TerryMcTool said...
The new Cab fireball is the first dedicated kite to rider connection and I think its pretty slick and well tested. It does not "hinge" where you think it does, that slot is just the release mechanism.
The fireball retainer does not wear as it does not move at all, it 100% holds the fireball in place, thats its only function, nice design, easier to hot swap on the beach between 2 kiters than a chicken loop and donkey dick (provided they have the cab spreader bar - which will fit any harness) The spreader bar and specially designed hook face upwards, and lines are very unlikely to be able to get strapped in it due to the shape.
Why hasn't anyone realised we are using a hook designed for windsurfing, and the chicken loop is also a throwback to the windsurf mainline we all used to use on 2 line inflatable kites.
Hooks have caused a lot of incidents, lines get tangled in them, they smash up our surfboards, etc. Chicken loops fall off the hook, and the kiter can lose control easily and this incident alone has caused thousands of accidents.
You can still unhook with the fireball, we had Keahi at the dealer conference and he said it was easy, but even the top strapless kite surfboard riders don't always unhook now, and many don't unhook at all anymore.
Cab have come up with something designed for kiting, it covers the needs of the vast majority of kiters, for those that it doesn't work for - they can use a conventional chicken loop still. The Fireball prongo comes in 3 different lengths to accomodate all sizes of rider.
The bar will work on any 4 line kite that has single front line flagging, all you need is the cab spreader bar on your existing harness.
I have changed to a hook free setup after being inspired by the " don't show us your hook" thread you started last year. I now connect through 2 stainless rings straight to my spreader bar. I never had any problems with accidentally releasing from the hook but I just wanted to bring the bar in closer to make up for the added reach of the rope slider i use.
I think the fireball is definitely a step in the right direction. It's great to see a brand bring something really different. It also addresses the issue of all the wasted space taken up by most chicken loop setups. Why have so much CL if your not unhooking, it would be much better to have all that extra bar throw and depower on hand.
I personally would like to see more ultra simple clean bars like the Brm bar . A compact qr for direct connection and extended bar throw, basically the Brm bar but with trim and swivel.
It seems like North and cabrinha are over complicating things and in some cases fixing things that don't need to be fixed.
