Any way to make below the bar trim easier?

[dyyylan]

I've had 2 different brands that have below the bar depower and it's pretty difficult to trim the kite. You have to take the load off the lines either by riding at the kite, or sitting down in the water and pushing the bar all the way out and trimming before the kite falls. If you're overpowered it's very very difficult to pull the damn line out.

Are there any mods I can do to make this not a pain in the ass? Or any special technique? I would like to keep it below the bar because I attach my leash to the depower line, which is nice for riding unhooked.

[TommyDuotone]

I know what you mean dyylan, the Naish and Slingy can be a pain to trim. However, I have a 2011 Slingshot bar that has a little plastic piece of tubing(< 1in.) around the end of the rope. It's butted up against the knob that you pull to trim. The plastic piece does help the rope from getting stuck(a little), but, still not as easy as the above the bar unfortunately
I believe they're making improvements on this however on either the new slingshot or LF(can't remember).
Wish they all were built like the North bar, which IMHO, is the best bar on the market.

[unbob]

Wish they all were built like the North bar, which IMHO, is the best bar on the market.

I know this doesn't address the OP's question, but I have to agree the NKB bar is the best. Trimming with the NKB bar is super easy and a simple design (always the best). I had a 2008 Naish bar with below the bar trim and it was awful - I had the same problems you described.

[laroyboards]

in San Diego we have been dealing with that problem for a long time all u have to do to any below the bar system is to put a pully on the other end of the rope. the rope just is not designed to wrap around a ring and pull easily.

[s29feb]

Put it above the bar?

[BWD]

Better form (waist harness & a straight back helps).
Strength.
Right size kite.
Set up to run at the kite for a sec if you are overpowered, so the pressure is less....

[clydesdale]

rbdc.jpg (20.4 KiB) Viewed 1621 times

[dyyylan]

Better form (waist harness & a straight back helps).
Strength.
Right size kite.
Set up to run at the kite for a sec if you are overpowered, so the pressure is less....

it has nothing to do with right kite size, sometimes the wind fluctuates a bit and you need to trim so you're not oversheeted when you unhook. currently i either just sit in the water and sheet out to trim, or ride straight at the kite, but then you lose ground and it's annoying. is it hard to just mod it to be above the bar? you can depower Switch kites very easily even while you're riding, also with the best bar.

[prayfawind27]

Put it above the bar?

agreed!

[geopeck]

I think that you might want to refine the riding at the kite part. I used to point downwind for a bit if I had to wrestle with it, but now I might be giving up a foot or two, and not even going downwind, more switching from upwind to 90. If you start with the trim in your hand ready to pull, edge upwind, and lean back to load the kite with the bar in, then let let it pull you up over the board and push the bar while you depower you aren't giving up much ground. Essentially you're just bouncing against it like you do when you throw yourself some slack to unhook, and you only need a second's slack because the whole motion is harder to initiate than to continue.

Also if your pulley gets oiled once in a while and your stopper ball isn't in the vicinity of the pulley it's a lot easier. You probably already know that though.