Had a kitemare yesterday. It really shook me up :(
My suicide leash lived up to its name and wrapped around my bar while doing a raley surface pass in 25kn wind. My 7mt kite looped uncontrollably through the power zone and I was being dragged backwards about 500mt so fast that I couldn't get my arm around to my quick release. I finally managed to reach the leash and pulled the trigger and set the kite free just in time (nearly took out an instructor and beginner). I was dragged underwater for most it. Luckily I was at pt. Walter and away from the shore. My leash hook was bent from the force and the elastic on my new leash snapped. I'm a bit apprehensive about doing surface passes now.
I have been kiting for 10 years and this is the first time that I have had use my quick release in an emergency situation. I always double check my release to make sure that they are free of sand and I am so glad that it worked when I needed it :)
Does anyone have any tips to prevent the leash wrapping around the end of the bar during a pass?
Cheers
Shan
Surely there aren't instructors teaching illegally down on the river at Point Walter. 
DM
PS. Sorry, no advise on the leash matter. 
try a longer leash, the extra weight and length will help keep it away from the bar plus you get less tied up after a pass....also if you clip onto the loop there is less chance of a tangle, whereas if you clip above the bar or loop the leash is closer to the bar itself
Some of those leashes that are thicker with floats on them prevent this sort of thing (look pretty euro though). Hope this helps... Also what stamp says is pretty much on the money (although longer leashes do have some potential to dangle around more).
Thanks guys for the quick replies. I clip onto a little ring inside the chickn loop and I have both the stretchy ozone leash and one the same as the soft one displayed above. With the soft one I find that I get my arm tangled in it heaps more that the stretchy ones but I agree that it probably wouldnt get tangled up around the bar as easily.
I will give it a go a pt walter today. (get back on the horse)
Anthing longer than a standard leash would dangle in the water on me as I am only a midget :)
Any more ideas would be greatly appreciated :)
Cheers
Shan
it might be an idea to invest in a harness with a built in QR for the leash, that way you only have to reach your hip for a QR
i always wondered how easy it would be to get to the leash QR and if it dragged you backwards the way it is connected to the back of your harness. problem is it all happens so fast.
Hey Shan, glad you got back on the horse...
Had similar thing happen to me up at Exmouth few years back (wasnt doing a handle pass of course!)- being dragged underwater backwards with centre lines looped around the bar and kite looping. Scarey experience, and only had myself to worry about, and a rescue boat to pick up kite board and self before we went out to sea when I eventually managed to release the leash.
I now attach the leash to a loop at my hip rather than the handle pass loop, but that doesnt help if you actually need to use the handle pass loop
Hey Shannon, NickT told me what happened, all so quick as well, try hitting Darren up for a north leash they're a lot more rigid with a small float just at the end and less likely to do the while wrapped thing, and on the harness some of the pat loves, the cabrinha/npx and liquid force ones have a hip release for the handle pass poly tube.
How come you couldn't reach the quick release?
If you get a double clipped leash you keep your QR connected to your harness.
So in the event of being dragged you know it's next to your hip not near your bar (and extremely hard to reach)
Glad to hear you are ok Shan....scary stuff. I once had this happen when I wanted to land a kite...but I have my quick release in front of me, under the bar. Elaine once had this happen on a bridal kite and was saved by Damo at Woodies.........she was being dragged underwater and the kite was looping out of control and out to sea...........I will never be able to pay Damo back for that one.
I would think all the other things suggested above will minimize the risk. But, Slave is right, kiting is dangerous and leashes are not without problems and can do very very scary ****.........ain't called a suicide leash for nothing.
You were lucky not to have been dragged over any razor rocks.
If you use a smaller bar (especially with a 7) it will not be able to continuously loop until you hit something. Along with the fact that it will help you kite better.
Great vid terminal, and yet another reason not to ever use those quick shackles while kiting, especially on a "safety"
Be cautious attaching the leash to the front of the harness. The body is not meant to bend so that your heels are touching the back of your head.
I like the Pat Love TFMK for the side release pins as a back up alternative for freestyle riders.
@ Shan, eventually everyone ends up in that same situation, I've also been there, twice actually. Can happen in many different ways, also in the surf without having to be unhooked.
Glad you're OK!
DM
i found this happens to me frequently on ozone bars, its just he bar end shape makes the leash slide ONTO the bar if it ever hits the end which causes the problem, it really is one issue i've brought up before that should be addressed.
i know its happening quick but when it happens to me i pull myself up along the leash to the bar and just untangle it, it's a bit tricky and needs a bit of arm strength but is the best way i find. apart from that just remind yourself where your release is and then even if you're getting pulled backwards you should still be able to find it.
On the video, Karoline Winkowska has a "snap hook" on her safety leash that clips her chicken loop or loop line to the bar end and hence back line. This is a problem that was recognised 5 years ago with snap hooks (at that time hooking onto the returning back line from 2:1 pulley bar end on Crossbows). There were multiple kitemares described on Kiteforum at that time. Everyone changed to "trigger snap hooks". Trigger snap hooks can't pick up the back line like this. For some reason, they don't make safety leashes with trigger snap hooks anymore. They are not as durable as snap hooks because the spring only lasts one or two seasons on a trigger snap hook. Also, all the 2:1 bar systems have gone out of fashion. But obviously from these incidents, you don't need 2:1 to get into trouble with snap hooks. I think we should stick to trigger snap hooks but build better ones. Then this exact incident shouldn't happen. If it does happen, of course you need to be able to release your safety leash.
Snap hook
Trigger snap hook
