Utah Windriders Association

Last night i showed up at Lincoln beach to ride the wind. Everyone on the water was lit on 7 and 8 meter kites. I pumped my 7 in anticipation of some great times. I launched and started riding only to notice that the wind was punchy and weird. After 2 tacks I decided to call it quits and went to shore to land. I signaled for a catch and started lowering my kite when a gust came through and started pulling me down the rocky dirt. Before I even knew what was happening I was getting drug and bounced all over the place. I was completely out of control. I heard people yelling at me to release my kite so I yanked the tab only to discover I was still attached and still getting pummeled around. Eventually the kite landed, and fortunately Don got to it and laid it down. There I was on the ground, bleeding a bit from my elbows and back, but able to walk away. I had been drug for probably 150 feet.
The problem I faced once I was safe was trying to figure out why the chicken loop hadn't' worked. The pin had been yanked but the loop was still connected. Jake and I messed around with it for a while afterward and discovered it is defective. It is too bad it took me getting messed up to figure this out.
The reason I am writing this message is twofold. Firstly; I want to thank everyone who helped me so that this kitemare ended in only scratches, and secondly; I want to encourage everyone to give their safety mechanisms a good run through test. It was a little discouraging to discover in an emergency that the equipment I was trusting my life to was dysfunctional. I am glad that it turned out okay.
Thanks again to everyone who lended their assistance.
-Chris

Chris glad you are okay!! please tell what kind of equipment failed? what exactly failed?

Saw that from a distance, i was down at the water. Glad you're ok.

Everytime i end a session, if someone is catching my kite, i pull the release as soon as the kite is caught (you need to actually pull the CL away from you if there is no tension on the lines). This accomplishes 3 things.
1) i know the release is working
2) i'm training my body to know where the release is and how it works without thinking about it
3) i'm detached from the kite right away - i also release my leash.

The third point could help control a real danger point that i think a lot of people ignore. I've seen people winding the lines without releasing the leash and often not even the CL. If a big gust or just inattention by the catcher lets the kite get away from him and you've already started winding the lines with CL and/or leash still attached to you, you are F'd. Even if you don't want to go thru pulling the release, detach from the kite right away after landing.

I spent a ton of time last year designing and testing chicken loop quick releases (QRs). As some of you know I'm trying to sell my designs. THE FACT IS, MOST QRs DO NOT WORK WELL, EVEN some NEW MODELS!

I see lots of kiters here in UT with old bars. If a bar and QR is over three years old it may be a huge safety issue. I mean IT DOSENT WORK RIGHT! OR AT ALL.

From my testing, I rate TOP QRs as follows:
1. Naish Universal 4 line ( Naish owns the patent on Push Away )
2. Ozone Bar
3. Last years Best Redline Bar
4. Mine, 3B Carbon Push Away (I am still working on perfecting it)

Every time I fly, I am prepared to eject. Whether it is a Jet or my Best Kites.
Chris, love you bro. Glad you are ok. You gave my students a real lesson last night.

glad you are alright man!

The new liquid force cpr release is very very nice, I just upgraded my bar, love it. Tons of depower, very reliable, easy to operate, and(almost) idiot proof release system.

I have BEST bars, which I was not to stocked on. I modified them for $50 a piece by installing the Ocean Rodeo quick realease on the inside only, I purchased from Windance and installed myself. This alows me to depower the kite under the bar. And it allows for a release point under the bar which will totally depower the kite and land it LE down, I have tried it and I have seen Jason Klien in a bad launch senario do the same and the kite landed LE down. I am stocked and feel safe with my setup. I am on the second mod, as the first I used was the Slingshot under the bar release, still have if anybody wants?? I just liked the smooth action of the Ocean Rodeo release. Occassionally the Slingshot would accidently release, no fun either. I had to add a pulley and a mickey mouse ears. This is not necessary as you could just use the Best setup, I just wanted to save that stuff in case I ever sold. If I did it over I would make my own bar with the stuff I have now, A carbon bar, Ocean Rodeo insides and the best swivel and front line attachments. My bar rocks!!

Hey Todd, could yo send me a close up pic of your Best bar mod and details about the conversion please? I don't trust mine much and would love to change them for the better.

Most chicken loops are well designed these days, but some are better than others. I looked at the Naish bar that Don mentioned above when i was looking for new bars last fall. I ended up going with the OR bar. The CL is just a simple and elegant design. No metal/mechanical parts to jam or rust. good pics of it (and the rest of the bar) in the below link. I previously had the '07 OR bar for about 3 years which worked on the same principle, the current bar is just a much slicker version. I had no problems in 3 years of use on the old bar and no problems in 8 months or so on the new one. Feel free to have a look at mine when you see me out.

http://windydevil.com/shop/2010-sle-bar-p-109.html?osCsid=641ed68cec61d8f46a07ecf7a7c814a5

They sell just the CL/depower assembly. You can get these where Todd mentioned, also, Jon Manwarring is the local dealer for OR and he will probably save you a few $.

Jason
Thanks for the plug. However, Windance is the #1 USA dealer for Ocean Rodeo and I can't beat their prices on Parts and Pieces. Also, they often throw in shipping and of course no UT sales tax. Now on Big Stuff, like Kites, Bars and Dry Suits it's a different story. I can usually save you money. I can also get Slingshot, Cabrhina, North, Naish, and OZONE and make you the good the 'BRO" deal!
Jon
aka Mountain Top Kites
jon@mtkites.com

Dustin give me a call.
todd
435-901-3120