Hi SLicerdicer,
As a newbie, and by the sound of it, having only flown one kite, you have come into the sport at a time when heavy bar pressure is almost a thing of the past and your reference is a Crossbow.
There are dozens of different kites on the market to suit loads of different riding styles. Some people like a bit of bar pressure, some like it feather light. If you are not sure what heavy bar pressure is, take a ride on the original Cab Crossbow, then you'll know what people are talking about.
There is different types of bar feel and operation and some misinterpret bar pressure for bar feedback. Some kites are more responsive than others and you can "feel" what the kite is doing through the "feedback" in the bar.
A short bar throw or depower length is desirable and the absence of pulleys on the kite bridle and more specifically on the bar ends is most desirable. The more dirctly connected the lines go from bar end to kite, the better.
The older "bow" models had both pulleys on the wingtips bribles and also on the bar. The bar pulleys effectively doubled the amount of bar turn input but unfortunately also doubled the already heavy bar pressure. All these pulleys created lots of tension but zero bar feel and it was almost impossible to "feel" what the kite was doing or where it was in the sky which meant you had to watch the kite at all times. This created both a physical and mental drain and was quite exhausting to fly.
Some bars are very light in actual pressure but are very heavy to steer like the older North Rhino's and some have heavy bar pressure but light steering.
Riders doing wake style tricks tend to like a heavier less responsive bar so the kite doesn't move much during a trick where they are passing the bar with one hand on the control bar. Surf riders want a lighter, faster and more responsive bar and kite because they need the kite to turn with one hand. The other hand is used to offset balance and allow the body to remain more side on or "open position" to the kite to create a better stance for wave riding.
I have used kites in the old days which caused chronic tennis elbow where the pain was excruciating but mostly nowadays kites are pretty kind to your body.
Many kites like the new Core GTS have multiple settings on the kites bridle which allow almost limitless customizing of feel and pressure to suit individual tastes.
The sport has come a long way in a short time and it is worth while to get out and try different kites as they are all quite different. Some you will like, some you may not, but you'll never never know, if you never ever go
Enjoy your kiting
KH
