Why use a control bar? Most foil kites are supplied with handles as standard, although there is a market shift towards supplying kites with control bars as kite landboarding becomes increasingly popular. Handles can offer more flexibility with control since brake input can easily be added whilst flying allowing for an increase in turn rate, especially with larger kites. For this reason alone, handles are favoured by buggy riders and static flyers. Buggies have a much smaller turning circle than kite boards so the fast kite turn rate can provide some exhilarating freestyle action! Most kite boarders would agree that bars provide the best means of control since bar systems offer increased board riding flexibility over handles. Control bars are very simple to use and offer even power distribution across both arms. Although independent use of the brake lines is lost (making turning the kite a little slower), a control bar offers much more stability and facilitates one arm kite control. Riding with one arm allows the rider to rotate their body into a more comfortable position - particularly relevant when riding switch (riding on the toe side edge rather than the heal edge) after making a turn. Advanced tricks like grabs and board off manoeuvres are also much easier with a bar, and rotations are simplified since the kite lines can be untwisted simply by rotating the bar - if you're riding on handles you would need to loop the kite instead. If you intend to buy a power kite as a means of getting involved with kite boarding, our advice would be to purchase a kite with a control bar. Some foil kites are supplied with bars as standard, but any foil kite can be flown on a bar with no modifications required. Safety... Safety should be carefully considered, and any reputable bar system will be supplied with an instant power kill safety system. These normally consist of a wrist leash attached to the rear lines. The power can be released in an instant by letting go of the bar, causing the kite to fall from the sky whilst still connected to the safety leash. Selecting the correct bar size... Different bar lengths will significantly alter the kite's flying characteristics so selecting the correct bar size is very important. Shorter control bars are used with small kites and longer control bar with large kites. If a faster response is desired with a small kite then a larger bar will increase turning speed. Riding a small bar on a larger kite will slow the kite down by decreasing turning speed. Text and images Copyright © Session1 | 
