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Looking for Bindings - Don't Get Flows

Forum for snow- and landkiters
ckiteman
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Postby ckiteman » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:19 pm

I did my first snowkiting in Utah about a week ago and the first thing I noticed is the burning thighs. I thought, Jeez, I've been snowboarding and water kiting for years and never this kind of burn. After reading this post I now know why, the Empire bindings with to much forward lean, no wonder I couldn't edge. When I go again, I will use my own set up with no high backs or as little forward lean as possible. Jess is correct, you need to be able to cruise with straight legs at times to get the thigh muscles stretched out. Great post Jess-Man.

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RideLow
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Postby RideLow » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:00 am

I still think this is nogood at all.. You need the highback. If you get burns you need to adjust your stance and WIDEN it! the cause of this is the static stress it puts on muscles not used to it.. they will get used to it!

Look at the best snowkiteboarders in the world. they actually use quite alot of forward lean to make the landings easier on the knees.. So trust the guys who have been doing this for 10 years..
For style you also need the highbacks..

also with no highbacks you will probably get hurt oneway the other.. but fark... do whatever you want but dont hype it up please..

Mikael
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Postby Mikael » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:09 pm

The high back are there for a reason. If you don't see the benefit of them yet, removing them won't make things better. You'll learn bad riding habits and will affect you in the long term.

It makes me think of the Bow kites. Lots of new people riding those kites have the worse stance ever. Why? Because they can. It's easier for them. But learning with a bad stance will prevent them from improving quickly.

Removing your high backs might help you remove the pain in your legs. But maybe there's another reason why it hurts! It's your stance! The stance on the water and on the snow has to be different. And it takes a few sessions to re-adjust. In the water, you put lot more back foot pressure then on the snow (to go upwind better, preventing nose dive etc) In the snow your weight distribution has to be more centered on the board. The width of you bindings might have to be wider too.

Anyway, you can take the easy way out and remove your high backs, or do it right the first time and adjust your riding accordingly. You will benefit from it in the long run.

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Postby hein » Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:45 pm

I haven't read this whole thread but it sounds like some riders
like more freedom in their boot to board connection:

Image
Hein/NSI Snow Kite Plates

The plates are machined plastic with a grippy surface like a stomp
pad. The straps feature standard snowboard ratchets. The rear bungy
is EDPM Rubber. All components are serviceable items.

I'm using the 3M VHB mouting tape instead of screwing them to
the standard inserts. This board was set up with a rearward insert
pattern which did not allow the 24" wide centered stance I wanted
for snow kiting. That's probably the case with many older boards that
might get a second life behind a kite. Peel and Stick - That's Trick!

I'm wearing a pair of NorthFace Winter Hiking boots and the connection
is very secure but I'm still able to rotate my foot +- 10 degrees.

These will be available in limited quantities from NSI. Please contact
them if you are interested. I just got these setup and have ridden
them down the hill in my field. They feel solid so now I'm finally ready
to go snowkiting. I also have a pair of short Salomon Guns with Fritschi
Freerides and another snowboard with some Flows. I see these plates
as something more suited for powder.

-Hein
Last edited by hein on Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:11 am, edited 2 times in total.

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PBKiteboarding
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Postby PBKiteboarding » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:07 pm

Is there any patent on new bindings like those? Or is it an from an outdated patent?

Paul

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RideLow
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Postby RideLow » Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:47 am

:lol: :lol: :roll:
yeah.. you guys ride that thing??
Hein.. good work on the creativity.. but still.. snowkiting is not the same as kiteboarding...
If you want to develop some new bindings for snowkiting atleast my $0.2 is to look at what works as a start, and what you got there will not.. (For best feedback, look at the people snowkiting every day all winter)

you pro-non-highback guys are totaly missing the point here, have you even considered support and the need for forward lean to save the knees?
have you tried to adjust the stance correctly..


Do you have much experience snowkiting at all?

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tomchx
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Postby tomchx » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:25 am

Ok let see...
normaly i don't get much into that kind of thing, but this too much.
I have been snowboarding for about 20 years, from foot-straps and boards with no edges, or with fin's, to surf board on deep snow ( to have a go), binding with no high backs, just some kind of strap (like on the up foto) sorel boots with duck tape, ski boot's, soft boot's, been snowboarding every where on the planet from Chamonix (my home) to New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, US nort-ouest (big up Mt Baker), Japan, South Am., all Europe...
Been working in the snowboard indus. with Rossignol devl boards, boot's and binding (normal & step-in)
Been snowkiting for 5 year's and kiting for 6, i work with Ozone on snow and water...
Some of my friend's are the best snowkiter's and snowboarder's in the world (GC)...
I have more hrs kiting on any surface than 95% of kiter's out there...
So please trust me, i know what i am speaking about.
DON'T take your high back's off just adjust them with less forward lean and use snowboard boot's for the sake of your feet's and heel's.
Has a ski & snowboard instructor a can tell you (and wee all can) that if at one point you have your legs "straight legs at times to get the thigh muscles stretched out" this is the end you are locking your knees so no more shocks absorbers, and your knee cap's are ready to pop out...
Can't believe that a comp like NSI is going to make such snowkite binding .
This all discussion is going to take all of you guys, more than 20 year in the past, and i think most of your leg's problem's are on too much beer and PC hr's, and not much snow time, i guess.

Any way that is just an advice, if you don't care than "a tomar por culo amigos"
Sorry for my poor english ortho.

Don't tell me to try it please :-?

Francaise "highback" police :wink:

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RideLow
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Postby RideLow » Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:02 pm

I second that! Its a good thing Tom is going out warning against this.. because its really a bad idea!

Also.. the snowkite level this year rocks! 900 and 1080 will be the standard.. Props to Sigve, Remi, Romain and Claes for pushing the limits all the way!

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thechenzo70505
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Postby thechenzo70505 » Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:07 pm

I third that!! Good advice! Change the title of the thread, it is misleading.

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The Right Stuff
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Postby The Right Stuff » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:14 am

Your opinions have all been respected.

But I ride with the Jess-Man on this one.

You gotta go low in the snow, you know?


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