop through that. Basically the same. Safety wise.

Sure.

[KiteboardingTampaBay]

Yep, unhooking needs to be practiced just like body dragging to retrieve your board- it's definitely gonna happen, so learn not to freak out and get yourself hooked back in. People get freaked out because their instructor probably never taught them what to do.

Without board- Get in some shallow water with nothing else around you. Put your hands in close to the center of the bar and unhook. You'll feel the power of the kite until you simply grab the chicken loop and sheet out. You can usually do this with one hand by having your hands towards the center of the bar and grabbing the loop with 1 hand, and contunue steering with the other.

If you're riding on the board and come unhooked, DON'T FREAK OUT. Let off your edge a bit and go downwind while you thrust your hips forward/ pull bar to your hips to hook in. Practice it a few times per session and you won't be scared if it anymore.

If you're coming unhooked at the end of your jump when you land, you're probably sending the kite too far, swinging to the other side of the power zone, and getting slack in the lines as you plop down like a rock. Work on your jump technique (send the kite less, redirect a little quicker) to maintain line tension.

Happy Kiting,
-KTB

[L0KI]

The guy who taught me to kite (a decade or so ago) said that I should always launch unhooked, and if I could not hold the kite's power, then I was on the wrong sized kite, ....and to bring the kite right back into the hands of your helper launcher person.
Those were the days when all inflatable kites were C kites that had very little depower, so we did not ride around super overpowered.
Modern bridled SLE Bows/Deltas etc allow so much depower they tend to promote riding lit as hell and in some cases, more than some can hold when unhooked.
Everyone has gone to a hooked in/depowered launch (it's what is taught now) which can be a problem for those that are unaware of how much power they will be holding at full power.
I had no donkey dick and a loop that did not open for at least the first year I kited (home made bar and line set up), so the chicken loop came off the hook all the time when I did not want it to, but had no release if things went bad.
I had to learn what to do when it slipped off pretty quick....either pull that sucker to the hook or grab the chicken loop with one hand and sheet out with the other, and hook back in.
If you ride with no donkey dick for a month, you will learn to pay attention to your loop.
These days, if you ride hooked all the time, cut the hook off and run a rope strung from left to right on the remaining hook frame base and attach your loop to the rope.
Cuts down on the possibility of your hook contributing to a death loop situation, among several other nice benefits.