It looks like you’ve been working hard to release the new Savvy! Talk us through the changes compared to your previous Sick bar.
The Savvy bar is a completely different system to the Sick bar. With the Savvy, we had clear design goals: safety, ease of use, simplicity, functionality, durability, and renewability. And we listened to our customers who were asking for automatic frontline untwist, bar width adjustment, click-in safety and two chickenloop options. These features were all incorporated in the new bar. Compared to the old bar, the new Savvy is a four-line system without a fifth safety line, so one less line to worry about. Also, there is no bungee on any of the lines which makes the Savvy lines more durable and eliminates potential safety hazards. As safety was a top priority the Y split is six meters above the bar. Six meters is the length you need for 100% full flag-out of all kite sizes. The Savvy has an ergonomic Delta shape which reduces hand fatigue and increases grip. As durability was another important design goal, both power lines passing through the bar are covered in PU tubes for less wear and smooth sheeting and handling of the kite. The center of the bar allows for more angle resulting in more pivotal turning of the kite. The only three things we kept from the old bar are the above-the-bar depower, the Liros lines made in Germany, and the premium leather grip made in Italy.
You mentioned bar width adjustment – tell us more. Do you also offer different line lengths?
The Savvy bar comes in one size, but you can adjust the size from 45 to 50cm via the width adjusters under the bar ends. The Savvy comes in two versions, regular and XT. The regular Savvy has 24m lines and the Savvy XT has 18m lines plus 4m and 2m extensions, so you can have 18, 20, 22 and 24m lines.
Tell us about the new QR? And what are the chickenloop options?
The SCR push-away quick release is the most important function on the bar, as it guarantees safety for the user. The bright red quick release part is always visible and has an ergonomic grip shape that is easy to trigger in all conditions and emergency situations. Reloading the quick release has never been easier – just click it back in – it is that simple. There are two chickenloop options. Both the Savvy and Savvy XT come standard with a 20cm freeride chickenloop which is ideal for mostly hooked-in riding. The second option is a larger 25cm freestyle chickenloop, sold separately, suited for unhooked tricks.
How have you managed to make the Savvy more sustainable?
Even though we have chosen the most durable materials, eventually things will wear out on the bar, especially the moving parts and those that experience friction. So we designed the Savvy to be easily renewable. Pretty much everything can be replaced in just a few minutes if it gets damaged or worn out. All spare parts are available along with bar service videos showing how to replace the parts. We believe this makes the Savvy last much longer and prolongs the product lifespan. The user benefits by spending less money, as replacing worn out parts costs a fragment of the price of a new bar. And in the case of the Savvy, anyone will manage to fit these replacements.