FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

- UNIVERSAL TOTEM, FREESTYLE/WAVE OR RACE BAR: CHOOSE WHICH ONE?

- WHY CHOOSING THE FREESTYLE/WAVE BAR?

- WHY CHOOSING THE RACE BAR?

- WHICH LENGTH FOR YOUR KITE LINES?

- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF KITE LINE EXTENSIONS?

- REDUCING OR INCREASING THE DEPOWER THROW

- (RE)CONFIGURING THE TOTEM BAR

- KITE ATTITUDE UNIVERSAL BARS GOOD FOR ALL KITES ON THE MARKET?

- WHAT IS THE SUICIDE LEASH MODE?

- SPLIT POINT: HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR KITE

- WHY ARE KITE ATTITUDE CONTROL BARS CHEAPER?

- ON THE BRIDDLE OF MY KITE I HAVE KNOTS FOR THE BACK LINES AND LOOPS FOR THE FRONT LINES. CAN THE KITE ATTITUDE BARS FIT?

- HARD TO FIND A DEALER NEAR YOU?

- WHY MANY KITE MAGAZINES REFUSE TO RUN KITE ATTITUDE PRESS RELEASES?

- SATISFIED OR YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLES FILLING THE POSTAL CODE OR CHOOSING THE CARRIER WHILE YOU MAKE AN ORDER?




UNIVERSAL TOTEM, FREESTYLE/WAVE OR RACE BAR: CHOOSE WHICH ONE?

We propose 3 types of control bars : the Totem, the FreeStyle Wave and the Race bar.

The Totem is the most universal of all. This bar is perfectly suited for freeriding, and will fit most riders.

Unsure about which bar is best suited for you? Go for the Totem 55 cm, and 22 meters kite lines.

The Totem bar is ready to use. You can also adjust it for some specific kites (see below).

If you are thinking of using big kites (15 m2 and more), go for the Totem 60 cm. You can still use small kites (4 or 5 m2) with the Totem 60.







WHY CHOOSING THE FREESTYLE/WAVE CONTROL BAR?



The FreeStyle Wave bar is the same as the Totem bar, except for the bar ends, which are foamed ; but you can't change the distance between the back leader lines.

FreeStylers like short bars to perform the "handle pass". If you just jump without any fancy tricks, the Totem bar will be just fine for you.

Foamed bar ends are more comfortable in case you fall. Those of you who surf with a fragile surf will rather like the FreeStyle Wave bar to better protect their board.





WHY CHOOSING THE FOIL RACE BAR?



This bar is optimized for hydrofoil racing, and / or foil kites such as Flysurfer, Ozone, ... Advanced riders need to fly big kites to cope with potential light wind during the race but may also have to handle very gusty winds. So this bar has a tremendous "trim" of about 1 meter (!). So competitors can still use a 8m2 foil file in 35 knots winds. Foil kites are also more powerful than inflatable kites. The bar comes with a double pulley system which demultiplies the forces when triming and allows a perfect adjustment.





WHICH LENGTH FOR YOUR KITE LINES?



The shorter the kite lines, the more reactive the kite will be. With longer lines, the kite will have more inertia and will generate more power when moving into the window. Also longer kite lines will allow you to grab stronger winds in the air (this is called the gradient effect in paragliding).



Short lines: 19 meters, or even 17 meters

Short lines are best in the following cases:

- wave riding (you want to turn very fast): 19 meters is recommended

- foil racing: 17 meters is recommended to handle big kites in the upper wind range

- foil kites, because the briddle is about 5 meters long



Long lines (24 m) are beneficial in the following cases:

- heavy weights in light winds

- better relaunching

- higher jumps



22 meter kite lines: best compromise : good in the waves and decent relaunching. 22 meters tend to be very popular nowdays.





WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF KITE LINE EXTENSIONS?



Kite line extensions bring more flexibily: you can get a bar with short lines for the waves, and you can add the extensions if the wind is light, or if you want to jump higher with longer lines. So then you get the best of both worlds: short lines + extensions = long lines.

Sometimes, like on the Atlantic Ocean in the summer time, the waves can be very high and powerful compared to the wind. So you can get more power with extensions to pass the breakers. Also, the wind is stronger in altitude and weaker and weaker when it comes down to the ground level (this is what paragliders call the "gradient" effect).

On the opposite, in very very very strong winds, you will feel safer with short lines (although we do not recommend that you kite in very very strong winds...).

Is it safe to use kite line extensions? Yes. Some people are concerned that the connections between the lines and the extensions may break. We have never heard of something like this. Kite line extensions have been used for more than 10 years, and we are not aware of specific problems.

