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Originally, the harness bar only had one attachment on each end for the webbing. While this does do the trick, newer bars with multiple attachment points allow you to get a better fit, are more comfortable and help keep the bar and harness from riding up your chest. Some also have a slot in the middle and a separate adjustable strap that cinches down to do an even better job of holding the spreader bar down. Mystic, Ion, and Neil Pryde have multiple attachment points to keep the harness spreader bar from riding up.
In the old days, you had to feed the webbing through the attachment slots every time you put your harness on. Now, things have gotten a lot easier. Some bars have mechanical release while others have some sort of hook and loop closure, so you don't have to adjust the straps every time. Neil Pryde, Mystic, Ion, and Ride Engine all have some version of this.
Back in the day, we all attached our long leashes to the back of the harness. Now, we're a bit smarter. Bad things can happen even after using the safety release. Sometimes the emergency release doesn't work as when the center line wraps around the bar preventing the bar from traveling away from you. When this happens, the kite may begin doing the "death loop" requiring you to release from the safety leash which can be very hard to do if the release is behind your back! A leash attachment in the front will be much easier to reach should this happen to you. The fact of the matter is, unless you are doing handle pass tricks, there is no legitimate reason to use a long leash attached to the back of your harness. It is far safer to attach it to the front using a short leash and safer still to use a spreader bar with a dedicated leash attachment point vs attaching it to the spreader bar hook as this can get in the way of the proper function of the release. Neil Pryde and Mystic have a dedicated leash attachment on the front.
All spreader bars used to be made of stainless steel. Yeah, it did the job but now some companies are using some lighter weight composites. Neil Pryde and ION have lightweight composite spreader bars that significantly reduces the weight of your harness.
All modern spreader bars also have a spreader bar pad. This makes the harness significantly more comfortable as it protects you from the spreader bar digging into your chest.
The size of the Control Bar has a direct influence on how quickly the kite turns. Larger kites are generally paired with longer bars since big kites turn slower than small kites although if you like a slow turning kite you can use a shorter than recommended bar to make your kite slower turning. The same goes for small kites, if you want the kite to turn faster, you can use a longer than recommended bar to achieve a faster turning setup. In general you will find the recommended size to be best as a short bar on a big kite will feel too slow in most cases and a long bar with a small kite will feel squirrely.
One great way to get more out of your Control System is to get an adjustable bar. These bars have adjustable lengths that allow you to use the same bar with multiple sized kites. With a simple adjustment the bar can be made longer or shorter depending on what sized kite you are flying. This can save you both time and money as you don't need multiple bars and you don't need to run back to your car for a different bar when you switch kites. The Cabrinha Overdrive, the Duotone Trust Bar, the Liquid Force Mission Control, and the Naish Torque all have the ability to adjust the bar in this way.
Whether the depower adjustment is located above or below the bar is a matter of your personal preference. Below the bar systems have the advantage keeping the above the bar area uncluttered while the above the bar systems have the advantage of keeping the below the bar area uncluttered. Some riders find the below the bar systems to be hard to adjust when overpowered. Others find the dangle of the depowered above the bar systems to be distracting. If you ride wakestyle, you'll probably prefer an above the bar system that has a cleaner chicken loop for unhooking and hooking back in. Some Brands do it one way while others have both configurations. For instance Cabrinha and Liquid Force only do it above the bar while Naish has both options. Yet another option gives you the best of both worlds with its Click bar that has the depower neither above nor below but rather integrated into the bar itself. While this is superior to the other options, it will cost you a bit more and as of this post the Click Bar does not have length adjustability.
Whether the main power line is coated or uncoated is another personal preference to consider. Cabrinha, Duotone, and Liquid Force bars all have a sheathed center line while Naish's and Slingshot's center lines are not coated. Sheathed center lines have the advantage of not binding on the center bar hole when steering the kite. The solution is simply a matter of technique though. If you try to turn the kite and then pull it, the coated center line will not travel freely, but if you pull the bar in first you won't have this problem. Uncoated main lines allow you to pull the bar in without binding regardless of whether you angle the bar first, second, or simultaneously. The major advantage of a coated center line is that the PU coating protects the mainline from wearing down whereas an uncoated mainline will wear down over time requiring you to replace it from time to time. It's a pretty easy maintenance job though.
Yet another matter of personal preference, bars that stay within you reach even when you let go and bars that don't is another factor that may or may not be important for you. Generally beginners like the bar to stay in reach. Cabrinha has the recoils system that uses a spring to keep the bar close where the spring compresses so you still have additional depower. Duotone, Slingshot, and Naish have a slidable stopper that keeps the bar close when you want it close but also let you push the stopper away when you want more depower. Liquid Force has no stopper. Kitesurfers and foilers tend to want more throw (ability to push the bar further away) because they want to be able to depower the bar as much as possible. Regardless, if the bar is out of your reach, the solution is simply to grab the main line and pull it in with one hand while you grab the bar with the other. The more you ride the less this will matter to you.
All Cabrinha bars, the Duotone Trust bar, and all Liquid Force bar do not automatically unwind but do allow for below the bar manual unwinding. Slingshot has a pivot point at the center line V point that essentially keeps the center lines from getting twisted and then there's the Duotone Click bar that has a square PU covered main line with a square bar center hole and a pivot point below the bar that keeps the center lines from twisting.
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Teaching people of all ages and levels of athletism from all over the country and world in Charleston SC is what we do. We've taught thousands of people just like you how to kiteboard. But we don't just teach kiteboarding through our private and semiprivate kiteboarding lessons, we have lesson programs for kite foiling surf foiling, too! All lessons are jetski supported so your instructor is always ready to lend assistance, guidance, and encouragement.
