Why the Airush Team Control Bar is Perfect for All Skill Levels

Kristen Cooper is back to share her thoughts on the Airush Team control bar. She's taken a lot of time to really get a feel for it and she found a lot to like about it. Is it the right bar for you as well?

Overview

The Airush Team control bar is a bar for any level rider. It's a great bar to start on, but you won't outgrow it, either. It's designed to withstand even the hardest riding, yet is customizable and doesn't sacrifice performance.

Features

Kristen's first impression of the bar and one of her favorite features was the bar itself. The soft grip and narrow diameter made it very comfortable to hold. It was actually a bit narrower than the bars she was used to, and that made it sit better in the hands and allowed her to feel like she was getting a firmer grip. The bar is lightweight and has an embossed, sanded EVA finish. The bar comes in three sizes: a 45cm small, 50cm medium, and 60cm large.

The standard IQR Quick Release allows for a fast, one-handed release that is also easy to click back into place. The cleat and center fitting are both stainless steel, and the lines are BraidTech Dyneema, which is stronger and thinner and uses a 12 braid weave for tangle resistance. The main depower line is PU covered.

The stainless steel center fitting and the way the bar is designed makes it really easy to unswivel the bar. The high quality ceramic bearing allows for very smooth twisting and untwisting. One thing Kristen really appreciated here was that the center fitting has a little wider diameter, which also makes it easier to swivel. She was pleasantly surprised when, after her backrolls and frontrolls, the line automatically whipped around to unswivel even though it's not an auto-unswivel bar. She didn't have to crank on the lines at all. Anytime you're looping or doing any sort of rotations, you'll find that the bar won't get jammed on you. This is a great compromise between function and the price you'd pay for a true auto-unswivel bar, so if you're budget-conscious, this might be the bar for you.

Customization Options

The line lengths on the Team bar are adjustable. The 9m lower length can be added on to with 6 + 4 + 2 plus another 2m of lines, which gives you options for any configuration you'd want up to 23m. If you want a specific length for kiteloops or foiling, you can customize them at the bar. You simply adjust the outer lines by popping them out and attaching them to a different knot.

You can also turn this bar into a fifth line bar. Kristen was able to convert her bar for use with her Razor. Most C kites use 5 lines, so this is a great feature if you fly a C kite like the Razor.

The Team bar comes with a standard size chicken loop, but you can swap this out for other loops if you'd like.

Do you remember the red stopper ball that older bars would have? It was a nice option to make the throw shorter for those with shorter arms, and the Team bar has an updated version of this. You can temporarily customize the bar for people who need the shorter throw, like women or kids. Normally you'd have to buy a separate bar for them to be able to ride safely and comfortably, but with this feature you can share one bar.

Now, it's not a legitimate old-school stopper ball and it will move if you push hard enough on it, but it does work and it's a nice convenience to have.

Leash

The Team bar does include a freestyle leash. It's a longer leash, so if you prefer a shorter one, you'll need to pick one up, but if you're into freestyle or unhooking, this is a great leash. If you don't use it for riding, it's always nice to have an extra leash on hand for self-launching and landing.

Instead of a metal hook, it comes with a pigtail to leash in. This really shines in unhooking. It's more secure, won't bend or stretch, and doesn't become something to hit your hands on during a handlepass.

Summary

The Airush Team bar is comfortable, performance-oriented, and customizable. It's a great choice for beginners, progression, and even very experienced riders.

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