Cabrinha Switchblade 2018 Kite
IN A NUTSHELL...
Cabrinha Switchblade 2018 Kite: The Switchblade has undoubtedly proven itself to be one of the most popular kites in the world right now. Now in it’s 13th year, Cabrinha have yet again enhanced and refined this amazing kite to make it truly the best yet for 2018. If you’re after silky smooth performance, stability, great boosting power and a big-grin on face freeride kite, look no further.
Design details
SIZES: 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 14
SKU: KO8SWITCH
The 2018 Cabrinha Switchblade offers predictability, versatility and high end performance and quality.
DESIGN PROFILE: 5 Strut, Bow / Hybrid design, Fusion wing tip shape, Draft forward profile
Here at King Of Watersports we have been lucky enough to test the 2018 Switchblade. After much excitement and anticipation of the kite’s arrival, and some timely UK summer wind! Initial impressions were of high quality and attention to detail, even when it comes to the kite bag. Thought has been given to ensure this is practical and durable enough to handle whatever you throw at it, and comfortable to carry even if hiking miles to that sweet secret spot.
So, the Switchblade itself - this is where the magic happens. The Switchblade is a high-performance 5-strut design freeride kite. Cabrinha have pulled out all the stops to ensure the construction of the 2018 Switchblade surpasses that of its predecessors. High Tenacity Dacron has been introduced to the leading edge of the kite, improving the kite’s structure and stability during flight. Certainly there is a high quality feel to the 2018 Switchblade, with the canopy being constructed from 2DR double ripstop fabric.
In flight, you instantly notice the Switchblade is solid in it’s shape throughout the wind window, and no longer demonstrates any of that jellyfish-like movement that typically happens when riding in gusty conditions. This is the High Tenacity Dacron doing just what it was designed to do, resulting in improved predictability and stability. This is a kite that handles directly and smoothly, with a lighter but still very positive bar pressure.
The new Switchblade has improved low and high end, with a larger ranging sweet spot, meaning great power for boosty jumps and floaty hangtime. Landings were smooth and predictable, even from the highest of jumps.
It is clear to see why the Switchblade has such appeal to such a range of riders, from newbie to the more advanced. Cabrinha have heavily invested in the design and construction of the Switchblade for 2018, making it the perfect kite to progress your riding and ensure you get the most out of your time on the water.
STYLE SELECTOR
FREESTYLE | ||||||||||
FREERIDE | ||||||||||
BIG AIR | ||||||||||
SURF | ||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
ATTRIBUTES
TURNING SPEED | ||||||||||
BOOSTING | ||||||||||
HANG TIME | ||||||||||
LOW-END POWER | ||||||||||
DEPOWER | ||||||||||
RELAUNCH | ||||||||||
UPWIND ABILITY | ||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Tech specs
HIGH TENACITY DACRON Cabrinha's all new Dacron is specifically designed for inflated kite structures. The construction of this material is very warp oriented using ultra high tenacity yarns with an increased thread count to combat elongation in the warp direction under high inflation pressures. Lower elongation makes for a more accurate kite with less deformation while in flight. |
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PURE PROFILE PANELS The strategically placed panels provide ultimate control over the aerodynamic profiles in the kite. Smooth and stable profile entry. Improved overall kite efficiency, performance, and range. Faster flying through the sky giving you a broader range of performance. |
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SKELETAL FRAME Provides the structure that keeps the kite design true to its intended shape while in-flight. The stable frame drives the kite through turbulence with a minimal amount of deformation and has excellent overall de-power. The inflated leading edge introduces the laminar flow of air across the kite’s Pure Profile panels, for a quick recovery if stalled and prevents the kite folding on itself. The inflatable structure reduces the amount of bridling required for stability. It also provides safety by providing some flotation in the water, and enables easy re-launch. |
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VOLAE™ MATERIALS Cabrinha's exclusive line of high-quality woven fabrics has been designed specifically for kitesurfing. The Volae materials are made with accuracy and consistency, and are guaranteed for every kite they make. Our 2DR Double Ripstop material is designed to provide a lightweight, yet durable, canopy with extremely low stretch properties. This translates into a kite with the ability to lock in its intended shape, while remaining ultra-reactive to rider input. |
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1X SECURITY Upon activation of 1X’s single line flagging system the power of a kite is immediately killed and it will rest motionless on the water or land. |
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SPRINT SYSTEM W/ AIRLOCK The Sprint inflation systems is the most efficient and easy way to get your kite inflated and deflated quickly.. The enlarged Airlock valve quickly feeds air into all of the struts from a single location. The Airlock connection to the Sprint pump requires no special adapters. Once inflated, you can lock off each strut independently to keep your kite’s rigid frame, and isolate any accidental strut deflation from the rest of the kite. When the session is over, the entire kite will deflate in seconds thanks to the Airlock valve’s large dump feature. |
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DYNAMIC ARC Dynamic arc allows the kite to have two distinct arc shapes. The arc of the kite takes on one shape while flying, and another shape while in resting mode on the water. While resting on the water the arc opens up slightly to facilitate an easier relaunch. |
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POWER CONTROL Every Cabrinha kite comes with a simple, user adjustable way to choose the power level of the kite. Each rear line “pig tail” connector has three power positions you can connect to. The middle position is the factory recommended position. However, the user can choose to create more power by connecting the knot closest to the kite, or less power by connecting to the knot closest to the rider. |
WIND RANGE & BAR SIZE
SIZE/KNOTS | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 |
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4m | |||||||
5m | |||||||
6m | |||||||
7m | |||||||
8m | |||||||
9m | |||||||
10m | |||||||
11m | |||||||
12m | |||||||
14m |