Review Cabrinha Switchblade 2015

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Riding type: Freeride/Allround
Year: 2015
Brand: Cabrinha
Size: 04m, 05m, 06m, 07m, 08m, 09m, 10m, 11m, 12m, 14m
Type: SLE
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Kite

High performance 5 strut freeride kite

Designers goals (manufacturer text)

After ten years of refinement, the Switchblade kite from Cabrinha is held as the benchmark for which all crossover/freeride kites must aspire to. Its success lies in its uncommon blend of high performance and ease of use. The Switchblade will easily crossover from freeriding to freestyle to surf on any given day. The common element in each of these riding styles is precise handling; and this is where the Switchblade shines. The Switchblade provides maximum control with a light bar touch. The SB’s high performance profiles deliver the power needed in light winds and the ability to dump the power in strong winds. This gives the SB the type of range needed to extend your sessions when the winds are up and down. The five strut design holds the canopy true to its shape regardless of the wind condition or angle of attack.

NEW FOR 2015

  • Bridle refinements for improved flight stability and agility.
  • New strut to leading edge connection.
  • New rounded LE end closures ensure a true finish without deformation.
  • Extra long 30cm 2-ply on the leading edge bladder ends.
  • Refined panel orientation.
  • New “Absolute mirror” construction ensures the kite flies straight and true to the design.

Wind range Cabrinha Switchblade 2015

windrange cabrinha switchblade 2015

Kite Characteristics Cabrinha Switchblade 2015

cabrinha switchblade 2015

Bar

Movie Cabrinha Switchblade 2015

 

 

Details:

Riding type: Freeride/Allround
Year: 2015
Brand: Cabrinha
Size: 04m, 05m, 06m, 07m, 08m, 09m, 10m, 11m, 12m, 14m
Type: SLE
One pump: Yes
Bridles: Yes
Number of struts: 5
Colours: Various
Line length: 22m
Bar length: 49cm-57cm
Bar: 4 lines
Depower: Strap
Safety: Push
Swivel: Yes
Variable bar length: Yes
Oh shit handles: No

Kitesurfing review Cabrinha Switchblade 8m 2015

Test Conditions

wind:between 14 and 30 knots

water: flat, chop, small waves

bar set-up: standard 22m

kite set-up: fabric set-up

Conclusion

The new Cabrinha Switchblade 8m is a real Allrounder with a wide wind range. Although the Switchblade is not an aggressive kite it will challenge you. Use it in its higher wind range and you have a real glider. At its low end you can use the Switchblade 8m on your surfboard in 12 knots. This is the great thing about this kite. If you check out the characteristics you will see the Switchblade wide range of usability! Well done!

Scroll down for more details about the Cabrinha Switchblade 2015 kite characteristics

Wind: 18 - 32 knots

Water: flat Board: 140x41 cm twintip

Bar setup: 22m lines

Kite setup: standard (Fabric set up)

- See more at: http://www.kitefinder.com/en/kites/1398/north-rebel-2015#tests

Wind: 18 - 32 knots

Water: flat Board: 140x41 cm twintip

Bar setup: 22m lines

Kite setup: standard (Fabric set up)

- See more at: http://www.kitefinder.com/en/kites/1398/north-rebel-2015#tests

Wind: 18 - 32 knots

Water: flat Board: 140x41 cm twintip

Bar setup: 22m lines

Kite setup: standard (Fabric set up)

- See more at: http://www.kitefinder.com/en/kites/1398/north-rebel-2015#tests

Wind: 18 - 32 knots

Water: flat Board: 140x41 cm twintip

Bar setup: 22m lines

Kite setup: standard (Fabric set up)

- See more at: http://www.kitefinder.com/en/kites/1398/north-rebel-2015#tests

Basics

Kite re-launch

Difficult Easy

Total depower

Still pressure Total depower

good depower with a nice bar system

Safety system

Difficult Easy

New push away safety, the bar is pretty heavy but the system works very well.

