Wait have we come full circle back to kiting? I’m not a kiter but this looks very kite-ish….

Well this is another interesting development in the para world. Strangely on their website some bits were in English but the explanation of the push bar system was in French so I ran it through google translate and this is what I got:

The Pushbar System® - The technology that changes everything
The PBS is the only bar in the world with a true sheeted-in depower system capable of modifying the geometry of a pocket wing in real time. One movement, one push, and you instantly control your power.
Need security in a gust? Push. The wing depowers instantly.
Need a boost? Pull. Maximum power returns.
When used with a harness, the Pushbar System® frees your arms and radically transforms your experience: longer sessions, more precise control, and a doubled wind range. Without a harness, the FYNIX remains a high-performance and intuitive pocket wing like any other. It's the PBS + harness combination that reveals its true potential.
The entire mechanism is integrated inside the carbon bar.
Results: shorter lines, packing in seconds, and a clean aesthetic.
Shorter lines and the absence of a pre-line increase maneuverability. More direct, more responsive control.
Fly longer with less effort. When other riders come back exhausted after an hour and a half, the FYNIX lets you keep going – because pushing on a bar to reduce power uses infinitely less energy than constantly being pulled.
Why is a 33cm bar enough?
Our competitors use 40 to 55cm bars to try to increase their ability to depower the kite. It's a stopgap, not a solution. The Pushbar System® solves the problem at its source: a simple push instantly cuts the power, regardless of the kite size. The result: a short, light, maneuverable bar and a kite that truly responds. The Pushbar System® is a technology developed by SROKA. The name “PushBar System®” is a registered trademark, and the associated innovation is a patent application filed with the INPI (French National Institute of Industrial Property).


I am not totally sure how this is much different to a normal parawing bar setup. They are stating big wind ranges on their website 14 to 29 knots for a 4m!


Also quite cheap. Usually if you get something sent to aus you can get them without VAT then a 4m is about $900 aud so no import fees . I might be wrong about that though.

When you read the information on the Sroka website about the FYNIX, it really feels like a great innovation, especially when you see the wide wind ranges of these wings.
Now I think we need to wait for user feedback to see if it’s truly a great innovation or just marketing.
To date, Bruno Sroka has always been a discreet and competent person, and I hope his FYNIX will live up to his reputation.
To be continued
Thanks

WindyBear said..
Looking at this video carefully :

it seems the depower works only if the harness line is engaged? Otherwise if you are just holding onto the bar then it would get pulled towards you and in full power mode ? So in other words, riding harness free in the jibes would mean having to negotiate those jibes with full power? And so how do you dump that power then? Tilt it like other parawings? Interested to hear thoughts on this from others

I think it is opposite. To get full power need to pull the bar towards you (hooked in)

Bar far from you = less power.

Unhooked is idem depowered configuration (but even in depowered config it still works like a normal parawing)

I'm assuming here .. hope we can see more info soon on this.

MProject04 said..
Imagine the next thing is someone comes up with a board that doesn't need those hugely expensive foils (which are an 'arms race' to nowhere to be frank).. and is so thin that you can actually feel the water with your feet!

All it needs now is an inflatable leading edge, so it's easier to relaunch.