Sliding spreader bar , what do you think ?

[Flag53]

Hi guys just after your thoughts as to who has tried the sliding spreader type harnesses , like the Ride Engine and now the Ion Pro Wave. Both of which use a rope to allow you to turn your body more .
Also what are the Pros and Cons , from people who have actually used them ?

Thanks in advance D

[revhed]

I and most I know now use some form of sliding harness to help back twist when toe side as well as when just walking on the beach with the kite to side.
I use a very thick strong centering bunji so I can still jump high with confidence as it does "slide" but needs a lot of force.
Try it, you may just like it!
R H

[revhed]

Sorry forgot to add,
You can make one to test and maybe keep, so easy using carabiner with eye on trim style thick spectra and try different bunjis to find what you like,

Both the spectra and bunji are simply threaded thru almost any standard spreader bar ends.
R H

[Flag53]

Cheers revhead

[TomW]

I'm using the ride engine with rope slider for over a year now. I have both a steel ring on the rope for using with no-cloop system, and with normal c-loop directly on rope. I use it for 95% strapless surfboard, now novice foiling. I still take out TT once in a while, about 10-15 sessions this year. After 10-20 sessions you won't feel any difference when jumping, but at first it feels a bit lose, you can hang at different angles.
When there's a lot of pressure on the rope it doesn't slide super easy, takes some small effort to slide it so it doesn't slide around uncontrollably

[junebug]

I use a seat harness exclusively because of a broken rib caused by a waist harness that didn't heal right. I've been using the Dakine traveling hook since I started foiling about 9 months ago. I've liked it so far and the wear and tear isn't substantial yet. It gets hung up every once in a while during toe/heel heel/toe transitions, but it's not a big deal to reach down and manually release it. I've never tried using a rope instead of a spreader bar. It always seemed to me that a rope would be to be too liable to snap or quickly get worn through.

I have only tried the sliding hook on the TT once and I hated it, mainly because the load and pop feels too different from a stationary hook. I don't really care to jump on a foil, but I do tend to ride toeside about 50% of the time when foiling, so it's great for that.

[juandesooka]

I have been using a dynabar for a few years, would never go back to fixed hook. It opens up your hips, the extra movement is comfortable for riding toeside and surfing, as well as walking up the beach. If you're into wakestyle and unhooked jumps, then a sliding hook doesn't work well....for everyone else, I think it's much better. But especially for toeside riding on foil, as the angles are such that you can really get twisted around.

As RH says, you can make it yourself. Cut hook off old spreader bar, tie a dyneema rope, and then add a slider. It can be a carabiner like RH. Or just a steel o ring (make sure opening is big enough to allow your quick release to work). Or the Ride Engine one they just attach chicken loop direct to rope....which wears rope down faster, but rope is cheap (though may wear through chicken loop too, which isn't cheap).

Other people in surfing just wear their waist harness loose, so it can rotate with the kite.

[junebug]

I never liked wearing a waist harness loose because it quickly becomes an uncomfortable chest harness.

[revhed]

I never liked wearing a waist harness loose because it quickly becomes an uncomfortable chest harness.

But I must say that I am a bit envious of the "V" back guys because they can use a semi tight waist over a lycra and get a good amount of acceptable twist.
R H

[Regis-de-giens]

Personnaly i am not keen on :
- neither fixed hook (uncomfortable torque force when twisting body during toe-side ride with hydrofoil) + reduction of bar stroke for short arms like mine.
- nor sliding spread bar due to the float it gives during transitions.

...so ? I love my custom system based on the same principle than the board riding maui (BRM bar for the cloud kite) : a short rope and ring fixed to the center of the spread bar (original hook cut and removed).
Result : no more twist torque while still very precise during transitions. The only drawback for freestyler : you cannot unhook for freestyle tricks.