I hade something interesting occur today...
At some point my chickenloop became disengaged from my spreader bar.
I let go of the bar expecting the safety leash to flag the kite to one line. This did not occur. Instead the safety leash was ripped from my wrist, and the kite took off downwind.
When I finally managed to retrieve the kite I examined everything carefully before I started rigging back up. The safety release on the chickenloop had not been released accidently so it must have been a result of riding with the bar too close for too long. Someone pointed this out to me so theres a lesson learned there.
The leash was connected to the appropriate line (left hand side) and the velcro tabs which hold the line in place were still done up. A quick, but not too hard tug on the ring disengaged the velcro and pulled the line in.
At this point, unless someone can offer an alternative explaination, I'm going to assume that the leash was snagged on something between my wrist at the point at which it attaches to the line. I showed the bar and associated bits and pieces to someone more experienced on the beach, and they seemed pretty sure that the kite should have flagged.
Basiclly, I'd like to know whether it is common for the safety leash to fail in this way, and whether there are any steps that can be taken to avoid it.
Also, big thanks to the guys who helped retrieve my kite and board, I think I got half way to Broome walking down the beach...
was your leash attached to your wrist - if so dont use this method - have it attach to your harness - I know the airush kit comes with a wrist strap but toss it - too dangerous.
My wrist agrees with you!
How do I do this, remove the wrist strap and use the next velcro bit up the leash to attach it to the harness? At what point do I attach it to the harness?
u can purchase the velcro bit ether for a spinning leash system or fixed. check your airush dealer.
yeah take the leash off and attach to one of the rings on your hareness - I loop mine through using just the leash only - but if you cant do this - airush dealers or yacht shops will have the devices you need.
Also the airush leashes dont have another form of safety - if you were in a position to totally release the kite from you - I am thinking about another brand of leash for my airush kites - too many stories out there when things go wrong...
Is the ring on a harness supposed to take that kind of strain? That was my first thought, I suppose the safety is supposed to trigger very easily.
i use the airush leash as it 1 of the only leashs that dnt accidently come off [}:)] but thats a different storie if u want to use your wrist leash i have used 1 for months now i have just rigged a handle pass leash on the back of my harness and put the wrish hole through there it hasnt come loose once and lance kenny the leashs do have a safety realese you have to pull the velcro!!!
hear what you are saying bellz - but try and release that sucker when its under full strain!! Tried once as a test and found it was near on impossible - but hey I could have been doing something wrong too ??
As for the rings on the rings on the harness - yep they are designed to take that much load - if it doesnt then it needs to go back to where you bought it from - always pays to do a test too on a lighter wind day just to make sure everything works as it should. Can never be too familiar with your safety gear and how to operate it!
Hi Guys,
Interesting thread, Kalavas, No idea what happened to you???? Haven't heard of this happening, unless the wrist cuff wasn't done up properly nice and snug. We did have a customer whos watch was ripped off with the leash so if you wear a watch, put the wrist cuff between your hand and your watch or wear the watch on the other wrist.
All Airush leashes come with a quick release, even the shorter Vapor leashes without the cuff come with a QR, as Bellz said, you only need pull the velcro'd loop.
If you don't want to wear the wrist cuff around your wrist, and I don't, put the wrist cuff around your spreader bar. Don't trust the little rings on most harnesses, they just wont take the load of a runaway kite if it is tangled when it is let go, and make sure you have a safety cut away device like the velcro release or a witchard snap shackle.
You can also buy the Airush "Spinning leash thingy" (patented name 
) and attach that to your spreader bar hook. You then attach the leash to the spinning velcro thingy.
If this doesn't make sense, drop into Airborne in Ozzy Park or failing that I can probably get one for you and help you rig it up, if you are around Pinnaroo.
Good winds,
you can put the wrist strap onto the spreader bar, leave that there permanently and attach/detach the other velcro QR thingo at the end of the leash to/from the wrist strap on the spreader bar.
the spinnning leash connector thingy is better though
I would rather not have the wrist leash on my wrist to be honest, it has an annoying tendency to snag on the left hand end of my bar. Perhaps thats what caused the problem in the first instance?
How much do the "spinning leash thingy" go for?
Hi Kalavas,
The leash swivel thingy is $40 incl GST. Airborne should have them in stock.
Good winds,
Hey Kalavas,
I also now have stock, so if your keen, let me know.
Also just picked up the latest in the progression series of DVD's "Professional" It has 23 of the toughest tricks in the sport from Raley to blind to Kiteloop back roll 3 and back mobe 7 etc.
A nice stocking filler
Good winds,
I'll probably grab one next time I'm at pinaroo, that way I have my bar and harness with me so theres no confusion!
Currently working on the trick "staying up on the board for more than about 20 meters without crashing in a spectacular fashion", got anything helpful for that level of skill?
Picked up one of these babies today and I have to say I'm loving it. Not even aware of the safety leash at all. Totally recommended.
