Video · Kiteboarding basics
How to Check Your Lines and Calibrate a Control Bar
With Green Hat Kiteboarding · March 21, 2015 · 2 min 30 sec
A quick way to find out whether your kite lines are even. This video from Green Hat shows how to anchor your lines below the pigtails, stretch them out from the bar, spot slack in the center or steering lines, and what to adjust when you have nothing to attach them to.
Want the warning signs and when a line is too far gone to adjust? Our guide covers how to tell your lines need it, how to even them up, and when to replace them: How to Check and Calibrate Your Kite Lines
What you'll see
- Running out your lines and untangling them
- What you can anchor your lines to
- Why to attach just below the pigtails
- Pulling the bar back against the chicken loop to check for slack
- Keeping the bar parallel with your shoulders
- Adjusting at the bar-end or bridle knots when you can't anchor
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Key takeaways
- Anchor to something sturdy, and don't use your pigtails to stretch out your lines.
- Pull the bar back against the chicken loop and look for slack in the center or steering lines.
- No anchor? Extra knots under the floats at the bar ends and on the bridles let you compensate for slack.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
Anchoring your lines
The first thing you want to do is run out your lines. Make sure everything's untangled.
You want to use some sort of clip, like I have in the video. Any sort of nail, some sort of hook fastened to a wall or a post, something you can do that you can attach the lines below the pigtails. If at all possible, don't use your pigtails to stretch out your lines.
Make sure you attach your lines so they're all going to be even. Like in this one, I have it just below the pigtails.
We'll also use things like fence posts or benches. You just really want to make sure that it's sturdy and it's not going to pull out of the ground.
Checking for slack
At this time you're going to want to lean back and stretch out your bar. Most kites being made these days have four equal lines: two center lines and the two flying lines, otherwise known as steering lines.
At this point you want to pull the bar back against the chicken loop. You want to make sure that it's touching. You're looking for any sort of slack in your center lines or your steering lines.
When doing all this, you want to make sure that the bar is parallel with your shoulders.
To calibrate your lines appropriately, you want to pull back on the bar very hard and stretch everything out so there's no slack at all in any lines.
If you can't attach your lines to anything
If you're in some sort of situation where you can't attach your lines to anything, some of the bar ends have knots under the floats. Bridles also have extra knots on them as well. Here you can make different adjustments to compensate for the slack.
If you have any questions about line lengths, anything you saw in this video, or anything else about kiteboarding, please give us a ring.
FAQ
What can I attach my kite lines to?
A clip, a nail, or a hook fastened to a wall or post all work, and so do fence posts or benches. It needs to be sturdy and not going to pull out of the ground.
Where should I attach the lines?
Just below the pigtails if at all possible, with the lines attached so they're all even. Don't use your pigtails to stretch out your lines.
What am I looking for when I check the lines?
With the bar pulled back against the chicken loop and parallel with your shoulders, look for any slack in your center lines or your steering lines.
Are all four kite lines the same length?
Most kites being made these days have four equal lines: two center lines and two flying lines, also known as steering lines.
How hard should I pull on the bar?
Very hard. Pull back and stretch everything out so there's no slack at all in any lines.
What if I have nothing to attach my lines to?
Some bar ends have knots under the floats, and bridles also have extra knots. You can make adjustments there to compensate for the slack.
Not sure your lines are even?
The shop can measure your lines and re-tune or re-line your bar.
Talk to the Green Hat team
