Excuse me if this topic has been covered... But... Has anyone got any thoughts on removing the chicken loop and donkeydick from their bar and replacing it with a simple but strong Carabiner? (To bring the bar closer to the body - for those poor fockers with short arms)
Or is this a ridiculous idea?
Many thanks : )
People do. But search for wichard trigger release shackle instead of carabiner.
You need the quick release and a wichard like this offers you that:
www.marinesuperstore.com/deck-hardware/shackles/trigger-snap-shk-eye-70mm
You have to take responsibility for your own problems though as your going off-piste and into purpose built bars. One thing to bear in mind is that chicken loops tend to be a minimum size to allow you to fully steer the kite. Get the bar too close to your body and you'll start to get your body in the way of the bar when you steer the kite. Hence why the Cabrinha buttball thing is only marginally shorter than the regular chicken loop system.
Two of the normal solutions are:
- Get a kite with a short bar throw (Rebel, Diamond, Alana etc) and then use the trim to actually tune the kite instead of riding long armed.
- Buy or build a clone of the BRM cloud bar (CCS) (boardridingmaui.com/connection-ccs.html)
You'll find more discussion of this stuff on the other forum (the one thats obsessed with safety) as those guys never bother unhooking. 
Please read this www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Overview-of-safety-systems/?page=2
Use a shackle that can be released. Do not use a carabiner, use a seat harness.
Select to expand quoteFreddofrog said..
Was on the safety leash not chicken loop but worth being aware of.
Why do you call it a 'safety' leash ?
Death-leashes have been the direct cause of some fatalities.
Select to expand quotewaveslave said..
Why do you call it a 'safety' leash ?
Death-leashes have been the direct cause of some fatalities.
Because it flags the kite to a single line and depowers the kite rendering it a lot safer than one thats dragging your unconscious body, or your kite is let loos to entangle someone else.
I'm not aware of any leash causing a fatality, but I am aware of some poorly designed chicken loop releases being implicated (but not 100% proven). If you are going to make statements like that, name your source, post the evidence please.
I Did what you'r thinking some time ago, problem is many systems from boat shops don't release under load, or can release if bumped, so make sure what you get is safe and well tested
Select to expand quoteTerryMcTool said..waveslave said..
Why do you call it a 'safety' leash ?
Death-leashes have been the direct cause of some fatalities.
Because it flags the kite to a single line and depowers the kite rendering it a lot safer than one thats dragging your unconscious body, or your kite is let loos to entangle someone else.
I'm not aware of any leash causing a fatality, but I am aware of some poorly designed chicken loop releases being implicated (but not 100% proven). If you are going to make statements like that, name your source, post the evidence please.
Ummmm
....the first sentence of my post was a rhetorical question.
I wasn't attempting to elicit false information.
I was simply pointing out the irony of the bloody hand with the term 'safety'.
lol.
