I’ve heard a lot of chatter that it’s more difficult to unhook with the Fireball control system, so I wanted to put this to the test. The day after a cold front pushed through Florida, we received gusty winds out of the NNW at about 13 to 22 kts, perfect for testing new equipment. I rigged a 12m Cabrinha FX with a 44cm Trimlite Fireball bar.
It is different, but just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s any more difficult. Unhooking was a lot easier than with the traditional loop system. I was able to pop the system out while I was loading my edge for a jump, which helped me maintain speed and keep my kite forward in the window before take off. I never accidentally came unhooked when the bottom piece that locks the ball part in place was down.
Hooking back in was easy as long as the black lever stayed down. There were times after a harder landing where the bungee pulled the locking piece back up and I had to continue traveling downwind for an extra few seconds while I popped the black piece out to hook back in. If the black piece stayed down then it was no problem, and easy, to hook back in.
My overall riding impression of Fireball is that you gain freedom of movement. You can turn away from the kite harder and hold an edge harder without feeling like the kite is trying to pull you towards it.