 


HOW TO REDUCE THE DEPOWER THROW OR INCREASE IT?

Pull on the small ring located next to the Clamcleat, in order to move it far from the Clamcleat. This will allow you to release the grey rope, to pull it either up or down.

If you want to shorten the depower throw, then pull the grey rope below the cleat/small ring, and pull up and slide it through the small ring.

On the opposite, if you want to make the depower throw longer, pull the grey rope above the small ring and pull down. Then slide it through the small ring.

Then, once you have the desired length for the depower throw, grab the quick releaser in one hand, and the clamcleat in the other hand, and stretch your hands apart. This will help the grey rope slide inside the top of the quick releaser. This is easier to do before you have been kiting when the bar is brand new.





(RE)CONFIGURING THE TOTEM BAR

The bar is really ready to use. It can fit any kite on the market. However, you might want to fine-tune some aspects of the bar. But do not change anything on the bar, unless you are very experienced. Call us first if you are unsure.

This is the only bar on the market that is so versatile. Actually, Kite Attitude invented the concept of universal bars, based on the Totem.

- Controlling the spread of the back leader lines : you control the reactivity of the kite, according to its surface

- Controlling the height of the back leader lines : the default setting is the standard one. But you can also reduce the height of the back leader lines, which will over sheet the kite (good for light wind sessions and/or wake style). You may reduce up to 15 cm. On the opposite, you may increase the length of the back leader lines (by removing the numerous extra knots). This will be good for older kites (prior to 2008), or adjust the bar to specific settings, such as the Best Kahoona 2011, older Slingshot kites, Genetrix. Any doubt? Call us!

- Controlling the height of the depower throw : if you are very tall, you can move the Clamcleat up. On the opposite, if you are young and short, you can move the cleat down, so you can grab the depower rope more easily.

- You can take the bar apart complety and reassemble it entirely. All parts can be replaced. Your investment is protected... although very reasonable!

- Change the connection of the safety from one front line to both front lines: this is called the "short fifth line". Experts and Pros only.

- Add a fifth line to the bar, and remove it if you don't need it. For instance, you have a Takoon Furia (4 lines) and a North Rebel (5 lines). You can add the extra line for the Rebel, and remove it if you kite with the Furia. We provide the bars and 5th line with a winder.

- Want 4 direct lines? Easy! Some users completely removed the split point on the Kite Attitude bar. Even on some 5 line kites!





KITE ATTITUDE UNIVERSAL BARS GOOD FOR ALL KITES ON THE MARKET?



Yes.

Since 2008, all kites are designed with a sustained leader edge (SLE kites) and are made with the same software, called SurfPlan. So they all work the same.

The bar is universal and « plug and play » with all kites on the market.

Special cases:

F-One Bandit 1 and Bandit Dos : we provide specific extensions for the back leader lines (several meters of difference between front and back lines).

If you are using the Kite Attitude bars with a kite prior to 2008 : you can trim about 15/20 cm to offset the difference between front and back lines back then. If you are using the Totem bar (or the Race Bar), you can also remove the extra knots at the end of the back leader lines, to increase the length of the leader lines. Same for some Best, Slingshot, or Genetrix kites. If you have any doubt, just call us...





WHAT IS A SUICIDE LEASH?

The suicide leash mode is about connecting the leash ring around the chicken loop.

What happens if I miss a handle pass with the safety ring connected in "suicide leash"? In fact the kite will be held by the 2 front lines (same as short 5th line). This will make relaunching the kite easier. For freestylers only! Be careful: the kite will keep a lot of power. For experts only.

Suicide leash




SPLIT POINT (Y)? HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR KITE

The split point is the junction between the front leader line and the 2 front lines. It can be very short (sometimes no front leader line at all: this is called "4 direct lines"), or sometimes several meters high. You may read stories on the net about how important the split point is. Usually this is marketing to entice people to buy expensive bars.

Our experience with kite manufacturers:

We have been making control bars for a number of kite brands in the past, such as : Eclipse (former Epic/Dimitri Maramenides), Takoon, Storm, and others...

Let's take the case of Takoon. The highest split point in the world: 9 meters! The idea was that the kite should be totally depowered (when triggering the quick releaser), while the kite was held by only one front line and the front line should not slide inside the quick releaser. So a big kite like a 16 m2 kite was about 9 meters long.

Other brands set up their kites in short fifth line mode (safety on both front lines. For instance : IDS, Core, ...). The idea was that the kite should flip easily onto the extrados so you can relaunch it, and keep enough power for this. Nowadays, most brands are going away from this system because it is dangerous in the high wind range.

