2012 Cabrinha Kites – Reviews from Demo Day and UK Arrivals!

Exciting times! We have the first 2012 Cabrinha kites, they’re clearing customs now and will be with us within the next 7 days! read about um….

Kitesurfkings were proud to offer the south coast’s first demo of cabrinha’s 2012 product range and stoked that we had wind! Not just another windy day on the south coast but one that coincided with the 2012 Cabrinha Demo Day. Loads of nice dudes came down to Shoreham Beach to check out the lastest inovations from Cabrinha, as we were blessed with wind we all gave the kit a good hammering and only left the beach as it got dark… the new toys were just too much fun to put down!

Before I warm my fingers up ready to share all that we found out about the new kites it’s important to let any guys that haven’t owned one of the 2010 or 2011 Cabrinha kites know about some of the foundations Cabrinha are continuing to build on. Cabrinha own the SPRINT inflation system that allows you to inflate your kite through one single point on the centre of the leading edge through an airlock valve so that no air can escape = no time wasted and a nice solid kite. Cabrinha have an advanced one pump inflation system so you don’t have to pump up the struts separately but can still lock off the air between then leading edge and the struts so as not to be a safety issue should you ever get a puncher.

Cabrinha are the only kite manufacture to offer such a safe and tidy bar system, there are huge advancements and industry firsts with the 2012 Quicklink system but the previous two models also benefited from having an internal safety line running inside the centre line that prevents it getting snagged or being warn through contact with the bar. Cabrinha’s IDS safety system smashes all other kite brands because it does not compromise safety for any level of rider, where riding for the first time or regularly pulling off unhooked tricks. Cabrinha’s IDS safety system is built into the chicken loop and you do not attach your safety leash to the safety line its self so that when doing unhooked tricks the leash does not have to be moved and safety is not compromised… mind blowing that other brands are still to cotton on! Still, it makes my kite purchasing a lot simpler each year.

Cabrinha invest a mammoth amount of money into developing and testing new and innovative ideas to the benefit of the spot and us the riders to insure they remain the largest selling kite brand in the world and Cabrinha riders remain the safest and happiest we can be… must mention that there’s no unzipping of trousers or getting down on ones knees here but unless you’re in the know it’s nice to get trustworthy info from those you kite with and over the the last 6 years of selling Cabrinha kites I have not had, or known of one warranty issue with a Cabrinha kite! I’ve had to replace a set of lines and some foot straps and I heard or one guy managing to damage his board back in 2005 but there has never been an issue with any of the Cabrinha kites sold! A nice claim worth SHOUTING about.

Lots of the guys that came down already ride Cabrinha kites and wanted to see the new Quick Link 2012 bar, ride the new additions to the Cabrinha family and feel the changes made to the kites they already own before ordering their 2012 kite quivers but there were also plenty of kitesurfers currently riding other brands.

The 2012 Cabrinha Switchblade certainly stole a few hearts and converted riders from North, Flexi and RRD, to name but a few. The Cabrinha Switchblade does seem to remain the kite of choice for the masses as it delivers in every area without compromise. It is not the best wave riding kite in the Cabrinha range, nor the best kite for unhooking but for an all round kite to make you smile through every session it remains, in our eyes, the top dog; Kiteworld describe the Cabrinha switchblade as the Rolls Royce of kitesurfing kites.

The 2012 Cabrinha Switchblade still comes in most sizes… 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 16 meter options so you should be able to find the kite you’re after, pricing range from £1049 to £1499 complete with the 2012 Cabrinha Quicklink bar system. All of the 2012 Cabrinha kites can be bought as kite only, give us a shout of you want to get the pricing for these or find out about kite packages and offers.

The 2012 Cabrinha Nomad is certainly the best kite for out and out freestyle with it’s unhooked and kite looping capabilities. We certainly had a lot of fun putting it through it’s passes yesterday and am looking forwatd to getting my hands on my own kites! The 2012 Cabrinha Nomad remains a kite that you have to fly but it’s a pleasure to do exactly that. Because of the Nomad’s C shape characteristics it is not a kite that will keep on pulling through the low end of it’s wind range but if it were, unhooking and looping the kite in stronger winds would only be for the insane… not just mildly stupid.

One friend and fellow Cabrinha fan who started off riding the Cabrinha Crossbow but progressed onto the Nomad and has a quiver of 2011 Nomads was impressed by the faster turning ability of the 2012 Nomad and could appreciate the fine tunning and tinkering that has been done to the kite. For those who don’t have previous experience to fall back on just know that this is an amazing kite that Cabrinha have managed to improve.

The 2012 Cabrinha Nomad comes in 5.5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 meter options, pricing ranges from £1099 to £1449 complete with the 2012 Cabrinha Quicklink bar system. All of the 2012 Cabrinha kites can be bought as kite only, give us a shout of you want to get the pricing for these or find out about kite packages and offers.

