Kitesoul Magazine #10 English Edition

170
TECH
Harnesses 2.0
nearly always the worst solution.
The following are some of the
advantages of the sliding hook
a.k.a. sliding spreader bar:
For wave riding, a sliding
spreader bar, considerably verticalizes
the trajectories making
the surfing more radical with
less fatigue for hips and knees.
For freeriding, it definitely
makes the riding more comfortable,
the upwind is sharper and
the joints appreciate.
For racing, a mixed solution is
often used with the alternation
of a fixed hook to a sliding
spreader bar according to one's
needs.
There isn’t any such problem
for the unhooked freestyle although
the very fact that you
unhook, says it all about why
the tractions of the kite should
not be always on the same pulling
point.
FLEXIBILITY is key. That means
having all the options available
and use whichever you consider
the best one from time to time.
The Jay Dynabar, for example,
is unique for the number
of options that it offers, it can
be combined with any harness
on the market and provides all
kinds of attachment points with
dozens of possible combinations.
HARNESS TYPOLOGY
WAIST or SEAT?
Is it better a waist harness or a
seat one? This represents the
first major dilemma for a beginner
although we often continue
asking ourselves the same
question during our growth as
kiters.
As a matter of fact we are talking
about two completely different
things with totally different
characteristics.
Thinking that the Seat type is
only used by beginners or less
skilled kiters is a mistake in fact
it really carries lots of advantages
over the Waist type.
Low barycentre
The barycentre is lower, because
traction is absorbed by
a lower part of your back. This
way the fatigue considerably
diminishes and you can significantly
prolong the length of
your sessions. Quite often this
turns out to be the only choice
for those who have back problems
and want to kite.
Having a low barycentre considerably
increases the opposition
in overpowered conditions
and this keeps the kite powered
for extreme hang time.
Finally, a seat harness can be
also perfect for wave riding as
a low barycentre allows more
radical carves..... (have you ever
seen how motorbikers bank
without touching the ground?).
It is true that with a Waist harness
your legs and hips are more
free and it is better for the lateral
sliding because if you leave it
quite "loose", the hook together
with he waist band can rotate
outwards (unfortunately riding
up a lot more too). However
there have been sliding spreader
bars for years, which are also
perfect for Seat harnesses,
with almost the same degree of
range of motion as the ones resulting
from the rotation of the
waist band but, unlike the waist
band do not ride up and always
return right in the centre.
Comfort?
There is no question, they are
more comfortable than waist
ones allowing longer sessions.
However at the same time they
can be also more "uncomfortable"
as not everyone likes the
kind of bulky feeling around the
thighs which as a matter of fact
does limit some hip motions