As a conclusion, the initial reason was how to manage the kite when triggering the quick releaser. The split point had nothing to do with how the kite flies in the air.

What is the impact of the height of the split point? The lower the split point, the more reactive the kite is. As a reminder, older kites (C kites) did not have a front leader line at all (4 direct lines). Today, many riders want to have the same feeling. Some proriders of major kite brands actually lower the split point, exactly like the Kite Attitude bars. We can give you names!

If you kite with a Takoon kite with a 9 meter split point, and then take the same kite with a Kite Attitude bar, you will find out the kite is very lively and more reactive. The low split point opens the more and the "ears" get more wind. So more effect when you steer the kite...

Let's take another example: Sylvain Peretti has been designing all the F-One Bandit for 9 years. Recently, he started his own brand (Storm). He asked us to make his bars. We made bars with the same setup as the Kite Attitude bars. He loved it...

Keep in mind also that all kites are made with the same software (called Surfplan). This software does not know about the split point at all...

Only a few experts may feel a difference in the curves when making kite loops, but this difference is not a problem. It can be a difference that only 2 or 3% of kiters in the word may feel.

You will read a lot of stuff about the split point on the net, ... from people who have never designed kites nor control bars and spend more time on forums than on the water.

TAKE A KITE ATTITUDE BAR AND MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT!





WHY ARE KITE ATTITUDE BARS CHEAPER?



Answer: we are organized differently: short manufacturing process and short distribution network.

1) We purchase high quality raw materials primarily from Europe: real dyneema lines, Clamcleat, pulley...

Other kite brands purchase them in Europe, then ship them to kite factories in China, pay 40 or 50% custom duties ; these kite factories don't make bars ; so they subcontract to other factories. Then charge a lot to the kite brand for producing the bars. Then ship all the bars back to Europe.

2) We make a lot of components ourselves, no middlemen.

3) We sew the kite lines in France and assemble the bars ourselves in France!

4) less cumulation of margins: most kite brands ask the factory that makes their kite to take in charge the bars. But these factories either subcontract or buy from other factories in China and charge the kite brand with a margin. Then the kite brand adds up a margin. The importer adds up another margin, and the dealer adds another margin. Too many middlemen with a higher production cost fron start.





HARD TO FIND A DEALER NEAR YOU?

Possible reasons:

  1. Many don't know us at all, or not enough. Why don't you tell them about us? They might be interested.

  2. They have solid contracts with the big brands and sales objectives. They are committed to selling the most expensive stuff, and make maximum profits on your back.

  3. They face enormous pressure from some big brands… (« if you distribute XXX, I stop shipping you ! »). A former sales guy from a shop told us. Many unfair business practices.

  4. A majority of shops are too small to have inventory of other brands (not enough space or resources).





WHY MANY MAGAZINES DON'T RUN KITE ATTITUDE PRESS RELEASES?



... BEWARE OF TESTS IN MAGAZINES!

A large number of magazines refuse to run press releases and therefore talk about Kite Attitude if we don't buy a big advertising campaign. The market is locked by the big brands. This is the case in France, Germany, UK, USA, ... Some page ads cost up to 15000$.

We would have a lot to say about numerous unfair practices, conflicts of interests, ... Those who test the gear often have business connections with brands.





ON THE BRIDDLE OF MY KITE, I HAVE A KNOT FOR THE BACK LINES, AND A LOOP FOR THE FRONT LINES. CAN THE KITE ATTITUDE BARS ADAPT TO EACH SITUATION?

 

Yes, the loops of the 2017 kite lines have pigtails at the loop ends.

Just notice also the quality of the sewing of the loop sleeves ends.

Lignes Kite Attitude avec détrompeurs (pigtails)

 

If you are using an older Kite Attitude bar, you will need to make a knot on the loops. No problem and all, it works fine. We have been doing this for years. But 2017 lines are more convenient.

pigtails pour lignes kite attitude 2016




SATISFIED OR YOUR MONEY BACK



You can change your mind and return your order within 15 days after delivery and get a full refund.


ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLES FILLING THE POSTAL CODE OR CHOOSING THE CARRIER WHILE YOU MAKE AN ORDER?



Are you trying to make an order and the postal code gap is missing? Or are you unable to find the carrier of your preference? No carrier is shown?

You are possibly using an Iphone or Ipad. There are some bugs with these devices. We advise you to make the order through a computer instead an Iphone or Ipad



ANY QUESTION? CALL US +33 (0)6 49 15 07 37

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