What can we say about the Crossbow that you won’t already know? Probably nothing so here it is once again. Still a first class ride that makes kitesurfing easy, has a huge wind range, instant relaunch and bomb proof construction. The 2012 Cabrinha Crossbow is still not the kite for you if you are wishing to unhook or kite loop unless in light winds or you’re part human and part machine. The Cabrinha Crossbow is the kite of choice for riders that want a solid upwind machine that is a pleasure to ride and to enjoy big floaty airs with; a powerful kite with the largest wind range and best relaunch, if there were ever an auto pilot mode here it is, all you need to do is lean back and smile.

New for 2012 we have the Cabrinha Crossbow Light wind; with some serious fine tuning and the reduction of struts from the crossbow’s standard 7 strut design to just 5 the guys at the Cabrinha lab managed to create a new beast. The Crossbow we all know and love comes in 7, 9, 10 and 11 meter options then the kite becomes a new beast… the Cabrinha Crossbow LW, which comes in 13, 16 and 18 meter options. Not many people know about the 18 meter option and you’ll not see it listed on the Cabrinha website but if you want the beast we can get it for you. Based on a 75kg rider the 18m Crossbow LW is said to fly from 5 to 12 knots; if you want to be the envy of your friends, who kite from 12 knots onwards, here you are.

The 2012 Cabrinha Crossbow comes in 7, 9, 10 and 11 meter options, with the 2012 Cabrinha Crossbow LW kicking in with sizes 13, 16 and 18 meters. Prices range from £1299 to £1549 for the 16m, all complete with the 2012 Cabrinha Quicklink bar system. All of the 2012 Cabrinha kites can be bought as kite only, give us a shout of you want to get the pricing for these or find out about kite packages and offers.

Whoo hoo, new for 2012 there are (as if you didn’t already know!) two new kites, one being the Vector and the other the Drifter. Both the Vector and Drifter are hybrid kite and so are fast turning kites with rapid depower and stable arcs. Sadly the Drifter was the one kite not in use on the demo day and so we’re waiting to get our hands on it but we had the Vector and gave it a good hammering. The 2012 Cabrinha Vector is the new all round freeride  kite with park and ride simplicity, a kite that, unlike the 2011 Cabrinha Convert, can be used for kite loops and basic unhooked tricks even in the larger sizes. All of the feedback on the Kitesurfkings demo day about the 2012 Cabrinha Vector was positive, and like the rest of the 2012 Cabrinha range the kites look the nuts and all come with the 2012 quicklink control system.

I personally found the feel of the kite to be a little soft but then this is to be expected of any 3 strut, all round kite that aims to cover every aspect of kiting and be a kite that riders of all levels can fly. I was very pleasantly surprised that one kite managed to cover so much but retain an entry level price point. The 2012 Cabrinha Vector comes in 3.5, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 14 meter options, priced from £899 to £1249 complete with the 2012 Cabrinha Quicklink bar system.

We’re really excited about flying this one… Pete Cabrinha’s own little baby to go with his new signature kitesurf and surf, surfboard for 2012. This is Cabrinha’s new dedicated wave riding kite that will also complement wakeskates and skimboards. The big idea with this kite is that it’s there but you don’t even have to think about it so you can get on with surfing without worrying about your kite. Fast turns and real stability were always going to be must haves for the Drifter but the main objective of the 2012 Cabrinha Drifter is that it offers ‘slack line drift’, the kite’s ability to stay in aloft even when the lines are temporarily slackened. It all sounds bloody great and we’ve no reason to disbelieve any of Cabrinha’s claims as they’ve delivered on past claims but sadly we’ve not yet had a play. If, like us you’re dead keen to have a fly of this little badboy then go to the Kitesurfkings Facebook page and ‘like it’, or ‘follow it’, or whatever you have to do and we’ll let you know when it’s here for you to take out. If you’re anti Facebook then I’m sure you turn like the rest of us but until you do you can ‘like’, or ‘follow’, or whatever you have to do to get blog notifications to your email… hopefully you’re on this already, link’s at the bottom of the page and you just have to slip your email address in there.

The 2012 Cabrinha Drifter comes in 5.5, 7, 9 and 11 meter options, priced from £1099 to £1299 complete with the 2012 Cabrinha Quicklink bar system. All of the 2012 Cabrinha kites can be bought as kite only, give us a shout of you want to get the pricing for these or find out about kite packages and offers.

Loads of fun was had putting the 2012 Cabrinha kites through their paces, flying, jumping, kitelooping, unhooking, relaunching, activating the safety systems both in the water and on the beach and generally admiring them. If there’s anything you’d like to know about the kites, want to get your hands on one or have anything to add or share then please get in touch. Please email info@kitesurfkings.com, call the office on +44 (0) 1273 88 88 33 or check out the full Cabrinha catalog on our website’s kit page through http://www.kitesurfkings.com

We will have the kites in stock within the next 7 days and if you want to be the first to own one of these great new toy you can be! All card’s accepted to you’ve time to order a new credit card and get dialling 01273 88 88 33! Free kite lessons with new kit and free delivery… how nice are we!

We’ve tested all the kites and boards and the board write up will follow shortly… there’s a storm outside to attend to!

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