Review Cabrinha Drifter 2015
« Return to search resultsRiding type: | Freeride/Wave |
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Year: | 2015 |
Brand: | Cabrinha |
Size: | 05.5m, 07m, 08m, 09m, 11m, 13m |
Type: | SLE |
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Buy: | Buy Now |
Kite
3 strut surf kite
Designers goals
The Drifter surf kite is a kite with a purpose. This kite is dead set on being there for you when you need it and getting out of the way when you don’t. You see, kite surfing is an act of taking power from the kite when you need it and dumping the power altogether when you don’t. This high depower kite allows the rider to drop in, accelerate, then dump the power completely to snap or carve their turns. It delivers a perfect blend of the best elements of surfing and kitesurfing. The Drifter’s special design allows it to drift downwind and stay aloft even when the lines are slackened. This phenomenon, first developed by Cabrinha is known as drift stability.
Features
- Podium proven surf performance
- Slack line drift
- Crazy fast turning speed
- High depower
- Moderate arc shape
- Direct steering
- Fast relaunch
- Works in a wide range of conditions
Windrange Cabrnha Drifter 2015
Characteristics Cabrinha Drifter
Overdrive Cabrinha kite Bar
Movie Cabrinha Drifter 2015
Details:
Riding type: | Freeride/Wave |
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Year: | 2015 |
Brand: | Cabrinha |
Size: | 05.5m, 07m, 08m, 09m, 11m, 13m |
Type: | SLE |
One pump: | Yes |
Bridles: | Yes |
Number of struts: | 3 |
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 |
Kite surfing review Cabrinha Drifter 8m 2015
Test conditions
Wind: 12 - 30 knots
Water:medium wavs
Settings: fabric
Conclusion
The new Cabrinha Drifter possesses all the kite characteristics a wave kite needs. The new Drifter feels like a soft park & ride kitesurf kite. We discovered a better performance in its high end. We loved the Drifter 8m in +20 knots. Great stability without any strange canopy changes. You can aspect a nice controllable kite feel in gusty or overpowered conditions. The Drifter isn't the kite with the shortest turning circle or the fastest kite reaction on the market, Cabrinha made the Drifter for riders who like to position the kite and surf.
Pros
- Drift
- Stability
- High end wind performance
- Kite relaunch
Cons
- Pretty heavy bar with rigid bulky bar ends
Scoll down for more details about the kite characteristics
Basics
Kite re-launch
Good, with less wind its a bit harder than +18 knots
Windrange
Low end less performance than in its high end wind range
Safety system
works good, bit heavy on the bar with all the details
Kite stability
Very good stability in low and high windrange
Oldskool
Lift
less lift is good for a strapless wave kite session
Low-end
In its low end less kite power, steering action and overall kite performance. great performance its high end
High-end
Best performance in its high end, good kite control and feedback
Wave
Reaction to steering action
The Cabrinha drifter is a bit of a park and ride kite. In it's high end the Drifter reacts faster than in light wind conditions
Turning circle
tip turn, again faster with more wind
Feedback at edge of wind window
Steering with low line tension
Great in high end, so so in its low end (8m kite under 16 knots
Drift
Really nice kite drift. One of the best kite characteristics we tested
There are 4 reviews on this product:
There was a slight lag in turning - so you need to give it a good yank, however this rewards you with on-a-dime turning (literally turning on it's tip). I suspect the new bar helps with this. Turning with slack lines is slower.
Loved the bar and lines - depower - the lot.
The day was somewhat under powered conditions mostly around 16 knots, then died off to around 13 knots which is really the bottom end for this 9m.
Highly recommended to new and experienced wave kiters- and anyone looking for a super easy to use freeride kite.
Incidentally, when I demo'ed a 9m 2014 in 28knot gusts - pulled off my 2nd biggest/longest jump (9 seconds from apex to landing). So given enough wind these kites do boost very well - I suspect due to their huge glide phase.
Replys to this review
Replys to this review
There are some things we noticed though. The drifter is a real park and fly kite, so you shouldn't expect fast steering or direct pressure build up in its flight line. In the loop the pressure release is at its end, which you have to get used to.
The best characteristics really stand out when flown in its high end. Stability, drift and riding upwind are some key points shown when you have some wind. In its low end however the kite doesn't react quite fast, and is hard to steer with slack lines.
Most wave kites are best ridden one size smaller then all the others on the water, I don't think this is the case here, so take a normal size park it somewhere high and focus & enjoy the waves.
Replys to this review
Replys to this review
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