We’re using our bars in very hostile environments with sand, salt, and UV destroying your beloved gear! In this article, we will tell you about the 5 most common wear points of your bar and give you tips on how to prevent the lines from breaking.

1. Safety Lines / Bungee Lines

At the very top of our list is the unprotected bungee or safety line. In most cases, you don’t need this line until you really need it! The safety/bungee line is the one that holds the power when you activate the quick release in an emergency situation. Due to the bar sliding over this line, you will get a lot of wear on it. If you’re lucky, it’s running inside a PU tube, which will remove most of that wear. However, you still have to keep a good eye on it, as dirt can build up very quickly inside that PU tube, causing the line to get damaged rapidly!

The most common mistake is replacing it when you see the internal elastic! This means you’re already far too late and should have replaced it a while ago.

Prevention:

• Rinse out sand if you have a PU tube-covered line.
• At the start of your session, push the bar underwater to rinse off the sand it has collected when you were untangling the lines.

Replacement frequency:
At least once per year.

2. Lower Section Frontlines

We are the only sport where we have unprotected Dyneema sliding over each other! With riders doing more and more rotations and steering the kite, the area where the lines cross has more to endure.
We have already shared some tips with you to prevent as much damage as possible.

Prevention:

• Wax the area.
• Don’t ride with crossed lines for longer than necessary.
• Reverse the lower section if possible.

Replacement frequency:
Once per year if you loop a lot!

3. V-Distributor & High V

Well, it’s not the V distributor itself that is the problem; it’s the rubbing, or better said, abrasion. Instead of putting Dyneema on Dyneema, we’re now pushing it into nylon or stainless steel. You can imagine that’s not better!
Keep an eye on the loop-to-loop connections at your V distributor, the safety line, and the frontline connection.
Make sure when you mount the bar that the safety line is the one being pushed into the plastic or metal and not your frontline loop. It’s a common mistake when assembling the bar.

With High V distributors, we’re pushing on the line sideways, causing a lot of friction, which results in friction heat damage and wear.
Make sure to adjust your high V distributor every now and then.

Prevention:

• Wax the area on high V bars.
• Reverse the lower section if possible.
• Push the bar underwater to remove the sand collected when setting up.

Replacement frequency:
Once per year.

4. Pigtails

Obviously, the pigtails have a lot to endure! It’s clear you are assembling and disassembling them all the time. Add to that the sand being introduced into the connections.

Prevention:

• Remove sand before connecting!

Replacement frequency:
Whenever you have visible damage.
Replace thin Duotone pigtails immediately; those are too weak to use!

5. Loop at Line End

When we see lines breaking at the end, it’s usually just after the last splice. Due to the lines flapping around in the wind and slapping on the ground, the fibers get broken and eventually break completely.
It's very simple to prevent!

Prevention:

• Do not leave your kite on the beach in the wind longer than necessary.

Replacement frequency:
Once every 2 seasons for most riders.