Thanks to everyone who made suggestions for my first kite in this thread: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=4150

I decided to go with the Beamer TSR 3.6. Took it out today for the first time, and was surprised at how easy it is to fly. But I have no idea how the heck I'm going to do this on skis!

I do have one question that I'm hoping someone can answer for me. What the heck is this for? http://www.mile213.com/leash.jpg

It's obviously some kind of safety release, but the control bar already has a safety wrist strap and release system. These other pieces are not mentioned in the instructions and I couldn't see any way to use them.

Thanks!

I am pretty sure that is the chickenloop to attach to the bar if you start wearing a harness and a safety release of sorts. Maybe someone else can provide more detail?

I think the most common term for it is a D loop. A chicken loop is more often the small one on a depower trim strap.

It goes on your bar and looks like a letter D. The pin is a safety release. Push the one string loop through the other then poke the pin through to hold it in place. Velcro the pin so you can pull the stopper and the pin will pull out.
You use it to hook in to your harness. Like a strop on handles. Very Handy !

YES, The TSR is a very friendly / fun kite ! Good choice !
My 1st runs on snow were on my JoJo trainer. It was comforting to have a kite I knew and trusted to get started on snow. Less worry about the kite while I worked on combining the skis. Being familiar with both made it easy !

You are going to love being powered up on skis! You'll be posting high speeds on Stormboarding in no time

Congrats on the first of many flights, Scissors.

Snowbird has the D- loop right. Disconnect the lines, open up the Velcro loops, and slide each loop over the leaders and the ends of the bar and then re-fasten the velcro to snug it up on the bar. (once you have a harness to use it with). You will appreciate having a harness when going upwind, when the side-pull is strong and tiresome.

If you have trouble re-assembling the quick release, let me know.

It's a nice touch for HQ to include it, but curiously they do not include documentation. In their catalog they refer to it as a "Harness Line Fix with Quick Release". Something lost in translation.

Great, thanks for the info!