Review Cabrinha Apollo 2017

Rider Profile

Boosting airs, speed & hydrofoil

Designers goals (manufacturer text)

5 Strut, Bow kite design, Pro Span technology, High aspect ratio, 3 bridle setting options

The Apollo is a performance freeride kite designed to pull every bit of power out of the atmosphere and deliver it right into your hands. It is purpose built for kiteboarding, meaning that it has been designed from the ground up specifically for the sport of kiteboarding. The inflated skeletal frame of the kite sets it apart from a ram air kite in many ways. The skeletal frame provides the structure that keeps the kite design true to its intended shape while in-flight. In shifty winds, the inflated struts drive the kite through turbulence with a minimal amount of deformation. The inflated leading edge structure of the kite introduces the laminar flow of air across the kite’s Pure Profile panels, making it very stable even at low speeds. These inflation properties make the Apollo unbeatable as a light wind performance kite and incredibly accurate as a high wind kite. It also goes without mention that an inflatable kite is much more reliable to relaunch, thereby making the Apollo much safer and much more fun to ride than a ram air kite.

Features

• Exponential power delivery
• Fast flying performance
• Excellent hangtime
• Optimize efficiency
• High aspect ratio for optimum upwind performance
• Excellent lift to aid in tacking and jibing maneuvers
• Inflatable structure
• Huge wind range

KiteFinder interview different 2017 Cabrinha control bars

KiteFinder review

Video Cabrinha Apollo

Kite review Cabrinha Apollo 12m

Test conditions

Wind: 9 - 17 knots

water: flat - small waves

Bar setting: fireball & fabric setting

Board setting: twintip & hydrofoil

Pictures

Conclusion

"Hello Apollo, we old school riders great you!"

A new kite in an old shape! This high aspect ratio kite is not a new shape, but brings back good memories. In the old days the manufactures made these high aspect ratio kites, trying to find a solution for the basic kite pull that disturbed the upwind capacity of all kitesurfers. In those days, kites didn't depower a lot or actually not at all. The only way you could control your speed was edgding hard to force the kite to the edge of wind window.
High aspect ratio kites loved that wind window edge. They loved it so much that they easily passed the edge of the wind window and drop out of the sky. A problem that seemed hard to control.
After a few years the 5th line & bridles came. That gave the manufactures the right tools to play with the kite angle of attack. The kite control & up wind solution was found. Manufactures turned to the more lower aspect shapes. Great for overall performances, but that really floaty feel "mostly" disappeared in the tube kites.

Now in 2016 we see the old shape back again and that's great news. "Hello Apollo, we old school riders greet you!" 

Cabrinha brings the old shape back to life. Most of the high aspect ratio diseases are gone. The Apollo is very stable, never drops out of the sky, the turning is fast and the floaty jumps are back again. Even in the lightest wind, riding a hydrofoil, the Apollo won't let you down. Except on one point. Light wind relaunch, that's an issue to resolve.

Youtube kitereview Cabrinha Apollo 2017