Private kiteboarding lessons are the best way to learn how to kiteboard. When you book a private kiteboarding lesson at Force Kite and Wake in Charleston SC you have decades of experience on your side. Your instructor is your personal kite liaison there to cater to your individual needs. Charleston SC is uniquely qualified to give you the best kiteboarding lesson experience with sand bar sheltered areas that ensure flat and shallow water for the aspiring kiteboarder to learn how to be a kiteboarder. While we are teaching you to kiteboard, your instructor will be right by your side. When needed, we can motor you right back upwind to always be in the best and easiest location for learning.
A Semi-Private kiteboarding lessons in Charleston SC with Force Kite and Wake is a great way to share the cost of a fully jet ski supported kiteboarding lesson. Your experienced kiteboard coach will teach you everything you need to become a kiteboarder. Charleston's barrier islands provide the perfect venue for learning how to kiteboard. Shallow flat water means kiteboarding is as easy as it could possible be. Book a lesson now!
When you book a Private Foil lesson for kite foiling or surf foiling in Charleston SC at Force Kite and Wake, you're already on the path to becoming a foiler. Charleston SC has great and unique opportunities for foiling with lots of beautiful uncrowded creeks just off the inter-coastal waterway where you'll learn how to ride the foil through our progressive curriculum that gets you foiling fast. When you're ready you'll start learning with a kite or alternatively, in the offshore waves that roll in at the sandbars. It's amazing fun in Charleston!
If you've ever wanted to try foiling in Charleston South Carolina, Force Kite and Wake is the place to do it. In just an hour, you and a friend can feel the sensation that has thousands of people raving. Your Foiling coach will take you to one of Charleston's secret spots where you will experience foiling, kite foiling, or surf foiling at its finest! Our Semi-Private Kite Foiling and Surf Foiling Lessons will take you from Kiteboarding with a foil first timer to certified addict in need of intervention.
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The 2018 North Dice and the 2019 Duotone Dice are essentially still the same kite but with the Duotone being the latest iteration of the model. Only minor and normal changes have been made. It's still the kite you love but under a different Brand name.
All of the high-quality craftsmanship and designs remain intact. The warranties are the same, the manufacturing excellence is the same, and the riders are the same. The only things that have changes are the year and the Brand name. Here are some of the boards compared.
North Kiteboarding's quality construction is Duotone's quality construction. There is no difference but the name. If you were a fan of North, you'll be a fan of Duotone. The control bars are the same, too. The North Trust bar and Click bar are the same, too.
Now in its 6th year, the Fort 2 Battery race is back at it again with the most thrilling kite powered drag race in the nation. Powered by Force Kite and Wake and hosted by the James Island Yacht Club, the Fort 2 Battery race will bring together the most competitive foil racers from all around the country as well as adrenaline seeking weekend warriors, for a pure speed run between 2 of Charlestons historic landmarks, the Charleston Battery and Fort Sumter. Like a flock of birds or an explosion of colorful confetti, well over a hundred kites will converge at one landmark, deftly jocking for position anxiously awaiting the starting gun for a mad dash across the harbor and the chance to measure themselves against their fellow sportsman. With the explosion of the gun, the fray surges with a single purpose; to cross the harbor to the finish line as fast as their skills can take them there.
The Fort 2 Battery Race's safety detail will be run by 10 Wounded Warrior Sailing rescue boats each staffed by a medic, ensuring a safe and successful race for riders of all skill levels. This year, a host of industry insiders and big-name riders, names to be dropped as the event approaches. Other sponsors include major brands Slingshot, Cabrinha, Naish, Mystic, Ride Engine, and Duotone.
Registration is now open! The cost of entry for The Fort 2 Battery race is $50 or $100 for those who want to participate in Foil Mania, a regatta race series taking place concurrently with the F2B race. Foil Mania races are scheduled for April 26th and 27th. There will be strictly for fun Foil Mania race on April 28th as well. The F2B main event is scheduled for April 27th.
Skippers meeting will take place at the James Island Yacht Club, 734 Wampler Dr. Charleston SC, at 6 pm on April the 26th with a food truck on site. The award ceremony will be held at the JIYC on the 27th at 5 pm with a BBQ featuring live music and more mouth-watering pork than a Washington fundraiser. Speaking of raising funds, 100% of the proceeds from the Fort 2 Battery event will go to the JIYC Junior Sailing Program to bring the joy and life skills of sailing to kids in our community.
Fort 2 Battery Pictures here!
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By far, the easiest way to get started foil surfing is by getting a friend and a jet ski and towing into waves. This is going to allow you to practice your foiling skills while you tow and when you find a bump to get on, you can just let go of the tow rope and ride. Since you don’t have to wait for the waves to break to catch them, tow in foil surfing gets you longer rides with way less stress, danger, or downtime. It will also get you the experience you need to pursue foil surfing on your own since once you get the hang of riding waves on the foil, you will be much better prepared to start paddling into waves. Now, when you start paddling into waves you will be moving from the new skills of catching the wave, popping up, and getting your feet in the right place into more familiar skills versus having to learn these new skills and then having to learn how to ride the wave on the foil, too. This is going to make the experience much more enjoyable not to mention boosting your learning curve.
So, what do you need to know to start towing into waves with a ski? When I first started tow in foil surfing, I tried to find some tips and instructions but found nothing. After a dozen or so sessions, however, I learned some basic protocols that I can share with you to make your experience just a little bit easier.
And here they are:
I hope these tips are helpful. Now, get out there, learn something new, and ride with FORCE!
Yani Dilling
Kiteboarding and Foiling Coach at FORCE Kite and Wake
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