Leashes

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:58 pm

Mike I can see that, but a spreader bar is a bad idea.

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:15 pm

Wow, is there really no better solution out there for the front line leash connect? As far as I know this is THE solution for almost all bows and hybrids out there. Sounds like there have been a few situations here that have gotten so messed up that releasing the kite was the only solution. Surprised it hasn't been improved.

The early TDs first came out with a ring, to hook your leash on, on the end of the adjustment strap, which was below the bar. I thought it was a slick solution becuase it would fully depower the kite if you broke out of the chicken loop, even if the stopper ball was down low. But they moved to front line attachment later in the year. I am assuming because as I mentioned above, fully depowered is not the same as flagged (on tube kites).

Actually, I forgot. Tom mentioned a spinning leash. That is a good solution. If you have a fairly taught leash coming down from the front line attachment and hook it on a spinning hook, then you'll have less chance to get a situation where that leash is wrapping everything else.

hmm

Nathan B · Post by **Nathan B** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:45 pm

Chris is this a new trick u invented the pop then load , I normally load then pop! JK

sht this weekend I was on the 12 ranger landed pretty hot and had to let go so my arm didnt rip out and I was hooked up suicide the way mike b
mentioned and it riped my metal loop on my harness right off!!bye bye kite good thing it was a foil cause they normaly just lay down,
shoot LEI would have been gondi>

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:38 pm

I wear a leash religiously, but get frustrated with all the tangles & spend alot of time un-tangling it so I know it'll work. Last week I popped the safety, not realizing it had wrapped around both front lines. Luckily I was able to reel in the leash, and grab one front line to flag it. Even when I wear the sure fire spreader with the spinning leash, I still get tangles. Any ideas for preventing or eliminating the tangled leash syndrome? I hate to say this, but that is one feature I liked about the 5th line system.

JN

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:44 pm

Like most Frenzy riders I use a shackle, if you pop the top hat the kites down O power.I mean O no pull , no flagging, no relaunch it's done.
I don't go unhooked, shoulders are too wrecked, like Mike say's 5 years shackle has never released. With the brake /relaunch system on the Frenzy a leash would actually cause more problems/tangles that it's worth, especially if you were looping.
As I said I'd never ride leashless in water but with an Ozone on the snow I have no qualms at all.

ice_kmauve · Post by **ice_kmauve** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:58 pm

On the water, how about use a frenzy bar with your LEI? It would still totally power way down once you activated the "hat" thing (which really just adds about 5 feet of length to the front lines). Then you could get rid of the leash entirely.

My Cabrinha Element has a depower like that and it does really kill the power on the kite when activated.

JRN · Post by **JRN** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:01 pm

I'm working up an idea for a Home Brewed Norwegian Engineering solution. I think alot of these tangles would be lessened if the entire hook spins on the spreader bar. On the front the CL would attach, and further
back on the shaft, the leash on another rotating attachment like the SureFire set-up. If the CL rotated along with the leash they would not tangle, both moving in the same direction simultaneously. With the present design, the CL is stationary, while leash wraps around it. I foresee a trip to the stainless fastener aisle of the Hardware Store.

JN

Nathan B · Post by **Nathan B** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:03 pm

jim I think peterlynn harnesses have that type of hook on there spreader bar.

chanrider · Post by **chanrider** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:19 pm

Below is from an old Tom L post in October showing his spinnable hook. This looks to be a good solution for hooked in bow riders. Plagiarizing other people's posts is so much easier than creating original content!

...this makes any leash spinnable. The little ring to the upper left is where you attach your leash. Although I agree with you the 5th line to the center of the kite is about the best depower I've ever used. A flagged bow in high winds can be a hand full. This one is no good for handle passers.

Swivel Kite Release Unit (SKRU) http://www.live2kite.com/product_info.p ... ar_web.jpg[/img]

Si · Post by Si » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:32 pm

a response to the ozone hat emergency system- Kirst was flying my ozone 10m, a gust hit and as a new rider it tipped her over, the kite flew to the edge of the window and crumpled and twisted, she pulled the hat as the kite was spinning and balled up and due to the balling up of the kite it had no effect, it released, but the kite still drug her. she had the presence of mind due to practicing safety features to pop the chicken loop system and we tackled the kite. i had never seen any problem with the hat system depowering before that. i think her leash was attatched to the depower webbing. she was also able to release that before she was drug too far.

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:56 pm

Yep ChanBoy you got the ticket. The Professor Robbie E. & I have used the SKRU for a number of years. If you ride hooked, the ballbearing swivel shackle w/leash attachment point is slick. Lasts forever in fresh water.

chanrider · Post by **chanrider** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:44 pm

Dang ChanBoy you did good!

Hey if it costs lots of $$$ I'll pimp it... Spleene, spinning hooks, Ferrari, Dyson, bring it on!

But seriously folks, what kind of leash do you use with the SKRU? I assume it should be "taut" and light so it spins nicely. So a heavy long thick floppy (no offense anyone!) SS leash not so good?

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:55 pm

Here is a photo of my rig with a DIY leash attached to the SKRU and a front line. I made it myself so the length would be just right. It is similar to a windsurf uphaul with shock cord inside of a nylon tube/webbing. It has a QR also. The leash is never very slack, no matter where the bar is.

chanrider · Post by **chanrider** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:15 pm

Thanks, Tom!

I think this solution is worth serious consideration for TD riders. Although I use the standard SS leash hooked below the chicken loop, this set up seems mucho bettero. Gets you attached to the flagging ring w/o massive tangle opportunity. Someone just please send Tom's solution to SS!

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:07 pm

what am I missing here, isn't Tom's system identical to the SS system? What makes his system different is his spreader bar/shackle system. A spinning leash attachment like he has would be of benefit to ALL bow users not just TD riders like you suggest. (correct me if I'm wrong).

While SS did have the surefire system (with spinning leash) for awhile I don't think they are currently focusing their efforts on spreader bars. There are two other spinning systems out there that I know of. Naish has a spinning leash as well as Peter Lynn (as Nathan mentioned). Since bows/hybrids are so popular hopefully someone like Dakine or Pro-limit will add them to their harnesses.

Good discussion, cept as always it looks like the best solution is the most expensive.

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:22 am

There is a guy who posts on Cabrinha (neil pryde forum), and KF, who has posted some well thought out DIY ideas for swivel leashes. He has pictures. His username is "Kruzlifix" on either forum.

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:26 am

Found it. Thread on leashes at KF. You might find other ideas on this thread, too.

http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2330662

chanrider · Post by **chanrider** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:27 am

Tighe:

I have not flown a bow other than the TD so am pretty clueless about how a spinning hook/leash might apply to them, but it looks like it would help my specific situation with the TD is all I was saying.

Reading thru the KF thread Tom posted it sounds like people are "unleashing" a little frustration about how to safely leash many types of bows.

As happy as I was to get rid of the 5th line for convenience sake during set up, it was reliable, stable way to depower & flag the kite (& a good place to attach a leash). Gulp, has anyone ever considered putting a 5th line on a TD or other bow? Might be nice to have if you are taking the kite out in overpowered conditions?

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:07 pm

Slingshot and Ozone (there are more) both have bow/hybrids that fly off of a 5 line platform. I have found that the safety is increased by this but they don’t re-launch as nice as the bridled versions.

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:12 pm

But with the 5th line if you do pull the QR it will re-launch .

LAKAWA

Leashes

Leash tangles

Spinning Hook