Interesting kite control system

[mdh01]

I ran across a self-launching line winder kite bar in the Feb 2004 edition of kiteboardingmag. Looks like an interesting product for us beginners...anyone actually seen one of these in use?

http://www.kitecontrolsystems.com

Mark

[Tom L]

I have a Flowbee Reel Bar that I bought back in '99 when I had absolutely no knowledge of kiting. I don't think the designers had any knowledge of kiting either. It had a total of 3" of depower travel. They just don't work that well. It's also a huge amount of weight to be swinging around with at high speed.

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/offdal/96-reelbar.html The price listed is ridiculous. Mine cost a 1/3 of that.

Anyway......my opinon, you are much better off learning various methods of drift launching or maybe a Turbo Launcher, if you need to self launch or self drift launch.

[Jim N]

Check out their video on the Live 2 Kite website. I think it looks like a 2 liter pop bottle . Hmmmm, perhaps some Norwegian Jimgineering and I'll cook one up in the garage...Isn't that how Gates got started?

[mdh01]

So, has anyone actually tried one of these kite line winder thingies...the concept sounds interesting, but wondering how practical it is from real experience...if it was a $25 accessory I would buy and try, but at $65 plus $15 for shipping, it makes you go hmmmmm....

http://www.kitelauncher.com/

Mark