Kite stability

Unstable Stable

Very stable in gusty winds

Windrange

Limited Wide

Nice, performs in a very wide windwindow

Oldskool

Lift

Gradual Explosive

Gradual & controlled

High-end

Small range Large range

Easy to ride, soft power good control

Glide phase

Short Long

You will love the Cabrinha Switchblade 8m glide above 20 knots. Sheet & go power control

Low-end

Small range Large range

This is one of its best kite characteristics

Wave

Reaction to steering action

Slow Fast

Can be a bit slow in its lower section of the windwindow

Turning circle

Large radius Small radius

The Switchblade turns around its tips, loses a bit of it pressure during the first turning part

Steering with low line tension

Not so good Good

The depower range of the Switchblade is long with control during the whole depower range

Drift

Poor Good

Nice drift, in combination with other allround characteristics like great low end, real nice for lowend wave riding and highend oldschool

Feedback at edge of wind window

Minimal Great

Race

Going upwind

Hard Easy

There are 3 reviews on this product:

Cabrinha Switchblade 2015 10m
Name:
JasonD 
Weight:
90 
Riding style:
allround  
Years of experience:
+6 
Personal page:
Water conditions:
flat  
Tested Wind Conditions:
From 18 knots up to 24
Number of test sessions:
Kite size:
10m 
Most remarkable characteristics:
kite stability
 
UnstableStable
slack line steering
 
SlowQuick
glide phase
 
ShortLong
kite feedback
 
MinimalGreat
low end
 
Small rangeLarge range
up wind
 
HardEasy
user friendly
 
PoorGreat
high end
 
Small rangeLarge range
kite reaction
 
SlowQuick
total depower
 
Some pressureTotal depower
safety system
 
DifficultEasy
bar pressure
 
HeavyLight
boost
 
SoftStrong
lift
 
GradualExplosive
kitefinder.com - 11.04.2015 at 18:55 hour
Comments:
The Switchblade in +20 knots is fun to ride. Easy, stable and sheet and go. Jumping by pulling the bar is very easy, just hold your edge! Soft lift, easy glide always bar pressure. Above 20 knots you need to edge harder to hold your upwind course. De-power stroke is pretty long.  
1 kudos - +

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Cabrinha Switchblade 2015 08m
Name:
Stefarius 
Weight:
91 
Riding style:
allround, wave  
Years of experience:
15 
Personal page:
Water conditions:
small-waves  
Tested Wind Conditions:
From 12 knots up to 18
Number of test sessions:
Kite size:
08m 
Most remarkable characteristics:
low end
 
Small rangeLarge range
user friendly
 
PoorGreat
windrange
 
LimitedWide
kite stability
 
UnstableStable
glide phase
 
ShortLong
up wind
 
HardEasy
drift
 
HardSoft
kite reaction
 
SlowQuick
bar pressure
 
HeavyLight
lift
 
GradualExplosive
kitefinder.com - 26.09.2014 at 22:10 hour
Comments:
Two strapless kite sessions with the new Cabrinha Switchblade 8m. Other people were out on a 10m or 12m, the 8m was enough for me. Great low-end and easily getting upwind for another downwind wave ride. The Switchblade is stable with a great drift. Could be a bit faster for an 8m and sometimes the kite loses pressure while turning, but you can feel that this kite is tuned in a wide wind range. Soft and trustful in its low end, can't wait to ride it in it's high end wind range. 
3 kudos - +

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Cabrinha Switchblade 2015 12m
Name:
Green Hat 
Weight:
150 
Riding style:
allround  
Years of experience:
Personal page:
Water conditions:
flat  
Tested Wind Conditions:
From 15 knots up to 20
Number of test sessions:
Kite size:
12m 
Most remarkable characteristics:
user friendly
 
PoorGreat
durability
 
ShortLong
total depower
 
Some pressureTotal depower
safety system
 
DifficultEasy
windrange
 
LimitedWide
up wind
 
HardEasy
boost
 
SoftStrong
lift
 
GradualExplosive
kite relaunch
 
DifficultEasy
slack line steering
 
SlowQuick
price quality
 
PoorGreat
drift
 
HardSoft
bar pressure
 
HeavyLight
kitefinder.com - 16.09.2014 at 01:54 hour
Comments:
The Cabrinha switchblade is a great all around kite. compared to previous year models this is by far the best. It is very responsive, has descent bar pressure, which gives you a better feel for where the kite is and is very durable.

We love this kite as do many of our customers and they rate this on the top of their list.

The down side to this kite is Cabrinhas complicated control bar. It is difficult to coil up because of the large tubing that goes through the bar. Is also uses above the bar straps to power and depower. DePowering isn't that difficult, but powering up the kite can be a challenge if the wind is pretty light.

The 2015 bar is much improved from the previous years. The QR system is extremely nice and can be put back together almost single handedly.

The bar is very comfortable and the make and adjustable width bar and a fixed length bar. The adjustable bar is easy to change the width of the bar, making it convenient if you have multiple kite sizes.

Overall it is one of our most popular kites. 
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