Hi guys, after some advice on sliding spreader bars. I have been riding strapped surfboards for a couple of years and graduating to strapless, wooohoo! I started kiting using a seat harness, which was fine, but waist so much better for strapless. Ride a lot toeside and just generally make lots of turns in the waves as you would expect. The Waist harness is never comfy (it's a good one and does fit properly), I've tried tight or loose, and I think it's because riding toeside gets it almost backwards and I have to scrunch it back round, sometimes farking up my heel side turn.

SO I've come to the conclusion that a sliding spreader bar may be the answer. Can anyone recommend one, I know there are a few models out there, I will be using it for unstrapped and strapped wave riding and free ride.

Thanks for you opinions!

Dynabar. You wont look back.

I have the dynabar version one. But I recon you make your own like Andrash did....search him and you will find his genius. But if you are lazy like moi, then go for it and spend the dosh, but Andrash's is better IMO.

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ezza said...

Hi guys, after some advice on sliding spreader bars. I have been riding strapped surfboards for a couple of years and graduating to strapless, wooohoo! I started kiting using a seat harness, which was fine, but waist so much better for strapless. Ride a lot toeside and just generally make lots of turns in the waves as you would expect. The Waist harness is never comfy (it's a good one and does fit properly), I've tried tight or loose, and I think it's because riding toeside gets it almost backwards and I have to scrunch it back round, sometimes farking up my heel side turn.

SO I've come to the conclusion that a sliding spreader bar may be the answer. Can anyone recommend one, I know there are a few models out there, I will be using it for unstrapped and strapped wave riding and free ride.

Thanks for you opinions!

Getting a Dynabar made an immediate difference to my ability to ride toeside and to turn frequently and spontaneously highly recommend them.
If you can make your own great if not check out the Dynabar range here
http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/category_406_Accessories.html

Me too, I'm a convert. I've been using one for 12 months and would not go back. Got it on my Nitros shorts now and it works fine.

I dunno, what ever happened to wearing your harness a tad loose?...works fine for most and keeps things simple - what you want in the waves.

saying that, you probably need the right harness for this...?

btw, a waist harness is better in for surfing full stop. Strapped or unstrapped doesnt even come into it.

Thanks for the advice guys! I have decided on the dynabar, cant decide between the V5 free ride or the pro wave model. leaning to the free ride because it sounds a bit easier to get the hang of.
Who has tried either V5 model or both?

So who is this Andrash and where do I find the person? Interested in his design.

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ezza said...

Thanks for the advice guys! I have decided on the dynabar, cant decide between the V5 free ride or the pro wave model. leaning to the free ride because it sounds a bit easier to get the hang of.
Who has tried either V5 model or both?

If you only ride waves then the pro wave is the best choice for you, however if you ride a bit of flat water and waves get the V5 free wave.
I've been using the free wave v5 for nearly a year and would never go back to a fixed harness hook. The only thing I've replaced in that time is the plastic slider tube thing at the back of the hook, the bungee is just starting to get a bit perished and loose but I'm used to how it works now and can centralise the hook quickly just by turning my torso in the appropriate direction for a second, then the hook centralises and the pull is coming from the middle of the spreader bar again.

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H2flow said...

So who is this Andrash and where do I find the person? Interested in his design.

You could start here;

www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Profile/Details.aspx?member=Andrash

Fossil

Thanks Steve, the free wave sounds the go.

Looks like there are a few new versions for 2011 - check out Jaystore.eu (distributor I think) or 321kiteboarding.com. I'm getting the v6 (comes with wave, freestyle and race bars)- wa delivered for $150US.

2011 v5.1 looks a bit more streamline, v6 has an even neater setup.

would this be ok if you are unhooking alot ??

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default said...

I dunno, what ever happened to wearing your harness a tad loose?...works fine for most and keeps things simple - what you want in the waves.

saying that, you probably need the right harness for this...?

btw, a waist harness is better in for surfing full stop. Strapped or unstrapped doesnt even come into it.

Hi default, yeah some guys can get away with wearing their harness real loose, i think it depends how you are shaped!! I have a high waist and it doesn't take much for a loose harness to end up with the spreader bar wedged between my boobs. It's wholely uncomfortable not to mention impossible to reach the bar from this angle if you happen to let it go.

With my harness (Maui Magic Mystic Hana) tichtly hitched around my waist I have no such problem, and am more comfortable surfing, but on long toeside tacks it works its way around to my side and wedges there. Next turn I make, it all comes unglued.

Looking forward to getting my Dynabar!

Hey ezza, give us an update after you've had a few days on it.

I've been using my sliding bar for 3 years (see the photos on my profile).
I use seat harness (due to back issues), and never purposefully unhook. I ride waves, jybe and do old school jumps and rolls. For all this, it's been great. The hook slides evenly on an elliptical curve, it can stay on any position depends on the degree of hip rotation. So there are no sudden jerks, sudden slides of the hook from one position to the other that can kick you out of balance, as I heard they happen with the metal thing.
To make it:
You need two spreader bars, cut the hook only from the one on the harness, and cut the hook with a piece of the other spreader (to slide on the rope) (see my pics). The rope can be any old chicken loop trim rope (not over worn) or similar. It cost $0 and 20min of your time. So on the savings, you can take out your girl / boy friend to a nice dinner, or have a drink with your mates.........no patent on a piece of rope
Enjoy

I'm also a dynabar convert. It catches you out a bit at first when it suddenly slides but like anything you adjust. When you are on a wave flicking to toe side the action is pretty sudden so the bar just moves.

Just a note on waist harness. I went from seat to waist to shorts. I enjoyed the extra freedom of waist but it was a bit uncomfortable.

Also when dropping down the face of a largish wave in Hawaii I fell off the back of the board. I was ripping along at the time and as I hit the water the harness acted like a sea anchor and violent rode up and crushed my chest breaking my sternum in the process. Was amazingly painful.

I find the boardshort based harness more comfortable, safer, and the pulling point is only a bit below where the waist harness used to be. Combined with the dynabar pretty happy now. I only ride hooked at the moment.

Grant

We will have the V6 version of the spreader bar soon enough, the V5 version in the pro ride model will suit most riders and we will match the Dynabar website price (inc shipping to AUS) on any remaining stock.
Personally I won't be upgrading because essentially its the same bar only the pad is a bit different and mines has a lot of like left in it.

Is there much difference between the V3 and V5 Dynabar ?

'Freeride' I'm interested in, not the 'Pro-wave' model ...